Hi Everyone! Lydia has been dealing with health issues and battling chronic, frustrating symptoms such as fatigue, muscle and joint aches, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, neurological symptoms (memory issues, nerve pain, numbness, tingling), and issues with her digestive and urinary systems for quite some time now, but she has finally learned that all these things were actually from one insidious cause – Lyme Disease. Her diagnosis of Lyme disease was both helpful and disheartening as it isn’t something that will resolve itself without treatment.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks, and without treatment, Lyme disease leads to lingering symptoms that mimic autoimmune conditions. Lyme disease can look different in many cases, but for Lydia, it is affecting every area of her life on a daily basis.

After her diagnosis, Lydia’s primary care provider recommended that she go to see a doctor in Wisconsin who specializes in treating Lyme disease because this infection will stay in her body and continue to negatively affect her for many, many years if it is not dealt with. The doctor she was referred to is Dr. Ben Erlandson. Dr. Ben Erlandson has helped cure thousands of individuals with Lyme. You can find the website for his clinic here: erlandsonclinic.com

Lydia has felt the Lord calling her back to Africa to serve Him there this summer, and she’s currently working on raising $7,500 for her mission trip and does not have the funds for this treatment. However, she has been praying about the treatment and really feels that this is the right step for her to take in order to feel healthy enough to serve the Lord well in Africa. Her goal then, is to begin treatment at the end of May before she leaves for her summer internship and resume treatment when she returns home. The cost of the treatment is $4,000 with a $500 deposit, and she’ll need additional funds to drive or fly out to Wisconsin to receive treatment and compensation for the time she will be missing work.

This health journey has been very difficult for Lydia, but we are confident that God is using this for His Glory and that we are called to walk through this with her. If you are able to give financially to help fund her treatment, that would be a huge blessing. But we also ask that you pray for Lydia and for her health and healing as she gives her time and resources to serving the Lord in Africa.

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name. And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭

If you would also like to give to Lydia’s summer internship to Africa, here is the link to do so: Give to Lyd’s Mission Trip 2025