Andy’s Update March 25, 2009

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, after nearly 50 days in the hospital, Andy was discharged!! You can imagine how thrilled he was to pack up his stuff and say goodbye to bed #48! Tomorrow he will begin daily outpatient physical therapy in the same hospital and on Friday he will have his stitches removed. He is making remarkable progress. He is now able to walk around the house using only a cane. His arm is still pretty lifeless, but the therapist is getting some movement of the shoulder muscles. He still has some facial weakness and speech impairment, but his energy level is picking up. We are very grateful for the care he has received and the progress he has made, and we thank each of you for helping us through this difficult time.

Now that he is home our daily routine will be changed again. We will be traveling back and forth to the clinic for daily P.T. To be honest I have been struggling with an inner discouragement that I am not able to do much that is “significant”. Days go by and I ask myself what I have accomplished. Before returning to Italy I had visions of great endeavors for the Kingdom, and now I find myself “fettered”. I have been ministered to by a poem by Amy Carmichael that I share with you, just in case one of you also finds himself facing some limitation, some “captivity”.

ANOTHER SHALL GIRD THEE

Are these the days when thou dost gird thyself

And walkest where thou wouldest, battle days,

Crowded and burdened and yet lit with praise,

Days of adventure; eager, glorious choice

Folded in every hour? Rejoice, rejoice,

O happy warrior, if so it be,

For surely thou shalt see

Jesus Himself draw near and walk with thee.

Or doth another gird thee, carry thee

Whither thou wouldest not, and doth a cord

Bind hand and foot, and flying thought and word?

An enemy hath done it, even so

(Though why that power was his thou dost not know)

O happy captive, fettered and yet free,

Believe, believe to see

Jesus Himself draw near and walk with thee.

So either way is blessed; either way

Leadeth unto the Land of Heart’s Desire;

Thy great Companion’s love can never tire;

He is thy Confidence, He is thy Song;

Let not thy heart be troubled, but be strong.

O happy soul, to whom is given to see

On all the roads that be,

Jesus Himself draw near and walk with thee.

With love, Linda and Andy