Be patient in trouble and always be prayerful

This past week we received good news that two people are testing to be a kidney donor. This is the best news we have heard in a long time. This means if they are a match I can get a kidney transplant sooner than we expected. Great opportunities are coming our way I just know it.First of all, I got asked to co lead a kidney support group at my church. It was something I had to think about because its out of my comfort zone. I think it would be a great ministry for me, besides your greatest hurt is your greatest ministry like I have mentioned before.

Recently I have been goingt through some changes with my prescription for dialysis. I usually go through dialysis in the night time for 10 hours every night 7 days a week. All that has changed  I not only do exchanges every night but every day two times a week. The doctor told me the reason why they changed my prescriptiom is because I wasn't getting the proper dialysis which is why I was always tired. So hopefully this makes a big difference.

One thing I wanted to mention is I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported Tory and I within the past 13 months. It has been a true blessing and we couldn't have made it without your presence and prayers. Even though the fight isn't over we would love for you to keep on praying for us.

Thank You

Mike Garcia
A kidney survivor

Timing??

God's timing is so precise and so accurate without any error it's something we cannot fathom. A year to us is like a day to him.There were a lot of events in my life maybe yours as well when we wanted something to happened at that very moment whether it be getting our license right away or landing that perfect job interview.The truth is God knows the future for your life and he has a detailed blue print of it. The blue pritnt of your life is what defines you and what your purpose is on this earth.He knows what is good for you and what is bad for you. He delays your wants because he loves you. An example of this in my life would be in my past searching for the right companion. No matter what I did it never worked out which led to disappointment and frustration. At that time I was not even a Christian so I was for sure looking at the wrong places. So I gave up and thought I might be single for quite a while. Not long after I was on the Internet chat room not looking for anything to do but to chat with anyone and a name popped up (Tory) we talked and talked for hours about life, art, music, and God. Nine years later we are happily married with a wiener dog named Bentley. Puting our hope in the one will not let you down. 

Job searching and staying hopeful

A month or two ago Tory and I decided that it would be a great idea for me to look for a job. Now that I am feeling better with the dialysis and getting use to it I think its best. It will not only give me a sense of purpose but give us an extra income.So there is this program called ticket to work which deals with people who are living with a disability. they help them with finding a job and they also have other services as well. I think this will benefit me a whole lot. I'm done with all of the paper work and I have been given the ok to go back to work from my doctor.Happy about that :)

On a different note, it's been 11 months since I have been on dialysis and I just can't explain to you how much God is shaping me and molding me into his image. Some of you may not get this but it's a true blessing to go through this because it shows me how powerful God is. When I'm weak he strengthens me. When I'm all alone he's there with me. When I cry he keeps a record of all my tears. Going through struggles is a blessing...it's a true blessing. When you are struggling don't ask God to get me out of this...instead ask God what do you want me to learn from this and praise him..believe me it's for your own benefit and his glory forever :)

"Please be my strength...please be my strength.. I don't have anymore...I don't have anymore" Gungor

Mike 

Looks like a new beginning

These past couple of weeks have been tough. Not only physical but also emotional draining. Not only the move was exhausting but being on dialysis It can make it ten times harder than it already is. It seems like after the move to Irvine everything has gone down hill. you may ask what went down hill well first of all my motivation to stay focus on my fitness, eating, and more importantly my spirituality. It's really been a roller coaster. Numerous people that I talked to that have been on dialysis tell me the number one thing to do is stay focus and fight. There are days when you don't want to get out of bed but you have to force yourself out of it. I have been through that already!!! It doesn't feel we'll. According to my PD nurse depression is a major problem in PD patients. I totally agree with her on that . Thats where my God comes into play in all of this. He is the true source for strength. 

You know in my opinion...we'll actually its not an opinion it's the truth. You don't know who God truly is in till you have reached rock bottom in your life because that is when we approach God in a humble and sincere way. The God that created the cosmos, The God that fed 5000 in the middle of the desert with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. If God can do all of this for his children wouldn't he do something simple such as healing you or me from our sickness or sin? Why do we question God? Our faith is  very weak.Everyday we put our faith into something Whether it be our brakes in our car. Hoping they don't fail and they work properly. Or a chair that we sit on that it doesn't collapse on us lol which can be very embarrassing.. That has happened to me before lol. I will tell you this reader I'm not sure if you Are a believer or not but I am a winner in all of  this...What do I mean? Either there is a God and I am saved from eternal Hell and that is when I'm a winner. Or there is no such thing as God and I have still lived a peaceful and joyful life while believing a made up religion and come up a winner.It's a win win situation!!!!! Lets be realistic both sound nice but the first one is better right and its true. If Im not convinced by now on who God really is then I'm not sure how much more evidence I need with the history to look at and looking at my life and how he carried me through the struggles. God is real and wants a relationship with you and I!!!!

Mike 

On the list!!!!!!

Last week I found out that I got on the kidney registry which is a huge relief for Tory and I. Took a while but with patience God was faithful and he delivered. It's just a matter of waiting for a kidney. It can take 1 day or 5 years but he will deliver again. 

God is great, God is good thank you for everything.Amen

Learned a lesson today from God's truth

Church was great tonight!! Talk about feeling the Holy Spirit tonight . I was high on the Holy Spirit..hope I didn't offend anyone on that remark if I did I'm sorry..if you are you can blame it on my wife because she made that up..hahahhaha....No seriously God was with me tonight and I just had a chat with him. He told me (I'm paraphrasing of course) Mike do you know that in the course of your sickness you are bringing glory to me? Not only after you die or if I choose to heal you, but during your trial. I got hit with the truth there. It's funny because I feel like I'm not bringing glory to God but I guess I was wrong because I asked my wife and she said yes. I won't talk about the specifics but people around us (friends,family) have expressed it to her.
I would just like to say if anyone is going through some kind of illness whether it be physical or mental and you are feeling hopeless and down I just want to say God cares and loves you there is powerful scripture to back that up "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son,so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 You are not an accident and you have a purpose. Look to him for Strength he is the only true source to that because we cannot do it alone.
My pastor once said "Our greatest weakness is our greatest ministry" Rick Warren. Finally!!! I know what my ministry is. Been searching for it... Here it is...Compassionate towards the ill. Praise God..

I mentioned last week that I had to partake on another test and I completed it,so I will find out the results hopefully this week. The nurse told me this is the last breathing test that I can have. When she told me that I was relieved to hear that. I'm curious to find out what's the next step? It's up to sharp hospital. What other test can they order? I will see this week I guess.


Pray Hard!!!!

Tory and I