Sheri's Ordeal and God's Faithfulness in it

What a crazy last 2 weeks! I left last Wednesday for meetings in Mexico City. On Friday I received news that Sheri was not in good health. We were sending messages back and for via cell phone. Things got progressively worse as she ended up in emergency at the hospital a few times and finally got admitted into the hospital.

I changed my flight and came back a day early arriving on Monday morning (just over a week ago now). The diagnosis came in shortly after I arrived, Hepatitis A. So we went on that advice from the doctor. We left the hospital on Wednesday but Sheri’s stomach pain came back in waves after eating. On Thursday Sheri endured a growing pain in her stomach for hours until we went into emergency again. She was at the point of fainting from the pain it had got so bad. I had to carry her in my arms to our vehicle and then from the vehicle into the hospital emergency room. The security guard and the doctors had really big eyes as they saw me carrying her and her head laid against me, unable to support the weight of her head herself. The pain then went away on its own and after confirming that there was no impending danger health wise for her, they sent us home again.
The next day – Friday- a familiar pain began again and after a few cell phone calls to the doctor and a few new medications tried, he sent us to another doctor on Friday for an appointment. We still were being told it was Hapatitis A. However after an exam from this new doctor, he told us it was likely not Hapatitis but rather a stone caught perhaps in a bile duct. His plan was a blood test and then the following Wednesday an ERCP (Endoscopy). However the next day – Saturday –again Sheri started with pain after eating only a quarter of a bowl of oatmeal. I called the Doctor (the doctors here are so accessible and give you their personal cell phone numbers etc). He told us to meet him at the hospital and that they would speed up the whole process of getting to the bottom of her pain. So they admitted her again on Saturday and Sunday morning they did the ERCP and indeed found what the ultra sound could not find- a stone in her bile duct.

We are grateful for the technology of today (they went down her throat with a camera etc and made a small incision in her bile tube, pulling the stone into her small intestine where it won’t cause any more trouble). The care we received from the 2nd doctor was really good and we are so thankful that the medical care available here is so good. Not only is the medical technology good, but with high speed wireless internet in the hospital room, a flat screen tv and Starbucks and Walmart across the street we were pretty pampered. It is safe to say that I didn’t feel much like a “Hard-Core Missionary”!

I think one of the things that stands out to us the most is how we received such wonderful support via emails from so many of those friends of ours who follow our ministry. We were overwhelmed to know that no fewer than 5 or 6 churches prayed for Sheri during their Sunday morning service not to mention the numerous emails we received from so many friends and family! I read every email to Sheri and she was so encouraged to know so many people cared and were praying!

We recognize now that what was wrong with her was not a medically complicated thing to fix, but for much of the time we weren’t sure what was wrong with her. That is what was hard to deal with, not to mention Sheri’s pain! I could only take so much of seeing her in so much pain, never mind how she felt through it all!

God really showed us how much He cares for us through this all. He had our friend and team-mate Shelli Neufeld here to take care of Sheri (trips to the hospital), and He had other friends and team-mates-Jack and Lucy Vogt- here to look after the kids for us (Thank you Lucy!). God also showed us His love through all of you who took the time to send an email and tell us that you cared enough to pray. Thank you! We truly are so encouraged by your prayers! How many people can say that they have literally hundreds of people praying for them? It is a privilege to be Missionaries here and to have so many of you on our side!

Please continue to pray for Sheri as she recovers. The stone likely had something to do with causing Pancreatitis from which she is still recovering. She hasn’t eaten much of anything yet and is still really hesitant to do so, but little by little she will increase her meals. She will be on a no fat diet for a time.

Once again, thank you for your countless prayers! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful team of praying people with us as we continue striving to extend God’s kingdom here in Northern Mexico!

Short video encouragement to the Elliotts

Musings

Do you know how they say that a Doctor needs to not get emotionally attached to his or her patients? I think it is accepted practice that a doctor does not perform surgery on a loved one as they may not be able to perform well. I wonder how much that applies to a missionary........................maybe a little, maybe not at all.

To be completely honest I have been having a hard time, stressed and just not myself. The reason? I am sure it is more than one thing but part of it is that some "patients" of mine haven't been doing too well in the areas I have been attending to. I know I just need to do my best and pray and leave it to God but like some doctors, I have been taking the stress of it home with me. I don't want to become cold and seem unloving - afterall isn't that what we are here for? To show Christ's LOVE? I know Christ calls us to love and that is my goal so I need to keep loving but it is hard to not fall with people when they fall. Maybe I am supposed to fall with them in some sense though.......... If we are to "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ", it is hard to not feel it big time when the one you are carrying the burden for falls.

Sometimes Deut. 1:12 seems very real in my life - "But how can I bear your problems, and your burdens and your disputes all by myself"? I know I am not alone, that you are praying for me and my family, but sometimes it just feels like the load is heavy. I guess I just want to see people succeed so much. However God has been patient with me, so I need to be patient with others.

Thank you for standing with us in prayer, we need you!

I also ask for your prayers for Sheri and the kids and me as well this week. I am leaving for Mexico City tomorrow morning (Wednesday) for a denominational conference and won't be back until next Tuesday. Pray for Sheri and the kids in my absence as well as for safety on the trip. I will be flying with my teammate Greg Neufeld.

Blessings.

Lane

Deut. 1:12