Holy Toledo, Sevilla maravilla and Gibraltor rocks! part I

Starbucks is not only expensive, it can be a dangerous habit!

At the Starbucks where I had my accident.

Well as most of you know, my father and I went on a tour of Spain a couple weeks ago. I had never been to Europe, though my dad had many times, and I was very excited. The flight proved not to be the ordeal I imagined, and I definitely prefer 767's to 737's or MD80's.

The tour started off with a bang, or should I say, thud. While waiting for the Welcome Dinner, and while my dad was taking a nap, I thought I would step into the Starbuck's on the corner.

Well, it was a wrong step. I lost my balance. And rather than the humiliating fall that we all have had from time to time, the kind that we hope no one notices. It was quite public and resulted in the calling of an ambulance.

I knew at the moment I fell that I had broken a bone. I could feel it break. And never had I felt so much pain. It is interesting to note, dear nursing friends, that in Spain they use the 1-10 pain scale just like in the U.S.A. I told them it was an 8 to 9! (It was a 10 actually, but I have always thought that 10 was an exaggeration, now I know better.)

My poor dad, he was awakened by a phone call and the words "hija" and "hospital". He was surprised by how well his "little Spanish" served him. He spoke and understood enough to get into a taxi and find me. I am sure that he was relieved that it was just a broken bone.

For my part I discovered that the Spaniards of Madrid are very easy to understand, much easier that most Mexicans I know. I got good care and was seen by a traumatologist, who set my broken bone. They were so kind and empathetic. Of course afterwards, not having a discharge planner, they told me to leave the wheelchair I was using when I got in the taxi, and literally put me out with no crutches or means of getting around.

I got my "Welcome dinner" by room service at 11:00 at night. But good, but good!

Sparing the pitiful details, let it be said that office chairs with wheels can prove useful in a pinch, and a simple chair can be used as a crutch and offers a place to sit when you get tired, which happens quickly when one is hopping around on one foot.

Our tour guide, Marie Luz, bent over backward to obtain a wheelchair and crutches for me to use, and in the end I saw Spain as best as one could in that situation.

Dad and I at Plaza España in Madrid, with Don Quixote and Sancho....before my fall.

We also toured the royal palace in Madrid, and I was amazed by what we saw, mostly on the ceilings. My dad took this picture and a guard quickly pointed out that there were signs everywhere prohibiting the taking of photos. Fortunately, she didn't smash his camera and I have this reminder of the palace's beauty.

Holy Toledo!

The tour of Toledo was a fast walking tour over cobblestones so instead my father and I toured the town square. While enjoying thick hot chocolate, best eaten with a spoon, and churros, I began to make a list of the places I want to visit with Eddie one day.

Toledo was the Visigoth capital prior to the 8th century. Wikipedia says that under the Moors it came into its Golden Age and Jews, Moors and Christians lived together harmoniously. It was taken by El Cid, famously played by Charlton Heston in the movie! It is encircled by the Tagus River as well as an ancient wall. And is very cool.

To Cordoba, and a bit of history

We enjoyed first class dining on the AVE train. By the way, if you wonder how Spaniards eat...less food, more wine!

The AVE high-speed train took us to another great city reconquered from the Moors. It too had winding streets, and a fast walking tour, so I went by taxi to meet the group outside of the Cathedral of Cordoba.

Enjoying my first taste of independence in a wheelchair, I did some window shopping in Cordoba.

Cathedral of Cordoba

Wikipedia tells me that the site had been a Roman temple, then in the 600's a Christian Visigoth church was under construction when the Moors took over. It was completed in 784 A.D. and was at one time the second largest mosque in the world. It was reconsecrated as a Catholic church/cathedral in 1236 by King Ferdinand III.

hard to get good photos due to the lighting

When I entered this mosque turned cathedral, I felt the wonder of being in Spain fall in on me. I was always being encouraged to keep up with the tour, I tried to avoid being pushed in the wheelchair. I knew I could get the info on Wikipedia, I just wanted to be there, and take it in. LOTR fans...it was like being in the Mines of Moria, the halls of Khazad-dum. The pillars of marble, onyx, jasper and granite went on and on in such an eerie light.

There were many kind members of our group that were eager to help me keep up. I discovered how nicely wheelchairs move on marble, as opposed to cobblestone!

