I cannot believe how the months have flown by since I last wrote a blog post. Our life has completely changed in just a matter of a few months. We have waited for a full year for Nathan to begin working in his eye clinic, obtain a medical license, and almost a year to be granted guardianship of a sweet peruvian baby. And in just the last few weeks, all of those things have happened.
So, I will back up just a bit. In April, Nathan left to go to Texas to teach at his old residency program. He enjoyed seeing many friends and eating yummy food from the US. My good friend Kim was able to come and stay with me while he was away, which was a great encouragement and unbelievable help to have her here in Cusco with me. While Nathan was away all of his ophthalmology equipment cleared the customs process and was put on a very large truck and brought to Cusco. With the help of many from the missions community as well as a crane, we were able to unload all of the equipment into Nathan's finished eye clinic to await his return. Upon returning from the States, he began organizing all of the equipment and training his peruvian nursing staff. Two weeks ago they began seeing patients for the first time in the clinic. It has been very exciting.
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| Truck arrives from the coast |
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| Nathan's wonderful ophthalmology nurse Gladis. She rode all night with the shipment in the truck |
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| Unpacking |
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| First piece of equipment to enter the clinic |
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We had to hire a crane to get the heavy pieces off the truck
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| Equipment packed in crates |
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| Finally all in the clinic |
A few weeks ago, we had a large group of healthcare providers in Cusco doing medical campaigns. This has been a great opportunity for Nathan to see patients, as he was in a town called Quillabamba, which is in the high jungle in Northern Peru. There is no ophthalmologist there, so he was very busy.
It is also amazing to report that after one full year, Nathan finally has a stamp on his medical school diploma that recognizes it in Peru as well as gives him a medical license. It is hard to believe that he waited a full year for a stamp, but we are just thankful that he has it. He will need to now get his speciality license in ophthalmology, but this is a bit of an easier process now that he already has a license.
Probably the biggest and most exciting news in our life is that, Luke or "Lucas" our sweet peruvian son finally came home to live with us on June 4, our wedding anniversary. He is a JOY and it is so fun to be his parents. We are adjusting well, although life looks very different now with a ten month old around the house. I am staying home more so that Luke will hopefully only know one mom, instead of the 10 that were taking care of him at the orphanage. My day now includes washing cloth diapers, making baby food, and keeping up with a ten month old sleeping/playing schedule. Oh, how the Lord surprises us sometimes with where He calls us to be. We could not be happier or more blessed though.
We continue to be amazed at the Lord's provisions and blessings despite a really long, and at times very hard first year in Cusco. As I have said before, we can only give Him the glory for making us stronger and more dependent on Him and on one another through these hard times of waiting. I will say that the waiting does not seem like it was nearly as long when we look at sweet Luke's face or look around Nathan's fully functioning clinic, but we thank God for His purpose and timing in it all.
