A little of this and a little of that.............

I apologize in the beginning for this being so long...but thought you might like an idea of what our days are like right now : )

Sunday we went to our home church in San Pedro de Macoris. Their joy when we walked into the bldg...precious! There was much praise given to God for Bob's health! They were so happy that we had returned and so quickly! Bob was asked to come up and give a testimony. Many tears and shouts of joy followed. Then he told them that I was in good health. They were all pleased. Then he said, "excepto..." They moaned and waited for him to continue.
He told them how I had fallen in the States and had a broken rib! Yes, it's true! At first we hoped it was just a bad fall and bruised inside. But it has been 2 1/2 weeks and a bruise doesn't last that long.
After the service all the ladies wanted to hug me and were very gentle with me. Then the fun began :) I was sitting when a lady came up and just put her hands on my shoulders and sort of gave me a hug. Another lady (pastor's sister) told her NO! they began a sort of discussion, with one arguing she was not hurting me, she was being careful and repeated the hug to prove it! With the other one firmly telling her NO! I heard the words *mal* and *cuidado* ~~ bad, careful. I just sat there with a big grin saying "Estoy bien! Estoy bien!" Fortunately, they weren't really upset with one another.
SCORE's medical clinic is supposed to be open every Tuesday and Thursday. While Bob and I were in the States, it was open but without the pharmacy being available. We arrived back last week but the clinic was closed on Thursday due to Thanksgiving. So, Bob and I were up at 6:30 this morning anticipating our first day back in the clinic in three weeks. I really enjoy my work in the pharmacy.
If you recall, Tropical Storm Noel passed thru the country about a month ago causing much damage. That damage included the generator for the SCORE property. So, the electricians had been called in to repair it. Somehow in the process of their attempts to repair the generator the electricity to the medical clinic was turned off.
When we arrived at the clinic at 7:45 this morning, we sadly discovered that there was no electrician present, and while the entire rest of the SCORE complex had electricity, the clinic did NOT!
Miolis, the receptionist, and Jaqueline, the cleaning lady, both showed up and were told the news. Miolis called the doctor to inform her. Maria, the cook, called Eddy, the SCORE Dominican field director. He relayed that he would try to get hold of the electricia to tell him. This is roughly translated: "Clinic is closed for the day because there is no idea when he will return to finish!"
We then gave Miolis and Jaqueline a ride to San Pedro and proceeded on to run some of our own errands.
The tenant below Tim and Evelyn's apartment left without paying 2 months rent or returning the keys. So, yesterday our caretaker, Papo, had to replace the lock on the entrance gate, and the security gate right at the stairs to the apartment. But he only had two sets of keys.
Then yesterday while Bob was in Santo Domingo his key chain broke and he lost 5 keys! Fortunately, there is no way any one will know what they go to.
So, Bob decided to get copies for all the keys made while we were in town. It only took 2 hardware stores to get them all made. But in the process we discovered a new Papeleria --office supply store--Staples WITHOUT the computers, electronics, furniture and filing cabinets :)
He dropped me off at Jumbo after the first hardward store. Now, visiting Americans will tell you it is the Dominican version of Walmart. While it is the best place to shop in San Pedro, those who live here know it is no where near Walmart. But Tuesday is the day they have specials on fruits and vegetables. Last week I got avocados for 4.95 pesos each (33.45 pesos =$1) This week it was yellow onions 11.95 pesos #, red and orange *green* pepper 19.95 pesos per #, bananas 7.95 pesos per#. I only had to wait in line 15 minutes to get everything weighed. These prices were a blessing, considering how all vegetable prices have almost doubled since TS Noel!
They had two different brands of brownie mix today! YES!!!! But at 169 pesos??? they stayed on the shelf! I was hoping to buy brown sugar since it is cool enough here to do baking. But, alas, there was none to be found.
They have a deli of ready made items. I usually get a small cup of arroz con leche (rice pudding). It is yummy with just a couple of raisins, cinnamon and a tiny bit of cloves! And at 11 pesos for a good size serving, it's affordable. Jumbo's is the best! Carrefour (North side of Santo Domingo) also sells it in their deli. But they make it with evaporated milk, it's not as creamy and it costs 14 pesos.
Bob will probably meet with Pastor Manny and Pastor Henri on Thursday morning to resume their Greek classes. Yes, Bob is teaching Greek in Spanish. But Manny is fluent in English, also.
Saturday Bob will again meet with the national pastors. The first week he had 8, then 14, then 20. This past Saturday there were 23! They are all eager to receive some sort of formal training. This is a special time for Bob with these men. While we were in the States visiting doctors, these men committed to praying each and every morning at 6AM for Bob's health.

