BRUCATO PRAYER UPDATE October, 2009

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Prov. 13:12



Dear Friends,

Andy and I had been planning, and hoping, to begin traveling this month to our supporting churches in preparation to return to Italy the first week of November. But a week before leaving I developed a severe infection of the breast and ended up in the hospital. I am still on antibiotics and recovering slowly. Needless to say, our trip was canceled and our return to Italy has been postponed-again.

This has been a season of disappointments and loss for our family. Andy has lost the use of his left arm (at least for now), his ability to run, bike, do push-ups and pull-ups, drive the car and a host of other things, as well as his previous ministry. I have lost my mother, my old routine, my past ministry opportunities, my own physical well-being (hopefully only temporarily). Michael has lost his chance at his life’s dream of becoming a Navy SEAL (he is now in the EOD program and doing well). Mark and Ruth are beginning the difficult job of saying goodbye as they prepare to leave for Italy the first of December. There are other losses too painful to even share.

I have been reflecting on how to live with loss, disappointment, “hope deferred”. First of all I believe that we must acknowledge our loss. We must allow ourselves to grieve; to feel the pain. Secondly we must resist the temptation to become indifferent; i.e. not allowing ourselves to care about things or hope for anything so as to protect ourselves from further disappointment and pain. Finally we must fill up the empty spaces. I have this image of a sponge- full of little holes. Sometimes our lives seem full of holes created by loss. It is precisely the holes that make a sponge absorbent and therefore useful. Perhaps loss is the very vehicle that the Lord uses to “fill up our holes” with Himself.

I love the Christian song “Wait and See” by Brandon Heath. Here is the chorus:
There is hope, for me yet, because God won’t forget, all the plans he’s made for me
I have to wait and see, he’s not finished with me yet, he’s not finished with me yet.

We believe that in spite of our losses He is NOT finished with us yet. We choose to believe that the best years of our lives may be ahead. That our ministry is just beginning. That there is nothing too difficult for Him. That He loves to use the broken and weak things to confound the strong. That He can and will fill our “holes” with His radiant presence and in the end we will be filled to overflowing.

We are still planning on returning to Italy before the end of the year. We have exciting new ideas of how the Lord might use us in this next phase of life. We will be sending out another update to share our hopes and dreams.

Our true Hope is in Christ alone, who never disappoints,

Andy and Linda