A woman at the information desk had given them directions to the surgical waiting room. They were heading there now. Michele wasn’t sure where she was going with all these questions about Africa. Since their big talk a month ago, when Allan had agreed to shift his focus toward starting a family, she had tried to help by not taking an active interest in the orphanage plans.
But she was still using the children’s ministry notebook in her devotional time. This morning she was writing down memory verses about loving others. One that stuck out to her was from Philippians 2. She forgot which verse but not what it said: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
That pretty much contradicted her plan to avoid any discussions about Africa. It was definitely something Allan was interested in. And he’d shown he really did care about her and her desire to focus more effort on starting a family. She didn’t feel alone anymore. Based on what that verse said, it was time to care about Allan’s world a little. He had been working so hard on this orphanage proposal, trying to help Ray get ready for this trip.
Up ahead, she saw the waiting room sign sticking out above a doorway. When they got inside, the room was mostly empty. A scattering of people here and there, some watching the news on a television hanging in the corner, others reading magazines or talking quietly on their cell phones. Julie was in the far corner by herself.
“Good thing we came,” Allan whispered. “She’s still alone.”
They held hands and walked toward her. She looked up as they came near. Michele could tell she had been crying. She sat beside her and gave her a hug. “How are you doing?”
“I guess I’m okay. They took him into surgery a few minutes ago. I know this isn’t a life-threatening thing, but it still got me when they wheeled him away.”
Allan sat on the other side. “They give you any idea how long he’d be in there?”
“They said maybe a few hours, if they didn’t run into any complications.” She sighed. “I wish they hadn’t said that last part.”
“It doesn’t mean anything,” Allan said. “I’m sure he’s going to be fine. I’ll bet the whole church is praying for him by now.”
“That’s what one of the other pastors said. They’re all on their way here.”
“Did the kids get to see their dad before surgery?”
“Just for a minute, before they rolled him away. They were so worried. All they wanted to know was how much it hurt.” She smiled. “He said, ‘I’m feeling no pain.’ They had already given him some kind of sedative. After they took him, my mom took the kids home for me.”
“I’m glad he’s not suffering,” Allan said.
“You saw the break?”
“By the time I got there, he was already on the gurney, his legs wrapped loosely in a blanket. But you could see—” He looked over at Michele. “I’m sorry, she doesn’t do well with these kinds of conversations.”
Julie reached for Michele’s hands. “That’s okay. Before Ray and I had children, I was an RN. Ray always wants me to be careful how I talk around the kids.”
“I don’t know why it bothers me,” Michele said. “It’s like nails on a chalkboard. I can’t even watch those scenes on CSI-type shows.”
“Ray can’t either. We have to watch them on the DVR, and he fast-forwards through them.”
No one said anything for a few moments. Michele wanted to keep Julie’s mind distracted. “Oh Julie, I almost forgot. I never got back to you about the children’s ministry notebook.”
“Oh, that’s okay. We still have awhile before we need to order anything. Did you get a chance to look it over?”
“I read it all the way through.”
“Really? So, what did you think?”
“Mostly, I loved it. I started reading it just thinking about the kids, but I really get what you mean about the section for the parents. I’m not a parent yet, but I learned a lot. I’m still getting a lot out of it.”
“Did you think the parts for the kids were too complicated? Think it might go over their heads?”
“No, I don’t think so. I think maybe the only weakness, if you’re thinking of it for a Sunday-morning curriculum, is you might need someone to come up with some creative games and activities that tie back to the material. But I’m sure there are all kinds of creative people in the church who could work on that.”
“I was thinking the same thing. But the content seemed so good to me. I figured we could work out something to make it fit the age group we have in mind.”
Julie turned a little in her chair. She looked at the manila folder in Allan’s hand. “Is that the orphanage report?”
“You know about that?” Allan said.
She nodded. “Ray told me that’s why you were at the house yesterday. To give him some kind of report.”
Allan held it out. “I don’t know when he’ll get to look at it, but I thought I’d bring it over anyway.”
“I’m sure he’ll want to see it, but you might want to hold on to it for now. At least until you can make a copy.”
Allan didn’t seem to get what she meant.
“He asked me to ask you—and he made sure that I tell you, you don’t have to do it—but he was wondering if you might share what he was gonna share with the church tomorrow.”
“What?”
Oh no, Michele thought. Allan hated talking in front of large crowds.
“He wants me to talk with the whole church?”
“That’s what he said. He knows you prefer to be a behind-the-scenes guy, but he’d really like the church to get this update.”
“But I wouldn’t know what to say.”
“He said you’d say that. He said to tell you he already wrote out everything last night. He just had a few blanks to fill in once he got your report.”
Poor Allan. He was trying to look open-minded, but Michele knew better.
“Is that really a good idea now?” he said. “I mean, with this accident . . . the trip’s going to have to be postponed now anyway, isn’t it?”
Julie looked at him. Then she reached into her purse, pulled out a handwritten note that was folded in half. “He asked me to give you this. The handwriting’s a little shaky. He wrote it before they gave him the pain meds.”
Michele’s eyes instantly locked on the note. Where was this leading?
Allan took it from Julie and unfolded it.
Michele stood up and walked over to Allan’s side so she could read it along with him.
Allan,
Hate to bring this up, my friend, but with this accident, I’m kind of stuck. As you know, I’m supposed to get on a plane this Tuesday and head over to Ethiopia, make this presentation to the government and get everything all set up. I doubt that can happen now. But we can’t cancel this meeting in Addis Ababa. We just can’t. Too much riding on it. I’ll explain why when I get out of surgery and I’m thinking straight again. In the meantime, would you please pray about taking my place? Maybe talk to Michele about it, see what she thinks? Maybe it can’t work, but I had to ask.
—Ray