I reflected today about “why” we work to serve the poor. The root of the question is “what is it all about”. Tison is going home soon after being treated here. He was here for a year and a half and had eight surgeries and nine procedures. He was welcomed into a host home and came to be loved by them. When you consider the passport and visa application process and the many cost–you have to ask “why” are...

Tison had many of his friends at his big party on Sunday. He had a fun day and enjoyed all his friends coming to celebrate with him. Tison will soon be leaving the U.S. and going home. There has been plenty of tears shed as the days count down. It is hard to thank everyone who has had a part in helping him because there have been so many. His main physician came to say goodbye to Tison. It was a joyous event with plenty of food and cake. He...

I just came home after over two weeks on the road. I was in Boise, Seattle and Phoenix. The highlight to me was how many amazing people I met. Steve in Phoenix had begun a season of prayer. I just loved the time with Steve and his church–Bud and Janet in Seattle were so interested in what we were doing–David, a friend of mine for over 30 year, just accepted the leadership of a church in Seattle–Greg and Jeanette were so kind...

This is such an encouraging photo. Jien is now walking–it have been a long time since she tried to walk. We are praying she has turned a corner and will gain weight and strength. She is so brave and wants to live. This is a small step but it is so encouraging to the staff who have worked with her over this year. I credit her strength and the loving care of the staff for her improvement.

I have been thinking recently about the amazing friends I have made in the last 10 years. I have been to some remote and far out places. I couldn’t possibly name them on these lines but I have thought about many of them recently. There is a community a couple hours drive north of Sydney, Australia. Taree has become a destination for me when I am down under.I do not remember who was the first Aussie I met there but I have made many friends...

I do not know what you need to have a sense of encouragement. The recent reports on two of the children who are being cared by our medical staff in Indonesia was exactly what made me feel encouraged. There were two little girls who have needed our help and prayers. Jien is now nine years old and Junita is less than a year old. They both needed miracles.Jien has recently started to walk with assistance. She is so weak and frail but seems to have...

Jien has been fighting for her life. The medical staff have treated her with little progress. She is now nine years old and less than 20 pounds. She has T.B. and malnourishment–that is a terrible combination. We have all been concerned and cheering her on. It seemed like every small bite of food was one more step closer to her being healthy.We just got the best news yesterday. She is not only walking but she has begun to eat more. She is...

Tison went to surgery yesterday. He was scheduled to have his right ear repaired. The outer ear was pulled over to a closed position. Due to the burn injury his ear was folded forward and was closed–you could not see his inside of his ear. It was a concern because it was very obvious when you looked at him. He was very self-conscious of it and wanted it to look better.He has had several surgeries that addressed more functional...

We have friends who have a large farm in Alaska. Tison was invited to come down and ride machines with their son. Here is a boy born in Indonesia and now very much a part of life in the arctic.We arrived with plenty of daylight on a beautiful sunny day. It was a little cool but the sun was bright and Tison was more than ready to get on the snow machine and have some fun. He got his winter clothes on and we hardly saw them again. They were just...

She is seven months old and has had more pain than any child should endure. Junita was injured in a hot oil accident. Her face, scalp, arms and upper chest. She was diagnosed with a 25% to 50% chance to survive the accident. Her mother ,who was also injured in the accident, brought her to our clinic in Kusuri asking for help. She needed skin grafts and had little time to waist. The staff made the decision to transport her and her mother to a...