The Day I Tested Positive For Tuberculosis

Julia and I live and work at the Baptist Medical Centre in Northern, Ghana. When we arrived on the field October 2012, we immediately began looking for a place at the hospital where we could plug in and serve. We choose to work with patients who had been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis or TB is a disease which affects the lungs and other organs within the body. TB falls into two categories. According to medical new today; "TB can either be latent or active. Latent: the bacteria is inactive but present in the body or active: bacteria is active and makes the patient ill; active TB is contagious".When a patient arrives at the hospital with active TB he or she is immediately placed in isolation where they are given treatment; if a patient survives isolation they are moved to a small village close to the hospital where they live for six months and receive treatment.   Julia and I work with the patients in the village. We worked hard to both share and show the love of Christ. Julia would go once a week and play with the children whose parents were sick and I would go house to house praying with patients and sharing bible stories. Many lives were transformed because of our work among the tuberculosis patients.

Fast forward a year and a half.

After giving birth to Piper, we sat down with our medical coordinator and began to talk with her about our ministries at the BMC. When she heard that we worked with TB patients; she immediately informed us that we should not bring our new baby around the patients and we had to get tested to see if we had been exposed to tuberculosis. Julia and I both received a TB skin test (small shot in the arm) and were told to return in 48-72 hours to determine if we had been exposed. A couple of hours after receiving the TB shot I happened to look down at my arm and noticed I was developing a red circle. I quickly checked Julia's arm and noticed her arm didn't have any distinguishing marks. I became nervous. I began to constantly rub the spot where I had the shot. I began calling out to God, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be positive for TB." I instantly regretted coming to Africa, working at the BMC, and working with TB patients. I wanted to go home. I began to beat myself up for moving my family to Africa. What if I developed a disease which will hurt my daughter? What if I can never hold my daughter again? What if I have to go to isolation? Will I have to live in a bubble? I wanted to leave the field. I fretted over the red spot on my arm for two days. 48 hours passed and we returned to the doctors. The doctors took one look at Julia's arm and said she was negative for TB. They looked at my arm, they felt my arm, they drew a circle around the raised red lump on my arm, they measured the lump, they felt again, looked closer, felt again and delivered the news. I had been exposed to tuberculosis. I was shaken. Here I was a missionary working for God. I naively thought that entitled me to God's protection. I understood the risk of working with TB patients but thought, God will protect me, I'm a missionary. This however, was not God's plan.

I have been exposed to TB. What this means is that the tuberculosis bacteria has entered my body and the infection has been contained, but not cleared. I am not ill, nor infectious to other people. The body has walled-off the bacteria, however, I will need treatment. I will begin INH treatment in the new year. This treatment will involve me taking a pill everyday for the next 9 months.

In conclusion, I have been exposed to TB and have latent tuberculosis in my body. God could have chosen to prevent me from being exposed to TB; rather, He decided to protect me by allowing me to discover I had TB while working with the IMB under their insurance. The IMB will pay for my x-rays and 9 months of INH (drug used to treat TB) treatment. Thank you Lottie Moon Christmas Offering! I am learning a simple lesson: God doesn't remove the hardships; He allows, purposes, ordains, permits, and plans them. Pain, problems, diseases become the lemons which God squeezes to reveal those things in me which I must repent of. While we wish I had never been exposed we are thankful that the TB was discovered early and we are able to treat. We are thankful that God is using/going to use latent TB for His glory and my good.

 Please pray for us as we walk through this treatment.

The diaper fiasco of December 17th

It began like any normal afternoon. I was holding and starring into the face of the world's most awesome daughter. When all of a sudden her face began to contort and turn bright red. As Piper's face began to relax a horrific smell wafted through the air to my nose. As I starred down into Piper's smiling/gassy face, I knew she had left me a present. I thought to myself, I will serve Julia by changing this diaper. Little did I know what I was in for.

