Top of the World

October 21 sees us in Kathmandu, Nepal, on our long dreamed for trip to see my brother Jeff and his incredible family here. They have lived here doing Bible translation work for about 20 years. We were able to arrange a day's layover in HongKong enroute here to catch-up with some longtime friends, Diane and Steve Lawler. That was not only a delightful interlude but allowed us to survive the long trip better.
Diane Lawler, HongKong

Oct. 26 will see the formal dedication of the New Testament in the people group Jeff has been working with. What a culture shift, from the Western Third World of Honduras,with a mostly Judeochristian worldview, to this mostly Hindu nation. We will be here and in northern India for a similar dedication, returning to Kathmandu for another week and a half of just family time- with a 2 day trek in there somewhere. John has enjoyed the first of what he hopes to be many long mountainbike rides in the early AM.

We left Honduras 2 weeks ago and made a week stop in Tulsa for the start of our medical checks
and visiting our kids and the 3 grands there.
It was not nearly enough and are looking forward to Thanksging with them enroute back to Honduras. We happened to have unknowingly timed our Nepal departure to conflict with Tulsa Bible Church’s mission conference, but were at least able to participate in the kickoff, and then the children’s conference and a brunch, so better than nothing. It is shocking to realize that the 1st graders in the conference were born the year we left the states! We will continue the visits we began when we return. Its never enuf!
Snuck in a lunch with Joanne Heck

My last update from Honduras was mid September, and I was chronicling the progress of my favorite patient, Enel, a 37 yr old who was with us with bad burns. I also shared the need for an instrument for doing skin grafts. Well, while in the US for the birth of a grandchild, fellow workers Dr. Leon and Judy were able, miraculously, to obtain the $20,000 instrument for $500! Fun story- but the results were good skin grafts on Enel’s calves before we left the country….and we vicariously enjoyed and cried over his return home 2 days ago. He was with us for 7 weeks I believe!

We left the hospital knowing the new missionary RN , Joelle, was already gaining the confidence of the Honduran staff, even with such a short orientation. I can’t imagine taking on the responsibility she has at 22! Our last weeks there were exhausting, trying to get John’s system sustainable in his absence, and enjoy a team of 7 that were there for 2 weeks from Jacksonbville, OR visiting us. They decided to not cancel their trip despite the continued political unrest and anxiety. 5 had been with us before, 2 were new, but is amazing how quickly the “new kids on the block” become part of our lives! One of our fellow missionaries will have ongoing memories of them, as they painted her house outside, that had suffered so badly in last year’s flooding. John will think of the 2 nurses as he enjoys the neatly organized delivery room they prepared, plus many more tangible and intangible blessings they left behind. All our community feels the touch of this team when they come! More later from the Top of the World.