Most Recent Update

There is a bit of confusion on the numbering of these updates but I can't seem to figure out how to put them in order (see below) because I didn't post them in the right order!! Oh Well...

Now, on a more serious note. Right before Christmas I learned that I had some indications of possible uterine cancer. I went to Riga for more tests the first week in January to have a polyp removed and the tests came back indicating that it was cancerous. I immediately (three days later) flew back to Corvallis where I was able to see a doctor the next day. He read the report from my Latvian doctor and has read the results of an MRI which I had last week. Things seem to be in the early stages and so I have surgery scheduled for February 19. Since there doesn't seem to be any spreading beyond the uterus the doctor will do a laparoscopic surgery.

How am I doing? Well, I FEEL fine - no pain or anything like that. I am glad that this is in the early stages and may not need radiation after the hysterectomy. BUT, no one ever wants to hear the word "cancer" and it is still a bit scary though the chances of a good outcome are quite positive. Please pray for peace in my heart. I know the Lord is in control.

One difficulty about coming home is that I don't have insurance. I am working with the hospital about the costs since there may be some funds available for those with special needs. One way to cut some costs is to keep from spending the night in the hospital. I don't know if that will be possible but I have several good nurse friends who are willing to take care of me during the first weeks of recovery.

I can't begin to tell you how loved I feel and blessed to experience the outpouring of love and care for me. How grateful I am!!

Update # 3

Right after Christmas we usually have a team of people from Holland come to Eastern Latvia for an outreach event. This year their focus was more in the Madona/Ergli area (two hours from us). I stayed home to take keep the fires going, etc. at the church property and Yellow House where we have been staying. Dan and Katie and family were in England visiting grandparents and Katie's friends. All the others went to help witht the outreach. It was a smaller group of Dutch folks this year but it seemed to go quite well - with some opportunities for followup.

Update #1

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas we had two opportunities to celebrate. The first was Vikors' baptism which took place at the pool of the Ergli Hotel. Three others were also baptized. Vikors, who is Gintis' cousin, became a Christian last Spring. He and Gintis have been working at Eagles Wings Camp and have become a part of the newly formed Ergli church. They both attend Bible studies and youth meetings.

Gintis celebrated his 18th birthday with lots of friends from the Ergli area and all of us from Tilza. Katie had made a slide show of his life and we all had dinner at the hotel in Ergli.

Update #2 - Christmas

Wow, I am so very far behind in keeping this blog up to date (sounds like sometime I said not too long ago :) .

The Christmas season was so good this year. I remember feeling really under the weather last year and couln't even go for Christmas Dinner to some friends' house. But this year I was feeling fine.

We had a special Christmas event for each of our groups of boarding school kids. It was fun and a nice way to start the holiday before they left school for the break. For the younger kids I was supposed to read the Christmas story (in Latvian, of course) and it was rather slow going. Two of the kids decided to help me by coming up and finishing the story!! We knew that it might be hard for the understand my pronounciation so had planned to ask a few questions to see if they understood. One question was: "What did the Angel say to the shepherds? One little boy said the Angel shouted "God bless Latvia!" So much for the 'well-known Christmas story'.


We had a wonderful Christmas eve dinner event with the team and others from the community which ended with another reading of the Christmas Story from the Bible. This time Kaspars, our pastor, did the reading. Christmas morning I went to be with the Roth family. There was lots of excitment with three little ones opening presents, playing games, and eating a delicious meal. We also celebrated my birthday which is the 26th