A dear family friend gave me a bag 2 summers ago that has a verse on it that reminds me of a reality for each of us walking the Christian life, and ever so real to us now.
Proverbs 3:6 He shall direct your paths.
I write this as I continue to experience the many miracles of grace after finding out just weeks after the first surgery that the tumor had returned.
The first of many things I am thankful for was God's tangible presence during the MRI that confirmed our suspicion that the tumor was back. Our heavenly father heard and answered very specific requests after we ran into trouble with finding a vein and then the canula was defective, so couldn't stay in. I was at peace throughout despite all the unknowns.
The surgeon who we trusted from Greece also happened to be available within a couple days, so we scheduled a consult and likely surgery right away as that seemed our only option.
A day before the surgery a good friend of ours asked what it would take to get to the US for care and, knowing we had no insurance or money for travel, I said it would take a miracle. I also truly believed that we were in good hands in Albania and didn't want to spend resources beyond our wildest dreams just for the sake of going abroad.
A series of miracles later, including the planned surgery being called off at the last minute by Elsa spiking a high fever, and a wonderful providence of Elsa's tissue sample being carried to the US and personally delivered for testing by an oncologist to a major children's cancer research hospital, to the recourses coming together for us to make the trip, to the turn of events that took us away from where we had at first hoped we'd get treatment, and directed us to another hospital far more equipped to handle this delicate surgery in just the perfect part of the country where my parents have a home and we have many friends and family relatively close, we find ourselves unable to say with certainty what will happen tomorrow, but able to trust the master's grand plan and the pieces that make it. Throughout this journey we have seen God moving hearts to give and opening new doors immediately after closing doors we had wanted to walk through.
We are exceedingly thankful for the miracle of all 5 of us flying to a major research hospital in the US to have Elsa be cared for by a doctor with 30+ years treating desmoid tumors, hosted by Nepal missionary friends from 25 years ago in London and Ohio.
I think of the story of the hungry little boy who brought all his lunch to Jesus, only to be shocked and amazed to see those meager loaves and fish feed thousands of people. Family, friends, and even those I've never met have sacrificed their lunch and brought it to us in our moment of great need and it has indeed effected the miracle God had planned.
Looking to see His good hand move and direct and protect as we head into these next weeks of surgery and recovery.
A month ago I was really having my doubts about whether God was there and whether he was involved in the concerns of my life. Well, now I'm more convinced than ever that God is there and He is good even though the storms of life rage around us. He is indeed as the hymn goes "a shelter in the time of storm".
