Update

We like hearing back from you all about our posts. Several of you have commented either on the blog or by email about our recent photos and videos. Thank you! We are doing well. It is nice to have Annie Zesch here with us. She is currently helping us out at the house with the kids some, as well as spending time at the hospital. She seems to enjoy being up there.

Several people have asked us about this, so I thought it would be good to post about it. It is possible we will be coming home in either June or July of 2010. This is just a few months short of what we originally thought our stay here in Ghana would be. Once we arrived here in Ghana, we found out more about the schedules of the other doctors here. George and Elisabeth Faile believed it was time for them to retire after so many years of tireless service. They left a few weeks ago. Dr. Faile was the other full time dr besides Joel who performed surgery.

The other full time dr, Earl Hewitt (Family Practice) will be leaving for furlough the summer of 2010. We are praying about if we should stay past their time here, but are strongly considering leaving when they do since there are no other full time doctors here. Certainly the needs of the people here are on our minds. The last dr who was here alone for a prolonged period of time was beyond busy. The hospital services a population that would normally have at least 200 drs seeing to their needs at home in the states.

There are several volunteer drs in and out of the hospital here. Some for a week, others for several months. We are always thankful for their help and enjoy their company, as well. Currently, there is a surgery resident and his wife, Matt & Megan Jones, as well as a nurse practitioner, Amy Elrod, among others.

So, we would appreciate your prayers as this is an even busier time for Joel at the hospital. And also that we would have clear direction for when to go home. I'd also like to hear more about specific ministries outside the home the Lord wants me to be a part of while here. While it is starting to get hotter, I am no longer pregnant and would like to be a part of anything the Lord might have for me to do.