Finally arrived back in Honduras Sunday PM after more than 3 months in the USA!
John arrived home in Balfate almost 2 weeks before me alone, after an unexpected 24 hr delay in Houston, in which he wore out his sandals hiking around to allay the boredom! But he arrived without mishap, ferried from San Pedro out to the hospital by trusty neighbor Dr. Don. I enjoyed his reentry vicariously from Tulsa, OK, where I flew 2 days after I put him on the plane for Honduras. I enjoyed the second opportunity in my 3 + months to have some alone time with my folks in Sun City, AZ before flying on to deal with my painful R. wrist. Mom, after a downhill episode, got a clean bill of health from her cardiologist and pulmonologist, and while resigned to her “new normal” still amazes her children by her consistent swimming and walking. She is slowly pushing back to her 1/2 mile daily in the pool, so we are thankful for that. I will not soon forget the hours we spent in the pool together walking and rehashing my 56 years as her daughter. Time spent with dad in the exercise gym trying to at least keep up with “the old codger” as he calls himself will long sustain me in the months away from them. Thank you, Lord, for precious time with my parents!
My 2 weeks in Tulsa sped by, full of contacting friends and supporters. The priority was to make necessary contacts to get some consult on my wrist, and that was accomplished with the help of a friend who is the PT for a hand surgeon here. She paved the way for me to get an appointment with him after seeing the PCP, and even accompanied me, followed by a session of showing me various exercises and helps for my hand. In the delay before I could get an EMG done, I scheduled various other preventative procedures, some long overdue. One was to have been done 4 years ago…my, where DOES the time go? Having put some of these necessary tests behind me will make our next time back to the US less hurried for me.
Between tests, I traveled north to see the 2 kids and 3 grandkids there, and south to see faithful friends near our old home in Okmulgee. Jake lives near where we always stay in Tulsa, and came by twice to take a long walk and have dinner with me. He also met me up north one weekend to slumber party with our grandkids, Eryn and Benton, and share rootbeer floats and a movie. Then all of us accompanied our son Dan, 23, to watch him play in a fundraiser football game for cancer. Good memories!
The EMG showed no evidence of what the hand surgeon thought was surely an acute onset of carpal tunnel bilaterally. Hm, so I left for Honduras only knowing what it is NOT. He injected it with steroids, and told me to try using it.
Because of the unexpected layover in Tulsa, I was able to see Sarah, Jaie and Ellison again, as they flew in Friday to go see her siblings and Jaie’s grandfather. We shared pizza together and got some 5 week pictures. It was a sniffy parting for me, knowing there would be many months without hugging Ellie.
I left Tulsa in below freezing weather , and arrived San Pedro Sula with temps of about 90. We were able to get in to the hospital area by dark Sunday, and am well into unpacking and reorganizing the house after so long away. I have spent my first 2 days home doing just that, with 5 visits to friends and coworkers this afternoon. Some joyous visits, thankful for the growth I see, some sad, seeing a return to old vices.
My first visit was to Suyapa, a Honduran coworker who has led SO many people to the Lord! She is 49, and hospitalized in critical condition. I brought her a Teddy Bear that she’d asked for. Made me sad as her changes have all come during my absence. She appeared healthy when I left. One thing is sure- He who began a good work in her will surely bring it to a glorious completion!
As I write, I hear the riotous singing next door of 50 plus teenagers, who gather together weekly for Alfa and Omega, time of playing volleyball followed by devotions and singing. I sense that we will hear from these young people in the future…that our area will be forever changed by them.
John and I have enjoyed 2 nites eating on our new patio that he built while we were separated, to the tune of the jungle insects as the sun sets. We have also enjoyed morning coffee out there, so guess it was a good idea! I had questioned if we’d ever use it, but think especially when we get plants in and improve the scenery around it, it will be nice. Gives us kind of a secluded together place, which is nice since we all live in glass houses here with an open door policy all the time.
So its back to jungle journalism, all further notes will reflect that! Thanks for all who hosted us/me and made our time away so special.
