When it Rains it Pours! (Part 3)

Not only have we seen a "pouring" of difficult circumstances, but we have also felt a pouring out of God's goodness through it all. Here is just a short list of how we have seen God take care of us through the storm:

• The Bates family was here in town as we faced the emergency parts of B's medical situation. Todd was able to take B to the hospital, stay all night, and act as his advocate while K stayed at home with the kids. T also was able to take B to the hospital 6 hrs out of town.
• We were able to make middle of the night phone calls to a friend from our time at TCU who is now a doctor to help us navigate the not-so-helpful medical system here. We also had good help from an Aussie nurse friend as we brainstormed what all B might be facing.
• B was able to see THE doctor who founded that hospital outside of town! It seems there is probably no one else we could trust more in our province. And B saw him 4 days before he and his wife flew back to the States.
• God totally took care of us on the drive to and from the neighboring country- getting us across the border on time, getting our car to a gas station, sustaining the kids through boredom, and helping the car and all of us passengers endure the amazingly terrible roads.
• B got all of his medical work taken care of in two mornings! One of the doctors didn't even charge us and the other gave us a significant discount because they knew of our work here!! What a blessing! Its amazing how the Body of Christ takes care of us no matter where we are.
• The hotel we stayed at was full of luxuries we miss from the US- AC in the whole place, a washer and dryer, a hot shower, etc!
• We got to go to the beach and see tons gorgeous scenery in all of our driving. (Even though we live in the tropics the city we live in is a concrete nightmare. We really miss nature on a daily basis.)
• Our helper cleaned our house up before we got home. We are so grateful because we didn't see it in its "scary" state and Abi doesn't even need to know it happened.
• No one was in our house when we were robbed and so no one got hurt! Also, there were many valuable things that were not taken.
• We were able to buy B a new guitar immediately that has already been put to good use worshiping our Lord.
• Somehow we are emotionally in a good state. Sure we are tired, but neither of us are dealing with anxiety about all that has happened. 
• Just today we got an email from the gastroenterologist stating that a sample he took from B during the colonoscopy actually showed something. He's double checking but should be able to recommend a specific medicine soon.
• B has been feeling MUCH better and some of his symptoms have not returned since coming back home.

As of today, 3 of the 4 Bates family members are on the mend! So, we are all very thankful for your prayers! In times like these we whole-heartedly believe that we could not remain here without your support in prayer.

As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! Psalm 40:11

When it Rains it Pours! (Part 2)

We arrived at our hotel all in one piece. The following morning Brian was able to see the gastroenterologist he had been referred to AND the cardiologist all in a few hours. The cardiologist ran several checks and declared B's heart to be in perfect shape. (This was not really surprising - he still runs like he's training for a half marathon.) With all heart concerns eliminated the gastro doctor recommended B have a colonoscopy the following day. The colonoscopy also showed B to be in great shape. The doctor said perhaps the intense cleaning out of B's system before the colonoscopy might help eliminate any further symptoms and if not he gave him 2 medicines to try out. So, we leave the clinic feeling good. B is in perfect health! The doctor said even if the symptoms came back they were not indicative of any major problem. Hooray!

Then that evening we get a phone call from the Bates letting us know that our house had been broken in to! Our emotions roll back and forth between anger, disbelief, sadness, and fear. We quickly realize that we couldn't do anything about it and spent some time in prayer together. We were reminded that everything in our house had been given to us by the Lord and could be taken away at any time. Thankfully God really did a lot in our hearts that evening just after hearing the news.

The next morning we took Caleb in for some immunizations. The poor kid was pretty far behind and so he got lots of shots. The following day was Saturday and we decided to stay for the weekend to have some good family play days. Well, that morning B's symptoms return. Ugh. And, understandably, Brian feels quite discouraged. We decide to move past it and go to the beach any way. It was fun and very good for particularly Brian's spirits to not allow the sinking feelings to overtake him. We spend Sunday doing some shopping buying things we can't get in the city we live in. By the end of the weekend we're feeling that its time to get back largely because the Bates family is now all sick.

