School run challenge

A good thing about the dry season is that I don't need to normally worry about getting stuck in mud on the school runs and having to get out and push cars etc.  However, this morning was a bit different.  The road to school is under construction with no real rhyme or reason as to how it is being done.  Everyday you drive it there is always some surprise in how it looks.  Yesterday when I went to pick up the children I wasn't sure I was going to make it with all the mud and piles of dirt but fortunately did.  This morning I thought I would take a back road to school which is narrow but passable.  It seems like a lot of other people thought the same so we sat in a traffic jam for a bit.  The dust was amazing and on the way down one road you couldn't see the car in front it was like a sand storm. (Just waiting for all of us to get coughs and colds now :()

Anyway we finally ran the gauntlet and made it to school in one piece.  I decided to try the main dirt road which is currently under construction to see if it was any easier but alas no.  Further ahead I could see cars spinning in the dirt and lying at funny angles.  A kind gentleman directed me to a "short cut" but I decided, after my car turned sideways in the mud,  to turn around and go the long way round.  On the way up that road I was directed along a narrow entry between two houses passing somebody's washing which wasn't going to look too white by the end, over tree roots and then it got a bit tricky because the turning I wanted was blocked by two cars so I carried on thinking I would find my way out.  Thankfully I did although I ended up where I started on the road where all the cars were stuck in the mud.  On the way there I went through a pot hole which made me lose my stomach like on a roller coaster.  Wasn't quite expecting that!  However, I managed to slide my way through the mud and do the circuit through the ladies washing again and make it home in one piece.  Who said living in Africa isn't fun!  I was hoping to take some photos on the ways but I needed both hands to drive :)

Off into the wilds of S*uth S*dan while we hold the fort at home

Simon is in S*uth S*dan this week with a team from Aid S*dan.  He left yesterday and will be back on Saturday.  Simon will be flying them to three different places where they have some radio projects.  A technician from the States arrived to help them sort out some connectivity problems that they have been experiencing.  Hopefully he will be able to locate the problem and enable the Chr*stian radio broadcasts to be more reliable as they seek to transform lives within these different communities.  Pray for productive work times and good fellowship together.  Pray also for safety with all the flights.

Tomorrow I start a new series for the Ladies Bible study.  We finished Genesis last week and so we will be doing a topical series on prayer for the next month or so.  Pray with us that each lady that joins will grasp the power of prayer and make it a priority in their lives.  I found the following quote on Facebook today from Moody Theological Seminary and thought it quite appropriate as we begin this study.

·         Moody Theological Seminary–Michigan

‎" The reason God made us in the first place was to fellowship with us. What the human race is really about is that God wanted a people with a will to choose the fellowship with himself. That's really what creation is all about. If a person never fellowships with his creator, then he missed the entire purpose of life completely." -Dr. Jack Hyles

Update on Summer

Thanks to many of you who have read our blog and been praying for Summer.  She returned to Uganda after spending almost a week in Kenya having tests done. She stayed with us last Thursday night before heading up to Kitgum with a MAF flight on Friday morning.  The first time she came down with the bus and said never again...Praise the Lord for MAF!  I am not biased at all of course. :)

I was going to give you a summary of the last update I have on Summer but I think it would be easier to use her words so here they are....

I want to thank you once again for taking the time to lift my health up in prayer. It has definitely been a test in who I will trust, man or God. While we all understand that doctors are helpful and on many occasions necessary, there are times where they do not have the answers {after all, they are limited in their knowledge in light of an all knowing God}. With that said, we are still without any concrete diagnosis for my current health situation. After extensive testing--endoscopy and colonoscopy and a battery of blood tests it was concluded that I am malnourished--which is obvious to anyone who sees me. But what is causing my body to be unable to digest/absorb nutrients? On my last day in Nairobi I was able to see a British nutrionist that believes that there are a few crucial links. One, the ongoing battle/treatment of tropical diseases that my immune system has a hard time fighting off. And secondly, what they call 'secondary lactase deficiency' which is a result of multiple infestations of giardia and amebas over the years. I have started a lactose free diet which so far seems to have helped immensely with the stomach pain/cramping. I am taking iron due to iron deficiency anemia, calcium, fish oils probiotics and a super food called spurulina. All of this coupled with a high calorie diet and a lot of rest is meant to boost my immune system, replenish good bacteria and get my body out of its malnourished state.

Added to this challenge is that Summer and Zane live in Kitgum and so the much needed "extra" things she needs are not available.  Unfortunately there is no Tesco or equivalent where they are.....wow wouldn't that be nice on some days :).  However, between people visiting and space on a MAF flight these things can be flown up from Kampala.  Please continue to remember Summer and her family in prayer as they go through this together.  Thanks :)

An update on Summer McCourtney

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for our friend Summer.  She is still in Kenya as I write but hopes to fly to Uganda tomorrow so she can be reunited with her family on Friday. She has given an update in her blog which I have copied here.  Please keep praying.

From Summer: Well, some people say no news is good news. I am not sure that I would always agree!

After a colonoscopy/endoscopy, 40 blood tests and an MRI, we are still no closer to a diagnosis (unless you count "severe IBS"). Biopsy results will be ready next week, but the doctor did not sound like she expected anything significant. All the while, I am trying to make sense of living with a chronic undiagnosed condition that loves to rear it's ugly head way too often!

