4 Years (And we’re still alive)

September 22nd marked our 4 year anniversary of moving here to Brazil as missionaries. I had envisioned writing this blog and sending it out on the 22nd but, as usual, things don’t ever seem to go as planned.

I went to bed Sunday Night (the 20th) and around 1:00am I woke up shivering uncontrollably. Even though it’s the end of Winter here in Brazil the temperatures have been in the 80/90’s during the day and in the 70’s at night. So to be shivering didn’t make any sense. So, virtually still asleep, I just piled the covers on and tried to continue sleeping. But then I started sweating profusely along with the shivering. This lasted all through the night and into the morning. I tried getting up out of bed but my whole body ached and I was burning up with fever.

Long-story-short, I was in bed with a high fever for 5 days trying to stay asleep just to escape the pain in my body. No communication with my family, no food, no light, no anything- just sleeping, aching, sweating and shivering. Every time I tried getting out of bed my stomach felt like someone was sticking a knife in it and twisting the blade. It was horrible. 

Nobody else in the family had what I had (thank God) so it was hard to figure out what this actually was that was ravaging my body. Did I get bit by something? I had bites all over my body so this was definitely a possibility. Did I ingest some type of bacteria through the food or water here on the mountain? Did I get some kind of super-virus hugging someone at church on Sunday during meet and greet? Did I come in contact with rat urine/feces somewhere while I was working at the camp, because I was showing some of the symptoms of it? Who knows…

After the 5th day I wasn't getting any better so I decided to drive an hour to the hospital. They ran blood tests on me and then did an ultrasound on all my internal organs to see if they could figure out what was going on with me. They discovered some type of bacteria in my stomach that could be knocked-out with antibiotics. Great. But there were problems in my blood because of this bacteria and they said that I needed to be hospitalised for a minimum of 2 days while they tried to correct it. 

OK. This is where being here in Brazil by ourselves is challenging. I had Matthew with me and we had no way of getting in contact with MJ back on the mountain to let her know what was going on (no phone or internet). I couldn't reach anyone to help us and I was so sick that I didn't know what to do.

I let them admit me while we were trying to get Matthew a ride back to the mountain. After all the paperwork they brought me to the room. As they opened the door I could hear the people in the room. It was sooooo loud. Plus there was no air moving (no fan or a/c) and the air temperature in the room was swelteringly hot. The little ghetto TV that was in the room was blaring some type of Portuguese show so loudly that I’m sure the speakers were blown (because it sounded so distorted), and then there was this shirtless guy laying there (spread eagle) in his underwear on one of the beds! If that weren't enough, his wife was lounging on my bed talking on her cell phone! What?! How was I gonna be able to recover in this atmosphere? I was really sick and needed peace- not more drama.

So I told the nurse, "no way. I’m leaving. Get the doctor and prescribe whatever it is that I need to recover and I’ll do it at home because I’m NOT staying here.” So they checked me out, gave me some prescriptions and I was gone: ) 

Here I am a little over a week later and I’m finally better. But, to be honest with you, I was concerned. You see, we’ve had several people die over the last 4 years here with symptoms just like I had. People my age too. Things that would seem like they would be treatable back in the States- could be a death sentence here in a foreign country. 

We had a friend of the family 2 years ago die from coming in contact with rat urine while doing some construction. One day I waved at him as he was driving out of the camp- 2 days later he was in the hospital fighting for his life. A fight that, sadly, he lost. Leaving behind a wife and 3 children.

We had another friend of the family that came and visited my sister-in-law here in Brazil before her and her family headed to the Dominican Republic as missionaries. A few months after she was here she contracted dengue fever and passed away. Leaving behind a husband and 7 children. 

There have been several other situations here on the mountain where people have died from flu-like symptoms or from what would seem like something that was treatable. So to say I was concerned? Yeah, I was concerned.

But here’s the thing. As concerned as I was- leaving never entered my mind. Sure, I wanted relief from the pain. But not at the expense of being outside of the will of God. Because, after 4 years of living through so much craziness, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Because amidst the drama is where His presence has been for Me and my Family. He's called us here and (for now) that’s where His presence is for us- right here in Brazil.

In the past, when I was younger, I always tried finding the easiest route for my life and the life of my family. But as I’ve gotten older I’ve begun to realise that it’s more important to be in the center of God’s will than it is to have a life free of difficulties and full of ease. If we would've taken the easier route (aka- the path of least resistance) we wouldn't have been able to see the lives of so many children and teenagers changed here in Brazil. It’s been amazing to see what God has done through our family. It’s truly been a privilege and an honour just being a part of what’s happened over the last 4 years and for that we’re very grateful.

And even though we’ve been through so many difficult times I can honestly say that if I were to die here- I would die without having any regrets. Sure, I’ve made huge mistakes here in Brazil (and at home in the States) but I don’t think we’ve ever run from anything He’s asked us to do. We’ve always just jumped right in to wherever we felt like He was leading us- whether we understood it or not. All in an effort to be obedient. And He’s always been faithful to us through it. So, we have no regrets and that’s a great feeling: )

So what do the next 4 years hold? I honestly couldn't tell you. But we’ll continue to seek His will for us and for the ministry here in Brazil as we follow His plan for our lives. 

And, as I close out this blog, I would especially like to say, “thank you” to all the people who've supported us over the last 4 years. Without you we couldn't do what we do here in Brazil. Your love and support for our family has enabled us to do so much in a short amount of time and we are truly grateful for each and every one of you. 

Love Ya!

Jim and MJ