Throbbing abdominal pain. Skin sensitive to touch. Weak knees. Dizziness and sweat accompanied my countless goosebumps, but yet, I had no fever.
Sickness, whether great or small, is immensely more difficult without the comfort of the familiar. All day Friday, I felt helpless. My body ached. My eyes hurt. I only wanted to sleep. I even had my students working on their multiplication timed tests while I was practically passed out on the floor waiting for our principal, Mr. Lancaster, to relieve me. (This would have probably been a humorous sight to see.)
Sickness brings out the baby in all of us. I wanted my mom's touch, her voice, her love. There is nothing like the motherly nurturing that all of our mom's bring to their babies... even when their babies are 25 years old.
Even though I longed for my mommy, honestly, she wouldn't have been of much assistance at the Portuguese speaking hospital in Lago Sul. No offense Mom. But, God knew. God provided. And, praise Him for doing so. I honestly don't remember much besides waiting. We waited in the reception area, we waited in the kids waiting room, we waited on the floor. We waited about about 7 hours that Friday night. The only other thing I remember is the kindness, compassion, generosity, and blessing that Raquel was to me as we waited.
The hospital system here is much different than the system in the United States. There are Public Hospitals and Private Hospitals. Friday, we went to a Private Hospital. First, you get a number. Then, you wait to see the nurse, who takes your blood pressure, asks you your symptoms, takes your temperature, etc. Then, you go back to the main waiting area for your number to appear on the screen to see the doctor. Then, you see the doctor for less than 5 minutes and he tells you what tests and exams he wants you to take. Then, before you can take the exams, you have go pay for them... upfront. So, if you don't have the money, you can't do the exams. I guess this way, the hospitals won't go into debt. Anyways, after you pay for your exams you go and take them. Then, if you need to take more exams, you have to go pay for them, and proceed to repeat the process again and again until the doctors come to a conclusion.
John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." I know that Raquel did not necessarily lay down her life for me on Friday night, but she did give up her weekend traveling plans, her free Friday night, her money (because I did not bring enough with me and the hospital would have denied me care). In another area where I was helpless, besides my health, but my Portuguese speaking ability, she was there to help me and the doctors communicate.
All that to say, it was not my favorite Brazilian experience so far. But, I did learn alot about sacrificial friendship and service. The diagnosis was a Bacterial Infection. They didn't know what kind of bacteria, or where it came from, but they put me on an IV and put me on antibiotics. Now, I am feeling so much better! I may not be up to 100%, but I definitely don't feel like I did on Friday.
Listen to "You Hold Me Now" by Hillsong United. Praise God for the hope that we have in His coming Kingdom where there will be no more suffering, no more pain, no darkness, no weeping. Jesus beat the curses of sin and we await for His return.
I received the following picture yesterday from my home church: Ridgeview Church in Rockwall, Texas. The kids are raising money to give every student in my class a Bible. Thanks Joyce for heading up this fundraiser! Also, Lake Highlands Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas will be sending me a class set of Bibles. Thanks Pastor Mark Farish!
Please pray for my body to fully heal, the accreditation visit this week at BIS, my Portuguese classes (we have a test on Wednesday), safety during my upcoming travel to Recife from November 23 - 26, my students at BIS, and my classmates at UnB.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support!
Sickness, whether great or small, is immensely more difficult without the comfort of the familiar. All day Friday, I felt helpless. My body ached. My eyes hurt. I only wanted to sleep. I even had my students working on their multiplication timed tests while I was practically passed out on the floor waiting for our principal, Mr. Lancaster, to relieve me. (This would have probably been a humorous sight to see.)
Sickness brings out the baby in all of us. I wanted my mom's touch, her voice, her love. There is nothing like the motherly nurturing that all of our mom's bring to their babies... even when their babies are 25 years old.
Even though I longed for my mommy, honestly, she wouldn't have been of much assistance at the Portuguese speaking hospital in Lago Sul. No offense Mom. But, God knew. God provided. And, praise Him for doing so. I honestly don't remember much besides waiting. We waited in the reception area, we waited in the kids waiting room, we waited on the floor. We waited about about 7 hours that Friday night. The only other thing I remember is the kindness, compassion, generosity, and blessing that Raquel was to me as we waited.
The hospital system here is much different than the system in the United States. There are Public Hospitals and Private Hospitals. Friday, we went to a Private Hospital. First, you get a number. Then, you wait to see the nurse, who takes your blood pressure, asks you your symptoms, takes your temperature, etc. Then, you go back to the main waiting area for your number to appear on the screen to see the doctor. Then, you see the doctor for less than 5 minutes and he tells you what tests and exams he wants you to take. Then, before you can take the exams, you have go pay for them... upfront. So, if you don't have the money, you can't do the exams. I guess this way, the hospitals won't go into debt. Anyways, after you pay for your exams you go and take them. Then, if you need to take more exams, you have to go pay for them, and proceed to repeat the process again and again until the doctors come to a conclusion.
John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." I know that Raquel did not necessarily lay down her life for me on Friday night, but she did give up her weekend traveling plans, her free Friday night, her money (because I did not bring enough with me and the hospital would have denied me care). In another area where I was helpless, besides my health, but my Portuguese speaking ability, she was there to help me and the doctors communicate.
All that to say, it was not my favorite Brazilian experience so far. But, I did learn alot about sacrificial friendship and service. The diagnosis was a Bacterial Infection. They didn't know what kind of bacteria, or where it came from, but they put me on an IV and put me on antibiotics. Now, I am feeling so much better! I may not be up to 100%, but I definitely don't feel like I did on Friday.
Listen to "You Hold Me Now" by Hillsong United. Praise God for the hope that we have in His coming Kingdom where there will be no more suffering, no more pain, no darkness, no weeping. Jesus beat the curses of sin and we await for His return.
Please pray for my body to fully heal, the accreditation visit this week at BIS, my Portuguese classes (we have a test on Wednesday), safety during my upcoming travel to Recife from November 23 - 26, my students at BIS, and my classmates at UnB.
Thanks for all of your prayers and support!
Hi Dawna! I'm so glad you're out of the hospital. We will pray for complete recovery and good health. What did they say you had?
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying our "Bibles for Brazil" project. I love seeing the kids own the entire thing and I have to schedule the kids to work at the table since so many want to do it!!! Praise God!
Love you!
Joyce