Girl Power!!

Yesterday, Roger flew to Chad for a 2 week training course. As is usually the case, something that doesn’t usually go wrong when Roger is here, went wrong today.

We had been invited to the Mission to Seamen where our German friends live. He is a pastor and holds periodic services at the mission in German and French. Today was one of those. We were also invited to stay for lunch afterward and maybe a swim. We were excited and Elena had made cake to bring as well.

As I was backing the car out of the garage, Elena, who was holding the door open, shouted that a tire was flat. I put it in forward and went right back into the building. My initial reaction was to get upset, however, I knew, from previous experience that getting angry wasn’t going to help. I calmly called our friends and told them what was up and that we certainly weren’t going to make it to the church service.

Today happens to be one of the warmest we’ve had lately. Most days have been cloudy and windy which almost makes Lome pleasant! However, today is bright and sunny with NO wind. I was not looking forward to changing—or trying to change—a flat tire. I sat in my room with the a/c on for a bit and then put on my grubbiest clothes and started looking for all the tools. Elena came out and helped. It took a while to find out how to lower the tire from up under the truck (I only vaguely knew it had to be done with some long tool). Once that was done, we tried to figure out the jack. It was wedged in it’s place and I couldn’t get it out, but Elena figured it out and we were ready to change the thing. It was a miracle that we were able to loosen the lugnuts and we finally got the thing changed. Now, we’re clean again (you wouldn’t believe how dirty our garage is, as well as the spare tire—which, by the way, is actually holding air!) and waiting for Julia to call.

So now it’s Girls 1, car 0 in the game we call life in Togo. I only have to find the number of the mechanic so I can have him help me fix the tire—and have him put it back on and return the spare to it’s rightful place under the car.

Thank you Lord, for helping us do this! As I prayed before beginning, “Lord, only you can help me get this tire changed,” and He did, too!

PS I was going to post a photo as well but the internet isn't working well and I can't seem to do it just now. It wasn't all that good anyway since I made it with my phone.

A new Guinnes Book Record?

Is this not the worlds amazing hairstyle?

Take a look:

www.thestollgirlssuperblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-hair.html

We made it!

It’s hard to believe it’s only been just over a week since we got back to Togo. We’ve fallen back into life here pretty easily. It’s one of the only times since we’ve been married that we’ve gone from a place for any length of time, and come back to it. It was really nice to walk into a house we recognized, be able to shop for essentials—like food—without wondering where to go and how to get there, etc. The girls were, for the most part, glad to see their beds and things as well.

Having said all that, we also had a hard time leaving the US. We had a great time there and saying good-bye doesn’t seem to get any easier! However, the pull of knowing we were to see Papa after 2 months, helped.

Our trip was probably the least eventful of any I have ever undertaken. My mother accompanied us as far as JFK. Since we knew it wouldn’t be easy getting thru that airport with all our luggage, we welcomed another “trolley pusher”. As it turned out, we didn’t need any others (but it was still nice to have Grandma along!). I believe God sent another angel. This time in the form of a man who worked there. As we “girls” stood there by the baggage carousel trying to decide how best to fit all the boxes and suitcases onto the fewest number of trolleys—at $5 each, we wanted to use as few as possible—a man came up and asked us where we were headed. We told him and he said, “Follow me, I’ll help you.” We did just that and he did just that as well. It was incredibly easy. He even knew how to conquer the doors on the tram as they tried to shut on him (we had been intimidated by them the last time and didn’t all get onto the tram together. You can refresh your memory on our June 16, 2008 entry, entitled Moving Right Along--can't figure out how to link you there.) From there on it was “easy-peasy”. We even got a hotel room with 2 meals in Casablanca to break up our 16 hr layover. It was great. It really helped with jet-lag as we got a chance to sleep a good deal.

Now we are back and the rains are here. It isn’t as hot as it would normally be—a good thing—and it’s nice to see our friends whom we missed while in the USA.

Thank you to all of you for your prayers for our travels and for all of us as we were separated for 2 months. It was great in the US but we are glad to be together again, as well.

~kathy

Kansas

It's already been nearly 2 months since we arrived in the US. We are having a great time. The girls are thoroughly enjoying school and being with friends and family. I (Kathy) am also enjoying them being in "real" school and with friends and family.

It's been pretty relaxing and just plain fun. It was nearly 90 degrees the other day and, although I was hot, I didn't even break a sweat! What a difference. We've also been to see various doctors, etc. I have been to see a cardioloist and my extra heartbeat seems to be something I just need to learn to live with (something I really already knew, but dared to hope might change).

We miss Papa, though, even if it is nice here. He went back to Togo 3 weeks ago. He was worried that he might starve since he didn't know what to cook, but has lovely friends who are taking care of him and feeding him.

something random but kinda cool

When we first arrived here in the US this time, we spent a few days with my brother and family. It was great to "get out feet under us again" and spend time with family. Mom, Elena and I went to Hutchinson one morning. On our way out of town, we passed Central Christian College (one of the 2 colleges in McPherson, KS where Rob and fam. live). I have either never passed there before, or just never noticed the name of one of the dorms.



Cool, huh?

God loves to be trusted

Now we’ve both been to the specialist and got some kind of treatment. But (his) story and (her) story are not over, yet.

On Tuesday the 6th I (Roger) received the treatment for my right eye. Considering our lowly estate, the doctor somehow managed to get me the medicine for free (we are talking about the price of a flat screen TV). Now that is amazing! However, I have not yet seen any improvements in my sight. I’m not sure how quickly I’m supposed to. I’ll find out when I’ll do a follow-up visit next week.
Using the laser to activate the dye that had been injected into my veins only took 83 seconds. But for 3 more days (a total of 5), I have to dress up like a Christmas tree when I go outside, because I am photosensitive. If I wouldn’t, I could get 3rd-degree burns, just from being in the sunlight. I was shocked yesterday, when at least a dozen children surrounded me in the school playground and chanted: “You’re a girl! You’re a girl!”. I must admit I do look rather “gorgeous” in that straw hat, big sunglasses, gloves and pink scarf.

To see the heart specialist, Kathy, had to go to Wichita, too. Her appointment was on Thursday the 8th. So, she and her mom did the 350-mile round trip yesterday. For several months now Kathy has been feeling an extra heartbeat, which often takes her breath away or keeps her from sleeping. She’s been worried about it, but was able to control it with Beta-blockers. Surprisingly, all that the doctor prescribed was a higher dosage of the medicine she’s already taking. If there aren’t any changes in a few weeks she’ll have to come back for more examinations and tests.

So, nothing has really changed. Kathy is still broken-hearted, I’m still half blind and God still has everything under control.

"Now I see", said the blind man

I'm just back from the retina specialist in Wichita, Kansas. He put a name to my problem: Central Serous Retinopathy. In plain English: a fluid blister on the back of the right eye. He thinks that it could go away by itself in 3-6 months.
However, since there is no eye specialist in Togo, who could treat it, he wants to see me again in 2 weeks. If it hasn't diminished by then, he wants to do laser treatment. Can you pray with me that the blister goes away so that I don't have to have treatment, and save more than $1000. Merci!