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H1N1 influenza?

10 Mar

Visited the family doctor this morning for the blood test result. Thank God that it was positive without any flu virus so I can re-start my preparation for my 2nd mission in East Timor! I was suspected to have been infected with H1N1 influenza 2 weeks ago because of flu-like symptoms that improved but then returned with fever and worse cough.

 

As the incubation period of the flu can be between 1 to 7 days. I have been advised to watch out for persistent fever & cough after the 10-day anti-biotic. The persistent fever & cough are symptoms of penumonia which I must seek immediate medical treatment. In view of the inadequate medical resources in Timor, church leaders advised that I should delay my return to Timor, to go only when I have fully recovered. So I cancelled the flight & spent the next 2 weeks resting & fighting the virus with anti-biotic & loads of prayer (from many many faithful intercessors, thank YOU all!).

 

As I looked back, God showed me His grace & purpose in many ways:

  • I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to visit a family doctor whom I had avoided for a long time due to his criticism of my faith some years back. But God has opened his heart to share his struggles and I was able to share Jesus’ love with him during these 3 consultations. I pray God’s peace into this doctor’s heart so he can turn back to God for healing, restoration, hope & love;
  • I was able to attend the Love Timor’s District Anchors’ Consultation when I walked away greatly inspired & encouraged by what God is doing in Timor;
  • I was given divine appointment with my ex-staff to help her discern God’s direction for her career;
  • I was given more time to take care of logistics;
  • I was given time to be vaccinated against H1N1; and
  • I was able to spend more time with family & share my faith more!

 

And God has also enabled the airline to keep my ticket open. Once I produced the doctor’s letter that certified I was unfit to travel on Mar 1, I am now able to change the date of departure at no penalty cost! How awesome is that when the flight was cancelled less than 24 hours before take-off!!!

 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

                                                            - Jeremiah 29:11

 

In His Love,

Lydia

10 Mar 2011

Singapore

Do Not Be Afraid Or Discouraged

5 Oct

.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you;

he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

- Deuteronomy 31:8


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- adrian t

My Foot – Part Deux

11 Sep
X-Ray of my injured foot
X-Ray of my beautiful but injured foot

When I woke up in the morning, I noticed that the swelling had moved up towards the 3 small toes and the bruising had spread to a much larger area.

When we returned to Maubisse hospital, Migi was at training. Praise God for the Cuban radiologist, Dr Ramon Acevedo, who took a very clear X-ray of my right foot that showed the metatarsal was fractured and required immediate plaster casting at Dili General Hospital because there is no orthopedic available at Maubisse!

Thank God for my team mates who swung into action by packing lunch, an overnight bag, calling Sau Kit at Dili for advice on documentation required for hospital admission and droving down to Dili, all in the span of one hour!

Praise God that Rachel, driving for the very first time from Maubisse to Dili, did a wonderful job in minimizing my discomfort throughout the 3-hour drive. When we got into Dili, Sau Kit took over the wheels & took us to the hospital in the shortest possible time.

X-Ray of My Foot

X-Ray of My Foot

Thank God that the orthopedic at Dili General Hospital is from Sichuan, China and so we were able to understand each other clearly. Initially, Dr Ho thought it was only a sprain but after taking a look at the x-ray at my request, he immediately stopped twisting my foot & requested for a nurse to help me with putting on the plaster cast.

The nurse even chose a nice coral colored bandage to hold up the half cast, my favourite color! The cast will be removed in 6 weeks and I should be as good as new ☺

We rested in the TA guest house for the night before returning to Maubisse the next day. There are more than 10 flights of steps in front of our temporary home (guest house: Bensa Au Ama) in Maubisse. The excruciating pain by leaning on the left side of my body while dragging my right foot up and down those steps drove me to tears on previous days.

I have sent prayer requests to Jill (our OLOY ET prayer coordinator) that someone will help me down those steps. Thank God that neighbours from the community came to my aid by carrying me down the flights of steps into the house.

Ps Ivan’s prayer that I will be able to enter the community through the Sports Carnival has indeed been answered, though not in the way any one of us had anticipated!!

With love from Timor,

- Lydia

Pretty in Pink

10 Sep
Bandaged Foot

Bandaged Foot

Towards the end of the basketball game (Sports Carnival organized by Covenant EFC Youth team) with the community, while jumping up to catch the ball, I did not land on the ground properly and felt my right foot being twisted. It hurt rather badly.

When I got back to the house, I realized it was swollen & bruised. Ps Matt & ML helped to apply ice packs to the foot but the swelling & bruises got worse. Ps Matt, Kok Hong and ML brought me to Maubisse hospital and Migi (one of four physiotherapists in Timor) attended to me. Praise God for opening doors to the possibility of working with this young man to educate the community about physiotherapy. Pray that his supervisors will be open to having us as volunteers to work with Migi to visit homes for follow-up and education.

Migi advised me to apply some vegetable oil on the foot before applying the ice pack directly, elevating the foot to reduce swelling and to return to the hospital the next day for review.

- Lydia

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