Transformation begins!

 It's starting to sink in that next year I'll be homeschooling 2 kids (part time, as both will also go to preschool part time).  This will be a new challenge for me!

I've started to think that we needed to reorganize and re-plan to get ready for next year.  (Our new school year will start in January).  We were just using a table, but trying to have the boys sitting next to each other, and keeping them from playing or fighting, isn't my idea of a fun learning environment.

We moved some furniture around and then went shopping for some new desks--in their favorite colors, of course!

The boys are ecstatic and ready to learn!

I still have a few more ideas and we will slowly transform our homeschool space before the new year.

Recent Projects

 I've been working on a few craft projects lately.  One project has taken quite a bit of time, but I can't mention what it is because it will be a Christmas gift for someone. (**insert sneaky smile**)

However, I can mention these other 2 recent projects.

The first project--I had some extra fabric laying around and it was folded, and then I thought, "That will make a cute little baggie."  And so, I sewed it up, and now I have a few little baggies--to fill with homemade little breads, cookies and other goodies to give out as gifts for Christmas. I will definitely use these for the 4 teachers at the preschool, and then I made a few extras for other people that I think of between now and then.


Project #2 was born out of a need.  I like hang up kitchen towel thingys.  I have a couple of them, but having to change it out every day because it is pretty wet by the end of the day leaves me needing a few more. While in Lima a few weeks ago, I was able to find a matching towel/pot holder set.

Pot holder + Towel + a little bit of sewing= Towel Hang Up Thingy!! 

I'm so happy to have another one!!

Recent Update on Elias

First of all, we would like to thank all of you for your continued prayers for Elias.  We haven't sent an update in a while mainly because we were traveling and in meetings, and so we didn't have much time or access to send updates.   Also, Elias continued to progress during that time, but there wasn't anything major to report.  Well, since our last update, Elias was removed from the ICU and was placed in a regular room.  They began taking him off of the IV (his only source of nutrition), and slowly began feeding him formula through a feeding tube.  He handled that change well, and so they completely removed him from the IV and he was only receiving the formula from the feeding tube.  As of today, they have removed the feeding tube and he is now drinking liquids normally.  He still can't eat regular food, but the doctors believe the he will be able to soon. 

They have also allowed him to get out of the bed and are trying to help him regain strength in his legs and feet.  Due to the fact that he was restricted to a bed for almost 3 weeks, he lost strength in his little legs and feet.  As of Friday, he would just get frustrated and really couldn't do much.  However, he can now walk again with help and is showing improvement daily.  (Before this incident, nothing could stand in his way!) 

They received a report several days ago that his hemoglobin level was low and that he may need blood.  (I believe that the fear was possible internal bleeding.)  Fortunately, that level hasn't decreased, which shows that there is no internal bleeding.  However, it hasn't increased either.  At this point, the doctors aren't real concerned about it, but are keeping an eye on it. 

The future plans now are to continue helping him to regain strength in his legs and feet and to help him adjust back to eating regular food (with time).  The doctors plan to do another MRI soon to see exactly how the internal wounds are healing and if it shows that all is well, he could be released as soon as sometime next week.    

We really appreciate your prayers for this family and we truly believe that God has been hearing and answering them!  At first, the doctors really didn't believe that he would survive.  Now, they are all surprised at how well he is doing and how quickly his little body is recovering!  While the doctors have done a good job, I believe that all credit is due to our Lord and Savior (and to each of you who have been interceding for him)!   You all have been such a blessing to this family and they are eternally grateful for your prayers and generosity! 

Please continue to pray for this family and for Elias!  Hopefully our next "Elias Update" will be our final one letting you all know that he is back to normal and that the Lord is using this family once again to impact the Aymara people for His kingdom sake!

Strawberries!

 I've been saying for awhile now how I was looking forward to strawberry season and that I really wanted to try to make some strawberry jelly.

Well, when my hubby was traveling back home this past weekend, he noticed that along the coast it was harvest time for strawberries. He stopped on the side of the road and bought me this case--it is 15 pounds of strawberries. All for only $4.75. what a great deal!!

But then my dilemma was, what do I do with all these strawberries.  And I will only have 2 days to use them all before we are travel for a week.

