...We just got back from Mary’s appointment with our doctor. He said the doctors in India did exactly what he would have done and gave Mary the medicines and fluids he would have prescribed. Now it will likely take two weeks for her to recover.
...Our doctor practiced medicine in India for several months, so he was familiar with these type symptoms and situation. He said it was likely bacteria, not an ameba. The antibiotics have now killed off the bacteria and she just needs rest and time to allow her digestive track and body to recover from such a severe onslaught.
...She basically hasn’t eaten much for seven days. They weighed her at the doctors office - she has lost 10 pounds. While she has wanted to lose some weight, this was not the method she had in mind.
...Her appetite is gradually returning.
...The doctor said there was no need for any additional medicines. They drew some blood to run a few tests, just to make sure there wasn’t anything else.
...So, Mary is now laying down and resting, and will for the next week or so as she regains her strength.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Stable but exhausted
...Mary is stable, but exhausted. So little energy. Up for 15-30 minutes and then needs to lay down. We have an appointment with her doctor this afternoon. We will have a full workup to confirm the diagnosis by the doctors in India or see if there is anything else....I just got off the phone with David Dayalan's wife, 
Anita, in Delhi, India. David is stable. He is able to eat and is regaining his energy. The worst has passed and he is on the mend.
Anita, in Delhi, India. David is stable. He is able to eat and is regaining his energy. The worst has passed and he is on the mend....Mary and David so appreciate your prayers.
...Here is David with his wife Anita, his mother and their two daughters Nivedita and Anoushka.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Home
...Are you like us? We always look forward to coming home after a trip. No arrival home was sweeter than getting home yesterday (Sunday afternoon) from India.
...There's no shame in saying we wept tears of joy and relief as our dear friends Laurie Prince and Celia Flock, Mary's art gallery partner, picked us up at the Charlotte airport and drove us home.
...God answered our prayers on getting us home. We were able to upgrade to business class from Delhi to Frankfurt and in Frankfurt the gate agent took pity on us by putting us in First Class where the seats recline all the way flat. I had to pay a small fee, but it was well worth it so Mary could be comfortable. There were a few rough times for Mary physically on the flights, but she recovered.
...We have collapsed today.
...Thank you so much for all the emails we have been receiving offering your prayers and encouragement.
...I know where I am in the world - home - with my sweetheart, caring for her as she recovers.
...There's no shame in saying we wept tears of joy and relief as our dear friends Laurie Prince and Celia Flock, Mary's art gallery partner, picked us up at the Charlotte airport and drove us home.
...God answered our prayers on getting us home. We were able to upgrade to business class from Delhi to Frankfurt and in Frankfurt the gate agent took pity on us by putting us in First Class where the seats recline all the way flat. I had to pay a small fee, but it was well worth it so Mary could be comfortable. There were a few rough times for Mary physically on the flights, but she recovered.
...We have collapsed today.
...Thank you so much for all the emails we have been receiving offering your prayers and encouragement.
...I know where I am in the world - home - with my sweetheart, caring for her as she recovers.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
An experience we care not to repeat
...Mary and I have had some real physical challenges on this trip. Mary ended up in a hospital on Thursday, with a severe case of bacterial or amoeba infection that caused vomiting, diarrhea leading to severe dehydration, leaving her exhausted.
...She had a room with a view, but it didn't much matter as she laid there receiving fluids by IV.
...We were scheduled fly out on Saturday morning early, but have delayed returning for one day because Mary was so exhausted, plus her stomach was not tolerating water or any food. So, five minutes before leaving the airport last night (11:55 p.m. Friday night here) we decided to change our flights and come home a day later.
...This was one of the best decisions we have made in years. She is feeling stable today (its Saturday afternoon 3:45 p.m. here in Delhi). We will leave for the airport at 11:45 p.m. tonight for our 2:25 a.m. flight. I will try and talk our way into business class so Mary will rest better and be more comfortable. Pray that happens on both flights.
...We arrive Sunday afternoon at 3:20 p.m. in Charlotte. So it is Delhi to Frankfurt. Frankfurt to Charlotte non-stop on a USAirways flight. Hopefully we can get upgraded to business class as well for a more comfortable flight into Charlotte.
...Mary had a good nights rest last night. She is stable today (Saturday afternoon in Delhi). She was able to eat a little bit of breakfast and take water and hold it. So that has been the key. While she remains weak, she was able to enjoy a visit from Anita Dayalan, whose husband David directs Asian Access/India.
...As it turns out David got the same bug as Mary. He fell ill Thursday night. So, it just wasn't the weak American stomach that couldn't take whatever caused the problem.
