I bonded quickly with my tent, spending my first week of ministry inside it. I was cut off from the world around me miserably sick. Slipping in and out of pained consciousness, I had a few bones to pick with God. Missionaries are supposed to lay hands on the sick and see them healed not be laying around sick themselves.
The answer I received, “Patience”
Patience was not the lesson I wanted to be learning, but there seemed to be little choice. I tried to be patient as the team had to take care of me since I could not. I tried to be patient with my inabilities. I tried to be patient as the team gave out Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, something I really wanted to be part of but had to accept that I could not.
It was a long first week.
My throat infection has now cleared. The cough is mostly gone. The fever has long left and my ear has unstopped. My stomach is apparently as normal as possible in 3rd world living. But I was left with one thing… a family.
I guess I am fortunate. In the midst of all the frustrations of being sick, I had the privilege of learning early on that I can completely trust my team. A few teammates even trekked back to San Juan just to get my medicine since we could not get it in Arroyo Cano.
I am very thankful to be back among the living and very grateful for my new family that I get to spend the next 11 months with.
Oh and for everyone who was concerned about the spider bite… it is healing as well.
