Actually, its not totally the question. I just lied a little for a catchy title.  Sorry.

Well, I guess it kind of is the question.  Here’s the deal…

Yesterday I visited the general doctor, Dr. Paulo, who had ordered all the testing I’ve had up to this point. We discovered from my stomach biopsy that I have chronic pangastritis.  Oh no!! Actually, its not such a big deal. The wall of my stomach is inflamed causing this non-stop acid reflux. He suspects I have had it for some time, it just chose to inflame with everything else that’s been happening in my body.  So, I started a med today to treat it and help it to calm down.

He said I will have to cut back on coffee.

I haven’t had a cup of coffee in a month.

I miss it.

Anyway…

Today I went to the allergist, Dr. Regina.  I had allergy testing done last weekend. All the tests came back normal. No allergy.

What?

No allergy.

Dr. Paulo still thinks, despite the negative results, that I have an allergy.

The allergist, Dr. Regina, does not think I have an allergy.

She still thinks it is my thyroid.

What?

All my tests came back normal for my thyroid.

She thinks the tests have missed something.  So, off to a thyroid specialist I go.

Before I go to the thyroid specialist, Dr. Julia (I love how they all use their first names), I am doing another round of tests.

Parasite testing (don’t ask)

Thyroid blood tests (new ones)

Complete abdominal ultrasound

I will then, after I follow up with the thyroid specialist, make an appointment with Dr. Julia’s husband, Dr. Julio (seriously), who is an gastroenterologist, to talk more about this pangastritis (big medical words that are difficult to say or spell in any language).

Then, after all of this, if I still don’t have any answers, we will do more allergy testing.  While Dr. Regina does not believe I have a food allergy, she has advised me to stay away from all things of the sea, just in case. If the rest of my testing comes back normal, then she will order some more specific allergy testing.

So, there it is.  The low down of my health.  We are thankful for some answers, but still waiting on some more.  Please pray that we will get some answers in the next few weeks so we can move on and deal with whatever it is.  Thanks so much for your prayers!

I’m going to go drool over Lucas’s coffee now.

Last Sunday night, we had a special blessing at our church in the Rincão.

These are “cestas básicas” or basic baskets.  They are full of basic food essentials for a brazilian family: rice, beans, flour, pasta, sugar, coffee, and so on.

The people of one of our sister churches in Porto Alegre, Conexão Cristã, purchased 36 of these baskets to give to the people of our church.  We also used it as an outreach opportunity and people invited their non-church going friends to our service to receive a basket as well.

Our church service was the most full I have seen it since we started attending a year ago.

The gospel was shared by Ivis, the pastor of Conexão Cristã…

I think those who gave the baskets felt blessed as well…

Families who at times may not have the money to buy the basic essentials were given what they need to get through the Christmas season.

What now?

Lucas went to the christian bookstore downtown yesterday and purchased a bunch of portuguese New Testament Bibles.  We plan to visit each family in their home, present them with a Bible, and Lord willing present them with the gospel.

This blessing of “cestas básicas” has the potential to grow into so much more.  Please pray with us and we reach out to those who received baskets to tell them about the Bread of Life!

We went back to the doctor today to talk about all my test results up until now.

Good news.

I’m totally healthy.

Really?

I don’t feel healthy!

My thyroid is normal.  The cysts on there are nothing to worry about.

My bloodwork was normal.  No irregularities.

My heart is pumping good.  This one I was extra thankful for.

I am praising the Lord that all results up until now have come back totally normal.

But the question still remains.

What is wrong with me?  (Go ahead, crack your jokes.)

Time for more tests.

Tuesday morning I am having an endoscopy.  I have had some severe acid reflux for the last week and a half and we are going to see how exactly it is connected to everything, what is causing it, and why it won’t go away.

The week of the 13th I am going to begin allergy testing.  I say ‘begin’ because I have a feeling it is going to be the first round of several rounds of tests to determine exactly if I have a food allergy and what it is.

So, as of now, we still don’t really know anything.

I have been feeling much more like myself the last couple of days which is a huge praise.  My energy level is back and I haven’t had any major “attacks” where I feel like my throat is closing.  I still feel like I have a lump in my throat, but the doctor thinks that may be from the acid reflux I’m experiencing.  So, as of right now, my biggest discomfort is acid reflux.  I can deal with that.

I have to be extremely careful about what I am eating since we don’t know what I may be allergic to.  You can pray for me about that.  It is very easy to let the fear of accidentally eating something I shouldn’t rule my thoughts.  I don’t want to think on the “what if’s”.  I find myself quoting this verse alot these days.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.   Philippians 4:8

So, that’s the latest.  I really appreciate your prayers. I can certainly feel them. In fact, the night that my situation was shared with our home church, Saylorville Baptist Church, back in Iowa, I slept better than I had slept in days.  I firmly believe that was a direct answer to the prayers of my church family.

So I really mean it when I say I can feel your prayers.  So, thank you.