Andy’s Update April 23, 2009

Andy’s Update April 23, 2009

Dear Friends,

Andy just finished his first week of rehab at MarianJoy Rehab Hospital in Wheaton. He is very pleased with the program, particularly the quality staff. He goes three days a week for 4 hours, plus he has exercises to do at home. We are seeing increased movement in his arm and even hand. He is walking better and better and able to walk fairly long distances and without any assistance. When you think that just six weeks ago he was in a wheel chair that is a big deal!

Tomorrow will be an extremely special day for us as we will be attending Michael’s graduation from Navy boot camp. Andy will be returning to the very same Navy training center he attended back in 1968. When we returned to Italy in January we knew that we would not be able to be there for Michael, but now the Lord has given us this possibility. We see His tender mercies even during difficult times.

My mother was discharged from the hospital yesterday after undergoing surgery to implant a pacemaker in an attempt to resolve her cardiac problems. She is very weak and my sister, Cindi, is staying with her this week. I will be flying down to Florida on Sunday to stay with her next week. We are hoping that she will soon be able to return to independent living.

This morning after dropping Andy off at rehab I was overwhelmed with anxieties and sorrows. As I drove away I felt convicted to confess my downcast spirit as ungratefulness to my heavenly Father. I was allowing my sorrows and anxieties to rob me of my joy in Christ. I imagined the Father looking at me with tenderness and saying, “You’re right, you don’t have that but you do have Me.” And with Him a million other blessings that I seemed to have forgotten. So, I have started over again today with the words of the old hymn running in my mind:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Aren’t you glad that the gospel is all about “starting over again” everyday!

Thanks for being part of the “million other blessings” I am remembering today,

Linda

Andy’s Update April 14, 2009

Andy’s Update April 14, 2009

Dear Friends,

We’re here!!! We arrived in Chicago safe and sound on Sunday afternoon and were greeted at the airport by our dear son Mark! There were lots of tears of joy on all sides. We have settled in comfortably in our little furnished apartment here at TEAM’s headquarters in Wheaton. Tomorrow Andy has his first doctor’s appointment and hopefully will soon get into a rehab program. But today, we had a real encouragement- Andy was able to move his forearm enough to actually beat me in arm wrestling!!! And yesterday evening we got the first ever movement in his hand!

One really great thing about Ioss is how you learn to appreciate the things you once took for granted. I don’t think we will ever forget the excitement of seeing Andy move a limb that formerly was totally paralyzed; at least I hope we won’t forget. How many other things have I already forgotten? How many other blessings are now commonplace? One thing is for sure; I will never again pass a wheel chair without “seeing” it and without compassion for the one sitting in it and without gratitude that my Andy is not in it.

On Easter day as we were arriving, my mother was taken by ambulance to the hospital in West Palm Beach with respiratory difficulties. It appears that she has congestive heart failure. She is stable at the moment, but I am prepared to fly down there if needed. I am grateful that I am here at this time. Isn’t it just like the Lord to bring me home at such a time!

Thanks to each of you for your prayers and encouragement. Many of you have written and expressed your appreciation for our updates, which is why I continue to write them. I am humbled by your care and concern.

Much love,

Andy and Linda

Andy’s update April 10, 2009

Andy’s update April 10, 2009

Dear Friends,

A blessed GOOD Friday to each of you!!

Just wanted to share with you a reflection the Lord gave me this morning in my meditations. Today is what we call in America “Good Friday”. In Italy this day is called “Venerdì Santo” (Holy Friday). I wonder if there are other countries that use the word “good” to describe this significant day. And I wonder when the idea that this day was “good” first came into being. I seriously doubt that anyone who was actually present that day would have called it good. At least not until Sunday. Sunday changed everything. Sunday made Friday “good”.

I have been thinking how “the end” explains “the before”. The Passion of Christ “ended” in the resurrection and ascension which “explained” the crucifixion. His coming again will give further explanation to all that comes before.

Our lives follow the same pattern. The events of “today”, without the commentary of “tomorrow”, are hard to evaluate. Even though these are difficult days for us we feel confident that the end will explain all that has come before. Perhaps that end will only come when we see Jesus face to face, but then we, too, will say it is “good”! And if in the end I will call it “good”, why not now?

Just pondering,
Linda

Linda and Andy Brucato Update April 9, 2009

Linda’s update April 9, 2009

Dear Friends,

Today I want to share with you, not about Andy, but about me! As some of you know Andy, after about a 2 year process, was able to get his Italian citizenship (without renouncing his American citizenship) based on ancestry. All the boys were also able to get dual citizenship through him, which is a great advantage to Luke who lives here, and to Mark who is planning to return as a missionary. In these past 5 years or so getting missionary visas is becoming more and more difficult. We are beginning to wonder if Italy is trying to close the door to evangelical missionaries. I have been here under a missionary visa, as was Andy until last year. Each year the permission to stay in the country must be renewed and the renewal process is also getting crazy. My last permission took over a year to get back, which means I was here without a valid permission all that time. Now my current permission is also expired, and I am preparing to leave the country- not a recommended idea if you want to be sure to get back in!

