tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67763203681545054272024-03-13T08:22:36.748-07:00due unto othersdue unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-63098588526809947292019-05-25T10:42:00.000-07:002019-05-25T10:42:41.176-07:00Heart surgery on my heart???<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As the sun comes up over the mountains of western Uganda, I sit
on the porch with a French press of Eote coffee enjoying my last Saturday in one
of my favorite places.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have an off
day today, but my “inner Due” alarm clock went off early this morning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My mind started thinking about the mechanics
and logistics of the coming week.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I
last blogged, we had completed 2 out of our 6 clinics and we had 24 patients
scheduled for eye operations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On Monday and Tuesday, we had relatively light volume
clinics in Ishaka and Sanga.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Between
these two clinics we saw about 375 patients and signed up 14 people for eye
surgery. The Due Unto Others team has been to Ishaka several times in the past.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jayne and our Ishaka TOP Crispus.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We have come to love their church and feel
that we are a part of it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Due Unto was
there in 2014, the days before they launched the church in a tent.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now they are about to celebrate their 5<sup>th</sup>
birthday! <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had never been to Sanga
before. Sanga Community Church is a plant from Rushere Community Church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had a wonderful time and enjoyed meeting
the pastor and members of the community.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Despite having only myself and one other doctor, we were able to see 225
patients. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On Thursday, we went to a community not far from Mbarara
called Ruti.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we pulled up, we were
greeted by overwhelming numbers of people.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1xSpQEXqjhI/XOlyLAF4mEI/AAAAAAAAB-A/PuJflng_B_wSpmo3OZLkWPAn0qgQIOnxACEwYBhgL/s1600/ruti%2Bcrowd%2Bright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1xSpQEXqjhI/XOlyLAF4mEI/AAAAAAAAB-A/PuJflng_B_wSpmo3OZLkWPAn0qgQIOnxACEwYBhgL/s320/ruti%2Bcrowd%2Bright.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Despite the rain that fell for much of the morning, people stayed around
all day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We were not able to see
everyone, but we did see 325 patients and signed up 41 people for surgery from
this location.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In addition, through the
spiritual care part of the clinic, 28 people gave their lives to Christ.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We exhausted most of our supply of reading glasses
and had to call back to Kampala to get more glasses purchased and sent out with
Jamil.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ruti is a church plant from Pastor Johnson’s church that we worked with in
Kabale back in December of 2015.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On Friday, we went to Itara. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is a lovely village up in the banana
trees west of Mbarara that we had visited 2 times in the past.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamil joined us Thursday night.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The location is quite rural, so I was not
sure if we would have a full day of patients.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The church and Pastor Joseph did a great job of getting the word
out.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We were able to see 300 patients
and sign up another 31 patients for eye surgeries.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Through the spiritual care clinic, another 29 patients professed faith in Jesus!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What
a day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As we drove back down the dirt roads
between the banana trees, we were already trying to think through the logistics
of transporting, feeding, treating, and arranging follow up for the 110
patients that we have found that need eye surgery.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So this recap gets you caught up on our week and gives you
some insight into why I woke up at 5:00 am this am doing math/planning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We will be receiving about 70 of these
patients on Sunday and the Ruti group on either Tuesday or Wednesday am.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As some of you know, we leased a small bus on
this trip instead of just using our old Toyota van.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are going to be able to transport more than
half of our 110 surgical patients to the hospital with our leased bus, rather
than having to send them on a taxi.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This
will help us offset some of the bus expense.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It should also make the trip more comfortable for our Due Unto patients.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today, Saturday, we will be taking our friend
Berna to the market in Mbarara to buy supplies to feed this large group of people
lunch and dinner for the time that they are in the hospital.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Berna and her team from Divine Harvesters Church,
have been gracious to help us with this task each time that we have hosted an
eye surgery camp in Mbarara.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Needless to say, as we work through some of these logistics,
eye surgeries are on my mind, but at the same time Heart surgeries are on my
heart?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I agree, this is a strange phrase
and title of a blog, but let me explain.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>There are two different children that we know in western Uganda that
need open heart surgery.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The first is a young girl named Precious.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We met Precious in Ishaka back in 2017.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We noticed her because of the loud murmur
that she had on exam. Over the past 2 years, Precious has undergone echocardiogram
and evaluation by the heart surgeons at Mulago Hospital in Kampala.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They feel that she is now big enough that she
can undergo a repair for her Ventricular Septal Defect (hole in the heart
between the ventricles).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A VSD allows
blood to flow the wrong way as it pumps.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>This is inefficient and is not something that can be sustained as Precious
gets older.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Even though Mulago is a
government hospital, the open heart surgery, for Precious, will cost 18 million
shillings.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>At the current conversion,
that is $5,000 US dollars.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is
obviously a lot of money, but it is also life or death for this young girl.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Over the past year, both of my grandmothers, Jo
Gregston & Toady Due, have passed away.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>As part of their obituaries, the families requested that in lieu of
flowers, that donations be made to Due Unto Others.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If you<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>gave in memory of either of them, your donated funds will go directly to
the surgery for Precious.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I feel that
this is the best way to continue their memory in the heart of a 3 year old
girl.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This will still leave us about
$2,500 short.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If you would like to donate
towards this specific need, please let me know.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The doctors are now just waiting on the green light of available funds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The second child that has “heart surgery on my heart” is Dickson.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Dickson is a 15 year old boy in Rukungiri
Uganda.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One of our friends and medical
partners, Dr Jonathan Kintu, brought this need to my attention.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Dickson is in need of a heart valve
replacement due to complications of rheumatic heart disease.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After having rheumatic fever, Dickson has growths
on his Mitral and Aortic valves and these valves need to be repaired or
replaced. Dickson has suffered slowed growth, exercise intolerance and
shortness of breath due to this condition.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Dickson has been seen and evaluated at the Uganda Heart Institute and
has been booked for heart surgery in November.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>This will only be carried out if he has the funds to cover the cost of
the surgery.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This surgery is slightly
more than the one for Precious at $5,880. Again, this is a big number, but if we work
together, just think of what God could Due for this boy, through us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have said it before, the only thing better
than God answering your prayers is for God to use you to be an answer to
someone else’s prayer. They have been earnestly praying for God to provide
funding for the surgery. The following is a letter that was put out by the Dickson's church. I can't imagine being in the father's position.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dickson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">If God has blessed you in a way that allows you to give towards
these two critically needed heart surgeries, please email me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/2/null">DueUnto@gmail.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">You can give by check or paypal.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Due Unto Others</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">C/O Jay Gregston</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">5900 Mosteller Dr #122</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Oklahoma City, OK 73112</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Please pray for efficiency and miracles at the eye hospital this
week.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have these 110 patients
scheduled and we are supposed to fly out on Thursday evening.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We will likely have to lean more heavily on
our Ugandan team to finish the project here on Thursday and Friday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What ever you Due!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jay</span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-61528285071440134752019-05-18T10:32:00.000-07:002019-05-18T11:31:21.142-07:00Up and Running in Uganda!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We are off and running with our eye clinics in Uganda.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Our team arrived in Uganda at 4:00 am on
Monday morning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We slept a while and
then went to Wentz Medical Center to start packing our trunks and ordering our
medications for our 6 eye clinics.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We spent
Tuesday visiting some friends in the Kampala area. You might remember <a href="http://dueunto.blogspot.com/2012/03/healthcare-update.html">Nakiganda</a>
and <a href="http://dueunto.blogspot.com/2012/03/do-you-have-2300000-laying-around.html">Tendo</a>.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They were some of our “that
one person” (TOP) friends that Due Unto Others supporters helped to get medical
care in 2012.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Tendo is now about to turn
13, is in 6<sup>th</sup> grade, and is doing well in school and physically.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Tendo came with us for the day and told Jayne
that she was “more active before”. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Nakiganda, now 14, seems to be doing well.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She has grown and seems to understand and
communicate much better than she did in the past.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She is in top class, which is like pre-k in
the US.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We also got to spend a couple of evenings with Jamil.<span style="margin: 0px;"> Jamil is busy preparing for his primary school leaving exams. </span>He will get to join us for more time in the
latter part of our trip.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The bus was loaded and the Due Unto Others team of 2019 headed
out to Mbarara on Wednesday to start our clinics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On Thursday and Friday we hosted eye clinics in
Rushere.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We had been to Rushere in 2012
and 2013, but we have not been back since that time. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On our initial trip to Rushere, the church
was just a frame in the middle of an open field and was partially roofed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We stayed in guest rooms around a bar and we
took care of a boy named <a href="http://dueunto.blogspot.com/2012/05/who-god-uses-david-story.html">David</a>.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On our second
trip to Rushere, the church was completed, and we were introduced to <a href="http://dueunto.blogspot.com/2013/06/kevin.html">Kevin</a>, a
boy with severe burns.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On that trip, we
stayed in a guest house near the hospital.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>This guest house was at the top of a hill and with the relative lack of
lights, we saw some of the most spectacular stars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Now, in 2019, the church building has doubled in size, they
have added 2 school buildings and have dug the footing of a large sanctuary
that they plan to build over the next year.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It is currently a school holiday here in Uganda, but on a regular school
day, the school educates more than 100 students.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">On day 1 in Rushere, we saw 150 patients for eye treatment.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Through this first Rushere clinic, we were
also able to experience 12 people accept Christ and 16 patients were signed up
for operations. We also gave out many pair of reading glasses, primarily to the
aging patients that could no longer read or do things up close.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJAEYLBIJSM/XOAwf1S2HZI/AAAAAAAAB8k/bDAX0HEkbEsLcD8AORJuAFXrh_6Q2N2lwCEwYBhgL/s1600/rushere%2Bblog%2Breading%2Bglasses%2B2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJAEYLBIJSM/XOAwf1S2HZI/AAAAAAAAB8k/bDAX0HEkbEsLcD8AORJuAFXrh_6Q2N2lwCEwYBhgL/s320/rushere%2Bblog%2Breading%2Bglasses%2B2019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YarBM3vssAo/XOAwNu75YzI/AAAAAAAAB8g/Wrk7oiiOqRALCS-0JBXQVzfFNq4CRPyHQCEwYBhgL/s1600/rushere%2Bblog%2B2019%2Beye%2Bglasses%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YarBM3vssAo/XOAwNu75YzI/AAAAAAAAB8g/Wrk7oiiOqRALCS-0JBXQVzfFNq4CRPyHQCEwYBhgL/s320/rushere%2Bblog%2B2019%2Beye%2Bglasses%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Rushere church helped us with great
translators and a nurse.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On day 2 of the
Rushere clinic, we saw 110 patients and added 5 salvations and 8 surgery
candidates.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In preparation for this year’s trip, we had gathered some
sport coats and suits to bring with us.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I gave 3 sport coats and one suit to Pastor Herbert in Rushere.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I asked him to give them away as he deemed
appropriate.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I did not realize that the
3 gentleman that had been manning our “spiritual care” clinic were local
pastors.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One from the church we were
working in and 2 from other nearby churches.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He gave the sport coats to them and they were giddy with excitement.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was more than a little warm in the church
as we finished the day, but they kept the coats on their body and a smile on
their face.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I randomly picked out the
coats and suits from our duffle bag, but they all seemed to fit perfectly.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This was one of the highlights of the
day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> Many of the suits belonged to my grandfather, Jack Gregston, and this made it all the sweeter.</span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYSHdGrWMJE/XOA5xJJ56AI/AAAAAAAAB9A/k-vEyG3IZGgdoOf-ar2AD4pZyXeeQIwbACLcBGAs/s1600/rushere%2Bblog%2B2019%2Bpastor%2Bcoats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYSHdGrWMJE/XOA5xJJ56AI/AAAAAAAAB9A/k-vEyG3IZGgdoOf-ar2AD4pZyXeeQIwbACLcBGAs/s320/rushere%2Bblog%2B2019%2Bpastor%2Bcoats.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We have a day off on Saturday and plan to attend Ishaka
Community Church on Sunday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ishaka will
be the site of our clinic on Monday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Please continue to keep our team in your prayers.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are anticipating great things in all that
we DUE.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Whatever you DUE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">1 Chorinthians 10:31</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jay</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-43198636752141395572019-04-27T12:35:00.001-07:002019-04-27T12:35:56.414-07:00Whatever you DUE!
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">As we prepare to go to Uganda next month, I have been
thinking about a verse to be our theme for this trip.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have found one that seems to resonate with
our name and overarching motto.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever
you DUE, DUE it all for the glory of God”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2d-CF3Ryyak/XMRTZnUz89I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/hfSjc9BTIPovw_LzUnY7_FrONSrlU6eZACLcBGAs/s1600/whatever%2Byou%2Bdue.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1134" height="259" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2d-CF3Ryyak/XMRTZnUz89I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/hfSjc9BTIPovw_LzUnY7_FrONSrlU6eZACLcBGAs/s320/whatever%2Byou%2Bdue.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;"><u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">This verse is taken out of Paul’s letter to the church in
Corinth and in the preceding verses, he had given instruction on what to do
with food sacrificed to idols.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He
emphasizes that the Christians are free to eat anything, as long as their
conscience is clear about it and it does not cause someone else to
stumble.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">This verse spells out some freedoms that we have through
Christ and apart from the law.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This
freedom allows us to DUE many things, but it also gives us a freedom to not do
certain things.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The freedom allows us to
honor Christ with our lives, without worrying about laws, rituals or
opinions.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our freedom to honor God
should not be based on what society and popular culture dictates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">This verse also implores us to DUE everything to God’s glory,
even in the boring, everyday tasks that we do.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I have been working a lot the past several months.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have caught myself just trying to get
through this time until I am able to go to Uganda in May.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This verse clearly tells me that I should be
working all of these hours to God’s glory too, not separating one part of my life
from the other.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All of what I DUE should
be honoring God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Things that we would
normally consider “worldly”, like jobs, hobbies, school, etc. are where we intersect
with society and others that need to see Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">I think that it is worth reminding ourselves of this verse
often and take every opportunity to DUE things to God’s glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">As we prepare to make a trip to Uganda, May 11-30, I am
hoping to collect a few items to take with us when we go.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">#1) Sport coats/blazers – Many adults in rural Uganda, men
and women, wear sport coats every day (or at least to medical clinics).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This could be to dress up a little or to stay
warm. I thought that it would be cool to take a big supply of sport coats to
leave with local pastors to pass out as they see fit.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So, if you would, look through your closet
and find a sport coat that you are no longer wearing and get it to me. If the
coat is part of a suit, send the pants too.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>This will be such a blessing to the local church and the people in the
surrounding village.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRGzR-tqzPQ/XMRTdTDFzqI/AAAAAAAAB7U/0pMWXI2R_DAsAVxsI8gNLLnomP1srvXigCEwYBhgL/s1600/uganda%2Bsportcoat%2Bguy%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="1600" height="198" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lRGzR-tqzPQ/XMRTdTDFzqI/AAAAAAAAB7U/0pMWXI2R_DAsAVxsI8gNLLnomP1srvXigCEwYBhgL/s320/uganda%2Bsportcoat%2Bguy%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nsa9w4V8jZM/XMRTf6NFTXI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/oBDGDyfnR6w5AWPyypQC3ReraJWQtPBwQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Uganda%2Bsportcoat%2Bguy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="828" height="211" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nsa9w4V8jZM/XMRTf6NFTXI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/oBDGDyfnR6w5AWPyypQC3ReraJWQtPBwQCEwYBhgL/s320/Uganda%2Bsportcoat%2Bguy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri;"><div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; text-align: center;">
Photo credit to Jayne</div>
</span>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">#2)<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Silverware/Flatware – When we go to a location to host a medical clinic,
the local church or school will usually make us a delicious lunch in the middle
of the day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We sometimes eat at the
location of the clinic, but more often, we will go down the road or around the
corner and squeeze into someone’s home.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>As the guests, they usually make us go first and allow us to use the
silverware.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Many times, by the time the
end of the line is complete, people are required to eat with their fingers
because the silverware is all used.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
have taken some plasticware in the past, and allowed people to use this for
their meals.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last time we were in
Uganda, we had the idea of bringing a big supply of silverware with us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We could allow the hosts preparing our meal
to use the silverware and then leave it with them as a thank you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To that end, if you have any silverware that
is in storage or not being used, or if you want to buy some and send it, let me
know.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">If you would like to donate a sport coat, silverware, soccer
balls or kids shoes please get them to one of these locations:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">1.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Urgent Med – 2004 N Highway 81 in Duncan</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">2.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Impact580 Church – 58 N. 12<sup>th</sup> st in
Duncan</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px 48px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">3.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Due Unto Others – 5900 Mosteller Dr #122
Oklahoma City , OK 73112</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">Our trip, this year, will be centered around hosting eye
clinics and then helping the identified people get eye surgery.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The surgeries will be mainly to resolve
cataracts and each of these surgeries costs about $55.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So if you would like to give towards these life changing operations,
please send a check to the Due Unto Others address above or you can give via
paypal at <a href="http://www.dueunto.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.dueunto.com</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">We covet your prayers as we look forward to our May 2019 trip.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">Whatever you DUE!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">Jay</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: calibri;"></span>due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-28692003382301804922019-04-03T08:41:00.001-07:002019-04-03T11:00:00.369-07:00We Lost a Good One Today<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When my grandfather, Elmer Due (Grampus) died in the spring
