We are in Sri Lanka right now at a small hotel in Negombo. Two weeks ago we had a big surprise. Rick started having chest pain and right after church, we had our taxi driver take us to the hospital. It was a small private hospital and somehow we got in to see a doctor without waiting. (Before church, he was having pain but thought it was indigestion, and asked the pastor to pray for him – the pain went away until after church). (Also, Rick prayed for God to heal him and he heard God say, “My grace is sufficient for you.” meaning “no.”)

Dr. Silva examined Rick and had him take some blood tests and an ecg. Then he made us an appointment with a cardiologist nearby that evening after we got the results. Right away Dr. Silva knew something was wrong. The ecg and blood tests showed a cardiac problem.

That evening we met with a cardiologist at another hospital, who gave Rick an EKG. While we waited to see her, Rick was able to share his testimony of salvation with our taxi driver who was very kind. He is a local who knows the language and walked us through these two different hospitals without delay. He is also a seeker of God.

The cardiologist confirmed that Rick had had a heart attack and needed to go to a bigger hospital in Colombo to get an angiogram. She asked if we wanted to go in an ambulance or the taxi. We were so comfortable with the taxi driver, we asked if we could take the one hour trip in the taxi. She gave us some medicine for Rick to take before we left.

When arriving at the hospital in Colombo, the taxi driver walked us through the procedure for the emergency room and admission registration. I told the taxi driver I would tip him for all he did for us. It was like he treated us like his parents. In fact, the same thing had happened to his dad five years ago. He told me he was not doing it for the money.

We didn’t realize it at the time, but the cardiologist we saw in Negombo also works at the sister hospital in Colombo and drove there to meet us and do the angiogram with her team. We were very impressed with her and her efficiency.

After the angiogram was done, the cardiologist showed us the X-ray of Rick’s heart and the blockages in three of the arteries. By 11pm, they asked if we wanted a bypass surgery or cardiac stenting. They said bypass surgery required us to recover one month before we could fly back to the US, but if we did stenting, it was just a two day stay in the hospital and recovery. We agreed and had much peace about the stenting procedure. The surgical team was ready to do it right away, and around midnight, it was done. Rick was awake during the procedure and felt no pain.

The cardiologist explained everything to me and showed me a video of exactly what they had done. Everyone was so kind and considerate and nobody else was there in the waiting room. It was very peaceful.

Our pastor just happened to call me right after we decided to do the stenting procedure and encouraged me that since we agreed and had peace, it seemed like the best decision.

Rick had to spend 24 hours in ICU and the hospital provided me with a private room to sleep in that night. Rick had no complications and appreciated the kind nursing staff in the ICU.

The next day, Rick was given a private room that included a bed for me, a kitchenette, and a private bathroom and shower. We were right outside the cardiac nurses station. We stayed together two nights and the hospital provided both of us with meals throughout our stay. When we were discharged, they gave us the dvd of the stenting procedure along with all the files in the chart.

We then had our same taxi driver come to pick us up and take us back to Negombo one hour away. The other day our taxi driver invited us over for lunch at his house nearby our hotel.

We rested a few more days before continuing with our planned schedule of training disciple makers in Sri Lanka. Rick is doing well, and regaining strength day by day. We are staying at a small hotel run by a family who cooks for us.

We thank God for guiding and protecting us all along the way. We were able to pay the bills with a credit card and we are now filing claims from our travel insurance. It really seems like God has been with us and we are so grateful for all the little things that fell into place to preserve Rick’s life.

Thanks so much for your prayers. We hope this story will also boost your faith as you encounter challenges in your life. God is able to make all grace abound! He is with us.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV

Thanks so much for your prayers – we return to the USA January 29.

So, we went to the gp today for Rick’s check up. The nurse had an unusual name and when we asked where she was from, she said Sri Lanka! Her mom and aunt had the same cardiologist Rick had, Tanya Periera, in Colombo! We actually heard many stories about her helping people when we were in Sri Lanka. Then the doctor here also has had heart trouble and knew a lot about Rick’s condition. It really was a critical operation and quite timely to be done right away as we did in Sri Lanka. God really took care of us!

The song, a Million Little Miracles by Maverick City Music describes our experience:

Million Little Miracles
Elevation Worship, Maverick City Music
All my life, I’ve been carried by grace
Don’t ask me how ’cause I can’t explain
It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here
I’ve got some blessings that I don’t deserve
I’ve got some scars, but that’s how you learn
It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here
I think it over and it doesn’t add up
I know it comes from above
I’ve got miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Miracles on miracles
Count your miracles
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all
You held me steady so I wouldn’t give up
You opened doors that nobody could shut
I hope I never get over what You’ve done
I wanna live with an open heart
I wanna live like I know who You are
I hope I never get over what You’ve done
It’s not coincidence and it’s not luck
I know it comes from above
I’ve got miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Miracles on miracles
Count your miracles
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all
Miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Miracles on miracles
Count your miracles
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all
I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all
I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all
I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all
Yeah, I can’t even count ’em all (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
I try and I can’t keep up (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
Yeah, I can’t even count ’em all (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
Count ’em (one, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all)
Like when You healed my mother (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
When You redeemed my father (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
Even in the death of my brother (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
You were closer than no other (one, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all)
Oh, You broke my chains (I can’t even)
You saved my life (I can’t even count ’em all)
You set me free (I can’t even)
You gave me victory (I can’t even count ’em all)
Oh, I can’t even count ’em all (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
You kept my mind, Lord (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
You healed my body, Jesus (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
Oh, I can’t even count ’em all (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
I try and I can’t keep up (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
‘Cause every day there’s a new miracle (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
I got breath in my lungs (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
I got clothes on my back (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
My mother would say, I got food on my table
(I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
Lord, I know that You’re able (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
Say, I can’t even (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
I can’t even (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
I can’t even (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
Too many to count (I can’t even, I can’t even count ’em all)
I’ve got miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Miracles on miracles
Count your miracles
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all
Miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Thank you Jesus for the miracles on miracles
Count your miracles (one)
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all
Every day, there’s a miracle
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all
Last time, right here
One, two, three, four, I can’t even count ’em all