Kami update...

We still have no idea as to what is causing Kami the intense chest pressure that is causing her neck/head aches.  She says that it feels as if someone is standing on her chest and the pressure is so severe at times that she gets sharp pains in her chin, cheek bones or sinus areas as well as along her neck. (This is the same symptoms that landed her in the ER last October.)

We contacted the doctor today (Thursday) and she told Kami that she doesn't know what the cause of the problem is.  So she referred us to an Osteopath Doctor...not really sure what this is.

As far as we can tell, this is not Chiropractor that deals with bones & alignments but a "doctor" that deals with muscular, tissue problems.  

We did call around to several Osteopaths and asked one lady exactly what the treatment would be...she replied, "That depends on your symptoms.  I might use new techniques like the fishing rod or just do a deep-tissue massage." (She sounded quite a bit weird so we skipped this one!)

I told Kami that a new fishing rod sounds great...but she didn't find it so funny!

We did finally get a call back from the Osteopath that Kami's doctor recommended.  So Kami has an appointment tomorrow at 5:30...but we still have no idea what to expect.

Please continue to pray for Kami, we covet your prayers for her...until next time.

"Go get a donut?"...

As missionaries serving in a different country and culture, we have wondered at what our younger children will think and experience when we ever get back to America.  What things will be new to them?  What "weird" American customs will they experience for the first time?

For me, being born and raised on the island of St. Thomas, taking my first trip to the continental U.S. brought many firsts!  I can remember being so excited that the car could actually get past 35 MPH!...not to mention when we broke the sound barrier at 70 MPH!  I couldn't believe that you could get in a car and travel for several hours and not drive past your house 50 times!  It was amazing...and air conditioning in every store, home, and restaurant was a dream come true!

Well, this week we got a little taste of some things our younger children have yet to experience:

Silas called his Grandpa to tell him that he had gone fishing for the very first time.  (Grandma & Grandpa are planning on visiting us in May)  As they talked, Grandpa mentioned to Silas, "When I come, do you want to go get a donut with me?"  To which Silas replied, "Do what?"  So Grandpa said again, "Do you want me to take you out to get a donut?"  Silas was now confused as he said, "What does it mean to go out to get a donut...I don't understand?"   

You see, we don't have any fast-food chains here to "run out to get something to eat."  For Silas, going out means either making a visit or actually grocery shopping with momma...not just to get one thing to eat like a hamburger or donut.

For Silas and Callie, traffic lights are difficult to understand.  We don't have any permanent ones.  All we have are portable traffic lights that move around to where the city is doing road work and the lights change from Red to Yellow...so Silas & Callie can't quite understand what a green light is.

Then there is the package rule here at the grocery stores.  You see, back in the U.S., you buy a "pack" of something.  For example, you might buy a six pack of soda.  Well, here, you buy exactly what you want.  If you want 7 sodas, you buy the whole "6 pack" and then break open another pack and just take the 1.  You might find a 4 pack of canned tomato paste, so you break open the pack and take 2 or whatever number you want.  

I could just see my kids now back in the States, leaving behind a trail of opened boxes, cartons, and "packs" on all of the shelves at the grocery store!

Tropical Updates...

It has definitely been a very tough week.  Kami has noticed that some of her symptoms, that landed her in the ER last October, were starting to come back.  Then, last Wednesday, her symptoms were completely back in 'full-force'.  She has had chest pains, extreme pressure in her neck, head, & chest, and also has had difficulty in breathing.  So, as per the doctor's orders from last time, we put her to bed and daddy took over all of mommy's work.

The problem is that daddy hasn't been doing so well physically himself.  So our wonderful 3 older children have been pitching in by helping to cook meals, cleaning, and taking care of the 3 younger ones to help out dad.  We are all tired!  Mommy thinks it's funny how it takes 4 of us to do her job!

We did take Kami to the doctor this past week and we were told that Kami is probably (from physical tests & blood tests) calcium and magnesium deficient.  So she is now on some prescribed vitamins and has at least, started to get back her energy...although the pain and pressure are still intense.

Here are some more updates :

- We received a phone call that Kami's VISA was ready to be picked up.  After paying another "tax" we received her 1-year VISA.  But the VISA was dated as being "issued" on January 8th and we must come back to pay another $150 "tax" and renew the VISA in November.  So, basically, we really have just a 7 month VISA!  But at least we have it! Yay!

-It hasn't rained for a long time now and we are desperately needing some rain.  

(It's pretty bad when even the cactus plants are dying!)

-Our shipment of supplies came in this past week from our home church.  Our home church bought and shipped all of the necessary Gospel Tracts, baggies, John & Romans, and French Invitations to our Sunday Bible study.  What a blessing it was to receive them and we look forward to continuing our distribution of the Gospel to every home here...(we had run out of supplies and had to stop our efforts for a while until this shipment came in.)

