Update

Ok folks, there is a lot to say, so I thought I would just update here...

John Michael is now in Goroka and the doctor has sewn up what is left of his thumb as best he could. There is still some open area because there was not enough skin to cover the entire thing, but the doctor did get the exposed bone covered and that is the most important thing. Also, he said that there was more thumb than he thought. It is cut off right above his joint, so he still has about 3/4 of his thumb left.

 He has to stay there for two weeks for the doctor to changes his bandages and clean the wound to try to keep it from getting infected. Here in the swampy Sepik even the tiniest bug bites get infected, so hopefully being in the cooler, drier air of the Highlands will help. Most importantly, though, we need prayers that the bone does not get infected. If that happens he will have to go to Australia to get it taken care of, and that will be major time and money.

Speaking of time and money...
Our plans for moving into the tribe are now going to be put on hold for a little while. 3N1 was supposed to go in on August 10th to start prep work for building our house (cutting down trees, and them cutting them into the boards we will need to frame our house). The doctor said it will be at least 2 months before the area is healed, so that drastically changes that plan.  And right now all these flying to Goroka (where the medical clinic is) and staying in guest houses up there at $36 a night is going to eat a huge hole in the funds we saved for house building. Please pray that as his thumb will heal as quickly as possible, to keep the costs at a minimum.

I say all that with full confidence in the Lord, knowing that His plans are better than ours. I want to be on His timetable, not my own. Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain." I want Him to build our house because nothing He does is in vain.

I also am fully confident that He will provide what we need, when we need it. If this depletes our building fund, then He will replenish it or we didn't need that much in the first place. He delivered me a long time ago from worry over money, and I am not about to be held captive by that sin again. If you have read the rest of this blog, you know how much He has given us, and how He has never failed to provide for us. My prayer is that He will use this too, to show us His glory.

And finally...
We are taking suggestions for nicknames for his thumb. Nub. Nubby. Thumble. You get the point. Feel free to add your own.