Well, so far I managed to squeeze in making strawberry coffeecake,  strawberry syrup (to put on pancakes or waffles), strawberry bread and then 2 batches of strawberry jelly.  And, of course we've eaten plenty of fresh strawberries, and I still froze 3 quart size bags full. 

I think we'll have strawberry muffins when we return!

Positive Reports and Testimony of God's Power

All day today, so far, they have received positive reports on little Elias!!  He has had a slight fever, but it is lower than it was yesterday, and the doctors believe his body is fighting the infection.

They also decided to slowly start taking him off the ventilator, which is a good thing!

This afternoon, John was able to go in and see Elias, and he said that this was the first time that he has seen Elias awake and alert.  Elias got so excited when his mom walked in the room that the nurses were doing everything they could to calm him down!  They ended up making Luisa leave the room so that he would calm down some.

He is doing better than he was yesterday.  Yesterday, it all looked grim. The doctor only gave him a 40% chance of survival.  We sent out emails and prayer requests, and HUNDREDS, of people have been praying.  Ruben and Luisa have been overwhelmed to see the messages and emails from people they don't even know!

After everyone started praying for a miracle, it was a amazing to see how God was working in his little body today!!!  :)

This afternoon, a nurse rushed in to the unit and started telling everyone, "They are doing the procession outside with the little virgin.  Go out there! She will make your family members all better."   Literally everyone in the room (well, not the patients), but about 100 people,  ran outside to pray to the little virgin and to give money, all with the hopes that she would heal and save their family member.

The only ones left were Ruben, Luisa, and John.  The nurses asked why they weren't rushing out there too, because this would make him all better.

Ruben and Luisa have been a witness and testimony to the power of the one true GOD during their stay there!! They were able to share with the nurses today. They have been able to share with other family members that are there. 

Praise the Lord for the work HE is doing! Praise Him for how He is already being glorified! May He continue to be glorified in all of this, and may He use this to be a testimony of Himself and to bring people to Him!!

Elias is still not out of the woods. They still consider these next 2 days as critical and say that if he is still doing good on Friday, then his chances of survival are really good.

Elias update

The doctor just gave them really bad news. Elias has had a fever again.  The dr. said, "This scares me to death."  He also said that he has never seen anyone survive the surgery that Elias had.  We are praying for a miracle!  Also, pray for Ruben and Luisa, as they are not handling the news very well!

URGENT Prayer Request

Many of you remember us mentioning the names Ruben and Luisa, the pastor of the church in Huancane, where we used to live.

Their little boy, 2 year old Elias, is in critical condition.  On Friday evening, he swallowed a flat battery, about the size of a penny.  He had to be transferred by ambulance 5 hours away to a better hospital over night and arrived there early Saturday morning.  That afternoon, they performed surgery to remove the battery, and also to repair the hole that was made in his esophagus as the battery acid leaked out. 

He was told that he would be in the ICU for at least 10 days and then the doctors would know more.  John flew to Arequipa to be with the family during this time, and just this morning, the doctor let them know of the very serious state Elias is in right now.

Yesterday afternoon, Elias had a fever. This is a sign of infection, which is not good.  Today the fever is gone (a praise!).  However, the doctor told him that the 5th and 6th days are the critical points (Thursday and Friday).  Basically, the dr. told them that he if can live past Friday, then he will have good odds of surviving.  The dr. said that right now he has a 50% chance of dying and a 40% chance of living. (I'm not sure what the other 10% are?)  The fear is that an infection will set in from the acid and saliva that leaked out of the hole in his esophagus and spread to the rest of his body.

PLEASE PRAY that no infection will set in! Pray that his little body will be strong enough to fight off infection and that he will heal fully and quickly.  Even if he survives now, the dr. explained that he could still have future problems (scar tissue closing his throat, etc).  Pray that he will heal completely and not have any further problems! Pray for guidance and directions for the doctors and wisdom in knowing how to treat him.  Pray for GOD to be glorified in all of this! 

Ruben and Luisa have been told how many people are praying for them and they are very encouraged by that right now.  Luisa said that she has , "full confidence he will heal because of all the people praying for him." 

These next few days are critical.  When you think of 2 year old Elias, please remember to pray for him!

Thank you!