Real Life Sets In

   Well, we have officially hit the month mark here in Jamaica.  A lot has gone on, and I feel like I have barely had time to breathe.  A fabulous team from Ohio left after doing a BUNCH of pterygium surgery and helping me and my Jamaican team prepare to continue to operate.  Last week, we had our first official Jamaican team OR day - no scrub nurses or techs from the US - which was a first for the surgery center!  I was so proud of our team.  We did 9 pterygium cases and another wonderful oculoplastics specialist who dropped by the center joined in and helped with surgery and clinic patients.  We are looking forward to Dr. Wester coming back in a few months for more eyelid and orbit cases.  So now, the OR is officially up and running with weekly cases.  Another team comes in at the end of this week for cataract surgery.  Meanwhile, every day in clinic I am seeing patient after patient with blinding eye disease from either cataracts, glaucoma, or diabetes.   It can certainly be disheartening, but I am looking forward to treating so many blinding cataracts in the months to come. 


   Meanwhile, Jeromee has been staying occupied fixing things around the clinics and the house and keeping the girls entertained.  They start school next week and are super excited to make new friends.  We had the pleasure of spending Easter with two other American families doing mission work in Jamaica, each of whom has six kids!  It was certainly nice for the girls to have some playmates.

   With all that has been going on, it has been difficult to spend time in solitude and prayer.  Sometimes, I think we get the idea that when we are on the mission field, we are somehow going to be "extra blessed" and feel God's presence more acutely.  I can tell you, this has not been the case as of yet.  Real life is here, just like back in the states.   The kids still fight, I still get frustrated, dinner still has to be made, the house has to be cleaned...  I don't get a pass because I am out of my comfort zone.  If anything, that just makes it a bit harder.  So now that we are settling in, I am trying to settle into the Word as well and learn what it really means to be living in His kingdom now and experience fullness of life today.  Please be praying that I would be living in Him daily so that when I have the opportunity to share about Jesus, I can share how He is active in my life moment to moment.
  Also, if you would like to contact us, our American numbers are no longer in service (Jeromee will keep his number for when we are back in the states).  It seems the very best way to get a hold of us is Facebook Messenger or by email.  If you would like to be a prayer partner, please let me know as I will be starting an email list in case any urgent prayer needs come up.
   As we are heading back to life after celebrating Jesus' resurrection, I hope that we will all be joyful in the knowledge that Jesus is alive today and everyday.
Eileen



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