False Start

I went to VA yesterday for the scheduled Family group but it was a false start as only 3 of us showed. The facilitators apologized but said 3 is not enough for a group. Maybe next Monday, they said. Disappointed? Yes, but it just seems waiting is par for this course. We are still waiting to hear from Deb Wilson with a definite schedule for Jeff's treatment plan. Maybe today. Sigh!

LET'S WORK ON ME

Ironically, we did not get any farther today with VA concerning Jeff's treatment program scheduling. It seems the Admissions Coordinator is on vacation or something. But one outcome of our appointment today was that there is an opening in a Family Education Group meeting on Monday's in the same complex where Jeff has been seen. So next Monday I get to start working on me:)!!!

The first piece of homework literature I was given is called "After the War for wives of all veterans" The first paragraphs really spoke loudly to me:

AFTER THE WAR
Hundreds of thousands of women are facing a silent war, one which has been fought by millions of women before them.

Since the Gulf War, many of those millions of women are fighting it again.

Wives and families of veterans still fight this war alone, in our own homes, untrained, ignorant of the real enemy which once had no name and wasn't supposed to exist.

That enemy is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Many veteras spend the rest of their lives struggling with frightening symptoms and feelings--or the lack of feelings--brought on by traumatic stress. Those symptoms are the forces against which we may fight for the rest of our lives.

The rest of the booklet just continued to set off bells of understanding in my head and heart. I'm so glad we are finally getting this thing out of the closet where we can get help.

Thank God!

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD

Forty years after Jeff's service in Viet Nam we have recently learned that some of his health issues are directly related to Post Traumatic Stress experienced under fire there and Agent Orange which was a defoliant which also resulted in our troops years later being afflicted by Type II diabetes and heart disease.

A friend who works for VA informed us that the government is now acknowledging the realities of suffering for these war vets and offer compensation. We are also in the process of accessing health care for Jeff's long standing health issues which have been even more pronounced this past couple of years resulting in his physical and mental anguish.

We've been struggling along trying to "keep on keeping on" in our new role as Mission Coaches with WorldVenture but the reality is that Jeff's health issues (and mine which also are being defined as either PTSD from being in war zones or Burnout from the extreme stress over the years) are affecting our ability to do the ministry well. It has been a long road trying to figure out the best path and what health care options to pursue. Our mission wants us both to go to treatment center in Fresno, California called Link Care, but we've been advised by others that the PTSD treatment program through VA would be more beneficial as a starting place with Jeff's issues.

So tomorrow we hope to have a more definite plan as we meet with VA health care staff to determine Jeff's placement in the VA in-patient program for PTSD. It's been long in coming and today seems like it may take forever. But I have hope that we are soon going to get long overdue help.

We will soon be on medical leave from WorldVenture. We have been fighting this, feeling that we will not be fulfilling our responsibilities to our supporters if we take another leave of absence. But there is the "Catch 22" that if we don't take a leave of absence we suffer and the ministry suffers because we are so challenged by our health issues that we cannot do justice to the task.

With treatment and prayers for healing, I have hope that we will come back much stronger given the space and time to get the R & R and the care needed to restore us in body, mind and spirit.

Another Great Nouwen Quote

"As a community of faith we work hard, but we are not destroyed by the lack of results. And as a community of faith we remind one another constantly that we form a fellowship of the weak, transparent to Him who speaks to us in the lonely places of our existence and says: Do not be afraid, you are accepted." Out of Solitude

First Week In Feb

It's been stressful at times with some of friends in Uganda needing some intervention for a domestic issue where the husband has been very violent leaving his wife with head injuries. Hopefully,we can help her to get to Kampala for much needed treatment and a R & R from the intense family situation in Adjumani.

I had some biopsies taken to check some issues that could be dermititus or skin cancer. I won't have those results for about a week.

It's been fun, too. Continuing some long distance coaching opportunities with several young women from Pennsylvania to N. Carolina, Idaho and Walla Walla, Washington. Jeff and I together had dinner with a couple here in Portland who are considering long term missions either to Europe or N. Africa.

Other fun was being invited out with our daughter-in-law, Hannah, to see the 3D production of Avatar. What a treat and experience that was! First of all to hang out with one of my lovely daughters and then to see that kind of media where things jump out of the screen and float in front of your face. How do they do that?!!!!

Pray for the Chandlers

Several months ago I read the story of a British couple, Rachel and Paul Chandler, who were sailing from Tanzania to the Seychelles. They were captured by Somalian Pirates. Today I read that they are still being held hostage with demands for ransom. It moves my heart that Rachel, especially, is very ill. You can read the story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/8489958.stm

Join me, please, in praying for them.

Our Dear Visitor

I recall the many times in Uganda when the youth choirs would sing songs to "Our Dear Visitor"! Now I want to dance and sing because "Our Dear Visitor" is coming to visit from San Francisco arriving tomorrow. Jaclyn Konczal who was such a beautiful ministry partner and community member in Adjumani is coming to visit us and to connect with our family and friends and to get a taste of our beloved Imago Dei CC and PDX.

We'll have a reunion together with Erin Carkner and hopefully Darin and Andra Williams who spent time in our Adjumani community, as well. It should be a lovely time together!