{I’m not sure this article will be published fully in the local paper due to the use of word G-o-d in it. So I thought I would post the unedited version on my BLOG just in case.}
I wasn’t sure what I would share about this month at first. Most people want to hear about cool adventures on the World Race or how we helped people…that’s kind of what the race is about…loving people well. My adventures this month involved visiting the ocean with the volcanic sand, walking the streets of Bethel (sounds like Bet-el) with teammates to meet new people, meeting a gal with a pet monkey named Betty, playing something like Red Rover in Spanish, and being really really sick this month. Although that is the cliff notes version…there’s a lot more that went on…that last comment about being sick was probably the greatest adventure I’ve been on to date on this race and the one that has impacted myself and the people around me the most. So that’s where this story starts this month….sort of.
Part of my backstory…When I signed up for the World Race it was after what seemed liked some all but lost dreams of traveling the world and serving others. I was completely out of shape and really wasn’t sure traveling and serving around the world was even do-able at this point…but something in me knew this just wasn’t about the adventure, or about me anymore…but about something bigger than myself. I knew I still had SOMETHING or rather SOMEONE (Jesus Christ) to offer. I got accepted to the race…and if I was honest thought that maybe Adventures in Missions (our sending organization for the World Race) had made a mistake in accepting me. Training Camp was tough really tough…but I can finally say I get training camp, I get why I’m on the race, and why I’m going to do everything I can to finish this race WELL.
I was sick almost the entire month of September. I won’t share all the symptoms…but basically I was having trouble keeping food and water down due to extreme nausea, a fever, chills, body aches, and fatigue. While I tried to rest and sleep…even sleeping became really difficult…my brain just didn’t seem to want to shut down long enough to recharge.
We had some work projects around the ministry site we were working at, but we were also going out to meet people, and building relationships. Week one at our ministry site Vision Nicaragua I got to meet with the clinic doctor Dr. Michael a Nicaraguan doctor. What I should probably preface is that I’ve never been big about hospitals or American doctors…but this wasn’t the first time I was sick on the World Race and knew seeing a doctor early was my best chance of getting better. I brought a team mate with me to help translate…but honestly the doctor spoke better English than my Spanish skills any day…so the three of us were able to piece together what was going on with my health. I started on a round of shots from the local pharmacy to try to help with the nausea. My American brain thought this would be a quick fix. It wasn’t…either day two or three of shots I was doubting its effectiveness…and my rear end also had its doubts…I was sore. I was scared…and started to wonder how I was really going to fight this nasty sickness…but was extremely encouraged because the doctor shared he had used these same shots with his youngest daughter…and something clicked in my head. Whether the shots (which I later stopped taking) would work or not…I knew he generally cared that I got better…because it’s the same kind of talk my sister who’s a nurse would have given to any of her patients. It was relational, personal, and it mattered because it calmed my heart enough to trust in his judgment and medical suggestions.
While this whole crazy sickness was going on a lot was going on in my heart…a huge heart change was happening. Regardless if you call yourself religious, believe in God, or what…this month it was like a bunch of truth was downloaded into my heart. Due to a bunch of lies I believed about myself, fears, insecurities, you name it…I just didn’t have a lot of room to love myself, or others. It’s kind of tough to be on a trip like this and to feel that way. I’m so thankful things began to shift. For me I needed to know I could totally trust in God…that He had my best interests at hand…and when things like that began to shift…and I hand room to experience His love more fully…I then had room to love others and to have immense JOY while being very sick.
While this was going on… still nauseous and everything else…a lot of remarkable things were happening around me. My teammates helped to bring me water and bring food from different meals. I was drinking a mix of Powerade / water like it was going out of style…and on occasions the cooks even brought me some snacks…I’m not sure if they got from a local gas station or grocery store…and hardly thanked them well enough for. Even one of the ministry dogs Lo-tee was a big encourager. We had a family dog growing up who liked to get into mud, was playful, and naughty at times, but very loving and protective. Just like our family dog Lo-tee just wanted a little love and attention, especially if there were storms…dogs don’t always like storms. Lo-tee helped remind me of who I was back then…how at times I really felt alone…but I was able to finally see I most certainly NEVER been alone. I had/have people/family that really love me, complete strangers taking care of me, and a God that knows exactly what I need and how to take care of me even when I feel I can’t communicate those needs well to others.
Hospital visits…I went to a small hospital for almost a day and to a large hospital in Managua, Nicaragua where I spent four days hospitalized. If you’ve never visited a hospital in a 3rd world country you should…if nothing else to encourage people there. Being a patient in one of these hospitals is completely different though. I had visited hospitals and heard stories…but now I feel like I have a greater appreciation for medical care in the states and how to encourage folks who are with loved ones in other countries.