The tour guides and other Spaniards have no qualms about discriminating against the gyspies, and warning you to stay clear of them. Something about being quite adept with sticky fingers. This gypsy hounded Dad until he gave her something, (she said she was hungry, but wouldn't take the food I offered). I had to teach Dad to say "Acabo de regalarle" (I just gave you something), as she and her companions kept coming back to him.

Sevilla maravilla

We spent the next 3 days in Sevilla. I was set free from the tour guide and got to enjoy the marble floors and amazing sights of the cathedral, third largest in the world. The sights included Columbus' tomb and well...too many to describe.

I love the ceilings!

Hard to see, hard to photograph, but this tomb, with 4 kings carrying the casket of Columbus is impressive, and severe. Apparently Columbus has graves all over the Caribbean...seems they kept digging him up and moving him, possibly leaving parts as they went. They say he traveled more dead than he did alive!

One of many views of the cathedral

The cathedral was built on the site of a mosque which was torn down, and inside the tower is a minaret with a ramp that circles round so a horse could be ridden to the top. Of course I only heard about it, but Angie and her mother, Mary Ellen, from Calgary, made the climb!

Mary Ellen and Angie from our tour group, I really appreciated their company! Angie learned her Spanish in Oaxaca, down the coast from where we work.

more cool photos

outside yet another royal residence

inside the same royal residence, the Alcazar

I also admire floors and walls...

I had fun taking these pics. I was on my own, no one pushing my wheelchair, I was able to mount the ramps and that gave me such satisfaction. Of course, when you need help, you need help and you are very grateful for it! Thank you so much Dad!

but wait, there's more....

obviously there was more to the tour, but this is longer than I wanted to go today.

Coming Soon, Flamenco dancers, Gibraltor rock...and Granada!

Tent Camping

Thank you Mr. Coleman!

I once watched a History Channel program on American camping along with the history of the American love affair with the automobile. Mr. Coleman invented the campstove, and the propane lantern. Since then his logo is widespread over America, and most of my camping equipment, including the 10 x 17 foot tent that holds two large Coleman air mattresses and a portable crib.

Kai's first nap in a tent!

Last weekend we went to our favorite campground, Tumwater Canyon. Located on Hwy 2 in the North Cascades, east of Stevens Pass. Our daughter Faith and her children started camping here with me 9 years ago. This year we included their new family member, Kai.

Isaiah was just about 4 when we started camping, now at almost 13 he was so much help, from putting up the tent to blowing up the mattresses! I heard Faith exclaim at one point, "Oh, I love having big kids with a baby around!" Either Elisabeth or Isaiah were there to watch Kai while the other helped with our camping tasks.

A Fine and Pleasant Misery **
Camping is a pastime which takes all the usual chores or living at home outdoors, and increases the challenges of everyday life by adding insects, dirt, threat of rain, subtracting indoor plumbing and electricity.

There is no question about it! Our generation has gotten soft! In fact, when we walked to the bathroom, or scavenged firewood. We thought we were at the RV show! Hugh trailers, 5th wheels almost as big as the one we call home, charming tent trailers, and motorhomes of all makes and sizes.

Only the backpackers, which we once were, work harder than the tent camper. Backpackers prove how little you need to survive in the wilderness, because they have to carry it all on their backs. Car campers see how much they can cram into their pick-up!

The trick to a successful tent camping experience is preparedness. As Louis Pasteur once said, "Camping favors the prepared"*. Murphy's law assures us that if we are overly prepared we will only need half of what we bring, but if we leave anything out, that will be the one indispensible item.

But hey, whatever you should have brought is never forgotten again.

The campfire

The first thing I did in the morning was build the fire, and the last thing at night was to stir the ashes and spread the coals far apart and make sure they go out. A fire starts best for me if I use scavenged wood partly burned covered in candle wax. I drug Isaiah all over the empty campsites digging through the undergrowth looking for free fire wood.

The campfire is used for roasting hotdogs, marshmallows and toast, frying bacon and eggs,grilling tortillas and keeping water hot for coffee, hot chocolate and washing dishes, babies and dirty feet before bedtime.

Still it exceeds a one star hotel in Mexico (costs the same and feels cleaner)

Over the years Eddie and Jay have not been able to join us on our Tumwater trips, so we go alone with the kids. When two women camp together as Faith and I have over the years, camping involves so much work. We put up a tent, pump up air mattresses, put up tarps to prevent rain (Murphy's Law), gather wood, build fires cook meals, wash dishes, wash kids. I can understand why any woman would think we were crazy to look so forward to camping.

