Month: January 2018

This is the time in our visit to the US, that we start wondering if we will be able to bring home all the things we had hoped, wonder if we could just be beamed back to Nicaragua, and simultaneously miss family and friends here and look forward to getting back and settling in.

This week, I was sharing with a group of woman about how the Nicaraguan people have shown me the need to go to God with issues first rather than down the list of other options. The next day, I had the opportunity to practice what I was preaching.

On Wednesday, Stephen received the diagnosis of Hemochromatosis- in short, it means that he has too much iron in his blood. In his case, what should be between 40-50 is 750. The affects can be cirrhosis, cancer, heart issues, damaged joint and organs, and so much more, all with fatal results.(www.hemochromatosis.org)

The treatment is the archaic practice of “blood-letting”-a pint of blood twice a week until his number is in the normal range (up to a year)- we are considering leeches… just kidding! Also he get to adjust his eating, to severely reduce his iron intake.

So this is where you come in-

Will you please pray with us for healing-immediate or otherwise? As well as dealing with the challenges that come with this diagnosis as we head back to Nicaragua.

Thank you for caring for us!

 

We will return to Nicaragua in less than a month- this comes with a small stab of anxiety- “I am not ready yet or will I ever be ready?” My ponderings this morning put some clarity to this issue for me.

My life in America is big- options in stores, the opportunity to drive where I want, see who I want, explore places and feel safe in the culture; a culture that is second nature to me. I feel confident in the language, I can see and feel what I want to buy in the stores, and I can find and buy my choice of items in the color, size, shape and price I want.

We meet with people who are interested in getting together with us, and they are encouraging of the work that we are doing. We get to share our story, which reminds us of the big picture of our lives. The time here is personally filling.

In the midst of this though, my heart feels small. Here in the US, I am encouraged to find a ministry that works for me. A church that works for me, and I can choose my involvement in church and other activities.

In Nicaragua, my life feels small-my desire to get out is limited by availability of transportation, another person to go with me, lack of variety of available places to go, and some fear of the unknown in a country with unfamiliar places and cultural expectations. Language slows and sometimes stops conversation, and my day often consists of a similar schedule-wake up, have breakfast, walk the 4 blocks to work, return at the end of the day back 4 blocks, cook dinner and go to bed. We live in a tree-filled and house filled community which offers little in the area of vistas. I can feel closed in and stuck at times.

But, in Nicaragua, my heart is made to be big. Even when I don’t feel like helping, people will come by for food, medicine or just a conversation. The culture is more of an instant culture- we have a need right now, how are we going to fill it? This is not usually done with grumbling, but more of an acceptance that there is a need and there is something I can do to help. I work with people who exemplify this every day- I get a tutorial in sacrificial giving.

So, my torn feeling in this time of our trip is this- I am much more comfortable in the American world, with all of the amazing benefits, experiences, encouraging people who want to make a difference in their world, but I am more fulfilled by having to do those things that make a difference in one person’s life.