of 1987, I was 16 years old, and probably not the most observant person in
town.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>At that time, if you had asked me
if my Granny was a “strong” person, I probably would have said no.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I would have seen her as caring, loving,
kind, but dependent on my grandfather.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>My Grampus passed away, unexpectedly, one day while the rest of us
carried on our normal routines.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I got
out of school, and because baseball season was over, I went to my part time job
at the trophy shop.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I got off of
work at 5:00, I went back to the high school to lift weights.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the days before cell phones, I finished my
workout and headed home, which was east of Duncan, on Tucker road.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I got home, there was no one there and a
note on the bar.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Come to the hospital……..<u>GRAMPUS</u>!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My Grampus had survived a bypass surgery, the
year prior, that we were concerned that he might not make it through, so I was
thinking he might be having heart trouble.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I raced to Duncan Regional Hospital and asked the kind lady at the desk
where I could find the room for Elmer Due.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>She told me to find my family.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When
I told her that my family told me to come here, she kindly broke her rules and informed
me that my Grampus had “expired”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I
headed, with tears in my eyes (much like currently) to my grandparents’ house
on Drexal.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There were many people there,
including my parents, but as I walked in, I only noticed one person. My eyes
met with Granny’s and she met me in the middle of their living room in a long
compassionate hug.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Her words to me, “We
lost a good one today”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That was a moment
I should have noticed her strength.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She
was the one providing comfort.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Over the next few weeks and months, I am sure that Granny didn’t
feel strong, as she was trying to figure out life without her husband.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am sure there were times of crying, sobbing,
and self-pity.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But I know that there
were times of singing, praising and praying.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>In a moment in her life when many of us would have hit back at God, hit
the trail, hit the bottle, hit the prescription medications, or hit the fetal
position, Granny hit her knees.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Looking
back, that should have been the biggest evidence of her strength.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She had the wisdom to know where to get her
strength.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My mom found a poem this week,
while going through my Granny’s things.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Lord My Source</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He is my Savior,
Comforter, and Friend</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He gives me the
courage to start life again.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He’s ever beside me,
through the lonely nights and days,</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">He guides every
footstep and shows me the way.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">(Written after my husband
died – Toady Due) 5/14/87</span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqAC0_8hctY/XKSWgaRrtlI/AAAAAAAAB6w/yaNXn-qcpX4BWb1LQlvfGtXpsAsClIRmgCEwYBhgL/s1600/poem%2BGranny.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqAC0_8hctY/XKSWgaRrtlI/AAAAAAAAB6w/yaNXn-qcpX4BWb1LQlvfGtXpsAsClIRmgCEwYBhgL/s320/poem%2BGranny.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Over the next 10 years, I got married, attended college,
graduated medical school and had a child.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbfr9RPfOQ8/XKSWdGCRKBI/AAAAAAAAB6s/Yc-GRn5JHIgHWuJ7ee21QOsM6mz-t9f9ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Granny%2BJay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wbfr9RPfOQ8/XKSWdGCRKBI/AAAAAAAAB6s/Yc-GRn5JHIgHWuJ7ee21QOsM6mz-t9f9ACEwYBhgL/s320/Granny%2BJay.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of that time, I was busy with those things and didn’t check on my
Granny as much as I should have.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Meanwhile,
she was mowing the yard, providing loving child care for a great granddaughter,
keeping a garden, balancing a check book, cooking for one and serving at her
church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Oh yeah, and one other thing,
she was praying for me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes, for me
specifically, but not only me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She had a
list of everyone in the family and she would spend hours praying for each
person individually and specifically.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I
am pretty sure that her prayers had a lot to do with the list of things that I
took on from age 16-26.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Her strength is
obvious in this list.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am sure that she
had help from people at her church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I
know that she had help from my parents, Aunt Marsha and Uncle Joe Sam.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But probably more than the help she got from
them, she gave out to others.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She was
forever taking friends to doctor’s appointments, volunteering at the hospital
and cooking lunch for grand kids and their friends every week.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Hz-CCNEfhk/XKSWa0ybP1I/AAAAAAAAB6o/fIJMkLqOxg8bKo6QKHN6tEFYQBYjQXZ3gCEwYBhgL/s1600/granny%2Bwaverunner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="960" height="299" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Hz-CCNEfhk/XKSWa0ybP1I/AAAAAAAAB6o/fIJMkLqOxg8bKo6QKHN6tEFYQBYjQXZ3gCEwYBhgL/s320/granny%2Bwaverunner.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Over the last couple of years, Granny had to move from her
home on Drexal, where she had been for 30 years, by herself.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Initially to an assisted living and then to a nursing home.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As we would visit Granny,
she would sometimes come back to the same conversations.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One of the things that she would usually say,
at least once every time we visited, was how blessed she was.<span style="margin: 0px;"> Granny would talk about how she </span>had so many family and friends that loved
her.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In fact, when I visited Granny in mid-February,
her mind was starting to fade but we still had this conversation. Granny was easy
to love.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Since my visit with her in February, she had a significant
drop off in her physical status and her mentation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She started to have trouble swallowing and
had a fall, resulting in an ER visit and staples.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our family had to make some difficult
decisions, but Granny was placed on Hospice last Saturday.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My mom and I have discussed verses that might
be used in her memorial service.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I
thought of a couple, and I am sure that if you knew her, either as Toady or
Granny, you could come up with some too.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>By this, everyone will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">According to this, Granny was easy to spot as a disciple.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She had pretty much mastered the "love one
another" thing.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Phillipians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything, but in every
situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to
God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.”</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Pray without ceasing was pretty much her specialty.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s 5:00am on April 3, 2019.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am working a night shift in the ER
currently.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I got the phone call at
2:43am from my mom telling me that Granny had died.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Fewer than 4 days after we put her on
Hospice, her strength left her earthly body and she went to heaven.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I don’t think my heart could handle witnessing
the sweet reunions there today. Flora/Toady/Granny Due was one of the strongest,
most loving and gracious women that I will ever know. I already regret not learning
more from her but feeling blessed that I knew her for 48 years.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“We lost a good one today”.</span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 13.33px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Jay</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-87719750043890105802018-05-17T19:57:00.000-07:002018-05-17T19:57:04.372-07:00Good Things Come....
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am sure you have heard the saying: “Good things come to
those who wait”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have heard this many
times and have probably tormented my kids with this saying, truth be told.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Until I decided to write this blog, I did not
know where this saying originated.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have
done exhaustive research (“hey google”) and have come up with 2 origins.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first possible origination is with late 19<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
century British poet named Lady Mary Montgomerie Currie who said “All things
come to those who wait”.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second, more modern origination, is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT-PsV2ENMk">Heinz Ketchup Commercial from the 1980’s</a>.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now since I have
watched infinitely more 1980’s tv commercials than I have read British Poems
from the 1890’s, I probably picked it up from Heinz.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought for sure that the phrase came from a bible verse,
in the book of HESITATIONS, that I learned in VBS.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Anyway, I am sure that you are wondering why
this common phrase was enough to break my brain out of blog retirement after
months of no entries.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, I have recently seen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD2b8YbSUOI">a new tv commercial, from DeltaAirlines</a>, that tells a completely different side to the “Good things come”
story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As the years go by, I find myself
agreeing with Delta Airlines more than Heinz Ketchup.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Call me crazy, call me an adrenaline junkie, call me reckless,
but I am starting to think that the only thing that comes to those who wait is “OLD
and BORING”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I might have learned it too
late, but I can guarantee you that lifelong memories with your kids come to
those that GO.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The great American Philosopher,
Dr Steve Walker, once gave a strict warning to our residency class.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He said there will be demand for our services
and that there would be the temptation to over-buy fancy things.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He said that we should limit our number of
hours each month so that we could spend time with family and not get burned
out.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If we worked extra, make it be
designated for something fun and not to pay the bills.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He also encouraged us to take trips with our
kids.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He proposed that the trips,
sights, exposures and even stresses of travel would be what the kids had a
lasting memory of.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think that if you
asked one of my kids to recount the top 10 memories of their life to this
point, a healthy majority of them would be related to fun, wild, scary or
life-threatening travel adventures.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Probably nowhere on that list would be the days that they spent watching
Netflix while I was at work.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29EF1IEtR1U/Wv46pfdv1mI/AAAAAAAAB48/edrZAtbmUHUQ5GjnB3Xi8FwFVtMc6PwcACLcBGAs/s1600/good%2Bthings%2Bbvi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-29EF1IEtR1U/Wv46pfdv1mI/AAAAAAAAB48/edrZAtbmUHUQ5GjnB3Xi8FwFVtMc6PwcACLcBGAs/s320/good%2Bthings%2Bbvi.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_VmfZMRxAQ/Wv46urTxi2I/AAAAAAAAB5E/RmYGxwtpvzYqig84wNmTE60NvvGCnSjbQCLcBGAs/s1600/good%2Bthings%2Bkili%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L_VmfZMRxAQ/Wv46urTxi2I/AAAAAAAAB5E/RmYGxwtpvzYqig84wNmTE60NvvGCnSjbQCLcBGAs/s320/good%2Bthings%2Bkili%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This way of thinking isn’t natural for me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am conservative in most ways.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am politically, socially and naturally a
financial conservative.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My brain says
live below your means and save for retirement.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>My new way of thinking says YOLO and there is a lot to experience in
this world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now my retirement guy can
attest that I have neglected him for about the past 10 years and my kids may
have to pay for my trips to go with them when I retire, but we have covered
some miles in those 10 years.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think that
my kids would all agree that they would rather get a Christmas gift that is an
experience instead of a gadget or cool clothes.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not encouraging anyone to neglect paying their bills
and I know that the budget for experiences can range widely depending on what
you can do or what you can afford.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If your
budget is tight, go camping at the lake with the family.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Teach your kids to fish or catch
crawdads.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If something goes wrong, don’t
get upset, have fun with it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jill and I
call those “memory makers”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If you are
camping and it pours down rain and the wind blows your tent over, play in the
mud and laugh about it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Your kids will
remember it forever.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Was the camping
trip to prove that you can make things go perfectly or to make a memory?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Make plans for a bigger trip and budget the
money over time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not sure how this blog fits in with themes of previous
blogs except to encourage parents by affirming that “Good things come to those
who go”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I know that things are
expensive and bills add up.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am
certainly not advocating working all the time to try to be able to go on
trips.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I just think there has to be a
balance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I read a book back in 2007,
called Margin (by Richard Swenson) that changed my life and I would definitely
recommend it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In this book the offer
talks of restoring emotional, physical, financial and time reserves in
overloaded lives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jill and I are on the cusp of being empty nesters.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It seems like yesterday when or first baby
was born.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I regret missed opportunities
to make memories with our kids while they were home.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It truly is a small window of time that they
are under our roof, so I encourage you to not waste it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am praying good things come to you when you go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jay</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-91755781594962580372017-06-06T12:14:00.002-07:002017-06-06T12:21:31.961-07:00Excess of Access?<div class="MsoNormal">
Today I make this blog entry from MURHEC (Mbarara University
Referral Hospital Eye Center). This is
Tuesday afternoon, but our patients started arriving on Sunday, shortly after
lunch. We had 50 patients from Ishaka
and Bwambara arrive on Sunday and another 16 from Rukungiri yesterday. </div>
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On Monday, we were able to examine all of the
patients and complete 18 cataract surgeries. </div>
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It was a long day as we finally got done about 7:30pm. It was all worth it when, this morning, the
eye patches were removed, and there were 18 happy patients! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Today, we have completed all of the 18 post op exams and taken
in an additional 14 patients from Rukungiri.
The operating room has been humming.
They are not done yet, but there were 32 operations scheduled for
today. I suspect that we will have about
25 surgeries on Wednesday. Five of those
surgeries will be children under general anesthesia. One of those will be Phiona. Phiona is a six year old girl that I mentioned
in a blog after we had been to Bwambara.
She is a beautiful girl with a huge smile. I have some initial good news. After being concerned that she might have a
cancer that was causing her L eye to protrude, it is now felt to be related to
a hemangioma. A hemangioma is a
collection of blood vessels that form a tumor, but it is non-malignant and can
usually be treated with medicine. Her
procedure tomorrow will be to take biopsies to confirm the hemangioma
diagnosis. Please keep her in your prayers
and I will let you know when I hear biopsy results.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When our team was in SW Uganda in December of 2015, we were
surprised to find out that there was only one functional CT scanner in the that
whole section of the country. That
scanner was at a local private hospital.
The scans were not horribly expensive, but really not accessible for
most Ugandans in this region. Then when
we arrived on this trip, we found out that the functional CT scanner was no
longer functioning! So the closest place
to get a test, that we consider routine, is a 5 hour drive away. The CT scanner in the government hospital remains
broken and I understand that they are in a dispute with the person they bought
the machine from about who should pay to fix it. Meanwhile, many physicians are trying to care
for patients in a way that has not been required in some time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This whole scenario of helping people get eye services and
the trouble with the CT scanners got me thinking about how we, in the US, have
an Excess of Access to medical care. We
can get x-rays, labs, ultrasounds, CT scans, MRIs, etc. just about any day of
the week. To that end, our medical
business is built around convenient access to medical care. We as medical patients/consumers have almost
grown to expect this convenient access. I
don’t guess that I have any great nuggets of wisdom regarding this issue except
that I encourage you not to take the medical care and the access to it for
granted it. It is truly a blessing that
we have as Americans. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I think that we will be busy here at least through Thursday
and possibly into Friday. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Just a glimpse ahead.
We will be heading to Jinja on Sunday after church. We will go to Jamil’s village of Pallisa on
Monday for a school screening and then host a general medical clinic in our
friend, Pastor Henry’s, church on Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We will keep you informed of how things are going.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is what we Due!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jay</div>
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<o:p></o:p>due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-21148786872732976152017-05-30T09:22:00.004-07:002017-05-30T09:36:25.590-07:00Cataracts on Spiritual Eyes?<div class="MsoNormal">
As the sun sets on another day of our 2017 medical mission
to Uganda, I can’t help but SEE all of the beauty that this country has to
offer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Two days ago, we packed up our supplies and drove 3 hours
from our “eye home base” of Mbarara to a town called Rukungiri. Then on Monday and Tuesday we have driven an
hour, down dusty roads, to a village called Bwambara. </div>
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This is our third trip to Bwambara, but our
first since 2014. Both the drive to
Bwambara and the village are examples of Nat Geo Africa. The beautiful scenery, the agrarian culture,
the wonderful people, and the simple lifestyle are truly unique. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On the drive in on Monday, we recalled some of our patients
that we had found in Bwambara in the past.
One of the most special was <a href="http://dueunto.blogspot.ug/2014/06/oh-let-me-count-ways.html">Emmanuel</a>.
We were introduced to Emmanuel in 2014 while we were doing our medical
clinic, and noticed that he had a problem with his left eye. We were able to take Emmanuel to Mbarara to
Ruharo Eye Hospital. He was found to
have congenital glaucoma and the surgeons actually had to remove his L
eye. You will not believe how well
Emmanuel is doing now! He was there to
greet us when we arrived on Monday.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9sjbABQ_x0/WS2UWs09OkI/AAAAAAAAB3M/Ph_Dy-SgYQ8rKE6e_0o0bNOJEDOzlyAhACLcB/s1600/emmauel%2B2017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9sjbABQ_x0/WS2UWs09OkI/AAAAAAAAB3M/Ph_Dy-SgYQ8rKE6e_0o0bNOJEDOzlyAhACLcB/s320/emmauel%2B2017.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmanuel today</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lZ_VcHt15oM/WS2cC8qqJrI/AAAAAAAAB3g/mPMLrdO8_JcsV0vqiUX5zb7yJdrskd3cgCLcB/s1600/emmanuel%2Binitially.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lZ_VcHt15oM/WS2cC8qqJrI/AAAAAAAAB3g/mPMLrdO8_JcsV0vqiUX5zb7yJdrskd3cgCLcB/s320/emmanuel%2Binitially.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmanuel initially</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W0_ux4ISyYU/WS2cFVQ17_I/AAAAAAAAB3k/szad1wpvEUwNkVvBKnryTM0pDO8-reh0ACLcB/s1600/emmanuel%2Bafter%2Bsugery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W0_ux4ISyYU/WS2cFVQ17_I/AAAAAAAAB3k/szad1wpvEUwNkVvBKnryTM0pDO8-reh0ACLcB/s320/emmanuel%2Bafter%2Bsugery.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmanuel after surgery</td></tr>
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We also met a new young friend that became a “that one
person” on Monday. I would like for you
to meet Phiona. She is a 6 year old girl
that start having a “scar” near her left eyebrow 2 years ago. Now she has a more prominent knot between her
eyebrows and some protruding of her left eye. </div>
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She still has vision in the eye and good light recognition, so hopefully
we have caught her problem early enough.
My concern, and that of the eye doctor working with us, is that she might
have a rhabdomyosarcoma, which is what our friend <a href="http://dueunto.blogspot.ug/2012/04/calling-for-prayers.html?m=0">Joseph</a> (from Mytiana) had. Our first step will be to have Phiona travel
to Mbarara with the other eye patients to be seen by an eye specialist.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We have scheduled 16 eye patients on Monday and 11 on
Tuesday. This brings us to a total of 78
so far over 6 clinics. We have two more
clinics, this week, before our surgery campaign starts on Sunday. Please keep all of these people in your
prayers as many of them will have to travel long distances to start this process. The funding for these patients will be
significant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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On Monday evening, Pastor Elisha came to our guest house for
a visit. We talked about many things but
one of the things that we talked about was how our “spiritual care” part of our
clinic was working. As we discussed the
150-200 patients that have accepted Christ, he talked about something that struck
me. I have heard this term before. I have even used these terms before, but I
saw it in a new way. He mentioned how we
were using the treatment of “physical eyes” to gain access to their “spiritual
eyes”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We are seeing and treating many people, both young and old,
with physical cataracts. But how many
people do we pass on the street with cataracts on their spiritual eyes? They witness a sunset, a baby’s birth, a healing,
or a restored relationship, but they fail to “see” God in those things because
of the cataracts on their spiritual eyes.