Not much else to report from here. This is our quiet, peaceful time of the year with NO groups! A time to relax, recover and be reinvigorated for January.
The LORD is so good in allowing us to return and to be part of what HE is doing here!

~~anna~~

PS~ Sunday night I finished reading "Safely Home" by Randy Alcorn for the 4th time since 2002. If you have never read it, you are missing an incredible book! While it is a novel, it is based on the truth of what is happening with the persecuted Christian church in China. You must get hold of a copy!

So, what really is tradition for us?

Loved reading Charity's blog about her "Black Friday" shopping....by the way, how did it ever get that name? That sounds so depressing. What happened to the old *Day after Thanksgiving* shopping*? It was a perfectly good name that pretty much said it all. *Black Friday* ??? creepy!

Naturally, this time of year brings out the memories. Being away from family intensifies the feelings I think, too!

Thursday morning as I was making our pies (Yes, we found cans of pumpkin this Summer in the stores here, so we squirreled them away for the right time!) As I was saying, while making the pies I started getting a little nostalgic. But as I started thinking over some of our past years, I realized we haven't always been very traditional. Due to Bob's schedule, we have had many Turkey Dinners on Friday and one year we did it on Wednesday.

Our very first Thanksgiving was right at the end of our honeymoon, and we ended up in a restaurant specializing in German food that advertised a traditional turkey dinner. By the time we arrived, the turkey was gone and we were left with duck! Believe me, duck does not in any way resemble turkey!

The year Bob was pastoring and still working part time as a nurse, we got invited to join a multi-generational family gathering. Who knew they did NOT like turkey, so the main course was roast beef and mashed potatoes with noodles! One family member had compassion and made a small turkey for us!, but no turkey gravy or stuffing! Then no one amongst all those families wanted to host the day in their own home. So they had purchased a small house several years prior and used it only for family gatherings. Adults (B0b and I) all ate in one room, teens (Shan) ate in another and younger kids (David) ate in their own room at the back of the house....and by order of the rest of the parents ne'er the groups shall meet! and they called it a family dinner! Miserable! We were relieved when we never got invited again!

There were the two years when it was only Bob, David and I while Shan was in college or visiting her future in-laws. One of those years was when David started the short lived 'tradition' of shadow puppets on the wall after dinner.

In the early years of our marriage we went to Bob's folks and his mom made the entire meal. That is when I discovered a recipe for fresh cranberry orange relish and began that tradition! But when *that cook* was a firm believer in a thoroughly dried out turkey, even the dark meat, I boldly learned how to cook a turkey. Reynold's oven roasting bags to the rescue! It was much easier to put a plate of turkey into the oven and dry it out for Bob's mom, then for the rest of us to suffer thru "turkey jerky"!

One year when Shan was a baby the three of us were at his Grandparents hunting cabin. Turkey was too big for the pan on hand, so she cut it in half and baked it in two pans. The front half ended up looking like a frog..so we teased for years about our turkey frog.

Later when we lived in Florida this same Grandma with her new husband came for Thanksgiving...that was the year I finally frantically learned how to make stuffing. Who knew it was so easy? and discovered that pumpkin pies cannot be left sitting out in the South as they mold quickly! So, much for leftovers the next day!

Bob was a nursing home director for a while in Indiana and worked Thanksgiving; so we joined him and ate at a community gathering for those who did not have family in the area.

We discovered the day before David's 2nd Thanksgiving that he had pneumonia and I could not take him any where! There were several young families from our church that had plans to gather at one home for the big day . Bob and Shan brought me a plate of leftovers when they returned that evening!

Probably the years that stand out the most are the ones when Shan and family joined us with David and Lyndie and Glen. The table was stretched to its limits and every conceivable chair was utilized! Kari usually came for pie. Then the oldies vs the youngsters for some real football!

The last Thanksgiving we were in the States we had already had our household auction in the summer and sold the stove! But the turkey got placed in a borrowed electric roaster, and everything else was made in crockpots with the brown'n'serve rolls in a toaster oven. David and Lyndie made the pies.

