Hannah loves to sing. Last week we were waiting in the car to pick up the boys from school with our Aunt Cindi (who was visiting) and she offered up her version of "joy of the lord"...enjoy.
What's in my neck...
It looks like into my throat. Yesterday, I went into the hospital for another procedure. I’ve been having real difficulty breathing and speaking for at least two weeks. It has been getting progressively worse, and on Monday the doctors here found a clue to why. Twice a week since I was released from the hospital I’ve been going to the ear/nose/throat doctor for checkups. They are a lot of fun….each time he puts a 12” metal rod down my throat that has a camera and a light on it to examine my trachea. The first week the vocal chords were not moving at all. Last week they were moving a little, but a small object seemed to appear right below my vocal chords, in my trachea. They couldn’t make out what it was.
On Monday, they saw it very clearly. It seemed to be a piece of glass lodged in the inside of my trachea. So yesterday, I underwent a light operation where they performed a scope and extraction. No glass, but a piece of my shirt. When the bullet ripped through my collar it took a piece of my shirt with it. It was about ½ the size of my small pinky fingernail. It’s been moving through my neck for a few weeks, and my body has been working to get rid of it. For the last week it has really inhibited my ability to breath.
I spent last night in the hospital (Tues) and came home this morning. Thankfully I feel a little better. My breathing is improving, but my voice still has a long way to go. There is good chance that there is still some paralysis in my vocal chords caused by the impact of the bullet. I start voice therapy tomorrow, and we are hopeful that in time the vocal chords will improve to full strength.
I’m on pretty strict orders to not do much talking. This is probably the hardest part of the recovery, because I’m pretty limited in what I can do until I get my voice back. God is teaching me patience through it all. I have felt some pretty strong emotions of frustration, anger, and depression over the last week. Yet, I’m watching the Lord walk me through each moment. Whenever I start feeling overwhelmed, He encourages me either through his Word, through an email, or a phone call. It is so amazing to me to watch God speak in such creative and beautiful ways into my heart. He is our great comforter and friend.
an amazing account of the shooting in abelines
Lori Macklin, a past missionary with ENLACE, was visiting El Salvador the week we went up to Abelines. She was riding in the car behind us when she drove upon the seen of us on the side of the road after I was shot. Lori walked through the whole experience and has written an incredible account of all that happened that day. Although, I am currently writing up my own version, I have to share this one because of its quality and incredible accuracy. If you want the real story with great detail here it is....
Thank God I'm Home!
I am home (the picture to the left is from today). I can’t explain to you all how wonderful it felt yesterday to leave the hospital with Dara and my dad, knowing that I was returning to my home. I haven’t stopped hugging Dara for the last 48 hours. I haven’t smiled more with my kids. Food has never tasted so good. I haven’t ever been so thankful for the parents that God blessed me with. Sleeping in my own bed, I felt like I was floating on clouds last night.
It still is so much to take in. Just two weeks ago, I came as close as one can to leaving this world (see x-ray pic below of bullet in my neck). Over the last two weeks, I have watched God bring thousands of people together in prayer. I have seen him unify a community here in El Salvador to provide unbelievable support to our family. I have watched God use three doctors and a host of nurses to care me through recovery. I have seen God slow a bullet, and safely land it in the only place in my neck that would not kill me. I have heard about a church in Abelines that has even more resolve to serve its neighbors, now praying through ways to make the community safer. Simply put, I have seen God actively engaged in my life and in the lives of others.
Life is so precious. It is so precious because, God gifts it to us. In His mercy, God has let me have more life to live. Yet, I realize that my days are numbered. I didn’t die two weeks ago, but I will one day. So, I pray that I can continue to live a life worthy of our Lord. I pray that every day of my life will bring God glory, and will be spent serving others. I’m a walking example that none of us can protect our own lives, or the lives of those we love. I can only walk in a profound trust that God is in control, and that the safest place to be is completely in His will. The worst, no the best, thing that can happen is that I go on to be with Jesus.
Again, I want to thank all of you for your amazing prayers, emails, calls, and visits. Our family has been sustained through them all. In many ways, I thank God for allowing this to happen, just to see the amazing body of Christ at work. Dara and I are going to be taking the coming days and weeks to get our lives back in order. We are looking forward to talking to you, and responding to emails. I have about three weeks of check ups and recovery. My voice is still very weak, and I struggle a bit on the phone. But, we are so encouraged with where my health is, and the doctors expect me to recover fully.
Many of you have asked how you can continue to pray for us. Here are some thoughts:
- Pray for our family over the coming weeks as we try to re-engage in life here in El Salvador. Pray that God will melt the fear that still exists, and provide a divine peace.
- Please pray for a complete recovery of my throat and voice.
- Please pray for the church in Abelines, and in all of the ENLACE supported communities, that they will be used as agents of peace among the violence.
- Pray that God will begin to bring complete healing to El Salvador. Pray that through His love, and through the Church, poverty, injustice, and violence will be defeated. Pray that people’s hearts will change in this country through the gospel, and that there will be hope.
- Pray for ENLACE. We want to be a ministry completely submitted to God’s will and direction. We are preparing to grow this year to respond to more churches in El Salvador. Pray for God’s protection and provision. If interested, visit ENLACE’s website at www.enlaceonline.org for more information.
In the coming weeks and months, I hope to write more about what God has done through the shooting, and more importantly what He continues to do daily in all of our lives. Check back to our website for more updates, www.runningonwater.com. I pray that you are as encouraged as we are by the wonder and grace of our Lord.
Take care,
Pete
A Video from "the day" in Abelines
I'm still in the hospital. Hopefully, I'm almost out. The doctors say that I am progressing well, and should be out soon. I can't wait to go home.
Dave, my friend and co-worker with ENLACE, just completed an edit of a video we were working on to show the ministry in Abelines. The footage was taken hours before I was shot, before we made our way down the hill. In the video I describe the ongoing work of the medical clinic. It also gives a good picture to the wonderful things happening through the church.
Please continue to pray for Abelines, and that God will bring peace to the violence.