Our Hike

Last week, we hiked up Mt. Leconte outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, just the boys, Tully and me. It was a fun time, even though it came in the midst of a very busy six weeks for us. We chose the Alum Cave Bluffs trail, which is the shortest, at 5.5miles, the steepest, but the most scenic. We took our time, almost five hours--but we arrived in time to drink a bunch of hot chocolate, get a short rest, and then hike a little more to the summit to watch the sunset. It was exquisite.

Years ago I read the book Shogun, and remember one part in the book which describes how the Japanese in that time period would invite friends over to watch the sunset. Each sunset is unique and breathtakingly beautiful in its own way, and the Japanese would sit in silence together as the sun went down, just soaking in the beauty of the moment. We did much the same thing, well, as silent as one can be with five boys who've just conquered a mountain, and we praised God for designing sunsets for us--how each is unique with the various pinks and oranges, purples, and blues in the clouds surrounding, and how each one points us straight to the Creator!



This was at the beginning--they were all perky!



"HOW much LOoooNnn-GER??!" This was near the end--we were so proud of Elijah--he didn't complain or get tired until we were almost at the top! "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength" became his favorite verse during that hike!


Trey--our new driver!



The bridge before Arch Rock on the trail








Our reward at the end of the hike--a bird's eye view of the Smoky Mountains


Sunset from the top of Mt. Leconte




Almost gone!

Pictures from Lately

The children "helping" the brickmasons at the hospital.


On the bus trip to San Pedro Sula, the city from which our plane left. Eight hours in the bus--it was a long day, but we had plenty of room to stretch out. :)


Finally, in SC--Trey has enjoyed some fishing on our furlough.


Snuggle time one morning with Tully, Tee, Gabe, and Eli


Michelle and Carmen at the Fall Festival at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church--waiting to see what is on the other end of the fishing line


Gabe and Eli--proud of their pumpkin carving skills

Anna

Anna needs a tonsillectomy--her tonsils literally touch, so she is very much a mouth breather and her ENT says that she probably has sleep apnea as well due to her enlarged tonsils. First, however, we had to clear her for surgery with the hematologist, which involved more blood work due to the temporary condition that she had in the summer of 2008, ITP. Although her platelet count has gone up since August, 2008, she still has low platelets, so her doctor ordered more bloodwork. If she had ITP, it should have already resolved. In three days, Anna had 12 vials of blood taken. She was such a trooper!

We are now awaiting more blood work to confirm a diagnosis of platelet agregation disorder and have an appointment with her hematologist next week. Right now, he just said that she will need a platelet transfusion before her tonsillectomy.


Anna and Carmen

Well. . .

It has been too long since I posted, I know--I have just downloaded 561 pictures from my camera since the missionary retreat at the end of September. So, I will try and relate some of our latest happenings and news.

We arrived back in the US at the beginning of October. Yes, we had a little reverse culture shock. As we landed at night, Elijah looked out his window and marveled at all the lights down below--he said, "Look! It's already all decorated for Christmas there!!" He just wasn't used to all of that electricity!

We have already visited seven states: SC, NC, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. It has been an adventure and a pleasure to catch up with lots of friends and make new ones.

One momentous occasion was when we visited First Church of the Nazarene in Greenville. They have two services, one in English and one in Spanish. When the Hispanic pastor told his congregation that we would be speaking to them in Spanish that day, the whoops of excitement and enthusiasm from the crowd were deafening! In July, 2008, we had to use a translator while speaking during that service.

Many in the congregation were from Honduras, and, when we finished, the pastor thanked us for loving their people, Hispanics, and for serving them in this way. Perhaps they understand best of all the poverty and needfulness and lostness of their people. At any rate, it left me in tears and praising God again for the way He is using us.