“The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, Where their voice is not heard.”Psalm 19:1-3 KJVLast night I was laying outside with friends on picnic blankets looking at the stars, and considering how God declares Himself through His wonderful creation that we see every day.~ Marie ... See MoreSee Less
Last year I purchased a book on the linguistics of ASL recommended by a prominent figure in the world of teaching ASL. I've had little time to read it in the past year, but now I'm looking into it more as I prepare to teach an upcoming class on sign language interpreting. (We will give you all the details when we are ready to accept students.) It is extremely helpful to learn some of the "whys" of how things are done. I've been discovering names and labels for many things that I do as a signer and interpreter. It's just kind of crazy finding out the things you know that you don't know you know, you know?~ Anna ... See MoreSee Less
“Some will not see the hand of God, but I warrant you, brethren, those who have been delivered out of the deep waters will see it. Their experience teaches them that God is yet among us.” (Spurgeon)A couple of days ago we were able to convince Amanda to go out and get some sunlight with us. I took this picture while we were walking by the river. I was reminded one more time how even the formidable strength of fierce waters submit to the overwhelming power and control of an Eternal Creator, and how His helping hand is always streched out to those who need Him the most. We can comfort one another and encourage ourselves to call unto Him who is always ready to give ear to our words.“Algunos no verán la mano de Dios, pero les aseguro, hermanos, que los que han sido librados de las aguas profundas la verán. Su experiencia les enseña que Dios aún está entre nosotros”. (Spurgeon)Hace un par de días llegamos convencer a Amanda de salir a solearse con nosotros, tomé esta foto mientras caminábamos por la orilla del río. Recordé una vez más cómo incluso la formidable fuerza de las aguas turbulentas se someten al poder y control abrumador de un Creador Eterno, y cómo Su mano siempre está extendida para ayudar a aquellos que más lo necesitan. Podemos consolarnos unos a otros y animarnos a invocar juntos a Aquel que siempre está dispuesto a escuchar nuestras palabras.~Timothy ... See MoreSee Less
We have a referral to a surgeon for John but no appointment has been set yet. Their earliest available is February 5, for a consult but their office manager is trying to get John in sooner. We had to send a form signed by Amanda to get authorization to make an appointment for her MRI . Suddenly the insurance can't let us make an appointment for her without it and they will not recognize the medical POA we already have. The post office was closed Thursday so we express-mailed it Friday, guaranteed to arrive by Monday.It feels like the whole world has gone mad.Thankfully, John is doing well so far. He is staying ready for surgery this week in case there is a cancellation and he can get in quickly. We hope to hear something on Amanda's MRI this week. Tonight, on a whim, I Googled whether Covid had caused people to start having seizures and read several studies that indicated it did. I have been thinking for quite a while this all started a few weeks after the last time we had it. Not a day goes by that someone does not tell us they are praying for us daily. What a blessed thing to know we are loved by so many. There is nothing else on earth like the family of God! We love you!~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Psalm 119:114I’ve been enjoying spending time in the psalms, reflecting on how great our God is and considering the breadth of all He does.~ Marie ... See MoreSee Less
The surgeon did not call again today. **Sigh**. God is good. I am tired. I am going to bed. There will be new mercy in the morning. ... See MoreSee Less
This is the kind of amazing team we have. Amanda really misses the kookaburras that came to our porch in Australia. For Christmas, Timothy bought her a bird feeder with a camera so she can watch from her bedroom to see if birds are there. Every day since Christmas he has been trying to coax her into getting dressed and going out to set it up. Today he succeeded. She is really excited about feeding the birds. In the meantime, I am really excited that even though it is cold, she is out in the sunshine and getting some fresh air. Anna is helping me clean her room and get all her bedding laundered and back on the bed. Today, Cochlear America called to say they recommend Amanda get her MRI at a hospital under full sedation. They want an ENT to remove the magnets from her cochlear implants, send her for the MRI, and then reinsert the magnets. This is not really what we wanted to hear, but it will allow them to get much clearer images of the entire head. There are two hospitals in Jacksonville that can do it, Baptist and Mayo Clinic. We would like to go to Mayo and get in the door there. Cochlear called both hospitals today. The insurance we have that we never applied to get is unacceptable at both hospitals so neither will do it. This is probably why Baptist did not do the emergency surgery the doctor sent John to have last Thursday. I am wondering if we can just rescind the insurance and go back to paying out of pocket. What good is insurance if it keeps us from being treated? We rejoice in the little things. The sunshine on Amanda's face makes me smile. I am thankful God gave her to us and I pray He restores her fully. Our plate is really full but our God is really big and we praise Him. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water, he turneth it whithersoever he will. Proverbs 21:1. GOD IS ABLE! ... See MoreSee Less
