Good News, a Personal Emergency, and a Miracle

The good news is that I completed the most crucial part of my trip to Africa and had just enough time to introduce the new curriculum that our leaders there will be implementing over the next few weeks.  (Our plan is to return for a longer trip in May). But, the challenging news: a personal emergency called me home. I received the call just after midnight, Wednesday morning, that our 22-year old son, Tim, who has been suffering from a form of schizophrenia, took an overdose of pills and medicines and was in critical condition in the hospital.  Thus began one of the longest trips home of my life. Since I was out of communication for much of the trip, I had no way of knowing Tim’s condition.  I had to arrange a ride, in the middle of the night, from Kitale to El Doret, Kenya, so that I could catch the early morning flight from there to Nairobi.  That was just to get me to the international airport.  I then had to re-arrange my ticket so that I could leave that afternoon and take a 5-hour flight to Dubai, wait there for 5 hours, then take the exhausting 16-hour flight to LAX.  Whew… When I arrived at the hospital in a stupor, the prognosis for Tim was still quite poor: only 25% probability of survival!  However, by later that afternoon, the doctor felt that Tim’s probability for full recovery had increased to 75% and today he has been labeled “out of the woods.”  This definitely seems nothing short of a miracle. Obviously, your prayers are appreciated for Tim as we seek the best treatment for him possible. Our team in Africa, whom I deserted so unexpectedly, has stepped in with great affection and prayers, taken responsibility for the meetings that are now taking place, and have gladly taken on many extra duties in my absence.  Please keep them in prayer as well. I will keep you updated on both fronts… It gives me great comfort to know that you are standing with us!