October 2021

above: something beautiful

Something Beautiful

Removing bandages from hairy arms is considered a war crime in most countries. To all my unhairy readers that have never experienced this, go and stick some duct tape to your head immediately. My tolerance for pain is comparable to a balloon’s tolerance to needles. I neither enjoy pain, nor do I actively pursue activities that can cause pain/injury/impalement. This was not always the case. When I was younger I enjoyed highspeed, bone-crushing, spine-compressing, downhill mountain biking.
One time while mountain biking, I suffered a high speed crash. During this accident as my body hurled through the air, my brain in an effort to protect my delicate and attractive hands, pulled them back and allowed my face to dissipate most of the crash energy. This action caused my face to be dirty, cut, and bleeding. My friends in effort to prevent infection, supplied me with the only thing they had available, alcohol swabs. Imagine wiping juicy alcohol swabs into gaping facial wounds. I cried like a cowboy who had lost his favorite belt buckle.

I stopped crying. In fact, there were several years where I did not cry at all. I remember the day I stopped crying like it was yesterday. Maria felt something was wrong, so concerned, we made an unexpected prenatal appointment. I was nervous but also excited, because this was going to be the day I heard the heartbeat of our first child. After the doctor had difficulty finding the heartbeat on his wimpy doppler machine, he sent us over to the hospital next door. The hospital ultrasound machine allowed us to glimpse our little bundle, and the joy of ignorance was restored. The ultrasound tech was friendly but elusive, and she reported her findings to our family doctor. We were to wait to hear back from him within the hour. The phone call came, and as the words transmitted via the speaker, a thousand little swords pierced our hearts. Maria’s eyes watered, as mine turned dry, and anger entered in the place of grief. I stood there holding what was left of my wife, as I hardened my heart to this pain.
Soon, the hope was restored in our little family. The announcements were again sent out. The joy unfortunately mingled with the hardness gained several months earlier. On a business trip with Maria, away from family, home, and comfort, it happened again. Again no tears.
Almost a year after that, in the nice office of our midwife, I cried. We had just heard the heartbeat of our future little boy. This did not open the tear ducts completely, but this was the beginning of the thawing of the hardness. Then several months later, Frederick was born, and looking down at the face of my little son, the flood gates opened. I have cried at the birth of everyone of our children. I cry at weddings when the dad gives away the daughter. Sometimes I even cry if I see a sad looking stone. I know many of you have personally experienced the pain of miscarriage, so I write this to you. Don’t become hardened, lean into the pain, and remember to cry over something beautiful.

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Here is a quick update about the end of Aug, Sept, and the beginning of Oct.

We squeezed one more camping trip in before the baby. Maria bravely planned a camping trip with her family when she was 8 months pregnant. She claims this camping trip was uncomfortable, but I didn’t experience any discomfort…

My current project at MMS is an air ambulance headed for Honduras. I am aiding Jim Newman in an avionics installation (“avionics” is a fancy way to say “pilot gauges” and makes me sound smarter). MMS performed major upgrades to the mission’s other plane, and just recently it landed in Honduras, and is serving the remote field hospital there.

We are excited to welcome baby Evelyn to the Martin clan. Maria woke me up at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September the 14th telling me she thought maybe we should head to the hospital. I calmly micro-panicked and called the babysitter. We soon drove the 45 mins to the local-ish hospital in Millersburg (Coshocton Hospital is only 5 mins away but doesn’t have a maternity ward anymore). Maria comes from a large family, and childbirth for her is as routine as flossing, so she was prepared and calm as we walked into the hospital. Once there, Maria rapidly paced the hallways, doing lunges in order to meet Evelyn sooner. I got tired walking the hallways and complained, but the firebolts from Maria’s eyes gave me a second wind. About 4 hours later, we got to meet our new, very hairy daughter, crying that beautiful newborn cry.

Evelyn was born with a soft tissue cleft palate. The doctor said it is a pretty severe case of soft palate cleft, but is confident that surgery will be successful. The first meeting with the doc was stressful, as he told us about all the complications that could possibly happen. But after talking to several other families that have walked this road, the stress levels reduced. One big stressor is that every other week, Maria has to drive an hour and a half to Akron, Ohio for Evelyn’s checkups. Children when woken, and rushed, are known for their obedience, so please pray for Maria as she gets them fed, dressed, and out the door for Evelyn’s appointments.

Pray:

Pray for Maria as she travels with Evelyn to all these appointments.

Pray for Evelyn that she can continue to fatten up and be healthy enough for surgery in about nine months.

Pray for wisdom about a future Zambia trip. I may again be traveling to Zambia next year, and please pray for wisdom if we should bring the whole family, because it would be roughly a month before Evelyn’s surgery.

Pray for me as I complete my EMT course, especially because It is way harder than I thought it would be!

Praise:

Praise for a healthy and safe delivery of Evelyn!

Praise that Maria feels good!

Praise that we live in a place and time where surgeries (including minor ones) can be safely performed.

Praise for all the support and love we have felt since Evelyn was born. We have felt the love of Christ, throughout the last month, and are so grateful for the gifts and meals sent our way.

With love and gratitude,