John is still waiting to hear from the surgeon that promised to call by yesterday. The primary doctor told us not to call the surgeon; he would call us. He said John would be having surgery this week. We have done everything we can to reduce the risk of infection or rupture and to stay ready for immediate surgery, but so far nothing is planned. We are still waiting on Amanda’s doctor as well. We need a new order for an MRI. Mayo Clinic has the machine she needs and the ability to do the scan, but we need to get a foot in the door to get her in there. Yesterday we sent a request to the insurance company for a case manager. If they assign one maybe we can get somewhere faster.I am not certain, but it seems like David is really straining to see and he needs more light than he did. He is asking for new glasses and maybe that is the only issue, but I would like to get him back to the doctor in Oklahoma for another screening as soon as we can get away, but right now we have to priortize John and Amanda’s more immediate needs.I am recovering well from the kidney stone. They will do a scan at the end of January to make sure there are no remaining particles of the stone. I did not realize how much pain it was causing me until it was gone. I am so thankful to have it removed. I am thinking it was causing some water retention because since it is gone, I have shed some extra pounds I have been trying to lose for a long time.Anna and Timothy have been a tremendous help to us as we try to navigate all these medical issues. I am not sure how we would manage without them. They are a blessing!God is faithful. He goes before us. We know He is working all things together for our good. We trust Him to continue to meet all of our needs. Every time we go to church, we are surrounded by loving people who are praying for us daily. We are so humbled and thankful for every last one. What a joy to be part of the family of God! Your love and prayers sustain us. We love you all,-Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
John's doctor is not at all happy with the experience we had at the hospital last night or with the doctor's office which refused him as a patient again this morning. He called the surgeon to voice his objections. The surgeon said he will call on Monday and John will be having surgery this week at his outpatient center. The cranky receptionist is not going to like it but she must not know how God intervenes for his people. We are truly thankful John has a doctor's appointment on the day he started having difficulty and he was able to get it looked at almost immediately. We are also grateful we found out before some other tests that could have caused complications. On a good note, Amanda had been having a pretty good week and today got up and came to the living room for devotions right away when we asked. We celebrate every tiny victory and praise God for his mercy and grace. Thankfully, the EEG is finally scheduled! They will come to the house to hook it up on January 18. ... See MoreSee Less
Well, after a failed attempt to tuck the hernia back in because it is incarcerated, instead of admitting which they said would happen, they are discharging John and will plan to do surgery at the end of the month. They told him to "just be careful" so it doesn't rupture but the doctor looked it up and there "are really no restrictions" on activities. We should bring him back if we see signs that it ruptured but not worry because they usually don't. They are referring us to the surgeon that declined us earlier today. They are supposed to call us Friday or Monday to set up a consultation, but the hospital will give us the phone number to call them in case they don't. That will contact us about the bill. Please somebody send me to med school! ~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Please pray for brother John. Tricia is taking him to the emergency room, per doctor's orders, with a complicated hernia. The doctor is hoping they will admit him and do surgery today. We will let you know when we have further details.Por favor, oren por el hermano John. Tricia lo llevará a urgencias, por orden del médico, debido a una hernia complicada. El médico espera que lo admitan y lo operen hoy. Les informaremos cuando tengamos más detalles.~Timothy ... See MoreSee Less
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 KJVWe rejoice in the goodness of God to us in 2024 and look forward to all He has planned for 2025. ... See MoreSee Less
I am home. They think they got it all and I will not need another procedure. At the hospital. Ready to try this kidney stone thing again. Procedure at 8:00.~Tricia. ... See MoreSee Less
The only imaging center in Jacksonville that can do Amanda's MRI is the one we went to yesterday. Today they called to say they are nervous about the kit and suggest we take her to a hospital and do it under sedation. They won't do it. I am too tired to even think about this. This story never ends and no one who promises to help her ever does. We have paid thousands and thousands of dollars for no help.How can there be no help for a girl so sick? We so desperately need God to intervene. ~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
No MRI today. Maybe tomorrow. If not tomorrow, I am not sure when. I am supposed to have the kidney stone procedure on Friday. Timothy is sick with a sore throat, so we shall see. If I get sick they will postpone and they might just because Timothy is. We have not heard anything about the in- Home EEG. I am so tired and discouraged but I know God is always faithful. We can trust him even in this. How I desire it would be his will for Amanda to recover fully, but I know He makes no mistakes. Thank you for all the prayers. ... See MoreSee Less
Update: No MRI today. As we were coming in the door, the imaging center was calling to cancel our appointment. I was unable to get the phone to answer, so we just went inside. They were calling to tell us they do not have an MRI machine with the settings we need, and we will need to go somewhere else. This is the third place we have had an appointment since we came home. We had this same problem in Australia. We specifically need an MRI set to 1.5T instead of the normal T because of Amanda's cochlear implants. This facility does have a 1.2T so we told them to go ahead with this one. We really need to do something that makes Amanda know we are getting her help! We told the lady at the desk about the seizures and how they started at a conference and then delayed us five months on a missions trip to Australia. The lady is a Christian. She called her office manager over, who is also a Christian. Together they are going to move heaven and earth to get this done today. At current, we need a special kit to protect the implants from the magnets of the MRI. Amanda and I are hanging out in a very comfortable waiting room and John is headed to Nemours to try to get the necessary kit of protection gear. Looks like we have a long day ahead of us. Please pray with us. How wonderful that God put some bold Christian ladies in our path who believe God is able. They told me they fully believe God will do this today, but they also encouraged us to ask everyone we know for God to give us victory over all of this and stop the attacks of Satan on our family and ministry. They are right and once again, we are asking you to pray. ... See MoreSee Less
We are up, dressed and out of the house with Amanda. We will grab a bite at Chick-Fil-A and head to the imaging center. Pray is all goes well and we start getting answers! ... See MoreSee Less
