The Gap

 Thursday, September 21, 2023

 

T

here is a yawning gap between the last post on 09.18.2023 to today’s date 09.21.2023.   Not lacking in excitement, my postings stopped because I fell seriously ill. 

 After arriving at the cover of dark in Medugorje on Monday at the Villa Grace, I began to feel sick again this time with gastrointestinal infection.  I was dizzy, queasy to my stomach then had a series of projectile, spasmodic vomiting.  I stayed alone in the hotel abstaining from the day’s tour activities.

Tuesday was worst.  This time I was violently vomiting and I told Tere I needed to be hospitalized.  She took me to a clinic less than 5 minutes away from the hotel straining to push the wheelchair while I erupted in a series of watery vomitus en route. 

By then, I was hysterical and my blood pressure read 169/90 mmHg.  The doctor gave me an intravenous medication to stop the vomiting and calm me down.  I stayed in bed for the rest of the day at the hotel.  When my sister got back in the evening, I was feeling better but still weak.

Wednesday, I started to get better.  I was able to  keep food in my stomach but I did not join in all the tour’s activities.  Later in the day, I went with the rest of the tour group to the castle owned by a catholic husband and wife team who gave us a heartfelt testimony about their spiritual journey followed by the recitation of the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.

We capped the day by receiving the sacrament of confession, attending mass service, and saying the holy rosary.

Thursday I was feeling myself again.  Gone was the lightheadedness, nausea, and malaise.  I went with the tour for the day’s activities.

We went to St. James church for mass after breakfast followed by the Stations of the Cross.  Then the group broke up for lunch and shopped for religious icons, articles, and souvenirs.

In the afternoon we went to two important catholic service organizations - the Cenaculo (Cenacle or the room where the last supper occurred) and the Oasis of Peace for adoration. 

The last few tour activities I was able to participate was more spiritual in nature.  Due to illness earlier in the week, I was not able to go with the tour group to see the Apparition hill believed to be the sites where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to 6 visionaries for her messages. 

Nevertheless, I already feel blessed beyond measure that my quick recovery to health was due to the many prayers offered by the members of the tour group traveling with me, our attendant priest, and many friends who knew the ordeal I was going through.  I may have missed the apparition sites but I felt the healing hands of God nonetheless.

The illness I had was a triple whammy during this trip.  I first got sick with a respiratory ailment and motion sickness during the cruise events then later compounded with a gastrointestinal infection.  It is not easy getting sick away from all the resources available at home.  I am so thankful my health was restored to its fullest before the journey back home.

God is good.