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ARCHIE BURTON MISSIONARY TO REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA (Former Soviet Union) Oct 2010 Prayer Letter
Greetings in the Name of Jesus!
It is with joy in my heart, a spring in my step, and more oxygen in my lungs that I send you this prayer letter update. Since my last communication with you I have had to return to the United States due to the fact that my health was declining so quickly. I was hospitalized for almost two weeks while the doctors tried to help make some improvements in my condition.
I have spent the past several weeks in Cardiac Rehabilitation, which has made a remarkable improvement in my ability to breathe. The staff has me walking on a treadmill, using oxygen and doing chair aerobics. This regimen, coupled with additional medications has really been such a help to me. My stamina and endurance has greatly improved which allows me more freedom to move about and be much more active.
When I returned to the mission field this summer my stamina seemed to leave me. If I preached on Sunday I would be in the bed for 2-3 days to recover. If I had to do anything over the weekend, it would sometimes make me so weak I couldn’t preach on Sunday, which only added to my discouragement.
My daughter is the office manager for my cardiologist. He recommended that I come back to the states for an exhaustive physical check to see why I was not improving. He consulted with the pulmonary specialist and they assured me if I would come back to the states they would do everything in their power to help me improve physically.
I came back, they did what they said they would do, and as a result, I am now planning to return to the field November 16th. Praise the Lord! I will complete my cardiac rehabilitation next week. I still require the use of oxygen at times when I am moving about, but my recovery time has greatly improved. Now, I look forward to being able to preach without being “half dead” for days afterwards.
One of the great ways that God worked on my behalf was to see to it that the partner of my pulmonary doctor had to treat me. After we made introductions and he learned that I was a missionary, he shared with me his own short-term mission trips abroad. We spent several hours talking about the Lord and mission work. When he released me several days ago, he hugged me goodbye and prayed over me! What a special blessing. Needless to say, he was more-than-determined to get me back on the mission field!
Let me thank you for your patience with my lack of communication in this past several weeks. Between the hospitalization and rehabilitation I have not been as effective in communicating, as I needed to be. I look forward to updating you when I return the to field later this month.
I want to say thank you for all your prayers over the past months. God certainly has heard them all and answered them in a mighty way. The churches in Moldava have been greatly concerned about me and lifted many prayers on my behalf. They are anxious for me to return and return (healthier!) As the Christmas season approaches I look forward to having the breath and strength to tell the Greatest Story Ever Told!
With a grateful heart, I am your missionary to Moldova!
Bro. Archie.
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