Hi Everyone,
Sorry this update has taken so long. It’s been a crazy few days. My dad is doing so,so. After talking to the doctors on Tuesday, things went as well as they could. The initial surgery, the removal of the colon went well. Unfortunately, they had to remove about half of my dad’s pancreas to remove the mass growing on it. The doctor said this mass was the cause of his diabetes and we won’t know until next week if the mass in cancerous or not. We pray it is benign and that with only half a pancreas his diabetes won’t get worse. They also removed a benign mass from a lymph node while they were in there and they also had to remove his spleen that got nicked by the knife during the procedure. So, needless to say, a lot of unexpected work had to be done which is taking a toll on my dad. Unfortunately the pain for the first couple days was excruciating. They had placed my dad’s epidural to high on his spine so the medication wasn’t hitting the surgical area. Luckily yesterday was better pain wise and they were hoping to try a new pain drug today and take him off the epidural. Unfortunately, my dad’s spirits have been pretty low; something I have never seen much in my dad. Usually, he plan’s everything out and research’s everything related to medical issues he encounters. Unfortunately, we only found out about the mass on his pancreas and the extensive surgery the day before we went in. He really didn’t have time to process the whole thing and it has taken a lot longer and has been a lot more painful than he anticipated. He has been in bed for four straight days and he just looks very depressed and frustrated. So, that is my prayer request; that God will fill him with his spirit and give him strength and energy as he continues to fight. We also pray that the mass on his pancreas was benign.
Thanks again everyone. I have said it before, but you don’t know what it means to know all of you are with us.
Be blessed,
Love Dan
Friday, June 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
God is doing amazing things here; we just have to be willing to be a part of it
Hello friends,
Last week had been a week that flew by and yet a week that was full of events you can't imagine. There are times when I will find my self thinking; well, there aren't to many more off the wall experiences for me to go through in this little part of rural South Africa. Then, a week like last week comes along and shows me how naive I really am.
After receiving some sobering news on Monday morning, I headed off to K2, one of our care center's to see some of my students. After heading back to the car, I noticed one of our youth girls walking up with a friend. She was in obvious pain and was walking very slowly. I went up to here and put my arm around her as she started to weep. I tried to rush through my mind what should be done. I drove her to the clinic and had a female friend, Jayme, meet me there to help with the situation. After some initial testing, the clinic said we should take her to the hospital. Now, I have been to clinics in different parts of South Africa and they are nothing to write home about. However, when we entered the emergency room at the government hospital in Nelspruit, the conditions where just crazy. People everywhere siting in chairs and lying on gurneys. Some of the people sitting in chairs had IV's in their arms with the bag of fluids balanced on their heads! After some time, a large number of people involved in a traffic accident arrived. I saw an ambulance chasing lawyer coming to see the people just as often as the doctors.
After some initial testing on the young girl, we waited for four hours with no results. As we waited I received a text message from a friend who said his wife saw me in the hospital. He was upstairs in ward ten and had been there all night. He had very serious kidney stones and was lying in a small bed with paint peeling off the walls and small bugs running along his face at night. After we visited him, I went down and waited for news on our youth in emergency. We had been told she had been admitted, however there was no bed available for her. She was told she would have to spend the night in the E.R. on a bed with no blanket or food. I had to drive to a friends house to get a blanket for her. After some time of talking to the doctor with Lynn and Jayme, they released her and was sent home with us. She was still very sick after two days and we took her back to the clinic. diagnosis; Pregnant; grade 11, 18 years old. Needs HIV test.
Later in the week I was driving with a couple of my students; girls. They were talking is Swati which i know bit's and pieces of. Through out their conversation I heard the name of another girl that I work with and the word "pregnant." Grade 10, 16 years old. Needs HIV test.
Another one of our youth, who is HIV positive was also found to be pregnant this week. 16 years old.
Three girls in one week found to be pregnant. All three I know, two of these girls I know fairly well, and work very closely with one of them. It was a very tough week.