But camping was a gift my father gave me, and a gift Eddie and I gave to our kids. Besides the work, we also play by the river, explore, play in the dirt and relax in the beautiful northwest wilderness.... and of course, again, there is the wonder of looking into the campfire, watching the coals dance and glow, and listening to the sound of the river at night.

Camping builds memories, and traditions which some say are the result of shared suffering and meeting unique challenges. Miseries that none of us would relish, like cooking my special ham, potatoes, cheese and eggs in the pouring rain, or waking up in the middle of the night surrounded by water, practically floating on your air mattress, can be tolerable if you can spend one night around the fire making smores, or experience the family content, away from television or electronic devices.

Isaiah and Elisabeth eating MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat), military field rations, issued years ago which Grandpa found in his stuff), probably the same issue that their mom and uncles ate when they were kids.

Walking to the bathroom in the dark with my dying flashlight, I looked up into the Milky Way and I remembered why I love this place. I have always said that "any night spent in a tent was better than a night spent anywhere else". There is nothing as cozy as a warm sleeping bag on a cold morning, unless the air mattress has gone flat in the night.

Elisabeth beating me at backgammon by Chiwaukum Creek

Well, some of you understand and are agreeing with me heartily, the rest are shaking their heads, especially those of you who told me that your idea of camping was a 3 star hotel.

Staying at Tumwater puts you about 20 minutes away from the lovely Bavarian village of Leavenworth

One last glance at baby cuteness!

Well, as I close, I will tell you that Eddie and I will be leaving Washington is less than 2 weeks. We have a lot of planning and preparing to do. We head for Mexico and expect to arrive in Oaxaca by October 10th or 11th. But before that....

I will be on a 10 day tour of Spain with my father, while Eddie housesits in Palm Springs. If any of you have any unused Euros laying around, you are welcome to donate them to my spending money fund for Spain. You can send them to me at P.O. Box 1946, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, by September 16th.....I would be ecstatic to receive them!

P.S. Did you know that Eddie and I sleep in a tent when we are up in the mountains in El Mosco?

*Actually, Pasteur said that "Luck favors the prepared mind", so he could have been talking about camping.....or germ theory.
**A Fine and Pleasant Misery is a wonderful, humorous book by Pat McManus

Summer reading and a great cloud of witnesses

August 18, 2008
The Great Cloud of Witnesses

I have long been one who loves history, and believes that we are made richer and wiser by learning from others' failures, as well as their successes. And so as a believer, I have found that biographies of the saints are not only enjoyable, but also encouraging to us as we seek models and mentors in our daily walk with Christ.

Hebrews 11 has been called the "hall of Faith" a Bible hall of fame. Verse 4 speaks of Abel who By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

My summer of reading
I have just completed a biography of John Newton (writer of the great hymn Amazing Grace), prior to that I read the biographies of William Wilberforce, J. Hudson Taylor, Mitsuo Fuchida, and Adoniram Judson. And although I need to read Iberia in order to prepare for a short tour of Spain, I really must find my small bio of George Mueller to read as a break from the hefty Michener volume.

Except for the book on Fuchida, the man who led the air attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, and later became an evangelist (book is entitled God’s Samurai), the other books have been about believers who changed their world.
Early this year I found a copy of Prisoners of Hope, Our Story of Captivity and Freedom in Afghanistan in the bookshelf at the Clinica Corban, where I work in Oaxaca. I found myself inspired by the book, but it left me craving another. Back to the bookshelf, Deadline by Randy Alcorn, a riveting Christian whodunit (that is: who done it…aka murder mystery). Suddenly I realized that every gringo on the mission base was reading something other than their Bibles, I guess the hard work in the heat demanded that we rest our minds with entertainment. We began passing books back and forth, and okay, we did the same with DVD’s, but you know, books are more portable, and the pleasure lasts longer!

So back to the topic of the Great Cloud of Witnesses, when I got home I started digging through the mounds of books that Eddie and I have packed away. And then I started putting them on my Facebook iRead. Then I started looking at what others were reading. Then I started ordering them from Amazon (free shipping!)

Okay, back to the topic again! We all have our preferences in books, theology, Christian living, Self help…..I don’t learn that way. I learn from observation and reflection of what I see and hear. Biographies of the saints who have lived their faith in difficult times are my teachers!

