This post was sent out as an email.
Many thanks for your prayers on my behalf. I've had a lot of hospital visits and surgical procedures, but have also made a lot progress in the last few months: (I'll spare you the images this time)
March - surgical procedure to clear a clotted fistula in my forearm was unsuccessful. Central venous catheter placed in my chest through which dialysis could be done temporarily.
March - new fistula created in upper arm for dialysis treatments (after previous one in forearm failed)
May - fistula is too deep and cannot be easily accessed by needles
June - fistula must be surgically repositioned to be closer to the skin's surface for easier access
June - dialysis via access to fistula begins with needles.
July - needle access apparently successful and central venous catheter is removed.
Preparations are underway to return to South America on September 1st. A summary of events as shown through this video (joined in progress):
Prayer requests:
For necessary dialysis treatments that are not new, but will be using the newly created fistula. Please also pray that I'm can be connected with competent dialysis clinics in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. (Paraguay is really still third-world!)
For coherent teaching, training and preaching, as I speak in Portuguese in Brazil or through an interpreter in Spanish speaking churches.
For productive planning meetings in Brazil to prepare and recruit a missions team to serve in Argentina in January.
For Pastor Rick's and my interactions with pastors and leaders at the Brazil Holiness General Assembly.
For our confirmation of a JEMS National Field Coordinator who will oversee the comings and goings of JEMS workers in the future.
