Florida Bound?

The Latest in Lima has now become The Latest in Florida. Even though I arrived safely in Peru on February 5th, there's been an unexpected turn of events turning me right back around to Florida.

About a week before I was to be flying back to Peru I went to the dermatologist on a mere whim (a sovereign whim if you know what I mean). A few things had plagued my thoughts and finally after watching a youtube video on skin cancer that I had found by scrolling my facebook homepage ("Dear 16-year old me")  I decided to walk in to see about an appointment. After all, I work outside all day and it runs in my family, so if for the very least I thought it would give me peace of mind. They couldn't fit me in immediately, but the doctors worked together and I was able to get an appointment 3 days before I left the country. They ended up taking a piece of skin to biopsy and the doctor assured me it was nothing.

This past Wednesday I was at a staff retreat and received a message through the grapevine that my mom was trying to get a hold of me. I already knew why she was calling, but I hoped she was just missing me a lot ;) "There's good news and there's bad news," she said. "The good news is we went to the doctor when we did, the bad news is that they found the early stages of melanoma." My thoughts were trying to keep up with the news, but it wasn't until she told me that there was a possibility I would not be able to return to Peru that my heart broke. I remember hanging up the phone and through my tears I said aloud, "I trust you, God." My mind began processing and naturally I began to assume the worse, yet in a strange way it gave me a fight and a tenacity unlike one I've known. My life's purpose grew all the more clear: Make Christ known. Sickness and death are only repercussions of a fallen world, a world broken by sin. God grace was that more alluring, fascinating. My friend Emily was close by to offer me some immediate encouragement and comfort and it didn't take long for me to simply accept the news. After all, why do I need to fear? My God created the world. My Savior defeated death. My hope is found in Him. Not hope against the worst, but hope to walk in His strength.

Tomorrow morning I will fly back to Tampa and follow up with a doctor in Jacksonville within a few days. Depending on his assessment will determine if I can return to Peru.

There are a lot of encouraging verses throughout the Bible, but one chapter I read last night made me smile.


Psalm 116

I Love the LORD

 ¹ I ^(A)love the LORD, because he has ^(B)heard 
   my voice and my pleas for mercy. 
² Because he ^(C)inclined his ear to me, 
   therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 
^3 (D)The snares of death encompassed me; 
   the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; 
   I suffered distress and anguish. 
⁴ Then ^(E)I called on the name of the LORD: 
   “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”

 ^5 (F)Gracious is the LORD, and ^(G)righteous;
   our God is ^(H)merciful.
⁶ The LORD preserves ^(I)the simple;
   when ^(J)I was brought low, he saved me.
⁷ Return, O my soul, to your ^(K)rest;
   for the LORD has ^(L)dealt bountifully with you.

 ⁸ For ^(M)you have delivered my soul from death,
   my eyes from tears,
   my feet from stumbling;
⁹ I will walk before the LORD
   ^(N)in the land of the living.

 ^10 (O)I believed, ^(P)even when^[a] I spoke:
   “I am greatly afflicted”;
^11 (Q)I said in my alarm,
   ^(R)“All mankind are liars.”

 ¹² What shall I ^(S)render to the LORD
   for all his benefits to me?
¹³ I will lift up ^(T)the cup of salvation
   and ^(U)call on the name of the LORD,
¹⁴ I will ^(V)pay my vows to the LORD
   in the presence of all his people...

I have already been rescued, I have already been healed. Not from sickness, but sin. Not by medicine, but grace. My heart and my flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Please pray for me, but please don't feel bad for me. Because of this situation I can encourage a world of people I couldn't relate to before this (2 Corinthians 1:2-7). God is my strength and God is my confidence. His story will continue, and His name will be magnified.