August 2017

What a month!   We saw the Lord 's healing hand upon Michael at Livingstone Central Hospital after emergency surgery.  Thankful for the Lord's love and care for us. First I will share about our August team.  We picked up our Engedi Church team on the 5th of August and headed to House of Faith arriving before dark to settle in.  We had a wonderful service the next morning with teachings singing and testimonies, the afternoon was spent planning for their 4 day VBS with the children. 

Monday morning the children where excited to get started and so loved all the fun.  Michael went into Kalomo  to take Sheri into Livingstone.  She would stay overnight with friends and they would take her to the airport the next day for her flight back to the states. He stayed overnight in Kalomo to do some paperwork Tuesday morning in town.  The rest of HIS miracle  story  after all the FUN pictures with the team. 

Putting water in a coke bottle with a  sponge!  What a challenge.....

Royal and Victor enjoyed all the fun too!

Even our toddlers had lots of fun....

In my 23 years in Zambia I have never had to leave a team in the village and rush to the hospital but there is always a first time for everything.  Michael was suppose to come back Tuesday at lunch time but called to tell me he was not feeling well and thought he should rest before coming out.  Then about 3 he called to tell me he was feeling better but would rest  some more at home and come in the morning. I thought this was a bit odd for him to not push to get back out but I was so busy with the team I just said ok.  When he was not out for breakfast Wednesday morning I called about 8:30 am to ask what time he was coming I needed him to cook lunch on the grill.  He told me he had a difficult night and thought he had a blockage and needed to go to Zimba.  I told him I was on the way.  As I was sharing with team leaders what I needed to do they where great just show us what needs to be done and we will do it.  Elizabeth came and shared she had been an ER Dr for over 22 years and would I like for her to come along.  What a blessing she was to us both the next 48 hours.  I jumped in the defender and  we made it to Kalomo in a record  time for me.  We found Michael in the Nissan with the engine running ready to go.  I knew it was serious. Elizabeth checked his vitals  and we made it to Zimba Mission Hospital n record time also.  So many people helped us along the way to be registered, see the Dr then blood work Xray and  sonogram all done within the hour.  Dr Joan told us it was a blockage and we needed to head to Livingstone or Lusaka becasue they could not help with the problem.  We decided Livingstone was the fastest so an injection for pain was given and off we went.  I was kinda numb driving very fast to get us there.  It seemed as if the Lord was ahead of us and we had no problems arriving before 12:30 or the lunch break.  Again we had special help from above and Michael was seen before 1:00 by the surgeon.  He saw the X rays and said surgery was needed soon.  Elizabeth started asking questions thinking surgery should be the last option.  While she was talking with Michael and the Dr  I went out to call family again for an update for prayers.  Within 30 mins Brandi called that a plane would be available in a hour to take us to South Africa for treatment.  The Dr shared he had no equipment to know what the problem was until he opened him up.  He share it could be an large area he would have to open.  Elizabeth again ask about equipment and we found there was not much they would be able to do if they found a problem they could not fix.  Michael had decided he wanted to do surgery now in Livingstone.  As I talked with the Dr I ask what he would do if he was me.  He shared he thought he could do the surgery but he truly did not have the capacity to do what they could do in South Africa.  He told me to share with my husband and get back to him for our decision. Michael told me he did not want to go out and his decision was made.  Again I was numb...Sheri and Brandi tried to talk with him on the phone but again he said I will have the surgery here I feel at peace and know the Lord is with me and if something happens then I get to go home to be with Jesus.  I shared that decision was not fair to me and the girls. Sheri called again to tell me she was getting a flight back to Zambia  and would arrive about noon the next day.  She had made it Dubai.   It took a long time to find the Dr becasue he thought we would go to South Africa.  When I finally found him he blessed me with a prayer that the Lord would guide his hands to do what needed to be done.  We ask that the Lord be HIS EQUIPMENT. They put a tube down Michael's nose trying to release some pressure he was feeling and in a lot of pain now even with the injection.  We where visited by another Dr to tell us two emergency C sections needed to be done before they could take Michael in.  I was starting to lose it...   The person sent to syringe the tube was having trouble and if they did it to fast it could cause something to collapse.  I could have misunderstood all of this  but I knew it was critical time for him. Elizabeth ask if she was allowed to do it and he said yes.  She got two bowls from the tube to his stomach over the next couple of hours we had to wait to get into the OR and it gave Michael needed relief. They came for him about 6:00pm and we had no idea how long the surgery would take.  Elizabeth and I went to get supper and  a room for her if she felt he was doing ok after surgery.  She was willing to stay with him overnight if she felt he might be in trouble. It was a long wait and no one came to share anything with us.  About 3 1/2 hours in I was feeling pressure hearing things I did not want to hear ( you will be a widow tonight your husband is dead and they are fearing to come and tell you)  I know in my heart the enemy is a liar but they were thoughts that were trying to get into my mind and sprit.  I decided I just needed to walk  or march around :) Elizabeth stayed in the room in case they came to share news with us.  About 4 hours in I shared with the Lord I needed  a word please. I was coming back into the Hospital from the lighted parking lot where I had been marching around to see a man who ask if I was Mrs. Jones?  I said yes, he  smiled  and  shared he had just left my husband and he was doing fine.  I give him a hug and cried all the way up to see Elizabeth.  It was another 45 mins before we talked with the Dr and got to see Michael. We went to wait outside the OR door so we would not miss the Dr. When he found out we were waiting he invited us in to share what had happened.  Two bands of scar tissue  had wrapped around and blocked his small intestines.  He said there was only 20 cm of good small intestines  and you can not survive without small intestines.  There was a very serious infection in the Large intestines. The Dr shared that when he cut the bands of scar tissue from the small intestines blood rushed into the damaged  tissue and they came to life in his hands.   He testified the Lord was there.  Many other things happened during the procedure for Michael to be having a full recovery.   The Dr shared  the next 72 hours was needed for him to know how to share the way forward with us.  We saw the Lord's hand on Michael at the end of the 1st day when he no longer took pain meds.  The nurses could hardly believe.  Everything that needed to happen happened.  Sheri arrived and stayed with her dad while Elizabeth and I went to get the team back in the village. It's a 2 1/2 hour drive one way.  When we arrived at House of Faith the team had finished their program on time said their good byes packed up and prepared sandwiches for the drive ahead. I brought them into Livingstone a night earlier than planned but I just wanted to be near Michael.   We stopped at the hospital to pick up Sheri and went for Ice Cream at 9:30pm to top up a bit since they only had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and  potato chips.  We got them to their rooms and a good nights sleep was had by all.  I was blessed I got to stay with Michael at the Hospital   After breakfast Sheri came to stay with her dad and the team came up to see him and to say a prayer over him. I was blessed I could  still take the team shopping and to see the falls and we stayed on schedule. It also kept my mind and body busy to not just wonder things :)   Saturday the team  visited Botswana for the day and Sunday they departed.  Michael's body started working  as it was suppose to work after surgery and the Dr told us we would be going home Monday morning!   He was on a liquid menu for 4 days and was told on the 5th day he could have anything he wanted to eat again.  Sheri departed Tuesday after we got him settled in at home.  He is eating everything again resting and getting stronger everyday.   We go for removal of stitches on the 24th. One morning I went to the nurses station to ask a question and found them in prayer asking for the Lord's help that day to care for his children.  We have been blessed all is well.  If we had gone out to South Africa maybe they had not seen Typhoid like the Dr here in Zambia has seen it and maybe after travel time and tests it would have been too late. The Dr did tell us 24 hours longer and he may not have made it.  The next pictures are of the special people we found at Livingstone Central Hospital.   

