The Unexpected

When your day goes a little south and you’re faced with the unexpected…

Last week, I planned to write my weekly email—but instead, I found myself in the hospital with Sirichai. He’d been sick for 2–3 weeks, already diagnosed with bronchitis, and seemed to be on the mend—until, quite suddenly, he took a turn for the worse. We ended up at the hospital with a pneumonia diagnosis. Judah, currently on a speaking tour for ACE’s Christian Educators Conference, was in Malaysia when the little man was admitted for an infection in both upper lungs.

Sirichai fought the nurses HARD during nebulizer treatments, suctioning of his nasal passages and esophagus, and nasal irrigation. It was heartbreaking to see him in pain and so uncomfortable.

And yet, there were blessings:

• Karen nurses who understood him when Thai didn’t make sense to him
• A young Karen nurse who reminded me of Gay Say, one of our GAP guys—so kind and caring, explaining everything and advocating for Sirichai to receive another dose of medicine in the middle of the night when he couldn’t sleep from intense coughing
• Friends who came by with food, treats, and company

My week didn’t go as I expected—AT ALL—but I was safe, supported, and blessed in the midst of it.

This week has been similar—full of unexpected challenges. Who would have thought filling the car with fuel could take three hours, starting at 5:35 a.m.? The war in Iran has affected fuel availability across Southeast Asia, with some people even staying overnight at gas stations. Things are tough right now—and now, Zz and I are both sick.

It’s unexpected.

But it’s not bad.

Life gives us the chance to grow in unexpected times and places. My youth pastor used to say we are like rubber bands—useless if not stretched.

I want to be stretched. I want to grow in patience (yes, I just wrote that…yikes), in wisdom, in strategy, and in the ability to truly be PRESENT for whatever life puts in front of me.

Allow yourself to feel all of it—the hard and the unexpected—and still notice the good in the middle. Because even here, there is joy. Don’t rush past it…let it shine.

Sometimes we think it’s not okay to laugh during a “bad time”—but honestly, it changes everything when you do. If you’re having fun, have fun. Let yourself.

And then, something completely different—but just as unexpected…

Unexpected doesn’t equal bad.

I didn’t expect that on my birthday this year we would be in Kenya!

We are spending three weeks in Africa as a family and with teammates, visiting survivors of human trafficking that Judah has helped. He will also be meeting with government officials, other NGOs, and more. We couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity.

Would you please pray for us?

• Protection during travel
• Good health
• Ease of travel with global issues due to war and fuel shortages
• The right connections
• Times of encouragement for survivors
• Team dynamics

I can’t wait to show you some photos from our time away. We’re also going to do a two night, one-day safari expedition on my actual birthday—and I definitely put that in the “unexpected” category!

How do you face the unexpected? Are you able to remain in the present moment? Do you unravel or do you remain in peace?