Monday, 19 April 2010
If you remember the story of Job, there were two trials: First God allowed Satan to take his property, his servants, and his children. After this Job said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
May the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:20)
Then came the second trial. God allowed Satan to cause severe pain in Job’s body by giving him painful sores all over his body. After this, Job’s wife suggested he curse God and die to which Job responded:
“You are talking like a foolish woman.
Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job:2:10)
Today we faced our second trial. Late last night, Areli began having intermittent upper back pain that became progressively worse over the course of the night. She later began vomiting and we decided to head to Guatemala City to a private hospital at 3:30 AM. Thankfully, we arrived rapidly and safely just beating rush hour. As we were getting close, Areli was screaming in pain. Thanks to modern medicine, and some good drugs, her pain was stopped this morning and she has been pain free since.
The short story is that after six doctors and a very thorough workup, it appears that the gall bladder is the culprit. The plan is to take it out. When is still a bit of a question as it somewhat complicated by the c-section 3 weeks ago. But I believe they are going to do it in the next couple of days.
We are thankful that Areli did not suffer as long as Job and that she is doing well now. We are also thankful that we were able to get to the best hospital in Guatemala and that we are one of the few missionaries that we work with that have medical insurance to pay for it.
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: I think we are under attack. Of course Satan cannot do anything that God does not allow him to. In the last month, members of our missionary community have suffered new heart problems (on top of a series of other recent problems), a motorcycle accident with head injury, our previous situation, and now this. But all are alive and continuing to serve God. At the same time, God is moving big time. For example, our Guatemala church has really seen God doing some great things. Hours before, Areli’s episode began, we enjoying leading worship in the presence of God. Three people were reconciled with God. And several members were commissioned to share the Gospel in the village of a year-old church plant. Later that night, things changed for us again. I’m really beginning to not like Monday mornings and it’s not because we have to go to work as this is usually our day off.
We will continue on in His strength. We just want it to be said of us what said of Job:
“In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” (Job 1:22)
“In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:10)
If you remember the story of Job, there were two trials: First God allowed Satan to take his property, his servants, and his children. After this Job said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
May the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:20)
Then came the second trial. God allowed Satan to cause severe pain in Job’s body by giving him painful sores all over his body. After this, Job’s wife suggested he curse God and die to which Job responded:
“You are talking like a foolish woman.
Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job:2:10)
Today we faced our second trial. Late last night, Areli began having intermittent upper back pain that became progressively worse over the course of the night. She later began vomiting and we decided to head to Guatemala City to a private hospital at 3:30 AM. Thankfully, we arrived rapidly and safely just beating rush hour. As we were getting close, Areli was screaming in pain. Thanks to modern medicine, and some good drugs, her pain was stopped this morning and she has been pain free since.
The short story is that after six doctors and a very thorough workup, it appears that the gall bladder is the culprit. The plan is to take it out. When is still a bit of a question as it somewhat complicated by the c-section 3 weeks ago. But I believe they are going to do it in the next couple of days.
We are thankful that Areli did not suffer as long as Job and that she is doing well now. We are also thankful that we were able to get to the best hospital in Guatemala and that we are one of the few missionaries that we work with that have medical insurance to pay for it.
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: I think we are under attack. Of course Satan cannot do anything that God does not allow him to. In the last month, members of our missionary community have suffered new heart problems (on top of a series of other recent problems), a motorcycle accident with head injury, our previous situation, and now this. But all are alive and continuing to serve God. At the same time, God is moving big time. For example, our Guatemala church has really seen God doing some great things. Hours before, Areli’s episode began, we enjoying leading worship in the presence of God. Three people were reconciled with God. And several members were commissioned to share the Gospel in the village of a year-old church plant. Later that night, things changed for us again. I’m really beginning to not like Monday mornings and it’s not because we have to go to work as this is usually our day off.
We will continue on in His strength. We just want it to be said of us what said of Job:
“In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” (Job 1:22)
“In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:10)