momentary light affliction

"Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4: 16 - 18

* FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO GET MY PRAYER LETTERS THIS IS A REPEAT

I know that many of you have been curious as to my health. I have had quite a week or so, but I am now on the road to recovery. I will spare you all the "not so fun" details. However, for those of you who are in Med or Nursing School (Arthur and Amanda) or those who just like all the gorey details of my sicknesses (Lyle) I'll be happy to send ya'll another email full of details. :)

So, now for the general public:

Ever since I had parasites in late February/ early March (I can't even remember now) my stomach has not been acting "right". Two days before my next scheduled trip (April 5th) to the Asheninka communities I woke up and felt very bad. I was not sure if this was something in my head or something that I could just shake off. However, I decided to go to the doctor anyway. Doctors in Pucallpa are not much help, but I did get some blood tests done. They didn't reveal much, but I still was not feeling well.

I made a final decision on Wednesday April 4th not to go on the trip to the communities. This was a very difficult decision because I had already been "out-of-commission" since mid-February. I didn't want to let my team down, but I also did not want to be unwise about my health. So, I just prayed for wisdom.

Well the trip ended up being postponed one day due to rain. By Thursday morning, the original travel date, I was quite sick. Let's just say I was running to the bathroom very frequently. My team left for the communities Friday morning and I left for Lima Friday night -- still unsure if this was going to be a passing thing or something more serious.

I went to the doctor on Monday morning and it was pretty clear that I had him baffled. (He is a WONDERFUL doctor who speaks perfect English.) He ordered me to have tests run. On Thursday all of the test results were in and I was pretty dehydrated (from my FREQUENT trips to the lady's room--we are talking 10 -15 times a day for a week!). So, the decision was made Thursday for me to check into the clinic (like a hospital) to get on a drip and then I would have a colonoscopy done on Friday morning because my tests showed "unknown inflammation", but no parasites.

I was in pain most of my hospital stay and the colonoscopy results showed that I had an inflamed large intestine and ulcers. The doctor immediately started me on anti-inflamatories and a handful of other medicines. I am recovering at the Shearer's home in Lima. I am in much less pain now and I think I will be able to eat some pretty normal food within a few more days.

I have a follow-up appointment on April 25th. I will then learn the results of the biopsies and if I have a more serious Inflammatory Bowel Disease or if it was just a flare-up. I will be in Lima until at least the 25th, maybe longer.

I would like for ya'll to pray for any future decisions I will have to make about my health. Right now I'm just focusing on getting better, but sometime soon I'm sure I will have to make a decision about continuing to live in the jungle or possibly switching jobs because of my health and risks, etc. Please don't take this as me saying I'm going to switch jobs or move. I simply need your prayers for making the wisest decision.

Now for all of you "super-worriers" out there. I AM FINE! People in Peru have the same kinds of sickness and diseases that we Americans have and the medical professionals are able to take care of them. I am being very well taken care of and in fact my doctor studied at an Ivy Legue school in the U.S. I have better medical care than we do in Mississippi. So, DON'T WORRY!!!

I appreciate you all so much. I know that God is in control of my life and I fully trust Him with it. Being overseas does not change the fact that He is in control of my life and being diagnosed with a somewhat stubborn disease does not change that fact either. He is good (say it with me)...ALL THE TIME!

Now that you have your Sunday Morning Sermon feel free to skip church today! Just kidding!

Remember what is unseen is eternal...and ya'll's prayers are working for eternity.
-Remember to lift up my team as they continue to work in the jungle for the next two weeks.
-Please pray that I will have opprotunities to share truth with people as I am here in Lima.
-Pray that I will not get frustrated with my circumstances, but will be able to rejoice.

I love ya'll so much!!

Lane

Sick Again...

well friends,

i'm back in Lima. i'm not sure if i have parasites again or something different. i went to the doctor yesterday and had lots of tests done. i'm sure i will hear from the doctor tomorrow as to what it is that is completely tearing up my stomach. he gave me some medicines that are really helping to calm my stomach, but i'm still running to the potty way too much! he threatened to put me in the hospital on a drip, but thankfully i was able to keep more food and liquid in me today for longer amounts of time.

i'm not sure what God is wanting to teach me through all of this. i haven't been with my people group since the beginning of February. but through it all i will continue to praise Him. He deserves all the glory.

pray that i will continue to seek His face. that i will have wisdom when it comes to deciding things about my health.

i will keep ya'll updated as best as i can.

i love ya'll!