They hear the story of Christ’s birth at Christmas and His death/resurrection
at Easter, but they fail to “see” God because of those same spiritual
cataracts. Now, I think that the
cataracts on spiritual eyes have something in common to the physical
cataracts. This is that the longer they
remain and the older the person gets, the thicker and more dense the cataract
becomes. I pray that all of these people
with cataracts on their spiritual eyes have that cataract fall off like the
scales from Paul’s eyes in Acts 9:18:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Immediately, something
like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was
baptized,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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We have another new prayer request. Through our cataract clinics, I have made a
few contacts in the ophthalmology world of Uganda. One of the previous medical residents that we
have worked with, gave me a contact of a ophthalmologist in Jinja. I will be meeting with her on June 12 to see
if we might be able to expand our eye clinics in to the eastern side of Uganda
on our next trip here.<o:p></o:p></div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-47608241663282423032017-05-24T12:32:00.002-07:002017-05-24T22:14:06.305-07:00What a Terrific Problem!<div class="MsoNormal">
Wow! What a blessing
Monday and Tuesday were in Ishaka! We have
hosted 2 medical camps in Ishaka in the past, both in Ishaka Community
Church. The church building continues to
grow. When we first came in 2014, the
church was a temporary structure. Now,
there is a large building and the church is now requiring 3 worship services on
Sundays.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When we arrived, similar to our previous visits, we were
greeted by large lines of people that had showed up early to seek medical
care. </div>
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Because of our eye emphasis, there
seemed to be more older people than most clinics that we have seen in the
past. Over the 2 days of clinic, we saw
500 patients in total. I don’t have an
accurate number from Tuesday, but on Monday, we witnessed 69 people receive Christ! Of these 69, 3 of them were previously
Muslim. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our team was delighted to see Crispus come into the church
building.<br />
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She is a young girl with burns
on her foot that we have seen and gotten treatment for on our previous trips to
Ishaka. She is growing and seems to be
doing well. She has a little bit of
tightening in the burn scar on her leg, so we will be getting her another
evaluation for possible burn treatment/surgery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Through our treating of these 500 patients, we came across 7
patients that will need a higher level of care.
Three of these are children that will likely need heart surgery. They all have murmurs and slowed growth. Two of these are 18 months old and have
received some work up in the past but have not been able to afford the surgery
(they will need to go to Kampala and Mulago Hospital).<br />
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<span id="goog_2052630685"></span><span id="goog_2052630686"></span><br />
The third we have initiated the work up to diagnose
his problem. From our experience in the
past, most of these heart surgeries will carry a price tag of about $1,500
USD. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Two are patients with burns that will require burn scar
treatment. One is a 1 year old that
pulled some hot porridge onto himself 4 months ago.<br />
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He has some contractures in the fingers of
his R hand and down his R leg. The other
is an 18 year old who has burns to her L hand that are causing some scarring of
the back of her hand that restrict her movement. We will be arranging for their transport to a
hospital that has done tremendous work with our friends Kevin and Shakib.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of the remaining patients caught my eye because of his
presenting problem and his name. His
name is Josam, which is suspiciously close to my Uncle Joe Sam. His presenting problem is a facial swelling,
for 6 months, that reminds me of our friend Joseph that we helped get treatment
in 2012.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vXxeCy_WJLk/WSXezMzJ0MI/AAAAAAAAB2k/fkqM4e0bkt4iV85K8jXK_gmbR-HQn3n9QCLcB/s1600/IMG_4812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vXxeCy_WJLk/WSXezMzJ0MI/AAAAAAAAB2k/fkqM4e0bkt4iV85K8jXK_gmbR-HQn3n9QCLcB/s320/IMG_4812.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Joseph showed great improvement
with chemotherapy treatment for a tumor in his face/sinuses. He later passed away from an infection due to
his decreased immune system after the chemo.
Josam will be sent for a CT scan to evaluate his facial swelling for a
possible tumor. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This clinic proved to be a great clinic for teaching. Ishaka is home to a medical school and many
of their students helped us in the clinic.
In addition, Jayne, Kylee, Anna Catherine, Zach, Jared, and Jake are all
planning on careers in medicine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1nrG1othMw0/WSXfMrXbWuI/AAAAAAAAB2s/8RL_w5VUibovBolGl-fKNq00iyyNQZNKQCLcB/s1600/IMG_4795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1nrG1othMw0/WSXfMrXbWuI/AAAAAAAAB2s/8RL_w5VUibovBolGl-fKNq00iyyNQZNKQCLcB/s320/IMG_4795.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I was
able to squeeze in some time to look at some x-rays and review some interesting
patients that provided great conversation and debate. We also got to see our friend Hilary who dropped by to help us both days. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bWw9sWQb3VE/WSXfsF4CXsI/AAAAAAAAB20/CIwATPxWy_0ZTvHsPfddM_Ogy-09bQzewCLcB/s1600/IMG_4792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bWw9sWQb3VE/WSXfsF4CXsI/AAAAAAAAB20/CIwATPxWy_0ZTvHsPfddM_Ogy-09bQzewCLcB/s320/IMG_4792.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Our new team members, Zach and Kylee, jumped in right away. Zach helped in pharmacy and Kylee was our lab director!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9_ouADdThWY/WSXfBfqJFsI/AAAAAAAAB2o/oeRc_-JPalQOoTPHDRhHjABEn6vlM7mjgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9_ouADdThWY/WSXfBfqJFsI/AAAAAAAAB2o/oeRc_-JPalQOoTPHDRhHjABEn6vlM7mjgCLcB/s320/IMG_4803.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After all of this, we do have a good problem. We have 8 days of clinic scheduled prior to
our eye surgeries. The last 4 of these
are eye care only. Eye care only clinics
have proven to be more productive of eye surgery patients in our
experience. But after ¼ of the clinics,
we have 38 patients signed up for eye surgeries to start on June 5<sup>th</sup>! That is a pace to have 152 eye surgery
patients, even if the pace in our last 4 clinics does not increase. So, this is a blessing and an issue at the
same time. We are not sure how many
people that we can bring into the eye hospital at one time. We may have to stagger the patients somehow
or even add a week of surgeries, at a later date, that would need to be
overseen by our Ugandan team, after we are back in the USA. With each of these patients, there will be
the $55 cost of taking care of their eye surgery. Please pray with us that we will find a good
resolution to this terrific problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, Wednesday, we had a day off. There is a small mountain across the street from
our hotel. To get some exercise and training,
we all walked to the top, and some of our team made the trip up 3 times.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfC7woLWeq4/WSXfY3oixPI/AAAAAAAAB2w/DTwhxGYoYOI8LKWgPcb6kmJzWs1gVVwZwCLcB/s1600/IMG_4808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfC7woLWeq4/WSXfY3oixPI/AAAAAAAAB2w/DTwhxGYoYOI8LKWgPcb6kmJzWs1gVVwZwCLcB/s320/IMG_4808.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jill with the Rocky pose at the top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have clinics closer to our hotel on Thursday and Friday
and a safari trip planned on Saturday.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please continue to pray for our team and that God be
glorified through all that we do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you would like to help financially with any of the
special cases I have mentioned, please email me at <a href="mailto:DueUnto@gmail.com">DueUnto@gmail.com</a> and we could communicate
on how to do this or you can give via paypal at DueUnto@gmail.com.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Due-ing what we Due,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jay</span>due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-21708802944393369812017-05-21T12:42:00.000-07:002017-05-21T12:42:57.100-07:00It's Great to Be Back!
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">It has been 18 months since we hosted a medical camp
(clinic) in Uganda.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">In some ways it
seems like forever, and yet, at other times, it seems like yesterday.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">One thing is for sure, we all were excited to
hit the road again today.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">We packed our
trunks and loaded our van and took off for Mbarara this morning (Sunday).</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">We will be hosting camps in Ishaka each of
the next two days.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">I wanted to make use
of the 5 hours in the ministry machine to catch you up on our trip so far.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">The time since we left Dallas on Wednesday morning has been
a blur.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">We flew to Dubai and had an
incredible time in the desert and absorbing some of the local culture.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">We rode in vehicles “bashing” the dunes and
then some of us sledded or surfed the sand.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Some of us, well me, just fell down while trying to surf the sand.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">We then went to a dinner where we were treated
to some camel rides, as well as, local food, customs and dances.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYhku2jGNOE/WSHmuHa9III/AAAAAAAAB1Y/oJAJI0t2Zx0eP6APta5KNTNiO8QQG-fmACEw/s1600/camel%2Brides.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYhku2jGNOE/WSHmuHa9III/AAAAAAAAB1Y/oJAJI0t2Zx0eP6APta5KNTNiO8QQG-fmACEw/s320/camel%2Brides.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">By the time the 15 hour flight and the desert
tour were over, we collapsed into our hotel beds on Thursday night.</span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">On Friday, we got up and flew from Dubai to Uganda, where we
were greeted by our Ugandan friends and family.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">We talked through our mission plans over dinner and then headed to our
guest house in Gaba.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Once we arrived in
Gaba, we ran into our friends Jesse and Cate and caught up with Jamil (just
arriving from his home in Palissa) before we even reached our guest house.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">On Saturday, we headed up to Wentz Medical Center to pack
our trunks for our 3 week swing through SW Uganda.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">When we arrived at Wentz, guess who we ran
into!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Our friends Kevin and Nicholas.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">It was such a blessing to reunite with these
precious boys and their mothers.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F550jOhGn34/WSHmuJp99UI/AAAAAAAAB1U/UiQ0Hc_pQEk-4NZjv2InTpppHSogxjwtQCLcB/s1600/kevin%2Band%2Bnicholas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F550jOhGn34/WSHmuJp99UI/AAAAAAAAB1U/UiQ0Hc_pQEk-4NZjv2InTpppHSogxjwtQCLcB/s320/kevin%2Band%2Bnicholas.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;"><a href="http://dueunto.blogspot.ug/2013/06/kevin.html">Kevin</a>, you may remember, is a young boy that had been
severely burned when we ran into him in 2013 in Rushere.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">He has undergone multiple surgeries and is
doing remarkably well.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">He was able to
run and play soccer and seemed to be in good spirits.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">He was in town because he was supposed to
have a plastic surgery done by a visiting American surgeon, but he was found to
have Malaria, so he was instead sent to Wentz for treatment.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">His next surgery has now been rescheduled to
May 23</span><sup><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup><span style="font-family: calibri;">.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Due Unto Others
supporters have been so gracious to sponsor Kevin’s medical treatment to this
point.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Kevin is old enough for school
now, so we would like to raise money for his school fees and for continued
medical care.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UN2b0PhT71s/WSHpZZDVs0I/AAAAAAAAB1k/eZxi-gnsKMsQA1lUKo9qInEConpNp0IDgCLcB/s1600/IMG_4760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UN2b0PhT71s/WSHpZZDVs0I/AAAAAAAAB1k/eZxi-gnsKMsQA1lUKo9qInEConpNp0IDgCLcB/s320/IMG_4760.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">Nicholas is a young man that we met in Itara in 2013.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">He had a chronically broken left tibia (shin
bone).</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">We were concerned that he might
have osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease).</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">I think it has been proven that he does not
have this disease.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">His leg has
healed.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">It is not completely straight,
but he runs and plays like his peers!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Due Unto Others donors have supplied his medical care and God has healed
him to a point that he should be able to lead a normal life.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">Sunday morning, we attended worship at Gaba Community Church
and then returned to our guest house to load up our van to head to Mbarara.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">As we were loading our van, I heard a
familiar voice saying “Dr. Jay.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Dr. Jay”.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">I finally realized it was coming from the
other side of the compound gate.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">It WAS
a familiar voice, it was our good friend <a href="http://dueunto.blogspot.ug/2012/05/game-of-choice-for-shakib.html">Shakib</a> with his sister (Bushira) and
his mother (Teddy).</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">They had come to pay
us a visit.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">They also brought with them
some fresh fruit that they graciously gave to our team. It was good to see them
and to see how well Shakib has recovered from his burns that we found him with
in 2012.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">He is getting tall, is in 1</span><sup><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup><span style="font-family: calibri;">
grade, has great use of his left hand and has a smile that brings joy to those
that see it.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">We regretted that we were
not able to spend more time with them today, but we hope that we can visit with
them again before we head home in 5 weeks.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49hxkQ4aaq8/WSHtZSWwhBI/AAAAAAAAB1w/Hzh2x6V0uCo3a5QEeGAsd4YeJ-W02YzZwCLcB/s1600/IMG_4786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-49hxkQ4aaq8/WSHtZSWwhBI/AAAAAAAAB1w/Hzh2x6V0uCo3a5QEeGAsd4YeJ-W02YzZwCLcB/s320/IMG_4786.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">It is great to be back in the ministry machine chugging down
the roads of Uganda again. I has been even greater to see God’s handiwork in
the healing of the 4 boys we have seen so far (Jamil, Nicholas, Kevin and
Shakib).</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Please join us in praying that
God be glorified in our clinics this week and that we can identify “that one
person” that we can make a difference for.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>This is what we Due!<br />
<br />
Jaydue unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-90225540384019675442017-04-23T19:38:00.000-07:002017-04-23T19:40:01.619-07:00Exciting Opportunity<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We are excited as we make our final preparations for our
upcoming mission to Uganda.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">There are just
3 weeks until we take off.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We will be
hosting multiple clinics, treating a multitude of medical problems and looking
for older Ugandans with cataracts.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Following these clinics, we will host a week at the eye hospital to
allow the patients with cataracts to get them removed.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We are also more than excited to tell you about an awesome
opportunity for Due Unto Others and our projects in Uganda.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">There is a donor to Due Unto Others that has
offered us a tremendous opportunity to expand our efforts and to be good
stewards of the blessings that God has given us.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">This anonymous donor will match all
contributions to Due Unto Others between now and when we leave for our trip,
May 17.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">So any donation will go twice as far!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">$55 for one eye surgery turns into two.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">$250 for one trunk of medications turns into
two trunks of medicine.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">$2 for a pair of
reading glasses turns into two pair of glasses. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">If you have ever considered giving to our
mission projects, this is a great time.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">As another piece of good news, our paypal account for Due
Unto Others is now working.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">You can make
a tax deductible donation by paypal by directing it to DueUnto @gmail.com or by
following the support link on our website </span><a href="http://www.dueunto.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "calibri";">www.DueUnto.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">(please leave your address for tax
receipt)</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">You can make a donation by
check to:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Due Unto Others</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">3418 Robert Dr</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Duncan, Ok 73533</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Please pray for our upcoming trip!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Please pray for lives to be changed and God
to be glorified.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
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Jay</div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-38031130916851119162017-04-02T19:45:00.002-07:002017-04-02T19:45:08.269-07:00How will we be known?<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all, I apologize for not making an entry to this
blog in the past 14 months. I have been
out of the blog business, since we haven’t made a trip to Uganda in about that
time frame. We are going to Uganda in
May and I will tell you more about that later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This week has brought back many memories and has been a bit
emotional for me. One night last week,
my parents, siblings and various other family members met at my grandmother’s
house to clean out her attic and storage building. My Granny Due moved to an assisted living in
2016 and we are preparing to sell the house that she and my Grampus bought in
1980. My Grampus died in May of 1987,
but my Granny continued to live there alone since then. Many things in the attic and storage building
had pretty much gone untouched since 1987.
It is hard to believe that it has been almost 30 years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tM6Esmd8Y3A/WOGgtinAQoI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/EKLoevxi9eku9Q1SNeToDcJbOF2KRyEBwCLcB/s1600/Due%2Bgarage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tM6Esmd8Y3A/WOGgtinAQoI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/EKLoevxi9eku9Q1SNeToDcJbOF2KRyEBwCLcB/s320/Due%2Bgarage.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garage in the middle of clean out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We found some really cool stuff in the clean out. Like recruiting letters written to my Uncle
Terry Due, asking him to play basketball at different universities. One was from Army and Assistant Coach Bob
Knight. Another from Oklahoma State and Coach Henry Iba. Terry eventually made
the “correct” choice and played basketball at OU. We found home crafted telescopes, antique
tools, and small desk top cannon, in case we ever need one. The junk in the attic was carried to the curb
and to dumpsters. The awesome treasures
were taken to family homes to pour over or display on a prominent shelf. This unearthing of these cool family
artifacts had me thinking about my grandfather (Elmer Due) and Due Unto
Others. I was also contemplating how I
might lead the latter to be more like the former. As I think about my grandfather, it is easy
to see that I need more Due in me and more Due in Due Unto Others.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The great American philosopher and comedian, Ron White, once
said that his grandfather always said that his grandson “Had a whole lot of
quit in him”. To tell you the truth, I
would like to have less quit and more Due in me. To bring this point home, let me describe
some of the memories and qualities, of my grandfather, that came back to me
this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He was patient. Oh my
goodness was he patient. I never saw him
lose his temper once in my 16 years with him.
I think this quality may have fed into many of the other great
qualities.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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He was gentle. He was
former military and a machinist, but very gentle. I remember one time that he sat with his
dying friend and held his hand for hours.
His friend twisted Grampus’ watch around so many times that he had a big
scab wound on his wrist.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He was a hard worker.
