Dizzy With Concussion

Welcome back. You belong here.

Well, I have at least a mild concussion, dizziness, blurry vision, headaches and I'm dealing with what's called post-conconcussion syndrome, basically anxiety over the head injury itself.

I've read about this online and it's not serious, but Thursday I'm finally having my regular doctor check me out. It's been 5 weeks since the injury and at first I didn't feel much but the last few weeks it's bothered me more. I've been to the chiropractor for my neck pain which resulted from the injury and he said these injuries take 2-3 months to fully heal. They're worse than breaking a bone.

I'm had a hard time concentrating and focusing, and my sharpeness with things like remembering verses has come and gone. It was a good wack to my head for sure. A 6ft antique lamp with the hard glass cover fell on my head at a music store and hit me pretty hard. Freak accident.

I'm taking a few days off this week to rest as I haven't stopped since the injury. Finally, I will stay home and take care of myself. I think I'm fine, no surgery or long term effects, I used to forget verses before this happened! But it bothers me and it messes with my mind and brings me anxiety at night, sleeplesness, waking up suddenly. But I'm getting better.

I'm trying to work out as much as possible, running 3-4x and lifting about 2-3x a week, but it's been slow due to this injury, sometimes I feel too jittery to lift heavy weights over my head. I have followed my eating plan pretty closely.

I spoke to my mom in Nicaragua last night and I was telling her how with grieving abuelita, Christmas, family and this injury, I've felt pretty stressed and tired. But I've had wonderful moments also, such as talking to her, that was great, I cried with her just telling her how much I miss her. I've been reading a lot of "be anxious for nothing...", "cease striving and know that I am God...", "don't worry about tomorrow..." and "rejoice in the Lord always..." That has been very helpful.

And God is near me. Though I feel knocked off the horse on my way to Damascus and somewhat blind for three days, I know he is near and Jesus is the One I serve. I have been reminded that He is the One who strengthens me, not my body or fitness, not my skills, abilities or ministry, it is He who sustains me.

One day, the scales will come off and God will be glorified even more in this event. It has certainly caused me to pause and reflect on how much I need Him. This injury is a hot button for me which reminds me how I can worship the idol of anxiety to get through being out of control. But this time, although I have my weak moments, I am committing myself to community, to talking things through with my pastor's small group, to my wife and children, and to worshipping my King and Savior, not the idol of anxiety and fear. And to rejoice in all around me.

Right now little David is playing with 'Muck' and 'Scoop' from Bob the Builder, our two daughters are playing Barbies, yesterday I sang at a wedding of one of our young worship leaders I've mentored and enjoyed being alone with my wife and at night I spoke to my mom. It was a great Saturday. Life is good and God is great.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear?" Psalm 27:1

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Back from Russia

Pri`vet (Hi in Russian).

Welcome back.

I'm home. Still getting used to the time change, something like 13 hours. Sorry I did not post while in Russia. We had no phone lines, no cell phones and we were almost 2 hours away from Moscow out in the woods. But I will write more now that we're here.

Andre, a 9 year old boy who lives with his grandmother touched my life. He slept on the bed next to me and at night we held hands and prayed together before going to bed. His father burned himself with a cigarette while passed out drunk in bed. His mother died of AIDS. He's lived with his grandmother since age 3 and has spent time in an orphanage.

He's the one my tears were for on the last day of camp. As he got on the bus to go back to his home, to a life few of us can imagine, I broke down.

It's good to be home to my wife who was strong through this whole time. Our children did well. I missed them, they missed me. Russia needs Jesus. The need is great among orphans and city people alike. Moscow is a huge secular, glitzy city, masking an underlying problem with AIDS and alcohol. Everyone looks like they stepped out of a fashion magazine, a great contrast to the simple life of camp and orphans. But the need is just as obvious.

The Kremlin was amazing, so was Red Square. Stalin, Lenin, Karl Marx, the Revolution Plaza, the arts theatre, it was all there and it was fascinating, especially for one from Nicaragua and our history with the Sandinistas, Cuba and Russia.

Please pray for our 1st week back. I kept a journal while I was there and will post more of my memories.

Photos from Summer camp June 2nd-15th

Our team goes on the heels of another team that just left Russia a few days ago. These are the photos from Summer camp June 2nd-15th - Russia Inland.

This is what our journey will look like. Just imagine a brown face amidst the group shot. That'll be me!

We Leave This Friday

Hello again.

This morning our church prayed for our team, as well as the team going out to inner city Chicago. We leave Friday for Russia.

My wife and three children are currently stranded 30mns. out of Palm Springs. The car overheated and blew a hose. I came home last night to do Sunday's responsibilities but they stayed behind to enjoy one more day in the sun. My father in law is with Rachelle. He drove to their aid from Palm Springs where he's been with the family. They got the car to a shop somewhere near the dinosaurs exit off the 10fwy. She's a good 2 hours away from home with our little ones in the car. Thank God for Dad. It'll be a few hours, but the mechanic said he can fix it. On a Sunday, wow! God is with my family. This kind of stuff makes me wish I was with her, not home, but I can't control it. I've spoken to Rachelle and she's as good as she can be, thankful that her dad was close enough to call. The week before I leave, coincidence? No way, this is how Satan tries to distract me, but he won't, God is with us.

Oh yes, and my neighbor got nasty with me today over cutting back our vines that are growing on his side. He's right, he was just nasty about it. The amazing thing is that I had already resolved to this tomorrow, pending Rachelle's car problems of course.

The week before I leave for Russia, this happens. Again, coincidence? No way. Thank you for praying. I will keep you updated on the car situation.

davidT

Final Four Weeks

4 weeks and we leave. The last few weeks have been amazing. I had a vasectomy last week, our daughter Isabela (almost 4) had a tonsilectomy, our eldest (6) finished kindgergarden and our little one (almost 2) has been yelling at everything and throwing tantrums.

Nonetheless, through it all God has been faithful and our team is coming together well. Saturday, we spent time singing, praying and spending time building our relationships. We worked on one of the songs we'll teach the children, "Monkey Dance", everyone had a fun time with that one.

Sunday, a Russian student came and offered to translate 2 of our children songs into Russian, "Lord Come Down" and again the "Monkey Dance." That was a great help.

Please pray for our final four weeks of preparation and for the children of Russia to hear about the love of God.

The Need is Now Greater

Our Russia team met yesterday and the price for the trip has gone up from $2500.000 to $3500.00 per person. We are asking everyone who has given or is thinking of giving to do so as God leads them to. Perhaps even to give more than once.

Of all the teams that our going out from our church this year (total of 5), our Russia trip is the most expensive by almost 50%.

Why the increase? The airfare is more expensive than expected and the camp cost is higher than expected.

Thanks for helping. We're trusting God to do a miracle. God will provide.

This is a picture from last years' camp. We will visit this camp in the summer.

It's Starting

I have begun to receive reponse slips from many of you. It's so amazing. The need is still great, but I know God is moving in many people's hearts.

I have some missionary friends in Nicaragua, and they need a car. They also wish for simple things like an iPod. I am amazed at how they feel bad for wanting a car so they can go shopping and get out of town with their children once in a while. A car is not a luxury even in Nicaragua, it's a necessity. It reminds me how much we have here, and it reminds me to thank God and to thank you for your help.

This Sunday we meet with our Russia team to work on our stories of how God has been working in our lives.

Russia-Women

Our Russia team (women). Nurse, school counselor, students, and more. An incredible group of women trusting God this summer to go serve in Russia.

Russia-Men

Russia Team (men). Network managers, engineers, students, artists (2) and more. A great group of men trusting God this summer to serve in Russia.