Kokubun Konexión

A week ago Wednesday, Daniel was ordained at First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana.  We were thrilled to be a part of this exciting event!  Seven of the other men from the team also got ordained.  Here are some pictures from the event.

In the hospital?  What?  I just saw him yesterday! Is he okay?  What's going on with your husband?  Is he sick?  How bad is it? All of these were common questions just a few days ago.  He seemed great one day, yet the next he was completely down.  Let me say first of all, my husband is the best faker I have ever met.  I thought I had friends who were good fakers- and they were... but I've never seen someone work so hard at faking in my life.  He is my hero. 

Daniel has a colon condition called ulcerative colitis. It's hard to explain, but each year around spring time for the past 4 years, he has had a difficult time with his health.  Most the time in college, he was able to fake it with hardly anyone knowing what was going on.  This time we thought he could fake it, but he unfortunately took a turn for the worse.  He struggled for about 6 days before I took him to be admitted to the hospital.  Without going into too many details, during those 6 days he didn't eat at all, and we were struggling to get liquids or keep liquids in him. 

These few days were extremely difficult for me.  Being newly-wed, this was my first real encounter with nursing a severe illness.  It was discouraging, because he wasn't getting any better, and I was doing everything I could to make him better.  You know, I praise God for that time.  Because it is in the hard times, that God gets extremely close. It's in those times when you HAVE to go before God in tears, begging him to heal your husband, that God makes himself known to you.  I wouldn't trade that closeness for the world.

My husbands attitude, through this whole time, has been remarkable.  When you're dating, I think it's impossible to tell how a person would react when trials hit.  (Unless, obviously, the trials come while you're dating.)  Dan did not necessarily have huge trials in college, so I didn't exactly know what to expect.  I could not be more proud of the character of the man I married.  I don't think I've heard him complaining once.  His attitude has been, "If God wants to take it away from me, I know He will.  Until He takes it away, I'll pick up my cross and follow my King." Watching him suffer, yet have a phenomenal attitude has challenged my own personal walk and challenged me immensely. 

We're home from the hospital, and God let me husband be ordained Wednesday.  It was a special time, and I feel God gave him a special grace and healing to be there. We are blessed.  Although he's home, he hasn't been cured.  We're still praying about which medications to use and where to go from here; but for today, we're glad to be back to real life~ enjoying the journey!

Yesterday morning, I drove back to the hospital from which my husband had just been released.  I was a little annoyed at myself for leaving some of his medicine there, because I had to drive back and pick them up.
I got there just fine, found the medicine, thanked his nurse and left quickly.  (I don't know why hospitals make me so queezy- but I just want to pass out walking in the doors!)

 As I was driving out of the hospital parking lot, I saw three what looked to be teenagers sitting on the curb.  Immediately it hit me- I needed to go talk to them.  I pulled up my car, grabbed three tracts, and jumped out.  Handing each of them a tract, I asked them if they knew where they would spend eternity.  "Yes," the girl answered, "I do."  After several minutes, they admitted they really didn't know if they were going to heaven or hell but wanted to know.  I got to share the precious story of Jesus Christ, and how He paid the penalty for our sins.  I told them that they needed to simply admit they were sinners and believe that Jesus died for those sins and they could be saved.  

When I asked them if they would like to be saved, the young man stopped me and said, "I don't think I should pray right now.... I'm sure I'll sin again before I die." Isn't it awesome that God already thought of that?  I was able to share with him that Jesus didn't only die for the sins he had already committed, but his future sins.  Obviously, we shouldn't abuse it, but God's grace is sufficient for ALL our sins.  When he understood, he smiled at me and said, "Yes, I'd like to ask Jesus to save me." 
All three of them bowed their heads, and asked Jesus to save them.  I also had the privilege to pray with them for their mom who was having surgery at the present time. 

I drove away that day, amazed once again at God- and His grace for us.  It hit me... For every excuse we have, for every issue in life- God has already thought up a solution. 

So... maybe we were dismissed from the hospital late at night....

so that maybe I would forget the medicine....

so maybe I'd have to drive back to the hospital..

so I'd get to meet these 3 priceless souls.  Maybe it wasn't such an accident after all!