John arrived home in Balfate almost 2 weeks before me alone, after an unexpected 24 hr delay in Houston, in which he wore out his sandals hiking around to allay the boredom! But he arrived without mishap, ferried from San Pedro out to the hospital by trusty neighbor Dr. Don. I enjoyed his reentry vicariously from Tulsa, OK, where I flew 2 days after I put him on the plane for Honduras. I enjoyed the second opportunity in my 3 + months to have some alone time with my folks in Sun City, AZ before flying on to deal with my painful R. wrist. Mom, after a downhill episode, got a clean bill of health from her cardiologist and pulmonologist, and while resigned to her “new normal” still amazes her children by her consistent swimming and walking. She is slowly pushing back to her 1/2 mile daily in the pool, so we are thankful for that. I will not soon forget the hours we spent in the pool together walking and rehashing my 56 years as her daughter. Time spent with dad in the exercise gym trying to at least keep up with “the old codger” as he calls himself will long sustain me in the months away from them. Thank you, Lord, for precious time with my parents!
My 2 weeks in Tulsa sped by, full of contacting friends and supporters. The priority was to make necessary contacts to get some consult on my wrist, and that was accomplished with the help of a friend who is the PT for a hand surgeon here. She paved the way for me to get an appointment with him after seeing the PCP, and even accompanied me, followed by a session of showing me various exercises and helps for my hand. In the delay before I could get an EMG done, I scheduled various other preventative procedures, some long overdue. One was to have been done 4 years ago…my, where DOES the time go? Having put some of these necessary tests behind me will make our next time back to the US less hurried for me.
Between tests, I traveled north to see the 2 kids and 3 grandkids there, and south to see faithful friends near our old home in Okmulgee. Jake lives near where we always stay in Tulsa, and came by twice to take a long walk and have dinner with me. He also met me up north one weekend to slumber party with our grandkids, Eryn and Benton, and share rootbeer floats and a movie. Then all of us accompanied our son Dan, 23, to watch him play in a fundraiser football game for cancer. Good memories!
The EMG showed no evidence of what the hand surgeon thought was surely an acute onset of carpal tunnel bilaterally. Hm, so I left for Honduras only knowing what it is NOT. He injected it with steroids, and told me to try using it.
Because of the unexpected layover in Tulsa, I was able to see Sarah, Jaie and Ellison again, as they flew in Friday to go see her siblings and Jaie’s grandfather. We shared pizza together and got some 5 week pictures. It was a sniffy parting for me, knowing there would be many months without hugging Ellie.
I left Tulsa in below freezing weather , and arrived San Pedro Sula with temps of about 90. We were able to get in to the hospital area by dark Sunday, and am well into unpacking and reorganizing the house after so long away. I have spent my first 2 days home doing just that, with 5 visits to friends and coworkers this afternoon. Some joyous visits, thankful for the growth I see, some sad, seeing a return to old vices.
My first visit was to Suyapa, a Honduran coworker who has led SO many people to the Lord! She is 49, and hospitalized in critical condition. I brought her a Teddy Bear that she’d asked for. Made me sad as her changes have all come during my absence. She appeared healthy when I left. One thing is sure- He who began a good work in her will surely bring it to a glorious completion!
As I write, I hear the riotous singing next door of 50 plus teenagers, who gather together weekly for Alfa and Omega, time of playing volleyball followed by devotions and singing. I sense that we will hear from these young people in the future…that our area will be forever changed by them.
John and I have enjoyed 2 nites eating on our new patio that he built while we were separated, to the tune of the jungle insects as the sun sets. We have also enjoyed morning coffee out there, so guess it was a good idea! I had questioned if we’d ever use it, but think especially when we get plants in and improve the scenery around it, it will be nice. Gives us kind of a secluded together place, which is nice since we all live in glass houses here with an open door policy all the time.
So its back to jungle journalism, all further notes will reflect that! Thanks for all who hosted us/me and made our time away so special.
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