This last month has had a full stressful moments, with the exchange rate dropping and the bills coming in, we have wondered at times how we will survive. The ongoing illnesses of Gaby and Simon have added to the stress in family life. Then the ministry has given its share of stress with legal papers not being signed and filed by others and our ministry suffering for this. The ministry kids all needing to get school books, uniforms and fees paid for and no money in the bank to do so. The directors have had some major illnesses in their close family which means Carlos has had to learn a lot about construction lately to cover for the director some. Leaky roofs in just about all of the ministry buildings – an amazing hailstorm that left lots of damage in our office building.
These are just a few of the stressful things but then we see God's hand there as well. The hail storm damage left water dripping in the office right beside the telephone switch board, under the modem/router, but nothing was short circuited or burnt out. We have BJ (our Kiwi handyman, who we mentioned in our last news) willing and able to do repairs- the carpet needed to be pulled out of the room where we store donations, and the gutters cleaned and rerouted. The ministry children where able to start in their various schools and survived two weeks without being banned for not having books or incomplete uniforms. They now have both. Usually one week maximum of grace is given. The legal paper work is still not sorted but God will work that one out. Gaby is much better health wise.
Simon illness however led to our very stressful day in which we once again are reminded of God's protection and mercy. Simon woke at 5am with high fever and a sore head. A few hours later he still has fever and now had severe stomach pain. I had made a doctor's appointment but it was not until noon. I called a nurse friend and she gave me some advice and I decided to wait for his appointment since he had gone to sleep. When we got in the car and had driven just a few blocks from the house, he starts vomiting. I kept driving to the office where Carlos was at work. We clean Simon up, he now has the runs.
Some coworkers thankfully take Gaby for us and we get to the doctors. The doctor decided that he needed to be hospitalized. Instead of being able to take him in the car to the few blocks to the hospital we had to wait until the ambulance arrived (because of some weird law). We ended up waiting two hours for the ambulance. While waiting, Carlos went out to move the car into the free car park at the doctors office, as he was parked in one that you pay at. The car park was right behind where Simon and I waited. Just as Carlos is pulling in to park, two guys on a motorbike shoot several times and kill a guy in front of him. I hear people yelling a man has been shot and killed in the car park and two nurses run into where we are and grabbed rubber gloves and took off. I am so glad for cell phones and was very relieved when Carlos answered. Carlos very shaken eventually came inside. Simon had fallen asleep and he was able to tell me what happened. It seems that it was an act of revenge and they had previously killed the man's son – he was at the doctors with his sick teenage daughter and his wife.
Finally at the hospital they say Simon is fine that he probably has a virus and that I can take him home and keep him on liquids for a few days. We are all home now but are reminded once again of Gods'protection. (Two days later, Simon is better but Alex is now sick) UPDATE: Everyone is healthy again.
News in brief:
- Our church here has started a program in reaching students at local public high schools. Carlos has been involved in the many organisation and training meetings. Next month they are taking four hundred students at a time on one day camps, three Saturdays in a row, and then a 3 day camp in May. It is a great opportunity to share about morales and sow seeds for later sharing of the gospel.
- We celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary this month- Carlos and I went out to dinner which was a nice treat.
- A team of men from the USA came for 10 days to do the electrical wiring of the new house at the farm for long term care. They had a great time and finished the work.
- Alex and Simon are both doing well in their school work.
- Gabriela is talking lots- she is now trilingual saying biscuit, galleta and cookie
- Alex is playing soccer in an inter-school competition
With lots of love,
The Paez family.
