7/28/2019 Decker Diary June 21 2013
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Deckers Diaryon the Mission Field Dear Friends and Family,
Things have not gone as well as I would have liked since Ive
been back. He leads me beside the still waters (Psalm 23:2b).
Surely God got me on the plane in Uganda lastFebruary. Through
post-blood-clot medical monitoring and a common anticoagulant,
my
blood thinned down to 2.28 clotting factor, an excellent volume
for the flight, according toa medical mentor. And instead of being
cramped in a regular aisle seat, I exchanged withsomeone in a
bulkhead aisle seat, so I had plenty of needed leg room to keep
myself moving and was able to get up several times and exercise my
legs. Since that time,
probably due to diet changes, the medical profession has worked
for weeks to get my blood back to a stable thinness of 2.5 clotting
factor. I am seeing a cardiologist, who has nowencouraged me to try
a new anticoagulant, called Xarelto. Its quite expensive, but I
take itonce a day and it doesnt have to be monitored by blood
tests, so its perfect for when I go
back to Uganda.
Then there is the health of my hip and back, of which I had
dealt with a lot of pain while I was inUganda this last time, which
caused more inactivity
than I was used to, which probably caused the blood clot. I had
gone to the doctor inUganda for an x- ray; the technician looked at
the film and told me the image was commonfor my age. Then he showed
me what he diagnosed as arthritis on the ball of the hip
joint.Stateside, the orthopedic surgeon that did my knee
replacements in 2008, took x-rays of myhips and back and also told
me arthritis is in my back.
I had a relatively enjoyable flight home; however, the winter
that I was trying to escapewhen I left for Uganda last November,
met me at home with at least 18 inches on theground and still
falling. Consequently I didnt go too far that first week and was
able torest well. He restores my soul (Psalm 23:3a).
My desire is to go back to Uganda, but I struggle with the
physical pain of just walkingaround the block. I had wanted to get
back to Abba House before the House of Friendsmission team arriving
on July 10. I know its alwaysgood to have a plan B. On a normal
status, I usu-ally reach plan E or F before I actually get to
thedestination. But right now, I am stuck in plan B.
Prayer mentors remind me, If its Gods will, itsGods bill. This
was the first time in three yearsthat the provision for my flight
did not arrive as
planned. So, He MAKES me lie down in green pastures, (Psalm
23:2a). I first need to be in better health. To help that along, I
am in physical therapythree times a week and I swim at the local
YMCA
just about every morning.I miss the children. I was preparing to
go back
on June 19 th and I am already in a deep-set prepara-tion mode,
getting suitcases lined up, etc. Now Ihope to get there in late
July. The (cont. on back)
June 2013
I am here in the States during one of myfavorite times. It must
come from all theyears that I worked on dairy farms theseason of
planting still tugs at somememories. The farms around here,
inMissouri, have bigger equipment than Ihad ever driven, but it
gives me such athrill to see a tractor with duals (a sec-ond set of
tires) attached to the rear wheels and pulling a 24 row corn
planter.
I did go on a road trip before I really buckled down to better
health. That partof this mission is very important. Anewsletter is
worth the number of words itakes to write it and then only if it
isread. I try to do road trips to put a faceon the newsletters.
Sometimes that faciaconnection is worth a thousand morewords. He
leads me on paths of right-eousness, for His names sake,
(Psalm23:3b) My trip took me on visits in St.Louis, Missouri, West
Virginia, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Ken-tucky. Every time I get to
New Jersey, Itry to get to Rhode Island to visit mymother. However,
I did not get there
before she went Home to be with the Lordon May 7th. I went a few
days later andmet my siblings there. We had someclosure by going
through a lifetime of
photos. As she wished, she was crematedand her ashes were buried
this month inManhattan, Kansas between her twofavorite men, her
husband and her father.
Barb Decker
I will support Barbara Deckers work on the mission field with
House of Friends in the following way.
___ Barbara Decker Mission Support (Monthly) $_________(One Time
Gift) $________
___ Abba House Project ( ) Multi-purpose dining/kitchen
$___________ ( ) Missionary Quarters $_________
___ Mission Trip Expenses to Uganda $_________
___ Please send information on sponsorship of __child
__worker.
All donations are tax deductible. Please write checks payable
to: House of Friends and send to P O Box 228, Alma, MO 64001Thank
you for caring!
Challenges and Desires
Favorite Time & Trips
David, Dorcus and Joanbuilding a fort out of chair cushions.
