Some of you have asked how my surgery went. The actual surgery went well and I have now fully recovered from the laprarioscopy. The procedure was to be done just to make sure there were no internal problems causing our infertility so we could go on to the next step. At first most of the testing done suggested that there would be no problem to conceive. But then one test surfaced a problem that greatly reduces our chances of having children. I am to have another test done to see if we can overcome or work around the problem. If not, the only thing that can be done is invitro fertilization which we could not likely afford. It was a very discouraging weekend not to mention that it was also Father’s Day(in Honduras) on Sunday when we attended the English Speaking Church services. Toby was the only married man that did not have children. We are thankful for your prayers that enabled the surgery to go so well. We are also grateful that our God is a God of miracles and that He can do whatever He wants in His timing.
Today we had a couple of challenging cases at the clinic. One lady came in who conceived not many months after having her last child. She had no idea how far along she was. When I checked I found she had twins. I heard two separate strong heart beats. When I was trying to determine how far along she was I felt two separate sacks with about two months difference in size. Since I know only very basic prenatal care this was out of my area of training. Thankfully I have an appointment tomorrow with my doctor (ob/gyn), so he can advise me on this issue. Dr. Zuniga has also volunteered to come work two mornings a month at the clinic. In some ways our infertility has been a blessing in that without it I would have never had a ob/gyn to advise me and volunteer to help in the clinic.
My other challenging patient came in 12 days overdue in her pregnancy which was the first thing that caught my attention. I then found that her blood pressure was high and her feet very swollen -- more concern. She then told me that she had not felt the baby move for four days - I became very concerned. I listened all over her stomach for a heart beat but could find nothing. I sent her immediately to the hospital. I found out an important thing though today. Women in the mountains do not know that if a pregnant woman goes over her due date someone should be very concerned and checking with one who has medical knowledge. We have had several cases of possible problem pregnancies come in, not to mention that our pregnancy patient load has greatly increased. I am thankful Dr. Zuniga has agreed to help see my ob/gyn patients two mornings a month.
The clinic in La Union de Rio Frio was held this last Tuesday (21st). I was unable to attend since I had pulled one set of my stitches with my coughing spells and I had no voice because of the airway. Everything went really well for Yami, Lita and Toby. They worked together to get all the patients seen. I am thankful to Toby for helping. Normally he spends his time talking and witnessing to the men that are there. Since I could not go, he helped pull patient charts and weigh people. Toby has been such a blessing since I had my surgery. He has done everything he could to make things easier on me and to lessen my pain. I could not ask for a better husband. He has been awesome. After seeing 95 patients with the Team, Toby rushed home so he could preach his usual Tuesday evening sermon. He made it just in time to get a few bites to eat and get to the church.
The other day when we were driving we noticed the transmission, oil, and a couple other lights on the truck dashboard light up. Wednesday, Toby spent the whole day supervising while the truck was repaired. It is not uncommon to take in a vehicle to get it fixed and for the mechanic to take out one of your good parts to put into another vehicle. They then charge you for what they stole and for what they were actually supposed to fix. So Toby spent the day protecting our vehicle and getting many things repaired. About every three or four months, we have to take the truck in for the day to get all the fluids changed and things repaired. The roads here are so bad that they jar many things out of place to say nothing of the passengers and driver.
Toby is going to start his discipleship classes on Sunday night. He has decided to use Denver Sizemore’s Thirteen Lessons on Bible Doctrine. He will be using videos, with general conversation over the subject, and quizzes to reinforce what the three men will be learning. We are hoping that sometime in the future we can send these three young men to the Institute. Martin, Yami’s husband, is one of the men that will be attending the discipleship class.
Many of you know that we have been exploring an offer to sell us a piece of property. We have run into some problems such as who is the actual owner of the land and who is the actual owner of the house. We will not pay one penny until we are sure that everything would legally be ours (property and house) as well as in the eyes of the people here. Both possible owners are happy to sell to us and are pushing for a decision. Don Roberto (the owner of the community store next door) says he owns the property and the house. His family was in a serious accident over Christmas. His daughter was at fault.
The people they owe money to are pushing to receive payment. We are trying to decide what the Lord would have us do. We do not have the money to put a large payment down. We are perplexed and trying to decide what the best thing is to do. We want to help our friend Don Roberto, but we want to be very careful to so that we don't pay money and find we really have nothing.
We are very happy with the growth occurring at the church. Several men come to church services or at least to stand outside the church doors. The Bible book store finally received more of the books we are using for Sunday School classes. I have been copying lessons for both classes. It will be a wonderful blessing not to have to do that anymore.
The teens are excited about going to the beach next weekend. Actually the whole church wants to go but with only one vehicle Toby can only take twelve people so we will take people in small groups.
Santos graduates from the Bible Institute in a couple of months. An evangelizing program is going to be started. The church is taking on its responsibility to help people who are in need. It is great to see them helping people. We are very excited to see how everything is growing.
May God bless you,
Toby and Amy Hill