January 2015...the time that the Lord has spoken to us about so much. This is when the Docs of Hope have said that they want to begin. This is when Dr. Luis has said he and his family will be ready. And this is when Don and Lori and their family feel that the Lord is saying for them to be here as well. The final approval for the hospital came on the last working day of the year from the Ministry of Health so we are officially ready to begin....although much of the preparation work has been done. It feels a little like we are finally at the starting gate - ready to begin this course that the Lord has set for us all. It will be a year of  great change and we covet your prayers. We have seen His hand move so mightily, so abundantly that we know that this is His plan....we just want to be found doing it in His way.

Duane and I were in Quiche earlier this week, picking up some medication for the clinic. The pharmacy where we buy was unusually quiet and when I asked Fransisco why, he said that the hospital was on strike. All of the health care workers are protesting because they have not been paid for the last 6 months. So, if you have a broken bone or any other condition that is deemed "not life threatening" you will have to wait. Katie and I interviewed a woman this week who worked for the government doing rural clinics. They have had to shut down that program due to lack of funding so if you are in one of the remote villages, and your child is ill, you will need to travel at least 2 hours to get to the hospital....which is not open.  All of these things just confirm to us the need, the urgency to get things up and running.

When (and if) you pray, would you ask God to help us....
 - that we can keep the perspective right; that we remember that this is all His; we are His bondservants doing only what He asks; that we remember we are owners of nothing.
 - that we change well; that we keep priorities of God, family and ministry in right order.
 - that this not become a humanitarian effort but that we remember that without Jesus, the best healthcare in the world is worth nothing but is only a temporary fix.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. May this New year bring to you and your family health, strength, peace and above all else, a closer walk with our Lord Jesus!