Sorry it has been ten forevers since I posted last. It seems that life here just happens and I am not always sure how to blog about it. But I have filled up a journal in less than 2 months so I know things have been happening. Just not sure how to blog about it.
October was a rough month. I knew coming back in June that October and November would be more difficult months for me. We only had one team in october and will only have one in November and teams aren´t emailing much til probably next week since they will be coming end of the month through April…this is my slow time. I have been working on getting things in the yard and my house fixed and trying to finish my team training video. It´s been kind of vanilla.
We all expect life to be like what we see in movies and tv shows…all exciting and full of drama. Most days aren´t like that….it´s just vanilla. And we have to look for opportunities God presents in the day. He has presented many to me over the past months. Moments here and there with my girls and the volunteers. Sweet moments that I know are divine in the middle of the vanilla. I laughed because one of my girls was saying she didn´t want to live here any more because it was so boring. I explained the vanilla theory to her and explained it´s just all okay. haha
Here are some bullet points to catch you up on life for me:
- Still working on healing up some from that surgery thing. Waiting for the day it´s a little warmer and I can start running. Seems I may be running a race in April (my village knows how to motivate me haha)
- My insurance has declined payment for my surgery. I appealed and they decided to pay for one of my evaluative procedures (they had already paid for one other one) but not the surgery nor the other test I had done. They said preexisiting abdominal pain…but why they paid for 2 tests but not the rest is beyond me…after the preauthorized it all. My surgeon is submitting a written request for a physician review. I have sent in the paperwork to have the bill reduced or written off by EAMC if my insurance continues to deny it. I simply don´t have the money to pay it.
- I applied for Honduran residency last week. Spent a lot of money and a little frustration at Immigration. Will have to go back 2 more times for other things but I am not sure exactly when. I applied with one of the volunteers and we spent the night since the next day was my day off. It was lovely to take a bath and read and sleep and take a nap or two. And eat a cheeseburger. Prayers for the next steps to be drama free appreciated.
- The rainy season kicked in and it rained and rained in September and it´s gotten chilly. I have had a sore throat/ cold for what seems like weeks. It´s not as rainy right now but the chill remains. It´s a great break from the hot and great for sleeping weather.
- I have a circular saw arriving today and I am excited to have it to work on some projects I have in the works. Going to make some Cracker Barrel peg games for the girls to play. I have a duct tape version they have been using but it is more difficult to keep the pieces in place. They have loved the puzzle games and mancala. I am hoping to be able to make a couple more mancala boards with the wood shop guys. I can´t hollow out the bowls in the board but I am confident they can. I have some beads and little rocks to use from the craft house. And finally got one of the bikes that had several things wrong with it repaired so the girls have been riding it non stop in the yard.
- Christmas is coming and the girls are all saying "Hey my friend for Christmas!" since they know I will be here this year. I have explained to them that friendship goes 2 ways. They are all waiting for school to get out in the next 2 weeks. I have wordsearch books for all of them when they finish since time in the yard will be all day and boredom can increase here for them. Glad teams are coming to help keep them entertained. I am glad to report that Queenie sent me a couch from her soon to be daughter in law so Katherine and I can get rid of one of our termite eaten honduran couches. I am working on putting up the icicle lights that a church group donated to the yard. I have some others we will be putting up on the houses and or a tree if we get one. Looking forward to having the yard decorated!
- I started a girls bible study with the volunteer girls last week. We will meet every other week on Thursday and we are walking through Isaiah 9:6. Leading up to Christmas we are talking about the Names listed there. I look forward to spending the time with them in english studying the word and praying together. We may do worship next week if I have time to practice.
People are always asking me what I want or need for Christmas and I am hesitant to tell them funds for my furlough fund. But that is what I need. Because of the medical costs I have had for my test copays and appointments and labwork when I was home as well as just costs of being in the states (gas, food, travel etc) My furlough account that helps pay for my travel home and medical bills is exhausted. I try ot have $3000 in it and currently I have $100. I am trusting the Lord as usual for the funds…he knows what I need and always shows up. If you wish to give to this you can send a check to CMC or go online. The info is below. Just send a note with your check and don´t write my name on it please.
I am grateful for the way you guys support me. To know people pray daily for me and my girls delights my heart. To have folks send things we need for day to day needs is amazing. It´s such a blessing to not have to worry about when we will have simple things like sanitary pads or socks. I am grateful for the way the Father shows himself to me daily in His word, through my kids, through people here at Emmanuel..teams, visitors or volunteers. My girls have been asking how long I will be here, and have told me how I love them. One of the girls that pretty much hated my guts last year brought that up this weekend. She said ¨Remember how bad I was to you last year?¨ yes. "It was because I didn´t know you. I thought you were mean. I just didn´t know you!" Glad she has seen the love I have for them. It´s just the love of God through me because most days I am grumpy and irritable. So the patience and love I have for them is just him. So glad they see Him.
Sorry there are no photos…internet is not cooperating. But we are soon getting speedy internet in the office with unlimited data…Praise the Lord for fully functional internet!
Grateful to be doing this together.
Be His.
CENTRAL MISSIONARY CLEARINGHOUSE
P.O. Box 219228
Houston, Texas 77218-9228
1-800-CMC-PRAY (1-800-262-7729)
Office: 281-599-7411
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