Tomorrow, I’m supposed to go into the hospital for a few days for a completely normal treatment of my joint diseases. Please be praying for me, but don’t worry – one of the differences between American and Ukrainian medicine is that things that are normally done at home in America are done in a hospital. In a way, that’s a good thing, because the doctors can monitor me while I’m on their medications.

Things do get a little more complicated, though, when it comes to an extended stay in the hospital. I’ll be there for 10 days this time, and that presents some very interesting challenges.

Here’s my packing list for the hospital stay:

• Notebook, Bible, pen, etc.
• Toiletries
• A towel or two (the hospital may or may not supply you with one)
• Extra, warm clothes (they may not have turned the heat on yet in October)
• Slippers
• Plenty of wet-wipes (there are no showers)
• Plenty of cash (you pay for all of your medicines yourself, out of pocket, up-front)
• Extra food (they feed you three times a day, but very light food)
• An electric tea kettle (there’s no other way to make coffee or tea in the morning)
• Tea, coffee, cup, etc.
• Cell phone, charger, books, movies on my phone
• Reading lamp (there won’t be one next to my bed)
• Power strip

That’s just what I’ve thought of so far. There are some other things that I will probably ask Katya to bring to me. Please be praying for her and my mother-in-law during the time that I’m in the hospital. I really just want them to be kept safe – not that they can’t take care of themselves… I just love my wife and family.