Last year we had it in Costa Rica while attending language school. and YES! we had school as usual that day. Fortunately, classes were only in the morning. But the SCORE missionaries in CR blessed us with a Thanksgiving dinner at the SCORE villa. The first time they had made a turkey! It was the first time rice was on the menu with turkey for us! But what a blessed time as we students were outnumbered 2 to 1 by Ticos...but we all shared what we were thankful for before having a communion service before dinner! And not a pumpkin, pecan or cranberry was in sight!

This year was the first time SCORE missionaries, Nate and Erica, were away from their families. So we pooled our resources (turkey is muy precio!) and our cooking talents and had a great time in our small apartment! We were going to take a dip in the pool, but Erica forgot to bring her suit...

So, what really is traditional?

Do we miss our family gatherings? You better believe we do....a day spent watching parades, talking and laughing, playing Scrabble, orchestrating seating arrangments at the table, preparing, consuming and cleaning up from an incredible meal, drinking pots of coffee, sitting and looking at craft magazines and perusing the sale-ads while planning shopping strategy, watching and playing football, then relaxing in the evening to enjoy *Muppets Christmas Carol* with grandkids snuggled up. Who wouldn't miss that?
It lasted only a short time but there was never anything else like it!

I never did like roller coasters....

Well, it is Sunday night and once again our suitcases are packed and sitting at the door ready to be placed in the car in the morning to head to the airport. Didn't we just go through this routine 2 weeks ago to come here ? and, also, 1 month before that when we left Greenville to return to the Dominican?
Doctors have concluded that Bob's throat/thyroid problems are not cancerous. There is still something going on, visible on the ultrasound, but not enough for the doctors to be concerned about at this time. Recheck in 3 months. We are thrilled with the fact that it is NOT cancer!
When we left the DR two weeks ago, we were facing a very uncertain future, as there was a very real possibility that Bob had thyroid cancer.
Dr Jack Manascalco, who heads CMS (the medical mission division of CWE {Paul Puleo}--who built our clinic in the DR) has been incredible in lining up the right doctors for Bob to see. He has pushed to get us in without waiting days. The doctors have been wonderful. Without Dr Jack's connections, we might still be waiting for referrals.

Not sure why the LORD brought us back to the States for these two weeks. Other than the medical visits to doctors and hospitals it has been a relaxing time. Paul and Sharon Puleo have been more than gracious in their care and provision of a guest home, vehicle, food, etc. The surroundings are beautiful! We have had nothing to keep us running constantly, like our lives in the Dominican.
We have received many emails, phone calls and some mail. All of which have been a blessing and very encouraging.
We may never know, this side of heaven, why the LORD pulled us from the Dominican at a time when 160 baseball players, coaches and others lead by John Zeller were visiting. We missed getting to spend time with Mike and Linda Fourman, as they were part of the team that came. I was looking forward to spending time with a new friend, Sharon Madison, who I met at the SCORE staff meeting in Chattanooga in August. We hit it off and had so many common interests. She was there with her husband, also.
But "My ways are not your ways, and my thoughts are not yours thoughts declares the LORD" (can't think of the reference, but I think it's at least an accurate paraphrase, right?)
But, Praise the LORD, Bob does NOT have cancer!!!

And, in our suitcases, are going to be packed 3 pkgs of fresh cranberries, 1 pkg of pecan pieces and 1 bottle of light Karo cornsyrup. Andres Jordan, and Nate, Erica and Mali Jude and Bob and I ARE going to have fresh cranberry orange relish and pecan pie for our Thanksgiving Dinner *SCORE Dominican Republic missionary* style!
Now, can I get off this roller coaster for a while? I have NEVER been a fan of them! EVER!!!

Tagged!

We are currently staying in the guest home of Paul and Sharon Puleo on a large ranch spread. Cows in one pasture, bulls in another, a little pond, 2 big friendly Great Danes (Puppy and Rocky) lovingly greeting us when we drive back in the gate and lots of white fencing...very relaxing, while we await the results of all of Bob's medical tests.
On this ranch where we are staying , there are two red headed cranes. LARGE birds! They like to wander in the yard of this house...So I decided I wanted to get up close and get some cool pics this morning. I got within 8 feet today when the one started doing a raging bull routine at me! Head down, fluffed wings and pounding on ground with its spindly legs. At the same time it's partner, started hopping! YES! It was actually hopping about 2 feet with each HOP! Oh what a comical memory to take with me back to the DR

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well I've been tagged by Lyndie...so I need to tell 5 things about myself. Whether they are interesting, I'll leave it up to you the reader to determine.