On Monday we drive home. It took us 10 hours again and didn't involve any scary car issues. (Thought it did involve two huge bee things flying into our car and sitting near Caleb's head.) However, on the drive home we hear from the Bates that our water filer office had been broken in the night before. Lots of money was taken and possibly stock too. But the details of the incident were quite hazy still. Our heads and hearts are just spinning over this additional news!

We made it home on Monday evening, again in one piece. We were a bit anxious coming in to our home, but thankfully our helper had come in and cleaned things up. All that was missing was Brian's guitar, a bracelet of K's, and an old (no longer functional) cell phone. We are very sad about loosing Brian's guitar!! B said it feels like loosing a pet. It was a gift from Brian's parents back in our TCU days.

As it stands now, the Bates family are still sick. Some with stomach stuff, some with bad head colds, and then just sheer exhaustion. Please pray for their quick recovery!! Someone has been sick in their house for a week now. Also, as it stands now, we are prayerfully trying to understand what happened at our water filter office, who was truly at fault and then what may need to happen after that becomes clear. This is not only a big deal because of the loss of money but because of the serious strain on relationships. Pray for healthy, grace-filled conversations as these issues get worked through.

Oh, and we already replaced B's guitar thanks to our tax refund!

And just because we need to laugh these days, here's a picture of Caleb from our time at the beach. He was actually having tons of fun.

p.s. Check back for Part 3

When it Rains it Pours! (Part 1)

We have the CRAZIEST past couple of weeks. Please pray for us and our friends the Bates! We all need sleep, health, and an end to the storm! If you care for the details, read further :o)

Beginning in March Brian got a stomach bug that just wouldn't go away. The first couple days were quite painful but after those passed he was functional. A couple weeks in he took an antibiotic and felt some relief, but the frequent bathroom trips returned 2 days later. Poor B's stomach issues just kinda became part of life. We went on vacation- and it was still there. He would go out for LONG days in the equator sun- it was still there. Then 2 weeks ago after 2 long and late and hot days new symptoms joined the ever present stomach ones- chest pressure, fast heart rate, bad headache. These things were so bad that he couldn't sleep. One Friday night at midnight he tells me that he thinks he needs to go to the hospital. This is a bad thing to hear at midnight, especially in a place where you have no faith at all in the medical system and avoid it at all costs.

We called our good friend Todd who took Brian to the hospital. Brian was briefly seen by a doctor upon entry who prescribed 6 medications after nothing more than checking Brian's heart rate. After phone consultation with an American doctor friend, we decided he shouldn't take any of them. Six hours later Todd begins to become more firm about wanting to see a doctor again. The doctor appears for about a minute and tells Brian he has no problem, just a case of bad heart burn. But he'd like Brian to stay over night again and they'll take his blood and the following day the doctor would check the results before letting B go home. We decided against that advice and checked Brian out. Poor B was very weak and shaken up from the nights' events. We took him to a private clinic to get his blood drawn, but the power was out and their generator wasn't working so we wouldn't be able to get any results until later that day and some not until Monday. When we got B home to our house the power was out there too. We waited and waited for it to come back on. Brian was terribly weak and tired but couldn't sleep in our 90 degree bedroom so I took him to the Bates' to rest in their AC'ed bedroom. The power stayed out that day around 8 hours that day!! We decided to give him some new worm medication. By the next morning it really seemed to be working. The chest pressure was gone, as was the fast heart rate, and his appetite returned. The next couple days it seemed like Brian was on the up and up.

