Joelle asked me how I was feeling. Lying back in bed, I sighed in frustration.
“Well, this definitely ruined my plans for the day.”
“What plans?”
“To not be in the hospital.”
Three weeks after Launch, I found myself in a hospital, the last place I expected (or wanted) to be while on the World Race. I couldn’t even recall the last time I had been sick, let alone hospitalized, and there I was— staying overnight in a hospital in a foreign country, and I could hardly communicate with the staff.
Honestly, I can’t remember a time in which I felt more helpless and vulnerable. My skin was having a severe inflammatory reaction to something unknown. There was uncertainty about what was actually happening in my body, paired with a huge language barrier.
I was stripped down and given a shower, and put in a hospital gown. My teammates Kelsey and Joelle had gone to a nearby cafe with WiFi in order to get in touch with our leaders and let them know what was happening.
While they were gone, a couple nurses came to put in an IV and administer the first dose of steroid, and they promptly left. I was momentarily alone in my room, with an IV in my arm, not knowing what was going on.
Fear crept in.
A couple tears slid down my face. I prayed for strength and comfort, and to feel God’s presence surrounding me. As I was sitting in bed in my hospital gown, a song came to my mind:
“Take a moment to remember
Who God is and who I am
There You go, lifting my load again…
Your love carries
Your love carries me through
All the valleys, and the darkest places…”
As I sang the song in my hospital room, I was overcome with peace.
I pictured Jesus, his eyes full of compassion, cupping my face and wiping away my tears.
Those 24 hours were so obviously led by God, who worked out everything for us. The Lord showed me so much of His character through the hospital staff. He showed me compassion, kindness, and gentleness.
I had to completely surrender to the Lord and trust in the hands that He placed me in that day. I was reminded that He is faithful. He is good. He can be trusted. He is our Provider and our Comforter.
As I watch my skin slowly healing and knitting itself back together, I’m reminded that God is always moving and working, even in the unseen.
To read more about my hospital experience, check out Joelle’s blog post here! She shares her perspective and goes into much more detail. I am so grateful for my incredible teammates.
