These last few days I’ve been very sick the sickest I’ve been on the race. So sick I definitely wanted my mommy. The first day I started feeling sick I was at the mall and I just started feeling nasty like I was getting a fever. A few other people have been sick on the team but not had a temp so I wondered what was different about this. I walked around with a couple of my team mates, Kasie and Shea for a little while but sat on every bench available because my energy was quickly being drained completely out of me. At one point one of my team mates Shea, needed me to stay at this place because she needed to grab some money so I waited there looking half dead probably or I felt it. So the first person that cared for me was a complete stranger. The lady at the little shop offerd me her little stool so I can sit down. I glady took her up on her offer and sat down. I then went to wait with the other team mates for team time after Shea returned but felt like I should actually be going back to where we stay.One of my team mates, Mary Beth, said I really think you need to be going back I’ll order you a grab because you don’t need to be walking. I was like I’ll try to stay, then she was like I really think you need to go back. I agreed the second time and went back. Kasie came with me so I wasn’t alone. We stay in a school and sleep in the little class rooms. At that time when I went back there were still 2 classes left so I had already decided to just lay in the kitchen on one of our sleeping pads because I just wanted to really lay down more than anything.
Once I laid down and got situated. By then my temperature was starting to spike I was freezing in a very warm kitchen with no AC. Had blankets on me. I felt like I could defiantly fry an egg on my body. I fell asleep and one of the ladies that lives here and takes care of the building saw me sleeping in the kitchen and points to me looking at Kasie and walks off and comes back with a pillow for me. Kasie said she really didn’t want to wake me up but the woman was perssistant that I needed it. I kind of woke up as Kasie gave me the pillow and the little lady comes near she doesn’t speak any English but we often exchange smiles and gestures throughout the day. So she inches up and feels my forehead and neck like any mother would. And makes a concerned noise. She then proceeds to rubbing my legs for a few minutes. I always felt a connection with this woman and really loved her before because she was so sweet but I grew such an appreciation for the way she cares and loves others so well after my time of being sick. After my fever I started getting bad stomach pain and had to visit the bathroom often. The only thing I ate that day was a little egg thing and a piece of banana cake. But I kept needing the bathroom. But this didn’t feel like a normal stomach bug. My fever spiked and broke many times the rest of the day. After the classes I went back into the room to lay on a nicer mat. And Kasie put up my tent.
Another one of my team mates Mel is sick with a head a chest cold. We both stayed back from ministry that night. I went to my tent to just rest because the temp was taking everything out of me. When our ministry host returned the woman that messaged my legs and brought me a pillow brought our host up to check on me. And I was starting to feel kind better at that time so I sat up and talked to our host. And wound up having a lovely conversation. And she decided to go get me some green beans that she likes she said they might make me feel better. As she was gone I stood out in the hallway and talked to Mel for a bit then got a sharp pain in my gut and had to run down the stairs to the restroom to the only western toilet in the building and barely made it this time. I then started feeling very nauseous the rest of the evening with lots of pain in my stomach. The woman that massaged my legs came up to check on me and wanted to massage me again. She gave me a full body massage and Mel made me eat a slice of bread because I hadn’t hardly eaten that day. And Mel kept me company. The woman then brought some essential oils and asked if she could put them on me, eucalyptus and something for my temperature
I said sure and let her. I felt so cared for by this woman who barely new me. She just really cares about people and it is so special. After the message she gestured that I lay down and go to sleep. So I got back in my tent and slept until everyone got back from ministry at like 10:30pm. And had to go to the restroom again. Then realized I probably would need to take an air up sleeping pad and just sleep downstairs in the class room next to the bathroom. And asked Kasie if she would join me because I didn’t want to be alone. She was kind enough to grab a mat and come downstairs with me.
All through the night I had to keep visiting the bathroom and began to vomit too. But never found any relief and just rolled around in pain wondering what was happening to my body. I probably slept 3 hours tops that night and woke up in just as much pain. TMI but all that was coming out of my body at this point was the lining of mucus. I decided I needed to see a Dr which was actually right across the street. But I still had to wait an hour so Mary Beth distracted me from my discomfort by talking to me and it got my mind off the pain. Mary Beth was very kind and generous through my being ill, she has a very caring soul.
The little woman again checked on me that morning and gave me hot water for my stomach but I couldn’t drink it. My body didn’t want anything in it. Once we were able to go to the Dr Kasie and our host and another English speaking girl we know went with us. I was then diagnosed with Dysentery and extreme dehydration. He gave me electrolytes, and antibiotic, something for my stomach and something for the nausea. He also said I couldn’t eat fruits, vegetables, milk, or eat or drink anything sweet. He said if I didn’t feel better in 3 days I must go to the hospital. I’m praying against that. It’s day 2 and I’m feeling much more alive and actually eating too. And today I’ve been struggling wanting sweets so boo! He didn’t tell me how long I needed to stay away from sweets so I’m like, when is that over? I’ll probably wait until I finish my meds. And drinking all the water 4 liters a day. So Im quite water logged. My stomach still is in some discomfort but none the less I feel I’m recovering pretty fast.
I forgot a part of the story. Yesterday our host decided to put 5 of us up at her home so we could rest and I wouldn’t need to lay in the kitchen again. So we went to her house but the people she lives with were gone so we had to wait for her to go to the school to get her keys to the house. The bathroom urgency hits me and their neighbor lets me use their squatey, very thankful for their willingness to let me. And then another neighbor tells our host we can rest at his house until she gets back. So we went in and sit in his living room out of the sun. He runs around bringing us food that I couldn’t eat and tea that I couldn’t drink but everyone else was able to enjoy that hospitality. I am so heart warmed by the hospitality of the culture in Indonesia. They love to be hospitable and eat together and fellowship. It really warms my heart and they are so quick to care for you without a thought. The couple our host lives with were so kind to make porridge for me. It was very easy on my stomach and at least giving something to my body. Again I just felt so loved by them making me porridge.
My team has been wonderful, our friends in Indonesia have been wonderful, and strangers that quickly became friends have been wonderful. I can’t think of a better group of people to have dysentery around. The Lord richly blessed me with kind hearted caring people all around me. Yes I wanted my Mommy but the Lord filled the needs I needed and gave me peace of mind.
I’m on the road to recovery and hopefully no hospital visits. Would appreciate your prayers for full recovery and healing.
Until next time,
God Bless =)