Amanda has an MRI scheduled for the 18th. For the last two days we have been unable to coax her out of bed. Please pray she will make it to the appointment. She missed another appointment earlier this week. ~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Well, one monkey was alone and sad with no family. Since yesterday we have had a wedding and an adoption just in time for family photos. We stay pretty busy around here. I love that she said the adopted monkey was sad but now he can be happy because he has a family. If you have been adopted into the family of God, you should be happy, too! ~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
I know several people checked our page yesterday and I assume they were looking for an update on Amanda. Sometimes, I just don't know what to say, and the last few weeks I have been running low on energy and high on things to do. None of the tests the neurologist was ordering have been scheduled as of yet. He did say it would take him a few days to get his mind set on how to proceed, and I am sure he also wanted to spend time with his family for Thanksgiving, as he should. Not a lot happens fast during the holiday season, and our medical system gets overloaded this time of year. Amanda complains that she is having seizures in the night and is again struggling to eat, just not as much as before. My observation has been that whatever this is comes in waves, and my concern is that we may be starting to take a turn for the worse. Saturday, at any rate, was just a difficult day for her, and late Saturday night we made the decision not to wake her Sunday morning for church. Most Sunday mornings, I get up very early and get myself ready and then begin a series of steps to eventually persuade her that she can fight against this and get up. It takes two or three hours to get her in mobile in the mornings. Sunday morning, I just crawled into her bed with her and when she awoke, I just held her close. Later, we played with her stuffed monkeys, which are her favorites. She wanted to know how many she had, and when I counted her as a monkey, she started to laugh. After a few hours, I pursuded her to get up and help me wrap Christmas presents. I hauled a bunch of gifts and wrap into her room and worked alone for awhile, but she finally gave in and came to help. John, David, and Timothy had left early that morning for services in Gainesville for the day.At four o'clock, Amanda went in her closet and came out fully dressed to go to church. I was so surprised! We called our neighbor to come pick us up and take us to her church in our neighborhood. They support our ministry. At church, we met a Venezuelan man who was a sign language interpreter in his country. He signed to Amanda and there was enough similarity to Peruvian Signs that she understood him. They had a guest preacher whose wife is also an interpreter. Right at the start, he announced he likes to give his wife a hard time by randomly saying the word "monkey" in the middle of his sermon. He had Amanda's attention immediately. His sermon fit so well with Amanda's struggles, and she responded over and over to the message, even raising her hand to confess her struggles at rhetorical questions. The preacher was wearing a plaid shirt, similar to one Amanda put on her favorite monkey. It is so neat how God works in lives, and the unexpected things that can make a difference. Amanda wanted him to know she loves monkeys and she thought it was funny he kept saying "monkey" throughout his sermon. He loved it and wants to meet with us about supporting our ministry. Today, I helped Amanda recall points from the sermon, and she got up and dressed in an hour and a half. It may not seem like much, but for me, it was a lot less struggle. I miss our happy-go-lucky girl, and I am thankful to see that even in this strange illness God is still interested in working in her life. He knows what she needs. People often ask what they can do for her. I don't even know what to do for her, but if you send her a plush toy, she will love it, especially if it is a monkey!~ Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Last week after the shock wave treatment at the hospital the surgeon told John in a text message that the kidney stone broke up easily and he was pretty sure they got it all. He told me I would feel all better in about three days. They must have infused pain medicine during the procedure because I felt great the first twenty-four hours but the next day I found myself in a world of pain. I try to avoid medicine and usually after a surgery I only take one or two pain pills and then switch to Tylenol. Not this time. I have been in pain every day and have taken almost the entire prescription of something that ends in "dol." The good news is I am losing a few extra pounds I have been carrying because any food of much substance is painful. The note the surgeon wrote in my records was different from the message he sent to John. The OR notes said the stone broke successfully but there could still be large particles that could require a second procedure. They had indeed told me from the get-go this was a possibility but his message to John gave us the impression everything had gone well and he was pretty confident they had it all. Today, back at the urologist's office, X-rays showed the stone still fully in tact and as large as ever. I have another more invasive procedure scheduled for the 20th of December, not at all what I wanted for Christmas. I am so glad this year we decided to put up the tree and decorate ahead of Thanksgiving just in case Amanda was going to need a lot of my time. There is a chance they will call me today and move my procedure up to Wednesday if there is a cancellation but first they will have to rule out an infection. I guess at least with this procedure they will be able to analyze its structure. I am disappointed and I really want to be done with medication but I know that God is always faithful even when we do not like something he has allowed. I asked him for a different result and he did not grant it. Still, I know this is his plan for me and he is working something for my good. I can learn and grow and stay faithful to glorifying God. If he is truly Lord, he has free will to direct my steps into places I don't really want to go and give me tasks I do not want to do. He will go with me all the way.-Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me regarding the kidney stone. Today I had Lithotripsy and the doctor said that even though the stone was quite large it broke up easily and he thinks he got it all. I am home resting and so far I sense the area is a little agitated but I am not in any pain. I am so thankful the Lord arranged some good health insurance for us before we left for Australia and almost all of the treatment was covered. We are amazed over and over at how God takes care of us. What a good God! He always knows what we need!~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
