Hi Folks,
As you can see, we have been able to take control back of our blogger account so now, hopefully, we are done with the strange posts.
Things are going well. We are still trying to adjust to life back in the States but by His Grace we are making slow progress.
Hope you all have a great Sunday.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, 24 February 2012
Hello All!
Celebrating the twins’ birthday today. What fun. They had a no-school day, a breakfast of their choice, a lunch of their choice, and they went ice skating tonight. When they get back, they’ll be watching a movie with the rest of the family. Hard to believe they’re already 15. Seems like only yesterday I was standing in the delivery room watching them being born.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
sf
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Hello!
Emma’s appointment yesterday went well enough. Doctors performed all sorts of tests and ultimately decided, based upon her symptoms, to change her meds a bit. They took her off Methotrexate because they thought it wasn’t doing enough for her and upped the doses of a couple other medications. She will go back in one month for further evaluations and will have another IV-IG at the end of this month.
Please continue to pray for her.
Blessings!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Friday, 10 February 2012
Hello!
Today we have Emma will have another check-up. She has been experiencing some strange symptoms in one of her feet and the doctor wants to take a look at her to see what’s up.
Emma is otherwise doing ok and is in good spirits.
Thanks for praying for Emma. She covets your prayers.
sf
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Hey Folks,
Emma had a check-up two days ago. The doctor’s are encouraged by her progress. Many of her blood markers are improving and look normal. There are, however, one or two that have actually gone down so they are running more tests.
We are cautiously optimistic at this point.
Thank you for praying.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Thursday, 6 January 2012
Hey There….
Emma had another infusion today. As always, it was about a 6 hour event. All went well and she had no reaction to the medication. Keturah went with us. We had a reasonably good time.
We were able to get the blood test results from this visit and from the blood draw that was taken on the 22nd of December. In general, there are still many levels in her blood that are either too high or too low. So, at least for now, it appears there’s not really been any change in her condition.
Please continue to pray for her. It is, after all, the best thing any of us can do.
Blessings to you and your families in the New Year.
sf
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Monday, 21 November 2011
Hey everyone,
Emma had her most recent examination last Friday. It was disappointing to say the least. Doctors added 4 new medications to her regimen and have determined that she must undergo continued and focused treatment for the next 6 months. So, it seems, we will continue with all 8 of the medications for the next 6 months at least and very likely longer I suppose (or maybe it is just me that is thinking that).
Please continue to pray for us. And, especially for Emma.
Thanks.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Friday, 11 November 2011
Hi Y’all….
Things are going well here. Emma’s doing well too.
We took her to the hospital yesterday to have blood drawn in preparation for her appointment next week. While she was having her blood drawn it struck me that God really does have a sense of humor. It wasn’t too long ago that Emma was THE child in the family that hated needles. In the past, she’s had such an emotional reaction to having to get a shot that I’ve seen blood shoot several feet from the injection point. Now, she just sits calmly and waits as the doctor(s) do their thing.
It is amazing to me that the Lord would take our one child who hates needles and give to them a condition that requires they get stuck frequently. I am not sure I will ever understand how or why He does things.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
sf
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Our little family reunion has been sweet and precious. Cannot put it into words how great it has been to see all of the kids. It is amazing how much some of them grew in the just under 3 months we were gone.
Everybody is doing fine. We are patiently waiting to see what the Lord has in mind for us over the next several months.
Emma’s next appointment is in a about 2 weeks so we’ll know more then. Please pray for her.
Have a great weekend.
Steve
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Hello Everyone,
The kids and I made it back to the States today without any problems whatsoever. Our reunion was sweet and, at times, tear filled.
We enjoyed a great lunch and a quiet evening. Winding the day down at 8 PM tonight as I type this.
Thanks for your prayers.
Steve
The kids and I made it back to the States today without any problems whatsoever. Our reunion was sweet and, at times, tear filled.
We enjoyed a great lunch and a quiet evening. Winding the day down at 8 PM tonight as I type this.
Thanks for your prayers.
Steve
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, 31 October 2011
Hey There,
Kids and I are about ready for our return to the States. Have got just a bit of last minute packing and a few loose end to tie up and then we'll be ready.