He worked for 30 years and retired from Halliburton. On his off time, he made arts and crafts to sell,
coached baseball, taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, kept a big garden, played multiple musical instruments and led music/bible
study at local nursing homes. When his
work mates at Halliburton went on strike, he could not put is family at risk,
so he crossed the picket lines (enduring insults and injury) to keep working. He would sneak his paycheck home in his
lunchbox so that the people on the picket line would not see it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMwzUokq7GA/WOGgwarrXrI/AAAAAAAAB0c/OwNDvEAqic8GTGNZEfegrTbdNKQGvLD1QCEw/s1600/due%2Bgarden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xMwzUokq7GA/WOGgwarrXrI/AAAAAAAAB0c/OwNDvEAqic8GTGNZEfegrTbdNKQGvLD1QCEw/s320/due%2Bgarden.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teaching my brother Jack about hard work.</td></tr>
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</o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NBJ8Xf5PNDw/WOGgrWYfOWI/AAAAAAAAB0U/0Rl51cVDGr44yyHZkAsH5bbnExVqAawLQCEw/s1600/due%2Bcrafts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NBJ8Xf5PNDw/WOGgrWYfOWI/AAAAAAAAB0U/0Rl51cVDGr44yyHZkAsH5bbnExVqAawLQCEw/s320/due%2Bcrafts.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting up his crafts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sGNYSZhc0E/WOGgz7zXrWI/AAAAAAAAB0g/Xm71bWf8KrcorG_AiocDY6TLMJDcW3EPACEw/s1600/due%2Bmusic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sGNYSZhc0E/WOGgz7zXrWI/AAAAAAAAB0g/Xm71bWf8KrcorG_AiocDY6TLMJDcW3EPACEw/s320/due%2Bmusic.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grampus and Granny playing music.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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He was honest. I
remember one time that I was telling him the story about my trip to Burger
King. I had bought my meal, and somehow,
the cashier made a mistake in counting back my money. I was celebrating my windfall, but he gently
pointed out to me that me taking that money was not right. That weighed heavy on my mind. He would probably be disappointed to know, but
as a high school student, I was too embarrassed to go back to Burger King and
give back the $5.36. So there you have it,
Burger King, I owe you $5.36 from 1986.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He was innovative. I
mentioned the homemade telescope and cannon earlier. He could make anything out of nothing + junk.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He had a unique approach to things. One time while my parents were out of town,
we were staying with my grandparents. He
thought it would be a good idea, at 5 years old, for me to try his chewing
tobacco. I still remember how mad my mom
got at him, but after I got done throwing up all over his backyard, I had
formed my negative opinion about tobacco.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He was kind, he was generous, he was a friend to everyone,
he was loving, and on and on and on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our church is in the middle of a message series entitled “This
is what we do.” We are reviewing some of
the things that we do as Christians. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Matthew 7:16 says, “By their fruits you will recognize them.” Our fruits are our actions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Colossians 3:23-24 says, “...don’t just do the minimum that
will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for
God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your
inheritance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am in the process of deciding what our theme will be for
our upcoming Uganda mission trip. I am
thinking about “borrowing” the title from our church message series and making
it our own. This is what we “Due”. Being kind-Being Generous-Working hard-Being
Honest-Being Patient-Loving Others…..This is what we Due.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please lift our team up in your prayers. We are leaving for Uganda on May 17 and we
will be returning home on June 28. We
will be hosting general medical clinics, as well as finding people with
cataracts and helping them get them removed.
At every clinic, patients see Jesus in the team and hear the Gospel
presented. Please pray that God be
glorified in all of our activities. If
you would like to donate towards the medical clinics and cataract surgeries,
you can send a tax deductible check to:<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
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Due Unto Others<o:p></o:p></div>
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3418 Robert Dr<o:p></o:p></div>
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Duncan, OK 73533<o:p></o:p></div>
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My life is often cluttered with things that need to be
cleaned out of the attic and dragged to the curb. But buried in there are things that are
important. Once I remove the clutter and
then dust off the things in my life that matter, I want to place those things
on a prominent shelf. I want to Due more
for others. I want to be more patient,
kind, hard-working, loving, gentle and kind.
I want God to recognize me because, those things are <b>what I Due</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is what we Due!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jay<o:p></o:p></div>
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Matthew 7:16<o:p></o:p></div>
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PS: My research tells
me that $5.36 in 1986 is now worth $11.84.
So I will be donating that money to Due Unto Others this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-86049174269874466202016-01-27T18:12:00.000-08:002016-01-27T18:12:54.856-08:00Ghost Busters<div class="MsoNormal">
It is not uncommon for us to have “ghosts” that tend to
haunt us in life. I am not talking about
spirits or paranormal beings. I am
talking about things that we would rather not be a part of our lives, but tend
to be lurking in the shadows or around the corner to “haunt” us. For some it could be a bad habit or lack of
discipline, for others it might be a bad relationship or the guilt of things in
our past. I want tell you about a ghost that
I got rid of for good today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Many of you know that we have some cows on our ranch. We are not cowboys, nor do we even have a
horse. We do have a small corral and a
squeeze chute that allows us to hold the cattle to tag them or give them
shots. Almost all of our cattle are
docile enough to get them to go into our corral by following a feed bucket and
then we can sort them into the squeeze chute or down a different chute to put
them in a trailer. We have a few cows
that are tame enough to hug, pet, or eat out of your hand. We also have a few that are wild enough that
it is VERY difficult to get them into the corral at all. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When our cows have a baby calf, we usually will take the
young cattle to the market to sell when they are about 6 months old. The only exception to that is when we decide
to keep a girl calf (heifer) to raise up and replace one of our older momma
cows. So other than our herd bull, it is
rare for a male calf to be on our property past about 6 months of age. Well, over the past 18 months, I have been
trying to catch a steer that is as wild as a rodeo bull. He was born in January………of 2014. That’s right, he is 2 years old and still
running around our ranch, eating hay and never getting close to the corral. I started calling him Ghost, because he was so
elusive. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Last spring, I put a bounty on this steer’s head. When this happened, Jared, Jamil, and Jayne
decided that they would “round him up”.
They took our rhino atv and chased Ghost until he was exhausted and
then, somehow, Jared got a rope around his neck. This rope was tied around the roll bar of the
atv. As Ghost started to buck and
protest, the rope found its way around the passenger seat and the seat was “removed”
from the atv. Ghost got away and the 2
seat atv became a 1 seater. Ghost 1,
Gregstons 0.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After we returned from Uganda, in July, I opened up the
corral and allowed the cows to get in to eat down some of the grass. One day, while I was out doing some things
outside, I noticed that Ghost had wandered into the corral with some other cows
while no people were around. I “sprinted”
(my kids say I run at the speed of smell) and I got to the gate before
Ghost. Finally! I had captured Ghost. This was a Monday and planned to take him to
the stockyards on Wednesday (the only day that they receive animals). On Wednesday, I met with an electrician to
solve a problem with power to our barn.
The breaker box is near the corral and while we were looking at this,
Ghost got “spooked” and ran with the intent of jumping the 6 foot fence of the
corral. He did not make it over, but he
did break the panel and with a second attempt he sprung himself free. UGGGGHH!
So now Ghost was again eating the grass and he had broken my
corral. Ghost 2, Gregstons 0.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Over the fall, I tried a few times to get all of the cows to
follow my pick up into the corral by honking and making noise. Most of them know that I will be feeding them
when I do this. Each time I did this, I
got all but about 3 of the cattle to come in.
Ghost never came even close. I
decided that as long as there was grass for him to eat, I might never catch
him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It was a blessing that our grass lasted until after
Christmas this year. This was related to
the mild and wet summer. I mapped out a
plan that when I started feeding hay, I would put the hay feeder in the corral
and if the cows wanted to eat, they’d have to come into the corral. I wanted to time this where I could try to
catch Ghost on a Wednesday, put him directly in the trailer and go to the
stockyards. Due to my work and travel
schedule, I had not had a Wednesday free until now. So this past Sunday, I put the hay feeder in
the corral and opened the gate wide open.
I would only go around to put a new bale of hay in each day. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This morning (Wednesday), I got home from working overnight
in the ER, and I was hoping to see all of the cattle in the corral. I was pleased to see the corral was full of
cattle. I was going to drive around to
the close the gate and then see if I had caught the Ghost. As I drove around the house heading to the
corral. I saw Ghost out in the pasture
hanging out with Sadie our Great Pyrenees livestock dog. UGGHHH.
So late morning, I fired up my tractor, picked up a bale of hay and made
a big circle around the pasture to make sure all of the cattle saw me with
it. Then I pulled into the corral and
placed it in the feeder. I parked the
tractor and went to hide behind a shed to watch. Slowly the wilder cattle started to filter
in. Then finally, I saw Ghost walk
in. He was on alert and not eating. I kid you not, I got down on my knees and
pulled my brown hoodie over my head and started crawling to get across the 50
yards of open space to make it to the gate.
I caught him! I got Jared to help
me and we started trying to get Ghost in the loading chute. After we accomplished this, Ghost tried 3
times to jump the fence and each time he fell back and he got up more angry
than the time before. The last time, his
nose was bloody and he was staring at me like he remembered the day that I put
a tight rubber band around a certain part of his anatomy that changed him from
a bull to a steer. We got the trailer ready
and Jared hid beside the trailer and held the inner gate where he could release
it if I got the steer to go into the trailer.
After a 5 minute standoff, Ghost decided he wanted to run down the
loading chute. He took off and I chased
behind him. I chased him all the way up
into the trailer. Jared released the
gate and I jumped in the trailer behind the Ghost and latched the gate. He was ANGRY and I thought he would tear up
my trailer. I loaded an older cow in the
back of the trailer and took off for the stockyards. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It took me about 90 minutes to drive to the stockyards. As I pulled up to the unload area, the man
working there asked me if I wanted the two “cows” pregnancy checked. I told him that one of them was a steer. The lady filling out the form said “that is a
steer?” “He is so big, I thought he was
a cow”. “How old is he?” We had a good laugh and I advised them to
find him a pen that had high walls. As I
drove away, I stopped to take this photo. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A4NNj20E7Ss/Vql1Z0soGJI/AAAAAAAABzI/H4n4PnuyEzc/s1600/ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A4NNj20E7Ss/Vql1Z0soGJI/AAAAAAAABzI/H4n4PnuyEzc/s320/ghost.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I won the final and deciding round, but he was still giving me the stink
eye!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now that I have gotten rid of this ghost, I think that I
will concentrate on putting more of God’s word into my mind and fewer calories
into my body. Fewer calories…..that can
wait, tonight I am going to celebrate the win with a good steak!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
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I hope you enjoyed me retelling my misadventures and I hope
that you can take your ghost to the stockyards.<o:p></o:p></div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-54204842387772529952015-12-15T10:18:00.000-08:002015-12-15T10:18:45.123-08:00Grace is enough!
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6cF6_XXRpyc/VnBYZjP5UxI/AAAAAAAABy0/eduncQowUyA/s1600/GracePainting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6cF6_XXRpyc/VnBYZjP5UxI/AAAAAAAABy0/eduncQowUyA/s320/GracePainting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve heard it said that it is darkest right before the
dawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not sure if that is
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems like dark is dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that the saying is true for a woman,
in Uganda, that we had told you about previously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace is an incredibly strong woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is the wife of a pastor that was recently
(September) struck by lightning and died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was left with 10 children that she is taking care of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them are hers by birth, some of them
she has taken in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They range in age from
13-17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3xJpin-Ko1I/VnBXwRgmWBI/AAAAAAAABys/euPikZHZPoU/s1600/blogGraceFamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3xJpin-Ko1I/VnBXwRgmWBI/AAAAAAAABys/euPikZHZPoU/s320/blogGraceFamily.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>That seems like a high hurdle to
clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it gets darker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We had known about Grace and her plight for a few
weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had mentioned her<a href="http://dueunto.blogspot.ug/2015/11/striking-opportunity.html"> in this blog</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had arranged for our friend
Cate to come to Mbarara, while we were there, to help us minister to
Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We felt that Cate was uniquely
qualified as her husband was a preacher before he passed away, at a young age,
leaving Cate with 2 young children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we arrived in Mbarara on Friday, we found out that Grace was in………PRISON.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The woman that God had laid on our hearts was in prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What could the widowed preacher’s wife done
to deserve prison?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that Grace
and her husband had joined with several people to take out a group loan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace was slowly making her payments and
still owed 20,000 shillings (about 6 dollars).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The group, however, still owed 6 million shillings ($2,000) and some in
the group were not making their payments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The whole group was responsible for the loan, so since the group was in
default, they all were arrested last Monday (December 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2uoREMVcCbQ/VnBXudP10CI/AAAAAAAAByk/PDAk_-DYz80/s1600/blogGrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2uoREMVcCbQ/VnBXudP10CI/AAAAAAAAByk/PDAk_-DYz80/s320/blogGrace.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So Grace was not only widowed and trying to raise 10
children, she had now been in jail with her kids at home for 5 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our friend, Pastor Joseph, was able to
inquire about Grace and was told that it would take 2 million shillings (about
$650) to gain her release, even though she only owed 20,000 shillings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even this could not be done until Monday the
14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were heart-broken
for this lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just when things seemed
dark, it seemed like this blow could leave her without hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This whole situation was heavy on my heart all weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up very early on Sunday morning
thinking about this lady and her situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It seemed like God gave me the word “pilgrim” in my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not sure what that meant, but I was
sure that God had placed it on my heart about Grace and her situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I did some research, I came up with
several definitions, but wondered how they applied.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Monday, Pastor Joseph was able to hire an attorney and
gain her freedom without paying the entire 2 million shillings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, Tuesday, Jill and Cate were able to go
and visit Grace and her family at their home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As they talked with her, they found out that Grace had not lost
hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had taken the “opportunity” of
being in jail to be an evangelist to the other women there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite her circumstances and despite the
dark valley she was traveling through, she was preaching the love of
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had come with intent of ministering to her
and she had given us a great example of ministering to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With this information, my “pilgrim
revelation” seemed to make more sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One definition of pilgrim is a person that is traveling in a foreign
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think prison was a foreign
place for Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people there were
not like her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I had stated in the previous blog, we had hoped to raise
enough money to help the widow with school fees for her children, potentially
buying a plot of land and constructing a house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had started towards that goal, but we had to use some of the funds to
get her out of prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next set back
was that she has many more children than the 3 that we thought she was caring
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the project has become
bigger, we feel that God can use us to help this amazing Grace in her time of
need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So we are still fund raising with the following goals in
mind:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Raising funds for school fees for those children
still attending school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will post
pictures, names and a link to how you could sponsor one of these children for
their school fees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Raising funds to purchase a plot of land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way we understand it at this time, we can
find a small plot of land for about $2,000 (that is US dollars).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been made aware of a plot of land
that is 2 acres in size and already has a “plantation” of banana trees on it
for about $9,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is obviously a
big amount of money, but it would be something that could provide some
sustainable income.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Raising funds to help in the construction of a
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This might be less than my
original estimate of $5,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some local
churches and pastors might be able to donate labor and supplies to help with
the construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family also does
already have a few construction supplies and metal sheets to make a roof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please continue to pray for Grace and her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to give toward any of
these projects specifically or towards the eye projects, please contact
me:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:DueUnto@gmail.com"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">DueUnto@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Due Unto Others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3418 Robert Dr<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Duncan, OK 73533<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-81679676782973855912015-12-08T10:33:00.001-08:002015-12-08T11:10:27.582-08:00All of the work could be purposeless.<div class="MsoNormal">
We have started into our eye clinics in Southwestern
Uganda. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9UsMUEYAfA/VmciMLw8lXI/AAAAAAAAByM/zEi4PIkEvdI/s1600/blog%2Bpurpose%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U9UsMUEYAfA/VmciMLw8lXI/AAAAAAAAByM/zEi4PIkEvdI/s320/blog%2Bpurpose%2B2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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On our first day we saw 160+
people and found 18 patients in need of an eye surgery. We treated many others with reading glasses,
eye drops and allergy medicines. We
traveled with 9 people on our team and were joined by about that many more from
the local church in Kabale. Much work
was done and many people were treated, but was our toil purposeless?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ecclesiastes 1:1-11<br />
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<b><i>1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king of Jerusalem: 2 "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Uttery meaningless! Everything is meaningless." 3 What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. 7 All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. 8 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. 9 What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was there already, long ago; it was here before our time. 11 No one remembers the former generations, and even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.</i></b><br />
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How is that for a pick me up blog? The writer of Ecclesiastes is lamenting how
everything is meaningless.............. without God giving us purpose. So our work that we have done, is not in
vain. It has everlasting purpose. Through our clinic on Tuesday, about 20
people came to know Christ (I am not sure of the exact number as the Pastor
kept the list). Each one of those souls
gives us purpose. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JXTJbTDsy3A/VmciM8ZxiwI/AAAAAAAAByY/_AwXYM4e6Mg/s1600/blog%2Bpurpose%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JXTJbTDsy3A/VmciM8ZxiwI/AAAAAAAAByY/_AwXYM4e6Mg/s320/blog%2Bpurpose%2B1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Next week, 18 of these patients will receive surgery to
restore or preserve their sight. Imagine
the display of God’s love to these precious people, to their family and to
their village with this change. That has
purpose. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Almost anything you do or that I do can have purpose, if we know Jesus and
we work to bring him glory.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Colossians 3:23<br />
<b><i>Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.</i></b></div>
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Trying to find purpose in your life? His name is Jesus!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If you'd like to give towards the eye surgeries that will occur next week, you can give a tax deductible donation to:</div>
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<br /></div>
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Due Unto Others</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3418 Robert Dr</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Duncan, OK 73533</div>
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<br /></div>
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Each eye surgery and surrounding care costs about $50.00.</div>
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Pushing forward with Purpose,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Jay<o:p></o:p></div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-2240059182459188122015-11-20T18:41:00.000-08:002015-11-20T18:41:47.616-08:00Striking Opportunity
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we head to Uganda in a couple of weeks, our heart has
been touched by a family there that we don’t even know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On September 28<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>, Pastor Joseph,
from Mbarara, reported on Facebook that a pastor friend of his had been fatally
struck by lightning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our contact with
Pastor Joseph is a little limited, we did not know much more about this heart
breaking event until we met up with Joseph in Tyler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were spending the evening in Tyler,
with Joseph, there was a pretty significant thunderstorm with lots of
lightning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This lightning reminded us to
ask Joseph about what had happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems that a pastor from Mbarara returned to his home
village to attend a burial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the
burial, while he was preparing to return to his church in Mbarara, he was
struck by lightning and died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His death
left his young wife and children without a husband, father, and bread
winner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this time, we are unsure of
the children’s ages, but we think there are 3-4 kids, all in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family had owned some land and were
planning on building a house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To help
the church, the pastor had recently sold their land and used the money for the
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This type of sacrifice is not
uncommon for pastors in Uganda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As many of you know, Mbarara is the city in SW Uganda that
we have been basing our Mud In Your Eyes missions out of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The deceased pastor’s church is right on the
road that we drive down each day as we leave our hotel there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Pastor Joseph told us about the hardship
facing this family, God touched our hearts about some things that we could do
to show God’s love to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First of all, we thought of our friend, Cate, that we stay
with sometimes in Gaba.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her husband was
a pastor, but passed away of a medical problem at a young age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His death left Cate and their 2 children in a
very similar situation to this other pastor’s family in Mbarara.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her strength, faith and God’s provision over
the years gives Cate a unique perspective and ability to share wisdom with this
recent widow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were able to talk to
Cate on Tuesday and she has agreed to join us in Mbarara next month to help
minister to this family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Secondly, we would like to ask you to start praying about
possibly sponsoring one of the children of this pastor to go to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can arrange a school sponsorship for these
kids through Parental Care Ministries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the ministry that we were introduced to in Tyler this
month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For $35/month, one of us can
sponsor a child in a way that helps them go to school, have food to eat, and
clothes to wear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the link to the
PCM website:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.pcmonline.org/pages/loving-children/sponsor-a-child/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.pcmonline.org/pages/loving-children/sponsor-a-child/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are interested in helping us on this front,
please contact me and we will arrange for the sponsorship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children that we are trying to help are
not listed on this website but will be profiled in a blog in the second or
third week of December.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thirdly, we would like to raise the funds to buy back the
family’s land that the pastor had to sell to support his church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Pastor Joseph, a plot of land
will cost between $3,000 and $4,000 USD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we can secure this parcel of land back, we can move to the 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lastly, the family had been living in the church
building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the church will be finding
a new pastor, their ability to stay in the church is drawing to a close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are going to need a place to stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a way to support his church and ministries,
Pastor Joseph has built a kiln and makes bricks used in construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would also like to raise enough money to
build the family a small home on the newly purchased land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not sure of the price for this project
but I will estimate it at $5,000 USD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">James 1:27 says, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of
God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and
refusing to let the world corrupt you.”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please pray about these projects and see if God might prompt
you to give toward one of these specific projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can contact me directly via email at </span><a href="mailto:DueUnto@gmail.com"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">DueUnto@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have exciting news as we have completed
the formation of our non-profit organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can now give a tax deductible donation directly towards our mission
projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every dollar of any donation
goes directly toward mission projects as we have no overhead or paid staff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Due Unto Others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3418 Robert Dr<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Duncan, OK 73533<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another bit of good news involves Jamil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was having some humming in his left ear,
back in August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This prompted us to go
ahead and have his MRI done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got the
results of this last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As many of
you know, he has multiple tumors inside his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of these tumors have changed in
size!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were blessed by this news and
also by the news that the humming in Jamil’s ear has gone away!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eWc7VlAQo28/Vk_YWnFlwrI/AAAAAAAABx8/UWv8wwcGSG8/s1600/agaba%2Bvisit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eWc7VlAQo28/Vk_YWnFlwrI/AAAAAAAABx8/UWv8wwcGSG8/s320/agaba%2Bvisit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We leave for Uganda on December 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We plan to do one week of eye clinics in a
rural area of southern Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following
this week of clinics, we will host a week of eye surgeries for the people that
we have identified in the clinics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
one of these surgeries, to repair vision, costs a total of about $50.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This includes the surgery, travel to and from
the hospital, meals at the hospital and travel for follow up care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We observed God’s love spreading through
villages last summer as we hosted similar projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see more about our eye ministries,
Mud In Your Eyes, in this <a href="https://youtu.be/Vmpn7O4b2SA">VIDEO DOCUMENTARY</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks for all <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>your
support through prayer and giving toward these specific projects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jaydue unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-84368059804608728962015-05-28T11:52:00.003-07:002015-05-28T11:52:28.416-07:00Counting Cards in Uganda<div class="MsoNormal">
Each year, as we host our medical clinics, we are greeted by
many patients as we arrive for our day’s work.