It has been a busy week and jet lag has been pretty rough. Timothy saw the hand surgeon today. No surgery necessary. Amanda had a video conference with a neurologist and we will begin some tests starting with an in-home EEG. I will see the urologist tomorrow to find out the fate of this kidney stone. We have come home to a lot of catch up work in the middle of the holiday season. There is much work to be done and half of us are not functioning at a hundred percent. Still it is good to be home and we thank God for all his blessings!~ Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
God answered prayer today and we got an appointment today with an orthopedist for Timothy's hand. This was way better than the December appointment we were offered in the first place. We are concerned about a full recovery as his parents are deaf and sign language is his way of life. To that end we have a consultation with a hand surgeon on the 13th just to be certain surgery is not recommended. We are praying for a full restoration of normal movement and for no arthritis to set into that hand. In the meantime, he got a cast for his birthday. There is a first time for everything ... See MoreSee Less
2nd UPDATE: Our flight was moved up to 8:15 pm. We are on the airplane. It is because of your prayers. Thank you. We will take off in ten minutes. UPDATE: Flight has been delayed to 8:57 pm due to weather. Amanda is doing ok. Timothy's right hand hurts. He believes his finger has been dislocated.Keep on praying. Would like to fly back home tonight.John----------------------------We are checked in and waiting for Chick-Fil-A so we can eat before we leave. Just par for this course, our flight has been delayed until 7:00 for tornado warnings. We are going anyway because it looks like there is a hurricane up the Gulf and we don't want to ride it out in Dallas. I would feel better about it if there was a plane at the gate. Oops, just changed the gate! ... See MoreSee Less
Pray...Our flight is tonight, going back to Jacksonville. Pray for Amanda to cooperate and to be calm. Pray for Tricia with her kidney stone. Pray for Timothy as he hurt his right hand falling down this morning. Pray for the weather, for we see tornado watch alerts. Thank youJohn Olson ... See MoreSee Less
Please pray for the team as they are in the air travelling back to the US, and for their travels over the next few days. I’ve also been travelling, and have arrived in Tasmania today with two of my brothers for a long weekend vacation.“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:11 KJV~ Marie ... See MoreSee Less
We are at Melbourne Airport again, and our flight has been delayed from 4:20 pm to 6:50 pm Friday, Melbourne Australia time. We are checking our luggage, and we will miss our Dallas connection. Our Dallas flight has been changed to Monday. We will be staying in Dallas till Monday. Continue to pray for Amanda, for Tricia and for our safe trip back to the USA.~John ... See MoreSee Less
SEE UPDATES BELOWIt is 7:30 and we are getting ready to try this again. Our flight is not until this afternoon but it takes a lot of work to get Amanda up and ready to go. Last night she was planning to get up and get ready but we never know what we are going to get in the morning. We are praying for a good day today with smooth skies and fair weather. God always has a plan.UPDATE. They just delayed our flight two and a half hoursUPDATE to the UPDATE: The delayed flight precluded we would miss our connection in Dallas and have to stay all night in the airport to catch an early morning flight. We didn't think Amanda could handle all of that. The new plan is that we will fly about 7 p.m. tonight and arrive in Texas at the same time on the same day as we left. We will stay through the weekend in Dallas. Our flight home will be Monday evening. UPDATE:We saw pilots board the plane. We should be boarding any minute. If all goes well we will be on our way to Dallas soon. Thank you for all the prayers!Things have not gone at all as we thought, but we trust God is in control and he knows best. He has always been faithful to us. ... See MoreSee Less
Update, our team is in a nice hotel next to the Melbourne Airport. We are scheduled to fly on Friday afternoon, Australian time. We appreciate all of your prayers, comments and encouragement. Yesterday, Amanda did well, coping with the stress of being at the airport, handing the delay of the flight, getting our baggage back after the cancellation of our flight, helping in pushing a cart of our luggage through the airport and to the hotel next door. Also, Tricia spent much time trying to coordinate with the airline and Amanda's situation, talking with several staff to get the best support for her, supporting the team as we waited eight hours for our flight, then talked to the staff about changing our flight while experiencing some pain from her kidney stone. Today was a day of rest. Tricia's urologist's appointment was postponed to November 14. Pray that we can get it moved up to an earlier date. Again, we thank you all for your prayers. ~John ... See MoreSee Less
Do you know the little song about Morrow is the hardest place I ever tried to go? Well, Australia is the hardest place I ever tried to leave. After four hours of waiting, our flight is cancelled. We have now been ushered back through customs and have to collect all twelve checked bags and stand in line for a hotel voucher and a rebooking. All prayer requests are forwarded to tomorrow. Pray we get good accommodations. We are exhausted!Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Now at Melbourne Airport, pray for our baggage to be checked with no problem, for our team especially Amanda to go through security in a calm manner, and to get on our plane smoothly. Takeoff is 4:20 pm (2:30 am EST Tuesday)John ... See MoreSee Less
Now, we are on our way to the airport. We need your prayers for Amanda, Tricia and the team. Pray that Amanda will be calm and cooperative the whole flight. Pray for Tricia with her kidney stone that it will not cause pain. She has an appointment on Thursday in Jacksonville. We take off in Melbourne at 4:20 pm (2:30 am EST Tuesday).Thank you all for your prayers.John ... See MoreSee Less
Pray this girl can get home alright. She has a lot of anxiety about the flight, but I know God can still her heart. I just took this shot outside, where she is waiting on the kookaburra to come get some sausage for his evening tea. ... See MoreSee Less
