3 weeks to go, 9 patients waiting

 22 days till Zambia!

I had breakfast with Chris this morning in Temple on my way home from Austin. It was so nice to see her and visit! I found out that the resin that was shipped has arrived at New Day...whew! The resin was absolutely necessary to have for fabrication for the prostheses, so that's a big relief to know it arrived safely. Chris and John have also been busy sorting and packing supplies that we need into the plastic tubs for checked luggage on the planes. They also found out that the Choma clinic we visited last year has 9 patients lined up for us to see. 5 below knee amputees and 4 above knee amputees. Plus, we'll want to see everyone, or at least everyone that can come back, that we made prostheses for last year to check up and give new supplies. Since Alnold, Luyando and Luckson are children and are growing, they will likely need new sockets made. So...we've got a busy schedule lined up and likely more people than I just listed to see. I am thankful that our contacts at the clinics/hospitals have gotten the word out to amputees. 

Last year, I was worried about having to turn people away if we couldn't get to everyone in the short time we're there. Thankfully, that did not happen, and we were spared the heartbreak of having to turn someone away that needed a prosthesis. I don't know if it will work out the same this year. I pray that if we do have to turn someone away because we just don't have enough time or materials, that they will be understanding of the situation. 

I was able to give Chris several pairs of shoes from a podiatrist's office in Denton for packing in the plastic totes to take with us. Shoes are definitely a necessity since some people we see do not have shoes, and the prosthetic feet need to have a shoe to protect the foot from damage. 

A big THANK YOU to the girls at North Texas Foot & Ankle Specialists for lots of shoes!

With just 3 weeks till we leave, we will all be very busy getting things in order for our trip including packing and getting our patients here taken care of. **Please pray for our final preparations....packing and remembering to take everything we need. Thank you for prayers and support for our mission! 

39 days

 39 days till Zambia!

39 days till working with these two wonderful people!

        

Wow, we're getting so close to our trip! Update about preparations: The shipping container will not make it to New Day in time, so we're looking at what supplies we left there at New Day from last year (what's still good out of that) and what we can take in plastic containers as extra baggage on flights. Chris found a resin that can be shipped via FedEx to New Day in Zambia (resin is used for laminating the materials for the prosthetic sockets, so is vital that we have that). Blu was able to locate some plaster there in Zambia that we can buy. And, the other materials we need will have to be packed for flights. 

I've spoken with a few reps from prosthetic manufacturers about our shipping container not making it, so they have checked about getting us donations of prosthetic parts. Otto Bock is sending us some feet and knees....yay!  

I'm starting to get nervous about our trip. You would think that since I went last year and did just fine, I'd be not so nervous....but I am. I'm just terrible about worrying.....though, I'm getting better than I used to be. I think "maybe I'm getting too comfortable, complacent with my abilities to do prosthetics/orthotics....therefore I'm not thinking things through enough or not providing the best device for a patient". It's like if I'm not nervous enough or I don't fret enough, then I won't be good enough. How ridiculous! I have definitely realized that I do this cycle of worry and then stop to realize how ridiculous that is and then do the cycle all over again. God will take care of it. God will take care of me and every situation. He will give me all I need for whatever life brings. I just need to keep reminding myself that.

Prayer requests:

• Pray for John and Chris as they are packing supplies again for travel with us on flights...prayers for patience with running through checklists again and purchasing in the midst of their busy schedules. 
• Pray for Erin (John's daughter) as she works to finish up the spring semester at college...prayers that she keeps her determination and focus to do well even when anticipating our fast approaching trip.
• Pray that all the needed supplies will be with us during our trip, patients will be able to come to us for prosthetic fittings and MANY people will be touched through our mission as we strive to show others Christ. 

Thank you for praying for us and our mission!