Dear St. John’s,

I hope that your summer has treated you well and that even with intermittent heatwaves, you’ve been able to enjoy the blessings of the season.

Last summer I experienced the delight of a ten-day backpacking trip with my son and Scout Troop 128 at Philmont Scout Reservation in northern New Mexico. What was undelightful about that trip was discovering “the hard way” where a resident gopher had made a new entrance to its subterranean abode, thus twisting my ankle, tearing a tendon and with minor fractures within the joint. After a year of PT and regular exercise, the pain from that injury only increases with intermittent spells of ease. After an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon and an MRI this month, it was recommended that I undergo surgery to correct this injury. The surgery is a routine one with a very high success rate.

Barring any unforeseen circumstance, my out-patient procedure will take place Thursday, July 23. I will then need to be off my left foot for several weeks, after which I will graduate to a boot and PT.

This also means that I will not be able to participate in our annual DR service trip, which I deeply regret and send them my prayers for a safe and life-giving time there.

Andrew and I have switched the remainder of our vacation time; he will remain in place and on call. And I hope to return, albeit with a boot and knee scooter, on August 9th.

Best wishes to you all, and grateful for the kind thoughts and prayers that are sent my way. And despite the aches and pain, the trip was worth every minute that was spent there; I would do it again and hope to do so in the future.

In Christ’s peace,

Josh

The Rev. Joshua D. Armstrong-Walters

Rector