Trip 10, November 2011
I am getting ready for trip #10! I wasn’t certain I would be able to travel this time because of having recently undergone surgery in August. I had to have a portion of my colon removed because of persistent diverticulitis (the joy of growing older). This was a scheduled event with the anticipation of a quick in and out of the hospital and an uneventful recovery. However, nothing goes as planned, especially if the patient is a doctor. I had the unfortunate development of post-op bleeding and a nasty infection from a hole that developed in another loop of bowel in the neighborhood. This took me back to surgery 5 days after the first one to open things up, clean out the infection and hematoma and repair the bowel. Then, because the incision was contaminated I had to wait 5 days before the incision could be closed completely. I ended up with 4 transfusions, several days on IV nutrition and fluids and feeling like I had been run over by 5 or more trucks. In fact, I checked the abdomen looking for tread marks! I am now recovering and thanking God for His continued grace and love and healing power. I have been cleared by my surgeon to be able to travel in November. I have been in communication with Dr. Jane Weaver and I will be travelling with her brother, Steve, and Dr. Chang, an anesthesiologist from Lansing, MI, to work with Jane in San Lorenzo. It is such a joy to me to serve my Lord and Savior in this way. By offering my hands and surgical skills to Him I then get the absolute pleasure of watching God work through me to bring healing and even new life to the people we serve together. This trip is just another opportunity to be God’s instrument to serve others and to experience His unfailing love.
A friend said to me to pray Psalm 91. As I read this wonderful psalm, it indeed is my prayer for this trip. Pray this with me…
Psalm 91 (NIV)
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
AMEN!
Medical Missions 
We’re thinking of and praying for you, your travel team, Dr. Jane and her team there. Thanks for sharing the journey.
BCS and Bill Hartman