Brief update

Joanne had the breakthrough she needed .Today she stood. Great day. Rachel is visiting. Thank you for continued prayers.

June 26, Friday

Joanne is finally in the rehab center! It was questionable yesterday because she needed to get some relief in her gastrointestinal system before she could go. She did. Thank you for all of you who prayed for this. NOW she needs to get that system balanced out.

We are not sure what rehab will look like, other than a lot of work - 3 hours per day. We have no idea how long it will go. Continue to pray for the pain to be in control so that she can get the full benefit of rehab. Pray for her therapists that they have the wisdom to get her where she needs to be. And always, pray that God intervenes.

Rachel will be in town this week to see her mom and to help me prepare our bedroom for new carpet in the next week or two and to help with some cleaning. I am sure she will be MIA in the cleaning area during visiting hours - and I wouldn't have it any other way.

As always, we are so grateful for each of you and what you add to our life in the Lord. 

Great News

Joanne, is supposed to be transferred to the Cleveland Clinic Rehab Center in Avon, OH today. We still don't know the time, and there is always a chance it won't happen. She was on her feet for a moment yesterday. All is moving forward, but not without some concerns.

First, she is still confused about things and is not clearly aware of everything. This has been improving but please keep this in prayer. The meds have been hard on her.

Second, they found that her adrenal glands were not doing well which means many blood work numbers were in the negative range. She has had this before when we were in Brazil. They are treating her and the numbers are rising. Please pray that this gets where it should be. It could also help with the clarity.

All things considered, we praise God for his great hand being on Joanne through this time and we thank you for all of your prayers.

June 22, 2020

Not a lot to report other than she is able to sit straight in a chair. The plan is she will go to rehab later this week. Seems like the pain is being managed. A doctor was in and said the confusion and memory issues were pretty normal for this kind of surgery. I would not suggest calls yet, as she does tire easily and needs her energy for physical therapy. She does sound better on the phone. More alert and her speech is clearer.

We both thank you all for your great prayers and hope you will continue as she goes through the healing process.

I will be seeing my orthopedic surgeon, tomorrow, about my knee that is in need of replacement. The hope is that another shot will give me a couple of months with less pain until Joanne is back in the house and getting around well.

I am receiving the rest that God promises and it is pleasant.

Saturday, June 20.

So here is the latest on Joanne.

As I was going into her room the doctor was coming out. He proceeded to show me the actual exrays that he had on his phone. These included before and after shots. Her back is now, in the back and forth motion, curved as it should be - head above the pelvis. He also straightened her left and right position so it is straight also. It was amazing to see the images.

Joanne is still pretty caught up in the pain meds and not thinking quite as clearly. They had her on the edge of the bed today. The indication is that she will need to go to rehab after her stay in the hospital to build up her strength. She sleeps a lot and is in pain - which the doctor and physical therapist told her to expect. She could still use prayer, especially for the pain. She is eating and getting great care at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.

I spent 2-3 hours with her today. Because of the Covid virus, I will not be able to see her again until the day she is discharged - hopefully, later this week. The hospital has a no visitor policy except in special circumstances. It is a strange season we are in. Joanne has her phone but I would suggest no one call for a couple of days. With the meds, she is on she is not very clear when she speaks.

I am doing well, though, I do miss Joanne. Knowing that she is in good hands and not dependent on me for her safety has been an interesting realization. The stress in caring for her and being concerned for her well-being was more than I thought. As I walked this morning, I realized that I didn't have to worry about whether she had fallen or been unable to get up from the chair, or bed, commode. The house is completely quiet without our normal bantering. Strange. Sure do love her and look forward to her return to the home.

We both want to thank all of you for your prayers for us during this time. Without that, we would not be who we are and where we are. May God return that blessing to each of you.

Surgery is over!

As I write, Joanne is in recovery. I will not be able to see her until she gets in her room. Talked to the doctor and he was very pleased with how the surgery came out. It was quite a bit quicker than he anticipated because she came together well. They are managing her pain and she is awake. All good news. More later.

June 2020 Newsletter

June! Warmer weather. Greener Trees. Growing Grass. Life is in full bloom around our home as we come to the half-way point of 2020 – Yes, that is hard to believe.

