The vampire or the extra-terrestrial?

Thank you for your prayers over these two weeks when I’ve been feeling so ill. Shaking off the lung infection hasn’t been easy; despite taking antibiotics for ten days, I’m still struggling with coughing, chest pain and difficulty breathing. Yesterday I had to go to the doctor again, and I’ve been given a different antibiotic for the coming week, as well as something for the continuing phlegm.
As for the third degree burns on my face, it’s been encouraging to see those slowly beginning to heal too. The nurse said to me one day this week that it was amazing how good the wounds were looking already, when you consider what a mess they were at the end of last week. “I think it’s healing well,” she said. 

“I hope so,” I answered, “Because I’ve got people all over the world praying for that.”

“Well, tell them to keep praying,” she said. “It’s working!”

Just as I was rejoicing over this amazing answer to prayer, she then said something that totally shocked me:  “Of course,” she continued, “The hardest time is just beginning now.”

I looked at her in puzzlement, wondering what she meant, and what could possibly be harder than the horrible weekend I’d just had, with my face so painful and bleeding all the time. ”What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well, the most important thing you can do now to avoid scarring,” she replied, “is to stay out of the sun this summer. Remember you’ve lost all three layers of your skin. As new skin begins to grow in again, it doesn’t have any melanin. If you allow it to be exposed to the sun, it will turn dark brown and stay that way for the rest of your life.”

I looked at her incredulously. We live in southern Spain, and the seemingly long winter is finally over. It’s going to be sunny almost every single day for the next six months. The only way to avoid getting any sun would be to shut yourself inside the house for the next six months - only emerging after dark (like the vampires in old black and white movies!)

My heart sank as I thought of all the LDC activities that happen outdoors, thought of the things I’d hoped to do with my parents when they come to Spain for holiday this summer....  thought of the Planting Together outreaches in Senegal. “So, for how many weeks or months do I need to stay out of the sun?” I asked her. “I’m planning a trip to Africa for the whole month of August, and maybe another one towards the end of the year.”

Imagine my shock when she told me I’d be wise to stay out of the sun for the rest of the year. I could try using total block sunscreen as my face heals more, but the only way to guarantee protection would be to stay indoors or to wear some kind of headgear that completely hides your face from the sun.

I was speechless. I had been praying for smooth healing without scarring, but I hadn't for a moment imagined consequences like these. I’d seen the whole burning episode as a bizarre accident, but now it began to feel like a tactic of the enemy to rob me of Africa and of my outreach involvement there this summer. It seemed inconceivable that I wouldn’t be able to go outside in the sunshine until this time next year, or that it wouldn't be possible for me to be part of the Planting Together outreaches in Senegal again this year. For some days, I was seeking God in prayer and still reeling from the shock of the news.

And now? Well, I’ve decided that the vampire lifestyle isn’t what God has for me this year! And so I’ve taken the doctors at their word and have ordered (from China) an odd looking hat with a complete facial guard. I’ll probably look ridiculous, or risk being mistaken for an extra-terrestrial, but it seems the only way to protect my face in the way the doctors recommend, and still be able to participate in the different ministry and outreach activities that I’ve committed to for this year.

My face looks so much better than it did this time last week. It’s just very pink (kind of like a chicken breast!) and feels sort of itchy as it heals. Please would you join me in praying that it will heal well, without major scarring, and pray also for this respiratory infection to really clear up now, so that life can get back to normal.. Thank you.