Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow"...you know, when you lie flat in a hospital bed for 5 months, you can ONLY Look Up!  Hi friends(mitch here), things are going well.  Battling a little kidney infection(i think my kidney is little, I actually dont know how big it is, but I speak to it like I would a child)and putting together plans to return to the USA in just a month. 

WOW, i am amazed how fast 2+years in the field have flown by.  Some have asked, so i will tells ya(said with a sweet southern accent for flair)-YES, we are and will be returning to Africa after the surgeries are completed(mid February 2013).  We LOVE these people, and are excited to get back to full health and run this race to one day finish strong!  I have a Dr.'s appointment in South Africa in 3 weeks to change the tube that goes into my back and through my kidney(called a nephrostomy), then at the end of October we will meet with the USA surgical team in South Carolina nad set the plan for January 4th(our new D Day).  Would sure prefer NOT to have all of the complications and errors we experienced with my surgeries here in Africa, but(this is hard to say); I would not change it!  I have experienced death which resulted in a deeper life in Christ than I ever thought imaginable.  Though I  did not realize it at the time(I went 2 months and could not/would not talk to God)-HE was still talking to me.  "He never let go".  Countless nights and without my knowledge, Char was putting earphones on me and turning on the Christian playlist on the ipod.  "He never let go!"  Today, I cling to the same result and promise that God honored in Job's life(for our non Christian friends-this is a dude in the bible that was wicked sick and attacked)- that ended in an expansion of Job's influence in those around him.  His territory grew, and the opportunity to impact others grew.  I know this; GOD is always on the move, and I  desire to be in sync with Him. 

Can I just offer you a simple word of encouragement today?  NO matter what you are going through, no matter how difficult, how confusing, how painful, how sad..HE has not forgotten about you, and (from experience)He wants to help you through it.  Trust me, when you come out of the fire, on the other side-you may just have a brighter shine!