Thursday, May 18, 2006

Elaborations on Tanzania, and Jaycee Holland, too

Hello all! My dear sis gave a good bit of the update on dad that I was going to write. But, I do have news from today, so I thought I would share that.

Mom only spoke to dad for 5-10 minutes today. It was about 11:30 pm in Dar es Salaam where they are staying until tomorrow. Dad, Elder Sam, and Elder Paul are doing fine, but eating very little as Table said. Dad had two cinammon rolls today, and more crackers. He and Elder Paul also had bottled cokes. Basically, Elder Sam is eating very little, Dad a little more, and Elder Paul a little more than that. Today, they baptized 20 people in the Indian Ocean. It took 2 people to baptize one person - one elder held the person (to keep from drifting away), and the other elder baptized the person. The baptizing was held as the sun was setting, and dad said it was beautiful! Tomorrow, they are leaving at 5:30 am Tanzanian time on a bus to travel to the village (?) of 2 million people where Elder Obey's dad pastors a church. That means they left approximately an hour ago our time, because they are eight hours ahead of us. We may not be able to talk to them again until Sunday or Monday when they will return to Dar es Salaam.

Please continue to pray for these brethren. Pray that they will receive the nourishment they need and the strength they need. Pray for their safety. Pray that the preaching will be blessed, and the people will be blessed to hear. Pray.

I can't wait to hear their stories, look at the pictures, and watch the video.


Now, for an update on Jaycee Holland, my 2 year old cousin. Many of you know her sister who attends the singing school, Carlee Holland, and her other cousins, the Hocutts - Lance, Celeste, Maggie, Laney, Will, and Jamie. Jaycee has been in the hospital for the past month. She came in originally with pnemonia, and had to be put on the ventillator. When they tried to take her off, they couldn't. A weak spot in her heart, that had been fixed when she was just born, became weak again during the sickness, and that was why they couldn't take her off the vent. As of last week, she needed emergency surgery to repair her heart. Dr. Precifico at UAB said he wouldn't do it, but he recommended doctors at Boston who perform this particular type of surgery all the time. Jaycee was flown to Boston on Wednesday, and the surgery was performed today. She made it through the surgery fine, but please continue to pray for her and her family. It has been a long process, but if the surgery was successful, she could have a normal life.

Much love to you all, and thanks so much for your prayers.

3 comments:

Life is better in the South said...

Thanks for the updates on the African trip. Hope there will be more. Obviously these brethren will come home thinner in body, but probably fuller in spirit! Wow, what an experience.
Jaycee is very resilient to have come through this surgery so well. I hope she continues in that direction.
Our prayers are with your family as your "head" is away.

Anonymous said...

we are definately praying!!!!

toesthattwinkle said...

I WILL definately pray for all. I had a student teacher in school who is either going to tanzania very soon or is there right now, but I told her that we knew some preachers who were going....That's awesome!!!