Vietnam has had some unexpected turn of events happen since arriving. I have spent the whole first week of being here laying on my back in bed.I had yet to even get the sniffles on the race and was sure that I could finish off this trip without a scrape, parasite living in my stomach or the all to common food poisoning that seems to pop up when traveling.
As our team was leaving Cambodia I noticed I wasn’t feeling like myself and started to get get pain under my arm. Brushing it off we made our way by bus to Vietnam. The next day I noticed the spot on my arm that was sore had gotten bigger. After showing my team we were all in agreement to go see a doctor. The problem was it was a holiday in Vietnam and the clinics were all closed. I had someone give me a prescription for an antibiotic over the phone by explanation of what it might be but I was not comfortable taking medicine for something I might not even have.
Our team was leaving the next day to travel 24 hours by bus to Da Nang where we are spending our month. I thought that I could wait that amount of time to see a doctor since I would be laying down in the sleeper bus not doing anything. After we arrived the spot under my arm had grown rapidly and was very painful. By this point a had a fever and needed to see a doctor.
I can say I am happy I waited until this city because the clinic was one of the cleanest I have seen on the race and the doctors spoke English very well. After looking at my arm they immediately got me set up to try and remove the infection that they said was spreading down my arm. To save some details they went in a started removing the infection and that when tears started rolling down my cheeks. My amazing and beautiful teammate Jeanette was with me the whole time. Not only is she a nurse and eased any anxious feelings I had about being it open poked in a foreign country, she let me squeeze her hand until all feeling was lost.
I was given strong antibiotics to take for the next 5 days and was told to return everyday for them to check the Incision and repack and bandage me up. I came back from the doctors and cried just thinking of having to go feel pain like I have never felt again the next day. I had literally sweat threw my clothes in a matter of 5 minutes because there was nothing done to numb the area. I was afraid to step foot in that clinic again but I knew I had to. The antibiotics here are very strong And given in large doses so I was throwing up within an hour of taking them even after eating a lot with them. I knew that for the next 5 days I could literally do nothing but lay in bed and close my eyes.
Rest . Something I always know I’m not good at and never really understood.
For me if I’m not doing something I consider it nothing. If I try and sleep in late I end up just laying in my bed thinking of all the things I could already be accomplishing.
This week I was forced to rest. If I tried to get up I felt like I would throw up an if I tried to move my arm I would only feel pain. Looking back on this situation though I couldn’t be happier to have gone through what felt forced upon me and out of my control, in order to be the place I am right now with God.
I saw my team love me as if I was there family and care for me in ever moment
In a matter of 24 hours I had hundreds of people all over the world lifting me up in prayer !
My family came together in ways I have only dreamed to see and I was overwhelmed by the love.
I was forced to lay down not move and just think. I thought about the last 6 months on the race and was able to have revelations of how God has slowly been chiseling away at my heart of stone and giving me a tender new heart.
I was able to take time to stop and pray and listen to Gods hopes and dreams for my future and I was reminded that God can make beautiful things out of any situation.
My fear of going back again to the clinic soon decreased and when I woke up the next morning I had so much peace. I met with our contacts before I went back and they prayed for me as well. I had faith that my arm would be healed.
When I got to the clinic I laid down on the table expecting and prepared for the pain all over again. After they removed my dressing and unpacked the incision they looked at the infection and with surprise said there was no more inside. All that I needed to do was keep taking the antibiotics make sure it is gone. What a miracle !!! The doctors thought for sure there would be more infection that needs to come out again because of how fast it had been growing but that wasn’t the case when they removed the bandage. I cried I was so thankful that I didn’t have to go through it again, that I serve a God who at the sound of prayers being asked in faith will heal the sick and thankful that I could physically see his love this week through healing, community, family and even through my sickness.
I want to say a huge thank you to my teammate Jeanette ! She loved me like a sister this week and was by my side for everything. Even saving more hospital bills on going back to have my arm cleaned and rebandaged because she is a gifted nurse. But most of all gave me the constant reminder to not worrying about the future and just focusing on today. She has one of those always look on the bright side of life ways of living and I am so humbled every time I get to be around her. I am all finished the antibiotics, so no more nausea and my fever is gone and I am back out able to serve with my team.
I also saw God provide through giving and I am now So blessed say my I am FULLY FUNDED!!!!!!!!!
thank you to everyone who has supported me through prayer an financially this past year! It has impacted my life in huge ways and shown me so much love and support. You have helped sow seeds for the Kingdom and I can’t wait to continue to share with you the fruit of you generosity!
My love tank is sooooo FULL !!!
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