Pray for Ngaruka, Tanzania

Saturday, May 21, 2011

This was taken right before the team left yesterday. Don has already had some major issues with the trucks. He is asking for prayer. They were stuck in the dark in the middle of nowhere when their NEW radiator on the big rig he drives suddenly overheated. He found a big hole in the radiator....

What do you do in the middle of nowhere? Find a hut and pay for a few eggs and put the eggs in the radiator and pray. They managed to get to the town they were scheduled to arrive at by 5- at 10:30. I am just happy they got there. They still have challenges to face with the radiator. The place that sold the radiator is far away, but they have said they will help.

Please pray for them. They still have 2 days of traveling.
God bless,
Mary

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LILANGEL181 5/21/2011 10:13PM

I'd heard of that tip from Mythbusters, but didn't know anyone who has actually tried it! How cool that it works!! Best wishes to them. ~ Laura Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROLYN0107 5/21/2011 5:02AM

Eggs? I presume that they were RAW! Thanks for the tip if ever I should have my car's radiator blow up here in the jungle! I pray for the continued travels and the crusade. Please let us know when they arrive and how the crusade is going. And for you, how is your eating and exercising coming? Be encouraged today. Comment edited on: 5/21/2011 5:03:08 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

Keeping positive in the fight

Friday, May 06, 2011

I got back from my USA trip one week ago. Gained some weight, but in the end actually didn't do as bad as I thought. I have a lot of weight to lose, but I am not looking at the whole mountain. I choose to just look at the small steps in front of me. I already know what to do- don't we all???

I guess I feel a bit emotionally raw today. My friends here understand the emotional turmoil I was in towards the end of last year. Mostly due to childhood trauma. There are things I am doing to be gentle with myself, but it makes me mad that the people I initially turned to for help- before I even understood what was going on- those people have made me feel like a leper.

Last year was a hard year for me. There were some difficult counseling and medical situations that I faced that triggered old wounds that had been covered for years. I sought counseling from them when I was emotionally in the state of crisis. They over reacted and pulled me from being worship leader. They are the pastors of the church I go to here- not my mission directors. So I stepped down and sought counsel from someone else, since they didn't seem to know what to do. It is the story of my life. I would feel pain and finally open up, only to be hurt more. The second pastor I went to was the one who walked me down the aisle for our wedding. He didn't agree with the way the other pastor reacted.

We were in the States for nearly 3 months. I talked to our pastors and they felt that the best place for healing is in the midst of ministry. I always felt that to make someone who is already wounded to feel like they are disabled is a HUGE mistake. It is empowering to equip and release the very one that the enemy meant to destroy.

It is a bit confusing to me. That I am being treated somewhat like someone who has fallen into sin. I guess it proves that most people don't have a clue how to deal with victims of abuse. They want to distance themselves from those who are in pain. They really don't want to hear how I am- they just want me to put on the fake Christian face and make everything seem OK.

The truth is that I know I have issues- who doesn't???? My problem is that I am open like a book. I don't hide things the way other people do.

I have to stay positive. My emotional state has stabilized and I have gotten the direction from God and my pastors in the USA as to how to stay on the path of healing.

I am working through the tough issues that caused me to have the emotional crisis last year. I am asking for lots of prayer to give me the courage to heal in the areas of my emotions. Also for the peace to go on even when others are treating me like I am a certifiable mental case, instead of a wounded soldier.

Why is the Christian army the only army that shoots its wounded rather than helping???

The positive side, is that I did manage to lose 2.2 pounds this week. I am back on track and feel that I am going to get the momentum needed to finally climb this mountain.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TRACYZABELLE 5/10/2011 6:07AM

I am sure being back "home" is making you feel better already! Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROLYN0107 5/7/2011 5:46AM

You have already lost 2.2 pounds! I'm proud of you. I know you are back on track! You are getting healthier and healthier in all aspects of your life and that is good. I am glad you found some good Pastor counselors in the States. Keep in God's Word and Keep Sparking! Let's "chat" sometime! Enjoy your Saturday. Report Inappropriate Comment

LILANGEL181 5/6/2011 11:44PM

Big hugs and best wishes to you. And shame on those who offer anything other than love and support, (regardless of faith, position, or good intent)! ~ Laura Report Inappropriate Comment

BILL60 5/6/2011 11:26PM

Good luck to you. Report Inappropriate Comment

London

Friday, February 18, 2011

Well, I am doing my best to have fun in London/Cambridge...Jet lag and asthma are really a bummer. We are going to London town today and spending the night in London. The trip has been one of the most difficult ones for me physically. The stint on the shuttle from Tanzania to Kenya caused a horrible asthmatic flare. It seems every time I exert myself it flares again. They used wheelchairs to transport me in the airport and even the train station.