My Hall of Faith
Over the years I have learned many things from the biographies I have read.

“No hole is too deep that God’s love is not deeper still” from Betsy and Corrie ten Boon, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boon

He will sustain us through desperate times, and even in our suffering He will give us the opportunity to know Him as our companion and lover. Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Diebler Rose.

The man who helped form my approach to faith suffered some of the same
emotional struggles I have suffered . Oswald Chambers, Abandoned to God by D. Mc Casland.

God saves some who are so far from faith others would consider them hopeless. I recognized that their humility at having been so low gave God the opportunity to use them in mighty ways. And they never forgot that they were “great sinner(s) and Christ is a great Savior”. John Newton, From Disgrace to Amazing Grace by J. Aitken, and God’s Samurai by G. Prange. These two books also demonstrated by contrast how the believers you surround yourself with effects your effectiveness.

We should chronicle the signs and miracles along our way that demonstrate God’s faithfulness in our own life story. Walking God’s Trail by Steve Saint.

Social justice is part of our commission, and God uses true believers to reform a society. Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by E. Metaxas.

Five men gave their lives just so the Waodani (once called the Auca) would be present at the Throne. They chose not defend their lives with guns because they were ready to die, and the savages weren’t. Jungle Pilot by R. Hitt, and Through Gates of Splendor by E. Elliot

The testimonies of these saints have helped form my walk with Christ. These men and women gave their lives; they suffered as I never have. They deemed Christ worthy, and they loved the lost with their very flesh and blood. They call me up from my whining and complaining to be grateful, faithful and true. They pound deeply into my spirit the determination to be like them in one way or another.

Oh, and I almost forgot Gladys Alward, Amy Carmichael, Ann Hasseltine Judson, Sarah Boardman, and most of all Catherine Booth. I have never been much of a feminist, because I have never needed to be. In the church since Christ set us free, neither male or female, the gospel has been advanced across cultural boundries by women, such incredible women!

I encourage you therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

It's finally summer in the Great Northwest

I always say the people of the Pacific Northwest celebrate summer. There are times when summer seems so short, when it seems like it has been raining forever...and then the sun comes out and we forget all that!

We have been camping, river rafting, picnicking, working on our deck, we even got over to Leavenworth and the Stonewater Ranch. We finally got to see the Leavenworth's community theater's annual production of the Sound of Music! And I have spent many hours by the pool reading, getting too hot, jumping into the water, and then reading some more.

The Gathering CampOut at Fort Casey

The campfire is the center of every great campout and so it was with us. Mercedes from Spain was with us, it was her first time camping, or sleeping in a tent. She even got to build the fire one night!

From Fort Casey it is a not too long walk to the Keystone ferry which takes you to funky Port Townsend. Amber W. got in on the Josh Kelley family portrait.


Sunday morning we had a Kelley family breakfast. I camped with Micah and Amanda. We had an all electric kitchen. Here is Amanda making the pancakes. My other daughter-in-law Marilyn commented on how good I was at bringing luxury to camping as I showed her my cafe con leche with foamed milk (a french press can easily foam hot milk!)


Grace, Kaitlyn and Mercedes. Mercedes really enjoyed Kaitlyn, in fact Kaitlyn was more disposed to letting Mercedes hold her than Kaitlyn's grandma.

We had church outside. I appreciated Josh's short sermon. He spoke of how our church is a community, a family living together. So a campout with campfire and s'mores and all the other outdoorsy fun is spiritual activity where we grow in relationship.

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Micah and Matt leading worship. I got a great video of one of the songs, but I forgot that my singing was recorded too....so I will spare you the misery. Pity, the song was one of my favorites.

And last weekend was the Gathering Church Picnic at the beach!

As Mercedes said to me. "Your church has so many young families, so many children!" And their were kids everywhere, and they, and their parents had lots of fun.

Christa and Luke

Mercedes

At the end of July it was time to say good-bye to Mercedes. We had spent some good times with her, and bonded well. As she and I were driving back from Fort Casey together, she asked me many questions, and told me about churches in her home city of Burgos, Spain. As we know, the gospel is not readily available in Spain these days. She was impressed with the life and the joy we enjoyed as we worshipped together. Church where she lives is strict, solemn, and apparently doesn't have many young people.

