Brokeback Spainhour
A short and sweet update on things:
Our team van was due for a checkup last Saturday. I dropped the van off, and to pass the time waiting for the van to get fixed I bought some grill food and headed to a nearby waterfall with some other leaders. We swam for a bit and were jumping off rocks into the pool at the base of the waterfall. I botched my second jump – landed hard on the water with my lower back.* The story gets a little long and dramatic after that point, but to make it short, after some medical attention it was concluded that I had compressed and fractured my spine. It became obvious that this injury was going to take some time to overcome, and surgery was becoming a strong suggestion. Surgery and physical therapy in Africa didn’t sound good to me, which leads us to where I am now.
Monday I got on a plane and headed home for some good old fashioned American medicine and spinal care. I got off the plane and headed straight for the local ER. I spent most of the week in Fair Oaks Hospital. The Tuberculosis earned me a spot in isolation and a few lung x-rays to make sure I wasn’t a threat. The doctors kept me hooked up to some steady painkillers, took CT-Scans and MRI’s of my back, confirmed that the vertebrae was compressed to about 50% of its normal size and fractured into a lot of pieces. Surgery was ruled out, I was fitted for a backbrace, went through some minor physical therapy, and the next month is going to be a blur of laying on my back a lot and living in a back brace.
Leaving my team was pretty tough. Maybe one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. The 18 of us had developed into a pretty well-functioning family, and the honor of leading that group was the one of the best things God has ever dropped on my lap and trusted me with. I’ve never had to learn to lean on so much on the Father, and I’ve never seen Him work so powerfully in my weaknesses as I He has lately. I’m confident that my leaving is good news for the team, and I don’t mean that in a cheap band-aid kind of way. I think there are some incredible things headed the teams way. For some reason God knew I needed to be out of the way for those things to come through, and he knew that breaking my back was probably one of the only reasons I would ever leave those folks. So pray for my team, for my family, my flock back in Swaziland. They are doing incredible things. I could not be more proud of them. I could not have learned more from a group of people than I have learned from living with them and trying to pastor and serve them over the last few months.
I think there are some pretty incredible things headed my way as well, and I think God knew that the only way I would really listen to him was if let me jump off a rock and virtually, completely immobilize myself. So pray that my ears would be unstopped and thirsty as I lay in bed over the next few weeks. And pray that my heart wouldn’t get hard or be to swayed by the priorities of the world. I really want to choose my next path based on where God wants me, and out of the faith that He will take care of me – not based on who gives me the best insurance plan and who will give me enough money to eek out an existence in spite of recessions and anything else. That would be a miserable rejection of everything God has taught me in the last two years, and a speedy step towards bending over and becoming a slave to the world all over again. I am not prepared to take steps down those paths.
Thank you for all your prayers, during this phase and over the last few years. I know some of you are probably shocked by this news, and have a lot of questions. I should have pretty adequate and constant access to email in the next few days- I should also be relatively bored and immobile, so feel free to shoot an email my way.
peace and grace,
matt
As a brief, but important, footnote… I understand there is risk involved in jumping off of rocks into water – I also understand that by injuring myself during one of these jumps I am inviting many headshakes and statements along the lines of “This is why you shouldn’t jump off of rocks into water.” If you pass any of these headshakes or lines my way I will probably classify you as a ridiculous person and refuse to talk to you anymore. I will also construct a list of statistics and reasons that you should never drive a car, ride on a plane, eat McDonald’s, or use a conventional microwave ever again. This footnote is partly a joke… but only partly.
Wow…craziness. I’m bummed out for you but glad you’ve got a good attitude about it.
Hi Matt,
So sorry to hear of your accident, but very thankful you are in good hands. (I am counting the earthly ones too!) Keep up the great attitude and know that you will be in our prayers even more. Kiss your sweet Mama for me. Lots of love,
Renée
The Neil Diamond song, “I’m Alive!” comes to mind!! I am so glad that you are alive and were able to make it back to the USA. Hank is going to South Africa at the end of May, and he was hoping to stop in by you and say “Howdy!” Well, it looks like we don’t have to travel that far after all.
We both will be praying for you, and when we get back from San Diego (taking the kids on a trip), then maybe we can stop in with some goodies and chat if you are up to it.
I am sure that many people will give you some “Be still and know that I am God” verses, so I will pray them for you too.
*BIG, PAIN FREE HUG*
Jocelynn
Hey man. Get better. tat sucks alot. you’re still number one in my heart. ill be praying for a steady recovery.
Hey Matt,
I’m so proud of you for what you have learnt and accomplished over in good ol’ Africa. The team I’m sure has learnt so much from you as well.
Not sure if you heard or not, but God brought me home from Nicaragua as well. At the time it was hard to see why, or understand it, but I knew I had to follow. It has just recently become apparent why. Seth Barnes Jr. has been helping co lead the team and lead the guys, and he is doing an amazing job. I can see that it truly was a case of God needing to take me out of there in order for someone or something else to come in.
Take great joy in knowing that God has a plan specifically for you… even if it does involve rocks and backs. Miss you bro, keep in touch, I too have constant access to email and would love to hear from you.
Jamie
Matthew-
Jess and Sam are visiting and shared the long version of your story with me this morning. I’m so sorry that your trip was cut short- though it sounds like you continue to view the situation with eyes that are thirsty to see and receive God’s purpose. That is a beautiful thing and requires a kind of faith that I have yet to find.
Welcome home. I look forward to seeing you on the 4th of July.
~Mar
Hey man, know that you are missed here. Also…things aren’t getting much better after you leaving. Now would be a great time to jump in the van and ride to spar together.
Hey Matt,
I just wanted to let you know you and your team are in my prayers. I’ve had points in my life where I was confound to a bed. God really worked on my heart. My suggestion make sure you don’t get stuck with watching too much TV… but read, pray… pray for your team. You have tons of time to do that. God will use this… for his glory.
Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
~dD~
Matt,Matt,Matt…(shake of the head)
Just kidding!
Another friend of ours is in the hospital with minor skull fractures (.. don’t know how skull fractures can ever be ‘minor’?!?) But between the two of you, I’m considering bubble wrapping Sammy before he ever goes out again! 🙂
On a more serious note, we are so incredibly thankful that you are back home receiving the treatments that you need. Take it easy and we’ll come by to see you when you’re up for it!
Lots of love from all of the Martinez Clan!
Nicole
Matt,
I’m so sorry about your accident and injury. Speaking for moms, we never want our kids to take those kind of risks, but I understand that they are a necessary part of LIVING and have got to be a great stress reliever in the missions life that the Lord has led you to live. When I read about your injury this morning, the first thing that came to my mind was that God allowed this time on your ‘back’ because He knew that He would need someone with the ability (timewise)to spend hours on their ‘knees'(figuratively in your case)to intercede for your team mates and Sarah’s family and friends in this time of sorrow and confusion. I believe that you are right where He wants you at this time and that He can use you in a mighty way to pray for and encourage your team mates. Don’t lose sight of His Will for you and this opportunity.
I’ll be praying for you, too!
In Him,
Laura Davis, Emily’s mom from the Philippines trip last year!
Hi Matt…Jessica Gourley’s mom here.
Just wanted to thank you for your incredible leadership in Africa. God has given you some wonderful gifts….one of which seems to be the ability to look adversity in the face and smile. He has great plans for you…take care of yourself! Continue to follow His call. Thank you, so much, for the influence you had on our daughter’s life! Know that many people in our circle of influence are praying for God to heal you.
Blessings,
Lois Gourley