A month ago if you would've asked me what I would be doing over spring break I'd probably tell you in California, on the beach, with my best friend, Lydia. Yet, here I am, 1 am on a Friday morning, laying in my bed in Ohio. While I had expected my spring break to be adventurous, care free, and relaxing, I have found it to be strenuous, overwhelming, and fast paced. EDS has officially taken over SB2K15!! I've found myself a lot this week in hospital waiting rooms scrolling through the fun beach pictures everyone's been posting on Instagram. While they're inhaling salt water, I'm inhaling steroids. While they're laying on beach chairs soaking up the sun, I'm laying in bed with my heating pad on trying to get my joints to stop hurting. While they're sipping on milkshakes and smoothies, I'm chugging down barium to make sure I swallow right. Oh, what fun. I believe by the end of this week I will have gone to 6 appointments within a 5 day span. On top of it all, my poor dog-who I'm quite attached to- underwent surgery to remove a large tumor that may have spread cancer throughout her body. There's something so much more sad about seeing a dog cry, probably because they can't verbalize what hurts or what they need most.
Regardless of my hectic medical schedule and stressed out brain, I am so incredibly glad I stayed home for spring break. One reason in particular, is that I was able to enjoy my second week of being a Young Life Leader at Olentangy Orange High School. It was through Young Life in high school that I learned what true relationships looked like, and where I found out who God really is and what He means in my life. And now, I get to be a leader on team Orange to help kids learn what I had the privelege of learning at Young Life. I got placed two weeks ago at a local high school specifically so I could do the work that God calls us all to do, share His truth and love others.
Being a Young Life Leader is definitely a commitment. The average leader spends 15 hours per week in the community of their school. Crazy, I know. Even though I have only been leading for two weeks, I can already tell it's going to be a lot, but so worth it. Despite my medical inconveniences, I have managed to make it to all of our Young Life events the past two weeks. It takes me anywhere from twenty to thirty minutes to drive to Orange territory from my house just a town over, but each day, God has gotten me there and back in one whole piece. When I got home from our events this week (club monday, campaigners Wednesday) I was physically exhausted. My body ached all over. But boy, did my soul feel great. It's amazing how at first my week seemed like it was going to suck, when in reality, I was able to spend time doing something I love for someone I love, the Lord.
Another reason I'm glad I stayed home for break- I got some answers! Turns out my blood work showed I was allergic to shrimp, ginger, and string beans(what a combination), I'm gluten sensitive, and highly allergic to dust mites. My 4 month long throat ache definitely has at least a little bit of an explanation. Dang, it feels great when God answers my prayers! I had prayed for so long that something would turn out to be wrong with me so that we could know how best to treat my chronic throat discomfort and pain. Thank you, Jesus.
Yes, I spent way more time than I would've preferred in front of doctors this week. Yeah, I would've rather been in Cali, but the cool things I got to experience this week admist some bumps in the road really made my spring break feel worth while. I'm so thankful for a God who knows what's better for me than I do. I really don't think the beach was what I needed this week anyways.