We have devised methods to try to keep the process of checking in
patients orderly. One method is to hand
out number cards to the people that are present when we arrive. This insures that they have their “ticket” to
get seen for the day and don’t get displaced by someone more aggressive that
shows up later. In the past, these
number cards were sharpie numbers written on a note card. At times, when some of the note cards were
lost, we had random pieces of cardboard numbers. We noticed last year that some of the cards
became forged. We even had people buying
forged numbers to get a place in line.
Also, we had to put the cards back in number order prior to each
clinic. This got us thinking, that there
had to be a better way. It needed to be
something that could not be duplicated or forged. I had thought of something as simple as poker
chips with numbers written on them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As we thought about this, we came back to what we know is
the most important element of the clinics.
That, of course, is sharing the gospel with the people that come to the
clinics. As we thought through this, God
began to give us an idea for our number cards.
Then, as the idea came together, he helped us find someone to produce
them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each card is a full size sheet of paper that has been
laminated. On one side, it has the Due
Unto Others logo, the Renewal Health/Wentz logo and a number. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BdQN47ykt-Q/VWdf80DWOVI/AAAAAAAABxM/CZylUESzY5Y/s1600/Card%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BdQN47ykt-Q/VWdf80DWOVI/AAAAAAAABxM/CZylUESzY5Y/s320/Card%2B1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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These cards are numbered from 1-200 as we average
about 200 patients per clinic. On the
other side we have 3 pictures and bible verses that can lead a person through
the gospel presentation, even if they can’t read very well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Snj-pZe05dc/VWdf-61gBKI/AAAAAAAABxU/C4VGEyBHsc4/s1600/card%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Snj-pZe05dc/VWdf-61gBKI/AAAAAAAABxU/C4VGEyBHsc4/s320/card%2B2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Picture #1 shows a man that is separated from a Holy
God. It demonstrates that good works,
education and religion cannot bridge the gap between man and God. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Galatians 2:16 “Know that a person is not
justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ
Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the
law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but
the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Hebrews 9:27 “Just as people are destined to die
once, and after that to face judgement”,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Picture #2 shows a cross coming in to the gap between man
and God as a bridge to God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For what I received I
passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures, 4 that he as buried, that he was raised on the
third day according to the scriptures”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->John 14:6 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The third picture shows the man crossing the “Cross Bridge”
to reach God. The man now has eternal
life, he will not be judged, and free from damnation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->-<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears
my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged
but has crossed over from death to life”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As the patient is waiting for their medicines, one of the pastors goes through this card with them. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZlSIlx7H4Y/VWdgCa0csaI/AAAAAAAABxc/RqJnHHpnqDk/s1600/card%2Bwith%2Bken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZlSIlx7H4Y/VWdgCa0csaI/AAAAAAAABxc/RqJnHHpnqDk/s320/card%2Bwith%2Bken.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then they are allowed to take the card home. Hopefully to share with others. These cards have been universally well received, have helped to lead many to Christ and we
hope they will be a witnessing tool in each of these villages for years to come!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--XyKGlOrxoc/VWdgHpq9lvI/AAAAAAAABxk/2UwEgLob8t8/s1600/card%2Bwith%2Blady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--XyKGlOrxoc/VWdgHpq9lvI/AAAAAAAABxk/2UwEgLob8t8/s320/card%2Bwith%2Blady.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We are coming down the home stretch of our Mud in Your Eyes
mission trip for 2015. We have 1 clinic
remaining in Migina on Friday. We have
scheduled 56 people for eye surgeries next week. About 50% of these are cataract
surgeries. It has been interesting this
year. The people that we have
discovered, while working clinics, that needed some extra medical care, have
almost exclusively been people with eye problems. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When we decided to emphasize eye care this year, I thought
that we would mainly be finding and treating people with cataracts. We have found many people with cataracts, but
we have also found other eye problems.
So in addition to offering surgically restored vision to Ugandans, we
are also preventing vision loss to others.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is going to be amazing on Monday morning. All of the people that we have determined
that needed a surgery, will show up at the eye hospital at 8:00 am. At this point, this number will be at least 56,
but potentially as many as 70 people, getting care that they could not get
otherwise. Hospitals do not feed the
patients or take care of the patients beyond medical and nursing care. So our main job for next week will be trying
to help feed and coordinate the transportation of these 70 patients and their
one family member that they bring along to help them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please continue to keep our team and these patients in your prayers. We are "counting" on it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Jay</div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-21102592675006517172015-05-22T09:34:00.000-07:002015-05-22T09:34:34.132-07:00Meet Shamira
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">When we arrived at the clinic in Ishaka, I, like Jay, was taken a back
by the difference a year can make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
had already been a great start, because we had talked to Jamil, and you could
hear the excitement in his voice with the start of school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOodt89uXWs/VV9YNwvpUZI/AAAAAAAABw0/cOMQXKAeENE/s1600/banner2014b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AOodt89uXWs/VV9YNwvpUZI/AAAAAAAABw0/cOMQXKAeENE/s320/banner2014b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-Wf7aattk8/VV9UR9KSxvI/AAAAAAAABwk/N4dEHVOgAXw/s1600/ishaka2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-Wf7aattk8/VV9UR9KSxvI/AAAAAAAABwk/N4dEHVOgAXw/s320/ishaka2014.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rZBo_lgPMms/VV9UB3O_j7I/AAAAAAAABwI/C9i4caGJo1Q/s1600/banner2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rZBo_lgPMms/VV9UB3O_j7I/AAAAAAAABwI/C9i4caGJo1Q/s320/banner2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSF5TB_D7lw/VV9URtEVNrI/AAAAAAAABwg/HCMzSSoy_Xw/s1600/ishaka2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSF5TB_D7lw/VV9URtEVNrI/AAAAAAAABwg/HCMzSSoy_Xw/s320/ishaka2015.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">As we began setting up, I was introduced to the young lady
who would be my interpreter where the patients check in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her name is Shamira.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every clinic is a little different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Ishaka, there were so many waiting outside
under the tent, that we would call about 10 at a time after the first 30 so the inside of the
church was not too congested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pauses
as we waited to call each group gave us time to get to know one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Ishaka is where Kampala International University Medical
School is located, so we had many medical students to help us each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shamira is a first year medical student from
Kampala and introduced herself as muslim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She said her friends had talked her into coming to Ishaka Community
Church on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She heard there would
be a medical clinic at the church from Monday to Wednesday so she wanted to
come and be a part of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday was the
first day she had not worn her niqab, the head covering worn by muslim
women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one she wore only
allowed her eyes to be seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shared
with me that her father is a muslim, but her mother is a Christian as well as
her four other siblings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her I
thought Jesus was pursuing her heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked about Jesus
for a little bit and I asked her what was keeping her from accepting Him as her
personal Savior and Lord?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said,
“Nothing is.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked her if she wanted
to accept Him now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was and did!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked her if she had a Bible, and she said
she did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was noticed in the picture
that was taken of the two of us on Monday, that she had fixed her hair to cover
her a lot like a niqab would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T93izPYZ5e0/VV9ULXKVwmI/AAAAAAAABwQ/qi9yqXxQsuw/s1600/shamiraMon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T93izPYZ5e0/VV9ULXKVwmI/AAAAAAAABwQ/qi9yqXxQsuw/s320/shamiraMon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I asked
the Lord specifically that she would understand the freedom she now has in Him
and would be more comfortable with not using her hair as a covering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We serve an Amazing God who answers specific prayers.
Tuesday’s Picture!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--5p1B1xKhDE/VV9UMEektgI/AAAAAAAABwY/qMkDnT6ngWY/s1600/shamiratues.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--5p1B1xKhDE/VV9UMEektgI/AAAAAAAABwY/qMkDnT6ngWY/s320/shamiratues.jpg" width="295" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I asked her on Tuesday if she had talked to her mom?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “Yes, and she is very happy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked if she had told her that she was now
born again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a joy to work next to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">On Wednesday, we continued to talk and get to know each
other. Our friend, Henry is a first year medical student at KIU as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-_oXSIBpUs/VV9YR-3tKSI/AAAAAAAABw8/mNnqliw0QYA/s1600/Hilary2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-_oXSIBpUs/VV9YR-3tKSI/AAAAAAAABw8/mNnqliw0QYA/s320/Hilary2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had asked Shamira if she knew him earlier
in the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t and I only know
his first name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, when Henry arrived,
she told me she did know him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He used to
be her neighbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Henry said, he thought
she was a muslim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him she was,
but she became a believer in Christ on Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I shared with her about how I had prayed for her to know the freedom in
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I showed her the difference in
the two pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please join me as I
continue to pray for Shamira to become a fully devoted follower of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-83432046059304646482015-05-20T17:32:00.000-07:002015-05-20T17:32:40.015-07:00What a difference a year can make!
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I write this blog from the ministry machine as we make our
way back to Mbarara.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have just
finished our 3 days of clinic in Ishaka.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Due Unto Others/Renewal Health Network/Call2Africa team has seen and
treated over 730 patients, after which we are a little leg weary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our spirits, however, are energized as we
have seen more than 130 people give their lives to Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gospel was shared to groups, to
individuals, through video and through a puppet show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Medical care was once again a magnet to draw
people in, to hear about Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we live our lives, we sometimes don’t appreciate the
changes that can happen in the span of 1 year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our team has seen the huge difference a single year can make this week
in Ishaka.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ishaka Community Church is almost unrecognizable
approximately one year after we visited them in 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might recall this <a href="http://dueunto.blogspot.com/2014/07/prayerfully-persistent.html">blog that I wrote about the Ishaka medical clinic last year</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
we arrived to start our clinic this week, we noticed a nice metal building with
a concrete floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last year, we worked
out of a small tent on uneven ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We
even had to scramble for cover when a rainstorm came and almost collapsed the
tent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ishaka Community’s Pastor, Sam,
told us that he does not think that the church would have gotten started
without the medical clinic that we hosted last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our clinic in 2014 was one week before the
church opened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sam says that almost all
of their original members came from that 2 days of clinic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ishaka is a community with a heavy Muslim
influence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The district did not want the
church to start, but the initial momentum of the church allowed it to succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a difference a year has made for Crispus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You might remember this photo from last
summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYGC4vaGpnI/VVzUXKHABrI/AAAAAAAABvc/o-v1yPWgBV8/s1600/crispus2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYGC4vaGpnI/VVzUXKHABrI/AAAAAAAABvc/o-v1yPWgBV8/s320/crispus2014.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we saw Crispus, she had been severely burned and her foot was scarred up
against her leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was unable to stand
or walk because of the scarring and contractures of the foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through God’s provision and Due Unto Others
donors, Crispus was able to receive multiple operations to relieve the scarring
and contractures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we arrived on
Monday, Crispus RAN out to greet us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wqlUkNf47N4/VVzUYDyKalI/AAAAAAAABvk/xaXFM0GYFqk/s1600/Crispus2015a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wqlUkNf47N4/VVzUYDyKalI/AAAAAAAABvk/xaXFM0GYFqk/s320/Crispus2015a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HpNOGpfqeUA/VVzVpdGw33I/AAAAAAAABvs/jB-HEo71G5c/s1600/crispus2015b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HpNOGpfqeUA/VVzVpdGw33I/AAAAAAAABvs/jB-HEo71G5c/s320/crispus2015b.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a blessing to see a child given a second chance at a
normal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of her scars are
starting to get tight again as she grows, so she will be meeting us in Mbarara
tomorrow to have some more surgeries done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you for your prayers and support that has helped Crispus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last 12 months have proven to be a dramatic change for
Gift also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had seen him last year and
he had a horrible bone infection of his lower leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had pus draining from it and he could
barely stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was quite concerned that
the leg might require amputation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again,
through multiple surgeries and IV antibiotics, Gift was healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He greeted us when we arrived the second
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through our God’s healing power and
the efforts of many, Gift has gone from a horrible infection that threatened
life and limb to being a healthy boy in one year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ydLBMo2G_UI/VVzZ6ZgT8SI/AAAAAAAABv4/gkHs_OVo1oc/s1600/gift2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ydLBMo2G_UI/VVzZ6ZgT8SI/AAAAAAAABv4/gkHs_OVo1oc/s320/gift2015.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just one year ago, Mud in Your Eyes was just a “vision” that
God had given me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was on this same
drive back from Ishaka in 2014 that we discovered and met Dr. Simon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Simon is an Ophthalmologist that teaches
at Mbarara University Eye Hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Part of our emphasis, during the past 3 days, has been to find people
with cataracts that could be repaired surgically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Simon sent an Ophthalmology clinical
officer (like a PA in the USA), named Grace, with us every day this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has identified 20 patients that need
surgical intervention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About half of
those are cataracts, and the others are anything from glaucoma to possible
tumors to inverted eyelids that need repair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So in turning the pages of one calendar, Mud in Your Eyes has been
launched in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I regret not getting
a picture, but near the end of the clinic today, we saw an old couple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the lady had received a number to be
seen but the husband had not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we
noticed him, we sneaked him in the back door to get Grace to look at him
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alfred and Queen will be traveling
as a couple to Mbarara on June 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> for an evaluation for cataract
surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a blessing it will be to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine the demonstration
of God’s love that will be witnessed by their whole village!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have 6 remaining clinics as we continue with our mission
trip of 2015.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our number one goal will
be to share the Gospel and allow the Holy Spirit to win souls for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that, we will continue to look for That
One Person that we can make a difference for medically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please continue to pray for our team and
those with whom we interact over our remaining clinics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s power in the Mud!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
</div>
</div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-41923011222884964602015-05-17T02:05:00.002-07:002015-05-17T02:14:49.861-07:00Is my grief due to my unbelief?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are currently in the Ministry Machine making our way to
Mbarara.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be hosting clinics
there for the next two weeks, then spending a week coordinating cataract
surgeries for those that God brings our way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I make this trip, I have to admit, I am a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we left Jamil with our friend David and
Jamil will start his boarding school tomorrow morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have purchased all of his supplies and
paid his fees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though we will see
him again in 3 weeks, there is some finality to today that struck me while we
were in church this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then,
my “allergies have been acting up”, as Jill likes to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only this time, I am not sure if there is
enough Benadryl and steroid shots to set me straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am grieving for our family that our time with Jamil in our
home is over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Th6WR8ZOekg/VVhXx9gHmQI/AAAAAAAABvE/Kun_iL3-mSI/s1600/grief%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Th6WR8ZOekg/VVhXx9gHmQI/AAAAAAAABvE/Kun_iL3-mSI/s320/grief%2B3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I am grieving for Jamil
that his time with our family is over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GoQWXFLl-8c/VVhYhFPm0CI/AAAAAAAABvM/MOrQ7mzgv-U/s1600/grief%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GoQWXFLl-8c/VVhYhFPm0CI/AAAAAAAABvM/MOrQ7mzgv-U/s320/grief%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>At the same time, I do believe that it is God’s plan to return him to
Uganda and get him back in school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Knowing that it is God’s will for Jamil to stay in Uganda, helps my
brain to feel better about our separation today, but it so far has not helped
my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe in God’s plan, but
does this grief show my unbelief?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I catch myself grieving over Jamil’s diagnosis of a brain
tumor and Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I grieve even though these things have been stable with no growth for at
least 9 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grieve the fact that
the life expectancy for patients with NF2 is around 30, even though I know my
God is in the business of doing miracles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I grieve that there are no surgical options for Jamil’s brain tumor and
that if it starts to grow, the medical treatments are limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe when I pray for Jamil’s healing,
but does my grief show my unbelief?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Please review this passage from Mark 9. </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is
possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18Whenever it seizes him,
it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and
becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could
not.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay
with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw
the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at
the mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or
water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who
believes.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “<u>I do believe; help me
overcome my unbelief</u>!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the
impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of
him and never enter him again.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy
looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him
by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately,
“Why couldn’t we drive it out?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I currently see myself in the father in this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He believes that God can heal his son, but at
the same time he asks for help with his unbelief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear God, I know that everything is possible for one who
believes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray that Jamil’s transition
back into Ugandan boarding school be as smooth as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also pray that Jamil grows old while doing
your work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I pray t</span>hat his longevity, as an NF2
patient, will be talked about in text books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lord I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-31768919719827069052015-05-13T11:32:00.004-07:002015-05-13T11:32:56.643-07:00How a Legion is like a Meningioma
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mark 5:1-20 says:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.[a] 2 When
Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to
meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not
even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore
the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to
subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out
and cut himself with stones.</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in
front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me,
Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus
had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”</span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged
Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The
demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He
gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs.
