Search me, God, and know my heart;
Test me and know my concerns.
See if there is any offensive way in me;
Lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 139: 23-24
May 31, 2015
Curt and I will have been in Nairobi, Kenya for two weeks tomorrow. We flew in on a Monday and took a taxi from the airport to the hospital.
Curt was in the hospital 12 days.
I am so thankful:
- Healing from the Great Physician
- Compassionate and wise doctors
- Belonging to an organization that takes care of their people
- Phone calls to and from America
- Loving messages on Facebook
- PRAYER-the intercession of others and the comfort of personal conversation with my personal intercessor, Jesus Christ.
Curt became sick on May 5th. He started having diarrhea and some vomiting. We went to a very good clinic in our hometown of Entebbe, Uganda. Curt has always received excellent treatment at the clinic and this time was no different.
However, this African bug was resistant to standard treatment. Curt would receive treatment. It would look as though he was getting better, but that would not be the case. The weakening physically and the emotional discouragement that came with the stomach illness would return more powerfully each time.
Our medical coordinator felt it necessary to fly us to Nairobi for more extensive treatment. Even this treatment took longer than first expected. The pattern of treatment and reoccurrence continued.
After many tests and consultation with other doctors the plan for attack was developed. Three medications were needed:
- antibiotic-to heal the infection caused by the destructive bacteria
- probiotic-to encourage growth of the healthy bacteria
- a medication that seeks out destructive bacteria throughout the gut. The doctor referred to this as sterilizing the stomach.
I had a lot of time to think and pray during this time. I divided time between the hospital and a guesthouse. At the guesthouse I could take a hot bath, wash clothes, walk to a nearby grocery, and cook a light meal. AND THINK.
Think-there were a few times I saw people that I knew, but mostly I spent time alone. There was nothing and no one to distract me.
As I prayed for Curt’s treatment and health I thought of the verses from Psalm 139: 23-24. I ask of the Lord to send that medication that was planted in Curt’s body to sterilize the sickening bug. I ask that the Great Physician to seek out the tiniest semblance of that bug and mightily destroy it.
In wanting nothing to interfere with the privilege of intercession, I ask of the Lord to send His Spirit to test my heart. Find the offensive ways and lead me forward.
If the bad bacterium is not completely destroyed in Curt’s body, the illness will return. If the offensive ways in me are not dealt with and destroyed I will never be as healthy in my relationship with God and man.
I felt deeply for Curt’s discomfort. The illness was long and frustrating. At times I wondered if this African bug would continue to prevail against the medical treatment. This would have rendered us useless in completing the task that we felt God had sent us here to do.
The correlation to my spiritual life is frightening. Sin that lurks inside me renders me useless. I am helpless to destroy the offensive ways in me.
Romans 12: 24-25 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me for this dying body? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
June 7, 2015
We have been back in Entebbe, Uganda three days now. Curt is doing great! He feels better than he did before the illness.
The medicine that was ingested to find the harmful bacteria did the job. Of course now he is taking probiotics build up the good bacteria in his body.
What an amazing creator we have! Our bodies, His creation, scream of our constant dependence on Him.
Now I am back in the real world of work, which is a good thing. I am not experiencing as much the blessed times of loneliness where my Savior was the only One to which to turn.
I gladly rejoice in healing of body and in healing of soul.
I must remember the tenderness of a strong and compassionate Deliverer.
So I must continue to ask for the search of the offensive ways. I must beg for rescue. Continually the attitude of supernatural renewal should be within my spirit. The probiotics of prayer, Bible study, worship and Christian community cannot be ignored.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
dedeilesblog 
What a powerful spirit you are Ms. DeeDee. You were the princess of EBH and the queen of the encampment at Dry Creek. Your reputation spread all the way over to FHS….THE PRINCESS OF THE CREEK THAT RAN DRY HAS ATTRACTED AND CAPTURED AN ASPIRING WRITER, SIR C. ISLES..
AND NOW YOU TWO TOOK THE GREAT COMMISSION SERIOUSLY. There really isn’t much going oh herein the Colonies….I recently received my Th.D. In Pastoral Theology…..but I will never know as much as Curt’s wonderful Dad….
I do need to apologize to Curt…Raymond Stracener were playing Church softball and Curt hit a fly ball that only a fantastic, 5’3″ converted Jew could have caught. And I did.
Do you know what your CHRIST like husband said: Good catch—want a come play for us?
We love you all….on Leroy Johnson, there is so much about him on the Internet, it could fill tomes. The sites are far more descriptive that the family….O.L ., THE BROTHER COULD FILL IN ABOUT HIS BOYHOOD MAYBE…..
Ms. DEEDEE and I will encourage you once again: do not drink the water, or the ice…..only at ten mile, six mile, and or Owhiska Chitto can you drink directly from the creek. As I too sit in the ole swing on the back porch, a fresh gourd of well water in my chilling hand, I see that large sugar town watermelon on the rocks in the shallow, fast running water.
DON’T LEAVE TOO LONG–IT WILL FREEZE. gotta go, it is my turn to go off the rope at Red Bluff…..WISH ME LUCK…..Goodness I miss Brother Hodges…..
Terry, née, Horowitz….L.C. Class of 1970…..I have an autographed copy of your first book–Great! (From Tiffani)