1) I love to collect quotes. I have a journal that goes almost everywhere with me and I write quotes in it. ~~ from books, magazines, newspapers, movies, TV shows....I have them! bits of Scripture, parts of poems, taglines from peoples' emails. It's quite fun and relaxing to go back and read thru it. I used to write them here and there on scraps of paper and then lose them. I LOVE my journal. It's almost full, so I'm going to have to start a new one
2) While I didn't dislike my hubby at anytime prior to marrying him (read lyndie's blog), I did tell my best friend, who used to date him before me, to dump him because she deserved better!
(If you ever hear my testimony, you'll hear how the LORD used that to bring me to HIM!)

3) Saturday we celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary, and as of Tuesday, I now qualify for Senior discounts!

4) I love to sew! It's my way to de-stress. The day after we discovered Bob might have thyroid cancer, I pieced together a quilt top for Yoselin. Bob asked me what I was doing. I think he was a bit concerned as we were supposed to be preparing to leave the country for an undetermined length of time. My reply: "Dealing with my stress!"
It worked! The quilt top was packed in the suitcase and last Friday I handstitched the backing in place and tied it with embroidery floss. Yoselin will have a bright colored quilt made by her "mana".
Which brings us to
#5) I am now the proud grandma, or as the grandkids say, "Mana" of two grandsons and two granddaughters! Being a mom is wonderful and filled with joy, and being a "mana" just intensifies those feelings!

Now who to tag? Does anyone even read Chin y Chon?
I need three people to atleast leave a comment so I know if there's anyone I can tag!

Hey, wait! can I tag David? Maybe "Through a Glass Dimly" will then have something new to read.

and Lauren, you've now been tagged.

Still would like to have three people to atleast leave a comment so I know if anyone is reading this besides Regi and me! Thanks, Regi!

And so it begins....

Well we arrived yesterday in Tampa after a very uneventful trip from Santo Domingo. Paul Puleo picked us up at the airport. 1st stop Starbucks, then CWE office. After that we stopped at Applebee's for salad, then to Dr Jack's. Dr Jack heads the medical ministries for CWE, and is the doctor that had thyroid cancer. At his office we were served Cafe con leche made with Cuban coffee. Not all of his patients get that service, we were taken up to the staff breakroom...what a blessing as the four of us sat drinking coffee, and had a time of prayer.
Okay, now I'm sitting in the waiting room at the hospital. Our Doctor just came thru and told me he's going back into radiology and make sure they do all Bobs tests today...this morning!
So, this morning we met with Dr Christianson at 7am. He's the specialist who did Dr Jack's surgery. (who himself just stopped by to see how I'm doing!)


So back to the basics... We met with Dr Christiansen this morning at 7AM, he did a quick exam before heading out for another surgery. He sent us over to the hospital (just around the corner from his office) for blood tests, ultrasound and needle biopsy. So Bob is in admitting being processed and I'm at the waiting room for radiology, where they will do the ultrasound/biopsy.
I feel an overwhelming calmness and peace...well-enveloped in God's love. His love is being shown thru so many of His children. We are well cared for physically. Paul has put us up in the guest house on his ranch. The frig and cupboards are stocked with everything we could want. We have a Ford Explorer to drive (same vehicle we have in the Dominican but everything works on this one!)
Dr. Jack, as I mentioned earlier, just stopped by having already talked to Dr Christiansen. He assures us that Dr C is the best! Actually yesterday he told us, that with his cancer surgery he could have gone anywhere in the country to have it taken care of and yet, he chose this doctor because he is the best! So, we are getting the best care possible!
Our insurance is up-to-date and should cover most of the hospital. Not sure how it works for the dr's etc. But the LORD has provided all our needs thus far, I know HE will not abandon us.
We have rec'd many emails, calls and text msgs. Each one is a blessing and encouragement. Thank you!
I'll keep you posted. From comments made by both doctors, I'm thinking things are moving fast. They will not delay and will work quickly on this.
love you all!