The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the
lake and were drowned.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and
countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they
came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons,
sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those
who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed
man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with
Jesus to leave their region.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been
demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go
home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and
how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the
Decapolis[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is Wednesday evening here in Jinja, Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started our day this morning early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our team gathered for breakfast and our morning
“Devo”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one had been specifically
assigned to lead the devo this morning, so we weren’t sure exactly how it would
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While sleeping last night, I had a
dream about the pigs at our ranch drowning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I woke this morning, God brought this passage, in Mark, to my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have read any of my blog posts in the
past, you know that I am not a biblical theologian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the devo I lead this morning and what I am about to share with you may seem
extremely bizarre to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Through our discussions with Jamil, over the past weeks and
months, we have come to find out that Jamil received some significant teasing,
related to his eye, while at school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This even after the tumor had been removed and with his right eye remaining
permanently closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jill and I have
encouraged him to turn this source of ridicule into his badge of honor for
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His eye is a testimony to God’s
mercy and power in his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When he starts to school this next week, it will officially
be the second term (out of three) for the 2015 school year in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will be joining a class where most of the
students were already there for term one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since he will be a “new student”, he will be asked to introduce himself
to the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are going to be
coaching and encouraging him to share is life story with the class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We feel that this will provide a great
platform for him to share Christ with others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, when we took Jamil back to his home in Pallisa,
Pastor Jonathan Kabanda asked for 10 minutes to talk to the people that had
gathered to see why the Mzungus had come to the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jonathan asked Jamil to stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then in the local language, shared Jamil’s
story of God’s healing, provision, and grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He talked to the gathered crowd about Jesus and His power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he was finished, 19 people raised their
hand to accept Christ and then prayed a prayer of salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-banAdQWNGt0/VVOWM69TM5I/AAAAAAAABug/r1ZpNGoLpx8/s1600/preaching%2Bpallisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-banAdQWNGt0/VVOWM69TM5I/AAAAAAAABug/r1ZpNGoLpx8/s320/preaching%2Bpallisa.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>If this didn’t prove a point to Jamil, he
must not be paying attention!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So in this story in Mark, Jesus finds a man that was
possessed by a Legion of demons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This man
scared the local people and they wanted nothing to do with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Jesus casted out the Legion of demons, the
man was found to be sitting there and in his right mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was acting normal as though nothing had
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then as Jesus was getting
ready to leave, the man who had been possessed, asked to go with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus said, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Go home to your own people and
tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In verse 20 it says <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis[b] how much
Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God impressed on me how much this man who was healed by
Jesus had in common with Jamil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil
had been shunned by his village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
his large eye tumor, the villagers felt that he was cursed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would not allow him to be in school
because his eye and the way it protruded, scared the other children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was an outcast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z5VTc3jhAIU/VVOX6QG8vgI/AAAAAAAABus/J-YVIIexcPQ/s1600/jamil%2Boriginal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z5VTc3jhAIU/VVOX6QG8vgI/AAAAAAAABus/J-YVIIexcPQ/s1600/jamil%2Boriginal.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Then Jesus caused a chain of events to
happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A traveling evangelist saw Jamil while holding a
crusade in Jamil’s village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was at
the same time that Jamil gave his life to Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That traveling evangelist also takes jobs as a
driver to make money to support his ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This driver/evangelist was hired by a medical missions team from
Oklahoma to drive them on a few missions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The evangelist and the mission team from
Oklahoma became friends and he told the team about a boy with an “eye problem”
that he had seen out in Pallisa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The medical team was able to meet Jamil a few
weeks later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">People from all over the world, but especially
Duncan, Oklahoma, raised funds for Jamil to have 2 separate eye surgeries and
radiation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.)</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God provided for Jamil to go to the USA for a
final diagnosis and ultimate plan of action.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God has caused a healing in Jamil and if Jamil has on his
sunglasses, you would not know that he has ever had a medical problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2fQqZK4_I14/VVOYfvhKoYI/AAAAAAAABu0/PhFKrk4Fam0/s1600/book%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2fQqZK4_I14/VVOYfvhKoYI/AAAAAAAABu0/PhFKrk4Fam0/s320/book%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The people, especially in Pallisa that knew
him before, are AMAZED at what God has done in Jamil’s l</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ife. Though we may want Jamil to return with us to the USA and Jamil may want to go with us, we feel that God has commissioned him to "go home to his own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for him and had mercy on him.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will continue to encourage Jamil to share his story and
through the amazement, he can share Christ with others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomorrow is our first clinic of this year's mission. We are excited.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jay</span></div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-13390695303398456822015-05-12T06:12:00.002-07:002015-05-12T06:34:24.398-07:00A Mother's Perspective<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">1 Kings 3:23-27 from the New Living Translation states:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“All right, bring me a sword.” So a sword was
brought to the king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he said, “Cut
the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the
other!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the woman who was the real
mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, “Oh no, my
lord! Give her the child-please do not kill him!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the other woman said, “All right, he will
be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the king said, “Do not kill the child,
but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">As we began to realize that the Lord was leading us to bring
Jamil back to Uganda, He reminded me of this scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what it feels like to be divided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Divided between two very different
cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not physically of course, but
emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a very tough as an adult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is even harder to see it in your child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, Jamil is alive, healthy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been homeschooling him in math,
reading, and English, studying science and social studies as it came up in our
reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came to realize the division
of this sweet child beginning as we worked on these subjects and lived life
with him in the US.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I will never forget the day in August when we found out that
the MRI showed the tumor was in his brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At that point, we had yet to see Dr. McNall at OU Children’s
Hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To our knowledge at the time,
we believed the tumor had grown from the CT scan in June he had in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We assumed from the knowledge we had at this
point that our call was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to walk along
side this sweet child as he beat us all to Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I could not give this news to Jake
over the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So a sweet friend went
with me to Weatherford that late afternoon so I could tell Jake in person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Thankfully, this was not what would be our reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m reminded of the first time we took Jamil
to the doctor in Uganda in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we
left the office and were stuck in traffic, a street evangelist who was sharing
the Gospel in Lugandan caught sight of Jamil and his extruding eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stopped, looked at Jay, and said, “This
boy is going to be healed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HzDmV-Yn6R4/VVH7iB5itUI/AAAAAAAABt4/wcj3q-UqbLA/s1600/street%2Bpreacher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HzDmV-Yn6R4/VVH7iB5itUI/AAAAAAAABt4/wcj3q-UqbLA/s320/street%2Bpreacher.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>God is
teaching me I must trust Him more deeply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To remember He is the Alpha and the Omega.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows way more than I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am to walk by faith not by sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">God continued revealing Jamil should be in Uganda in several
ways. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sought council from strong
Christ Followers who listened carefully and the Lord used them to confirm His
leading in our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Christmas, one gift Jamil received was a
butterfly kit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the weather became warm
enough, we ordered the caterpillars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This gift became a visual reminder of one of the verses he has
memorized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 Corinthians 5:17-“Therfore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has
come.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked about our hearts are
like the caterpillar before we come to realize we need a Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we realize the only way to have eternal
life is by accepting Christ, He transforms our heart….the old has gone and the
new has come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result of the change
(like in the cocoon, yet in an instant not days) is a new creation….the
butterfly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The butterfly can never go
back to being a caterpillar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason
we choose to do good is because of what Jesus has already done for us on the
cross because of grace that we each must choose to accept personally. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we choose to live by his Holy Spirit daily,
the new that is sealed in our hearts (the butterfly) it points others to Jesus,
gives God Glory, and builds our treasure in heaven where thieves and moths
cannot destroy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The butterflies had been
out for about 5 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One Sunday evening:
Jared, Jayne, and Jamil came and asked me if they could go and release the
butterflies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a cloudy
evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayne took her camera and took
a few pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon their return I
asked if I could see the pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
soon as I saw this picture, it was at that moment the Lord confirmed to me that
His plan was for Jamil to return home to Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-huE8rSmpDbU/VVH_a_ROXEI/AAAAAAAABuI/ewphsevYzjM/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-huE8rSmpDbU/VVH_a_ROXEI/AAAAAAAABuI/ewphsevYzjM/s320/butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">It was time to release him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I will admit to you that I continued
to want Him to confirm it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had looked
up the verse the first time that I began this blog with in Jay’s ESV Study
Bible many weeks before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided after
seeing that picture and a couple of others I wanted to look it up in the One
Year Bible I have been reading through which is in the New Living
Translation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have enjoyed God’s Word
in this way as it goes by date with readings from the Old and New
Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I looked up in the index
for the verses in 1 Kings 3 it was on June 8<sup>th</sup>, the day return to
the airport to head back from the recently scheduled trip to Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really, Lord?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">This is when I knew that I knew what He was saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doubt and questions still kept creeping into
my thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful and praising
God who is merciful as He sees our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wanted to obey, but oh I had no idea this new level of emotional pain
that was beginning in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s
lesson:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me more deeply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is believing without seeing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finish well while I have your child physically
with you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">It was a few days we received a letter stating that Jamil’s
travel documents had been issued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A week
or two after that we received the date of his immigration interview for May 6<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had already scheduled our return to Uganda
from May 8<sup>th</sup> to June 9<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Okay Lord, I know what I heard you say, what does this mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I have followed Christ I have learned He
does not lead us in straight lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this
a new turn, a curve from Him or not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
need for daily discernment increased as did my emotional sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, the underlying peace remained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will admit sometimes it would shake if I
would take my eyes off the Only True Source of Peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, by grace, He restores when I refocus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, sometimes I choose to do this
more slowly than other times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">We had decided while Jamil was with us we wanted him to
experience the ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Most Ugandans do
not love the water for swimming.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last
June, the first swimming pool Jamil was around in Uganda, he jumped in with
both feet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I write this I realize just how much in
hindsight this is who he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, he
sank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were right there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He continued in his time with us to be very
willing to experience new things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
he arrived in the US we quickly got him a lifejacket and he always wore it
around water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This particular morning in
Florida, I was the first one up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
life jacket was on the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I
noticed it, my heart broke yet again and my eyes flooded with emotion as I thought
about returning from Uganda without Jamil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Later that morning we were at the pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jayne and I had been teaching him how to swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed that his life jacket was in the
chair next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil was swimming! </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p9hyx4hyiQ0/VVIAehJYB_I/AAAAAAAABuQ/RRYl5qai2dA/s1600/jamil%2Bswimming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p9hyx4hyiQ0/VVIAehJYB_I/AAAAAAAABuQ/RRYl5qai2dA/s320/jamil%2Bswimming.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">No
life jacket required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like the
butterfly picture, the Lord spoke through His Spirit to my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t need the life jacket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Am and always have been and will continue to be. “I’ve
Got This”, God!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I think, NO, I know, this Uganda trip has been the most
difficult to prepare for:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>bittersweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually, I have an idea of what we are doing
with the understanding it is a liquid plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, as we were preparing to leave, I felt that I was going in
totally blind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our first several days
were planned to look at the best school for Jamil to attend upon return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very different sending your child to
school approximately 8500 miles away compared to 200, not to mention difficult
to comprehend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Monday, May 11<sup>th</sup> was the day we planned to begin
looking at schools for Jamil near Gaba a suburb of the capital of Kampala.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gaba is where we work from through Africa
Renewal Ministry who we partner with in the mission work God has called us to
in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay, Jamil, Cate, and David
had looked at a couple in August when Jay returned to get Jamil last
summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe with all my heart,
this is why I didn’t sleep more than 4 hours Sunday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful for all of you who prayed for
us as we began this unknown journey Monday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been reminded several times by a dear
friend to remember in the dark the decision that was made in the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God did not disappoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I was awake Monday morning, I kept
thinking about how I wanted Jamil to be close enough to Gaba Community Church
so he could attend there each Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
had talked with David Gitta, and he offered to pick up Jamil when he was
available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David’s willingness to be a
big brother to Jamil and Cate’s willingness to be a mother figure to him in
Gaba had brought comfort. God is so faithful. Monday morning about 8:30 am
David arrived at the guest house and we went to pick up Cate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first school we went to tour was Bunga
Preparatory School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil’s countenance
was somewhat apprehensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In August
they had looked at this school’s other campus, which is actually where the boarders
stay as well as P5-P7 classes are held, which he had liked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A gentleman, named George, came up and
introduced himself and let us know that he would show us the boarding area at
the other campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tlmyoiQpcbU/VVH7hDJYugI/AAAAAAAABt0/FCb4mH6jDVg/s1600/Jamil%2Band%2Bgeorge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tlmyoiQpcbU/VVH7hDJYugI/AAAAAAAABt0/FCb4mH6jDVg/s320/Jamil%2Band%2Bgeorge.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>This is when I first
noticed Jamil beginning to relax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He,
Jay, and Cate had looked through the windows in August, and Jamil had been
pleased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the US, when we began
talking with Jamil about returning, it was the school of his first choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil stayed at the school to interview and take
an exam, to determine his placement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
met George during this time at the boarding campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay and I were very impressed with George and
his passion for the school and the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He explained that his goal would be to make sure Jamil would feel
comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil would be paired with
a leader in his class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George would not
allow others to make fun of Jamil, because of his eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He suggested the best beginning for this
would be for Jamil, as a new student, to share his story and experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His parents had begun this Christian based
school and he had returned to help them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are three matrons who live on campus and George is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This campus is located right down the road
from Wentz Medical Clinic and Gaba Community Church (GCC). It is one of the few
boarding schools that will allow the children to leave with a specified adult
for the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfect!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>George can take Jamil to GCC for the 11:30
service each Sunday and David, Cate, or one of our other extended family from
there can return him to campus by Sunday evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The school also allows the child to be picked
up on Friday and returned on Sunday evening by designated adults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all agreed there was no need to look at
any other schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had found it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is so good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later Monday evening we had a dinner meeting
with most of the members of the Wentz Medical Board that Jay is now a member
of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Peter was there and had read
Jay’s blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked how our day had
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we shared, he said his
children had gone to that school when it was only a kindergarten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great school, and he knows the
people who own it very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stated,
“They are very good people.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has
answered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">As I finish this blog, Jamil is taking another exam to best
determine his level in this school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>David and our family have been gathering the supplies Jamil needs to
move in Monday and begin school on Tuesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hhh2_P1PbfE/VVH7fhCbOcI/AAAAAAAABts/tcDJVl70liI/s1600/shopping%2Bshopping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hhh2_P1PbfE/VVH7fhCbOcI/AAAAAAAABts/tcDJVl70liI/s320/shopping%2Bshopping.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>We will leave in a few hours for Jinja and head to Palissa district for
Jamil to visit his family until Friday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil will rejoin us when we head back to Gaba.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have two clinics in Jinja on Thursday
and Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One will be at an orphanage
and the other is an area that has just experienced severe flooding where a few
people died.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I’m sorry for the delay of this blog, but I did get a full
nights sleep after being up for 21 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(It reminds me to appreciate and respect the fact that Jay stays up so
often as he provides for our family and beyond.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know the days will still be hard and sad at
times for not only this mother, but for all of us who have come to know and
love Jamil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As his mother, I want him to
live. I know the Lord loves Jamil even more than I do and has a perfect plan