I got everything situated; I laid down a towel, grabbed a diaper, wipes and began to unbutton her onesie. My fat fingers found it difficult to undue the buttons. (I mean why are these buttons so incredibly small, does the manufacturer only want women changing clothes). After I stripped Piper down. I was a little hot so I turned on the fan. I proceeded to open Piper's diaper to a seedy, brown, awful smelling poop. As I began to wipe her, the cool breeze from the fan began to hit the both of us. As soon as the cool brezze hit Piper she began to pee. I don't mean just a little pee, I mean pee began to go everywhere. I started to scream, "JUUUULLLIIIIAAAA, HEELLLPPPP MEEEE!!!" Piper did not like my screaming and began to scream also; all the while pee was continuing to shoot out. I grabbed Piper and made a bee-line to the bedroom, leaving a pee-line behind us. As I entered the bedroom, I happened to look down at Piper's face and began to see her peaceful complexion change to a look of concentration. I began to get nervous as her face once again began to turn red and bunch up. Here I am holding a naked baby close to me and all signs are pointing to torpedoes away! I held her away from me as I searched frantically for a towel. Rumbling began to erupt from Piper's stomach. Her face began to contort and turn bright red. I searched frantically for a towel, throwing clothes, toys, and books all over the floor. I finally saw a towel across the room. I sprinted towards the towel as Piper's face turned redder and redder with concentration. I grabbed the towel and threw it around her right before torpedoes launched. When the torpedoes hit the towel, a mess went everywhere. Poop went all over Piper and myself. We both began to cry and scream for Julia.

Piper and I lived through the diaper fiasco of December 17th and we both learned two very valuable lessons. We learned if you are going to change a diaper make sure you wait a few minutes to make sure the baby is finished and don't turn on a fan.

Our Sovereign God

Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases.-Psalm 115:3

When I was in college I had the opportunity to write a twenty page research paper on any doctrinal issue. I choose to write on "open theism." Open theism is the teaching that God has granted to humanity free will and that in order for the free will to be truly free, the future free will choices of individuals cannot be known ahead of time by God. In other words humans are free to make choices and God has limited Himself in such a way that He does not know the choices which His creatures are going to make. I had a blast researching and writing the paper (I know I'm a nerd); however, after finishing the paper I was struck with the reality which I bet you had while reading the definition of open theism. I was struck with the reality that open theism could not possibly be correct or biblically sound. Since writing the paper on open theism I have spent years researching, meditating, and embracing the sovereignty of God. I have come to the biblical realization that God is sovereign over every aspect of life. He is sovereign over creation, man, disasters, diseases, free will, presidents, nations, etc. 

Fast forward five years...

December 12, 2013 Piper Christine Welch was born into the world at 7:30 pm. I was the first person to hold Piper when she came into the world. As I starred down into Piper's beautiful blue/gray eyes the Holy Spirit began to fill my mind with verses which I had memorized about the sovereignty of God. Verses such as 

• Psalm 115:3 Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases.
• 1 Chronicles 29:11-12: Yours O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.
• Psalm 103:19: The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
• Proverbs 21:1: The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
• Psalm 135:6: Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
• Daniel 2:21: He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
• Proverbs 16:33: The lot is cast into the lap, but its ever decision is from the Lord.
• Romans 9:15: I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
• Romans 8:29-30: For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He all called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

I am learning that being a new parent is hard. The learning curve is steep. We were thrown right into the parenting pool and we are either going to sink or swim. There are countless questions which run through my mind, how do I change a diaper? What is that black stuff in her diaper? Spit-up, what in the world? I better hold onto that head cause it looks like it could just pop off. These and other questions are constantly running through my mind; however, I can take great courage and comfort in the fact that God is sovereign. He is in control over everything. He knows every moment of Piper's life. God is orchestrating every detail of Piper's life to maximize His glory. He is with us now as we learn how to be a parent, He is in the future when Piper is five and she falls out of a tree and breaks her arm, He is in the future when she turns sixteen and gets her license, He is in the future when she graduates from high school, goes to college, finds a job and gets married. God is over every aspect of her life. I can rest easy at night (whenever we finally are able to develop a schedule) knowing that God is sovereign and in complete control.

God is sovereign not only over Piper's physical life (choices she will make), but He is also sovereign over her spiritual life. The bible teaches that God will save whom He will save. He has the right to show compassion on those whom He wants to show compassion. He has the right to show His wrath on those whom He wants to show His wrath. God has elected some for eternal life and others for eternal wrath. Who is among the elect? We do not know. Is Piper one of God's elect? We do not know. Here is what we do know: those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead; then you will be saved. God is rich in compassion; hoping that none should perish but that all should come to repentance. As long as there is breath in the body there is hope for the soul. God is mighty to save. God will save whom He will save. Our job is to preach the Gospel. Julia and I's job is to raise Piper up teaching her the truth about God, man, sin, Jesus, etc. God will use these truths to save Piper if He chooses. Some of you reading this may be appalled right now that I would say these things. I believe this is what the Bible teaches and as I hold Piper at night and stare into her eyes I find great comfort, courage and strength in knowing that God is sovereign.

In conclusion, God is sovereign over every aspect of our lives. God is in the Heaven and He does what He pleases. This truth brings me courage, comfort and strength as I am learning to be a new parent.