We have officially purchased tickets home on the 29th. We have one stop in Dallas. If things do not go well for Amanda on the first flight, we will skip the second leg and rent a car to get home. The upgrades were denied, but maybe it will be better to sit all together. We have called ahead to the airport security for a private screening for Amanda. Please pray it goes smoothly.We are currently engaged in a frenzy of packing and cleaning so we have time to say goodbyes to the many friends we have made over the last eight months. It feels more like moving out than coming home from a trip. Even the people at the grocery store are sad we are leaving. I have a urologist appointment on Thursday and hopefully an appointment with a laser somewhere in the very near future. I am seeing a doctor here this morning to make sure I have all I need for the trip home.We have been here so long that leaving is sad. There are many people we will miss and some animals, too. We will go back to watching for deer instead of kangaroos on the road. We will stop scanning the trees to be the first to spot a koala, and we will end the Wombat Patrol altogether. I think we will most miss the kookaburra and the mocking birds landing on the porch rail with a thud looking for a piece of sausage out of someone's hand. We have managed to see all four seasons of a very beautiful country. Here it is spring and the time of new beginnings. We are not certain of any upcoming plans. We still need a diagnosis for Amanda. I think we are looking for a Christian neurologist. We have not set up any appointments yet. The last several weeks have been fully focused on helping Amanda get strong enough to travel. We are thankful we are not seeing any daytime seizures, but I hear sounds that make me think she has them still at night. My prayer is that the travel will not cause a setback for Amanda in any way and that she will soon be restored to good health. The night before last, she got tickled at something Anna said and started to giggle. The giggle turned into a laugh and she laughed so hard she cried. It was so very refreshing. She told us it was because God put joy in her heart. We had not heard her laugh like that for over two years. It spread through the whole house. Pray she can hold on to that joy!I guess we are heading home to a very green pool and gardens that have not been weeded since last February. I have heard of garden parties but is there such thing as a garden weeding party? If there is, I think I should host one. There is going to be a lot of sweat and tears. Other than those two dreaded monsters, we are all looking forward to being home. If our flight comes in on time, maybe we can catch Chick-Fil-A on the way home.~ Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
It’s hard to believe that the team will be heading back to Florida after their extended stay here in my home city of Melbourne. It’s been a challenging year for our team, mentally, physically and spiritually. We have seen God provide over and over and have known that He has been working through all the circumstances we have experienced. There have also been lots of times of laughter, times of simple joy and times we have been enraptured by God’s creation here in Australia. I am planning to join the team after my visa has been approved Lord willing. Prayerfully it will be in the next few months. Please pray for the team as they travel - especially for Amanda and Tricia. ~ Marie ... See MoreSee Less
We have tickets on hold to return to the US on October 29. We have appealed to the airline for Tricia and Amanda to be upgraded to first class for Amanda to be able to lie down and sleep on the way home. The airline spent two weeks delaying the release of our flight credits and then another week determining to deny the upgrade request. The airline did suggest to appeal to our flight insurance but then offered them the seats at $12,000 each. The two companies are haggling over the price and are supposed to give us an answer tomorrow. In the meantime, we got a letter from the hospital in Melbourne. They finally scheduled the MRI that the Neurologist requested for last April. They made the appointment for November 24, three weeks past our visa expiration. We still have no medical diagnosis for what happened to Amanda.We are thankful to see Amanda improving every day, and we celebrate the tiniest of accomplishments. The visible daytime seizures have mostly stopped, but we suspect there are still nocturnal episodes. As I write, I hear her moaning in her sleep in the room next door, confirming the suspicion. She is more able to get up in the mornings, and some of her smiles and giggles have returned. This week, she started helping us wrap items we are packing to help the Gunters retrieve their belongings they left behind in Australia. We are seeing a little bit of executive function return. Yesterday, she found a new "friend." A kookaburra landed on our back porch rail. We just happened to have some leftover bacon from a men's breakfast at our house that morning, so we cut a few chunks for the kookaburra. Amanda was so excited to feed him and was elated. Apparently, so was the kookaburra, because he hung out on the porch until sunset. This morning she got up and dressed in record time to see if he was back, and he most certainly was! He had a nice breakfast of hotdogs and this afternoon came back for a second helping. He ate right out of her hand! Amanda is thrilled! She is eagerly awaiting morning to see if he will return. What a blessing that God nudged a gentle kookaburra to come our way.I am waiting on a urologist appointment for the kidney stone, but if it takes seven months for a neurologist to get an MRI for seizures in the hospital, I can't imagine how long it takes to get set up for a kidney stone to be broken up. Although it is painful, at this point, I am praying for the stone to stay in the kidney until I get home. It is quite large, and if it does leave the kidney, I think it could easily get lodged on its journey and get serious really fast. I am trusting God will take care of me all the way home. My plan is to wear compression stockings, drink lots of water, and take pain medicine. Hopefully, I can get an appointment with a urologist for as soon as I get home. Even though we have had a difficult time in Australia, we are thankful the Lord brought us here and even extended our stay. "But as for God, his way is perfect." ... See MoreSee Less