for our son. He will remain whole and undivided!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5aIxV9cYb4/VVH7TZGGqhI/AAAAAAAABtk/g1AOMFCXFEY/s1600/Jamil%2Bat%2Bschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R5aIxV9cYb4/VVH7TZGGqhI/AAAAAAAABtk/g1AOMFCXFEY/s320/Jamil%2Bat%2Bschool.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Proverbs 3:5-6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Jill<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-76414844764083883222015-05-10T20:50:00.000-07:002015-05-11T06:05:06.089-07:00With heavy hearts, we approach boldly.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have you ever noticed that some of the most important
decisions in life can be painful?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Choosing to do what is the “right” thing or what we feel God wants us to
do, can often be costly to us in many ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our family is praying and working through one of those decisions, coming
to a climax today in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zN0dAgnk4k/VVAoIESzg9I/AAAAAAAABtU/ShZtiVesuyM/s1600/school%2Bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zN0dAgnk4k/VVAoIESzg9I/AAAAAAAABtU/ShZtiVesuyM/s320/school%2Bday.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As most of you know, Jamil has been living with us, in the
USA, since late August of last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have known Jamil since the spring of 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have written several blogs about Jamil, his medical problems, the
reasons that we felt called to go through the ORDEAL of getting him to the
USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please glance back at those and
understand the baseline of miraculousness (my computer tells me that this is
not a word, but I’m going with it) that brings us to today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I blogged about his eye tumor extending
into his brain back in September, I was not sure that today’s difficult
decision would ever be an option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jamil has a congenital condition known as neurofibromatosis
type II (NF2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doctors, smarter than me,
have made this diagnosis since we have been in the USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The NF2 makes him at risk for tumors
associated with his Central Nervous System.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is the reason for the big meningioma behind his R eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NF2 is also the reason that he has tumors on
both of his acoustic nerves (hearing nerves going to the ears).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These acoustic neuromas could cause trouble
with hearing or balance if not watched carefully in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When Jamil reached the soil in the USA, we made a mad dash
to start his medical care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had 6
months to get him accurately diagnosed, treated (which we thought would be a
surgery to remove a tumor in the eye socket), and then recovered so that we
could get him back to Uganda before the 2015 school year started and before his
visitor visa expired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quickly after
starting this dash, we realized it was going to be an endurance race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were advised to start the legal process of
getting Jamil permanent residency (a juvenile green card) so that he could stay
with us for up to 10 years to receive medical treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we got the diagnosis of brain tumor, the
10 years seemed like it would be much more than we needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The process of getting the green card is long
and expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil went for his final
interview for this card on Wednesday of last week, as we prepared to leave on
Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know the results of
this interview yet. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil had received
some travel documents that “should” allow him to travel to Uganda and then
return to the USA while awaiting the ruling on the green card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our wise doctors at the NF2 clinic at OU Children’s Hospital,
advised us to watch the brain tumor for 3 months, to monitor what it was going
to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil had already received
radiation and the tumor was not in a place that made it safely accessible to
surgery, so watchful waiting seemed like the best plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In December, his MRIs showed that none of the
3 tumors listed above had changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil
was healthy, growing, and did not seem “ill” at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we decided to wait again for 3 months and
recheck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In late April, his tumors were
still found to be unchanged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So here is
a summary of the medical information:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->He has 2 acoustic neuromas and one meningioma
that is in his brain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->These tumors have been stable and without growth
for 9 months. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->He has NF2, which puts him at increased risk for
future additional tumors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->He has received radiation while being treated in
Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This does not completely
preclude him from receiving radiation again, but his doctors will want to delay
any radiation for as long as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Uganda has recently gotten MRI technology, which
they did not have prior to last summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We have found a hospital that was started by a
neurosurgeon from the west that has agreed to follow Jamil, if he returned to
Uganda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Medical care for Jamil would, without debate, be
better in the USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The degree to which
the options are better in the USA is unsure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We are unsure how difficult it would be to bring
Jamil back to the USA at a later date if he starts back to school in Uganda.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jamil is truly a joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
really a good kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s funny, easy
going, and sensitive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can get “blue”
about some things, including missing his family and certain things about
Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we went to OU last month,
his doctor asked him what he misses most about Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil said, “My family.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She then asked him what he would miss most
about the USA, if he moved back to Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jamil said, “My family”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has
progressed well in his math studies and we feel that he has progressed in
English too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is difficult to teach
him some things because we have to filter the teaching through English, which
he is still learning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he is 13 ½ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>years old, schooling on about a 4<sup>th</sup>
grade level and emotionally around 10-11 in my opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reasons for this strange combination is
likely a result of his delay in starting school and his chronic illness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil has loved his many adventures in the
USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Football games, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3OMNQOwgtI/VVAlvzM99wI/AAAAAAAABs4/oYeAtPWkijM/s1600/book%2B14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3OMNQOwgtI/VVAlvzM99wI/AAAAAAAABs4/oYeAtPWkijM/s320/book%2B14.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">birthday parties
(especially his), Christmas, snow skiing,</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSvVxLsa70s/VVAlsbtJoeI/AAAAAAAABss/3xHAg1pdOwI/s1600/book%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wSvVxLsa70s/VVAlsbtJoeI/AAAAAAAABss/3xHAg1pdOwI/s320/book%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> fishing, swimming, </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S0UYPL-OgLw/VVAlsSQXuYI/AAAAAAAABso/fxRdoHvwmjs/s1600/Book%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S0UYPL-OgLw/VVAlsSQXuYI/AAAAAAAABso/fxRdoHvwmjs/s320/Book%2B1.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">gardening and
taking care of the animals on the ranch have been some of his favorites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has gotten to experience an extended
loving family and a deep pool of loving friends, that have probably seemed more
foreign to him than snow, smooth roads and air conditioning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil has definitely become a son to Jill and
I, a brother to our kids, a grandson to a few, a cousin/nephew to several and a
friend to many over the past year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OGbUh22ua2M/VVAl6V7kvVI/AAAAAAAABtI/jOV1RD2guO8/s1600/mardi%2Bgras%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OGbUh22ua2M/VVAl6V7kvVI/AAAAAAAABtI/jOV1RD2guO8/s320/mardi%2Bgras%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here is the situation that we find ourselves in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jill and I felt called to bring Jamil to the
USA to get medical treatment (we thought this was a surgery) and then to return
him back to school in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find
ourselves at a point where he has reached his medical improvement, even though
surgery was not necessary and we feel that God is leading us to get him back
into school in his culture, in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have wrestled with this decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It will be tough on our family, his extended family and all that have
grown to love him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be tough on
Jamil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Materially, his situation will
endure a drastic change, in the opposite direction that it did in August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will be back to limited menu and wardrobe
options as he would start back in a boarding school in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When we have mentioned this decision with others and asked
them to pray with us, we can tell that some of them don’t understand why we
would not want to keep Jamil with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After we “got him out” of Uganda, why we’d consider taking him
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The simple answer is that we are
not sure either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just that we believe
that God has a purpose in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe
that Jamil can go further in school in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We believe that Jamil has more potential to lead others in Uganda, and
we believe that his testimony of healing and grace will have a larger platform
in Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We go today to look at some schools in Uganda with
Jamil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless God chooses to change his
plan in our hearts and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>minds, we plan to
start him in one of those schools, when the new term starts in one week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will continue to support him as if we were
sending another child off to college.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
will still make sure that he gets the needed medical care for his NF2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But make no doubt about it, our hearts are
going to hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make no doubt about it,
his heart is going to hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hebrews 4:16 says: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time
of need.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We ask that you pray with us for the best decision for
Jamil, and for God’s purpose/glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are trying to pray as Jesus did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hebrews 5:7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the days of
Jesus’ life on Earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries
and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of
his reverent submission.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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</span><br />due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-75093726350526622592014-12-20T08:26:00.000-08:002014-12-20T16:55:24.213-08:00Never say Never<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">I never thought we would homeschool our children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never would have imagined we would adopt a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I will never say</i></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">never
again.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay and I have entered
the world of homeschooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We began
feeling a draw to this form of education, for several reasons, a little over a
year ago, but at the same time not completely sure why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We discussed it several times with Jayne and
Jared, and they each seemed noncommittal either way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always stating it is our decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a child I had always wanted to be a
cheerleader, but didn’t quite have what it took.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As shallow as this may sound, I was having a
hard time taking the possibility of a second year of cheerleading away from
Jayne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had no idea what my next obstacle
would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TENNIS!!!</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I played tennis all through junior high and
high school with the exception of my junior year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayne and Jared both played tennis this past
spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh my goodness, did it make me
question if we had made the right choice for these two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(For the first time, I realized, how exciting
it is to have your kids be interested and have potential at a sport I
played.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However great tennis is for kids,
and it is, it was a temptation to get me off track for what we believed was
what we were called to do with their education at this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So by Faith, we decided to homeschool this
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">In October of 2013, a sweet young lady, Madison Russ, gave us
our first tour, with Jake, at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We connected right away with her and the folks
from the touring office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay had
realized from her bio that she was from Maysville, which is 10 miles east of
Lindsay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she answered the phone and
Jay said to her “Oh you’re the one who secretly likes Pretty Little Liars” she
probably thought she had a stalker on her hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He apparently had read her entire bio and
knew her “something most people don’t know about her.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During our tour, Madison did some stalking of
her own and found the Due Unto Others website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She and her husband Ryan are feeling the call to adoption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was an elementary education major at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In March, there was a kNOw More Orphans
Conference in Birmingham, Alabama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Through God’s Providence: Madison, Jayne, and I were able to go
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember Jay asking me why I felt so
strongly about going?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him, I
really couldn’t give him a good answer except I knew strongly we were to
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adoption (in the traditional sense)
is not what we do with the medical mission work that we’ve been called to in
Uganda. However, I believed strongly that Madison, Jayne, and I were to
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t realize until after we had
left for Alabama that we would be gone during Cheerleading tryouts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I found this out as well as having an inkling
that Jayne has a special place in her heart as I watch her with the orphans and
children in Uganda, I knew God’s timing was perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This trip after scheduled, ended up
being<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tough, because the next morning my
grandfather’s final living sibling was admitted to the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent the next two days before we left with
my 99 year old Great Uncle Jodie in the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had already planned his 100<sup>th</sup>
birthday at our Ranch in September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was as sharp as a tack mentally, and we had some good time and talks
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I fully expected to land in OKC on Sunday and
go straight back to the hospital, but he went home to be with the Lord Saturday
night before we returned.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, was
gracious and his timing was still perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our family kept me posted every few hours and the Lord graciously ministered
to my aching heart through His Word and the Worship Songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have never heard </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E"><span style="background-color: #6fa8dc; color: white;">10,000 Reasons</span></a><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">, it’s
worth a listen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #009030;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">Jake was asked to speak at his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xD2UCShFgA">high school graduation on giving back</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he shared with his
fellow students, parents, and others there, he shared Jamil’s story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as soon as Jake’s graduation was over, we
headed off for what we thought would be a 6 week medical mission trip back to
Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Jay and I felt over the previous
year back in the US that if Jamil’s tumor was back, we needed to do all we
could to bring him to the US for some Western Medical Treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our heart sank when the Ct Scan, in Uganda,
showed the tumor had returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So our
six week trip turned into eight as Jay and I worked through the legal process
of getting Jamil legally set up to travel with us.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">The definition of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">miracle</i></b> as a noun is a surprising or
welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is
therefore considered, to be the work of a divine agency. “The miracle of rising
from the grave.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">This definition as seen in some of our<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>previous blogs
occurred when a twelve year old Ugandan boy was granted a US tourist visa to
come to the United States for treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The United States does not have a medical visa from Uganda.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miracle </i></b>is also defined as a highly improbable or extraordinary
event , development or accomplishment that brings very welcome
consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an amazing product or
achievement, or an outstanding example of something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">This definition is truly the point of this blog as the mom
of a young Ugandan teenage boy seeing and experiencing Christmas in a very
different culture for the first time, and the weight that responsibility I pick
up and carry often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we realized
Jamil would need to be here for longer than the 6 month visa due to unforeseen
health issues, we made a new game plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He needs to be followed for his NF2 genetic condition closely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, as the Lord would have it, the
best clinic in the country for NF2 is at OU Children’s Hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may or may not need to officially adopt
Jamil, but as I’ve said before, he has been adopted into our family! With or
without a legal document at this time, he is our child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Never say never!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">My theme when <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Never say never </i></b>gets tough, and it
does: Besides Proverbs 3:5-6 being my life verse, “Trust in the Lord with all
your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all your ways acknowledge him, an he will
make straight your paths.” I was reminded in a sermon Sunday, that I should
continue into that chapter past verse 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Verse 7-12 “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn from
evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the
firstfruits of your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and
your vats will be bursting with wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the
Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord has also given me the song by</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8mZpGj29qw"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; color: white;">Hillsong United called “Oceans</span></a><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
hear it a times I need it the most when things are bitter and when things are
sweet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1hBlm3iJJo/VJWWvn9MnXI/AAAAAAAABqU/gNtHReSkr5M/s1600/Oceans%2Blyrics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1hBlm3iJJo/VJWWvn9MnXI/AAAAAAAABqU/gNtHReSkr5M/s1600/Oceans%2Blyrics.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">So many miraculous things, I have witnessed, big and small,
as hopefully we have been able to describe to each of you in the blogs since we
chose to follow the Lord’s call to Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, when you aren’t in control
(which none of us truly ever are), this Mom felt a great need to take December
to make sure Jamil understood what Christmas is really about. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard to believe Jake became the first
child in our family 19 years ago on December 22<sup>nd</sup> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since that time, I knew I could not teach him
what I didn’t know about the Lord. So, I had no more excuses like being to busy
working outside of the home to spend individual time with my Lord and
Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time had come for me to make
my relationship the priority He deserves and actually calls us each to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I choose to learn what being a true Christ
Follower is truly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years, we started
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas traditions with our children
as each came along beginning the first of December. We count down and learn
about and celebrate the birth of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">We still had Santa as a tradition as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay’s Aunt Marsha started many traditions 6
years earlier by always giving us an ornament and Spode Christmas Dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">The biggest tradition, that magnified itself
this year, was when you joined the family, she made you a personalized
needlepoint stocking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Silas married
Bethany is 2012, Marsha officially retired from needlepoint stocking
making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had hoped she might come out
of retirement, so Jamil would have a needlepoint stocking like ours and
everyone else, since 1974, in the original DUE family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
stocking is the closest thing I could find.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Cambria;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nD0Q9PBX5iA/VJWW51VWZEI/AAAAAAAABq0/ElGEpp72dX4/s1600/stocking%2Bcomparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nD0Q9PBX5iA/VJWW51VWZEI/AAAAAAAABq0/ElGEpp72dX4/s1600/stocking%2Bcomparison.jpg" height="287" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">My mom had a stocking crocheted for our family members as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are all different
personalized Santa stockings made by Ann Hazlebaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We love these too! Ann was able to make Jamil
one that we received right after Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Cambria;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HozurGju64o/VJWW5CtW_AI/AAAAAAAABqs/t4nerddEzqI/s1600/stocking%2Blang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HozurGju64o/VJWW5CtW_AI/AAAAAAAABqs/t4nerddEzqI/s1600/stocking%2Blang.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">However, I still felt strongly that Jamil needed a
needlepoint one as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing I am
not is a crafty person. That is my sister in law Jeanne’s department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, when I realized Marsha was unable to
make the stocking, Tana, Jana, Jeanne, and I began doing some research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a couple of weeks, I thought about
putting a feeler out on facebook, but for whatever reason I didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Tuesday the 2<sup>nd</sup> of December we
were granted Legal Guardianship of Jamil in the US. (We were granted Legal
Guardianship in Uganda this summer.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">By the way, with the addition of Jamil to our family, we now
realized why we felt such conviction to homeschool Jared and Jayne. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On December 2nd, I finally decided to post a
