Migraine Update & Honduras Pics

Please forgive the delay in sending out this update. Life has been full! I (Sharon) want to start out with our most exciting news…That there has been a positive, objective change in my brain waves as a result of the ‘direct brain stimulation’ therapy! After completing about half of the recommended treatments, the psychologist did a ‘rescanning” of my brain waves to determine if the treatment was having an effect. Unfortunately, treatment up to that point had not gone particularly smoothly, nor have I been able to tolerate an increase in the strength of the therapy. I was also NOT having most of the positive, subjective changes that indicate successful treatment. Neither I nor the Doctor were feeling very hopeful, and I had a very anxious weekend, awaiting the results of the rescan. So, when I saw the great difference in the “before” and “after” images I burst into tears of joy!  After years of trying different treatments with little or no effect, I cannot tell you what a relief it was to actually SEE a significant change from the therapy! Praise God! I am currently doing therapy twice per week with approximately 3-5 weeks of therapy remaining.

The next most exciting news…After 70 days of separation (my romantic husband counted:), Chris and I reunited for one week together in Honduras! Absence really does make the heart grow fonder! I flew down to Honduras during Chris’s Easter Break. Friends from church volunteered to drop me off and pick me up at the Miami airport (not a short trip). Another friend very generously let us stay in their second home for the week where we had our very own romantic villa to just BE together. And generous support from still more friends made this trip financially possible. And it was wonderful! The only downside being that I miss Chris even more than before. But soon enough, I will be returning to Honduras (and Chris) to stay!

In other migraine news, I have decided that the monthly injection of Ajovy, the new and expensive migraine medication I am trying, is helping. The same people who very generously enabled me to try the medication are now aiding me in getting the drug at reduced cost from the manufacturer…Please pray for that. And as far as the migraine diet, it is going relatively smoothly now. As I mentioned before, my sister Kim continues to be an incredible help and encouragement to me in this endeavor. I am in it for the long haul (minimum 8-9 months) and my determination has not faded.

Over the last couple months, I have been keeping remarkably busy during my stay here. No big surprise to most, I am sure! I have been focusing on spending time with friends and family and building relationships, as I know getting to BE with loved ones will be infrequent once Chris and I are living in Honduras full time. I also have 25+ projects that I am trying to get done on the side ;)! My sisters and I threw an 80th surprise birthday party for my Dad, which went amazingly well. My sister, Tara, and her family came from Oregon and spent a week here with us. It has been particularly special to be living with my sister Kim and her family, a rare opportunity for most adults. I’ve also had regular get-togethers with both old and new friends. Life is full and beautiful!

Chris here. I wanted to give you a short update on the work I have been doing in Honduras these past months. After the mad scramble of the first six weeks, things have settled down into a sustainable routine. Both teachers and students have adjusted back to the schedule of academic life (there were basically no classes last year). I feel like the biggest challenge has been addressing the large gaps in knowledge. It has been especially difficult with math since it is a subject that builds on prior learning. It has been necessary to go back and teach material well below current grade level. The kids have taken the revised curriculum well and obviously enjoy being successful no matter what grade level they should have learned it in. Overall, I have been pleased with the student’s desire and drive in an exceedingly difficult situation. I have had to curb my own drive after the first month when I realized working from 5am to 9pm every day cannot be sustained long term. Since then, I am working less hours a day, but accomplishing more in them. I will share more details in the next update.

<back to Sharon> Chris and I want to end our letter by acknowledging the generous provision God has provided through friends, family, and people we have just met. As mentioned before, despite God’s faithful financial provision in the past, it was scary to take the step of faith and ask others for financial support. However about five weeks ago, I began to have an overwhelming sense of being rich in relationships! And oh, are we ever! Chris and I are so incredibly blessed to have so many that love us dearly! “Not only do you all love us in words and speech, but also with actions too!” (My own personal paraphrase of 1 John 3:18:) Are there any riches greater than this?! God’s faithfulness through all of you is a blessing beyond words. We are so very thankful!

We are incredibly thankful for:

• My migraine therapy working!
• The chance Chris and I had to be together and strengthen our marriage after a long separation!
• Sharon’s opportunity to spend so much time with family and friends!
• The student’s willingness to get back to work after so long a break.

Please pray for:

• Continued progress during my last weeks of therapy and healing for my migraines.
• Wisdom for Chris as principal and patience as a teacher.
• That things would go smoothly as we pursue long term Honduran visas.
• Approval from the Ajovy drug company for financial assistance.

Chris and Sharon

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8