"Be strong and courageous; do not tremble nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Just 24 little hours

By now many of you may already have heard about the major change in our plans. Friday morning I got up excited about the fact that the rains had finally stopped and the sun was out. Our bedroom had finally stopped leaking. I could finally put away the buckets, remove our mattress from the living room and start cleaning and doing the laundry. A normal day at last!
Then Bob came home about 3:30. And our life changed!
He's been having a sore throat for over two months and had treated it with antibiotics, but to no avail. He had finally developed other symptoms along with pain in his neck, not just his throat.
While doing errands in San Pedro, he decided to look for a lab where he could get some blood work done. The LORD lead him to Clinica de los Ninos, a private hospital, {but not just for children as the name would seem to imply.} There he met a Christian doctor, Carlos. He told Carlos his problems. Carlos also works at another hospital, Musa. He told Bob to meet him at 5:30 and we would go to Musa and there Carlos would do an ultrasound on Bob's neck.
We were very pleasantly surprsied when we entered the room and found brand new, up-to-date equipment! the rest of the hospital looks more like a prison from the 1920's! Carlos did the ultrasound and my untrained eye from 6 feet away could see that there was a problem.
As Bob and Carlos talked, it was obvious that he not only has a tumor in his thyroid, but it has begun to calcify, which probably indicates cancer.
Our life has drastically changed. Hearing him make his phone calls, to David, Lyndie and Shan about broke my heart. As he called others, the sadness continued to grow.
Last week he started a time of training with several pastors. He went yesterday expecting to see the same 14 men...but the group had grown to 20. ALL wanting to be taught! he had to tell them we have to leave the Dominican for a time. He came home drained....he said they encircled him and prayed and wept. They are going to be like the woman of Luke 11, who continually pleaded with the judge until he relented.
Right after that he had to tell the other SCORE missionaries. Then this morning we went to our church in San Pedro. The first 20 minutes of their service was spent in time praying for their country and for the devastation of so much from tropical Storm Noel. Each family was given a huge black garbage bag and asked to return it tonight full with items for those who lost everything! Talk about sacrificial giving!
The pastor then allowed Bob a time to share. By the time he was done, there wasn't a dry eye.
They again encircled the two of us and beseeched the LORD on our behalf. I have never seen Dominican men cry until today!
After the email Bob sent out yesterday, we have received many return emails and phone calls. What a blessing! I think each one makes Bob weep.
Tomorrow many phone calls have to be made. The one probably most important, is the call to the insurance company. Since we do not live in the States, we have health insurance for missionaries. Since we were just in the States for over 2 months, we do not know how much it will cover, if at all, for surgery in the States.
If it won't cover us, we will have to go to Costa Rica, which has an incredible healthcare system.
One of the main hospitals, Clinica Bautista, is as modern as anything in the States. Since the service would be out of the States, the insurance will cover it.
But all of this is in the hands of the LORD. None of this took Him by surprise.
We face an uncertain future from a human perspective, but our Heavenly Father knows all! He has not, nor will He, abandon us! Of this I AM SURE!
Yesterday I was still pretty numb. I wanted to cry but the tears would not come. The time in church this morning with the saints was a true time of encouragment and blessing! As one after another of my brothers and sisters came with tears and hugs, I prayed that the LORD would allow me to understand what they were saying to me. They spoke in words I knew! They spoke of having confidence in God, of His power, and of being strong in the faith, and of their continual prayer for us!
Please pray for us! Particularly, for Bob's throat and this tumor. Pray that he does not loose his ability to talk. The LORD has allowed me, esp these last couple of days, to see the heart that Bob has for these people here in the Dominican. I so want him to be able to teach and minister with them.
Pray for the insurance coverage. We would prefer to go to Tampa, FL. One of the doctors (a brain surgeon)that oversees the medical ministry of CWE (Construction for Worldwide Evangelism) lives in Tampa and within the past two years has had surgery for thyroid cancer. He is going to set us up with the doctor who did his surgery! We already have several places to stay!
We would be taken care of also in Costa Rica, but don't have the same medical connections.
But it is all in HIS hands!
Most likely we will be flying on Tuesday where ever it is we are going.

"I know the plan I have for you," declares the LORD. "Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Please pray for our future!