About a week later the feelings returned. After the bad experience with a local doctor in the "best" hospital in town, we decided to have Todd drive Brian 7 hours away to a hospital founded by some Baptists from America in the 1970s. We had heard the American doctor was actually there. They did all kinds of tests, took his blood, etc, etc all to find Brian is wonderfully healthy. The doctor said the next best step would be for Brian to get a colonoscopy in a neighboring country and that he might as well visit a cardio doctor there just to make sure his heart is well. So last Tuesday we packed the kids in the car and drove across the border. This trip takes some friends of ours 7 hours, but it took us 10 hours with the needs and whines of a 1 yr old and a 3 yr old. (We are, however, so grateful the new road that cut off several hours had just recently been opened!) We didn't know the border offices kept certain hours and so we were literally the last people to cross the border before they closed for the day. Turns out the gas station at the border closes at that time too, so we couldn't get gas there. Our car's gas gauge says we have well over 1/4 of a tank so we thought we were fine. Then the car starts chugging. Often. We've never been on this road before and we have no idea ow much further to the next station. So, we're praying and praying! And, of course, the kids both start crying in the backseat. Finally after what seems forever we pass a gas station on the other side of the road. We have to wait until we can u-turn to go back to it. We find the u-turn and as we are pulling up we see the lights are off and they're starting to close the entrance! We pull in anyway and they take pity on the stressed looking white family and let us buy gas. After we pull out they close the gate behind us! We just kept saying "Thank you, Jesus!" on the way to our hotel.

Okay, that's all for tonight. I'm going to bed. I guess you'll have to wait until tomorrow for the next part of the story. The good news is we're back home tonight :o)

Not where I come from

Lately I've been very amused by some things that have either been said to me or done to me that would not happen in the US. Here are some examples. Oh, and please note that none of these things are out of the norm here.

At the salon during a massage: "Wow, you are sooooo white!"

During a foot massage: "Your leg hairs are very rough. Its like you've shaved them. You really should just get them waxed. They wouldn't be so rough. These are really sharp."

In our neighborhood: We get a formal notice of a neighborhood-wide community service event 18 hours before it is scheduled to happen.

From an acquaintance: We were hand delivered an invitation to his wedding 2 days ahead of time.

At a clothing store: The sales girl asks, "Can I help you?" I reply, "Yes, I'd like to try on this shirt." The sales girl asks, "In what size?" I pause slightly before answering. The sales girls eyes me up and down and confidently states, "You look like a medium. And you (looking at my friend), you look like a large."

A comment by our house helper: "Oh, Caleb is getting so good at walking. Maybe that's why he vomited and had diarrhea the other day."

At the grocery store: I (K) did some grocery shopping with both kids. I was stopped by 3 complete strangers who asked friendly questions about my kids. Then, realizing that I was the lone adult with two kids and a cart full of food they each asked in a worried tone, "Are you shopping alone?!!" (People do not do things alone here. And people do not take their kids out without help- either another family member or a paid nanny. I was such a novelty they couldn't believe it was true.)

Celebrating Caleb's First Year

Earlier this month Caleb turned 1. Here are some pictures from his birthday and a few other our favorites of his first year.

The Beginning of 2012

It has been far too long since we've updated this blog! So, just in case there is someone out there who still checks it from time to time I decided to just post some pictures to show what we've been up to the beginning of this year.

Family day in early January at a place we can order banana splits. Maybe Caleb is pondering why he didn't get any of the ice-cream.

Our helper's daughter LOVES playing with Caleb! (They're in a cardboard house which was made after we purchased a freezer. Thanks to MMBC!)

Our neighbor asked me to make the cake for her daughter's birthday. Her name is pronounced Dee-Fa. But seriously, how often does one get to make a "Happy Birthday Diva" cake?!

Diva, her mom, and baby sister at the birthday party. Later Diva's mom asked me if I thought she'd picked the wrong head covering because it made her look old. I could't help but laugh because I'd have no idea what the "right" one would be!

Abi is maturing so much. This day I just found her bathing her doll completely of her own initiative. She was terribly proud of her new idea.

Abi and Diva playing on the slide in our backyard.

The handsome white guys on the block.

A good photo with the Bates girls! These 4 play together a ton but a picture where they are all looking at the camera is amazingly rare.

Yes, dear teenage girls, you are indeed seeing a cute white baby. And, no, if you touch him your eventual offspring will not be as white as he.

Abi enjoys playing dress up with our helper. This often means she's wearing a make-shift sarong.

These two love to play in the laundry basket together.