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Starting the race in month one at times has felt like setback after setback. It isn’t the first time I have felt like the Lord wasn’t on my side. It’s hard to trust the Lord in tough circumstances. I felt like the enemy was constantly attacking me. I will start by telling you about the setbacks.
Knee POP!
Jan 15th
Today I was playing soccer one day with the guys in our ministry in Medellin. We just got done with our men’s bible study and now on a field competing with them. During the game, scored two goals and I was headed down the field to score one more goal. On the run, I am chasing the pass and its too far so I sprint FULL SPEED trying to catch up to the soccer ball. Then I approach a muddy patch ahead in front of a gate. As I try to stop, I hear my left knee POP! A week later I was given crutches until my doctor’s appointment. Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe didn’t have an open appointment until the 29th. Until then it was difficult to do ministry. In Colombia, there are lots of hills and stairs. My knee continued to get worse to the point I felt like I was going to have to be sent home early from the race.
PickPocket
Jan 23rd
Today was so frustrating, and I will tell you why. I went to the store with four others to get ice for my knee. After a week’s worth of swelling, I was so excited to get some ice finally. After grabbing the ice, one of my friends that they need to go to the pharmacy a block down the road. It was there when I sat in the chair and noticed that my phone wasn’t in my pocket. In this moment I AM FREAKING OUT! I kept up with all of my things and made sure not to take it out. We searched for hours and retraced our steps. When I got back to the refuge, I looked on “find my iPhone app” and saw that it had changed location. Pastor Douglas, the local police, and I went to track it down but didn’t have any luck. Since I had apple pay and other financial apps, I had to deactivate all of my cards.
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” 1 Peter 4:12-16
Hospital Visits
Jan 29-30th
Today I felt so hopeless and let me tell you why. I was in a position where I literally couldn’t do anything. My amazing teammate Andrew volunteered to go with me to the hospital. After my consultation appointment, the lady at the front desk told me the hospital only took cash. Today I was in a position where I felt like I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t speak fluent Spanish, the ATMs wouldn’t work, my local phone wasn’t working, there was no wifi to call or message anyone else, and I was in a foreign country hospital expected to pay for my visit with no money or a way to get it. I couldn’t even use google translate because I didn’t have my iPhone anymore.
What happens next?
On my local cell phone, I finally get through to our teammate John, and he sent help! I remember sitting in the chair and just praying and worshiping the Lord for what felt like an hour until I felt a hug from Squad-mate Lauren Kenley and teammate Colby.
Next day the MRI showed I had a tear in my meniscus. My doctor told me that I didn’t need surgery, but all of the ministry we had been doing was making the healing process worse. Hiking, walking up the Colombian hills, climbing staircases, and bending my knee past 45 degrees was tearing it more. I was doing this for about two weeks without the knowledge that I had a torn meniscus. I thank God that I don’t have to have surgery and that this tear 90% of people with this kind of tear heal on their own. I have to take it easy.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
Wiped
Feb 4th
Today my computer went out and my hard drive with ten years worth of content had just corrupted. I started to freak out, and I knew at that moment I had to be patient. I had to focus on the Lord and his faithfulness. So I worked on my computer trying to fix it for a couple of hours a day. I know there were blogs I needed to catch up on and photos to edit, but I didn’t let it stress me out. I continued to trust in the Lord.
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ” James 1:12
Restoration
The Lord is restoring everything that I lost, and it reminds me of Job. At the end of his trials, the Lord restores everything in Job 42:10-11. Later my selfless teammate Colby Wayenburg said that he wanted to lend me another iPhone. The Lord restored my phone! At debrief before heading to Ecuador, my amazing Coaches brought back the phone and a new debit card! My computer after a couple of days comes back to life, and my hard drive starts working again miraculously. I didn’t lose anything, and I was able to back up all content twice. Our setbacks are an opportunity for the Lord to restore and to show his love towards us. It’s a chance for us to praise him and not complain when being tested. To grow in humility and trust in him even when the odds are against us. Remember that your setbacks bring restoration when you place your faith in the Lord and abide in him.
“I am your God and will take care of you until you are old and your hair is gray. I made you and will care for you; I will give you help and rescue you.”
Isaiah 46:4
