Just wanted to write a quick note and tell everyone (now that I have been here over one week), that we are here and doing really well! We set up our surgical equipment the Sunday after we got here and started operating on Monday. We operated this whole past week, and we have had the weekend off. We went to the beach yesterday, and today is a just going to be a very relaxing day. We are planning on operating Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning of this next week, and then packing up our surgical supplies Wedendsay afternoon, and will be leaving our camp here in Monte Plata Thursday morning. We will then go into the capitol (Santo Domingo) and stay at a resort Thursday and Friday night, and we will fly back to the states Saturday morning. Some days it seems like the end of the day could not come soon enough, but we are having a very good time, and God has definitely been faithful in the services that we have been able to provide.
The internet is very limited here, so this is probably the only time I will update this. It is partially so limited because there are rolling blackouts here about about 8 hours, because people do not pay their electricity bills. Luckily our camp has a generator, so we are not ever out very long, but these little internet cafe`s don´t have generators so then the internet is down for a while. My cell phone actually gets a full signal here! I have been able to call Jeremy a few times, but it is costing more, so I need to try to limit that as much as possible.
I will have to give everyone a better update once, I am back, but I am not sure how much it costs to use the internet here, so I better not stay on too long. Everyone is really taking good care of me, and watching out for me since I am pregnant. I keep reminding them that I am pregnant, not disabled, but I know they are just watching out for me...and evidently I need it, since I fell walking home yesterday and scrapped up my knees :). That sure got me more attention than I was wanting :). The baby seems like it moves all the time now, and actually kept me up last night for a little while because it was kicking me so hard. But I am not complaning, it is a great feeling.
As far as prayer requests I think the main thing is our health. Most of us have been sick at least one day here due to the food. So just pray that we can continue to be strong and healthy so we can finish out our surgeries with a lot of energy. Safe travel would be another prayer request, beacuse it is quite amazing how the people drive here. I would just prefer to close my eyes and hope we get to our destination safely. You never see any accidents so evidently they are all used to driving really crazy :).
I wish I could put a couple of pictures up on here but I can`t, so those will have to wait until I get home. I cannot wait to get to see and talk to everyone again. It has been a lot harder for me to be here than I thought it would be, I do really miss home...but we will be there soon! I love you all so much, and can`t wait to see you!!
exactly half of the Birkey family is living in Wichita (including Justin and Amy after they get married), it is our goal to convince Lowell and Dianne and Jodi to move here. Then we can all be together again for good!
weeks. I have not had much to update about. But I am putting pictures on here of us and the Birkey's, so those should be good pregnancy pictures for those who want them :).
