Dear friends and family,

Sunday, Toby went to La Union as normal to preach there. It was raining where we were at but not as much as it was the closer he came to La Union. The people in La Union were shocked that Toby came because the weather was so bad. He told them that is how much he cares about them. They could not even get into La Union because the road had been cut in half. People helped Toby carry medicine and a generator up for the clinic. Toby was grateful he had not arrived 2 hours earlier. If he would have he would have been stuck in La Union for a while. On the way home, he ran into landslides that had to be cleared off the road, trees flying, and rain coming down so hard that he could barely see. We are so grateful that he and the others who went with him arrived home safely. We are also grateful for another opportunity to show the people in La Union how much we care for them.

Monday I had a kid come in who had a huge abcess on his leg. I lanced it and out came tons of blood and pus. It was incredible. Thankfully Juan was just across the street talking with Anabel's brother Joel. I asked them to come over to hold Luis down making sure they would not faint at the sight of blood. The infection had eaten away at the top layer at skin so once I lanced it and a lot of the blood/pus came out the skin tore away. All around the opening for about 3 inches it was a bright red and very hot. His foot was huge. I cut an opening in there so that it could drain-mostly greenish water came out. His bone felt indented. After I did the best I could, I explained that he had to get to the hospital because he would probably loose his leg and maybe his life because it was so infected. I explained very carefully that I could not stitch the wound up because there was so much infection that it needed to drain. Then I told why they had to go to the hospital. We gave them the medicine and 4 days wages to go to the hospital since they are very poor. After being in the hospital for a couple hours when they were admitting him he left. He walked from Catarino all the way up to Penitas Arriba during a storm. His father was at the hospital trying to get in to see him. Luis knew this and did not even take the time to try to find his father to say he was leaving. 

His reason was that all they were doing was giving him I.V. fluids not realizing that those fluid most likely had antibiotics in it that could save his leg and his life. I was furious. The mother came in begging me to give more medicine because the father had it and was still at the hospital. I told her I had done all I could and I washed my hands from him. I talked to her very strongly telling her why I could not help and what a stupid thing her son did. I told her that he could very well loose her leg and/or his life. See was beside herself saying that her son was crazy. She does not want to accept the fact that her son is a thief and very rebellious. We talked for a half hour going over and over the same facts. I told her the medicine I gave was to help with the pain and the infection once he got out of the hospital since it is common that they don't give whole treatments for infections there. I told her that was the only way the antibiotics I gave would be of help. I felt bad for the family but there is nothing I could do to help their rebellious son. I felt very strongly even if I did give him more medicine that it would be wasted. They did not want to go to the hospital to tell the father that the son had left the hospital and get the medicine from him.

I was really happy that a baby I had sent down to the hospital for dehyrdation on Monday received 3 bags of I.V. fluids and is doing great. Her fontanels were very sunken. The mother is very grateful for our help.


God bless,

Toby and Amy Hill