Thoughts on a Monday night

Sitting here in Andraus and Amy's living room listening to Christmas music. A few of the houses around here have lights up, otherwise it is hard to imagine that we have just entered the Christmas Season....daytime temperatures are in the mid 70's and today it was more like a pre summer day back in Oregon. Over the weekend the beaches were full and there were even some people swimming....but most were just sitting on the beach like we did yesterday.....
We just came back from visiting Amy at the hospital. She is doing much better today, but is on lot's of medication...yesterday was not such a good day. She was even able to get out and about a little and sit in the sun today. We arrived just as they were visiting with the baby...and they pulled up the curtain and we were able to watch when they put him back into the incubator....what a little tyke. Just like a little doll. Cute....and little. Like all new born he lost a little weight after birth, but has already gained some of that back....they figure that he will be in the hospital for at least 2 months....the time he was supposed to still be in the vomb. A week has almost past since he came into this world and it has been an unreal week. We are glad that we are able to be here and be of support to them.....

Pictures

Just a quick update from down here....Amy is slowly improving but is still not well. She is still in the hospital with Andraus by her side. The little guy is in NICU and is also hanging in there. He is real little...as he was born at 29 weeks, but he is holding his own and according to the nurses in there "a real fighter" His parents can come in and visit several times a day and Amy gets to hold him also to allow him to hear her heart beat and be close to her. We do appreciate everyone's continued prayers...and it is good to know that God is in charge.

California Update # 1

You now you are no longer in Oregon when the Christmas pointsettas are not bought in the store but grow outside your window. We were able to find last minute airmile tickets from PDX to LA ...a real miracle. We arrived late last night and were able to catch a late Thanksgiving dinner with Amy's family down from Fresno. They all came down and camped out at Andraus' and Amy's place....it was good to see our son, the new father. And while he headed back to the hospital we found our way to their friend's house where we will be staying while we are here in Ventura.

This morning we woke up to a warm sun shining....and peeking out the window we knew we were not in Oregon anymore...a lemon and and orange tree in the back yard....tall tree like pointsetta bushes out front and blooming jades all around the house. And it is fairly warm out there...by 10 we headed up to the hospital...and found Andraus and Amy ready to go in and visit with their little son. Amy had a rough night and although she is out if ICU, she is still not well and there are a number of things that are still not good...pray for complete healing for this dear girl.

After a while they were able to lift the curtain and we could peek in....because of restrictions we were not able to go in and see our little boy close up. But there he was....a tiny little tyke. Real little. He is expected to stay in the hospital for a couple of months. He came into this world at 29 weeks. Wow. But he is breathing on his own and seems to be a little fighter.

Because our Amy was not feeling well we decided to not stay around too long....so now we are hanging out at their place...doing laundry, cleaning house, watering plants and all those things that are not priority when you have an emergency. I don't think that any of us realize how serious this really was...and what a miracle and a praise to God it is that Amy is doing better....with still a fair way to go, and that little Jonathan is OK, although really tiny. God is good...but we do appreciate everyone's continued prayers for our dear ones. We rest in Him.

Thanks to the Internet and laptop computers we are still able to do a fair amount of work from down here. So we look forward to hearing from you....also, we hope to update our africa blog.... www.africaupdated.blogspot.com

Pat and Rakel

A New Grandson

Jonathan David Thurman, born Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Wow

What can we say? After this weekend....with Seth's video from Burundi, testimnonies from Central Asia, Indonesia and Uganda...and a powerful final song by Linda ....we are but mush....may God continue to get hold of our hearts...and set us on fire for Himself...for the World...for the lost...and for those who have so little...may we uphold justice in His name!!

Relief Weekend