Transition Season Reflections - Praising God in the Hallway

    Reflections... on changes  in my Wycliffe ministry due to new info on CRVO Eye Issue 

During summer of 2015, I was diagnosed with two eyes issues. Initially I was told I would simply need eye drops the rest of my life for glaucoma, a common aging issue. From several  colleagues in Cameroon I learned of the eye drops at a nearby pharmacy and also of an ophthalmologist in the city. At my first retina specialist visit I was told that three eye injections should take care of my central retina vein occlusion (CRVO); those took place in October (OH), November (FL), and December (OH). I thought these new conditions would be no big deal for Cameroon.

Between December 15-18 I had six medical appointments in preparation for a previously "planned" January return to Cameroon, and asked for prayers to pass all my checks with flying colors.

Praise God that I passed all my cancer checks just fine, but something else shocked me. The retina specialist told me that I should move back to the states because of needed checks every few months and likely necessary eye injections. I was informed that only 8-10% of persons with CRVO require only the three initial injections.  Yes...I cried at being told to leave the beloved Africa where I felt called to minister as an older child. I knew my time there was limited due to aging issues, but so soon?

What about injections in Cameroon? A younger colleague who needs the exact same injection medication every six weeks for a different eye condition moved with her family back to the U.S. in 2015 because this medication is not reliably available in Cameroon. Coming back to the U.S. every few months or stretching it to further apart as a second opinion projected (OR traveling to Brussels, France, or South Africa) is simply cost prohibitive on a missionary budget.

For my December glaucoma checkup appointment, I was referred to the OSU Glaucoma Division Director. A laser eye iridotomy ordered for January 8th and 12th went very well; my checkup is scheduled January 26th.

My current plan is to return to Cameroon sometime in February—early June (this school year goes later than last; approved by my retina specialist) to finish out the school year, deal with my belongings, assist with several community ministry projects, then return to the U.S. and likely take a stateside Wycliffe assignment.

This whole ordeal is challenging to deal with. GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL. I never stopped believing that. 

Big picture thinking is crucial when one's personal world has been turned upside down. I remind myself of God's amazing grace and protection on July 9, 2013 when the top branches of this large, termite-ridden tree fell exactly where I had been standing behind a vehicle (to left of blue one in photo above) less than 30 seconds earlier. 

I remind myself of the many people on both sides of the big pond praying for my return to ministry in Cameroon. I recall the Cameroonians who came to my apartment and prayed for my return the day I left for furlough. During furlough I have received emails of encouragement and prayers for my return from these three Cameroon ministry leaders with whom I worked. It was heartwarming during furlough travels to see my name on church bulletin prayer lists. It was uplifting and humbling to be prayed over so many times by individuals, small groups, and churches. In my last WattsLine of 2015 sent out via email and posted on this internet blog, a vital 'prayer concern' was "To pass my first six-month check-up and other medical checks with flying colors." Other medical checks included eye checkups that I had mentioned to many folks.

With ALL these prayers... my wings to long term foreign missionary service are being clipped??? But God, you clearly called me to Cameroon and have blessed my ministry there in various ways. What's with this?!?!

God reminded that for decades I have taught both children and adults that He always answers our prayers...but with YES, NO, and WAIT.

 My obvious conclusion is that God has other plans for my life and ministry that he has not yet revealed to me. A number of folks have reminded me recently that: "When God closes one door, He always opens another door."

So what comes after wrapping up my ministry in Cameroon? I DO NOT KNOW.  My Wycliffe Resource Coordinator is working with me in exploring Wycliffe stateside assignments and I am participating in a Wycliffe Career Guidance program. 

In my humble opinion, my task is to be joyfully obedient to what God has already given me to do. And....

I praise the Lord for new financial partners, faithful partners, and for increased giving.  

Please join me in prayer as I seek the Lord for clear direction about future ministry... for all the logistics of returning to Cameroon short-term...and that I may be a blessing in many ways while there.