Update on Scott

Thanks so much to all of you who have been praying for our health! Scott has taken the brunt of it and we found out on Saturday that it was malaria. He started feeling better with the treatment, but took a turn for the worse last night. I took him this morning to a private clinic in town we just found out about, hoping to miss the long lines and waiting at the hospital. It turned out to be a big blessing.

He was actually the only patient. It was very clean and the staff was incredibly helpful and friendly. They put him on two rounds of antibiotic IVs after another malaria test came out negative. This meant that the malaria was gone by today which is good, but he has a secondary infection his body is fighting. The blood work didn't come out conclusive, but after the treatment he is feeling a bit better tonight (after ten hours at the clinic) though very weak.

We are still planning to leave with the group from Texas for South Africa early in the morning, so we would appreciate your prayers. We'll be taking the team back to catch their plan, then heading on to Tzaneen to sign the final papers for Janelle's home. We considered leaving Scott here and skipping going to Tzaneen for now, but decided that in case the antibiotics don't treat what is wrong and he ends up needing more medical attention we'd rather be in SA.

As I was driving home today from the clinic, I was struck with several reminders. One, we were so blessed to have found out about this clinic (just as we were leaving for the hospital.) There were no lines, no waiting, and fast treatment, but because is it a private clinic, it isn't a place that most of the people here could afford, even though it isn't expensive by US standards. I was so humbled knowing that we have so much and can get what we need when so many people can't.

The second reminder was regarding the house that we were able to build for one of the Christian women last week thanks to funds from the ECHO project. (You can watch a video I posted a couple days ago that shares about this) I saw her yesterday when I was out in the village, and she showed me the house). It is a simple reed hut, with one room that she will share with her five children and yet she was beaming with joy over this new house that is being built for her. Again, I was so humbled as I came home to my running water, electricity and air conditioner I can use when it's hot.

It reminded me how important is it so not take for granted what I have, and of the importance for all of us to use what we have, both in physical things and through our talents to make a different in peoples lives around us.

Be a blessing today!

Lisa