Update 11-08-09

Dear Family and Friends,

There is only less than 3 weeks left of Summit Semester! How time flies! Last weekend, we enjoyed a relaxing weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico for our class/art trip! My art analysis group did a great job on Saturday identifying different styles of art. We had a lot of fun doing it too! J This past week, we were back to our normal Tuesday-Saturday schedule with Dr. Bauman. It was so good to have him back! I don’t think I’d ever get tired of having him as my professor. We had art class Tuesday morning, Bible class Wednesday morning, and then Dr. Bauman arrived Wednesday night in time for class.
The lecture that night was one of my favorites – it was on thinking and learning. He told a story to illustrate the point that the search for truth [usually] doesn’t bring answers overnight. The subjects that we’re being challenged with here at Summit Semester, are things that we need to spend time pondering and wrestling with. I know sometimes I want all the answers as soon as possible. But this lecture helped me see that on the search for truth, I need to be willing to “dissect” an issue until I know each side and perspective. Dr. Bauman told us to, “Look at it again and again until you really do see the truth.” This means reading books on the subject, asking questions, and discussing ideas with other people. It was such a great reminder for me, as I begin to prepare to return home in a few weeks.
This week in Christianity and politics class we discussed the U.S. Constitution. In English literature we thoroughly examined John Milton’s Paradise Lost. In our Church history class, we learned about the lives and ideas of 3 important theologians who lived between the 14th and 16th centuries: Francesco Petrarch, Thomas More, and Erasmus. I always enjoy the great discussions we have in that class. So fun and informative!

Although I had another great week of school, an extra little trial came up during our Santa Fe trip. Last Saturday night, my right wrist became swollen. I didn’t think much of it, so I put ice on it and let it be. The next morning it looked a little better, so I thought I was fine. The next night, it became swollen again, so I decided to see a doctor in Pagosa Springs the next day. (Last Monday) The doctor immediately told me that he thought I had carpal tunnel. He gave me a wrist brace to wear for the rest of the week, told me to take ibuprofen and let it rest. Throughout the week however, it became increasingly swollen and more painful. I went again to the doctor on Friday and I had two doctors examine it. They ruled out a few things because of my description of the pain I had been experiencing. They were puzzled that even after a week it was still bothering me and was still swollen. They decided to take my blood and were going to test it for 4 specific things. (None of which I can remember.) The doctor will call me on Monday with the results and that will determine whether or not I will need treatment here in Colorado, or if I can wait until I return home in a few weeks.

I’ve been taking a lot of ibuprofen to control the pain, and it has been helping most of the time. Please pray that the doctors would have wisdom in deciphering what is wrong, and that in the meantime, I would have peace just letting my right hand rest without over using it.

I miss you all and will look forward to seeing you in just a few weeks!

With Love, Mae