We did the tour in Cambridge and I did OK for about an hour and then the asthma flared again. We only did half a day in Cambridge before I had to call it a day. It was very discouraging. I felt so much like I was ruining the vacation for Don.

Please pray that I feel better today,
Mary

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TRACYZABELLE 3/2/2011 7:44AM

My asthma stops me sometimes too Mary.. tyr to enjoy yourself as much as possible Report Inappropriate Comment

FEDUP!1 2/20/2011 10:05AM

Hey Mary Just being away from responsibilities and spending time with his beautiful wife is a great vacation for hubby. I agree with Carolyn. Being an asthmatic as well, make sure you have your meds with you on board. Taking the medication before you do things, regardless of whether or not you are feeling bad symptoms, may help ease the symptoms when they appear. Get lots of rest and don't overdo it Enjoy my friend! Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROLYN0107 2/18/2011 3:21AM

Mary, I am glad that you're getting to see some of London, even if your Asthma keeps you from seeing all of it. I'm sure that just being in London is a good vacation for Don. No responsibilities, nothing to fix, no trips to drive, etc...nothing except keeping you WELL. I think your flight to the States is Sunday. Make sure you have your asthma medicine in the cabin of the plane, not in your check in luggage. Also, make sure you have taken your medicine before you enter the plane, prophetically. Keep taking it during the flight, even if the bad symptoms aren't there. When you get to the first stop in the States.... see a Doctor for his advice and prescription medicines as I know that you are short on meds. Love from your Asthmatic Friend. Carolyn Report Inappropriate Comment

Our New Photo movie on YouTube

Saturday, February 12, 2011

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g6c4PDnvv8
This is our new photo movie of what we are up to in Tanzania. We are leaving for Nairobi on Monday and to London on Tuesday...Then to the States.
Please pray for us as we go. Thanks to Dr. Vino Raj for putting this video together. Just copy and paste the link in your browser and watch. I am curious to know what you think of it.
Thanks,
Mary

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CAROLYN0107 2/12/2011 9:56AM

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out. Have a nice weekend and flight to the States. Let us know when you arrive at your destination. Keep wise when it comes to RESTAURANTS and KEEP EXERCISING! Report Inappropriate Comment

Countdown

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

This is a photo taken from the area we will be at in a little over a week. It is in Arkansas, which had over a foot of snow as of yesterday! Wow! Don't cousin said the weather has been very unpredictable, so it will be interesting to see what kind of weather we get while we are there.

It has been hot here in Tanzania. The rains should be coming soon that will cool things down, but in the meantime we have been experiencing nearly daily power cuts. Don's investment in a generator has paid off!

I am thinking about our trip to the States as far as my weight goes. This is the first time I will be traveling to the States with a health issue that is affecting what I am going to be able to eat. Vino gave me permission to eat a few other things, but on the whole I still am under the command to keep my fats low because of the hypercholesterolism.

A friend of ours is setting me up to see a doc while we are in New Orleans, so I will likely get treatment for the thyroid issue then. Till then, I have to watch my fats and salt. It bummed me out when Vino threw that one in. High pressure................Ugh! I expect the pressure to normalize when the thyroid issue is controlled.

I am not sure what kind of goals to set while I am in the States, simply because I know that it is very hard to lose weight on furlough. I also know that I have been slowly coming down since the Crazy Dr. Diet started, losing over 10 pounds this month. That is the most I have lost in quite a while....

Lose weight or maintain? Well, sure I would love to lose some while I am in the States. I certainly can't stand to gain. I will be happy to maintain, but even happier to lose a little more.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CHUBBY_MOM 2/12/2011 12:34PM

I hope you have a great trip!! Report Inappropriate Comment

ANGYAS 2/11/2011 10:13AM

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CHUBBY_MOM 2/11/2011 6:57AM

10 POUNDS!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LUV-BEING-NANA 2/10/2011 10:04AM

Ten Pounds is something to celebrate...and a great way to celebrate is to continue to be good to your body and listen to your Crazy Dr. Diet Guy!! It seems to me that this trip is the Lord's provision for you to get some medical care that you couldn't get in Tanzania...at least not easily. I will be praying for your trip and that all that you need is completely provided. Maintain or lose? I don't think either matters: if you do what the docs have advised...your body will do what it is supposed to. So focus on the health and not the weight. Many prayers! Michelle Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROLYN0107 2/9/2011 11:22PM

My post doubled, then when I erased one, it deleted the other. It says you have two comments... but my erased one was the only one there. Anyway, congratulations on losing the ten pounds. Your time is very short before your trip. I think if you keep on the low fat diet plus try to maintain your weight while in the States, that would be good. If you lose more, that will be great. What is important is to eat low fat and exercise. Also, to see a Dr. about your thyroid. Treating the throid might help with weight loss as well. I pray that you will get lots done this last week before traveling. HUGS. Comment edited on: 2/9/2011 11:31:38 PM Report Inappropriate Comment