|  
Visit our Blog: Gleams in the Desert
May 2011
 We know it’s been a very long time since some of you have heard from us. We appreciate
your friendship and your prayers, and thanks for taking the
time to read about what’s going on in our lives.
This past year was one of the most challenging we’ve
had yet and we weren’t even on the field for almost
half of it.
Last June we decided to splurge and take
a family vacation in the U.S. While there we took Caroline to her orthopedic
doctor for a check-up (Caroline has had scoliosis for several years which required
wearing a back brace). After a set of x-rays were taken, her doctor informed
us that she would need surgery soon. So, our plans for returning to Niger at
the end of June were put on hold as we prepared for her spinal fusion surgery
on July 8th. Things got further complicated when a pre-surgery MRI revealed
an abnormality in Caroline’s cerebellum. After more
MRIs and CT scans it was determined
that Caroline had a neurofibroma tumor in her brain which had caused bone loss
in her skull. She actually had holes in her skull which were leaving her brain
exposed. Now on top of the back surgery, brain surgery would also be required.
Thankfully, we were staying near Seattle and had access to some
of the best doctors in the U.S. To make a long story short, both surgeries
went well, we were able to return to Niger Nov. 9th,
and Caroline has recovered nicely.
She’s back at Sahel Academy and though she’s still limited right now in her
physical activity, the healing process has gone very
well. We are so thankful for the
excellent medical care she received and for the many prayers and notes of encouragement
we got from friends around world.
THANK
YOU!
Thank
you for your faithful prayers. Though we are many
miles apart those prayers sustain us and keep us
going when the going gets rough—like right now at
the height of hot season! Thanks also for the way you support us financially
through your local church. As missionaries
with the IMB we are blessed to have a regular
salary because of your giving.
As the farming season approaches, pray that God
would send rain this summer so that the Zerma
might have an abundant harvest.
Pray that God will continue to open the minds and
hearts of the Zerma to receive His word. Pray
that we would be effective communicators
of the gospel.
Pray for Kimberly as she ministers to children
each week, that they would give their hearts
to Jesus and grow in their faith.
Pray for Phil as he has accepted new administrative
responsibilities for two additional teams.
Pray that he would be an effective
leader.
|
Our ministry lately has revolved around storying groups. Kimberly leads four
kids clubs each week in Niamey and also visits during
the week with some of the mothers of the children.
Phil is leading three storying groups each week with
adults in different villages, and has started two
new outreach groups that he leads every couple weeks.
He also tries to visit outreach groups in different
places to encourage the believers there.
With the departure of two team members due to retirement and the transfer of
the remaining two team members to a new team here in Niamey, we’ll be quite
busy this year! Pray that God would send new team members to join us in ministering
to the Zerma.
phil@zermateam.org
ARCHIVES
OFCAIN CHRONICLES
ALL
BELOW ARE IN PDF FORMAT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CAIN
CHILDREN CHRONICLES
May 2011
|
|
Well,
it’s May and it’s really hot! It makes me tired
a lot of days. I’ve really enjoyed 6th grade
this year and I’m looking forward to 7th. My
birthday is the 16th so I’m also excited about
turning 12 this year! I’m learning to play the
guitar and I also just learned to ride a ripstik
and that’s been a lot of fun. A ripstick is like
a skateboard only it has single wheels on each
end and is more flexible. The tortoise in the
picture above lives at our school—Sahel Academy.
His name is George and he’ really old.
|
I
really appreciate everyone’s prayers while I
was in the hospital and recovering. This has
been a difficult year but I’m glad to be back
in Africa with my friends. It will be hard to
see several close friends graduate and leave
this year. I’ll be a senior next year! I just
finished taking the SAT, I’m glad that’s over!
The doctor cleared me to swim so I’m looking
forward to swimming in
our last PE unit.
|
|
|