-There is a "run" on gas today.  Our only two gas stations here on the island will not be receiving gas for at least a another week.   So yesterday afternoon, I hurried and filled up the tank on our car.  This will allow us to be able to at least pick up the folks who come to our Sunday Bible study.  Then we will be staying close to home as we may need the rest of the tank of gas for next Sunday if a shipment isn't delivered by then.  Cars were lined up today along the road waiting for gas at the gas stations!

Thank you so much for praying for our family.  We covet your continued prayers, especially for both our physical and financial needs.  We were contacted by two more of our supporting churches who told us of the regret at having to stop our monthly support due to a lack of finances in the church.  Thus far, we have had 8 of our supporting churches to halt support due to the economic difficulties in America.  These churches have expressed a sincere and deep regret at having to make these difficult decisions and each has also expressed a desire to one day in the future, hopefully be able to re-establish support.   We simply desire to share this information with you to enlist your prayers for our family.  We praise the Lord for each and every one of you!

Until next time...

Happy Birthday Elisabeth !!!

Today, March 14th, we have our first 15-year old girl in our home!  Happy Birthday Elisabeth!!!

She is our "quiet" girl who loves books, family games, and is a lady in every way...On an average day you will find her taking care of her chores without ever having to be reminded, always faithfully having her prayer time/Bible time devotions, making sure she is done with school (even if it means that she is studying outside in the evening time) and faithfully giving her daddy hugs throughout the day.

Oh...and you will find her at some point trying to sneak in some "book" time!

(Look at that smile...I told her she owes me $6,000 for those straight teeth!)

(It is amazing how much she looks like her momma...There have been times that I have seen Beth from behind and called out to her, "Hey Babe.." thinking it was Kami.)

We love you so much Beth and we hope that you continue to grow each day in Christ.  You are as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside.  You are definitely an example of a fine Christian young lady.

It's easier to start a zoo..

We are quickly learning that it is easier to start a petting zoo than it is a church!

Our last post mentioned that we received a baby goat on Sunday...Then today our children ran into the house yelling, "There are baby chicks!"

(Yes, it's true...one of the chickens that we nick-named "POX" (because she looks like she had a bout of serious chicken pox..she's ugly!) brought her new brood of chicks to visit us. )

(All 11 of them!)

(I told Kami that I hope these little guys don't take after their momma!)

The only problem is that there is another hen that has disappeared...one we have named "Roosty"(because she looks more like a rooster than a hen.)  We believe she is on a nest somewhere out in the woods...just waiting for her chicks to hatch to bring them for a visit!

As Kami says, "Welcome to the Zoo!"

So far, we have had :
-rats staring at us through the window
-stray cats
-turtles
-albino doves
-snakes
-large teal lizards
-a long-eared rabbit
-& 12 chickens who have shown up in our yard.

Then this morning, Leo (the one who made us the chicken coop) dropped off his latest find for us...

Yes...a goat.  One that he found on the road that obviously was raised as a pet.  She follows you around and wants to come inside the house!

And she loves to be bottle fed!

When we pulled Micah's old bottle out of the cabinet and filled it with milk, our new baby goat recognized the bottle and went crazy trying to get at it!  The kids (no pun intended!) have named her Kiddie.  Of course, their first question was, "Can we keep her?"

Of course the 5 who came for Bible study just laughed and asked what our next animal will be...the consensus was a donkey or a pig!  As for me...well, I will be looking in the local paper for an ad that reads, "Lost : pet baby goat..."

Tropical Updates...

The temperatures are starting to get warmer and it reminds me of how hot it was last summer...Oh how I love cooler temperatures!  What makes things worse is that our A/C in our car doesn't work so we are really looking at a hot summer!

With the inevitable heat coming, we have been without rain for quite some time.  We really need rain and plenty of it! Everything here is dry, dusty and brown from the drought we have been having.

Our home church has graciously purchased all of our needed materials to continue the distribution of the Gospel here on St. Barths.  The items will hopefully be shipped via boat (Tropical Shipping) next week.  It will be good to get back to our efforts of delivering the Gospel to every home here on St. Barths.

Both gas stations here are closed and have been for the past 5 days...no gas.  There is supposed to be a shipment of gas delivered via boat this week so hopefully we will be able to purchase some gas for our car by the end of the week.  So for now....we have been staying close to home!

(Brenna & I on our way to play Domino's)

On Tuesday nights, Brenna and I go to play some Domino's with my uncles.  One of them is Claude who just recently accepted Christ as his Saviour and came this past Sunday to our Bible study...we have been praying for him to come for quite some time!  The other man is Henri.  Please be in prayer for him as he needs to accept Christ as his Saviour.  We are hoping to be able to have a good witness on him via these Tuesday night games.  

Thank you all for your continued prayers for our family and the people here on this precious island.

Until next time...