Lydia seriously injured after being struck by a car, please remember her

Lydia was struck by a car last night after work, thrown through the air, breaking several ribs and bleeding internally with damage to her lungs and liver. Lydia is going to be ok, in the ICU and undergoing surgeries. She cannot receive visitors, so I don't know when I'll be able to go sit beside her.

I've been praying for Lydia constantly as I go about my day and wanted to let you know so you may pray for her also. Somehow I am not anxious or disconsolate for Lydia -- there's a peace -- but I'm in anguish for the unimaginable suffering she is enduring right now. She is a treasured friend of mine, an exemplary sister in faith, and a model for all of us.

Lydia was burned in a countryside house fire as a young child. She doesn't remember it exactly, but has a vague impression of being left alone and tied up in bed to prevent her from playing with the open fire heating the room. When the fire accidentally spread she was unable to escape. She sustained horrific burns but survived, and lived in the orphanage from that time on. She doesn't know what became of her birth family; presumably she was abandoned because of her severe life-altering injuries. Lydia says that for a few years she had infected non-functional body parts that had not been removed. She would use her arms to drag herself along the floor of the orphanage or just lie on her cot. It was painful and difficult to eat with her injured lips and face, and also damaged fingers, so she could never get her stomach filled before meals were taken away.

When she was about nine years old a foreign physician visited the orphanage and arranged a surgery for Lydia, amputating fingers and both of her legs from the knees down. Lydia was given a manual wheelchair, a basic junior high education, and she learned cross-stitch to pass hours of nothing to do at the orphanage.

Lydia became a believer on account of many volunteers like her surgeon who touched her life, demonstrating compassion and sharing a message. She grew up established in the way; now she is mature and rooted. In my eyes she is a hero and someone I strive to be more like.

If you've been following along on our journey you know that we were introduced to Lydia a few years ago when she was seeking assistance to sell her cross-stitch art. Opportunity arose for her to move out of the orphanage and work in a like-minded chocolate company, so we helped make that happen. When I met with her a two weeks ago she beamed proudly, "I just passed another anniversary of working outside, independently. I have persevered!"

This week my study + prayer friends and I combed through John 11. What appears to be defeat and disaster is not beyond the sovereignty of God. I believe that is true for Lydia and her accident yesterday. But must it be so inconceivably bitter?

counting the graces

thank you Father for

taking care of Drew as he circumnavigates the globe and forges business partnerships

week without Drew is actually going superb, even though I'm a little lonely around 9pm

new true music for the workout playlist

things going a little better for Xinyi

spending the better part of a Saturday playing guitar with a friend

Mike made it on our 6-mile run (me) bike ride (boys)

friends

my faults and weaknesses exposed when my kids test my character