Did I speak too soon?

Well, having said that I hoped it would be a while before a medical story….

Having been here 2 days now we have unpacked and set up some of the house. It was lovely to be welcomed back at church on Sunday. After church, while trying to solve the solar hot water system problem at another house with Matt and Phil, Matt had to dash away. As one of the 2 MAF pilots here, he needed to fly to a place about an hour’s flight away to pick up a very sick lady. This picture shows Matt landing at Rumginae on Sunday with the hospital in the background:

We weren’t able to fix the hot water problem … maybe tomorrow. While the plane was away I had a go at fixing our microwave. I found a blown fuse but have little chance of getting a replacement here in PNG! If that doesn’t fix it I’m not sure what to do next. While attempting this operation the plane landed with a very unwell lady.

Dr Addy was on call ... Dr Sharon is taken a well earned weekend off. I was pleased to be able to help by being the anaesthetist. The operation to remove the bleeding ectopic pregnancy went well and now our patient is recovering on the ward.

There have been many pleasant surprises. While we were in Australia, the Rumginae house bathroom has been transformed from a mouldy grey termite-eaten area to a lovely bathroom… and the rusty lilting washing machine has been replaced with a lovely new machine. It has been absolutely amazing the number of things different people have thought of and done as examples of Christ like love in sending us and in welcoming us.  It brings me back to God's grace which is also so undeserved.

2Co 8:9  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Rumginae

Dear Friends

We have arrived safely at Rumginae. It was an enormous blessing to have so many wonderful people helping us to vacate our house. Tom and Rosie were both quite sick for the week before leaving Australia but everyone is now healthy and the travel went very smoothly. The children are very excited to be back in PNG and have spent their time climbing trees and playing with friends. We still have a lot of work to do to set up the house, especially the school room. School will start on Monday. Thank you for your prayers. Hopefully I don’t get to update this with an exciting medical story too soon.

Home Assignment dates

Thank you so much for your prayers and support for us during our time at Rumginae, and also now that we are home for furlough / home assignment. We have settled into our house and the children are enjoying going along to the local school. The dates that have been arranged so far for speaking etc during home assignment are listed below. (We have already presented at Gosford, Nelson Bay and St Andrew’s Newcastle Presbyterian churches);
14^th March: Woy Woy Presbyterian
28^th March: Tuggerah Lakes Choral Society ‘pleasant Sunday afternoon’, Toukley
11th April: Bathurst Presbyterian
18^th April: Doyalson Baptist
2^nd May Wingham Presbyterian
9th May Mannering Park Uniting (6pm)
16th May: Finley Presbyterian
6th June: Gosford Presbyterian
June – Return to Rumginae; probably until the end of 2011.
Our home assignment time has been used to rest, get medical and dental needs attended to, put the children in school, catch up with family and friends, debrief with Pioneers, organise work permits and visas, report back to churches and supporters (more to go still), study and training, as well as some medical work to keep up to date.
Thank you so much for your support and prayers
Daniel, Tammy, Tom, Rosie and Sam

In Australia

Dear friends,

We deeply appreciate your prayers and support in so many ways.

The last 3 weeks have gone very quickly. It has been very refreshing spending time in Australia. We have travelled a lot to see family. We were very glad to have made the trip out to Condobolin to see Daniel’s Nan who was very sick. We spent time with Nan (90) and Pop (92!). We had a good chat with Pop while there and have heard this morning that he died in his sleep last night. We travel out to Condo tomorrow (Tuesday) for his funeral.

We would really appreciate prayer for the family, especially Daniel’s mother (Pop was her father), and for his wife ‘Nan’ who is still very unwell in hospital.

We are very thankful to be in our own house for the 5 months we are in Australia… and so thankful to many family and friends who have given so much of their time and resources to help us settle in.

During our 5 months at home, we will have a chance to report back to those who support us and those who are interested. We expect to be travelling most weekends. This break will also give us time to rest and unwind, debrief, catch up with family and friends, catch up with medical needs, give the children an experience of real school, and refresh our own medical and pharmacy skills.

We pray you have a happy and safe Christmas, resting in the peace which only Emmanuel can bring.

‘Be not afraid. I go before you always. Come follow me… and I will give you rest.’ (Hymn)

Daniel, Tammy, Tom, Rosie and Sam