The Miele's Journey to Know Christ More Fully

" What a strange Easter weekend we have this year," our neighbor said. "But then, that first Easter weekend was very strange, too."  Thousands of years ago, something far worse than COVID tried to prevent the 1st Easter. Satan's impact put a man named Jesus, who claimed to be God, dead in a grave. This man had many followers, was known as a great prophet, and was baptized by his friend John the Baptist before a voice from the heavens declared, "This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased." Jesus of Nazareth preached to tens of thousands of people about the Kingdom of God, performed countless miracles, loved with a depth that far surpassed that of which humans could show, died mocked and beaten, 'King of the Jews,' while silent in defense. Satan  might have known the eternal impact Christ’s defeat of death would have on the world. Yet, on Good Friday (as we know it today), it looked as though evil had won the battle as Jesus’ family, friends,...

Anyone who has ridden a roller coaster knows that once you reach the top, it's time to plummet down to the bottom. Life can be this way as well; a series of highs and lows, peaks and valleys. I am dramatizing, but our recent experience has been much like a ride on a roller coaster. Our family of 3 had a wonderful week in Tegucigalpa, Honduras's capital city. We went there as part of a short term mission trip with World Gospel Outreach (WGO ). It was a long time desire of mine for Kristen to join me on this trip, since it has been so integral in my development as a Christian, a doctor, and ultimately, a medical missionary. I started making this one-week trip with my dad in 2010, and have since returned 4 times. Members from Peace Lutheran Church in Lombard, IL, along with others from all over the US, come to Tegucigalpa with the goal of serving the Hondurans and sharing the love of Jesus for the week. This happens primarily through medical brigades operated out of local church...

In our recent email newsletter we referred to a young lady who very nearly died while in our hospital. I would like to write a bit more about her case, since I believe many lessons can be learned from it.  I'll call her "Y" for short. Y is a lovely 17 year old Honduran girl, from a mountainous village about 2 hours from our hospital. She presented to our emergency department with chest pain and shortness of breath. These symptoms had been present for 2 weeks at this point. In fact, Y had been a patient at a public hospital in La Ceiba (the nearest large city) for 12 days prior to coming to us. She had a chest x-ray that showed a right sided pneumonia with a pleural effusion (collection of fluid inside the chest cavity). Pneumonia with an effusion typically heals with appropriate antibiotics, and only occasionally requires fluid drainage. She had received antibiotics for over 10 days already, so why hadn't she recovered? Could I have the wrong diagnosis? Hardly! Did...

On the very same weekend that Kristen and I usually attend one of our favorite conferences in the states, there was a conference here in Siguatepeque, just 10 minutes from our house! Many of you know about our involvement in Greek Intervarsity, a Christian ministry for students in Greek houses while attending university (It is also the organization in which we met each other). Every year thousands of students from across the country meet in February to encounter Jesus Christ, and learn to depend on their faith with brothers and sisters in the greek system. The lives of students are transformed at 'Greek Conference.' We have been praying for this conference in joyful expectation of what God would do, but also in sadness that we couldn't be there for the first time since college (we also volunteer there every year). BUT GOD (one of our favorite phrases in the Bible) provided for us to attend a different conference this year. This past weekend North American missionaries f...

After two short plane rides and a two-hour car ride to Siguatepeque for language school -we are settling in at our new home! Emma traveled so well-and  this  we attribute to your prayers (she has not flown well in the past on shorter trips).We will be in Siguatepeque until July, studying Spanish every weekday for 4 hours each. Anthony studies in the morning, and Kristen studies in the afternoon.  The owners of the language school graciously took us shopping and out to eat the day after we arrived. We went to the local Chinese/pizza restaurant for a delicious dinner (yes, a combination restaurant) after we went to the grocery stores. Everything we saw in stores were very similar to American grocery stores, albeit many items are more expensive here. We think our diet will consist of simple meals-like the bean, pepper, and cheese tacos Anthony made for dinner tonight! The town of Siguatepeque has 60,000 people and is surrounded by mountains. It is in the Comayagua dis...

Happy Fall! Cool temperatures descend, leaves change color, pumpkins adorn front porches, and the Miele house in Columbus is emptying. In preparation for our departure, we are selling and giving away most of our belongings. It is a bittersweet process, for we know the Bible says: Luke 12:15b "...for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" and yet we still feel the loss of earthly comforts. Our goal is to move back to Chicago with what we can fit in our cars, no moving truck or storage pod required. We are living in the present yet actively preparing for the future. We both continue to work our regular jobs and also seek to gather supporters for our ministry. It is essential to have friends and family lift us up in prayer to God and contribute financially to this work of serving the underserved. We are thankful for our friendships, those who support and love us, and we trust ultimately in God's sovereignty and generosity. Nevertheless,...

Today marks the first day in which I am no longer a resident. For the past 8 years I have been a trainee at Ohio State University (medical school and residency); but no longer. I am officially finished with my Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency program. I now transition to work for an Ohio based primary care network called COPC (Central Ohio Primary Care) for the next 6 months. I will work with adults and children in an urgent care setting. This new job will allow me to have flexible hours so  I can spend time with Emma at home and study for my upcoming board certification exams. As I reflect on the past 8 years I am reminded time and time again how God has been so faithful to me. Initially, I wasn't sure what He had in store for me by coming to Columbus for med school, but now I can look back in awe and thanksgiving for all He has provided. I have received excellent medical training, found a gospel-centered church family, and have many godly friends. Psalm 13:6 says,  ...