Dorj (for short) is a very special little boy approved for life saving open heart surgery in the US. But he has been fighting for his life in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the pediatric hospital here in Ulaanbaatar. He has been hospitalized since late October and has had a breathing tube in twice, the first time for a month, and now approaching 3 weeks. He is very sick, has lost weight, and is struggling to overcome pneumonia and other infections. He needs our prayers. We feel confident God will work a miracle for him, but please bring this request before the throne of the Great Physician. He has one older brother and parents who love him dearly. We have been visiting twice a week to check on him and encourage his mother. She can only see him for 10 minutes every three hours and her heart is breaking in this situation where she can do little. But through this, we have taught her that she can pray for God's intervention and encourage little Dorj during the time she gets at his bedside. When we see him, we pray over him and he seems to look at us which is so encouraging, but so hard as we see a child who is fighting so hard. He needs the large hole in his heart fixed. When he get's better, he has a spot at a very good hospital in the US, so we look forward to the day when he is well enough to go and can get him on the plane with his mother to the US for urgently needed surgery. Thanks for your prayers for Dorj.
Life this January has been pleasant compared to last January. The temperatures in January 2012 never got above -8 F for almost an entire month. This January the highs have been 0-9 F, with the lows in the -20's, which is tolerable. That might seem odd to those of you who live in the US, but to those of us who live here in Mongolia, that feels tolerable. I do not even where a hat, just the hood of my coat. I have a long down jacket that I call my zip up sleeping bag. I have enjoyed having many guests over for dinner this past month, keeping me always cooking. I host small group on Thursdays and I enjoy that time with many dear sisters. So this January has gone very quickly.
I am headed to the States Wednesday. I will be in St. Louis for a couple days to take care of a few things and for a BLS class, then fly to Disney with the family. My parents have generously given myself and my brothers and their families a trip to Disney. I have four nephews who will be so fun to experience Disney with. We have three days planned at Disney parks, one day at Universal, and one relaxing day. I am really looking forward to this. Following Disney I will head up to Charleston for a few days with my parents and then fly onto Uganda. In Uganda I will shadow a visiting team doing pediatric open heart surgeries in Kampala and then work with the CHP office there for a week. This is a great opportunity to learn and then work with a new Ugandan CHP coordinator. Work is slower in Mongolia, so this is a good time to be away.
Thanks for your prayers and support of my work. I am praying for God's clear direction on my path and future.
Blessings,
Emily
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