Future Plans

With 102 days left for Jason to finish his surgery residency, it's time we settled on the "what's next?".

Well, it's Bangladesh!

We actually decided a couple months ago. Amazingly enough, it's a land that Jason's travels have brought him very close to - once while in Nepal, another when Indonesia (not to mention traveling through Thailand). And that three generations of my family have either visited or been near - grandfather was stationed in Assam during WWII, my mother traveled to Assam a few years ago, and my sister has actually been to Bangladesh.

If you're in need of a little brushing up on world geography, here's the wikipedia link - Bangladesh.

Though a world away, it's already feeling more and more familiar and not a complete out-of-body experience to tell folks that's where we'll be living for at least two years.

Through Samaritan's Purse and World Medical Mission, Jason met Stephen Kelley at the Global Missions Health Conference in Louisville, KY this past fall. He really enjoyed getting to visit with Dr. Kelley about his work in Bangladesh as a surgeon at Memorial Christian Hospital. Just recently that has included the initiation of a surgery residency program for indigenous physicians. But when Jason came home he confessed, he didn't have a strong sense of leading towards any place in particular.

After a lot of prayer, some great conversations with experienced and wise folks, and the unmistakable hand of the Lord, it became clear to both of us - we should serve in Bangladesh.

The hospital is located in the southern part of the county in an area least effected by the devastating flooding that routinely occurs. There are five expatriate physicians there now. Jason will make six. Another family (the Welches) will be joining the team this fall as well to make seven. And who knows, maybe I'll work a little too. As well as physicians, there are many nurses and other folks who work on translation projects, education, etc.

If you're interested in knowing more about the program that we're participating in called the Post-Residency Program through World Medical Mission (part of Samaritan's Purse), check out the link (click on "serve with world medical mission" down the page). Or give us a call. Also, there are several "urgent needs" listed in the sidebar that might be a good opportunity for short-term. And of course, please let us know if you might be feeling a tug towards Bangladesh, even for a visit, there's plenty of guest rooms and we'd love the company!

Thank you all for your prayers and support. We feel incredibly blessed to have such wonderful family and friends.

Chickens and God

Last week, we got Jason's voicemail on one of those frequent calls to check in on Dad. Nathan, wanted to leave a message. That went something like...

Hi Dad, may I have a chicken house?
Call me back.
I love you, bye, bye, bye.

Nathan had been to the feed store with Grandpa earlier that week and got to see the chickens. He has developed a total fascination with them now. So he asked me if we could have a chicken. And I asked him where would the chicken live. He thought hard about it. Maybe in a chicken house I suggested. Yeah, a chicken house he agreed. Can we have a chicken house? I told him he should ask Dad. So later that day, the aforementioned "conversation" was completely spontaneous.


In the bath tub the other day, Nathan was trying to lift both Noelle's legs out of the water at the same time. I told him not to. Then a couple minutes later, I caught him very close to doing it again. He had thought I wasn't watching. So I told him...

"Nathan, even when Mom is not watching, God is watching. You need to obey."
Nathan looked at me very quizzically and eyed the room, "Where is God?"
I said, "God is everywhere and He can see you all the time."
Nathan responded, "Let's go see Him!"