On Friday, at Masoyi meeting, I asked for prayers for the young girls in Masoyi and broke down. I would ask that you continue to pray for the young girls in Masoyi and the women on this continent.
As we drove back from the meeting, I noticed an old women and man walking down the road. The man could barely stand and the women with him was struggling to keep him up. It was pension day in the community and it is required that this man be physically present to pick up his check. He lives a very long distance from the pension office. We stopped and drove them home. As we were driving, a women I work with asked them some questions about their situation. The women explained that they were brother and sister and that she was helping her brother (who has some mental disabilities) get his check. The women explained that she was in her 50's and HIV positive. She was very disciplined with her treatment and looked healthy. She explained she was taking care of four of her grandchildren; all orphans two of which where young mothers, and one we saw was noticeably pregnant. After the week I had, I would usually have become so much more worn down and angry at the situation. However, God was so present in this situation. He filled my heart with joy and showed my that he had put this man and women on the side of the road for our paths to cross. We can now register this family with Masoyi Home Based Care. We can start to have volunteers care for these orphans and our young mothers coordinator has said she will do an assessment of the young mothers! It was the good Samaritan right in front of me. We had the choice to pass or to stop and God showed us how if we are willing to take time, he can provide so much more opportunity.
That night I spent the night in the community with one of my Students, Mxolisi. We had great talks about his life; when his mother passed away, when his uncle was beaten and robbed, and how he had just met his 16 year old half sister a month ago. I met his amazing grandmother, full sister, Aunt, and cousins who he lives with. They were so gracious and so welcoming. You could get a sense of their loneliness as they were so grateful to have a guest enter their home. We broke boundaries that night as his grandmother said (through translation from Mxolisi) "thank you for not showing racism. I can see that you really love people." God is doing amazing things here; We just have to be willing to be a part of it.
I truly take for granted all of the experiences that happen in my life every week here. Although this week was filled with more events then usual, God continues to show up; I just need to open my eyes and ears to see it and hear it.
Last week had been a week that flew by and yet a week that was full of events you can't imagine. There are times when I will find my self thinking; well, there aren't to many more off the wall experiences for me to go through in this little part of rural South Africa. Then, a week like last week comes along and shows me how naive I really am.
After receiving some sobering news on Monday morning, I headed off to K2, one of our care center's to see some of my students. After heading back to the car, I noticed one of our youth girls walking up with a friend. She was in obvious pain and was walking very slowly. I went up to here and put my arm around her as she started to weep. I tried to rush through my mind what should be done. I drove her to the clinic and had a female friend, Jayme, meet me there to help with the situation. After some initial testing, the clinic said we should take her to the hospital. Now, I have been to clinics in different parts of South Africa and they are nothing to write home about. However, when we entered the emergency room at the government hospital in Nelspruit, the conditions where just crazy. People everywhere siting in chairs and lying on gurneys. Some of the people sitting in chairs had IV's in their arms with the bag of fluids balanced on their heads! After some time, a large number of people involved in a traffic accident arrived. I saw an ambulance chasing lawyer coming to see the people just as often as the doctors.
After some initial testing on the young girl, we waited for four hours with no results. As we waited I received a text message from a friend who said his wife saw me in the hospital. He was upstairs in ward ten and had been there all night. He had very serious kidney stones and was lying in a small bed with paint peeling off the walls and small bugs running along his face at night. After we visited him, I went down and waited for news on our youth in emergency. We had been told she had been admitted, however there was no bed available for her. She was told she would have to spend the night in the E.R. on a bed with no blanket or food. I had to drive to a friends house to get a blanket for her. After some time of talking to the doctor with Lynn and Jayme, they released her and was sent home with us. She was still very sick after two days and we took her back to the clinic. diagnosis; Pregnant; grade 11, 18 years old. Needs HIV test.
Later in the week I was driving with a couple of my students; girls. They were talking is Swati which i know bit's and pieces of. Through out their conversation I heard the name of another girl that I work with and the word "pregnant." Grade 10, 16 years old. Needs HIV test.
Another one of our youth, who is HIV positive was also found to be pregnant this week. 16 years old.
