MISSIONARY CALVIN GARDNER UPDATE

September 5, 2009
Dear Praying Brethren,
I send you greetings in the Lord who is the health of my countenance (Psalm 43.5).
Did you notice that I changed the format of my weekly updates? I did so to give you more information of the different ministries. The last two weeks, instead of the play-by-play of our week, I have emphasized first our Website Ministry and then our participation in the churches the Lord has used us to plant since 2004. I also plan to every-now-and-then interrupt the detailed emphasis on the ministry to go back and give you the play-by-play updates of our weekly lives and activities. This letter is one of these.

However, I should perhaps emphasize an area of the ministry since this week I have not done much at all. I spent most of the day every day either wincing and agonizing because of sciatic nerve pain or lying down on a mattress in my office trying to rest. If I tried to be up and about I would be busy with the wincing and agonizing. If I stayed on the mattress I would be resting. That was my week.
You probably know that sciatic nerve pain does not start on its own. The positions I force my arthritic lower back to take determines when and to what degree the sciatic nerve will make itself known. Three weeks ago I moved a five-gallon can of paint around in the trunk of my car. The First Baptist Church of Independence, Kentucky graciously provided the paint and 20 wooden chairs for the new work in Rancharia. To help the church get started on their preparations for services in Jonas’ house, I wanted to take this first can of paint over when I went for services one Wednesday night. There was nothing wrong with this idea. What was wrong was my moving the paint around.
I felt a twinge at the time. Sitting in the car for the 45 minute trip to Rancharia, plus standing for the services and then the 45 minute trip back to Presidente Prudente caused me to notice that I had undoubtedly done more than I should. But I remained mum about it while hoping it would go away. By the next Lord’s Day, the trip to and back from Rancharia was causing more discomfort. The back was wounded and it inflamed the sciatic nerve. My stiffness brought Peggy to suggest I go see my doctor. I declined hoping that the pain would die down by itself. It did not go away. By Thursday of last week, my physical therapist could do nothing to help me except to strongly suggest I go see my doctor. By then, I was not ready to give my opinion on the matter any more. I should have gone when Peggy first mentioned it. Sigh. I went as I was, not even being able to stand upright anymore.
I had an injection of cortisone, plus began meds by mouth. I stayed home till The Lord’s Day morning services. I had to give a lesson on baptism to the three candidates then. On Sunday morning I took a tall stool to sit on while I gave the lesson. The pain was almost overpowering. Mr. Parkinson took advantage of the emotional stress and added his two-bit tremors to make it a really memorable hour. That night I stayed sitting down for services while I listened to David preach a wonderful message on Psalm one.
On Monday I was not any better for abusing my condition the day before so the doctor increased my pain medication. I sat down all day playing games, reading, or otherwise resting. Tuesday I was not much better. That evening the family suggested I lie down on a mattress while we watched a family film together. THAT made a big difference! Therefore Wednesday to Friday I was relegated to stay lying down all the time. I even took meals lying down. The family humored me by “picnicking” with me in the office at mealtimes. I improved by leaps and bounds every day. By Saturday my double-strength pain pills were stopped. By then I was back to sitting in my office chair and doing my regular office work without pain.
The children helped me to get things done in the office while I could only grunt and groan. Charity and Joy did my bookkeeping and translations while, later, David took dictation for my correspondence. Daniel took care of driving the family to services here in Presidente Prudente Wednesday night, and David and Joy went to services in Rancharia to cover for me there. Peggy took notice of my every wince and anguish. As I am not very experience being sick you can imagine what kind of hero she had to work with! Thank You all for your tender care.
Thanks for your faithful support and prayers too! May the Lord bless you in His work there in your mission various fields. I am actually looking forward to baptizing tomorrow morning! This was an event that, not too many days ago, I was dreading to have to postpone.
Yours in Our Lord,
Bro. Calvin G. Gardner - wbtbrazil@gmail.com www.PalavraPrudente.com.br
Missionary to Brazil through
Wooster Baptist Temple - PO Box 433 - Wooster, OH 44691
Pastor Floyd Koenig - 330 345-7291 - fkoenig@sssnet.com http://www.woosterbaptisttemple.org
The word dwells most richly in their hearts who are most in pouring out of their hearts before God in their closets – T. Brooks