We're Back from Houston

Friday after work we drove to Houston to visit David, his fiancée Sarah, and Sarah's mother Maureen. This is Saturday night dinner at David's house--he didn't know he had a table and table cloth and seating for 6! We enjoyed meeting Maureen and she blessed us with some smoked salmon to take home. We also got to see Sarah's engagement ring and hear some of the details of the proposal.
After dinner I was able to get a few more wedding details, but unfortunately had to do so during the University of Washington Huskies' game as there seemed to be no other opportunity. Maybe that's why the Huskies lost. This morning we attended church with them at Ecclesia (I wonder where they got that name?) and then went to Whataburger for lunch.
Near Huntsville there was a bad accident on the freeway southbound, and the helicopter arrived just as we got there northbound.

Proud Mama

I don't know if these two scanned pages will be readable (click on them for a larger view), but if not, then I won't be thrown in jail for violating someone's copyright which I may have just done by scanning and posting them! But, being the proud mama, maybe that gives me an excuse.

Some New Family Photos

We attended the lovely wedding of a friend of David's this afternoon so it was a chance to take couple family photos. Too bad Andrew and Laura are missing!

Wow, David and Rachel are dancing!

Update from Malaita

You have all probably been wondering what ever became of the hospital where baby Rachel was born. Here's a recent update from the Solomon Islands news:

Malaita's Kilu'ufi Hospital closes door to the sick in protest of disrespectful attitude

Kilu'ufi Hospital on Malaita has closed its doors from yesterday for an indefinite period.

Acting Director- Malaita Provincial Health Doctor Rex Maukera says the action follows the disrespectful attitude towards hospital vehicle and staff on duty.

The doctor says last Friday, one of the hospital vehicles was attacked by a drunkard on the way to Auki town, and over the weekend, the hospital Vehicle was again stoned at Farau village, south road while rushing an emergency case to Kiluufi hospital.

He said in the truck were two doctors, a driver, a sick baby and a mother.

Dr Maukera says while police is carrying out investigation into the incidents, the hospital will be closed to make the community aware that such behaviour should not go unchecked.

He says communities must assist the Police.

David Sent Photos

from Michael and Susanna's wedding which he attended several weeks ago in North Carolina. Michael is the boy next door. He's been to Harvard, Oxford, and now Yale, but he's still the boy next door.

Not much else for news. Rachel graded 3rd grade math papers today at her sub job and couldn't believe how poorly most kids did on them. Maybe she could get a job as a tutor. But these kids' parents couldn't afford one, most likely.

Hurricane Felix Relief Photos

07-09-07 Honduras floods

See photos Andrew sent of flooded areas, distributing plastic for shelters and water purification kits, and loading a DC-3 for taking supplies to Nicaragua.

Eating

Rachel was kind and came over to make pancakes for us this morning.


Last Tuesday Lee and Faye Van Langen from California came by and had dinner with us. We managed to grill burgers outside, but just barely because the weather wasn't cooperating. We finished the last bites in a light rain.

It turns out that Andrew and Laura have had to take part in some emergency relief efforts. There was considerable flooding in an area 45 minutes away from where they live so they have been distributing plastic tarps and small water purification filters. Andrew has has spent time working with the authorities securing permission for a plane of supplies to land there on the way to a more needy area.

Bad Kitty!

White Kitty has found yet another new hiding place.

Not Many Details Yet

But a few things are finalized: David and Sarah's wedding date will be June 21 and the location is in Seattle. (Well, I think a suburb of Seattle.) Sarah's mom has assured me that they will find free housing for any and all who make the trip to the wedding, and even have some cars for us to use while there. That was nice of her.

Gary and I hope to actually get our plane bookings pretty soon. We are expecting that Gary will just be returning from a trip to Nairobi the week before the wedding.

So all you relatives and friends who read this, start making your plans!

Not So Bad

Hurricane Felix has been downgraded to a tropical storm which is taking a more southerly route across Honduras. This means not much wind damage, but the danger of heavy rains that bring flooding and mudslides is real. We've heard from Andrew this evening and so far things were OK.

Pray for Andrew and Laura

The projected track of Hurricane Felix is even closer to Andrew and Laura's location today than it was yesterday. I just tried to talk to him on Skype, but he had to go to a planning meeting--planning what to do if/when/after it hits.

Hurricane Felix

Andrew and Laura just missed Hurricane Dean when they were in the DR recently, then they hit bad weather in Chicago, and now it looks like more bad weather is headed for Honduras. We pray for their safety.