Welcomes and Farewells

This weekend we hosted a Bienvenido and a Despedido for some of our SIM teammates.  We welcomed two new gals to the team and said farewell (albeit temporary) to a few others.    The Jeyechandren family is headed back to Australia for home assignment.  They have been such a blessing to us and we will certainly miss them!  David and Christine have been our mentors here and really helped to get us established when we first arrived.
It was a nice day, as usual, and the kids (and adults) were able to play in the park.

The Simplest Things

     Sometimes it is the simplest of things that remind us of home…Michigan, I mean.   This afternoon as I was working on the computer next to the open window.  And what to my wondering ears did I hear?  The sound of a lawn mower cutting grass near!   Yep, that's right.  Lawn mowers are quite rare here.  Generally there isn't enough grass anywhere to warrant using one.  Most grass is simple hacked down with a weed whipper.  I sat and listened to the mower for a few long moments and was reminded of summers back home.  Sigh.  A few moments later Jason entered the room.  I told him to stand by the window, close his eyes, and listen.  He said "I hear a lawn mower.  Makes me thing of summer back home."  :)

Minor Procedure

Lydia had a ganglion cyst so we had our team doctor, Dr. Allen, aspirate out the "gel" that was inside.  He told us there was a chance it would come back.  Well, three days later it was back.  So this last Friday, he tried again.  This time he injected some steroid in as well to prevent reoccurrence.  As of now, the cyst seems to be back.  :-(  It doesn't hurt her at all, but she does get teased about it at school.  She prayed tonight that God would just take it away while she slept so she didn't have to face another needle.  Amen Lydia!  I pray the Lord answers that prayer for her sake.