plea for anyone who could or knew someone who could needlepoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lisa Lawrence has been such a blessing to me
and our family as we have been homeschooling Jamil. I will never forget a
telephone conversation with her. She said, “I want to be part of his village
here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not have words to express
the encouragement she has provided me on this journey of homeschooling since we
have so many variables with cultural, language and medical issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">One might think this is where a small <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miracle</i></b> occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for me, those of us girls with
needlepoint stockings in the Due family, Marsha and anyone who knows anything
about needlepoint realizes how big of a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miracle</i></b> has occurred over the last
couple of weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lisa, answered my plea
for needlepointing the stocking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, on
the third of December, I went to Hobby Lobby to get the canvas and thread we’d
need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeanne had gotten a pattern together
to follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hobby Lobby had the canvas, but the lady
explained to me they did not carry the wool yarn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sent me to a cross stitch store in south
OKC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind lady there, explained that
there was only one store, in the State of Oklahoma, that carried what I needed and
it was in Tulsa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, off to Tulsa I
went. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay was working in the ER, and as
far as the kids knew I was making a quick trip to Norman. No one knew of my
quick decision to head to Tulsa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I
called Jay’s sister, Jana, so at least one person would know where I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When, I arrived at the store the two ladies
helped me pick out the yarn as quickly as we could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, they let me know there is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">NO</i></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Way
</i></b>this could be accomplished, after looking at the other stockings I had
brought with me, before Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lisa
shared with me that a friend of hers believed it wouldn’t be possible
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Never Say Never!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Cambria;">I made it back to
Duncan, just before Lisa was headed to church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She wasn’t sure if she could get it done before she left for Christmas
on the 20<sup>th</sup>, but she would try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told her I would be praying for her hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Never Say Never!</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost every evening into early morning she
worked on the stocking and would send me pictures of her progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was amazing how fast she was able to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made one section the 6 stripes and colors
of the Ugandan Flag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She made the four
toy soldiers: Jayne, Jamil, Jared, and Jake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Never Say Never, </i></b>she finished the needlepoint Thursday, This morning Lisa sent me a message, "Give God the Glory! It had to be His work. My fingers are so sore I wouldn't be able to hold a needle this morning, but they <strong><em>NEVER </em></strong>felt this way when the stocking needed to be done!" Please join me to pray her hands will feel better soon...</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Zi0vJp_K-U/VJWWcSYGwAI/AAAAAAAABqE/aZeoIy3hm1U/s1600/Jamil%2Band%2BLisa%2BLawrence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Zi0vJp_K-U/VJWWcSYGwAI/AAAAAAAABqE/aZeoIy3hm1U/s1600/Jamil%2Band%2BLisa%2BLawrence.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"> and Tana
sewed it all together Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zm5aMkut60M/VJWW176Z_JI/AAAAAAAABqk/VmDN-RDn1r4/s1600/Jamil%2Bstocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zm5aMkut60M/VJWW176Z_JI/AAAAAAAABqk/VmDN-RDn1r4/s1600/Jamil%2Bstocking.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0vECP9Mbs0/VJWWtLlSTbI/AAAAAAAABqM/SYas3d0Jrjo/s1600/Jamil%2Bstocking%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0vECP9Mbs0/VJWWtLlSTbI/AAAAAAAABqM/SYas3d0Jrjo/s1600/Jamil%2Bstocking%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iaiUxpI0Y5s/VJWWv6fUaKI/AAAAAAAABqY/TkiZ40lxaPg/s1600/Jamil%2Bstocking%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iaiUxpI0Y5s/VJWWv6fUaKI/AAAAAAAABqY/TkiZ40lxaPg/s1600/Jamil%2Bstocking%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyU38PGHLKw/VJWWQ0ogXGI/AAAAAAAABp8/W7J0eZmNI3Y/s1600/Family%2Bof%2Bstockings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyU38PGHLKw/VJWWQ0ogXGI/AAAAAAAABp8/W7J0eZmNI3Y/s1600/Family%2Bof%2Bstockings.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">So, today,
as soon as I receive Jamil’s stocking, I will move the stockings I grew up with
from the mantle back to their original home in the kitchen and hang the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miracle</i></b>
Stocking, along with ours, on the mantle in their normal place as Christmas
approaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq1tYvOe4s4/VJYXN9dprVI/AAAAAAAABrc/oE87ADqto6s/s1600/santa%2Bstockings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oq1tYvOe4s4/VJYXN9dprVI/AAAAAAAABrc/oE87ADqto6s/s1600/santa%2Bstockings.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vT8SK9T-7kU/VJWXCFIIRqI/AAAAAAAABq8/NEPCfXhInmI/s1600/stockings%2Bin%2Bkitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vT8SK9T-7kU/VJWXCFIIRqI/AAAAAAAABq8/NEPCfXhInmI/s1600/stockings%2Bin%2Bkitchen.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">This small <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miralcle</i></b>
to some, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">BIG</i></b> to others and me, is one of the most special things that
has made this Christmas Season!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil,
on his first Christmas here as a member of our family, has both of our family
stockings of his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is exciting
being a new mom for the fourth time, but this time seeing things for the first
time through a thirteen year old son from Uganda.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">Merry Christmas,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">Jill<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Now that the stocking has found its home on the mantle, we can continue our Christmas celebration. We celebrate Christmas because of what began in the manger over 2000 years ago. Thankfully, it didn't end in the manger, but on the cross where Jesus declared "It is finished." Then to the empty tomb! Jamil's stocking is here in time for Christmas with us. It is finished and hanging, and for now it is as empty as the tomb of Jesus!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g2hTAGoo6-c/VJYaXdV0oxI/AAAAAAAABrs/7U1G4v1my30/s1600/needlepoint%2Bstocking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g2hTAGoo6-c/VJYaXdV0oxI/AAAAAAAABrs/7U1G4v1my30/s1600/needlepoint%2Bstocking.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P99t-DNcIi4/VJYaWwomPUI/AAAAAAAABro/Xc_b_gtU5m4/s1600/needlepoint%2Bstockings%2Bhung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P99t-DNcIi4/VJYaWwomPUI/AAAAAAAABro/Xc_b_gtU5m4/s1600/needlepoint%2Bstockings%2Bhung.jpg" height="194" width="320" /></a></div>
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</span><strong><em></em></strong><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"></span><br />due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-73787931293210983172014-12-10T18:36:00.000-08:002014-12-10T18:42:50.282-08:00His Presence in the Detours, the Pains of Life, and the Sweet Moments<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I realized Thanksgiving weekend was the third anniversary of
my first blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to no surprise and
gratefully I might add, Jay has become our resident blogger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I have a couple building up inside
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, I will share one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Jamil and I were blessed to spend the day together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a day filled with unanticipated
painful immunizations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TGP7pMKjA3g/VIj9L2ysJMI/AAAAAAAABog/PEHwB67eRko/s1600/jamil%2Band%2Bjill%2Bfrowning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TGP7pMKjA3g/VIj9L2ysJMI/AAAAAAAABog/PEHwB67eRko/s1600/jamil%2Band%2Bjill%2Bfrowning.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>As we left the
ranch this morning, we were expecting the TB test to be checked and a physical
exam for our immigration status to move forward to the next stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the nurse let us know she could not
do the exam until he had his Hep A, Hep B, Meningococcal, and flu vaccinations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we were given directions to the Cleveland
County Health Department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nurse told
us to come back at 1:30pm and she would work us back in for the exam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Dilemma:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>North Pole City had been gracious enough to make an appointment at 1:30
today for Jamil to see and meet Santa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They do this for special situations.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told the nurse, but I would change the Santa pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was so sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She recommended that we go ahead and go to
North Pole City and then to come back to the clinic when we were finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, off to the health department we
went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staff was friendly and we were
called back within 15 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
problem: They were out of the menningococcal vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as Jamil was getting his 3 somewhat
painful injections, I was on the phone to our pediatrician’s office in
Edmond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, it was his half day
and I’m calling at 11:45am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sweet
triage nurse said she would check with the doctor on call and get back with me
at 1pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Did I mention the Santa
pictures?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nurse at the Health
Department said that sometimes a pharmacy will have this vaccine, but I should
call to check first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, for the
Walgreens in Norman on Main!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFbyrNwsC04/VIj9dgdKAtI/AAAAAAAABpI/R_tMe4FElhc/s1600/jamil%2Bmeningicoccal%2Bvaccine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qFbyrNwsC04/VIj9dgdKAtI/AAAAAAAABpI/R_tMe4FElhc/s1600/jamil%2Bmeningicoccal%2Bvaccine.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>They had
it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only downfall, they don’t accept our
insurance so I got to pay a pretty penny for this fourth painful shot!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called off our pediatrician’s office and
off to Wendy’s we went for a hamburger and Frosty! (The smallest Frosty I’ve
ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, they did give Jamil
two!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He enjoyed both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQRGIFJLLZY/VIj9VzMtnLI/AAAAAAAABo0/DMhn9sJRzUA/s1600/jamil%2Bfrosty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vQRGIFJLLZY/VIj9VzMtnLI/AAAAAAAABo0/DMhn9sJRzUA/s1600/jamil%2Bfrosty.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">We were now on our way to North Pole City to see Santa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had called Meredith Crowder to see if we
might stop by Newcastle on the way back to the ranch to meet the girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her we were going to North Pole City
at 1:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said they had talked about
going there today too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With all of our
unforeseen detours, I hadn’t talked to her again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The very kind lady who had set our appointment was at
Santa’s Spot and said we’d be next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
sweet Santa takes time with each child or children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gets to know them before a single picture
is snapped. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8hI31I8g0u0/VIj9lkX6jTI/AAAAAAAABpY/Dct44SqiGwY/s1600/jamil%2Bsanta%2Bfist%2Bbump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8hI31I8g0u0/VIj9lkX6jTI/AAAAAAAABpY/Dct44SqiGwY/s1600/jamil%2Bsanta%2Bfist%2Bbump.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I was impressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our
children have gotten older, we have explained to them about the true Santa
Claus, St. Nicholas, when the time came as they matured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided to explain this to Jamil since he
is thirteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve told him about how in
the United States Christmas can be more about Santa (who is known to live at
the North Pole and fly around the world in a sleigh with reindeer), than the
birth of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, Santa, realizing
Jamil was 13 was giving him some wisdom about working hard and saving money for
a car because 16 isn’t too far away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
asked Jamil what he would like for him to bring him for Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This sweet Santa, after learning Jamil was
from Uganda(where a good Christmas was enough families having the finances to
pool together to have meat at their Christmas meal) and this was his first
Christmas season in the United States, eloquently explained the story of
St. Nicholas. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqRHFOCZoEM/VIj9OpPUu4I/AAAAAAAABoo/nAjI18KFdM4/s1600/jamil%2Bblog%2Bjill%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqRHFOCZoEM/VIj9OpPUu4I/AAAAAAAABoo/nAjI18KFdM4/s1600/jamil%2Bblog%2Bjill%2B1.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Santa noted that St. Nicholas
was a young boy whose parents died from a plague and was adopted by some religious
men, monks, in Turkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also pointed
out that Turkey is a country not too far from Uganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then explained how the monks owned an inn
with stables and worked hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nicholas
took over the business and found himself with more wealth than he needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He saw others in his village in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, he began giving gifts at Christmas anonymously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not want any credit for this good deed
from man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Santa went on to explain that
sometimes, because here in the US there is so much “to do” about Christmas,
often its true meaning is lost for many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Christmas is truly about the birth of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, the first gifts were special gifts
given to Jesus by the wisemen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Santa
asked me about Jamil’s medical condition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After I gave him a quick version, he asked Jamil if it would be alright
with him if we prayed together and he place his hand on Jamil’s head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil said, “Yes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the prayer ended, I heard Meredith call my
name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, we got to meet the girls, and
get a few more pictures with Santa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jamil was able to speak to the Crowder girls in Luganda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2WuPPmkQd0/VIj9raE-y5I/AAAAAAAABpg/c0gc4MwPHV4/s1600/meradith%2Band%2Bgirls%2Bwith%2Bjamil%2Band%2Bjill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2WuPPmkQd0/VIj9raE-y5I/AAAAAAAABpg/c0gc4MwPHV4/s1600/meradith%2Band%2Bgirls%2Bwith%2Bjamil%2Band%2Bjill.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">We headed back to the clinic in Norman and finished the
exam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The results of this exam are the next step in our legal process with Jamil. We can now officially apply for his permanent residency.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Im2H3nqBnC4/VIj9iC9iZ3I/AAAAAAAABpQ/5OtsX7LGex8/s1600/jamil%2Bnorman%2Bexam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Im2H3nqBnC4/VIj9iC9iZ3I/AAAAAAAABpQ/5OtsX7LGex8/s1600/jamil%2Bnorman%2Bexam.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qc_Xoe5Hi10/VIj9ZpH7Y8I/AAAAAAAABpA/dJMZKKFz_Os/s1600/jamil%2Bimmigration%2Bexam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qc_Xoe5Hi10/VIj9ZpH7Y8I/AAAAAAAABpA/dJMZKKFz_Os/s1600/jamil%2Bimmigration%2Bexam.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>On the way home, Jamil asked me if
I had Santa’s number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he
realized he forgot to tell him what he wanted for Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him we could send him a letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little later down the road ,Jamil and I
talked about how we are not promised a life without detours and pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, there are some really precious moments
in the midst of it as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most
important is the Presence of the Lord through it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Glimpse of <u>Things Unseen</u>, is a book
worth your time to read, by Mark Buchanan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not finished with it yet, but the Lord has used it as I have been
struggling as I see a young boy switching cultures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Switching from a culture of contentment,
respectfulness, colorblindness, yet intense poverty in Uganda to one of discontentment,
materialism, and racial tensions here. This biblical book reminded me God has put
in us the reason we are never truly satisfied because this is not our
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray, Lord let me choose to let
Your light shine through me as I pass through this temporary place of bitter-sweetness,
to my true home. For each of us, there is an opportunity, which was given to us
to choose over 2000 years ago, beginning in a manger in Bethlehem.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qacBBDfpX_k/VIj9Yit4phI/AAAAAAAABow/R1ZkhDHn7Tk/s1600/jamil%2Bblog%2Bjill%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qacBBDfpX_k/VIj9Yit4phI/AAAAAAAABow/R1ZkhDHn7Tk/s1600/jamil%2Bblog%2Bjill%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Jill</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord, with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. But in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p></div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6776320368154505427.post-76167517904886512572014-12-08T19:43:00.000-08:002014-12-08T19:43:21.822-08:00Held at Bay by Prayer
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have completed a full day of medical exams for
Jamil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been blessed by what we
consider great news.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our day started in Norman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jamil had the first phase of an Immigration Physical Exam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a medical exam performed as directed
by the US immigration department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
do these to insure that the applicant does not have some communicable disease,
such as Tb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will undergo the final
section of the exam on Wednesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we
have this done, we can instruct our attorney to file the paperwork for the
permanent residency (green card).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
two exams were supposed to be Tuesday and Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning, however, the doctor’s office
called us to see if we could move it up a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since his OU appointment was not until 2:00, we were able to make this
switch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After eating some lunch, we drove up to OU Children’s
hospital in Oklahoma City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard to
believe that Oklahoma has a clinic specially designed for Neurofibromatosis
type 2 (NF2).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were in that incredible
clinic today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pdzV7yUm6K0/VIZuejEwgdI/AAAAAAAABoM/csx8vfKfEgo/s1600/oujamil3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pdzV7yUm6K0/VIZuejEwgdI/AAAAAAAABoM/csx8vfKfEgo/s1600/oujamil3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3YrJqG4-DQ/VIZuebIXJCI/AAAAAAAABoI/QWnnd2DVwXc/s1600/oujamil4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3YrJqG4-DQ/VIZuebIXJCI/AAAAAAAABoI/QWnnd2DVwXc/s1600/oujamil4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After checking in, </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFl5MqCxcrc/VIZua0VEZTI/AAAAAAAABoA/qsdcXWe0yGA/s1600/oujamil2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFl5MqCxcrc/VIZua0VEZTI/AAAAAAAABoA/qsdcXWe0yGA/s1600/oujamil2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">we were taken back for triage and vitals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil has grown one inch in height and 8lbs in weight since his visit to OU 3 months ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULe8f5g_EJE/VIZuXvs-TYI/AAAAAAAABn4/QdeV7TehRpQ/s1600/oujamil1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULe8f5g_EJE/VIZuXvs-TYI/AAAAAAAABn4/QdeV7TehRpQ/s1600/oujamil1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our first exam was with the Neurologist and
Neurosurgeon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were in the room at
the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gave us the results
of the MRIs that Jamil had done last Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His eye/brain tumor had not changed in size or progressed!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His spine was clear of problems, from the top
of this neck to the bottom of his back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The radiologists noted a very small nodule in the lining of his
lung.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They think that this could be a
small fibroma that goes with NF2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is something that we will just watch for now and probably rescan in 1 year,
unless problems arise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the two neuro
doctors had completed a normal neuro/physical exam, we were able to ask them
many questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They explained to us
that every patient with NF2 responds differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of this, it is hard to predict the
course of the disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The average life
expectancy for an NF2 patient is mid-30’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are some promising treatments for NF2 on the horizon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According the neurosurgeon, there are some
surgical options for Jamil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the need
arises, we can discuss those at that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The NF2 doctors encourage their patients to live like any other kid
their age, as much as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Soon after these 2 doctors left the room, a pediatric
endocrinologist entered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He too examined
Jamil and found no reason for concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because Jamil had radiation to his eye, there is some concern that the
pituitary gland could have been injured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So far, Jamil has no evidence of hormone/pituitary problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This doctor ordered several blood tests to
make sure that all of his hormones are in the right levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also is checking a vitamin D level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given the lower sun intensity in Oklahoma
(compared to Uganda) and Jamil’s dark skin, we may need to supplement his
vitamin D to keep his bones strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last round of doctors included the hematology/oncology
team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We discussed the MRIs a little
more and talked about timing of follow up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They recommended a 6 month follow up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We eventually settled on May (5 months) because we wanted to leave a
summer Uganda trip as an option if the immigration status is settled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to that follow up in May, Jamil will
get an MRI of his head to monitor the current tumor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I feel quite confident that prayer has kept the tumor from
growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamil and our family have been
covered in a tsunami of prayer and we can feel them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you so much for this dedication in
petitioning the true healer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please
continue to keep Jamil in your prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As stated before, we have the second step of his Immigration exam on
Wednesday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that turns out like we
expect, we will then be waiting on the legal immigration resolution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="mailto:#OUisBetter@medicineThanFootball">#OUisBetter@medicineThanFootball</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">#healJamil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jay</span></div>
</div>
due unto othershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17209094360466974870noreply@blogger.com1