Update/News

It's hard to believe we are already several days into June. We are still in Nalerigu and are praying about how the Lord is leading us. We visited another country in West Africa recently, Cameroon. There is a teaching mission hospital there that wants to start an OB/Gyn residency program. They already have several other residency programs in place.

We believe we will go home sometime this summer. There is word that two different West African surgeons are to come here to Nalerigu. We are hoping and praying that will happen for the people here. The other full time dr and his family (the Hewitts) have left for a year long furlough. They continue to pray about what the Lord has for their future, as well. With the other new family, the Nyhus' here, we are not alone as we thought we'd be right now! It is nice to have them here with us. Again their purpose here is to run the guest houses. They are doing a super job!

Our computer with all of our more recent photos on it seems to have a virus. Since the local Apple store up here in Nalerigu is no longer open, we are trying to decide what to do. (Just kidding. Boy, do we wish there had ever been an Apple store here.) One problem this poses is that I cannot really post photos on our blog right now. If I find a way, you'll be the first to know! :)

My dad, in the last three weeks or so, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We are still awaiting the pathology report. Thank you for your prayers as he recovers from surgery. The dr plans to start chemo when Dad can handle it. We are praying and hoping for the best.

Annaleigh playing with the High Chair!

Visit with Grandmom and Uncle Jimmy (Mar)

March with Memaw and Papa Don

Sad News

I'm still catching up on photos on our blog. I'm up to March now. Maybe I'll catch up again someday?

We have sad news. Last weekend I miscarried the baby at 9 weeks. We are doing ok. Just sad. Thanks for your prayers for all of us.

We continue to pray about what the Lord has for us next. We love and miss you all.

Visit in Colleyville!

Visit with Gammy

Home in March

We took a quick trip home in March to attend my grandmother's funeral. My dad's mom, Thelma Brooks, passed away shortly before we arrived in Texas. She is greatly missed. We are thankful that we can grieve her loss with hope-standing on God's promise that she is with Him and that we also will see her again.

Michelle and Lisa-Feb

These two wonderful people took the long trip over by plane to visit us and check out the hospital and other ministries here in Naleirgu. It was great to have Michelle and Lisa here.

Michelle and Lisa-Feb

These two wonderful people took the long trip over by plane to visit us and check out the hospital and other ministries here in Naleirgu. It was great to have Michelle and Lisa here.

You can take a girl out of Texas, but...

At the baby shower Paul Ann gave us for Abigail before she was born, Bonnie gave us pink Justin ropers! Abigail is now old enough to fit into them and started wearing them in February. How fun!

Benton, Abigail, & Colt in Feb

Bonnie and Cindi

In February, Joel went to a physicians missionary conference in Kenya. Bonnie and Cindi came for a visit during that time. They pitched in with the kids and were also up at the hospital. We are thankful for good friends.

I've just sent off the last of the thank you notes for the items that were sent with them. There are some items that I do not know who they came from. If you have not heard from me, I would love to hear from you so we can think of you as we use your gifts!

Patients Waiting to See a Doctor or Medical Assistant on a Clinic Day

This is Dr. Dewey Dunn. He is a volunteer doc who has been coming out here to the hospital for several years. He and Joel originally met during Joel's pediatric residency at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee from 1989 to 1992. How fun to have them connect again. We love having him out here.

Market

Market is held every three days here in Nalerigu. You can buy any available produce then and many other items, such as flip flops, fabric, ant poison, soap, dried fish, to name a few.

This is Where We Buy Tomatoes

Kid Pics-February

Payment in Full

These guinea fowl were brought to the hospital as payment for dr services. Baby and Colt are in the photo, too!

Payment in Full

These guinea fowl were brought to the hospital as payment for dr services. Baby and Colt are in the photo, too!

Dr. Ted Higgins and his wife, Kim, from Kansas

Texas Volunteer Doc-Jim Howard

Abigail-Jan

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley

Flat Stanley

Colt's cousin, Jacob, did the "Flat Stanley" program in school. He sent "Flat Jacob" to us in Nalerigu. We took some pictures around the hospital, wrote a note, and sent it all back to him. What a fun project!

The Girls (Jan)

Annaleigh Sleeping (Jan)

More Pics From January

Hi, there. It's been awhile since we posted anything. I am so far behind on photos, too. I hope to catch up soon. Between having a few visitors here and there (yea!) and our trip to the States, our life has been a bit out of the routine lately. Homeschooling Colt, keeping up with the girls, and carrying a new baby (yea!) do tend to keep my busy, also. Let's see-also our slow internet speed. Many times are Joel and I booted off from what we are doing online-buying airline tickets, working on photos, getting updates...It's ok. That is life here in West Africa.

