Dear friends and family:

We have come to an end of the almost endless paper work in the adoption of Cassandra. At last we know Cassandra can't be taken from us now, and this has happened to other couples. Within a week all the paper work should be done. We will have to spend a few days in Tegucigalpa in a week or two and then we get started with the stateside paperwork.  One piece of the paperwork you may be able to be of help with. We need someone who is a certified social worker to certify our home study (and another missionary couple's also).  We would need an address and we can send materials by DHL.

Please pray for one of our ministers Emilio Aldana. He has a herniated disc that is giving him great pain.  The public hospital here is willing to do the surgery, but the record and reputation is not so great.  A surgery with minimal risk can be done for $5000. We can't afford that but perhaps the Lord can provide through one of His servants.

Toby's sister Dawn and kids Chelsea and Kyle were with us for the month. Dawn watched Cassandra while I worked at the clinic. Toby was able to get things done in the city. Dawn entered a lot of patient information in our computer and assisted in many ways.  She is a writer by trade and between jobs.  She observed our work and plans to prepare a new brochure and booklets to tell of our work.

Chelsea worked with me in the clinic and learned more than she wanted to know about medical things. Among them witnessing the death of a baby.  KY was Toby's side-kick for the month, which was most enjoyable I think for the both of them.

We have learned that beginning in June 2004 FAME will no longer be able to provide the $2000 per month for medicines for our two clinics.  This is a major expense. We also have 6 or 8 men who want to attend the Bible Institute and they will need support of about $150 a month each.  We will be home next summer to raise the additional support.

I reported last month that a baby died of malnutrition. Wonderful results are following from that loss.  The mother is now cleaning up her kids when they come for check ups and asthma treatment.  Two of her relatives are shaping up in hygiene, etc. also.
One of the families has been urged for 15 years to Clean Up.. and the mother brought her kids to us clean.  There are a number of major praises in this.

We had a wonderful group from Lexington, Ohio with us. Unfortunately many came down with a type of diarrhea.  Even Toby got sick which is rare.  We learned that it was dengue fever.  We never get dengue here, at least not till now. It is at epidemic proportions in the colonies around San Pedro Sula, to the point that President Maduro provided military escort for fumigators to go into every house. Our clinic load has increased because of dengue and dysentery. Our pharmaceutical suppliers are having a difficult time keeping anti-diarheals.

Continue to keep the ministry here in your prayers. There seems to be a constant attack from the enemy. Some ridicule our ministers. One of our main people has been caught stealing.. big time.. stealing from us.  It could destroy one of our churches.  But through it all we are finding God's blessing as we follow his word. It is day by day learning to love others as Christ has loved us. Yes we grumble, no it's not easy but we trust and follow our Lord in what God says is always best.

God bless,
Toby and Amy Hill