Three girls in one week found to be pregnant. All three I know, two of these girls I know fairly well, and work very closely with one of them. It was a very tough week.
On Friday, at Masoyi meeting, I asked for prayers for the young girls in Masoyi and broke down. I would ask that you continue to pray for the young girls in Masoyi and the women on this continent.
As we drove back from the meeting, I noticed an old women and man walking down the road. The man could barely stand and the women with him was struggling to keep him up. It was pension day in the community and it is required that this man be physically present to pick up his check. He lives a very long distance from the pension office. We stopped and drove them home. As we were driving, a women I work with asked them some questions about their situation. The women explained that they were brother and sister and that she was helping her brother (who has some mental disabilities) get his check. The women explained that she was in her 50's and HIV positive. She was very disciplined with her treatment and looked healthy. She explained she was taking care of four of her grandchildren; all orphans two of which where young mothers, and one we saw was noticeably pregnant. After the week I had, I would usually have become so much more worn down and angry at the situation. However, God was so present in this situation. He filled my heart with joy and showed my that he had put this man and women on the side of the road for our paths to cross. We can now register this family with Masoyi Home Based Care. We can start to have volunteers care for these orphans and our young mothers coordinator has said she will do an assessment of the young mothers! It was the good Samaritan right in front of me. We had the choice to pass or to stop and God showed us how if we are willing to take time, he can provide so much more opportunity.
That night I spent the night in the community with one of my Students, Mxolisi. We had great talks about his life; when his mother passed away, when his uncle was beaten and robbed, and how he had just met his 16 year old half sister a month ago. I met his amazing grandmother, full sister, Aunt, and cousins who he lives with. They were so gracious and so welcoming. You could get a sense of their loneliness as they were so grateful to have a guest enter their home. We broke boundaries that night as his grandmother said (through translation from Mxolisi) "thank you for not showing racism. I can see that you really love people." God is doing amazing things here; We just have to be willing to be a part of it.
I truly take for granted all of the experiences that happen in my life every week here. Although this week was filled with more events then usual, God continues to show up; I just need to open my eyes and ears to see it and hear it.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
June 25th
Well hello everyone,
I hope you are all keeping well. I don't know if anyone is reading this anymore after me lengthy intervals between posts. Just in case it has been a while for you, I am still in South Africa. However I now know when I will be returning home; June 25 I will land on Canadian soil. It is a mixture of emotions to say the least. I am nervous to come home and nervous to leave Africa behind. However, I am bound and determined to make future plans about my life based on what is right for me. I do not want Canada to sway me in one direction and Africa to sway me in another. I need to start making decisions based on what is right for me. In no way am I saying that my time in Africa was not the right decision. On the contrary, it was the best decision and it will be the year that will look back on the most I am sure. I know that Africa will always be apart of my future. In what way, for how long, and when I will return is still to be decided.
On another note I have meet with visitors over the past two months which I have yet to write about. During the first two weeks in March, I had the unbelievable blessing of having my parents enter into my African life. It was an awesome time. I have tried to express to them (and have failed miserably) how much it meant to me to have them here. As you all know my parent are freaking amazing and I love them very much. We had an amazing time traveling through the community meeting my friends and family in Masoyi. I think they really enjoyed their time. We then spent three night in the Kruger National Park and we were very blessed to see all of the Big 5 except for a leopard. We then travelled to Mozambique for an amazing time on the Beach's of Bazaruto island. We had a great time and had talks that I will take with me for the rest of my life.
The pictures of our time together is on the left hand side of my blog.
After my time with my parents (which flew by!) I headed up to Zambia. I had an amazing time with the team from my church which included many friends. I want to thank that team once again from allowing me to be a part of your time up there. How is your ipOd working Chels? I had great laughs with Chels, Stan, Dauna, Rich, Jeremy, Jayne, and many more. After three days with them, I travelled down to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia and spent 10 days with my amazing Uncle Dave. He works for Athletes in Action and they had a team in Zambia to train South East African employees who are interested in being apart of AIA. We had a great time and they gave me the opportunity to share with the guys on a program that we run here with Hands. We had a great time with the guys, going to the markets, and watching a wild soccer game! Memories I will hold onto for the rest of my life! I love ya Uncle Dave.