When God calls someone to the ministry, it doesn't mean he/she is going to have a smooth road for him/her to get started. It is more likely to resemble Abraham blindly obeying God, sacrificing what he loved most, and trusting God with the outcome. God often works out the details after you have set out with unwavering faith , willing to lay everything on the line, What would have happened if Abraham would have waited to head up the mountain until he had a guarantee on the outcome? I think he would have lived a lifetime of nagging regret. I have never seen anyone put everything on the line in obedience to God and come up short-changed. As best as I can tell, faith is always the key that unlocks the treasure of God's provision and nothing seals it shut more than unbelief. I don't think anything we ever do is more exciting than the times we have stepped out in faith and held our breath waiting on God to supply for a great need. We have never pushed forward in faith and regretted trusting God. ~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Thanking God for blowing back the storm! There might be some water coming later but there was no storm surge. The eye went smack through Eric's neighborhood but he is alright, so alright that he went to sleep already. ... See MoreSee Less
Florida - Our Go team is praying for those in the path of Hurricane Milton. We are still in Melbourne, but we watch the news and have great concern for our loved ones, friends, and churches in the next couple days. May the Lord protect and sustain you.~John ... See MoreSee Less
At will, Jesus can whisper "Peace be still" and this monster storm called Milton would stop dead in its tracks. But if not, we are praying for family and friends in Florida who are in the path of Milton. Our God is greater than all of this. I am praying he will blow back this storm. ~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Last week, we were driving across states on the southern coast of Australia, headed to their National Baptist Fellowship. On the way, at some point, we found ourselves in the middle of nowhere, at least two hours away from the closest town. I happened to be looking out of the window and noticed how many stars were visible even with our car's bright lights turned on. So I asked if we could find a spot to pull over and see the stars. Tricia was driving at the moment and she was on board with the idea, and so we stopped the car and turned off all the lights.It was the first time in my 21 years of life that I ever saw the Milky Way with my naked eye! This night the moon wasn't out. The sky was so clear, and the stars were so bright, I could even see my steps in the complete darkness of the night. The team told me how in the past, on another trip they had in Australia, they went to a star gazing spot, and saw the stars so bright they felt like they could reach the stars with their own hands. We've tried to replicate the event a couple of times these past few months, but never succeeded. This night was the right one, and I finally understood that feeling of stretching out my arm, reaching out for the stars, so far in the vast depth of the universe, and yet so close in sight. I was glad I was able to partially capture, how astounding that night sky looked. Staring at such beautiful but complicated piece of art, painted on the canvas of a cloudless night sky, just reminded me of how Omniscient is the Mastermind behind it."He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names." —Psalm 147:4~Timothy ... See MoreSee Less
This trip to Australia has certainly been an eventful one. Last week we drove the Great Ocean Road headed to a conference north of Adelaide that started on Monday night. We made a couple of nice overnight stops on the way.Tuesday morning, I was interpreting and suddenly felt a sharp pain in my side. It was so piercing I thought it had to be nerve pain and shifted my position. The room started to blur and I had enough presence of mind to call Anna to switch. By the time I got to the back of the service, I was doubled over. Two hours of gory details and an ambulance ride later, they set me up for a CT of the abdomen. A kidney stone is the culprit! I have heard that kidney stones can be painful, but I did not know it was possible to be conscious through so much pain. Kidney stones are common in my family, but to my knowledge, I have never had one. They sent me home on an antibiotic and pain killer. And said the stone will pass in 2-4 weeks. Seriously?! I doubt a stone that size can pass and if it can, I am not sure I want it to. Tomorrow morning we start making our way back towards Warburton, but we will be in Mt. Gambier on Sunday. Ironically, the pain medicine seems to give me an awful headache. With all the tragedy of the recent storm, I have nothing to complain about, but if you can, please pray the pain stays at bay and this stone will pass sooner than later.~ Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
If I were to say this sickness that has taken hold of Amanda has been our greatest challenge by far, it would still be an understatement. The time and energy expended, stresses of decision making, the anguish of such great loss and the helplessness of not finding anything to make her better, all at a constant for months on end, have been a greater strain than I even thought possible to endure. Yet, true to His great promises, God is faithful! Back in March, while Amanda was at her worst, I began to question whether we would be able to continue to travel in missions or even do ministry. Even though she has improved, she still needs a high level of care and constant supervision. It is difficult to see how this is all going to work moving forward. In April, I started thinking about Tom Williams, who traveled for years as an evangelist while caring for all his wife's personal needs. Through that, the Lord reminded me that He will make a way for anything He asks us to do. I don't have to understand it all, I just need to follow Him. I was absolutely amazed when Amanda came home from church the other day with a postcard from Tom Williams Ministries saying they have been praying for her. I only met him once years ago. I have no idea how they heard about Amanda or how they figured out how to get a card to us here in Australia. It was a great blessing and confirmed in my heart that it is not time to quit. God can use us even with all these new challenges. After all, He knew what He was doing when He brought them into our lives. He will continue to be faithful. ~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Sunday we traveled again to Moe, (pronounced Mo-ee) after our last visit a few deaf have started going to the church. We went there to be a blessing and a help. The two deaf who have come were not there, but another deaf man heard there was a deaf ministry and came. We are praying God will give the church a great heart to reach the deaf and raise up interpreters for that ministry. ... See MoreSee Less
It's a beautiful Sunday morning! We have Amanda loaded in the car and ready for church. Pray for her though. She has been having a hard time the last few days. We are trying to bring her home in October. We still have no answers but we still have a big God! ... See MoreSee Less