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Rick writes:

I had to fill the van’s gas tank, again! Once-a-month has its plusses unless you love to drive and travel. Not seeing everyone, face-to-face, has been difficult. I remember, many years ago, as we thought of increasing our presence in Ghana, we had to consider the import, and cost, of sitting down with a beverage and being pastoral. There are so many options today. But Zoom, Teams, or whatever other virtual meetings you can have isn’t quite the same. May God continue to help us build our relationships in these unique times.

Joanne and I are going to keep this a short newsletter. Perhaps you can use the time you save reading a short newsletter praying for Joanne. Let me explain.

After many years of struggling with spine issues, the last couple of months have seen an exponential increase in pain for Joanne. Walking has become very painful and difficult – even with the rollator (wheeled walker). She had not seen a spinal doctor in many years. This year she found a great doctor who proceeded to send her to a surgeon who specializes in special cases (that almost defines Joanne’s many issues 😊). The surgeon has seen her and thinks he can help her stand straight again and perhaps walk without the walker – maybe. This surgery is Friday, June 19, this week.

We are asking you to pray for Joanne, that the surgeon and the caregivers would have the skill and wisdom to do more than they, on their own, could do for Joanne. She will be in the hospital for 5-7 days and perhaps rehab after that.

I will post updates on her condition on an infrequently use blog that I have had for years. If you want the latest on Joanne, please point your browser to https://ricklw.blogspot.com/

Thank you for your faithful support for, now, 17 years. This has been an amazing journey and you have made it more than just possible. You have made it a pleasure. Thank you.

We love you! Because of Him, we are, Rick and Joanne Widener

God's Love

I came to a saving knowledge of the Lord in 1969. Before that, I was “God-fearing” and loved Him more as one acquainted with a person and their biography. In October of 1969, I met, person to person, the one I had only known through someone else. It was a day that would change my life.During that period there were many struggles in the Christian religious world. One that raised its ugly head was the “battle” between those who believed in the baptism of the Holy Spirit (yes, with all the gifts) and those who said the gifts were for a different age (or some other argument). We weren’t always very kind to each other – God have mercy on us. 

Today, as we pass through this pandemic there is a danger, that once again, as has happened many times in the past, Christian will abuse Christian. We read various articles that explain, what we can and cannot do, when and how to “re-open” of our buildings, directions from this group or that group, and we begin to make our decisions, we do need a new revival. Brett McCracken, in a Gospel Coalition article, Church, Don’t Let Coronavirus Divide You (https://tinyurl.com/y7hyswbx), discusses this very real threat to the unity of the body of Christ spoken of in Psalm 133 and John 17. 

There are reasons for legitimate divisions. But, here, I am talking about Bible-believing, knowing Jesus as a personal savior, knowing the church as His living body – Christian men and women. The arguments are over suggestions, recommendations, and rules that are being set up by “someone.” “I think this whole pandemic is a conspiracy.” comes from one side, and, “I think if we do not follow every detail of every rule we are going to die.” comes from the other side. “The government is attacking the church!” to “We must obey Romans 13 and obey the government.” Everything in-between these statements is also being proclaimed.
 
Brett McCracken has us refer to Romans 14: “Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” Again, in 1 Corinthians 8:9, we are told, “Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” This is not saying that one view is the weak view and the other is the strong one. The fact is we are to care for each other, not berate each other. Eternity will reveal the truth. Am I willing to lay down my life for you? If you believe that it is necessary to wear a mask, I will not violate you, but, honor you and encourage you to continue to walk in faith. I will accept you and love you – you are my brother, my sister. Having had the privilege to travel the world, I learned very early how important it is to honor my brothers and sisters and their unique way of doing or not doing things. I would never think of forcing my ways on them. May we be as kind, considerate, and giving to each other during this and every season of life on earth. 

Some believe God is at work to bring about a “new thing.” Perhaps even, another “Great Awakening.” In my understanding, God is always at work in this fallen world. It would not surprise me if this pandemic is the result of our fall from grace in Eden, and the new thing might be a church that is so loving and caring of each other, and of their neighbor, that we rise to defend each other, regardless of the position we hold. It seems to me that man is always quick to tell each other what God is doing. Yes, He does speak to his people, and there are prophets today. BUT, in all of this, we need humility to acknowledge that He is God and that we are his imperfect vessels. “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1–3).