Sharing God's Faithfulness & Timing in the Emergent

Has God ever moved your heart to the point that you must tell someone?

God gave me such a blessing in disguise I’m compelled to share about His goodness.

Our December turned out much different than we had planned. We traded our dream trip to Bali for emergency ERCP surgery in a Japanese hospital the first week of December and a gallbladder removal the last week of December. What started out as stomach pain turned into liver failure and Jaundice sent me to the emergency room after three days of pain. 

I learned that I had to fully rely on God throughout an experience that was completely out of my control.  I found myself praying in the middle of the night as I was laying in the Japanese hospital with a translator who knew very limited English. I had been rushed by ambulance to another hospital to perform the surgery needed. It was a relief to know my house was only three minutes ago and I was physically close to my family. The doctors and staff got to work right away as my liver was failing and I was in bad shape. 

I trusted God that they understood my medical history and were taking the right medical steps. I know a little Japanese but am FAR from fluent. Since it was early in the morning, my husband, Brian, was home with the sleeping kids and I was the only patient in the ER. Feeling all by myself, I was reminded through prayer that God was by my side the entire night. 

During my five day hospital stay, I was able to experience the cultural differences of having surgery in a foreign country and watch as God brought in our “village” to step in and help care for Brian, the kids, and I. 

Being our busiest week of the year with dance recital, holiday shows for school, and a cheer competition I was beyond stressed. I could not understand God’s timing. I received great care at both hospitals and both surgeries were successful. 

God also blessed me with the gift of friendship in the nurses. The hospital staff was friendly and the daytime translator was wonderful. With all of the quiet time spent in the hospitals, it gave me time to reflect and pray, and realize how perfect God’s timing truly was. 

I am always amazed at how God provides no matter the circumstance. Even being across the world he has made it possible for my mom to fly out and help with recovery. This happened when Brian had already scheduled leave [military jargon for vacation] for Bali could not have worked out more perfectly. I had been able to enjoy celebrating Jesus’ birth with my family in between the two surgeries. 

Looking back God’s timing all makes sense now. God surrounded us with friends to help drive kids to and from school, watch kids during the surgeries, provide meals; and Brian’s coworkers were understanding of the time he missed and the work trips overseas he had to cancel. Even the airlines gave us almost all our money back from our canceled Bali trip even without trip insurance! 

I cannot say thank you enough to all the family and friends from the United States and Okinawa, Japan who have helped us during December and January! We are so blessed and grateful! GOD IS GOOD!  Remember to share your stories of God’s goodness with those around you.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

xoxo
Jessica Kujawski

Jessica K. is a military spouse, mom to three, and a teacher who loves working with children and serving the community around her.  She is an avid traveler and lover of any outdoor adventures. She and her family are currently living in Okinawa, Japan and enjoying island life! Follow Jessica and her adventures on FB!