Dear Colleagues,
My recovery will take several weeks. I will not be engaging in any missional activity until I am back to normal.
I promised more details on our situation, so here is a story.
After about 10 days of rest at the Scotts after my hospital stay I was ready to come home, mostly emotionally and spiritually. But I knew I was not capable of doing all that would be required at home, cooking and caring for Judy. I had asked George West, our neighbor, to find someone for us, but he was having difficulty and it looked like I might be on my own for a day or two. I was concerned, but not anxious. In fact, I have had no anxiety since the gallbladder attack. I'm living in a strange equanimity.
Now to Dianne's situation. Dianne was working at Imanta for three years, the high-scale resort just to the north of us, very exclusive and very expensive. She was the supervisor for the housekeepers. A pretty good job. Two weeks ago she quit, it was just not for her. The big boss, Mario, yelled all the time, and she was the only one who would stand up to him. So she quit. They asked her to come back, but she refused. Now the family had no income as her husband, a carpenter, had no work. She told me that she rarely does this, but last Sunday she got her Bible and asked God to please help her find work.
Enter Candi, our great repair and maintenance man who picked Judy and I up at the airport last Tuesday. I was telling him how we needed someone and how George was having trouble finding anyone. He said, "I think I know someone who might do it". He delivered us home, I unpacked and just sat down exhausted, wondering how I would cook breakfast the next day and get Judy ready. Here comes Candi with Dianne in tow. We met, I told her what I needed, we talked price for six days, five hours per day of care and she said "I'll be here tomorrow."
Now not only can Dianne cook and care for Judy, she has background in geriatric care and some nursing training. She can do PT with Judy. I was going to hire someone to come once a week for an hour. Now Judy can get it everyday. I was going to hire someone to come and give Judy a massage once every two weeks. Dianne can give them weekly, especially the feet. She loves to clean and this house will have never been so clean. Sleeping in the bed is fantastic as she makes it up like a hotel so you sleep each night in a tight wonderful place. I forgot to say she was born and raised in San Antonio for her first 30 years, English is no problem!
But there is more. She can stay overnight and care for Judy if I ever have to leave, like to go to India or the States. She would stay for two weeks or more if necessary. Her son was in the youth program that Nick and Josh did and so she is ready to work with them to make sure things continue to happen. She could cook our meals when we meet for our community annual meeting, or if there is a group here. I just want to find some work she can do in the afternoon so that she has full employment. But she loves Judy and we love her!
So this is what can happen when two prayers meet.
Grace & Peace,
Jack
