Resting

With my friend Hilda at 5am waiting for the surgery.  She's been faithfully at my side since 4am Tuesday morning!

Post-surgery

With my friend Anahi, one of 8 visitors at the hospital

I had flowers waiting for me when I got back in my room!

Downtown Asuncion--the view from my room.  My house is somewhere to on the left side of the picture.

My sweet friend sent me no-bake cookies.  I've been on a strict diet--but no one said I couldn't smell them!

Thank you so much for praying during the surgery and for the recuperation.  Today (Sunday) I definitely feel better, but still sore.  Praising God for antibiotics, pain medicine, and faithful friends who are taking turns staying with me, cooking me food, and even getting up with me in the middle of the night to take my medicine.  Thankful for the body of Christ this week!

Everyone Loves to See Twins

The bananas have twins!

Back in March, I had a few routine doctor's appointments.  Since I'll be here in Paraguay for a while, I wanted to establish a relationship with a doctor.  In the process, in a routine ultrasound, we found that I had two cysts in my abdomen ("The Twins.")   After a few months of seeing various doctors, last week the doctor and I decided that surgery is necessary to remove what are now three large cysts--now Triplets.  I appreciate your prayers as I'll be having laparoscopic surgery on Tuesday, August 14th around 1PM.  Thank you!!

Why I Love the Olympics

Lost Boys have new futures: Lopez Lomo once ran for his life

Everyone cheers for the underdog: Hamadou Issaka finishes the race--and that was a pretty big thing!

World records are broken: Usain Bolt is still the fastest man on the planet (and seriously, who doesn't love to see a sprint like that!! I remember the last time that world record was broken!)

We get to see respect among people who have trained their whole lives for their sport: "Immediately after finishing, James embraced Pistorius and swapped his race name label with him."--That's humility.

So, these are just a few little reasons why I love the Olympics.  I really only remember back to the 1996 Olympics, and remember watching all the "greats" compete.  More importantly than all the record holders, finishers, and two weeks of watching extremely dedicated people run, jump, twirl, swim..., Paul reminds us that we're all in a race, each day:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize?  So run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.  They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Praying that you will recognize the race you are running, and that God will give you the strength to continue it!