I have been trying to figure out what to write about Amanda for a while now, and I am not sure how to articulate where we are or make good sense of our decisions without going into a long and drawn out explanation. Just know that no decisions are easy, none are made without great deliberation, few are made without wondering whether it was the wrong one, and all of them are made with much prayer. Amanda is not recovered by any means, but over all she is much better than she was eight weeks ago. Aside from a lot of facial and jaw activity, and occasionally seeing her gripping her arms and legs, we are not seeing the seizure activity we were. There is a lot of moaning in her sleep that keeps me concerned and makes me know we are not out of the woods yet, but for the last six weeks we have been able to take her to church three times a week. Nearly every day we seem to be seeing her make new strides, but they are such baby steps. She is not at all the girl she was, and I miss that girl so very much. Amanda is smiling more and laughing occasionally. She has started participating in family life just a little. Today, when we had company over, she suddenly appeared with a dessert tray and offered goodies to all our guests. She is becoming more able to manage personal care to some degree, but she still needs constant help and support with every step of taking care of herself.The hardest part for me to grasp is that her decision making ability is so impaired that she can not complete any task that requires mutiple steps without us reminding her what the next step will be and coaxing her into taking it. For example: she does not “get up and get dressed” in the morning. She wakes up, then we coax her into sitting up, and after a while, we convince her to swing her legs out of bed. We coax her into every little part. We have better days and worse days, but on many days, there is almost no executive function. I never realized how many decisions it takes to get ready go to church until we had to create a motive for every last little decision to be made. On Sunday mornings, I feel exhausted before I even leave my house!The good news though, is that we DO leave the house! This is such a direct answer to prayer. We pray constantly God will help her go to church so we can go as a family. Not only is it spiritually important for her to go to church, but the social aspect is important as well. We are trying to prepare Amanda to be able to fly home in October. Our hope is that by waiting a little more time she will continue to improve and handle the flight better. Twice we have taken her to the airport to meet flights, and she has been uncomfortable but alright. The concern is that she could take a turn for the worse at any time. I do not even begin to understand how all of this is working together for good, but on Thursday the Lord allowed me to share the Gospel with a young man who just turned twenty, and he accepted Christ as his Savior. This afternoon the Lord gave me the opportunity to share Christ with a deaf young lady and she also was saved. I am sure those two souls are part of the reason God has extended our stay in Australia. Please pray for these new believers to grow in Christ.Please pray God would help Amanda be well enough to fly home in October. Also, pray God will give us a Christian doctor who will be willing to explore the cause of Amanda’s symptoms and not just throw medicine at them to see if something works. My heart's desire is that God would restore her fully, but please pray that we will glorify Him and remember to lift up Christ in whatever He has planned for our lives. -Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Prayer Requests - 1-continue to pray for Amanda. She has improved from a couple months ago, but in the last few days, she seems to retreat to her old ways and frustrations. We do not want to see her declining.2 - Pray for Anna. She is flying now back to Melbourne. She will arrive in the morning She is a vital part of our team, and we are thankful for her return.3-Pray for Marie's visa. We hope to finish her religious worker visa this Friday, and mail it off to USCIS. This will help her to finish raising support. David Peach from BIO is here for the week. He is a blessing, and he helps us with the paperwork.4-pray for our opportunities to talk to both the deaf and hearing of the gospel of Jesus.5-Pray for the signers. I have taught AUSLAN since March. Tricia is now teaching on "interpreting."We thank each one of you for your prayers.~John ... See MoreSee Less
There's just something about encountering wild life!Last week, while driving back from the preachers fellowship, we stumbled across this kangaroo next to the road. As you can hear in the video, I was thrilled.¡Hay algo especial en encontrarse con animales salvajes!La semana pasada, mientras volvíamos en coche del encuentro de predicadores, nos topamos con este canguro junto a la carretera. Como se puede escuchar en el vídeo, estaba muy emocionado.~Timothy ... See MoreSee Less
We met Pastor Charlie Williams in his home last week when he and his wife hosted a pastor's fellowship. On Sunday morning we enjoyed visiting his church at Oasis Baptist Church. Then on Sunday night we went once again to Ferntree Gully Independent Baptist Church unannounced. We had missed a message from Pastor Zoeff earlier that day asking whether John could preach that night. When we came through the door he heartily asked if John was ready to preach. John said, "Always" and it was set. It was not until much later that night we saw the message that we had been invited to come. We are thankful we have the Lord to guide our steps! ... See MoreSee Less
Today we went to a lunch fellowship of preachers and wives along with children. It was a sweet time, and I rejoice to meet them who labor for the Lord in the Melbourne area.~John ... See MoreSee Less
Last Sunday, it was a blessing to meet missionary Rijn Abrell at Anchor Baptist Church. The people were so warm and welcoming, even though they weren't expecting us. I was impressed by this missionary, who despite having a stroke 10 years ago, faithfully continues serving the Lord on the field. He has such a great burden for souls. After the service, he pleaded with us to help him find missionaries willing to come to Australia, where they can reach people from literally all over the world.El domingo pasado, fue una bendición conocer al misionero Rijn Abrell en la Iglesia Bautista Anchor. La gente fue muy cálida y acogedora, a pesar de que no esperaban nuestra visita. Estuve impresionado por aquel misionero, quien a pesar de haber sufrido un derrame cerebral hace 10 años, sigue sirviendo fielmente al Señor en el campo misionero. Tiene una gran carga por las almas. Después del servicio, nos rogó que lo ayudáramos a encontrar misioneros dispuestos a venir a Australia, donde uno puede alcanzar a personas provenientes de literalmente todas partes del mundo.~Timothy ... See MoreSee Less
