Being family
Our kitchen that was almost falling apart is now a hygienic place to prepare our meals. The walls that where full of mold have now a fresh layer of protecting painting. And the pale and worn wall is transformed into a fresh red wall. It Is a big difference, how it looks but also it feels healthy now. We have a lovely little house in where we can study, relaxing and where we can be a family.
When Lucas finished the painting of the last wall, he said laughing to me: ‘So, can you now be pregnant, in a clean and new house?’ After an unexpected nausea, we decided to do a test. After the two minutes, that felt like hours, waiting I said shy to Lucas: ‘You’ll become daddy.’ There was no word that came over our lips. Grateful and happy we were hugging each other with sometimes a tear: we will become mommy & daddy!
Gratefulness towards God for this miracle. Thinking back to three years ago, when the doctor told me I would not have baby’s in a natural way. Before our wedding, I shared this with Lucas and he asked me if I believed in our big God, who did already many miracles in my life. “Yes” was my answer. Lucas responded: ‘If you want to become a mother, why you do not share this with God, and believe then that He really can and want to do a miracle.’ And now, again, God let me/us enjoy of His miraculous goodness. We could see our baby on the ultrasound: 13 weeks old and the baby already has all the little fingers and toes. Also, the brain, kidneys and the heart are growing good! Amazed we were looking too the screen, that showed us a healthy moving baby in my belly.
Back to school
I was nervous for the very first day of school, studying in a new language. I am happy that our class is a small group of three students. Because of this there is a calm atmosphere in the classroom, which helps me to concentrate better. I need to admit that on Friday afternoon my head is exploding, after a week of lectures in Portuguese, but I am thankful and happy that I can participate in this school. Unless it is hard, I enjoy the lectures. The first week, the lectures where focused on the Biblical view on healthcare and how to applicate this in different cultures (worldview and spiritually). The second week we had lectures about the blood cells and their characters inside our body, followed with the cycle of the development of the malaria parasite in our blood. To learn the blood cells well, we directly went into practical lectures with the microscope. We need to draw on a paper which cells we see and put the right name with each cell. This are like small tests that train us to recognize the cells in different shapes. Because of this we can later clearly see the difference (and not make mistakes) what is the malaria parasite and what are the blood cells. I need to admit, I discovered a passion. I always had a weak for healthcare, but to now being able to study blood: WAOUWW! It is so amazing how God created this, how blood transfers everything our body needs and fight for our health. I have words too short to describe how especially beautiful it is to be able to participate in this school. Discover more Gods greatness, and later I may help people with their health.
Update health Lucas
Lucas did start to help with the maintenance team on the base. This team exists out of men that live here on the base and restore and maintain everything on the base. But also think about making the roads free of plants and trees that are growing over the roads, with a cleaver. Lucas had a heavy pain in his shoulder on which he had the surgery. He went to the doctor for a check-up and it appears he has an inflammation. This means he needs more time to really recover: thirty days of rest. Also, Lucas had an internal examination for the inflammation he has in his intestines, unfortunately without a result. Probably it is the Crohn’s disease, based on the symptoms but for this more exams will follow. Now there is a temporary treatment plan that will take away the severe symptoms. After one week Lucas will reflect again with the doctor.
Accessibility
In the mean while Lucas passed for the theoretical part of his driver’s license, and he started with the practical lectures. We hope that it is soon possible to have our own car to move around (supermarket and doctor visits). Here in the Amazon are bad roads outside of the cities. The roads exist out of red clay ground, with mostly deep pits. An average city car is easy damaged. Surely after some tropical rain, of lots of cars the motor of the car is broken. Because of this, here do not drive taxi’s (or Ubers) to and from the base, because of the bad roads. It is a dangerous and long distance to do on a bicycle: an hour biking on a deserted road through the nature. Many people get robbed already on this road. On this moment, there is one driver that wants to come to the base with his car, to pick the people up or bring them home. But unfortunately, he calculates almost the double price what makes the costs extremely high. Because we will work in and around the Amazon area, we know we will face this situation with the difficult roads all the time again. Therefore, we are looking and thinking for a good and wise solution for this situation, not only for now but also for our future.
We would love if you would pray along with us, for the following points:
- The health of our growing baby.
- Patience and wisdom for Christa to continue this study.
- The health of Lucas, that the doctors may find a right and healthy treatment.
- A good and wise solution to being able to move outside the base.
Be blessed!
