The arm bone is connected to the ......

     Some of you may or may not have known that this past Memorial Day (exactly one week before we were to move to Guatemala) I tore my right bicep.  First off, let me say that doing this is something that I do NOT recommend for anyone.  Also, being right handed, this proved to be a MAJOR inconvenience.  I went to three different doctors in three different states in one week (ER on the day it happened in Worthington, MN...Wednesday to my local doc in Sioux Center, IA....and then Thursday to the specialist in Dakota Dunes, SD).  They said that the bicep was torn and recommended surgery.  Surgery was not mandatory, but said that I was young enough that I would want that.  If I opted out of surgery, it would be 6 to 12 weeks of recovery, probably would not be able to use my arm in a "using a screwdriver" motion well again, and be about 30 to 40 percent weaker in the arm.
     If I proceed with the surgery it would be 6 weeks of not being able to lift anything heavier than a pencil with the arm and then another 6 to 8 weeks of rehab.  The kicker was that if I went to the surgery route, Guatemala would have to wait.
   After praying together, both Vicki and I felt that the greater need was for us to go this summer.  We would trust that God would heal my arm to the point of His power.  I had to ice it quite a bit....wear an elbow brace....and the biggest hurdle, ask someone to help me lift things that I normally could lift by myself.
    My daily habits had to change a little bit.   Yet, the biggest thing I had going for me was many people praying.

Those prayers helped GREATLY.  Considering I had an MRI done in March for my knee that I dislocated, I did not want to have an MRI done before we left.  I did not want too much radiation, and the cost would not able to be absorbed in our budget.  As the summer went on, I began to shift my prayers that the tendon would only be partially torn and not completely.  You know what, I firmly believe that the prayer was answered!
   As the summer went on, the pain decreased greatly.  I still wore the brace, but gradually attempted more things (even was able to move a sheet of cement board by myself by the end of the summer.  Now, I can flex my muscle, lift about the same amount of weight with each arm, and even use a screwdriver!  I think that with some simple physical therapy, I can get my arm back to where it was before the accident.  I will never be a professional weight lifter, I am still a little cautious with various heavy objects, but am grateful to God for healing.  I am not 100% what happened in my arm, but "I am Still Confident of this, I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the land of the living. Wait for the Lord, be strong and wait for the Lord!"  (Psalm 27:13-14)

Thank you for your prayers.....

~Justin