December Newsletter

Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.- 2 Corinthians 9:6

BLOG:

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Every Christmas season Southern Baptists collect an offering which supports missionaries all over the world. This offering is known as the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Julia and I are fully supported by the co-operative program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. We realize a lot of you sacrificially give every year to Lottie and we are eternally thankful. We wanted to share a few of the ways your giving has blessed us.

• Your 2013 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering provided us with the ability to focus on language and cultural learning. Julia and I were able to dedicate our first sixth months on the field to full time language study. We are now able to communicate with people in their mother tongue. Every day, we teach Ghanians that God loves them and speaks their language. Thank you for giving!

• Your 2013 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering provided our telecommunications budget. Our telecommunications budget pays for our phone and internet bill. I needed internet to complete my Seminary degree and your giving made it possible. We were also able to communicate with family and friends in the States. These phone calls provided encouragement and motivation to press on in ministry. Thank you for giving!

• Your 2013 LMCO provided a vehicle, fuel and regular maintenance. Our vehicle is our life-line to civilization. Our vehicle provides us with the means of transportation to travel to various villages and share the Gospel. Your offering made it possible for us to have and maintain a vehicle. Thank you for giving! 

• Your 2013 LMCO provided us with an opportunity to travel to Kenya for further training. We were able to interact with colleagues, learn new mission techniques and we returned home recharged, rested, and relaxed. We were ready to charge Hell with a water pistol. Thank you for giving!

• Your 2013 LMCO provided us with material to share the Gospel. We were able to hand-out audio bibles to our Muslim friends. One of our friends remarked how he likes the stories in the Bible better than the Koran. We were also able to provide training material for pastors. One Pastor remarked after going through the material that he was now able and ready to share his faith with others. Thank you for giving!

• Your 2013 LMCO provided us with the medical insurance to pay for the birth of our first child. Your sacrificial giving paid for doctor visits, medical check-ups, Piper’s birth, hospital stay, and transportation. Thank you for giving!

Thank you for giving sacrificially. There is a Mamprulli proverb which states, “yesterdays water isn’t in the river today.” We cannot rely on what happened in the past to get us through today. December is the time of collection for the 2014 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. May I encourage, exhort, plead with you to donate this year. LMCO envelopes can be found in the majority of Southern Baptist churches. Please take an envelope, prayerfully consider giving, and than sacrificially give to the LMCO 2014. If you are not S.B. or your church doesn’t emphasize Lottie here is a link for you to donate (Lottie Moon Christmas Offering). 100% of the proceeds go overseas to missionaries. All of your donation will go towards furthering the supremacy of Christ among all peoples. 

Thank you in advance for sacrificially giving to the 2014 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

VIDEO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmeLhHPUmpE

DEVOTIONS:

A Letter to my Daughter    

Short Term Missions: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. December 11th is Julia's delivery date. Pray Piper comes on time and we have a healthy and happy baby girl. Pray for us as we dive headfirst into parenthood. Pray we have patience with each other as we function on little sleep. Pray we learn quickly how to change diapers, hold a baby, burb a baby, and all of those other fun activities which I never took the time to learn.   
2. After Piper is born we will have to apply for a passport and visa for her to return to Ghana. This is going to be difficult because of the holiday season which could result in offices being closed and people not wanting to work until the New Year. Please pray that this process goes quickly and we are able to obtain passports and visas to return to Ghana in a timely manner.
3. Julia's parents are coming to Senegal December 24th to celebrate Christmas and help with Piper. Pray they have a smooth trip and make all connections. Pray they breeze through customs and all luggage arrives safely and on-time. Pray we have a great time catching up, showing off Piper and introducing them to Africa.
4. As we spend time in Senegal; our ministries are still functioning in Ghana. Pray for the Pastors of TB church as they minister to church members and patients. Pray for the women of the Outcast Camp. Pray they think about all of the Bible stories which have been shared. Pray for the widows of Nalerigu as well as the woman running the Naomi Fund. Pray the ministry continues to thrive while we are gone. Pray for my Muslim friends. Pray they contemplate all I have shared with them about Christ. Pray for the hospital. Pray it continues to be a light in the midst of a dark land.
5. December is the month for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Our yearly budget is based on the money collected. Pray for a bountiful financial harvest. Pray for Southern Baptists to become burdened to give to LMCO. Pray for Southern Baptists as they learn about missions. Pray many not only give financially but also surrender their lives to missions.

We are thankful for your support!

Serving Him,

The 3 Welchs