It’s been an interesting 11 days to say the least. I intended it to be rather uneventful. Joe left last Thursday/Friday the end of July for Germany. And what day are we on – yup August 9. When Joe left I was getting ready to finish up my ambulatory EEG – once that goop was off, I was ready for a good 10 days.
Thankfuly due to modern technology We had been able to communicate on a fairly regular basis (when I could remember to call in when it wasn’t the middle of the night there). Joe was in his element, or one of them at least, he was working with young people at a Unity Camp held in Herrenhagg Germany. He had cassually memntioned on Saturday or maybe Sunday that there were several young folk and chaperones that were sick and they were starting to isolate them. I was deeply concerned and I admit my overwhelming need to fix things went into high gear. What about doctors, what they saying, have they been consulted? Did the Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church in North America, know the extent. And the list could go on.
I spoke to Joe on Monday and he didn’t really sound great or like himself. I spewed questions at him – what’s wrong? Do you feel ok? Your voice sounds weak? Are you sleeping and eating and drinking plenty of fluid. To which his answer was “yes Kelly, I’m tired, rather exhausted. I’m been trying to work with the other chaperones to help the sick young people and the ones that are well have a continued faith filled week. Plus Kelly it’s been 98-99 degrees and you know there really isn’t any air conditioning and I’m wiped out.” I suggested he call it a day. Before hanging up he assured me he was not getting sick.
Guess what, Zachary came into my room at 10:00 PM EST and 4:00 AM in Germany, and said “Daddy Needs you”, and I was so discombobulated I said “where is he”? Zachary looked at me and said “send him a message don’t call.” Here’s how the conversation went:
Hey, is everything ok? No he says, I think I’m getting sick. Great I wanted medical people there to ascess the situation. I asked for the contact information of the Board of World Mission’s guy who was organzing it here in North America. I called him and he had recently been made aware and they believed it was the Noro Virus. GREAT – NOT! As I was talking with him hoping he was going to pull all the North Americians to a hotel so no one else would get sick or sicker. I got another message from Joe with a screenshot of a hotel in Frankfurt that had openings. Stating he had to get out of there, he couldn’t stand everyone getting sick and being so ill under those circumstances. I get it, I was afraid because I have never heard my husband sounding so desperate. The Board of World Mission said lets wait for a few hours and when folks are up moving there and we can ascess the situation. Noting that they were ready to do whatever needed to be done – hotels, better isolation and the list went on.
I knew that when I talked to Joe earlier he was sick and I also as badly as I wanted to be there I couldn’t. He found a Uber like person to take him into Frankfurt (45 minutes away) and into a hotel. Oh. he was sick.
Meanwhile, back in Winston Salem – here I was. With plenty on my plate – being a mom to a now super stressed young man, a daughter in law for a stressed mom, a Trellis Supportive Care PRN chaplain working every day, a couple of Drs appointments, trying to have food ready for my son and MIL. All this and likely more when there was a whole lot of my concern and heart in Germany. How could this be happening? Why did these young people have their camping experience dampened by the Noro? I pray this will still have a positive impact on their faith and walk with Christ. I wondered and worried how many more would get sick – the answer came out of about 60, 27 got to visited by Noro.
Friday, Joe sounded better and I was driving to another city to see two Trellis patients and their families when the song above popped on my play list. I had no idea it was on there and oh how fitting the refrain was for my week the rollar coaster of the week.
Except for Monday, which was never good anyway No it was not! And I knew it yet couldn’t prove it.
Tuesday, I get a little sideways I was so overwhelmed with details and being sure Joe got to a place where he could hopefully soon start to feel better, there was no way I was standing straight up.
Wednesday, I feel better, just for spite I suspect on Wednesday I was myself very sleep deprived, overwhelmed and concered for everyone that If spite didn’t help me feel better where would I be?
Thursday and Friday take too long Some of the longest days, Joe and so many others so far away and struggling. Joe was weak and wasn’t eating. And you know what all I could do was wait and pray and those days were long as were the nights.
Before I know it, Saturday’s gone Well since part of my office is in my room I had to get some of it sorted, it was exhausting to look at. So some extra sleep, lots of cleaning, preparing for worship and bam it was way past a person’s bed time and I had so much more to do.
But it’s Sunday now and you can bet that I’m alright What a relief, it’s Sunday! Worship and being in the presence of the Lord and leading worship with the fine people at Ardmore Moravian and diligently watching my phone tracking his flight. It’s now 9:24 PM (EST) and his plane’s wheels are to hit the tarmac at RDU at 9:36. Just a few more minutes – then a drive home about 1.5 hours. Yes, you know me, I will be watching him on find a friend, as he travels. Sleep deprived and exhausted from being sick, I’m prayering hard and am comforted knowing others are too.
And I believe we have wheels have touched down.
Its’s Sunday now and you can know for certain I’m all right!
Gathering the Gleanings: Reflections on Life in the Ministry 
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