The Race is honestly not what I expected in some ways, one of those being sickness and all that comes with it.
Here’s the inside look at what health and medicine looks like in other countries:
I began to wake up in the middle of the night with stomach pain. I felt like I had air in my stomach and it was trapped. There would be times when I would think man I am not going to make it to the bathroom and this is going to be one giant step into vulnerability with my team and then get there and nothing would happen….crisis averted. I was constantly nauseous. I felt better for a week or so after taking some medication.
Then things started to go down hill again. My hair began to fall out in clumps, more so than normal after I got out of the shower and throughout the day. I also began to have back pain and neck pain. My head hurt off and on. My joints and muscles hurt. I ran a fever on and off. I was also hungry more than normal but after I would eat and throughout the day I would feel nauseous. My throat hurt to swallow. My hands and feet would also go tingly. I was exhausted all the time and slept for 3 days in a row, was lethargic, and fatigued.
I knew something else was going on but wasn’t sure what. I went back to the doctor and had blood work run. I was told I had an infection, parasites, didn’t get all those little suckers the first time, was vitamin b 12 deficient, iron deficient and also had a bacterial infection.
I was frustrated, upset and honestly asking myself why was I on the race. I wasn’t able to go to ministry for over a week and was miserable. I saw the need out there and wanted to be sharing Christ’s love but couldn’t.
In the middle of pain, heartache, and loneliness at times the Lord met me right where I was. He revealed to me that the situation is what you make it. I had two options to sulk and dwell in the situation that was or ask Him what His plan was in all of this and let Him teach me.
He showed me that what I was experiencing was temporary and I was able to get medical care. I was getting better, maybe not as quickly as I wanted or having all the answers that I wanted but I was alright. The people that live in Africa don’t always have that luxury and live in these conditions day in and day out. He allowed me a small glimpse into what it looks like for the natives that live here and are constantly surround by health problems.
As I reflected on what it felt like to be sick for a couple of weeks and to know that this is what some peoples lives are daily, my heart began to break again but for a different reason. I have hope, the ultimate healer, and a good Father to cry out to. I could relate to them and understand their sickness on a different level now which allowed my compassion for them to grow.
The biggest difference though is that I had a Father to help me get through the hard and to comfort me when I was hurting and that is not a guarantee for everyone. The Lord reveled to me that life is short and we need to take each opportunity we are given to share His love and truth because we don’t know what tomorrow holds. Some of these people have never heard of Christ and the desire to share intensified in my soul. My prayer going forth is that I would be in tune with the Spirit and willing to share with whomever is put in my path regardless of how uncomfortable it might be.
Join me in praying that hearts would be softened and ready to receive what the Lord has to say. Be praying that my team and I would be willing to step into the uncomfortable and follow where the Lord is leading this month. Be praying for unity amongst us as we enter a new season as a team. Be praying as I step into leadership over this new team of all girls. Be praying against spiritual warfare and distractions. Be praying that we would walk in spiritual authority. Be praying that the Lord’s presence would be made known here and that He would receive the glory.
