We are all living at a very challenging time in our world of 2020 tragedies and concerns. For Joyce and I, all of the things we have heard about the CORONA virus finally arrived at our house last month. Joyce and I both tested positive in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. We hope and pray that we are finally traveling down the last few miles of this long dark tunnel called COVID-19.
I am writing this today to inform you, encourage you, and to thank you. Joyce and I did everything possible to protect ourselves from contracting this dreaded virus. We faithfully stayed home as much as possible. We wore masks. Used hand sanitizer. And, practiced social distancing. As many of you know, I have not been out of my local area to speak since the middle of March this year. I have continued to conducted two local monthly prophetic Bible studies, and have been very active speaking in my local church. I am thankful that I have been able to accomplish a lot of home projects that have been on hold for a very long time. I have also been very busy with research and writing and hope to have my book on the Rapture ready for publication near the beginning of 2021.
I was the first to show COVID symptoms. When we got the results of my COVID test back on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Joyce began to exhibit the symptoms as well. She too tested positive. We have had horrible coughs, chest and nasal congestion, fevers, chills, and the most painful headaches and body pains that are the worst we have ever had with the flu in years past. Our stomachs were upset, we had no appetite, and all we wanted to do was sleep. The fatigue has been overwhelming. I have literally had to force myself to get out of my recliner. I was not able to study my Bible, think straight, or have what was a satisfying worship time with my Lord. When we hurt physically, it does impact us spiritually. We have been miserable.
We are very thankful that we are surrounded by our family. They have been very helpful through all of this. I really do not know what we would have done without them. My daughter, who is a registered RN, specialist nurse, knew that we needed to be checking our oxygen saturation levels to make sure COVID would not silently rob us of the natural work of our respiratory system. She loaned us her Pulse Oximeter. This is the little thing they put on your finger at the doctor’s office that will almost immediately read your pulse, blood pressure, and percentage of oxygen that is being delivered through your blood to your body cells. This is essential. If your body tissue does not get enough oxygen it can be very detrimental and even fatal. Some tests have shown that this presents a real silent challenge in dealing with COVID. I did not have any symptoms of shortness of breath. So I thought everything was OK. I had one night when my problems were very bad. I could not sleep and I even was experiencing severe chills and had some very disturbing hallucinations. My daughter rushed her oximeter over and when we check my oxygen levels she was frightened to see that I was in real trouble. My levels were more than 15 percentage points below normal and I was already in the danger zone. We immediately contacted my doctor’s office. They were considering transporting me to the hospital for examination and consultation, but my doctor suggested we could try something else in our home that he was confident would begin to help. After several hours we began to see a little improvement in my condition. Now, 4 days later, my levels are almost back to normal. Humanly speaking, if I have not used my daughter’s finger meter, I might not be here today.
[I highly recommend that every home ought to have a Pulse Oximeter. Look them up on line or go to your local drug store and get one. They cost about $25-30. It could save your life if you get COVID. As we all know, this virus primarily attacks the respiratory system.]
Joyce is currently suffering with more active COVID symptoms than I am at the moment. Please continue to pray for both us. My doctor is telling me to quarantine myself for the remainder of this year. The meds I am on are helping, but they may be giving me a false sense of wellness that is inaccurate until I am off of these meds.
I want to thank all of you who have been faithfully praying for us. We might be a little slow getting out our usual mailings for the end of the year. Please be patient with us.
This has been a very humbling experience for me. I am still very weak. In the last few days I have been deeply moved by the faithfulness of my Lord once again in my life – which fully belongs to Him. It is a real blow to our human pride when things like breathing, walking, and eating become a challenge. All of this has me really praying about life, family, and ministry. The urgency of the ministry is more real than ever before.
Joyce and I are so blessed to be surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. We need each other more than ever in these dark, deceptive days that lie ahead. Hebrews 10:24-25 comes to mind, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Nor forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
We love you all. Thanks for your prayers and support. Stay safe and well and I pray you will all have a blessed Christmas.
Keep listening for the shout that will take us out!