Since we arrived back in Arizona it's been a flurry of medical appointments and gathering with friends and family. We're realizing how difficult it is going to be to see everyone we're wanting to see. Eight weeks is not a very long time at all and seems to be flying by! We are at a different church just about every Sunday we're back!
One of our highest priorities has been getting some answers and hopefully a solution for a potentially serious issue with my (Geoff's) ears. We've seen the Lord's undeserved extra mercies through the whole process, from getting me connected with just the right ENT, their office being appreciative of what we do and going the extra mile to accelerate the process with insurance and scheduling, and to finally having an answer after all these years. The culprit behind my years of persistent ear infections and worsening symptoms over the last 6 months is now confirmed to be a cholesteatoma in my right ear. Judging by how extensive it is, the doc says it's been there many years now, perhaps even going back to my childhood. It's been missed by many an ENT over the years because typical visual indicators are lacking. The solution is that I need surgery to remove it. Again, the doc and his office have been so good to me by accelerating the process and making sure to get the procedure approved by insurance and surgery scheduled all in good time to have me healed and checked out again before our Jul 31 return to PNG. Unchecked cholesteatoma will kill you. You just don't hear about it much because for people living in the US it's usually caught and dealt with, and the solution for such a potentially serious affliction is a fairly straightforward outpatient surgery. Again I find myself grateful that despite having been missed all these years due to atypical symptoms, that our mission doctors were discerning enough to call attention to the possibility TWICE in the last 3 years. The first time they raised the flag just before we came home on furlough, where an ENT evaluated and said it was inconclusive, but not likely. This time more recently the docs raised the flag again and I got in touch with another ENT who was able to conclude solidly that there is indeed a cholesteatoma and that it's been there a long time!
Currently my surgery is scheduled for July 8 with my final follow up appointment (where I'll hopefully be given a clean bill of health) just 2 days before we're scheduled to head back! There are some risks that I'd ask you to be in prayer about. Of course there are the obvious risks of general anesthesia, and risk of infection and what not. But the ones that concern me more are the risk of partial or total loss of hearing in that ear. Another one is that the doc will be making a determination during surgery whether or not he'll have to do a more destructive version of the procedure which would leave me with a high probability of an ear that would be intolerant to ANY moisture, including humidity. If he determines to go that route (he's going to try not to) it carries the risk of rendering me unable to live in PNG where humidity is high. That's a risk he's pointed out to me, and so we're trying to do whatever is needed to avoid that. The doc is anticipating a good outcome and ability to return and continue to work in PNG. But the possibility has me wanting to ask you all for your prayers leading up to and during my surgery, and for my recovery afterward. We desire to continue ministering to the Mibu church. There is still much translation and lesson development and working with the leaders to do there. We'd be foolish to think that somehow God 'needs' our family specifically to accomplish his work. But we've also had every indication that he has graciously brought us into his work in Mibu, and we've not sensed his leading us away from that yet. So our hope is to return and continue to serve in PNG. God is good no matter our circumstances. We trust the outcome to him, and would ask that you join us in praying about this.
On a lighter note, we've been enjoying being able to see our family and friends and to catch up with our brothers and sisters in Christ in the various churches in the valley. Since our time is so short, we've scheduled weekly evenings with Shannon's family and evenings with my family. It's been good to be together for this short time!
We're also reminded as we interact with folks, and have been blessed in so many ways with financial help and other resources (like a house and 2 vehicles) that we totally don't deserve such good treatment from you all! Yet, God shows the abundance of his grace through these many kind and generous acts. Thank you so very much for everyone who partners with us in this ministry, who in any way, helps prop us up, encourage us along, and lift us up before the Father!
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| We managed to get the whole Husa clan together one more time, even including great grandma! |
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| When the Husas get together things get a little bit weird. If you see him, make sure to ask my dad about his leg! |
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| When you're 93, family shenanigans around the dinner table are easily handled by plugging your ears! |