It really is with mixed emotions that we are returning. On the one hand we'll be reunited with family, my family - Janice and the kids. But, on the other hand, we are leaving (at least for a while) the place where are hearts want to be and where our Call has placed us.
We can only trust and wait and listen. In His time He will make His plans known to us.
I will continue blogging while we are in the States so that everyone can be up to date on our family and especially Emma.
Thanks for praying.
sf
Kids and I are about ready for our return to the States. Have got just a bit of last minute packing and a few loose end to tie up and then we'll be ready.
It really is with mixed emotions that we are returning. On the one hand we'll be reunited with family, my family - Janice and the kids. But, on the other hand, we are leaving (at least for a while) the place where are hearts want to be and where our Call has placed us.
We can only trust and wait and listen. In His time He will make His plans known to us.
I will continue blogging while we are in the States so that everyone can be up to date on our family and especially Emma.
Thanks for praying.
sf
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Found out today we all will be returning to the States on November 1st. That is, we will leave Chad on the 1st. and arrive at SEATAC on the 2nd. A mixture of relief, sadness, and perplexity. Not sure what the future holds except that we want to be nowhere except in His will.
See you.
See you.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, 24 October 2011
Hi Y'all,
Hope you and your family are doing well. We are "hanging in there" around here. Despite the fact the Welcome Center has been quite busy we have had relatively quiet days. All of the equipment seems to be running pretty reliably and our guests seem to be reasonably happy and well cared for. So, that's all good.
What's not all good is that the 6 of us that are here will be returning to the States within the next week or two because Emma's situation has not improved. If anything it has become more complicated and it is precisely its complicated nature that has necessitated our return for it is probable that Emma's condition will require at least 4 more months of treatment and investigation before she can be officially declared stabilized. And, without her condition stabilized we cannot go back to Chad. We are confident that a solution can be found which gives her stability and that we will also find a doctor or two in Chad who can continue her care by performing regular examinations of Emma. But, until then, we have decided (along with our Mission) that the best thing to do is to reunite as a family.
So, it's back to the States.
Please pray for Emma. And pray for our family.
Have a great week.
Hope you and your family are doing well. We are "hanging in there" around here. Despite the fact the Welcome Center has been quite busy we have had relatively quiet days. All of the equipment seems to be running pretty reliably and our guests seem to be reasonably happy and well cared for. So, that's all good.
What's not all good is that the 6 of us that are here will be returning to the States within the next week or two because Emma's situation has not improved. If anything it has become more complicated and it is precisely its complicated nature that has necessitated our return for it is probable that Emma's condition will require at least 4 more months of treatment and investigation before she can be officially declared stabilized. And, without her condition stabilized we cannot go back to Chad. We are confident that a solution can be found which gives her stability and that we will also find a doctor or two in Chad who can continue her care by performing regular examinations of Emma. But, until then, we have decided (along with our Mission) that the best thing to do is to reunite as a family.
So, it's back to the States.
Please pray for Emma. And pray for our family.
Have a great week.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Friday, 14 October 2011
Life is never dull here. There always seems to be something going on that makes life interesting. The last few weeks are no exception.
In a developing country such as Chad one might expect to encounter shortages of various things like fuel and electricity. For example, right now we are about 2 weeks into a diesel shortage and over a month into a propane shortage. Ordinarily you'd think that problems related to amenities such as those would probably have to do with delivery problems because of a poor transportation network or lack of production facilities. That's not the case in here.
The diesel shortage apparently has its roots in a disagreement between the government and the local refinery. There's plenty of diesel if only the two parties could agree on a price per liter. What this means for everybody here is long lines at the gas station and rationing of what diesel we currently have on had. For now, gas stations will not fill barrels so we have been siphoning diesel from our Land Cruisers and putting it in our barrels. Hopefully, the diesel will begin to flow more regularly and the pent-up demand will dissipate and we can all get back to normal.
The propane shortage is a bit more sticky. Word on the street is that there's sort of a strike taking place. The local venders want to charge more for the propane however they are not being allowed to. So, they've just stopped selling it. We are lucky. We've got a decent supply at the Welcome Center. But, it won't last forever. Nobody seems to know when propane will be available. I certainly hope soon!!!
Have a great weekend.
