Anticipated Freedom.

There is always that momentary awkwardness when you enter a Doctor's office and have to "check in" at the front counter. I usually don't find it that strange to talk about myself in the third person (as most of my fellow Kaleos could tell you), but it always seems much more peculiar in this setting. For some reason, I can't really explain why, in that initial conversation with the secretary I always seem to declare my arrival to the office as more of an inquiry than a statement. "Jayme Adams is here?" The secretary usually returns this quizzical statement with a repeat of what you just said, as if to give you a second chance to present yourself and really mean what you say this time, and you answer confidently back with a solid "yes". Perhaps it is because deep down inside there is a part of me that truly does not want to be there and has cornered my brain during this brawl, and that is where this tendency to throw in that raised tone stems from.

Today was the day. Six weeks had passed. I wanted freedom.
Upon arriving in Chemainus, the Doctor's orders were as follows: cast execution, X ray, assessment. The experience of having my cast taken off is one that will vividly remain in my mind for quite some time. There is a certain manner in which Doctors/nursing staff compose themselves in order to assure the patient that they are indeed in good hands and should feel quite at ease and confident in their medically trained abilities. This was unfortunately not the case for me. The elderly lady assigned to saw off my cast seemed both flustered and uncertain. These are two qualities that immediately threw my comfortability into a spin. I'm not sure how many of you can relate or have experienced a cast removal, or even perhaps have been used as a demo in some sort of magic trick, but being that close to a moving blade is not something that I find that enjoyable. First of all the sound is terrifying. Secondly they slide these super thin wooden flat-sticks (like the kind you say "ahh" with) in between the cast and your skin as if that "durable" piece of wood would be able to withhold the pressure from the saw. And lastly the tool's brand is titled as "Stryker"-enough said. I found it surprisingly hard to smile through this process. It didn't help matters that the nurse would mutter to herself and say things that were quite inaudible by the cacophonous screams of the saw all the while having this tentative expression on her face. Whether it was truly an answer to my prayers or actually the end of her shift that caused the 'sawing-replacement' to fill in, I do not know. I felt immediate relief, until I noticed that this new nurse had not re-positioned the wooden sticks and began to saw away. Images of me hiking armless through the Indian Himalayas flashed through my mind as I felt the blade inching closer and closer, and I actually jumped when I felt the pressure of the connecting saw and the heat of its rapidly spinning blade hit the surface of my arm. The new nurse quickly apologized and I watched in horror as she raised the blade to her own hand and hit the trigger. My horror turned to confusion, which was soon followed with a realization that this saw blade would in fact cause me no harm whatsoever. Goodness, that would have done my nerves some good if that demonstration would have been shown at the very beginning!
After that dramatic experience I had my X ray done and then met back with the Doctor to assess the results. He informed me that the fracture was not fully healed yet and was still visible in the X rays. This was not the delightful news I had anticipated. He considered recasting it, but then we settled on letting it remain braced in the half-shell of my previous cast carcass. And there it will remain for these next two weeks until I depart to India. Although this incomplete recovery does bring me grief, I am somewhat satisfied with knowing that I can now shower and splash as much as I want.

I type this blog as I sit here alone in 311. My room has been extremely quiet these last few days as both Jesse and Malayne have taken off during our Reading Break this week. There were only eight others who decided to remain here back at camp for the entirety of the break. Amidst the mountains of papers and coursework that we Kaleos were destined to, we still managed to involve some fun into our week such as trips to both Nanaimo and Salt Spring Island. As well as random games, activities and other creative endeavors that weren't too highly appreciated on the boys side...

It was strange being the only Kaleo of us four out at Lake Cow youth this past Friday. The night went well, fun was had, and it was cool to see how Michelle tied the games that we played in with the devotion later on in the night. We talked about how living your life without Jesus is like wandering around blindfolded and in darkness; stumbling over things in your way and the complications of that unaware lifestyle. It was a heavy topic, and I wish more of the kids would have been there to hear it, cause I know that for those that were present you could see the words of the message sinking in and see them working things through in their heads. It's frustrating when the kids take so long to settle down or pay attention, but I'm coming to realize that it is completely worth it when you grasp their full attention and can see that rare understanding developing in their eyes.

Prayer for me this week would be awesome. I am still suffering from this nasty cough. So for health-not only for me, but for my entire India team as a fair chunk of us have all caught the same lousy bug. Quick healing and recovery for my cast-free wrist (and that I will take extreme caution with its new found freedom)-as well as for Tom, who is also out of his cast now and is slowly trying to strengthen his ankle and reinforce it in these next couple of weeks before we depart for India. Also that I will remain diligent and focussed in my studies and not be distracted or overwhelmed with the coursework that is ahead of us before we all depart on our missions. And finally that my funds for India will be met and provided.

Well my arm is in desperate need of some moisturization, and I should be getting back to my heap of homework. I leave you with a few photos of our trip to Salt Spring (provided by Eric Johnson). Thank you all for your prayers and support!
Blessings,
Jayme

Jo, myself, Kristy and Tom 

Delighted with the rescued seashell. Not so much with the photo.

Perhaps we will start a band