November 13: Update on Jonatán

Thank-you for praying! Please continue to do so!

We were in a holding pattern for ten days or so, waiting to hear news from the doctors. Jonatán had an appointment yesterday, and now we know a bit more:

• Jona's blood levels are where they need to be. He continues to be able to attend school and church, and we are praising the LORD that he has not needed any blood transfusions.
• The lung scan came back clear. This is a huge answer to prayer!
• The tumor appears to have shrunk 30% as a result of the chemotherapy treatments.
• Surgery to remove the tumor from his upper arm is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, November 24.

Please pray specifically...

• That Jona's arm would be spared.
• That as the doctors endeavor to save Jona's arm, he won't have to have a shoulder replacement.
• That the LORD, the Great Physician, would completely heal Jona.
• That Christ's name would be made big in the earth – in Jona's life, in the lives of our extended family, in the medical community here, in the eyes of others on the oncology floor, in our churches, and in the lives of our Christian brethren all over the world who are interceding for Jona.

If you are just now becoming acquainted with Jona's situation, you can read our specific prayer list here. And you can read Jona's testimony of trusting in Christ here.

Jona's missionary grandparents (from Uruguay) arrived in town yesterday.

We attended part of a community youth football game, where Jona was surprised with an autographed football and a team jersey and then asked to assist in coaching the rest of the game. It was a great blessing to see the group of players, coaches, and parents gathered on the field after the game, with heads bowed in public prayer. We have so much to be thankful for!

We are endeavoring to fix our eyes on Jesus,

and we feel keenly our need of His grace.

Please pray for us!

The Farmer Gets a Life!

In modern Elizabethan at our house, the Farmer in the Dell gets a life!

There's at least one other nursery rhyme that has undergone modification, too. If only I could remember which one... I know it made me smile!

Speaking of smiling, we're very happy to have "los Abu" here in Greenville for a few weeks...

una adivinanza (¿original?) en español

Para mis parientes, amigos y estudiantes hispano-parlantes:

¿Qué dijo el Papá Fuego al Bebé Fuego?

“¡Soy yo que mando!”

(El autor permanecerá anónimo...)

On God's providence and provision in missions

We were challenged by a wonderful missions emphasis in our church services this past Sunday. Thinking further on testimonies shared by several of our current missionaries and on several quotes from missionaries of the past, I was encouraged to also find the following quotes from Hudson Taylor, English missionary to China and founder of the China Inland Mission:

"Many Christians estimate difficulty in the light of their own resources, and thus they attempt very little and they always fail. All giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence to be with them."

He also wrote:

"We are supernatural people, born again by a supernatural birth, kept by a supernatural power, sustained on supernatural food, taught by a supernatural Teacher from a supernatural Book. We are led by a supernatural Captain in right paths to assured victories. The risen Saviour, ere He ascended on high, said: 'All power is given unto Me. Go ye therefore.'"

“I have found there are three stages to every great work of God: first it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.”

"Our heavenly Father is a very experienced One. He knows very well that His children wake up with a good appetite every morning... He sustained three million Israelites in the wilderness for forty years. We do not expect He will send three million missionaries to China; but if He did, He would have ample means to sustain them all... Depend on it, God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply."
 
Amen!

Girl Talk: a book full of practical & frugal tips

Did you know...

• ...that putting an avocado pit in the middle of freshly-made guacamole keeps the dip from turning brown?
• ...that a homemade tomato facial can tighten pores and make your face glow?
• ...that putting some Sweet N’ Low in hair dye keeps it from irritating sensitive skin?
• ...that lemonade flavored Kool-Aid can act as a stain remover?
• ...that cereal box liners can work great as freezer bags?
• ...that gift-wrapped cereal boxes can make great (frugal!) shirt boxes?
• ...that some leftovers (including used tea leaves and coffee) can make specific plants in your garden really flourish?

Etcetera! Etcetera!

Girl Talk, compiled by Gigi Garner and published by Five Star Publications, is a collection of useful tips, confidences, and anecdotes like the ones we women might share with our girl friends over tea or coffee. It's the kind of book that can be picked up and then easily set aside when the next duty calls – and it’s full of both useful and amusing tips.

Thank-you to the folks at Five Star Publications and Mama Bzz for the opportunity to enjoy and review this book!

(You can go here to read my complete review.)

A new game at our house!

We're enjoying a new game at our house. Since it arrived a week ago, Elizabeth has begged to play it every day. I guess I won't be wrapping it up (at least not as a surprise) for Christmas...

We received the Rapelli Game, compliments of Timberdoodle (a great site for homeschool supplies) in exchange for my posting a complete review on my frugal blog as a reviewer for Mama Bzz. I was very happy when I received the email stating that I'd been selected to review Rapelli; Elizabeth is an avid little learner who loves games, building things, and learning in general.

We especially like educational games at our house – games that teach critical thinking skills to little ones – and we are pleased that Rapelli fits that bill. Using a giant piece of bamboo as the game board, Rapelli reinforces color matching, counting, and even rudimentary logic! An added bonus for us is the fact that the game instructions are in five languages, including Spanish and French – of great interest to our family! With Christmas less than two months away, I recommend Rapelli as a great addition to a young family’s wish list.

Thank-you to the folks at Timberdoodle and Mama Bzz for the opportunity to review this great product!

(You can go here to read my complete review.)

November 1: Update on Jonatán

Jona went back to the hospital on Friday to begin the last chemo before surgery. We're praising the Lord that last weekend's chemo took only a little over three days to be "washed out" of his system – and Jona was able to attend classes on Tuesday when he got out of the hospital! We're praying that the same will happen with this weekend's chemo.

Please be praying for the surgery which is tentatively scheduled to take place sometime between November 16 and Thanksgiving weekend. Pray for wisdom for the doctors as they prepare, performing a whole battery of necessary tests in the two weeks preceding the surgery. Most of all, pray that the Great Physician will grant the miracle of healing we are asking of Him.