theParoublog -09: SICK!

Today I arose with a wierd feeling in my gut/stomach at 4:15am. I couldn't go back to bed, so I worked in the office for a while, until 7:30. The feeling did not get better. I knew that something was wrong--cause I usually don't get sick much during the year--so I can tell when it is coming on. What would be a trip to India without being bedridden for at least half a day!

The culprit? Chicken Biryani. It seems that there is around 4 cups of oil and around 6-7 cups of ghee (ghee is basically butter that is processed to become very sweet, and it is really fatning). I did not realize this as I was eating 4 plates full of biryani yesterday for lunch and supper. So today had one highlight.

I was able to hold back the sickness for 3 hours to keep my promise to visit Vicents church about 15 kilometers north from the hospital. It was not a fun ride, not fun waiting to preach, but it is a strange grace that during the times when I preach (if I am sick) I have never felt the sickness until I sit back down (this also applies to being nervous, for some reason God has seen it fit to wait until I sitting down to release the 30 minutes of nerves into my body at once). This hapened today, where I had to excuse myself and curl up like a sick dog behind the church building out of the sun for about 15 minutes.

I spoke on John 14:1-14 in case you wish to look it up on the web. I suggest ESV.org. I enjoyed the time of back and forth, questions, answers, etc. We focused mostly on the statement of Jesus that "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father"... and what this means. Finally we spent time thinking about our roles as Christians to point people to Jesus, and as they get to know the biblical Jesus--he will point them to the father.

I returned home and basically drugged myself up and slept from 11-4pm. I still feel a little down, and I have no energy (as all I have eaten today is a bottle of 7up, water and two pieces of french toast this morning). Imagine eating salads for 30 days and then going to Hardees and ordering 2-3 burgers... that is basically the shock I gave my body yesterday. So, I will not forget this lesson.

Tonight is an international HIV/AIDS candle light service around the globe. Of course, like usually we only heard this from the state gov't about 10 days ago, and had to prepare and ask people to come to the T intersection in the middle of Yerpedu where the David and Lois Rees Hospital sign is. I did not go, cause ... well , you know. Kathryn has stayed behind to help me... and to watch TV. But Robert and the In-laws took some pictures.

Prayers: For me, so I can be back to 100% by monday evening. And for RAIN!!!

Praises: For the grace to share the gospel on a Sunday morning with God's family in India. Sick or well, it is always a blessing to reveal new portions of scripture to those who have never heard those parts before. Their faith and questions inspire me to keep at it! And praise for iPODs and being able to listen to music when you are sick (even rap!). And praise for the 18 lb fish that a staff member brought for us to enjoy -- after I am not sick.