Back North!

"To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." - Isaiah 61:2b-3

Friday morning the first 7 ladies headed back north. It has all happened so fast. It seems as if they just arrived and now in the blink of an eye they are returning home. Thursday evening I went to the hospitality center where the ladies were staying to say good-bye and finish up a few last minute details. I wanted to give each of the women a picture from their dress ceremonies. They looked so beautiful and joyful on that day and I wanted them to have something tangible to take with them and be able to show those from home.

I couldn't help but think about how excited these ladies must be to return home healed. My heart was full for them as I imagined them showing back up to their villages dry. Not only have they been changed physically but their spirits have changed as well. These women who less than 2 weeks before I met for the first time in these exact rooms were then shy and ashamed and now they go home full of life and joy! I pray that each of them has a beautiful reunion and can use this experience to be a witness to the work God has done for them from the inside out.

Their emptied room didn't stay that way long. Eleven more women came down on Saturday and we will do a small screening again on Monday. God has some big plans in store. The waiting list of names that seemed to be getting longer and longer is now getting shorter. Due to some change of plans with surgeons here on the ship there was going to be an empty operating room for 3 of the weeks of VVF surgery. So now Dr. Frank a VVF surgeon from Uganda is coming for those 3 weeks. This will mean being able to do double the patients those 3 weeks with 2 surgeons in 2 operating rooms. This all equals much more work for me but also many more women who have a chance at healing. These 11 women who just came down are from the waiting list! If you would like one of their names to pray for please send me an email and I will get you a couple names and let you know if and when they get scheduled for surgery.