In America regardless of money or insurance you’ll still get a certain level of care when you come to the hospital no matter what condition you’re in. Overseas…well…money is expected up front…at times if there’s no money there may or may not be any kind of treatment or help…and often families are required to give personal cares such as bathing or helping their loved one use the bathroom. The first small hospital was a lot like this…I probably should have more scared than I was…and at times I did have my moments…but it was cool was that one of our ministry contacts drove us and stuck with us at the hospital…and shortly after… our clinic doctor Dr. Michael came to check on me. We all know how busy American doctors are…but let’s be honest folks how often has your family doctor come to visit you at the hospital? Not only was Dr. Michael there…he had once worked at the same hospital and knew and chatted with the doctor that met with me. I came in with a high temp, still sick to my stomach, and had certain hopes of how the hospital might be able to help me. There’s a lot I will skim over for times sake…but the jist is I didn’t get an IV at that visit, I had some basic tests done, and the two teammate with me had to go and get our own toilet paper and food to use while there. Before we left that hospital we were able to chat and pray with a family who had been visiting/staying on the other side of the wall with us. Their son/husband had been in a motorcycle accident six days before. There were no bells or whistles like I knew there should have been for this man to be monitoring his condition…so it was tough leaving knowing I could/would be going to a larger hospital at some point not knowing how long this man and his family could afford for him to receive this level of care. It broke my heart.
It was a bit confusing to keep track of what tests were provided at the small hospital, and to really trust in the tests that I received at a small lab…so it got to the point where whether I felt I could make the journey to the larger hospital or not…it was just time to go….the medications I was receiving just weren’t doing the trick. Keeping much of anything down consistently was still tough. There’s so much more to share…but essentially each leg of this journey caused me to rely and trust more on my teammates, squad leaders, and our ministry contacts…something that had been so tough before…but as I was able to handle more love and trust… I knew I could/would whether in my own strength or not.
My team leader and teammate joined me on the 2+ hour journey to Managua. At this point I was very dehydrated, weak, and struggling with a bit of vertigo. We made it to the hospital and things really started to happen. I received my medical bracelet and we were whisked off to an observation room. I met with local doctors and a Tropical Disease Specialist who between our translating and their amazing English we were able to really get down to business of getting me diagnosed and treated. Getting an IV, getting liquid medicine helped with keeping food down, proper tests, being moved to a different hospital floor/bed, quality restful sleep, and having brilliant nurses made all the difference. We were able to use Google Translate (nurse’s suggestion) to share more specific symptoms and needs to figure out a diagnosis. My teammates were awesome and our “amenities” didn’t exactly “hurt” such as internet, TV, and a hot shower (hot showers become a luxury on the World Race). I was treated for a bacterial infection I can now affectionately call “Lepto” and was released to head back to the ministry site for more rest and recuperation. This entire time regardless of the care or provisions I knew in all my heart that this was exactly where I was supposed to be and God was still guiding every step of the process.
Back to the ministry site I still felt wimpy after days of being sick…but things started to shift. I wanted to fight to get better…not just for myself, family back home, or teammates…I wanted to share this new-found love and live out some of these lessons learned to help others. More than anything I DID NOT want to leave the World Race whether due to my health or own fears…I wanted to stay the full eleven months. I knew there were/are some realistic things I need to do to stay healthy out on the field and I was at the point in my life where I was ready to make those much needed changes.
Days before we were headed to the Philippines our next ministry location and I had some tough decisions to make with still having a rather foggy sleep deprived brain. Would I head home for a week with my family in the states to recuperate more, or see what I could do to make the trip with my Squad/Team? I was extremely homesick during this experience even as a 30 something…although I had internet through most of it and was able to keep in contact with my family…at this point in the game it was hard to know what was best for anyone involved. Whether it was selfish or not I choose NOT to head home. It just seemed like it would be ten times more difficult to get back on the field after reconnecting with my amazing family. So through the love and support of friends, family, various churches, and people I have never met… I knew I had an army of people fighting and praying for me back home…and it was with that “fight” that I made the journey to the Philippines.
Our travel day(s) roughly three days was quite an experience. We went from Managua, Nicaragua… to Atlanta, Georgia… to Los Angeles, California… to Hong Kong, and on to Manila, Philippines. It was incredibly humbling to get help carrying my packs and gear…but my Squad lovingly did so. A handful of us had been quite sick this month…so we all rallied to get through this.
The ministry location I’m at is unbelievable this month…and no joke even has a pool and a fitness center. Couldn’t be better for a gal knowing she needs to make some consistent changes in her life to impact her health and future work with youth. We’ll be working with street kiddos, a children’s home, birthing center, feeding programs and a lot of other incredible ministry opportunities…but more on this in my next news article.
I’m so thankful for all of you who have been keeping up on my news blurbs, blogs at erinjohns.theworldrace.org , and supporting my trip financially. You have no idea how your various support has impacted this trip and ministry journey. Can’t wait to share more next month…but its time for me to hit the field again. Many blessings! Erin
