The Latest Dery Update

Yesterday, I had some visitors...a lot of them, actually. But, the visitors I want to talk about are Rev. Raymond Dery and his wife, Vida. On Sunday, March 16, 2014, Dery was in a very serious motorcycle accident. He was fighting for his life. Vida and I cried on each others shoulders at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Now look at him! Now, 14 months later, he is visiting me in Lawra, where his family house is located.

Dery attended the annual Synod of the Northern Ghana Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana. So, I wasn't surprised to see him doing so well at my house. We had a lovely conversation while he was here. He is able to do many of the things that he did before his accident. He has many of the same mannerisms that he had before the accident. He still has a strong faith in God and is grateful for his life. Yet, you only have to spend a couple of minutes with him to know that he is still not the same as he was before the accident. Oh, the conversation was good, please don't get me wrong. But,there is still healing to take place. Even though, we are all grateful to God for Dery's healing up to this point, we continue to pray that God will touch him even more and restore Dery to the place where he will once again be preaching and teaching the Word of God, traveling to the villages where people are hungering for God's Words. We pray that he will be restored to the place where he is the husband and father he used to be. We pray that his brain will be fully recovered from the intense injury it suffered. Won't you pray with us?

A Time to Heal

Three months ago, I was in Lawra, Ghana, enjoying life and the work God has given me...all except for one minor detail. I was in constant pain. My right knee had been bothering me for years, and, little by little, it became worse. So bad, that, after arriving back in Lawra after attending a meeting in Tamale, I called my doctor to set a date for a total knee replacement. I had one on my left knee six years ago, so I knew what I was getting myself into, right?

So, I flew back to Erie, PA. I had all the needed lab work and pre-surgery stuff done. Then, on October 17, I went to UPMC Hamot for surgery. Three days later, I was back at my sisters' house in PAIN! I don't remember the last surgery being this painful. But, then, I am a bit older! A CPM machine (to keep my knee moving at increasing angles, six hours a day) was sent home with me. It seems as if all I do is try to get comfortable, do some exercises and get on "the rack."

This time of healing has been hard on me. When I am on pain meds, I can't concentrate. Reading is difficult, if I want to remember what I read. Even watching a DVD gets old real quick. Sleep does not come easy. And, trying to get comfortable in bed...forget it! Keeping a good attitude is the hardest thing of all. Because of the pain, tightness around the knee and lack of range of motion, getting around isn't real easy.

I had therapy at home for two weeks. Holly, my therapist, was such an encouragement. Now, I am going to out patient therapy. In the 2 1/2 weeks since surgery, a lot has been accomplished. Yet, I want to be 100% healed yesterday! It takes time. A small step here, an increase of a degree in the bend or straightening of the knee - they are all major accomplishments for me. It is difficult to "sit back" and let the healing happen. Yes, I have things to do to aid in the healing, some painful, some, not so painful. I guess what it all boils down to, is do I sit around and mope and think, "Woe is me!" Or, do I thank God for the opportunity to have this surgery, this time to take life a bit slower and enjoy His love and His creation? Honestly, I have done both. But, as time goes on, I hope my attitude would be more positive and show my thankfulness to God and would reflect Him instead of feeling sorry for myself.

For everything there is a season. And, for me, now is a season of healing.