She also asked me about the word Grace. She liked it very much as a name, Josh and Marilyn's daughter's name is Grace. But moreover, she noticed that we used the word a lot more than as a name. And she wanted to understand what it meant. I started to try to give here one or two of the many definitions and explanations we have all been taught, but I realized that she would have to understand what God's grace was to her as she sought it out. And so that is what I ended out telling her.

When we said our good-byes we were touched at the huge tears that fell from her eyes when she realized this was farewell. Later Marilyn suggested that she wasn't used to the affection that it is common to us, and she loved it. I suppose that Spanairds are not Mexicans.

Thank you Paul!

Last week Eddie's sister's husband Paul brought his great skill and experience, and tools to help us finish our deck. Now we have almost double the living space! I love it.

Paul framing the roof

Eddie building our new fire pit. We also put up a roll-away tarp that can be used to cover us and the fire in case of rain.

My dear friend Carol came out to help me break in the outdoor living space. Eddie stayed at Paul and Suzanne's place while Carol and I enjoyed a couple days of fellowship. Carol had just returned from an outreach to Uganda, and we had a lot of talking to do. She also brought us a gift of beautiful windchimes that continue to bless us.

The Ten Brinks are coming! the Ten Brinks are coming!

We are all anticipating Jay, Faith and the kids arriving sometime soon from Mexico for a 9 month furlough from the mission field. And also, we are all very excited about Amanda and Micah's annoucement that we will be getting a new grandchild in March.

Isaiah with his graduation padrinos Pola and Juan Luis

Isaiah graduated from primaria in Mojocuautla. He did very well in the bilingual (Spanish/Cora) school and was one of three who won an academic olympics that sent them Tepic for more competition. He said to me "but I haven't graduated from my English 6th grade".

Almost time to return to Oaxaca

It is hard to believe that we will be leaving for Mexico in 6 weeks! That means I am back to reading my Bible in Spanish, and we need to get that big garage sale organized! (we say that every year) And this week I notified Mira Vista of my last day available for work (Sept. 10)

We have stayed in telephone contact with Laura and David, and Angie and Berna...and by internet with Dave and Mary Kay. Facebook has also been very useful to keep us close to the happenings with our family in Mexico...so I am ready to get back to see everyone face to face.

But before that I get to have one very special adventure! My father and I are going on a tour to Spain! On our way down to Oaxaca, Eddie and I will stop at my dad's. Eddie will house sit for Dad while we are in Spain (Sept.24 to Oct. 5). From there Eddie and I continue south planning to arrive at Mision Victoria by October 10th.

Prayer Requests

So as I close, I would like to ask you again to pray for us.

--- for Mercedes as she goes back home

--- for good time with family in this short time left

--- that the Lord will provide what we need for travel and living expenses which will obviously be more this year

--- for our health, that my joints, knees and shoulders, settle down and I be able to give my all in the work we do, and many outreaches in to the mountains

--- for Oaxaca and the people of the mountains, that God will break through the darkness and bring light to the people of the Ixtayutla region

Support for our ministry can be sent to The Gathering Christian Church, P.O. Box 512 Mount Vernon, WA. Write the check to The Gathering, and put our names in the "notes" section for a Tax deductible receipt.

Summertime....for now

It has been so long since I blogged. Life has been the same pretty much for me, working four to five days out of the week at Mira Vista Care Center. Eddie has been driving over the mountains to guide on the Wenatchee River with YD Adventures on the weekends. And I have been too tired to go with him. So I have been reading, reading, reading....I love missionary biographies!

Okay, the sun did come out every now and then, and very gratefully, we had a sunny, albeit, cool, Father's Day!

Laura with some buttercups she found on the trail

Grace looking at little creepy crawlies found in the stream.

At Last...Summertime!

Until last week, every day was the same grey and wet. We had an unusual amount of rain and the river was full. The sun came out around June 21st. I know that wherever you are, you are likely experiencing wild weather, or flooding, or rainy season (in Oaxaca), but the people in the Great Northwest are taking a break and having a joyous time celebrating summer!

Marilyn, Grace, Eddie and Sarah

Daddy Micah resting from long days of getting their new house ready to move into, and 21 month old Kaitlyn.

Micah, Amanda and Kaitlyn

Sarah enjoying her first S'more of the year!

Of course the best part of being home is being able to spend time with our sons and their families. We just had our first barbeque and s'mores. We have been enjoying the pool too! In fact yesterday I took my dirty clothes over to the laundermat, and swam while the clothes were washing.

