Tamara's dad had a terrible wreck

November 7, 2011 our lives took a very shocking detour for two weeks, and even longer for Troy, Tamara's dad.  Just the night before we got a call that Doug's father was in the hospital expecting surgery and had been in the ER 4 times that week.  Tamara's father had run his big Isuzu carpet cleaning truck into a billboard pole at a high rate of speed after blacking out while driving back from a job in NW Arkansas.
Troy spent 8 days in critical condition in the ICU unit in St. John's Hospital in Springfield, MO.  He then spent the next 5 days in a normal hospital room, and Friday the 18th, late in the day he was transferred to Health South Rehab Hospital in Fayetteville, AR.  He broke two bones in his right leg, badly sprained his left knee, broke his pelvis, many ribs, his sternum, his mandible, lost all his lower teeth except the back two on each side, has some nasty lacerations on his chin, and multiple abrasions.  He bruised his lungs, had a collapsed lung, chest tube, was on the respirator 7 days and many other things.  So our lives and preparing to for our mission trip were in a bit of turmoil.  Tamara stayed with him in Springfield and also went down with him to Fayetteville, and just returned home yesterday night.  It was a long 13 days, but God has answered prayer after prayer after prayer!  Troy's recovery has been miraculous.  His survival has been miraculous.  He is still in a lot of pain, but he is healing quickly.  They had him in a wheelchair and doing arm strengthening exercises before Tamara left him in Fayetteville.

It was incredibly hard for Tamara to say good-bye to her father after spending so much time being there for him.  She does not regret one second of taking the time to be there and support him and the family.  It has been a faith building experience for many.  Looking back, we have SO MUCH to thank God for!

We expect our Visas to come in soon.  We have much to do yet and appreciate everyone's prayers.

Still packing, weighing and inventorying.  Looking for a shipper and container.

I did update the blog with a donation page.

One pastor told me that I need to let people know that the $10 a month club is as important as the $100 a month club.  So there is my announcement!

Thank you everyone for your support and prayers.

On another note, Tamara's Mom's animals (chickens, turkeys, dogs and cats) are glad to have Tamara home to love on them again.  One of the young chickens actually flew up into her lap to be petted and fed today.