We are headed your way again! Due to pain issues, Nathalie is returning to Scottish Rite (for those who do not remember Nathalie’s situation see earlier post). Someone has graciously helped us with the flight, cutting the cost in more that half. We are so thankful for this! We do however need additionally funds to help with food and gas while we are there. We are anticipating being in the US for about a week perhaps, two. Also, please pray for wisdom for Brenda as she makes medical decisions alone. She and Nathalie are very nervous about this visit. This will also be the first time that Alisson, Nathlie’s little sister, has been away from her mother overnight. It will be difficult for all of them so keep this in your prayers as well. If you are willing to help in prayer or financially please let us know. Thanks!
Elsi
An iPad Brings Sight
“I once was blind but now I see” is a line from one of my favorite old hymns but what happens when blindness is a reality? When someone really is blind, or going blind, and there is no cure for it? Aldolfo is a freshman at our school and is in this scenario. He has a disorder that makes him have tunnel vision but only in the perimeter making text almost impossible to read. His condition has progressively become worse and there is nothing that doctors here or in the US can due to help nor has God chosen to heal Aldolfo.
God has though, placed several caring teachers in Aldolfo’s path that have helped him find ways to adapt. One teacher takes pictures of his text books then emails them to Aldolfo. Aldolfo goes to a restaurant to download the emails on an old iPad since he does not have wifi. This has been somewhat successful in that he now has access to his textbooks and can change the font so it is big enough for him to read. The downfall is that he is heavily reliant on teachers to remember to do this for him as well as the wifi working well when he is at the restaurant. A couple weeks ago, someone donated a iPad with a camera to Aldolfo giving him responsibility for his own learning. This may not seem like a big deal but to a young man it is huge.
He can now use the iPad to take pictures of anything he is needing to see. This also helps him learn to be responsible in his classes and eventually allowing him to use this in his adult life. This also has the added benefit of him being able to check out books electronically from a library in the US and adjust the text. Right now, while his classmates read he puts his head on his desk because he can’t see well enough to read any of the books in our library. Someone graciously is allowing him to use their electronic library card so that he now has access to books. He may not be “cured” but he is now able to see well enough to be successful in school. Aldolfo is great kid with a lot going for him. Thanks to all those who have given him the opportunity to be successful.
Blessed
I always know that I am blessed but sometimes I feel it more. This time was because of God’s care for Emma. She has been running fever for about 3 days now but our choices for medical care are pretty limited. Most of you know of our experiences with the hospital and so you know that we REALLY don’t want to repeat those. Also, the doctor, Melissa, who has done house calls for us the last two years moved back to the capital city. However, just as Melissa moved God brought Alemar into our lives. He has become a good friend of ours through a series of events. Alemar works as a microbiologist in a private clinic here. He attempted to do lab work on Emma today, while she kicked and screamed (literally). Then he decided that since he didn’t want her to be upset he would prick her finger and try the test that way. He charged us nothing for all this drama. Then he called Melissa with the lab results, tracked down a doctor to exam Emma and went with us to see her. After we were told what medicine we needed, he went to the pharmacy with me to get the medicine. Emma has to have a follow-up blood exam tomorrow but Alemar, along with the whole clinic, is leaving for Guatemala tomorrow so he is coming to the house at 6:30 to take her blood, run to his lab and test it all before he leaves at 7:15. He will then call Melissa and the other doctor with the results to make sure they both agree on what to do. Yep, I say that God not only is taking care of our needs but has blessed us with Alemar and great medical care, far beyond my expectations.
Modern Day Hannah
We have all read the story of Hannah, who could not have children. She prayed and wept bitterly before the Lord and he listened, giving her the son Samuel. After praying and hearing assurances from the priest, she left the temple and “went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.” While this story is used for illustrative purposes in many sermons and with lots of different points, I want to share a story very similar to Hannah’s. Her name is Mrs. Dunia. Mrs. Dunia teaches high school Social Studies at our school and is one of the most well liked teachers. She has been married for several years but does not have kids. As everyone knows, as soon as you are married people begin asking when you are going to have kids. Someone asked Mrs. Dunia this at the begining of the school year and I was shocked at her answer. She said that she had been trying for years and had not been able to get pregnant. BUT that she was praying one day and had a dream. God told her that she would be pregnant by the end of this year. Now I am all for prayers and for sharing when God answers them but I severally lack faith in God’s time table. I would never had told people that I would be pregnant within a year because frankly, I would just wait until God proved himself. Mrs. Dunia however had the faith of Hannah, she went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad because she believed God was in the process of answering her prayers. I began watching the calendar for her, thinking “only two more months till this school year is over. Hurry up God. Your going to make a liar out of sweet Mrs. Duna.” Yes, I realize that is not very “missionarly” of me but it truly what I thought on many occasions. But of course, God’s timing is perfect and thankfully he disregarded my lack of faith for Mrs. Dunia’s faith. She announced yesterday that she is pregnant and God has answered her prayers. She is a great example of a modern day Hannah who said in 1 Samuel 1:27 “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.”