Eddie spent all day yesterday babysitting Grace and Sarah, and I helped Micah and Amanda clean the new house so they can move in. I was greatly entertained by Kaitlyn's antics. When she is well fed, not tired, and not afraid that her mom is going to go away she really warms up to me.

Welcome Mercedes

Mercedes making her first S'mores.

Josh and Marilyn have an exchange student from near Madrid, Spain, a lovely girl named Mercedes. Laura, Marilyn's sister, is enjoying having someone to hang with and help her with Spanish.

Mercedes made real points with me by asking if I weren't Mexican, "because my Spanish is so good!" She sat with me in church Sunday. Though she speaks good English, she needed help with unfamiliar words like "outcast" and "worship" (Josh was preaching about the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4.)

The Gathering

We have been enjoying being a part of The Gathering. We attend two different homegroups, depending on which days I have off. Josh, has been preaching on the book of John, and I really enjoy his teaching. If you go to the website of the Gathering (in the sidebar to the right of the blog) you can listen to the sermons.

I am looking forward to the church campout in July. We are hoping that a group from the Gathering will be able to come to Roca Blanca for an outreach in November or October.

YD Adventures

Eddie at the lodge at Stonewater Ranch carrying his river gear

This was a hard shot to get, my camera just isn't fast enough, or maybe I used the wrong setting...Eddie is at the top of the photo in the yellow "coolie" hat, going through the rapids we call "Slant Six".

Eddie won't be going on the Gathering campout because he will be on the Salmon River in Idaho with YD Adventures. He also helped with the guide training this year, spending a week out at Stonewater Ranch, where we have so many friends.

Mr. & Mrs. Steven Erickson!

Last year when I was on the Salmon River I spent a lot of time talking with a young man named Steve. As we rode down the river on a gear boat he told me about his growing relationship with another YD staff guide, Katy.

It was so sweet, as it always is, to listen to the heart of a young man of God growing in love and maturity, with God, and with a beautiful young lady. It was wonderful to celebrate their wedding this summer along with their family and so many of the YD staff

Mira Vista Care Center

I have been working at Mira Vista since I was a nursing student in 1997. Mira Vista provides skilled nursing, and also long term care for the elderly. We care for more acute cases than a "nursing home" and so the work is always challenging.

I have come to recognize that caring for the elderly is a high calling. My co-workers and I do something that is often only recognized by the patients, their families and God. It is our pivilege to give dignity and value to people who are forgotten by society. We participate in some of the most intimate times of change and loss in the life of a family.

It is very hard work for me emotionally, especially as I age, and as I have lost my own mother. I am starting to care for patients my husband's age, and that is a bit of a shock....and disturbing. Still, I am able to give so much love, and it is reciprocated day by day by day.

One of the best parts of my work at Mira Vista, besides the patients, is a wonderful staff. Above all is our Director of Nursing, and our Administrator. Every year when I return from Mexico, they have done something to make ours the highest quality facility and a pleasant place to work.

With a few of my favorite co-workers, Aida, me, Lolita and Myra.

"I forgot I wasn't in Mexico"

I had a funny thing happen the other day. I had a young patient (62 years old) who suffered from chronic pain. I had done all I could to relieve her pain, including a warm blanket to her aching shoulders and ribs. When she sighed and said, "well, it's better, but it still aches so..." I just didn't know what more to do. Suddenly I found myself reaching out to lay hands on her to pray. I forgot I wasn't in Mexico!

Please understand, I have learned, and taught much about spiritual assessment, how to address patients' spiritual needs. But a nurse always needs to respect their patients wishes and always asks permission to pray.

But sometimes when you are having a tearful heart to heart with someone, you just naturally squeeze the hand and close your eyes and talk to the Father. And how good it is to bring the Lord's loving presence into that precious space.

I told the above story to one little gal, the widow of a Pentecostal pastor. She said to me, "Honey, you can pray for me any day!" And I have.

under His mercy

All our love to you all. We all are going through the days challenges learning more and more what it is to trust the Father. I have been suffering from a lot of serious knee pain these last few days. I know that many of our beloved friends are also finding the faithfulness of Christ in suffering.

As I read the histories of the modern day saints, missionaries who gave every last bit of devotion to Burma and China, and even to the abolition of the slave trade...I am humbled. I have not yet touched the full measure of suffering these mighty ones have known. Still, God does not minimize our individual sorrows, but promises to be with us and carry us!