...Anita brought Mary some flowers and the assistant pastor, Erik, came along as well. We had a good prayer time for Mary and David. The hotel staff has been so nice to us, eager to meet our needs.
...The doctor and nurses in the hospital were very attentive, caring and professional. We so appreciated that, even though the hospital lacked so much. I one nights stay, all IV and medicines - $85 USD. Not a bad deal, however the facilities lacked a bit. There was no running water in our room. They literally hand carry water in buckets up flights of stairs to our room to use to flush the toilet.
...Our friends here, the pastors in the Asian Access training, CB and Selena Samuel and of course David and Anita Dayalan have all bent over backwards to pray and care for us.
...We are in the Lord's hands, felt by the real hands of our dear brothers and sisters here in India.
...Thank you so much for upholding us in prayer.
...Writing from a long way from home, but particularly when you are sick.
...She had a room with a view, but it didn't much matter as she laid there receiving fluids by IV.
...We were scheduled fly out on Saturday morning early, but have delayed returning for one day because Mary was so exhausted, plus her stomach was not tolerating water or any food. So, five minutes before leaving the airport last night (11:55 p.m. Friday night here) we decided to change our flights and come home a day later....This was one of the best decisions we have made in years. She is feeling stable today (its Saturday afternoon 3:45 p.m. here in Delhi). We will leave for the airport at 11:45 p.m. tonight for our 2:25 a.m. flight. I will try and talk our way into business class so Mary will rest better and be more comfortable. Pray that happens on both flights.
...We arrive Sunday afternoon at 3:20 p.m. in Charlotte. So it is Delhi to Frankfurt. Frankfurt to Charlotte non-stop on a USAirways flight. Hopefully we can get upgraded to business class as well for a more comfortable flight into Charlotte.
...Mary had a good nights rest last night. She is stable today (Saturday afternoon in Delhi). She was able to eat a little bit of breakfast and take water and hold it. So that has been the key. While she remains weak, she was able to enjoy a visit from Anita Dayalan, whose husband David directs Asian Access/India.
...As it turns out David got the same bug as Mary. He fell ill Thursday night. So, it just wasn't the weak American stomach that couldn't take whatever caused the problem....Anita brought Mary some flowers and the assistant pastor, Erik, came along as well. We had a good prayer time for Mary and David. The hotel staff has been so nice to us, eager to meet our needs.
...The doctor and nurses in the hospital were very attentive, caring and professional. We so appreciated that, even though the hospital lacked so much. I one nights stay, all IV and medicines - $85 USD. Not a bad deal, however the facilities lacked a bit. There was no running water in our room. They literally hand carry water in buckets up flights of stairs to our room to use to flush the toilet.
...Our friends here, the pastors in the Asian Access training, CB and Selena Samuel and of course David and Anita Dayalan have all bent over backwards to pray and care for us.
...We are in the Lord's hands, felt by the real hands of our dear brothers and sisters here in India.
...Thank you so much for upholding us in prayer.
...Writing from a long way from home, but particularly when you are sick.
Faculty also learn
...Faculty for the week in north India were David and Nalini Singh from Richmond, VA and Selena and CB Samuel of Delhi, India. The Singhs and Samuels are close friends, so it was a joy for them to minister together.
...The topic was family and marriage. David is a pastor of a multi-ethnic church, but is also a licensed family counselor.
...It was valuable that the Singhs and Samuels were raised and live and minister in the Indian culture, as they could understand the unique pressures and issues that Indian marriages face.
...Faculty often comment how much they enjoy teaching in the Asian Access sessions in various countries. They not only teach, but become learners as well as the pastors share insights.
...The topic was family and marriage. David is a pastor of a multi-ethnic church, but is also a licensed family counselor.
...It was valuable that the Singhs and Samuels were raised and live and minister in the Indian culture, as they could understand the unique pressures and issues that Indian marriages face....Faculty often comment how much they enjoy teaching in the Asian Access sessions in various countries. They not only teach, but become learners as well as the pastors share insights.
Laughing families
...Because this was a gathering of the pastors and their families, there were some fun times spent together. One afternoon David Dayalan, Asian Access director for India, challenged each family to work together to come up with an invention that would keep an egg from breaking when dropped from one story! All they had to work with were four balloons, tape, paper and of course an egg....Here is one family proudly displaying their invention. And it worked. The egg didn't break.
...Here the families are cheering on as the inventions are dropped one by one. Great cheers when either an egg survived or splatter on the floor.
