Wow...

I can't even begin to tell you how busy we have been with the team here. It's 12:55 a.m. and I should be getting to bed, but wanted everyone to know that God has been so good to us the last two weeks with no one on the team getting sick; safety as we traveled and minstered; and lives were changed on the team as told through testimonies as well as Costa Ricans who received the Lord!

The team leaves tomorrow so if you could remember them in prayer as they travel to the U.S. and Canada that would be awesome. A couple of team members are staying an extra week to see more of the country as well as hang out at the camp!

Well, Ken leaves at 4 a.m. to take a small part of the team leaving the country very early to the airport while I stay back at the camp and see off the bigger part of the team after a 6:30 a.m. breakfast. I will try and get some pictures posted this week to the blog of the team's ministries. For now, I just need some sleep. Buenos Noches!

Please pray, team arrival and last preparations

The team, 35 members strong, arrives this Saturday afternoon for two weeks of ministry. They are coming from the U.S. and Canada and their ministry will consist of Construction both at the camp and a remote, poor church; Medical Clinics; Children's Teacher Training; "The Pueblito" orphan home and Children's Ministry during the Medical Clinics. This morning I finished combining the Children's Teacher Training manuals (we are combining some CEF material with our previous manual), and now those are off to the copy center. Last year, we trained about 60 teachers with this training. This year we have had an even greater response and are planning on training 90 teachers. Last night we got the grocery shopping list back from Isa, our camp cook, after giving her the menu, and Ken is off doing the grocery shopping this morning. With the size of the team, plus our volunteers (doctors, interpreters, drivers) we will be housing 55 plus people at the camp; two or three people will actually have to stay in our home for everyone to have a bed. Today, I will be moving beds around in our house to make room. We will be traveling with this team to four different locations to minister. Mon. & Tues. half of the children's ministry team will be ministering at the orphan home. The entire construction team will be working at the camp on the Celebration Center building. The medical team will be at a poor church in Cartago along with the other half of the children's ministry team who will be ministering to the children during the clinic. On Wednesday, the 20th we will be traveling with the team to the Guapiles area and along the way having our "free day". On Thursday through Sunday we will be holding a medical clinic in this area along with simultaneous children's ministry. Thursday we will also be doing teacher's training. The construction team will be working on a building project serving a very poor and remote church. On Sunday afternoon we will begin our trip back to the camp. On Monday, the 25th will be another "free day" just to rest at the camp or walk over to Orosi. Tuesday, the 26th, we will be going to Tres Rios, right outside of San Jose. On Tuesday we will be doing teacher training again, the medical clinic will begin with simultaneous children's ministry, but the construction team will be back at the camp working on the Celebration Center building. We will continue ministering in Tres Rios through the 28th. On Friday, the 29th we will do a clinic and children's ministry for one day in Paraiso. On Saturday, the 30th we will be at the camp, cleaning up our mess, resorting ministry supplies and on Sunday, the 31st, the team returns to the U.S. and Canada.

How can you pray for us?
1. Pray for this team as they travel to Costa Rica on Saturday.
2. Pray for the clinics, that people might receive physical as well as spiritual healing.
3. Pray for the children who will be ministered to in children's ministry.
4. Pray for the teacher's training, that this would bless these remote, poor churches and that their teacher's would be encouraged and blessed!
5. Pray for the team members as they minister and our family as we minister (Ken as he heads up the construction projects back at the camp as well as in the remote church, Sherri as she teaches in the teacher's training and works in children's ministry, Heather as she translates in the Pharmacy, Kyle as he ministers in children's ministry and translates, Jordan as he helps in construction).
6. Pray for a harvest of souls, men, women and children.
7. Pray that all that we say and do would glorify God, not because He needs us, but because He allows us!

Volcano Update, Dr's appt...

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night at around 1:30 a.m. to what sounded like very small pellets of ice hitting the windows and roof of the house. I thought it was just the usual wind that blows the banana tree leaves that are very close to our house. I found out this morning that the Volcano (Volcan Turrialba) has begun to erupt and that had I gotten out of bed I would have seen the ash (which they say looks like snow) and small particles of debris in the air! A now 4-mile radius near the volcano has been evacuated. Today, scientists say that there is evidence that the inner walls of the volcano near the crater are cracking, yet, they do not know for sure when the "major" eruption will occur, but they are saying it wll occur eminently. They are not reporting large rocks or lava being seen with this eruption, but on the eastern side of San Jose (the capital city) which is about an hour and a half from our location here, there was reports of fallen ash as well.

I went with Ken back to his rheumatologist today and his pelvic x-ray does show rheumatoid arthritis lesions on his sacroiliac joint, but nothing that the doctor was surprised to find or at this point was grossly abnormal. All of his blood work, rheumatoid factor, and a number of other blood and antibody counts which I cannot remember all of the names of, were off the charts in numbers pointing to rheumatoid arthritis and inflammation. He has been taken off of his gout medicine that he has been on for a number of years since he obviously does not have that condition and is starting new medicines for the rheumatoid arthritis; one of which is also used for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to help with the side effects called Methotrexate. This medicine should force his body into remission and also help limit the progression of the disease. He should be feeling much better in two weeks. He will return to his doctor in two to three months with follow up blood work, and in one year have to have repeat x-rays. Right now he is not on a rheumatoid arthritis diet so to speak, although we will be monitoring his diet closely as we always have with his gout diet, and are well aware that certain foods can contribute to flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis.

That's about all for tonight's post. Been a long day in the city and tomorrow is packed with a meeting with the accountant for camp business, a trip to the municipality for camp documents, camp bills to pay for the New Year, a trip to the city to get the three-month supply of Ken's Methotrexate...it's time to hit the hay!

Another flare

Yesterday, Ken saw a rheumatologist for what appeared to be another gout attack. At least, we were told in the States by our family physician that he suffered from gout. The attacks are coming so frequently that he only has about a week and a half of pain-free and non-swelling living. The doctor yesterday ordered again more blood work, three weeks ago he had a uric acid level which was raging out of control; but even with three weeks of medicine he continues to have swelling and pain. He also had an x-ray of his back. Today we found out that he has a positive RA (rheumatoid arthritis) antibody. Tomorrow, the doctor has requested that Ken return to his office at 2 p.m. to talk to us. Being told the blood work results over the phone, having a better understanding of the symptoms of RA and seeing what Ken has been going through really seems like this is probably a more accurate diagnosis. Besides the joint swelling, fatigue is a very prominent condition and Ken often has to take three hour naps when he has a flare-up. So, continue to keep Ken in your prayers as we see the doctor tomorrow and as he continues to receive treatment to stop the apparent progression of this arthritic condition.

"I can do all things though Christ who STRENGTHENS me". Phil 4:13

The downside of being on the mission field was a reality again today. Danielle & Brad left to return to the States this morning after a two-week long visit. It was a tearful good-bye. The house is a bit quieter except for some gentle sobbing in the background as Heather and Jordan hug each other. Kyle has regained his composure enough to return to playing new Play Station games he received for Christmas. While saying good-bye is never easy, we are quickly reminded of how much we treasure our time as a family together. Truly, it is a very precious gift and it allows you to appreciate each other more! Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to have this time as a family, and thank you for being our strength when we are apart!