Well, our goal to find a new ministry has taken an unexpected and rather time sensitive turn.
Due to the large amount of rain we have received recently we now have toxic black mold in our home. We are both sick as are our dogs. We have respiratory problems, fever, stomach issues and constant headaches that border migraines. We have to move . . . now. To add to matters my health has hit an all time low. I can barely walk and that was before last night. Last night while dealing with almost 5 inches of water and mud in the basement I slipped and fell. I've spent the day in a lot of pain and I've had to wear my back brace. The house just isn't safe. In talking to the landlord, a person who doesn't believe in God, she made the comment that "For a religious person maybe I should be asking God why all these bad things keep happening to me." She doesn't realize that we belong to God and that bad things happening to us are a part of life as God uses them to reach those He loves as well as for discipline where needed. Regardless of why these are happening I remember Job and I remember James 1:2-4. Consider it Pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds . . . In this I totally agree. My heart may be heavy, and my body in pain but my soul is overwhelmed with Joy.
The doctors have told me that I need to get back to sea level where, as has happened in the past, my health dramatically improves. There is no real medical explanation for it but there is precedent. Both with myself and with other patients at my Pain Clinic. Within 24 hours I regain almost all my functionality. The only problem is how to we get me to sea level.
Really, this is a huge prayer request. Due to the amount of money we're spending monthly on health care it has drained our savings. We can't afford plane tickets. I put out there and talked to a lot of people about frequent flyer miles for a ticket to no avail. So we're looking at having me drive some 1,000 miles one way to a little town in Texas at sea level where my Great Aunt lives. She would love to have me out for a week or two.
Due to Aleisha's knee (She needs knee replacement surgery) she can't drive my truck, a 1996 ford ranger with over 250k miles on it and a manual transmission. She can't work the stick. So I'm thinking about trying to drive my truck. It barely gets me to Denver and back. But I don't know what else to do.
What happens when I get to sea level is my body heals. It only lasts for about 4 weeks but it would give me enough time to help pack our house and get us out of here and to a safer place. We found a place in South Metro Denver to live for 3 months but Aleisha can't pack and move the house by herself. With my health in the toilet right now I'm of no use. I can barely walk. But if I have a chance to heal up, I can be a great resource to her as well as a rock for her to lean on.
This may not seem like it has anything to do with our ministry but it has everything to do with it. It just seems right now that God is pushing for us to move to sea level. I've talked to the Field Director responsible for Texas for InFaith and there is currently more openings for ministry then available missionaries. We both feel led to pursue ministry in Texas but with the stress of my seriously degraded health at a mile above sea level and the situation with the house we are feeling very overwhelmed right now.
Please be in Prayer that God would provide something to get me to sea level, to heal and to get back for my wife. And for His Peace and Provisioning in all things. If you have any questions please contact me at chrisgentry007@gmail.com.
Blessings
Chris Gentry
