Puzzle Pieces

Jigsaw puzzles can be fun and they can be frustrating. So much time can be spent looking for a certain piece to finish the edge, or complete a section. Working together with others can make it go together more quickly, since there are more sets of eyes searching. Once all the right pieces are put together and the puzzle is finished, there is a sense of satisfaction and completion. 

Monday, we found a missing piece in regards to Mike. Last Friday I called and talked with the RN who is the Floor Manager, regarding Mike's agitation. As I was explaining his actions, she thought they should check to see if he might have a UTI. She was right, tests came back positive for UTI on Monday morning. Mike was extremely agitated on Monday, plus threw up his lunch and generally seemed miserable. I am so glad the UTI was discovered and antibiotics were started that evening. Yesterday, he was so much calmer and I praise Jesus for answering prayer and am so thankful that the RN thought to test Mike for that. One more puzzle piece found by working together.

Yesterday Mike was more cooperative when I tried to brush his teeth, but still nothing doing on shaving. It was getting him upset, so I didn't push it. He was generally pushing me away no matter what I was doing, so I let him be. Mr. B. said Mike had been more cooperative with the CNAs after Monday too, so that's all improvement. Still no talking or reading yet.

If you read my last post regarding the missionaries, you may have missed one of the comments left by a sister-in-Christ, Pam Wilson, whom I have never met, but who has been following our TBI journey. It truly blessed my heart and I want to share it with you. It's another piece of a puzzle that God has allowed us to see of His master plan.

"Such beautiful reminders. An elderly missionary - when I was a young missionary - asked me what year I was born. When I told him 1957, and I mentioned that half my team were born in 1957, he nodded knowingly and said, 'Yes I meet so many missionaries who were born in 1957 because when the martyrs were killed in 1956, people began praying for others to take their place.' So good to know we do live in a Kingdom that is sure, with a sovereign King!"

Isn't that beautiful? Who knows how many missionaries went out as a result of those prayers? Where there were 5 men, maybe now there are thousands, tens of thousands, or more! Even Mike, who was born in 1956 and me in 1960, though we were short-term missionaries, could be due to those very prayers following the martyr of 5 missionary men in the jungle. God's multiplication to bring salvation to as many as possible. It makes me think of Joseph and this passage from Genesis 50:19-21.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Whatever trial, loss, difficulty or success you find yourself in, look for God there. God's intentions are always for our good or the good of someone in our circle of influence. Let's allow Him to use us for His glory and the saving of many lives and trust that He will provide for us and our children as He did for Joseph. God knows where all the pieces of the puzzle are and in His time they will all be put together perfectly into His grand masterpiece.

Party

Saturday, September 1, we had a little party for Mike since Keegan, Amy and the girls were able to come up to visit. I made a pound cake and brought strawberries, ice cream and whipped cream. Aria picked out party hats for us to wear and everyone was a good sport about wearing them (at least for a little while!). Mom and my good friend, Nancy rode up with me, our new pastor met us there, and Mike's roommate, Mr. B. came out and joined us also. Mr. Ommm was there also.

 I hope the gathering brought Mike some joy; it's hard to tell. Mr. B told me several times how much he enjoyed it. After we had sung "Happy Birthday" and eaten our fill of sweets, Keegan and I took Mike inside. With Keegan supporting Mike and me pulling the wheelchair behind them, Mike walked with the walker for about 15 minutes or so in the halls. 

While we were walking inside, the bottom dropped out of the sky outside and everyone else started coming in. The deck has a covering, but there are 3 open sides and the wind was sending rain everywhere. Thankfully we had finished the main part of the party before this happened. 

Keegan and I got drenched as we ran out to put things back in the car, I grabbed umbrellas, and his family prepared to head back to their home. It was very warm so was no big deal, just wet. I believe Pastor Randy had been soaked also when he left earlier.  I am so blessed to have great family and friends that support Mike and me and who are willing to go with the flow - from wearing funny party hats, to getting soaking wet without complaints. 

Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and nurses as they continue to try to find the right combination of medication to make Mike comfortable and calm. This week was not a good one in that regard. Mike was quite agitated and antsy. He will only walk if I am there which is not helping him. Although I believe he understands a lot of what I say, his reasoning ability is lost. He's not comprehending that walking every day will ease his fidgeting and help him get better and that he can walk with the aide or therapist or nurse or whoever will try. He just goes rigid, except when I'm there. I encourage him to walk with the PT aide, but he's not doing it. Therefore, he mainly sits in the wheelchair or lies in bed. This staff has never seen him any different, and so it is hard for them to realize that he can be different, calmer, reading. I'm advocating for him as much as I know how, but I cannot do anything about his resisting and going rigid. I'm all for getting him off of medication, but he needs something to help him be calmer. I keep on giving my input, but it is largely out of my hands. God, please have mercy on Mike.

I just finished reading Elisabeth Elliot's book, Through Gates of Splendor. If you are not familiar with her or the story of the 5 missionary men killed by Auca Indians in 1956, I highly recommend reading this book and End of the Spear by Steve Saint whose father was one of the men killed. Elisabeth's husband was another. The truth that shines through their witness is that God is sovereign, He is in control. In regard to the death of her husband and the other 4 missionaries Elisabeth says: 

"But we know that it was no accident. God performs all things according to the counsel of His own will." "The quiet trust of the mothers helped the children to know that this was not a tragedy. This was what God had planned."

Some of the wives stayed and continued to work with the surrounding Indian groups, letters arrived from all over the world telling of lives changed, prayers lifted, missionaries encouraged and strengthened in their commitment to live for Christ even unto death in order to bring others into the kingdom - all due to the witness of the 5 men and events in the Ecuadorian jungle. Eventually some of the very Indian men who had killed the missionaries came to faith in Christ. Elisabeth goes on to say:

"God is God. If He is God, He is worthy of my worship and my service. I will find rest nowhere but in His will, and that will is infinitely, immeasurably, unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to."

I have no idea what God is up to in Mike's and my life, but I do know that our lives are in His hands and His hands are the very best place to be. No matter what. He is trustworthy. He is faithful. He has a plan and it is a good one. I see narrowly and dimly. He sees infinitely and clearly.

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. 

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

I'll leave you with one more quote from this book:

"This is the context in which the story must be understood--as one incident in human history, an incident in certain ways and to certain people important, but only one incident. God is the God of human history, and He is at work continuously, mysteriously, accomplishing His eternal purposes in us, through us, for us, and in spite of us."