Steve
In a developing country such as Chad one might expect to encounter shortages of various things like fuel and electricity. For example, right now we are about 2 weeks into a diesel shortage and over a month into a propane shortage. Ordinarily you'd think that problems related to amenities such as those would probably have to do with delivery problems because of a poor transportation network or lack of production facilities. That's not the case in here.
The diesel shortage apparently has its roots in a disagreement between the government and the local refinery. There's plenty of diesel if only the two parties could agree on a price per liter. What this means for everybody here is long lines at the gas station and rationing of what diesel we currently have on had. For now, gas stations will not fill barrels so we have been siphoning diesel from our Land Cruisers and putting it in our barrels. Hopefully, the diesel will begin to flow more regularly and the pent-up demand will dissipate and we can all get back to normal.
The propane shortage is a bit more sticky. Word on the street is that there's sort of a strike taking place. The local venders want to charge more for the propane however they are not being allowed to. So, they've just stopped selling it. We are lucky. We've got a decent supply at the Welcome Center. But, it won't last forever. Nobody seems to know when propane will be available. I certainly hope soon!!!
Have a great weekend.
Steve
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Hey...
We are chugging along here in Chad. Things are pretty stable except that we cannot purchase diesel or propane in town right now. I do not know when we will be able to purchase either one. We've heard that perhaps in another week or so we will be able to get diesel. No word on the propane.
We also found out yesterday that Emma will need another 4 months in the States. So, we don't know what the future holds for our family here or in the States.
Please pray for us as we seek the Lord's wisdom and counsel.
Until next time...
We are chugging along here in Chad. Things are pretty stable except that we cannot purchase diesel or propane in town right now. I do not know when we will be able to purchase either one. We've heard that perhaps in another week or so we will be able to get diesel. No word on the propane.
We also found out yesterday that Emma will need another 4 months in the States. So, we don't know what the future holds for our family here or in the States.
Please pray for us as we seek the Lord's wisdom and counsel.
Until next time...
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Wednesday 5 October 2011
Hey There!
Been feeling kinda low the last couple of days. News from home hasn't been great. Feel like we're suffering as a family. Not fun. But, we can take encouragement from the Word. From the devitional, Streams in the Desert, we read,
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me" (Ps. 138:8).
Been feeling kinda low the last couple of days. News from home hasn't been great. Feel like we're suffering as a family. Not fun. But, we can take encouragement from the Word. From the devitional, Streams in the Desert, we read,
The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me" (Ps. 138:8).
There is a Divine mystery in suffering, a strange and supernatural power in it, which has never been fathomed by the human reason. There never has been known great saintliness of soul which did not pass through great suffering. When the suffering soul reaches a calm sweet carelessness, when it can inwardly smile at its own suffering, and does not even ask God to deliver it from suffering, then it has wrought its blessed ministry; then patience has its perfect work; then the crucifixion begins to weave itself into a crown.
It is in this state of the perfection of suffering that the Holy Spirit works many marvelous things in our souls. In such a condition, our whole being lies perfectly still under the hand of God; every faculty of the mind and will and heart are at last subdued; a quietness of eternity settles down into the whole being; the tongue grows still, and has but few words to say; it stops asking God questions; it stops crying, "Why hast thou forsaken me ?"
The imagination stops building air castles, or running off on foolish lines; the reason is tame and gentle; the choices are annihilated; it has no choice in anything but the purpose of God. The affections are weaned from all creatures and all things; it is so dead that nothing can hurt it, nothing can offend it, nothing can hinder it, nothing can get in its way; for, let the circumstances be what they may, it seeks only for God and His will, and it feels assured that God is making everything in the universe, good or bad, past or present, work together for its good.
Oh, the blessedness of being absolutely conquered! of losing our own strength, and wisdom, and plans, and desires, and being where every atom of our nature is like placid Galilee under the omnipotent feet of our Jesus. –
The best and only choice is to completely die to Christ so that He is glorified through my life. So, we will wait and listen and ready ourselves for what He commands us next to do.
Pray for us!
sf
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Now only 9 days until Jancie and the kids arrive in Chad. Compared to that event, everything else that is going on here seems to pale in comparison.
