Incredible India

As I enter the stadium I have no idea where I am going, or what I am
getting myself into. In my recent weeks in India I've taken a liking to cricket
and I'm about to step out in faith and attend my first professional match. Now,
I'll admit that being surrounded by 50,000 energetic, screaming Indians worried
me, but, once the match started, all my worries faded away and I began to enjoy
the match. The ambiance had a feeling similar to that of a game at Fenway. Once
the match was underway, I found myself craving a Fenway Frank and a box of
cracker jacks; Instead, the vendors were selling Roti and Dosas. I decided to
skip the Dosas and just enjoy the match.

However, after Delhi managed to ransack the competition in 20 overs, I began to feel sick. I began to sweat profusely, and my stomach turned in pain. I wrote it off as merely my body's response to the intense heat. After Deccan played their way through five overs, I forced myself to go to the restroom where I got miserably sick. After I blacked out for a few seconds, I decided that it would be best for me to leave the stadium. I called my driver, and met him outside. As he went to get the vehicle, I once again blacked out.

I asked the driver to take me to the hospital, as I knew something was terribly wrong; thus began a three day stay at an Indian hospital. I was severely dehydrated (they gave me over 7 liters of fluid in 12 hours) and my stomach wasn't holding anything in. The verdict was that I was suffering from an infection in my intestines which caused the dehydration. Thankfully, after three days, I fully recovered.

Indian hospitals are similar to hospitals in the United States--but not in a lot of ways. This particular hospital reminded my of the 1970's. The nurses come to work in pure white uniforms, flat sandal like shoes (with white socks), and wear nurses caps. They take your temperature using a mercury thermometer, and never wear gloves when handling needles or giving you injections. I was amazed when they started my IV without even rubbing alcohol on my skin.

I was also amazed at the way they changed the medications in my IV without even flushing it out with saline first. The nurse looked at me like I had three heads when I asked her if she could flush it out, as it was beginning to clot and hurt. She didn't know what I meant. In spite of these sanitary differences, the care I received was second to none.

I think I amused the nurses--as they always left laughing at my terrible attempts to speak Hindi and communicate what I needed with my limited language skills. We were able to laugh together, which made my time go more quickly.

In spite of this terrible illness, I am not discouraged! I love it here in
India
and remain in good spirits. I am committed to finishing out my term on
a
positive note--and I will not let the enemy derail my service to the Lord.
The
Lord has been with me throughout this entire sickness, encouraging me
and giving
me the strength to continue.

I also have greatly appreciated your prayers and support throughout this difficult period of time, and would ask that you continue to pray for my health. I am confident, with the Holy Spirit at my side, I will be able to continue my work here in India. ***