Our view of Craiova from our open window while in quarantine.

Morning three of our World Race:

At 5:37 AM, my husband's involuntary shudders wake me up. I feel them from where his feet lay close to my head but I know they are interrupting his sleep all over. Concerned, I quickly sit upright and place my hand gently on his forehead, checking his fever. It seems as though the ibuprofen hasn't entirely worn off yet. 

My heart feels heavy for him. This kind of sleep doesn't feel like bliss or escape. It's simply a cycle of chills and hot flashes and headaches, barely pushed at bay by unconsciousness. 

A rooster's crowing drifts through our open window, above the fan and the noise machine the other young man in the isolation room uses to sleep. 

My own head pulses, congested, and my joints are telling me to take it easy. My body is warmer than usual even though I am directly in the fan’s wind...I wake Isaak, asking if he's alright. Sleepily, he confirms my observation. 

"I'm cold." 

"Do you remember where your sleeping bag liner is?" He tells me, gingerly gets out of bed to go to the bathroom, and tucks himself into the additional layer of fabric when he returns. 

His soft words broke my heart. 

"Can you come here, please? I miss you," He beckons me.

"Of course, love." My poor baby.

I wrap my arms around his warm waist and rest my head on his chest, a small amount of joy surfacing from this bit of affection. My heart longs for his touch, but I still take note of how close my head is to his chin, trying to not share his breath right now. 

A minute goes by and I push away to pour him some water from the tin mug our host gave us to use. 

Again, he says "I miss you...I'm tired." 

"Well try to get some sleep, baby. Your body needs it." I kiss his warm forehead and lay back down near his feet. 

Still, he shakes, so in the dim light, I feel my way through his big pack on the top bunk. My fingers search, and I begin to tug at something. Nope, that's his compression sack. I let go and move my hand to the left, my arm partially swallowed by his backpack. I feel smooth latex and down feathers. There we go. 

I free his sleeping bag and unzip it so it acts as a comforter, draping it over his body. Once again, I lay down. My eyes are shutting but my mind still ponders what we’ve contracted and how it will affect our squad and, consequently, our host’s ministry. I can’t figure everything out now... I'm so thankful we get to sleep in this morning. 

Our isolation room and the bunk that we share with green sheets. It could use some tidying! We got around to it eventually. :)

We are in Craiova, Romania! After two full days of travel and jet lag, we made it and we are excited to be here! However, we picked up an illness along the way. Please keep us in your prayers, as our whole squad now needs to quarantine for at least two weeks and there are currently four of us trying to recover in isolation. I ask that you pray for our quick healing and that the rest of our squad either remains healthy or gets the sickness over with so that we can keep the duration of our quarantine as short as possible. 

We will be doing ministry online by talking with new believers in the area and answering their questions. So, please pray that these conversations are guided by the Holy Spirit and that technology cooperates as we attempt to encourage fellow brothers and sisters in Christ this way! We hope and intercede on behalf of our host for their ministry and reputation to remain unscathed and thriving even in this time where things are slowed down for the sake of our squad. 

We will continue to praise, even if we cannot all be in the same space! Join us, please, in praying that this time is one of refinement and learning for each member of our group, for Proverbs 27:21 says this: 

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

but people are tested by their praise.

For there is MUCH for which to praise our Heavenly Father! It is a miracle we made it to this nation! We are already overwhelmed by His work in our circumstances to make a way for us, but that's another story for another time. ;) 

Thank you so much for following our journey! We are honored to share stories from the field with you! Hopefully our next will be less about sickness and more about sharing the Gospel! For now, we are seeking our Abba Father as we rest and watch the miracle of healing take place in us. We will trust that He is GOOD through the process. Because he is. SO. GOOD. SO. FAITHFUL. SO. CARING. THROUGH EVERYTHING. 

All the sick and healthy people say AMEN!