August 2, 2010 - My surgery

Registration and Paper Work....

Surgery Preparations...

Recovery..still totally out of it. I have no memory of this picture or Ferd taking it..

A Few Fun Moments July 22-Aug 1

Well, I had to meet with the Dr the very first week we got here and he scheduled me for diagnostic surgery 6 days later..so, literally from the time we got here in the US until now, has been devoted to getting my health straightened out. I was able to see my family, go out to eat at a few places and run into a few friends along the way.

I got to meet my nephew Carson for the first time, who is almost 2 years old

Of course, it was wonderful to be reunited with our church family at a Temple. Many were not there, as they were on a missions trip in Costa Rica...but it was good to see all the others again.

Sunday, August 1, the whole church gathered around me for prayer and it meant the world to me to have so many folks care after suffering alone with this disease for so many years now..

July 21, 2010 - Trip to the US

A few memories of the trip over... We had a lay over in Japan. It was fun to get to walk around a bit while waiting and then eating McD's in Tokyo. The food was very expensive. 20$ was only enough to get Sean some nuggets and fries!!! Crazy!

Then, We had to sit on the run way for 2 hours due to "mechanical" problems (yay)..not something you want to hear right before you are about to fly 14 hours over the Pacific Ocean! But, the Lord was good and the flight went smoothly and we made it back to the good ole USA! After landing in detroit, we missed our next flight and had to wait another 6 hours for the next one, but we managed to make it back to Ronaoke, VA. My favorite part of the flight is the decent in Roanoke, when all the sudden you see mountains and trees and you realize you are really back! No more oceans and palm trees or rice fields...The Philippines is so very far away right now, hard to believe.

July 18,2010 - Goodbye

It was hard to say Goodbye to everyone in our church at LBC as well as the new villages.. The hardest part is that we don't know when we will be back. We are entering on a 1 way ticket to the US because we dont know what the Dr will say or what the surgery will find. So, when the people ask when we will return, we can't answer, and that is hard. There were many tears today, especially as they threw me a surprise Goodbye treat. Tons of cards and beautiful flowers, and special music..yeah, it was hard.

Also, for a big surprise, the kids all used their offerings to throw Sean a surprise party. They had pizza, which they know is Sean's favorite and played games and just had fun..it was hard to say Goodbye..

July 16, 2010 Lanas Dedication

Even though we are going to be leaving for the states next week, we decided to go ahead and go through with the planned Dedication Service in the new village of Lanas. We wanted to dedicate the new shelter to the Lord and have a big celebration. We had singing, preaching, food and fellowship.. I even got to lead 2 visiting young ladies to the Lord. I didn't feel well at the service, but I carried through because I did not want to miss this service. Sean loves playing with the animals that wander through the shelter during the service..ducks, dogs, cats, chickens, goats, etc.

Total Support

We had to break the news to all our peeps here, and it was hard for me to go in front and share about going back to the US. However, the church members were soooo supportive. Yes, they cried and wanted to know when we would be back, etc...but they really rallied around me and said that they knew this was best.. They all said that I am just a shell of the person I used to be. I'm tired, I'm exhausted. I miss out on every thing because I am either on the couch or in the bathroom dealing with this disease. I am so thankful that they want me to get this help. I think I can go now

I think I'm going back to the USA

I talked with my US doctor and he recommended coming in.. we wants to meet with me asap. So, we feel this is the Lord's will... me suffering and distracting Ferd from the work can not keep going on day after day..something's gotta give and we feel this is the time before it gets worse... I feel so torn. So selfish. so unsure. Ferd is the opposite..totally at peace and excited to get me some help. I need to trust my hubby, but Satan is really beating me up over this....

July 10, 2010 - Feeling Bad

this week has been a rough one. I can't take this pain anymore. I cant really talk to much about the stuff I have to deal with since this is an open blog..but it's a rough situation. I am at my wit's end and so is Ferd. We have prayed and talked and talked and prayed...things are getting worse and I am about to just give up. Some special friends met with me and had some prayers about my health and it was such an emotional time for me because they can sense how bad it's getting. they shared how much they loved me and how I have made an impact in their lives. I just cried because my illness has limited me from being that person I used to be, who was making a difference in others lives..now, I am just so exhausted from fighting this diseaseeach and every day that I want to crawl in a hole and die. I am thankful for praying friends, but something's gotta give...

Happy 4th of July!!!

Every Sunday I teach the Singles class at our first church, LBC. They are so much fun, and since Aiza ( one of my students) is also an American filipino from Hawaii..we decided to have a 4th of July celebration after our meeting. We had a complete cookout and fireworks. Ferd made baked beans which they DID NOT like, but they liked the corn on the cob and hotdogs, and the fruit salad I made. It was fun and made me feel a little like I was in the USA

July 1, 2010- new village shelter

YAY! We finally have a floor for the shelter in the village of Lanas. It is starting to look like a church! The men worked very hard these past few weeks, I have barely seen Ferd, seriously! They have poured all their time, sweat and energy into this project. But, it is looking really good and we are safe from the rains!

June 30, 2010- Prayer Cell Meetings

One of the things that I love about the work we have here, is the small group emphasis. We split the larger groups up into smaller groups that can really get to know each other and fellowship on a higher level than a large group. I love the small prayer cell groups that we have each month. they are held in different people's houses and we have a Bible study, more intimate prayer time and then the family prepares their speciality foods. tonight, I met at Sis. Leah's house and I enjoyed the fellowship and the special prayer the members had for me, as my health is really handicapped me. i have been very open with them about my health, and they have prayed with me about it for so long....

then, we had my all time favorite filipino dish, Palabok...I could eat that stuff everyday