update.....

As always, we have a lot to update you about. Here we go...

In March we had Reedsport Foursquare team here - my parents church - including both my parents, my aunt, and my cousin. It was SO WONDERFUL to have them here working alongside us for the week and getting to catch up on life with them. While here, my aunt and mom made curtains for our new house! The team built a septic tank at a school, did lots of work with water filter checks and rechecks, built 2 locking cabinets for 2 schools, made curtains for the entire medical clinic, as well as do a children's and women's ministry. At the same time, we had another group here from Florida and they were working in a local community building a church as well as doing a VBS. All in all it was a full and fulfilling week!

April 2nd we opened the dental clinic! Dr Blanca saw 29 patients in the first week and is doing a fabulous job of teaching us what needs to happen as we go along. Tristan and Jeremie have turned into dental technicians, fixing the machines as they are old and finicky. We are receiving patients through community meetings where we share a devotional, explain about how/why to care for your teeth, and then make appointments for the next few weeks. That has been a neat thing for us as we're able to share about Jesus, do health education, and care for their physical needs of dental care).

With the dental clinic opening, it has focused our time on the politics of opening a medical clinic as well - working to become a licensed clinic, finding a local dentist to be our volunteer director, working with the department of health for approval, etc. We also have begun a string of meetings and contacts for opening up the general medicine part of the clinic - we feel like this is all way over our heads but God has put some neat people in our lives that are leading us through it. It will be a long and tedious process - but you gotta start somewhere right? Last week Tristan and I were interviewed on a live tv show about what El Ayudante is and how we're working to combine serving the physical and spiritual at the same time. It was definitely out of our comfort zones! Today we toured and met with the directors of another clinic to pick their brains - it was pretty exciting.

Last week, our contractor's 8 year old son (nephew that he cared for like a son) died of a fever. A fever! He lives within 1/2 mile from EA and had only been sick 3 days before he died. Tristan spent most of the next 2 days with the family assisting with the funeral arrangements etc. it really hit us hard - reminding us again how fragile life is here and how great the need is. Poverty really does kill.  We take for granted things like Tylenol and a household thermometer. With those 2 little things would he have lived?

(Would you consider donating a few thermometers to families in our communities? It could save a life. if you can find it in Celsius, even better. I'll be in Oregon and California in May and could get them from you. Nothing fancy please - straight forward, traditional thermometer. )

Last month we had our appointment with the US embassy to request a visa so that Sigel could travel to the States with us (even though he is officially adopted according to Honduras, the U.S. won't acknowledge the adoption for 2 more years). We were denied. So we will not be able to travel as a family of 5 for at least another 2 years. Because of this, we have decided that just me and the girls will be coming home in May for my brothers wedding, and Tristan will stay back with Sigel and enjoy a few weeks without crying babies and get to watch guy movies every night :). We are sad/angry/frustrated about it, but have to believe that God knows what He's doing. Our hands are tied, it's just a waiting game now (2 years isn't that long right?)

Thank you for all your prayers for our health! We were working hard to increase our immune system and I think we're on more solid ground again! Ali has not had a cough or cold for a few weeks now! yeah!!! She still has a constantly gunky eye but we're hoping that it's just a clogged tear duck and will eventually open (but just in case we're taking her to an eye specialist on Friday). 

Ali is mobile! She started crawling last week and has caught on quickly - she's entered a whole new arena of trouble :).

Thank you for your prayers and your love. We are so dependent on it! It's been amazing, that even with all our additional co-workers, the work is huge and keeps us all busy and dependent on God to fulfill it all.  it's a very exciting time and all in all, we're continuing to learn every day to be dependent on Jesus!  Please continue praying for us in the areas of safety, wisdom, health, favor, and for us to find that 8th day. :)

 We love you!