We have welcomed a new family here. Greg and Wendy Nyhus and their three children Carter (aged 9), Aiden (aged 7), and Sakanya (aged 6?). We are happy to have them. They are volunteers who will be helping for awhile with the guest houses. Earl and Mona Hewitt and their family leave on furlough soon and are praying about what to do after their furlough. Angela Bell, the Hewitts' teacher, leaves in May as her term will be finished.

Look for new pics!

Good Friday

We found out some more exciting news on Friday. We are expecting another little one! Due the 7th of December. We are all thrilled.

We have enjoyed the Cargiles being here. Frank and Nancy left today to start the long journey home. John is still here working at the hospital. He leaves here on Thursday. What a blessing they have been to have here with us.

It is late and we are heading to bed. Thanks for your prayers.

Hi. It has been a busy week. As of Friday, we have been back from the States one week. We are slowly getting back to Ghana time (5 hours ahead of Central Standard time). On Tuesday Abigail's leg was set. Then a cast was put on her leg. She will wear it for about 6 weeks. We have been praying for her leg. She now asks us to pray. While she was still in some pain, she would say, "Mommy pray. Ouchy bye bye. Abigail walk." Now she is not in much pain, it seems. We carry her everywhere. (It would be kind of hard for her to use crutches as a two year old!) She's hanging in there.

Annaleigh and Colt are doing well. Everyone is growing up so quickly. Colt certainly enjoyed his time in the States, as did we all. I am still in the process of thanking everyone for the wonderful gifts we have been given both in February, as well as in March. It is so nice to be remembered by you all.

Our Mac laptop cord went out. We are hoping to get another one soon. In the meantime, emailing is not quite as convenient. We are able to have internet in the living room and eating area now. So that is really nice to have.

Dear friends of ours-John, Nancy, and Frank Cargile arrive here tomorrow. It will be so nice to have them. John, a general surgeon where we live in San Angelo, has many cases lined up for him at the hospital.

I wanted to give a short update on life. Thanks, as always, for your interest and your prayers. We always enjoy hearing from you and knowing how we can pray for you, as well.

Back in Nalerigu/Abigail's Leg

We are back in Nalerigu as of this morning. We were able to attend my grandmother's funeral while there. (My dad's mom passes away a few days before we got there.) Joel also had diagnostic tests run for the kidney stone. It had passed-thank you, Lord. I got to celebrate my 40th birthday while in Texas, which was so nice. It was great to see so many of you while we were home.

We had a layover in Amsterdam yesterday. Abigail fell from some play equipment while playing in the children's area. We then got on the plane for another 8-9 hour flight to Accra, Ghana. Once we landed in Accra, we realized that Abigail had likely broken her leg. We took one x-ray last night while in Accra. We were hoping it would not be bad enough for me to need to return to the States with the children for her to have surgery. The x-ray of the upper leg showed no break. But she still would not put weight on it, did not want to eat much at all, and had swelling in her leg.

Once we arrived back here in Nalerigu this morning, Joel did another x-ray. There is a small fracture an inch or so above her left ankle. She is in pain, though the Tylenol is helping. She's just not herself.

My Hubby Needs Prayer

I know we have not posted anything in awhile. We enjoyed so much having Bonnie and Cindi here. Bonnie taught school for me and Cindi worked at the hospital. How great it was to have dear friends here.

Abigail is potty trained and we are happy about that! She is a big girl now! :)

Joel enjoyed his time at the Christian physcian's conference in Kenya at the same time that Cindi and Bonnie were here. We were happy to have him home.

Today Joel was only able to finish one surgery case because he was suddenly in a lot of abdominal pain. It seems likely he has a kidney stone. He has been given pain meds. Please pray for him.

That's it for now. Let us hear from you by commenting here or by emailing us. We'd love to hear from you. We like to know who reads our blog. It is fun to know.

Make a Smilebox photobook

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Make a Smilebox slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Super Bowl Sunday

Joel is on his way to Kenya as I write this (he's in the air). I'm filling in for him, watching the game with Colt at the school house. Kick off was at 11:30 p.m. Ghana time. Ok, so maybe "watching the game" isn't quite what I'm doing very much of. I'm enjoying being down here with Colt and a few others and getting in some time with friends online. I couldn't do this without Angela's help tonight. She's sleeping at our house so I can be here. Hopefully Annaleigh won't wake her up. Looking forward to Bonnie and Cindi being here in a couple of days.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Abigail with Christmas Gifts

Make a Smilebox greeting