Unexpected Mission Trip

I always assumed I'd be a frequent flyer for hospitals (I wish that really did exist. I'd have all kinds of reward points!) because I'm a mother of four boys, but so-far our frequency has had little to do with broken bones or death-defying feats. Instead, I'm merely serving time in hospitals and doctor's offices as part of my mission. The word "mission" has multiple definitions, including carrying out humanitarian work, faith-based service, and the act of being specifically sent. In all its meanings, I did not take part in any mission work until I was in my twenties. It was then that I saw a variety of needs in Haiti, Ecuador, Spain, and the United States. One thing all these trips had in common was the element of discomfort. Whether physical, emotional, or otherwise, attending a mission trip should never look similar to your daily life. It is an experience that erases your normal routine for the sake of serving others. Of course we all have seasons when we are serving people for a living, but when you are forced to cease all habitual activity, it's akin to bedridden illness without the remote or meds. Rather, you freeze your life and see others through a different lens.
Both mission trips and hospital stays have stripped me of what I thought I needed to thrive. I'm laid bare without sleep, without good food, without checking anything off my "to-do" list, and usually without friends, family, or what America would call "fun." Yet, I have had an abundance of community, a sweet measure of stillness, and mission like I've never known. For this, I can smile and calmly thank God for stripping me from the unremarkable pattern, to the remarkable purpose.

Little Luca was diagnosed with subglottic hemangioma last week. Basically he has a large blood clot covering half of his airway. Instead of breathing through a hose, Luca has been breathing through a straw. His illnesses have been a blessing because we were able to find this vascular abnormality sooner rather than later. With blood pressure medicine and multiple doctor specialists, we will have a longer road to recovery, but we are hopeful that it will simply take medicine and not surgery. However, if we eventually need some surgery, we will be ready and hopeful for another hospital mission trip. Peace and purpose are everything, and I've only seen my Lord provide those. I'm not quite sure anyone can live inside the walls of a hospital without them. Thank you for all those prayers and providers for our family last week. We are truly blessed by you.
Little Levi on the other hand has had to forgo his doctor visits in order to let Luca take center stage. It is making us all more thankful to be back together enjoying fall.

As the post mission trip fog wears off, please pray we all get some rest and perspective as we jolt back into the grind of ordinary living. May our mission remain unchanged!