So, that was March and April (although a lot more has happened within work and I promise to update again soon for those of you who are still with me).
I love you all and thank you for your continued support!!!
P.S. I, along with my friends Marc and Jed built a hockey net out of pcp pipe and a mosiquito net. I think Don Cherry would be proud. You can see the pictures of us at www.heubner.blogspot.com
I hope you are all keeping well. I don't know if anyone is reading this anymore after me lengthy intervals between posts. Just in case it has been a while for you, I am still in South Africa. However I now know when I will be returning home; June 25 I will land on Canadian soil. It is a mixture of emotions to say the least. I am nervous to come home and nervous to leave Africa behind. However, I am bound and determined to make future plans about my life based on what is right for me. I do not want Canada to sway me in one direction and Africa to sway me in another. I need to start making decisions based on what is right for me. In no way am I saying that my time in Africa was not the right decision. On the contrary, it was the best decision and it will be the year that will look back on the most I am sure. I know that Africa will always be apart of my future. In what way, for how long, and when I will return is still to be decided.
On another note I have meet with visitors over the past two months which I have yet to write about. During the first two weeks in March, I had the unbelievable blessing of having my parents enter into my African life. It was an awesome time. I have tried to express to them (and have failed miserably) how much it meant to me to have them here. As you all know my parent are freaking amazing and I love them very much. We had an amazing time traveling through the community meeting my friends and family in Masoyi. I think they really enjoyed their time. We then spent three night in the Kruger National Park and we were very blessed to see all of the Big 5 except for a leopard. We then travelled to Mozambique for an amazing time on the Beach's of Bazaruto island. We had a great time and had talks that I will take with me for the rest of my life.
The pictures of our time together is on the left hand side of my blog.
After my time with my parents (which flew by!) I headed up to Zambia. I had an amazing time with the team from my church which included many friends. I want to thank that team once again from allowing me to be a part of your time up there. How is your ipOd working Chels? I had great laughs with Chels, Stan, Dauna, Rich, Jeremy, Jayne, and many more. After three days with them, I travelled down to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia and spent 10 days with my amazing Uncle Dave. He works for Athletes in Action and they had a team in Zambia to train South East African employees who are interested in being apart of AIA. We had a great time and they gave me the opportunity to share with the guys on a program that we run here with Hands. We had a great time with the guys, going to the markets, and watching a wild soccer game! Memories I will hold onto for the rest of my life! I love ya Uncle Dave.
So, that was March and April (although a lot more has happened within work and I promise to update again soon for those of you who are still with me).
I love you all and thank you for your continued support!!!
P.S. I, along with my friends Marc and Jed built a hockey net out of pcp pipe and a mosiquito net. I think Don Cherry would be proud. You can see the pictures of us at www.heubner.blogspot.com
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Quick Note from Zambia
Hi Everyone,
Sorry my posts are lacking but haven't felt very inspired lately. I had a great time with my parents a few weeks back and I am now in Zambia. I had a great time seeing the WKC team for a couple days. I had a blast with them. I am now in Lusaka with my Uncle Dave and a Athletes in Action team. It has been a good time to get into another African country. I might head back to Ndola for a few days and hang out with Levy who runs the youth project in Masoyi. He is Zambian and might be coming here for a few days.
Just thought I would check-in on my birthday!
Hope you are all well,
Dan
Sorry my posts are lacking but haven't felt very inspired lately. I had a great time with my parents a few weeks back and I am now in Zambia. I had a great time seeing the WKC team for a couple days. I had a blast with them. I am now in Lusaka with my Uncle Dave and a Athletes in Action team. It has been a good time to get into another African country. I might head back to Ndola for a few days and hang out with Levy who runs the youth project in Masoyi. He is Zambian and might be coming here for a few days.
Just thought I would check-in on my birthday!
Hope you are all well,
Dan
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