Within the first week of arriving in Swaziland in southern Africa, I met a lady who changed my life.  I share with you a story from my journal:

September 2004: It is transitioning into the season of spring in Swaziland.  My team leaders walked to the fruit market to gather fruit for the arrival of our team.  They noticed a lady standing between two fruit stands purchasing fruit for children who come to her house for a meal and informal lessons.  She invited my team to 'come and see.'  So, we loaded up a van and headed 3 miles uphill on a path orphans and vulnerable children take every day to a small shelter made from tree bark and aluminum.  This single mother of three tries to keep the children as long as she can each day, knowing that many of them go home to some horrible situations when they leave each afternoon. 

We heard the longing in the lady's voice for help to care for the little ones who walked daily to her home. When we saw the innocent spirit of the children, we wanted to do something to relieve the stress of the mother and care for the children.  During the first few months, we taught the children as they circled around me on the ground and found ways to purchase food when there was none.  Knowing that these children needed an accredited education, I worked alongside a team member to raise funds for twenty-two students to attend a recognized school.  With the help of the United Methodist Temple in Port Arthur, TX, students at Port Neches Middle School, as well as many friends and family, we met our goal to send the children to school!!  In order to ease the children's transition from learning at the care center to a school environment, I worked within the school to teach and tutor the children.  Currently, the care center in Mhylanya serves at least seventy-five children and functions as an informal school for both children and adults, a tutoring center, and a feeding center with a small orchard. 

 

 

Thank you for being faithful supporters and prayer warriors through my journey around the world.  Currently, I am a Chaplain at Camp Chestnut Ridge as my Duke Divinity Internship.  I have been there since the end of May, and I love it.  If things go as planned, I will continue to work at the camp through the academic school year.

Well, I wanted to write a blog to fill you in on a little bit happening in my life... and more importantly ask for your prayers...

In February, my husband Matthew's back began hurting.  He continued to endure the pain, but in May - he made the decision to quit his job.  He was working at Durham Family Practice, where he was working in the office.  Part of his job consisted of reaching filing charts, where he was on his feet bending up and down.   There were days where he would wake up and his legs would be numb.  So, we decided that he needed to take a break from working.

In May, we went met with a spine specialist at UNC and went through MRI and X-Rays.  It turns out that his surgery in 1999, where a doctor from Houston fused his S1 and L5 together either never fully fused or the fusion has come apart.  His L5 has shifted completely off the S1; therefore, there is really nothing there to carry the weight of his back.  The doctor shared with us that it is a miracle he is even walking... telling us that the MRI was "impressive."  (Now, impressive isn't exactly the word you want to a doctor to describe your back with.)

After praying together, we've decided that surgery is the best option to provide relief.  We've been praying for ultimate healing without surgery, and I ask you to join this prayer with me.  But we know God's will over Matthew's life will prevail; and if surgery is part of it, God's glory will shine down on earth, and we will continue to praise God!

There are days that Matthew just wants to curl up on the bed, because his pain is very intense.  He dreams of the day that he can return to playing tennis and going bowling.  He would love to go backpacking...but right now, we need to pray for Matthew's healing.

The surgery is scheduled for August 20^th... ten days from today.  The doctor cleared his schedule for the day to take care of Matthew.  If the surgery goes as planned, the surgery will last between 6-7 hours, and he will be in the hospital for 4-5 days.  This surgery will consist of placing screws in the L3,L4, L5, and S1 - as well as screws/rods in the pelvis.  If the doctor decides the risk aren't too high, he might decompress to allow the nerves to have more room.  Since this is the second surgery, the risk are greater than before...

As for me, I have never walked through a surgery and extent in the hospital with anyone this close to me.  I can't do this alone, so I'm asking you for your prayers.  As I step back, I see God providing for us in so many ways...I'll have to do a blog on God's provision - God is the Ultimate Provider!  I'm thankful that I serve the Ultimate Physician, the Ultimate Care-giver, the Ultimate!!  I'm so thankful to have God walking with us each and every step...and carrying us on days we can't carry ourselves.  Thanks for your to prayers for peace over all involved, for God's hands to be the hands of the surgical team, and God's will to be done.

THANK YOU!!