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| Written by the nurse: 'Jesus loves you' |
After the frenetic and stressful busyness of Saturday we have had to adjust to the frustration involved in waiting for the last few days.
Peter settled into a corner of the men's A&E ward in Manaus hospital with his leg in traction when we arrived on Saturday afternoon. We were hoping for a quick operation but soon discovered that nothing would be happening until Monday.
He has had good care, but as is to be expected, a Brazilian A&E ward is very different to a UK one.
For one thing, no one speaks English, so we have been totally dependent on Andrew to translate.
For another, the food is very Brazilian and - frankly - not very appetizing (I guess there are similarities with the UK there!).
We have therefore become very adept at smuggling in shortcake and bananas past the uniformed guards on duty outside the ward who take their role very seriously.
Another difference is that it is customary for family members to sleep in the hospital overnight in large chairs next to their sick relatives. One wonderful illustration of the love and support we have received from the Christian community in Manaus is that for 3 of the 4 nights Peter has been in hospital, local missionaries have volunteered to sleep at the hospital with him. This has been invaluable in case Peter needs to communicate with the nurses.
The leaders of the local church that we have been working with in Manaus - Dom Pedro Baptist Church - have also been incredible.
On Sunday morning Andrew and I popped into the service at Dom Pedro to convey our thanks to the Pastors for all the support they are giving. I was asked to preach that evening at their main service and decided to accept, mainly to convey publicly our thanks and also to testify to God's goodness in his help thus far.
It was a really special occasion.
The evening service is the main service in Brazilian churches. 300+ people gathered and I felt great liberty as I spoke, despite the circumstances.
After I had spoken, the lead pastor took over and called people to come forward if they wanted to walk more closely with Jesus. Around 30 responded, some in tears, some kneeling. It was clear God had touched hearts and I felt very moved by the sincerity of the responses.
God has been good to us in many ways over the last few days.
In the cold light of reflection, when we think back to all that happened on Saturday, it could have been so much worse.
This area is known for torrential rain. However it 'just happened' that it was a sunny day on Saturday. Had it had been raining, the trip from Ãlvaraes across lake Tefè would have been impossible.
If you look at Tefè airport on Google earth you will see that it is little more than a flat strip of tarmac in the jungle. It has two 50 seater flights daily to Manaus, but neither can take a stretcher.
However there 'just happened' to be a charter plane - with the ability to take a stretcher - on the tarmac that afternoon.
And then there 'just happened' to be a lady in the church here in Manaus who had the capacity and willingness to withdraw 5,000 reais in cash and pay for the special flight on our behalf.
And then one of the pastors in Dom Pedro 'just happened' to know the Amazonas State Secretary of Health, who arranged for an ambulance to meet us as the plane landed.
We have discovered over the last few days that none of these things is 'normal' here. We have also been reminded again that things don't 'just happen': God has been watching over us.
It therefore won't surprise you to know that while there have been low times for Peter, we have also known great times of fellowship over the last few days as well.
I spoke at a Pastor's Fraternal this morning and a local pastor gave us Isaiah 41:10 to give to Peter:
'So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'
The hymn 'How firm a foundation' came to mind when we shared it with Peter, so we all sang it together round his bedside while a ward of bemused Brazilians looked on.
We also had a good laugh together when Peter revealed to us that the passage he would have preached from on Sunday morning (if we had still been in Ãlvaraes) was 2 Corinthians 4:9.
The JBPhillips Bible translation of that verse, that he was planning on quoting, is this: 'Knocked down but not knocked out'!
He was also planning on quoting Proverbs 24:16: 'For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again'!
That is not to say that things have been easy or straightforward the last few days or that there aren't things that still need prayer.
On Monday morning we were told by Peter's doctor that the waiting time for his op would be 35 days.
We shared this with the pastor in Dom Pedro who immediately started petitioning the Secretary of Health.
We discovered yesterday morning that Peter had now been put on the priority list and that his op will be on Thursday at the latest.
Yesterday afternoon he was moved up to a main ward, which is a great sign that things are finally moving.
I have also been liaising with Peter's travel insurance company, who are the people who will arrange flights home.
To be honest this has been incredibly frustrating and involved numerous emails, form filling, copying of medical reports and phone calls.
However, despite the frustrations and uncertainties that remain, Peter is feeling positive and is in good spirits.
What follows is directly from him... he particularly wanted v33 to be included from the passage below!
'As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord ’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.' (Ps 18:30-33)
'The Brazilian way is far from perfect and the British way is far from perfect. God's way has stop signs and diversions on it but it is always perfect and we won't know until we reach our destination why God purposes all that happens to us along the way, but I have met so many wonderful Christians here in Manaus who have been so helpful to me and thank God for them as well as your prayers.'
The next few days are really crucial.
Please pray...
- That Peter's operation will be done tomorrow or Thursday.
- That the travel insurance medical response team will be satisfied with what they have and start being more pro-active.
- That Peter will continue to know God's strength, peace and patience.
- That a Portuguese speaker would be present to translate when needed.
- That the op would be successful and that Peter would soon be well enough to travel.
- For wisdom for my return to the UK if Peter is likely to be here for much longer.
- For both our families back in UK.
- For Andrew as he leaves tomorrow: that he would have a good journey home and for his father who is still very poorly following a stroke while we were away.
- For Andrea and Jason Murfit, missionaries we met last week at the seminary in Tefè, who will be taking over translation and transport duties from Andrew when he leaves tomorrow.
- For me as I move into new accomidation with yet another missionary couple: Brad and Melissa Miller
Praise God:
- That Peter is not in pain.
- That he has been moved up to the main ward ready for surgery
- For the pastors at Dom Pedro church who have been so helpful, compassionate and pro-active.
- For the intervention of the Secretary of Health.
- For the many opportunities to witness that Andrew and others have had to other patients around Peter.
(If you don't know it, here are the words to How firm a foundation...)
How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he has said,
to you that for refuge to Jesus have fled?
"Fear not, I am with you; O be not dismayed!
For I am your God, and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
"When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of woe shall not you overflow;
for I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress.
"When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be your supply;
the flame shall not hurt you; I only design
Your dross to consume, and your gold to refine.
"The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell shall endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake."
