Micheal Callaghan’s Testimony: 1st Part of My Ireland Trip in ‘09

We serve an awesome and all knowing God. He knows what we need even before we do. His provision is always on time and complete for what we need, in season.

My family and I took vacation in Ireland this year April 26th ’09. It had been ten years since we visited as a family. All excursions, and family visits were planned, and a great time was to be had by all. I was so excited about visiting Ennis Evangelical Church, A Born Again Christian Church; in my hometown was truly big news. We arrived Sunday morning, and I went to Church, I was blessed and encouraged. The first few days was spent with my family in Clare. We then, visited Brigid’s family in Dublin. It was during this visit that our vacation took a different path than we had expected.

I spent the next two weeks in a hospital in Ireland on IV antibiotics. We had to wait another 3 weeks for a rescheduled return date with the airlines. I was still very sick; I needed to return to the states for major abdominal surgery. Once I arrived back in the USA I was admitted to Mt. Sinai hospital in NYC. I had a foot of small intestine, the remainder of the abscess from Ireland, and a fistula removed. I also had a partial vasectomy and my bladder repaired from the damage the fistula had caused. I spent two weeks in hospital, an additional 4 weeks on total rest at home and returned to work on August 3rd ’09. I was not yet at 100% recovery but strong enough to be up and about.

It was amazing, how God showed up, in this time of need for my family and me. He provided financially, through Brigid’s uncle in Ireland. Her uncle gave her a gift of 1000 euro ($1600), which happened to be exactly what we needed for our extended stay. God also provided through a mix-up in payroll at my job. I was reinstated on June 15th and received payment on June 30th. I was still in Ireland at this time and the mortgage was due July 1st. We had enough now to cover all our household bills, I continued to get paid until I returned to work on August 3rd. This in itself was amazing, I was late filing disability papers, and I desperately needed advance payment during that time. I was making multiple trips to NYC, (90 Miles one way) for Dr. appointments, my wife and kids visiting me in hospital and gas was just so expensive. Finally disability checks began coming in and we were once again able to cover all expenses. My job needs to rectify their involuntary advance in payment, so I will not get paid again until September 30th. Praise God, all bills are paid and we will be able to make it until then. God also provided in tremendous fashion through my OCF family, with food, gift cards, meals, and lots and lots of love and support. (Thank you guys). I am still recovering as I write but God is strengthening me daily Praise His Holy and Wondrous name.

I will leave you with this thought. Just as God, provided for the disciples, on the Sea of Galilee, by having Jesus on the boat through their storm. I, have been shown, in a very special and intimate way that, Jesus is in my boat. With Him comes full provision, for any storm that I will ever face. I had no choice, but to trust God, and that is an awesome blessing. When I found myself, totally helpless, vulnerable, and scared, close to hopeless and my storm threatening to overcome me, I could throw myself into the loving hands of my Father. He carried me through, unharmed and whole. I was strengthened through this time with Him and in Him, and though I would not have gone down this road willingly, I praise God for all that He has done in the trial and suffering of life. He did not remove the sickness, but allowed it so I could be transformed spiritually, to reflect more the perfect image of our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST. Trust God, my brothers and sisters, with everything.