So, this is an Alacran.
It is similar to the one that crawled up my back and onto my neck and face while I was sleeping.
These are my hands after I went to the hospital to get treated for an alacran bite. Alacrans release venom when they bite as a way to paralyze their pray and apparently as a defense mechanism. One bit me when I grabbed it to throw it off of me.
I let out a small yelp and cried some when it happened and I still get the chills when I think about it, but regardless of it’s high ranking on the disgusting scale, getting bit by one of those suckers was the beginning of the best day I’ve had on the race so far.
Just the night before I was talking with God and told Him about the desire on my heart to be able to form relationships with the people around me from the surrounding community. Up until that point I had held back because I knew that it would only be a couple of weeks and we would have to leave all over again. In order to make leaving hurt less, I focused more on the things that needed to get done instead of trying to bond and get to know those who we were doing the things for. I was keeping my heart guarded purposely and really didn’t even realize it.
Getting bit not only forced me to depend on those around me, but it also forced me to stop doing and to start receiving the love that others wanted to give me. I could no longer distract myself with doing, I had to stop and see the people in front of me.
It was incredible.
And apparently when you get bit by one of those nasty little creatures, a lot of people want to talk to you about it, so that’s what happened. I talked to a lot of people as they approached me to see how I was doing, to relate if they could, and to offer some sort of comfort, whether it was a hug, prayer, tips on how to make the pain go away, or even their home so I could take a hot shower, which is hard to come by.
Although I know that God did not send the alacran to bite me, He could have stopped it but didn’t and to be honest, I’m really okay with that. I’m more then okay with that actually, because I got to know the community like I couldn’t before and for that I wouldn’t trade anything.
Besides, all throughout that day I saw Him move. A lot of people have told me that grown men have gotten bit by those things and it effected them on a greater level, plus it’s only been one full week and my hand is almost totally better. Not to mention, now I have a cool story to tell…. 😉
What the enemy intends for evil, God uses for good.
So, thank you Father for your incredible love and the fact that you are always in control. Thank you that you know the end from the beginning and that you are always working to make the best happen in the lives of your children. Thank you that I am almost totally healed and that you will complete what you have started and most of all, thank you for the incredible people I got to meet and to know in Puerto Rico. They’re like family now and I am thrilled to know them.
Yay for family! Yay for community! Yay for Puerto Rico!