...David Dayalan examined if the eggs survived along with the help of eager children....This kind of fun for pastors and their families is rare because of ministry demands and culture that often says pastors must be serious.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Rich community
...The 18 pastors, their wives and children are so enjoying the rich community. For many of these pastor's families it is the first real get-a-away that they have had as a family in years. The ministry demands, lack of finances all contribute to little opportunity to get away.
...Training and seminars on marriage and family are not wide spread, so this is very encouraging to them. Then they are going back and sharing what they learned with the couples in their congregations.
Mountain top retreat
...I got up early and caught the sun shining down on our mountain top retreat. It also conveys the blessings we are receiving as the pastors, their wives and children are learning what does it mean to have a strong biblically based marriage. We have also been enjoying some wonderful worship time as we sing in English and Hindi and look at some Old Testament examples of families.
...Mary is feeling much better today (Wednesday at 1 p.m.).
...Mary is feeling much better today (Wednesday at 1 p.m.).
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
High in foothills of the Himalayas
...Mary and I arrived Monday afternoon with the pastors, their wives and children for this week long session of Asian Access. We are meeting at a retreat center about at 6000 foot elevation in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. Cold at night, pleasant during the day. Internet connections are slow and hard to keep, so no photos to post, just text.
...Meetings are going excellent. Pastors and their wives in India rarely take a break from ministry. So this is a real treat for them to be together and focus on strengthening their marriages and families.
...It's Tuesday night at 11 pm here. Mary got a fever this morning and spent the day in bed. She felt a little better tonight. Hopefully she will regain some of her strength after a good nights rest. It seems to be the 24 hour flu bug. Please pray for her recovery.
...Meetings are going excellent. Pastors and their wives in India rarely take a break from ministry. So this is a real treat for them to be together and focus on strengthening their marriages and families.
...It's Tuesday night at 11 pm here. Mary got a fever this morning and spent the day in bed. She felt a little better tonight. Hopefully she will regain some of her strength after a good nights rest. It seems to be the 24 hour flu bug. Please pray for her recovery.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Arrived in Delhi
...Mary and I had good flights into Delhi. We dropped into bed at 3 a.m. Saturday morning. As I type this blog entry it is Sunday evening here in Delhi....Saturday afternoon David Dayalan, the director of Asian Access India and I had a very productive time of planning for the week long session that begins Monday. And we also had very good discussions on what opportunities exist for expanding the Asian Access pastoral training to other parts of India. The opportunities look bright in south India.
...Mary and David's wife, Anita, enjoyed the afternoon shopping for some gifts for the wives of the pastors who will be joining their husbands at this training. Anita also helped Mary pick out some colorful Indian dress. Mary is wearing one of the outfits in these photos. This photo was taken in the lobby of the hotel where we are staying in Delhi.
...This morning, Sunday, I preached at Gurgaon Christian Fellowship. This is the church where David Dayalan is the pastor. We were warmly greeted by the brothers and sisters. I preached, and I asked Mary to share a testimony. Her sharing really ministered to the people and it also demonstrated the value of women, as the Indian society generally devalues women. GCF has some very capable men and women who lead ministry there.
...Monday morning it is up early (4:45 a.m.) to get ready and drive to the Delhi train station to catch a train to Shimla, India. Shimla is 4-5 hour train and van ride NW of Delhi. It is up in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is so hot in Delhi this time of the year (110 degrees today) that people who can afford to head to the "hill stations" for a week to escape the heat.
...We are doing well and looking forward to the week with the pastors, their wives and children. There will be about 60 of us.
...While Mary and I were dragging a bit this afternoon, a good nights rest will feel good and renew our strength. We are looking forward to this week. Hopefully there will be some internet connection, so I can blog from Shimla. Goodnight and good day from whichever time zone you are reading this.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Close to home just before leaving
...Here's a video message as we prepare to leave Thursday on your next trip. Just click on the arrow.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Walking the greens
...Mary and I enjoyed a unique experience for the first time - attending a major golf tournament....The Wachovia Championship is being played this week in Charlotte. Our good friend and Wachovia senior executive, Doug Steele shared two tickets with us.
...We could have reached out and touched Tiger Woods (I refrained myself).
(Tiger Woods photo courtesy of Charlotte.com)
...They estimate 35,000 of us were roaming the course, trying to get a glimpse of the top players. The Tiger gallery was several thousand that moved along as a horde to follow his every stroke.
...The tournament is a no cell phone, camera, PDA zone, so we didn't get any photos of us with Tiger. But we do have our tickets (pictured right) as a souvenir of the time.
...What a fun experience.
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