My team knows this well, and most of the squad does now too, you just don't give Kirsten dairy. The results are disastrous and usually involve discomfort (and slight suffocation) for everyone nearby.
I discovered my body's growing intolerance towards dairy about 3 years ago. I started developing weird stomach issues in high school. My doctor said it wasn't anything to be worried about, but helped me figure out how to cope and recognize when it was stress or food related. When the rest of my digestive system got involved too, it was pretty easy to pin point the culprit. So I cut as much dairy out of my diet as possible and took a digestive aid whenever I was craving some cheese or ice cream. My stomach is just kinda funky, so making further adjustments or simply living with discomfort wasn't a big deal for me. Granted, most other people didn't like it when I chose to eat dairy anyway (and kids aren't shy about calling you out on it when you are particularly flatulent). It gets embarrassing from time to time since I can't really control how my body choses to react to what I eat and let me tell you, dairy sneaks into everything now-a-days. I have gotten really good at reading food labels.
Now here's where things get tricky: I can't exactly read Thai. How am I supposed to keep myself from eating dairy when I don't know what is in my food, or how to ask whether or not it contains dairy?
During debrief last month I felt compelled to ask one of my squadmates to pray for healing for my lactose intolerance. I was sick of having to constantly ask what was in the food, for a special plate without dairy, or not being able to eat at all. After receiving prayer and then talking to one of my teammates, I decided that I was going to forego all dairy as best I could until I felt the Spirit moving in me to confirm healing.
Lunch the next day was a sandwich. I got to lunch late because I had been Skyping with my family while they were all at my parents' house for Easter. I asked if there were any extra plates since I got there late. I was already feeling guilty for being late when I realized I needed to ask for no cheese too, if possible. They said it was fine and I waited for my plate. When it came, my sandwich wasn't looking in the best condition. Somehow I didn't have anything but soggy bread, sauce, the meat concoction, and the remnants of cheese that had just been ripped off the bread. I was so discouraged I almost cried. I didn't want to say anything after all it was my fault I had been late and got the leftovers. I silently prayed "Lord, bless this food to my body. I am grateful for what I have been served. Please allow me to digest it fully without any discomfort."
I haven't felt any deep stirrings of the Spirit to tell me that I have been fully healed of my intolerance, but before consuming anything I have been praying for the Father to bless the food to my body and I truly mean it. How often have I prayed for my food, that the Lord bless it? Most of us raised in church-going homes have said that phrase at least twice a day since we were old enough to form simple sentences. That's a long time to pray something and never really think about it. Everyday now I have to step out in faith that the Lord will bless my food to my body, will allow it to nourish me and not bring pain and discomfort. Talk about a lesson in intentionality.
I am still praying to be fully healed of this, and I have asked my team to continue to pray over me when we eat together. But until I feel the confirmation of the Spirit that I have been fully healed (and I cannot wait to boast in that!), I fervently pray before each meal, before each snack, before each amazing fresh fruit Thai smoothie, that the Lord bless, nourish, and strengthen that I am able to serve Him with this body. And thus far He has been faithful to do so. Praise to our loving Father who hears our prayers.
