Life isn't fair...

So here I am awake at 2am again...jumped on facebook because what else do you do at this time of day?  While cruising through some friends post, I saw an update on Nathan on my friends wall.  Nathan was able to have his CT scan done at Mercy Ships and the news wasn't good.  It showed that the large facial tumor he has is inoperable due to it involving major blood vessels of his head and neck that they wouldn't be able to work around.  Nathan and his grandmother are already on their way back to the Democratic Republic of Congo.  To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, but as we all learn at a very early age, "Life isn't fair."  Our youth group is doing a study on using our lives to make a difference right now, and part of the lesson we did this last Monday was focusing on this very concept.  One of the things that stuck with me was something Max Lucado said about people being born in the wrong latitude...we are blessed with healthcare, opportunity, food and all these things mainly in part because of where we were born.  I could be the exact same person I am today, but if I was born in a slum in India or most parts of Africa, my life would look so much different - but from no "fault" of my own...I would be a victim of latitude.  Just a huge reminder to me of how truly blessed I am and its not something to take for granted.  But to take it a step further, not only should I be extremely grateful, but I also have a HUGE responsibility to do what I can for those who don't have the same blessings that I have.  Whether that be here for a homeless person or for a little 10 yr old boy half way around the world.  I will probably never hear anything else about Nathan, but I do know that he will be in my prayers that God would bring comfort and peace to him.  He has brought the other side of the world a little closer for me and although I may not understand why things ended the way they did, I do know its all in God's control.  Through this situation, I was able to be blessed by a few nurses that fought for this little guy and joined in prayer together that God's will would be done...and it was.  Thanks to all those who joined us in prayer...

1 John 3:17-18
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Quick Nathan Update...

Nathan and his grandmother arrived on Mercy Africa docked in Sierra Leone.  They are awaiting a CT scan to re-evaluate the tumor to make sure they can do the surgery...and hopefully soon.  A nurse practitioner I know in Haiti has a nurse friend who is working on the ship right now, so hopefully we will be able to get frequent updates from her.  Just continuing to pray that everything works out for this surgery to happen soon and comfort for this little boy and his family.

Update on Nathan...

I'm just getting time to write this, but have good news. Friday morning I got an email from a friend in Haiti that Nathan had been accepted by Mercy Ships for surgery.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, please the blog post below. He and his grandmother should have arrived in Sierra Leone yesterday and Nathan was supposed to meet with the surgeon today. You just have to wonder what a 10 year old boy who has never flown thinks of on that first airplane ride. Or what is going on in his head as he walks up to a cruise ship to meet with a doctor about surgery. From what information Mercy Ships was given, they weren't sure there was much they could do, but were willing to at least explore the possibility of surgery if for no other reason than palliative treatment. Mercy Ships will do the surgery and recovery for free...what a blessing this organization is to many people. Check out their website at www.mercyships.org for more information. Now starts another round of waiting as we await news of what the surgeon thinks and if Nathan is able to have surgery. I know God has worked so many details out so far, that I'm trusting him to finish this out. Lots of prayers are going up for this little boy all around that world...and I know that prayer works!! Stay tuned for the rest of this miracle story!!