We had a good week. The solar panels are now firmly in place and we've enjoyed solar power provided electricity for the past couple of days. The system appears to be working quite nicely but I'm still not happy with the performance. Seems like we cannot supply power to the Welcome Center for very long. Certainly not as long as I'd like or as long as I believed we could. So, more work remains on getting that situation worked out.
It is a happy time around here as two of our employees are getting married this month. Marriages, and dating for that matter, are different here than in the States. In both cases, the men live many miles from the fiancées who both actually live in their villages down south (it is an 8 hour plus drive by car) and so they don't see each other very often. Maybe in a later post I will tell you about the other differences between Chadian culture and American culture as it pertains to dating and marriage ceremonies, etc.
For now, have a great day!
We had a good week. The solar panels are now firmly in place and we've enjoyed solar power provided electricity for the past couple of days. The system appears to be working quite nicely but I'm still not happy with the performance. Seems like we cannot supply power to the Welcome Center for very long. Certainly not as long as I'd like or as long as I believed we could. So, more work remains on getting that situation worked out.
It is a happy time around here as two of our employees are getting married this month. Marriages, and dating for that matter, are different here than in the States. In both cases, the men live many miles from the fiancées who both actually live in their villages down south (it is an 8 hour plus drive by car) and so they don't see each other very often. Maybe in a later post I will tell you about the other differences between Chadian culture and American culture as it pertains to dating and marriage ceremonies, etc.
For now, have a great day!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Well, things have been busy around here the last several days. Have spent much time working on the solar panels: getting them into place, securing them, and wiring them up. I think by the end of today I'll be ready to turn them back on and see what happens. Hopefully I've made no mistakes and everything will work as it should.
Kids are doing well. Everybody is healthy and reasonably happy. I say "reasonably happy" because their momma's not here and that isn't an easy thing to deal with under the best of circumstances. Throw in being 1/2 a world away and at times difficult communication and it makes it even more difficult to deal with. However, considering everything, the kids are doing remarkably well. They are happy with their lives here and really do enjoy their friends and their home.
More of the same planned today. I hope to post pictures of the solar panels in the next day or two.
Enjoy the day.
Kids are doing well. Everybody is healthy and reasonably happy. I say "reasonably happy" because their momma's not here and that isn't an easy thing to deal with under the best of circumstances. Throw in being 1/2 a world away and at times difficult communication and it makes it even more difficult to deal with. However, considering everything, the kids are doing remarkably well. They are happy with their lives here and really do enjoy their friends and their home.
More of the same planned today. I hope to post pictures of the solar panels in the next day or two.
Enjoy the day.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Hey!
Well, we've had quite an eventful week thus far. What started with a huge windstorm on Sunday has turned out to be a very hot and humid week. We even had another small windstorm and it has rained at least 3 different times.
The good news is that the solar panel supports are back up on the roof after having been straightened out and repositioned. Tomorrow they will be welded to the containters and hoepfully that will eliminate the problem of the flying solar panels.
Also, the roof over my office has been rebuilt and all that remains is the concrete work and some additional concrete work on the leading edge of the sheet metal.
We have been blessed by a work crew that has really gotten after it and things have come together nicely.
As Hanibal would say, "I love it when a plan comes together!"
Have a great day.
Well, we've had quite an eventful week thus far. What started with a huge windstorm on Sunday has turned out to be a very hot and humid week. We even had another small windstorm and it has rained at least 3 different times.
The good news is that the solar panel supports are back up on the roof after having been straightened out and repositioned. Tomorrow they will be welded to the containters and hoepfully that will eliminate the problem of the flying solar panels.
Also, the roof over my office has been rebuilt and all that remains is the concrete work and some additional concrete work on the leading edge of the sheet metal.
We have been blessed by a work crew that has really gotten after it and things have come together nicely.
As Hanibal would say, "I love it when a plan comes together!"
Have a great day.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Had a bit of a windstorm today along with a very heavy thunder storm. Thankfully nobody was hurt.
We can repair the damage but we won't have any solar power for a while.
This damage happened because the wind came from a direction from which it normally does not come.... from the North.
Please pray that we can get this repaired quickly.
sf
We can repair the damage but we won't have any solar power for a while.
This damage happened because the wind came from a direction from which it normally does not come.... from the North.
Please pray that we can get this repaired quickly.
sf
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