8 July
Dear
everyone:
We weren’t
expecting to be here this long in the States, but it looks
like we may be here at least through August. Unfortunately
our visa process that was to have begun in early April
didn’t begin until early June. Please pray that our visa
will be completed quickly. Meanwhile we’ll wait for God’s
perfect timing, and see what we can accomplish while we’re
still here in the US.
A Dutch
doctor has her tickets to come out in August 2008.
Unfortunately, we cannot get a work visa for her because the
work plan for our medical ministry does not list her. Kim is
working on this situation. Please, again, pray that we will
find a way for Dr. Wijnanda to come to Papua.
We had to
move out of the place we were staying at the end of June.
But God is great. Another family from a large church in
Fresno had not been able to sell their house in 1-1/2
years. They decided to let missionaries use it instead and
we are the first family. There is a minimal rent and it is
partially furnished but we are excited as it is a 3 bedroom
house with AC (it’s been up more than 100 degrees F here in
Fresno) in an area just south of the airport in a
neighborhood setting. Claire no longer sleeps in the
kitchen! Although there is less furniture here (no dressers
or storage areas), we have space, a TV, and hopefully soon,
faster internet access than the dial-up we had out in the
country. We are sorry to leave the vineyards and quietness
of the countryside.
Our first
night here at the new place on Floradora Drive, we listened
to Hispanic music played loudly until midnight. We felt
like we were back in Wamena! Our next door neighbors have
3 dogs (one a pit bull) that jumps up as high as the fence –
so we don’t dare let Claire play in the back yard. But she
has sidewalks to bicycle around on. Pray that she’ll make
some friends with the neighbor kids. She’s feeling a little
lonely.
We’re
still trying to do a little school with Claire (math and
science) amidst our commuting schedule. Kim is still
working with RN Ben on medical consults and admin things at
the clinic while I (Grace) am trying to handle mission field
finances from a distance – thanks to internet technology!
With the
delay in returning, Claire has been able to enjoy the summer
activities other American kids usually get – Vacation Bible
School with about 400 kids, art classes, and she will be
taking a 4 session ceramic class as well as swimming lessons
later this month.
Some of
you have been generous in love gifts of kind or cash and
we’d like to
thank
you again for that! (Although we are in the
States, our salary still reflects what we are paid while in
Indonesia).
Because of
our delay, Ben and the clinic staff will have additional
work burdens. The clinic is still operating at a reduced
load, and many people are being helped in many ways. Please
pray for our Papuan staff, as they are a bit demoralized
because of the absence of a doctor at the clinic, and
sometimes are being questioned about the legitimacy of the
facility by local government officials. Of course this is
ironic, since the majority of the government clinics in the
interior function without physicians, and often without even
a nurse.
Don’t
forget, we are still actively seeking people to serve on our
team! We desperately need a hospital administrator,
doctors, and nurses to join us if we are to expand our
ministry to the needy in Papua.
Thank you
all for your prayers and support.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Kim and Grace have separate email addresses:
To contact Kim, write to
kim@duggers.org
To contact Grace, write to
grace@duggers.org
To contact
both
of us, please send the same email to both the addresses.
Our new
contact information in the US for now until we leave is:
5068 E.
Floradora Drive
Fresno, CA
93727
Tel:
559/453-2969
Cell:
559/455-3379
Check out
our website:
www.duggers.org/calvary