May Wraps Up

Little Suhaila (severely  malnourished tot) seems to be improving every time I see her.  She is learning to eat whatever is available.  Unfortunately, that isn't much as I'm hearing every day about families surviving on rice and cassava only.  We're working on some ideas to help some of these families start growing HEALTHY food, instead of just what they're used to eating.

 You may remember a rather gruesome picture of a boy's open leg wounds a few weeks ago.  We got him situated in the hospital a half hour away and this wonderful Dutch doctor has been taking good care of him.  Without proper diagnostic tools and medicines to treat the suspected lymphoma, he started Suleiman on meds for Tuberculosis, simply because they were available.  Miraculously, they are working!  Praise Him for his daily improvements and for the fact that he is reading the Book I've given him every day!  Keep praying that he would be able to gain some weight and strength to heal. 

 English classes keep on rocking.  We finally got into our new, bigger classroom yesterday and it was so nice! Now we just need to get furniture for it.

 The rains have slowed down and the crops are glowing in the sun's rays.  Our passion fruit vine has started taking over and is creeping across a rope line towards the house, dripping its fruit as it goes.

 Praying Mantis mating season has come and (thankfully) gone.  The females really do eat the males when they're done!

 Homeschool finished up last Friday for us and Mama flew off to collect Ginger (our new teacher for the school.  and wonderful friend.) on Big Island (woo-hoo!  She's here and safe and will arrive on Little Island after a couple months of language learning).  Meanwhile, daddy took the girls up to swim at the hotel and found...FRIENDS!

 A WONDERFUL French/Irish family is staying for 10 whole days with their 2 very cool kids aged 9 and 7.  It's been awesome.  Marshmallow bonfires, treasure hunts, adventures galore, and tonight: a sleep over.  Should be fun!

So, another month down.  June brings a new family who has joined our team for their site visit.  They are set to move here in another year and a half to two years, but they're coming to check all this awesomeness out now.  Pray that their hearts are confirmed in the Plan for them.

Avery's Graduation

 

Avery finished up school for the year with Hunter just a couple weeks out! Both girls are doing amazing with school even though it isn't always easy for them (or us!). Of course we had to have a celebration and the girls made their own party hats and decorations.

 

 

The girls decided that "shrimp" (lobster) was what they wanted for the party. Justin got us some and then cooked them up on the grill. Delicious!

 



 

We are so proud of you Avery for the work you did in school this year and the fine young woman you are shaping into. You are kind, energetic, funny and such a joy to be around.

 

 

Mother's Day: the Awesomest Yet

Sunday Morning had us singing our Sunday School songs down the road and to the harbor for a boat ride over to an amazing Tiny Island Marine Park.

Rainy Season took a break for ME as the sky fairly glowed blue,

fluffy white clouds shading us occasionally.



Justin hopped in the water with the 2 fish (Hunts and Aves) while I coaxed a mask and snorkel onto my water-fearing little one.  Miracle of miracles, she did it!

 She and I paddled around, exclaiming to each other through our snorkels over all the beautiful fish and coral.  It was so fun!  That's her above. 

Later, we took a long walk through the jungle over to Turtle Beach and then waded out to Tiniest Island to search for lost treasure and exclaim over the razor-sharp coral ridges trying desperately to slice us up.

 This little guy was probably born in the morning but he was already feisty and he let us play with him a bit. 

I couldn't believe how strong his flippers were!  Guess that's how he lives, right?

 Giant Clam and Lion Fish

 Getting love wherever I can...

I was the only one brave enough to get a kiss though.  Little girls...

Well, this one is brave when she wants to be.

So much beauty in one day!

It was a great Mother's Day.  I am so thankful for my daughters and the man who made me a mama!  

Best Day Ever

Ok, that might be an exaggeration, but I'm still smiling 2 days later.

It took till the very end of yet another miserable, heat rashy hot season, but Justin wavered for a single moment in his absolute opposition to some serious hair chopping.

That was all I needed!  I grabbed the scissors and the ponytails and chop, chop, chop!

 



 

The girls were as pumped as I was, giggling and dancing around and flipping their short locks around.

 

It has been so nice having about a thousand percent fewer tangles, less heat, girls doing their hair themselves, no more tears on that front!

 

And to top it off, they look adorable.  Hunter and Braelyn have a more layered look that's shorter in the back giving shape and lift and the sweetest soft curls.  Avery's is more blunt (she was last and Justin's pained looks made me back off half an inch) but still loves it.

 

I assured Justin we should do it now so that there's still plenty of time for it to grow out before we come home...but I'm not sure any of us want it to anymore!

 

Medical Work

Every day it seems someone else comes knocking on the gate seeking help, answers, care.

Some things are fun...helping a mom deliver a newborn baby...giving some Ibuprofen for an aching back.

 

Other things are not so fun...12 year old Suleiman came on Monday for me to change his bandage and give my advice.  Change his bandage I did...and then we went to see the Dutch doctor in the next big town over.  Sadly, the most likely diagnosis is a years old lymphoma, too far advanced and spread to treat.

 

Little Suhaila became severely malnourished when her mom became pregnant again and didn't know it, her breastmilk disappearing before Suhaila really took to food.  She is thankfully home from the hospital and on a special high-calorie food, free from the local clinic!

 

I love helping and loving and praying with these people.  I am so thankful for the chance to be the Light in this land.  But as I face down Suleiman's fate, and that of a friend's elderly mother, I am reminded of why we are really here.  Pray for us that what we give is not just a helping hand.

Traditional Birth Attendant Training

Shannon's First Dive!!!

 

I (Justin) wanted to be the one to post about Shannon getting her diving license since she did such an amazing job and I am so proud of her for doing it. First, it should be noted that I have been trying to get her to do this for the past 12 years of marriage. Lots of factors including but not limited to having three children, lots of work, moving half way around the world and not enjoying sticking her face in the water contributed to the delay but at last...she is certified!

 

 

There is a hotel here with an incredibly nice and generous owners that not only invited Shannon to get her license for free but also hosted a tea party for the three little ones so that I could join Shannon on her final dive to get certified. It was awesome to be able to share the beauty of the underwater world with her!

 

Her final dive happened to be a Sunday and since the boat was leaving pretty early in the morning we decided to have church at 20 meters! We brought along our waterproof Bible and had some Scuba Church.

 



 

Needless to say that Shannon did AWESOME on all of her skills and tests. She is a natural underwater and I can't wait to do more dives with her! Here are some pictures from our dive together...

 

Glass minnows

 



 

Porcupine Puffer

 

 

Scorpion Fish

 

 

Juvenile Angle Fish

 



 

And this weird looking fellow!