I couldn't understand what my roomate was telling me when I heard the words, "Lisa is in the hospital...she can't move her body and she's in the Emergency Room."
The thoughts that flooded my mind were: "What?! Lisa was just fine last night when we were at bible study...very energetic as her usual self, just a little bit of pain in her neck, but nothing huge....how could she now be....paralyzed?"
My friend and Servant Partners teammate - Lisa - entered the Emergency Room @4 am on the morning of Friday, March 13th. It was a month ago today, and there have definitely been ups and downs....but God has continued to be faithful to Lisa, to her husband - Eric (and other fellow friend/Servant Partners teammate), to her family, and to her Christian community - Servant Partners, Church of the Redeemer, and many friends. At one point, Lisa was not able to feel anything in her right arm, she was not able to eat food, and she was not able to talk. I was not present during those times with her at the hospital, but I can imagine that it was difficult for her and the people around her...especially because Lisa is quite a talkative and in-motion type of person. Amazingly and through God's presence and healing, Lisa is currently at a rehabilitation center in Pomona, in which she is doing therapy everyday. Lisa is now able to talk, she is able to eat food, she has been regaining more feeling throughout her body, and she is able to flex her left bicep and move her left arm! Praise God!!! Throughout this whole time...something that has become a shelter of peace has been to sing worship songs.....Lisa has actually also done better as there have been times of people singing worship songs while in her room....and it has been good/helpful for me to sing to come to God wit my worries and concerns, to lay them at His feet, and to find shelter in worship! Amen. I have also found this to be good for my soul in other areas of my life...to sing worship in times of praying, in times of seeking what God is doing at work in my life, and in times of worry/concern....singing worship songs have blessed me!
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So on an unrelated note....with things going on in the neighborhood, a couple of weeks ago, my roomate - Regina - and I got to go to Liliana's house to help make tamales! It was quite the experience and I got to practice all the Spanish I had in me (including the Spanish that I didn't know I had...ha ha). Regina and I successfully made many tamales after watching and learning from Liliana. She takes about 25 minutes to make 50 tamales....I think we took about an hour...but it's all good. Her husband - Javier - , other apartmates, and friends were there while we were there, so we got to talk with them as well (some in Spanish and some in English....and overall, a lot of Spanglish!) Hopefully some time soon, we will be able to invite her over to our apartment to eat a meal.
Thanks for your continued prayer...here are some new prayer requests:
-Regina, Liz, and Edith are celebrating their birthdays this upcoming Saturday with a birthday party at our apartment and we are iniviting many neighbors in the community and are wanting to kick off a time to start a bible study for people in the neighborhood...so please pray that the planning of the party and the party goes well, as well as follow up with neighbors to be engaged more with the bible and prayer!
-More opportunities to meet and talk with Liliana and her husband and housemates, and for them to come to a Spanish service at Church of the Redeemer
-For the young adult fellowship in connection with some of the 2nd year Servant Partners interns....that they would be wanting to seek Jesus into their daily lives and for their studies (as some are in high school and college) and for them to want to be connected with the fellowship community through each other and the leaders
-LISA: For her to be encouraged during this time as it is difficult for her since she's typically such a mobile person and now she is relying on other people to do things for her, and also for continual recovery and healing through her therapy
-For work, during these last 2 months of the school year that God would continue to bring me energy, patience, compassion, and love for the students....and new mercies every morning! Also, guidance from God about a decision for what job position I will do for the following school year.
