Freedom in the midst of pain

As our family rests this evening enjoying the blessings and anticipation of a new year, we can’t help but recognize the deep sense of peace and assurance that we have claimed over the past five days. Eight short days ago we rejoiced in the fact that Jennie was pregnant and our second child was expected some where around august 26^th. It was Christmas Eve and we grinned with anticipation over our new Christmas gift from God. Because the mission field can sometimes feel lonely and isolating we decided that the next day (Christmas) we would share with our family our news and joy. It was a wonderful surprise for all and a blessing for us to see their joy and excitement.

On Monday (Dec. 28) we were enjoying an afternoon of relaxation when Jennie starting experiencing some unusual cramping and heavy bleeding. Knowing that this was not a good sign we scheduled an immediate appointment with an OBGYN here in Sucre to have the situation diagnosed. After meeting with the doctor that evening we were referred to another location were Jennie was to undergo a sonogram for further testing. The sonogram revealed the difficult news that sometime that day Jennie had miscarried the baby. The test also discovered that because of the type of miscarriage Jennie had experienced an immediate surgery was needed to remove the remaining tissue and stop the heavy bleeding. Therefore, on Monday evening at 10pm we scheduled a D and C operation for Tuesday morning at 8:00am. Typically, this is a fairly low risk surgery in the US, but the unknowns of Bolivian medical care loomed heavy on our hearts. Not only did we not fully understand the situation due to the difficult language barrier but the hospital, doctor, anesthesiologist, and surgery methods were completely new to us. With no complications during the night, we checked into the Hospital on Tuesday morning and Jennie underwent surgery shortly after 8:00am. The operation went smoothly and within an hour we were recovering in the room. From what we were able to understand there should be no long-term effects and the doctor is expecting a full recovery within weeks.

We share today with thankfulness in our hearts and stillness that only comes with the assurance of God’s promises. Though the pain is still fresh we have felt greatly encouraged over the last few days and have realized the incredible nature of God’s faithful and loving presence. The physical and emotional healing is progressing quickly and we fully recognize and embrace the mystery of God’s timing in challenging situations. The memory of the special gift God granted for those five days is accompanied by the humbling realization of the enormous blessings that have been abundantly given. Though the loss is fresh the truths of Scripture are freeing and have never been stronger. We appreciate the words of encouragement we have received from many friends and family. Your presence, though distant physically, has made us feel a little closer to home.