I am going to meet with a nutritionist tomorrow morning--in hopes that I can figure out a solution for my overly thin frame (I believe I now weigh what I did at 13).

Please keep praying if the Lord would so lead you. One woman asked me if I thought this was a spiritual attack--it could be, if I allow it.

I will keep you updated as and when I get more news!  She will stay with us on Thursday night before flying to Pader with MAF on Friday! If all goes according to plan :)

A prayer request for a friend and her family

Last week we got a call from Summer, whom we have know for many years, to ask if she could stay with us whilst she got some medical tests done.  Summer and her husband work in a place called Kitgum in Northern Uganda.  You can read about their ministry in their own blogspot www.fromglory2glory.blogspot.com

The medical tests were to be done to make sure her liver was clear of all malaria parasites as she had been having recurring malaria.  Thankfully these tests came back clear but she explained to the tropical disease Doctor that she still wasn't feeling well.  The Doctor took some further tests and the tests revealed that she is suffering from anemia due to some internal bleeding.  The Doctor recommended that she fly to Nairobi as the correct tests were not available in Uganda.  On Friday she will have some exploratory tests done, an endoscopy, colonoscopy and laproscopic biopsy.  She flies to Kenya tomorrow and will stay with a friend there before being admitted to the hospital on Friday.

Zane, her husband remains in Kitgum looking after their 13 children.  Pray for safety for the family as they are apart and for wisdom for the Doctors to know the cause of Summer's condition.  Also that she would have support in Kenya during this difficult time.  She is hoping that a friend who returns from the States tonight to Kenya can be with her in the hospital.  Pray for God's provision for her in these days.

A trip out west

Our special wee kiddies

 Working our way through the rainforest...sometimes it was on all fours!

Zara and Ruben - best friends

Another wonderful view of God's creation

Enjoying some cool off in the pool together

Happy New Year Update

This is the first entry for 2012 and already so much has happened.  We had a great Christmas spending it with my Mum and  different friends during the time we had off.  We even escaped for 4 days to the Western part of Uganda for a holiday.  The weather was hot hot hot but we enjoyed the time away and we were able to go for walks in the rainforest which was a lot of fun.  Hopefully photos to follow.

2012 seems to be going at the same rate as 2011 finished as life is busy for us as usual.  Simon had some time off from flying over Christmas although did have to do a flight a couple of days after Christmas for a man in Sudan who had had a car accident.  He was not able to be helped in Sudan and so it was recommended that he fly to Kampala for treatment.  He had a suspected broken back.  Thankfully we heard some days letter that he was well enough to travel back to Sudan and was grateful for all that MAF did for him.

Joshua and Zara are back in school as of last week.  They were glad to see their friends again and catch up on all their news. They had a great time over the holiday being spoiled by Granny (as were Simon and I) and doing a lot of fun things with some friends.  However, all great things come to an end and so life is getting back into a normal routine again.

Bible studies started for me this week.  Today I taught two groups and tomorrow I have another two. The ladies are fun to spend time with and they definately keep me on my toes.  We will finish our study through the Book of Genesis in about a months time.  After that we will do a short study on prayer before moving into Exodus.  Pray for wisdom for me as I prepare these lessons and that God would speak to us all so clearly through His Word.

As some of you know I have been doing some courses in counselling.  I hope to develop that further in September this year when I take the second module course to complete the diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.  The courses in counselling I  have completed, along with contacts in this field have been invaluable in recent months.  There have been a few people who have been in need of a listening ear and some have needed to be put in touch with a professional for further assistance.  It has been a pleasure to be part of this process and help people as they deal with some difficult life situations.  Again, I ask that you pray for wisdom for me as I listen and guide in these situations.

Simon is back flying again but also has had time on the ground in his "office".  Office days are not his passion but still needs to be done.  Along with his medical evacuation of the man with the suspected broken back he also did another medical evacuation for a man with AIDS.  He was suffering quite badly and needed some medical treatment in Kampala.  The journey by road would have been long and arduous so a MAF flight was a welcome sight when it came.

On a different note our baby rabbits are not too wee anymore and so something had to be done about the prospect of possible more babies.  We had to have the vet out a couple of times to our dog, Chewy, who was quite sick with tick fever and an eye infection.  It was quite upsetting to see her so unwell but thankfully after a few injections and tablets she was beginning to look like herself again.  The vet came again today with the final injection and tablets.  While she was here we asked if she could check our "baby" rabbits to see what sex they were.  Joshua and Zara found this all highly exciting and wanted to be in on the action.  However, Zara was a bit distraught when she found out that it was one of her rabbits, Snowy, who would have to have the operation as that was the only baby rabbit who was a boy.  The Daddy rabbit is also hers and she couldn't bear the thought of another one of her rabbits having to be put to sleep.  Joshua did a good job of being a compassionate big brother and telling her that he would have her rabbit and she could have his (they are both pure white and apart from the colour of their eyes they look identical).  After some consoling she came round to the idea that the wee rabbit would be okay just like Daddy Rocky.  Who thought having rabbits and a dog would have such an affect on everyone :)

Well we trust that your 2012 has started well and I leave you with a verse that we looked at today in Bible study - Romans 8:28.  May you experience the truth of this verse in your life this year.