fear and panic

Sickness is here.

Full force.

This island, Hispaniola, has been struggling with 

a mosquito born illness called Chikungunya

for the past year.

It has hit Jarabacoa hard for the past few months.  

There is a rash, fever, and lots of joint pain.

It is not good.  

It is not deadly,

but it is not good.

Fear is here.

No one wants to feel crappy.

Every mosquito bite is worth a freak out.

"They" say 90% of the island will get it before it's over.

The joint pain can last for months.  

Panic is here.

Every little wrist pain makes us wonder.

Was that the first sign?  

Every little skin blemish makes us anxious.

Is that a rash?  Do you think that's a rash?

oh no, just my normal skin...

The thermometer is our new best friend.  

I've never felt this way before.

So anxious about health.

[that shows how blessed we've been]

Day after day after day

a different person is in tears about physical pain.

It has been scary to watch and experience with them.  

[It has been days since I first wrote this post,

and now it almost seems over dramatic.

But it is honestly the way I felt for several weeks.

While most people have been feeling better 

and less cases have been appearing,

the residual pain is still rearing it's ugly face.

I am feeling 100% well at this point

and trusting that this too will pass.

Please continue to pray for my friends 

that are still feeling pain.]