Amanda has good days and bad days but this day was particularly good and will be a special memory for always. We hope we are past the critical period and will continue to see improvement. Thank you for all the prayers.~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Except for one day when we tried another medication, Amanda has had a good week! She is getting stronger every day and is much more engaged. She is trying her best to recover and her countennence is much better. This is the thrird Sunday in a row she has made it to church all day. This is a direct answer to prayer. We still have a long way to go, but it is so good to have good news to report. Some of the smiles and laughter we have missed for so long have started to resurface. It is so wonderful to hear her laugh again. God is at work and we are thankful!~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
Tonight I’ve been reflecting on Psalm 115. In my Bible it is titled God Is Truly Glorious. I am so thankful that I have been introduced to our all powerful living God who reigns with truth and grace, and that we don’t need to look vainly to idols made by human hands for help. “Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: He is their help and their shield.” Psalm 115:11 KJV~ Marie ... See MoreSee Less
A week ago Sunday morning, I visited a supporting church to give a report on the ministry in Australia. As I exited my car, the pastor's wife, whom I had never met before due to a change in leadership since I had been there, walked up and addressed me by name. People continued to arrive and I was greeted by several others who knew my face and my name. Many of them had never met me before, but they had been reading my prayer letters. They were enthusiastic about meeting me and shared that they had been praying for me. The man who reads the prayer letters to the church not only reads the letters, but also searches online for more information about their missionaries and relays it to the church. The pastor shared his heart from the pulpit, that he wants his church to be the kind of church that doesn't just send a check every month. He wants them to be the kind of church that knows their missionaries and prays for them specifically and provides genuine fellowship. This pastor spent many years serving as a missionary to Sri Lanka.A couple of days later, Mom and I went to a church conference. After all the pastors and missionaries had stood and introduced themselves to the congregation, a lady sitting behind us tapped me on the shoulder. She leaned forward, telling me she has been praying for Go Deaf Missions with her church for months. She began to tell me everything I have written about in my prayer letters. I sat there, gaping, while she rattled off details like she had known them her whole life. She asked if I knew anything more about Amanda, so that she could share in the burden and pray accordingly. It means so much to me that people would take the time to know me and care about me when I do not know them or have only met them briefly. It is so encouraging and motivating to hear from someone, "I've been praying for you every day!" or, "I researched you on your website and I read all your old letters," or, "I know that this has been a struggle, do you have any more information that I can add to my prayers?" Thank you all so much for every answer to a letter, every comment on our posts, every prayer you have prayed on behalf of my team and me. You make all the difference between us feeling like failures and being motivated to continue the ministry God has called us to do, not only because you inspire us, but also because prayers change things. You are one of God's greatest gifts to us. Thank you. ~ Anna ... See MoreSee Less
This picture was taken at church last Sunday. Blessed to see Amanda smiling.We are thankful Amanda received her extended VISA last Friday to stay in Australia till November. I ask you to keep on praying for us. The extended time allow us more time for medical testing. We need wisdom to proceed and to make right decisions. We know the Lord is with us every step but we still do not have the answers. ~John ... See MoreSee Less
𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲!Pastor David Zoeff is a friend we met a few months ago and he welcomed us to his church a couple of times already. Last week while I was finishing the gospel clip we made, we received a call from him, inviting us to speak at his church. It truly is a blessing when they consider inviting me to speak as well.On Sunday morning, Amanda woke up happily and seemed well enough to join us for church again, so our whole team was back at service together again! It was encouraging to see the reception we had both when John preached in the morning and I preached in the evening.Thank you for your continuous prayers, the Lord is still in the business of answering them!¡𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐭𝐫𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐨!El pastor David Zoeff es un amigo que conocimos hace unos meses y nos dio la bienvenida a su iglesia un par de veces. La semana pasada, mientras estaba terminando el video evangélico que hicimos, recibimos una llamada suya, invitándonos a predicar en su iglesia. Realmente es una bendición cuando consideran invitarme a predicar a mí también.El domingo por la mañana, Amanda se despertó alegre y se veía lo suficientemente bien como para unírsenos a la iglesia nuevamente, ¡así que todo el equipo volvió a reunirse para el servicio! Fue alentador ver la recepción que tuvimos cuando John predicó por la mañana y yo prediqué por la noche.¡Gracias por sus continuas oraciones, el Señor todavía está en el negocio de responderlas!~Timothy ... See MoreSee Less
We have said several times that God has provided for us in wonderful ways. Just look at our location! We are in the upper section of town. About a quarter mile away there are bakeries, boutiques, coffee shops and thrift stores. We get to the city plenty of times but even when we can‘t, we have everything we need right at our disposal. We are right at the base of the mountains and it is absolutely gorgeous!~Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
We praise the Lord! Amanda woke this morning with a big smile on her face and a sweet disposition. She got up, showered, and dressed with only a quick prompt. She was ready for church on time and managed to stay on track all day. She sang with us morning and and evening. We still don’t know what is wrong or what to do about it, but God will make a way. ~ Tricia ... See MoreSee Less
