Today we are traveling to Amanabad, Gujarat. It has been interesting to say the least... This morning, Thomas Cherian an IPC leader and Valson's Uncle, from Auburn, WA who was in Kumbanad for the Conference, was scheduled to leave for Gujarat with us as a team. He has invested very heavily in the advancement of the Kingdom in Gujarat and is a wonderful man of God. He was to be our guide/escort in our travels helping us to smooth over any rough patches. This morning at 4 am, he went into a hypoglycemic emergency.
People who live with Diabetes need to be very careful how they regulate their blood sugar levels, and Uncle Cherian is no exception. He had come to India with Insulin syringes that were from the USA, ran out of those and purchased Indian syringes to inject his insulin 4 times a day. The problem was that the Indian syringes were not the same size of the American ones and he ended up injecting himself with 2 times the normal level of insulin he needed each day. This accumulated over time and caused his blood sugars to get dangerously low.
We arrived to find him very sick and I was able to take over and figure out what was going on. I have seen many such emergencies at Tacoma General Hospital where I work, so the challenge was how to deal with it in Kumbanad, not having the resources of an American E.R. We were able to get him some Orange Juice and bread to stabilze his blood sugar and he bagan to come around to normal. He did drop his sugar again, but we were more prepared this time to stabilize it with juice, bread and bananas.
It was so cool to see how we blended the emergency treatment and prayer with many of the IPC leaders; Valson, Georgie Uncle, Mercy Auntie, Pastor Noel Samuel, Pastor Johnson and many of the IBC students that were serving us for the week there as well. The first time we checked his blood sugar, with Uncle Cherian's glucometer, and it was a dangerous 48. The second time, it was an even worse 38 but the third time it skyrocketed to 84. This is a miracle of the Lord, as blood sugar levels do not climb that rapidly normally... Before he went to the hospital, it had reached a much more normal 120. The doctor at the hospital asked for Uncle Cherian to rest for 3-4 days before travelling back to the USA.
With our guide/escort in the hospital, we have set off on our own to Amanabad, Gujarat. Pastor P.A. George, the head of the IPC in Gujarat, will be taking over our traveling needs when we arrive. We are safe and covered, and everything is going well.
So, today has been filled with late planes, missed connections, hurried phone calls to Mercy Auntie and a short stay in the Business class lounge of Kingfisher airlines. Tonight will be a meeting of leaders and evangelists in Anand, P.A. George's church, and tomorrow we will conduct an open air crusade and then again meet with leaders in the evening.
We are doing very well... overfed, tired, but excited for the work to come.
-Samuel
4 comments:
Samuel,
We are all following your travels and reading your blogs! You and your group are in our prayers. Great job on fixing your travel mate's blood sugar! Enjoy the rest of your mission but know that we miss you here!
Katrina and the Crew at TGED
Hi Samuel, Dad here. Very impressed with your availability to God and overjoyed at his plan unfolding in surprising and wonderful ways. You are in my prayers.
Dale and Team, I am praying for a mighty move of God at the crusade. I am praying that the enemy will be unable to cause problems, that hearts are open and that the Lord's miraculous power will be very evident!
Elaine and Family
Well, it looks like the Lord had many things in mind for you when he prompted you to go on this trip Samuel! I'm glad to see your gifts and talents have been put to such good use and have been a blessing to those around you. I'll continue to pray for safety and success in your goal of sharing the gospel there in India. Hurry back, though, you are missed here!
Robin
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