Blessed with a nice room and a fold out chair so I could also stay with him nights and Sheri stayed days.

Before the team arrived Michael had a Jesus Film weekend  in Zimba District where he has visited many times over the years.  This time the church was in a new building doubled the size as the old building, sound equipment and members serious about the things of the Lord. 

Royal and Victor are improving but it is not happening fast.  Royal is kinda army crawling out of his bed mornings and even in the room where we do his therapy on a big ball.  his legs have more trouble but his arms and shoulders are stronger. Victor is gaining weight and crawling every where even scooting.  He walks with the help of a chair as he pushes it all around the room.  He walks if you hold his hands but just has not got up his nerve to do it alone.  They both are making sounds but still not saying words.  Keep these special boys in your prayers. 

Luuwo went back to relatives this month after helping us at House of Faith as a mothers helper for a few months.  Global Orphan Relief provided her with a sewing machine material shears thread and a tape measure all she needs to learn from a lady near by her family.  Keep Luuwo in your prayers to be the best Tailor in her area.  We are praying for her to be known from all around on the great and creative work she will learn to  do. 

Luuwo and her extended family

We took Michael for stitches removal a bit early on the 21st becasue they looked like they were pulling cutting into his skin.  The Dr. shared it was time for them to  come out.  It's now been 3 weeks since the surgery and after 3 weeks of resting he is looking and feeling well again. 
We thank the Lord each day for what HE has done for us. A miracle of saving Michael's life.   Thank you for your prayers for us here.  We truly have to depend on JESUS  for our needs.