TRUSTING NOT TRYING

  I'm guessing it's quite normal to have some what of a pity party after going through a traumatic experience such as a heart attack. I guess I've been there a little lately. But in God's Word there is hope, encouragement, life, healing. There is now renewed hope. I feel great, my doc says I'm fine, the meds are working, so it is well with my soul and my health.
  The extraordinary bills from the hospitals, helicopter ride, doctors, surgeons, are to put it mildly, crazy!!!! Over $210,000.00!!! But I heard the other day on some Christian station, "GOD'S WILL, GOD'S BILL." Don't worry about your life, money, future. God has it all. Whew! That's good news!
  Last Tuesday we dedicated the house the guys in Mexico built for Miranda and her husband Ponce along with their baby Leila. We have built a house for 4 generations of that family over the years. That's what really moves my heart. It was a great celebration and a great job the guys did building it.
  Paula and I both went to a cardiologist Wednesday and we both need to take better care of ourselves.  We can't serve others if we're not doing what the doc said to us 3 years ago. He prescribed golf for my rehabilitation. Walking is the best exercise, so I might as well chase a ball as I walk.
  Tomorrow we have our monthly food outreach and I'll be able to thank everyone in the Colonia for the prayers on news of my heart attack . We thank all of you as well. I received so many texts and posts on social media.  It's kinda funny how an easy text or post replaced cards like the old days. I think I got 3 get well cards and hundreds of messages on social media. The Times have changed.

TWO WEEKS POST OP. FEELING GREAT

  With all that's transpired since my heart attack two weeks ago, I feel great. We are in Chicago until tomorrow watching Lea while Kristin and Larry we're out of town. Thanks for all the prayers and texts, it's a great encouragement to know your thought of.
  Sunday morning we headed to church in a freaky snow storm that lasted all day. Church was anointed as a always. We took Pastor Pat to lunch after church. It's always great to catch up with him when we're in town.
  Saturday we took a ll the kids to a park district event in doors. Face painting, jumping rides. We did all that after I went to the men's breakfast and prayer time. We were able to see a few friends while in town, but mostly Lea time.
  We head home tomorrow , the guys are busy building a house in the colonia, we got word from the orphanage in the mountains that the well has run dry. If need be, I'll be raising money for drilling a new one. Water is critical to the orphanage. No city water available.
  Can't wait to get home and started on rehab. I'm not one to sit around for too long. Thanks for the prayers and support.

OHHH HOW BLESSED I AM

  I'm so glad that we belong to a God that is in complete control of our lives. I know that's so cliche, but it's so true. While warning signs of my impending heart attack were screaming at me, God was carefully and strategically aligning everything I needed to survive.
  If only I had done this, or if only I had done that, then things would have been different. No! Absolutely nothing to do with me and my choices,  well, I could have made healthier choices, but I mean over the days leading up to my heart attack.  The damage to my body was already done, now God, who loves me and you dearly, had to orchestrate things to keep me around A while longer. My days are numbered by Almighty God and I'm not going anywhere until that day comes that's ordained by God.
   I feel so bad that I put so much stress on Paula, Kristin, Kelly and all my family. They were all really scared of the thought of flooding me. I'm ready to go home to be with Jesus and all those that have gone on before me, that had placed their trust in Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven
. Some people have asked about the symptoms . Many months of cold feet, I was in denial it was anything, many months of sluggishness, thought we just needed a break from ministry, pain in my leg and arm muscles for two weeks, thought I was just out of shape, the last few days before, severe pain in my left arm muscles and across my left breast. Exhausted after any kind of physical activity. The Last day I only packed my suitcase and was exhausted , that's when I made the decision to go to the hospital after the guys from Power prayed for me. Had I gone to Mexico with the team, I would have certainly died there. So praise be to God The Holy Spirit for finally moving me to make some life saving decisions. I love my family and friends for being there. I can't wait to see my friends in Mexico. They are quite concerned.

OH WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES

  Last Thursday the 82 men from Power Ministry arrived. We spent Friday in Matamoras with the students from Magdiel Bible School. Saturday a team was assigned to help us with the monthly food outreach. The afternoon was spent at Children's Haven Orphanage in Reynosa where Power puts on a huge carnival for the community .1300 people came and I had a blast manning the bean bag toss game. 3 hrs to cross the border every day. What a mess.
  Sunday morning we headed to Alliansa Mega Church in Reynosa for the 9am service. I was feeling a heaviness in my chest and had the guys in my van pray for me. I felt better immediately.  Devotions, and worship, and communion was enjoyed before the service. We were up on stage during the worship time. I was given the opportunity to share from the pulpit for a few minutes.
  Lunch was supposed to be at the Community Center in Nopalera,  but it had rained all night so we switched venues for lunch. I was able to share with the team our story, they gathered around me and prayed over me. I shared about the feeling of a heart attack that morning. Another 3 hr border crossing and 6 hour drive to Del Rio .  Crossed into Acuna Mexico the next day and formed and poured a handicapped ramp. I got extremely tired while shoveling the concrete and pain in my left arm. I just prayed for Satan to take his hands off of me. Another 2 hour crossing. That night a great steak dinner, and a time of worship and the Word. I felt wierd again and told a few guys. I had a hard time falling asleep and the morning I told the leaders I didn't want to go to Mexico that morning. I needed to go to the hospital. The guys anointed me with oil, prayed over me and I just relaxed for a while. An hour later , Dave and Louis took me to the hospital. They hooked up the EKG machine and took blood, all looked normal. After an hour or so the pain in my arm hot extreme and I threw up, and was having a heart attack. Wow!!! I was a code blue and a flood of people entered the room. They started all these procedures, injection of nitroglycerin and something else to dissolve the clot causing the attack. Dave and Louis sent word back to the team to pray for me now!!! Within minuets all pain was gone and I was instructed I was being transferred by helicopter to San Antonio. After a cool, but uncomfortable ride in the chopper, I was in surgery immediately upon landing on the roof. A stint was placed in my "widow maker" artery. It was 99% blocked, and I almost died. God had orchestrated all the circumstances to keep me around A while longer.
  Paula was notified of the situation and left her sewing class in Mexico and Shawn and Carla , Sergio and China came with her. It's a 4hour drive to San Antonio. While they were driving, Kristin and Kelly were making arrangements to fly to San Antonio.
  Some friends of ours in San Antonio  we're at the hospital when I landed and have been a blessing to us. I think I'm being released today. Social media has it's place, and it mobilized an army of people praying for me, and I documented a lot of it on Facebook. So thank you for your prayers and support.