One of the first things we were planning on doing upon our return in January was to put in my paper work to be recognized as a citizen based on marriage. Obviously we have had other things to think about since we got here. So, this week I finally got my birth certificate translated and planned to take it to the citizenship office yesterday. Before I went I called to see if they were open and the woman told me that I needed a special form which I could get online. So I downloaded the form and read it!!! Help!! I needed other documents which I did not have, and a current, valid permission!!! My heart sank.

Andy suggested I just go down to the office and pray that the Lord would provide someone to help me. As I took the bus into the center I prayed. I asked the Lord for mercy and grace to open up a way for me where there seemed to be no way. But, even as I prayed I admitted to the Lord that I had no right to demand His grace; I had not fulfilled the requirements of the law and He could give me justice, not grace. He owed me nothing.

At the office I found just what my heart had asked for, a helpful secretary. She took my birth certificate and began filling out the request. After a few minutes she announced that all that was needed was a tax stamp, and told me to run down to the tobacco shop and buy one. When I got back she said it was all done and that I was now an Italian citizen!!! She never asked for any other document! Needless to say I went on my way rejoicing that my heavenly Father gave me “grace” not the “law”!

Once again my Father spoke into my heart, reassuring me that He WANTS to lavish His grace upon me; that was the whole point of Calvary. Jesus satisfied God’s justice so that I might receive God’s grace! I still come to Him with no merit of my own. I cannot demand His grace, but I can receive it based on the merits of Jesus. This is the gospel. And this is what we celebrate this holy week. The God of grace!!

Marveling at His goodness and grace, that we have also received through you!!

Linda

ANDY’S UPDATE April 2, 2009

Dear Friends,

It’s been a difficult few days for us. The out patient clinic care just isn’t sufficient. Andy is getting barely an hour a day of physical therapy and we are not very impressed with the therapist. He is pretty discouraged with his progress; not just the arm, but his mental fatigue and limitations. So, we spoke with the leadership at our mission and they have encouraged us to return for a few months to the US for further treatment. We have booked flights and will arrive in Chicago on Easter Sunday. TEAM has reserved an apartment for us at their headquarters in Wheaton and is setting up rehab appointments for Andy at the Marian Joy Rehab Hospital there in the area. We are grateful at times like these that we have such an excellent mission agency.

There have been moments of real emotional distress this week as we have come to this decision to return to the States. We have felt like we are “abandoning” the people here in Bologna who look to us for help and care. We wish we could be here for them; that we could continue to serve along side them in the ministry here in Italy, but realistically, Andy just is not ready. One of the things that the Lord has been speaking to me about is the question of “trust”. Over the years I have learned (am still learning) to trust Him for my life, even in times of trial. Now the Lord is saying (again), “Will you trust Me for them, too?” Can I trust the Lord to keep those I love? Can I step back and watch them struggle, knowing that He who has never failed me will also not fail them? Can I allow them to face trials, leaning on Him alone, and not me? These are difficult lessons, but essential.

I am thankful today for each of you who help carry our burdens. As you think to pray for us, would you go beyond that and pray for those we love? Would you pray for our son Luke and his wife Elli who are walking through a dark time right now? Would you pray for Luca, our dear brother and elder of our church, who is carrying a very heavy load and was counting on Andy? Would you pray for Ester, our precious sister, who is seeking to lead the ministry of Youth for Christ here in Italy and who was counting on me? Would you pray that the Holy Spirit will come upon them in a new way and renew their strength day by day?

“Brethren, let us pray one for another.”

Gratefully yours,

Andy and Linda

(It is our intention to return to Italy when Andy is fully recovered. We are hopeful that we will not be in the US for more than 3 months. We appreciate your continued support of us during this time of illness.)

Andy’s update March 28

Dear Friends,

I thought it would encourage you to get a little “glimpse” into the Brucato home these days. Yesterday my sister left to return home to Tennessee and her family. In the morning when it was time to go to the airport Andy was so frustrated that he was unable to carry her bags down the stairs and to the car. Later that afternoon he was looking sad and I asked him why. He teared up and said he couldn’t help Cindi with her bags and he couldn’t help me with the trash. After dinner he got up, and without his cane or my assistance, cleaned off the table and loaded the dishwasher!!! That was reason for rejoicing!!

Yesterday he also got his stitches removed and has started his out patient physical therapy. His walking is improving dramatically, but the use of his arm has still not changed. We are looking forward to regaining a little stability in our daily routine. Every morning begins with Andy asking me, “What’s the POA (plan of action) for today?” I am the “official” activity director for now and putting all my creative juices to work! Today we added another ingredient into the daily routine- listening to sermons online. But the highlight of everyday is a hot bath to soak sore muscles, topped off with a few chapters, read by yours truly, of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Oops, better run, Andy is ready to get out of the bath!!

Lots of love and thanks,

Linda

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