… and brought malaria with it.
I wish that were a punch line, but the only punch part about it is that I want to punch it (malaria) in the face.
We came to Ireland for The Awakening.
I was expecting a week of teaching, worship, hanging out in Dublin, and pouring into a few of the 300+ current World Racers who were there for it, too.
What I wasn’t expecting was to spend six days (total) in the hospital with cerebral malaria.
I know I sound like I’m bitter and complaining, but I promise that I really am not.
The story of what has happened since I started to get sick a week ago Saturday is one of God’s immense love and protection.
HE opened up the gap in the appointment schedule at the clinic so I could see the doctor sooner (and find out I might have malaria again sooner).
HE brought a teammate to go with me (I love you, Leyna!).
In the emergency room, HIS presence was with me.
All I felt during that time was peace and security, because I knew God was the one holding me close.
He was the one protecting me.
He was the one whispering softly in my ear, singing over me, promising to come to my aid and bring healing.
On the other side of this, safe and sound at my ministry in Romania, there are so many things I have experienced since I became sick.
My understanding of how the joy of the Lord can be my strength has changed radically.
Same goes with having joy in the midst of suffering, and what a willingness to sacrifice everything for the gospel looks like.
And my view of who God is has changed, too – would I have ever thought of God as a gentle protector before this?
Probably not.
I still don’t know everything.
I couldn’t even begin to claim to.
What I know, walking into the last couple of months of the Race, is that something dramatic has shifted in how I see everything.
I can’t explain how… I just know that it has.
