March 19
Well I can’t end the story here; God did much more than what I have already written about there in the hospital.
I had so many prayers going out for my healing. Family and friends at home were praying as well as family and friends of numerous people on my squad. God blessed their many prayers and began to heal me. I went from no strength in my hands and not able to walk, to being able to walk a few days later.
Even the doctors were amazed how quickly I was recovering. Usually patients with this disease can’t walk for months possibly even years. Wow, am I so blessed! I prayed and still pray that my doctor’s will see the miracle that the Lord did and that their eyes will be open to who He is!
Every part of the day, I had people from my squad with me at the hospital. Many times they could not see me, but with being the amazing people they are, they made the hospital their ministry. Many of them prayed for the patients that were waiting to be seen.
They also took shifts of who would stay over night for me. Now, I took an ambulance to this hospital and it was pretty dark, so I did not see the conditions they were in until I was released, and it was rough. With that being said, my amazing squadmates made the best of the situation. They played cards with kids and made friends with the security guards, they even shared their blankets and sleeping mats with others who had to sleep outside the hospital those cold nights.
At first when I heard all of this, I felt bad. They had to really rough it out to be there for me, but now I see the blessing they were able to be to so many sick and hurting people. They assured me it was so worth it and they were thankful for the lives they were able to minister to there at the hospital.
After my five days of treatment, I was moved out of the Emergency Room into a room with three other patients. I was no longer hooked up to an IV so now I could go freely to the bathroom without having to call a nurse over to unhook me from everything; this was HUGE! And I could have visitors with me constantly, I was so happy!
The three sick women and their families that were with me were such a blessing to me. Their smiles and sometimes laughs, when I had no idea what the nurses were trying to say to me in Spanish, were so great! My squadmates had been so awesome at bringing me snacks that I had enough to feed a small army. We were able to share these snacks with the patients and their families. I felt like we were friends in there!
God laid it on my heart to go and pray for each one before I left. Their smiles warmed my heart and I pray that if they don’t already know the Lord, that God would reveal Himself to them that they will be able to experience His love and peace during these tough times in their lives.
I was released from the hospital seven days after I arrived, let me just tell you, that is a crazy huge miracle! It now has been a week since then and I would be lying if I said its all been easy. God is still teaching me things in this.
I have been going to physical therapy where I have been improving a lot. The pain in my back is less everyday and my arms and legs are getting stronger. Today I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I walked a mile and a half! Miracle!
The doctors and physical therapists advise me to go home because it would be easier for me and my immediate response was to resist them. God healed me so I am staying. But I was reminded to completely give it all over the Lord. Like that great song says, “My life is in the hands of the maker of Heaven, I give it all to you God.”
At this point in time I do feel like the Lord will have me stay on the World Race. My entire team prays over me every night and has taken specific days to fast and pray for my continual healing and for wisdom and discernment for these decisions.
When a missionary asked me what the best thing that had happened to me since the Race was I realized, without hesitation, that this was it. Being sick has been the best thing for me. The Lord has broken me and molded me and ultimately showed me His crazy, furious love for me and because of that, I am so very grateful! Oh, I am so blessed!
