There are so many stories from the week of screening, but I'm only going to highlight one here. Last year our team cared for a young boy during mending week who had multiple complications during and following his heart operation. In the operating room there was concern that he had gone several minutes with very low blood pressure when his heart went into an abnormal rhythm, and then he required electrical pacing to maintain a normal heart rate after the operation because of the extent of his heart defect. Last year he was the kiddo that kept us up all night praying, and the following morning, his heart was functioning well enough to be able to stop using the electrical pacer. He remained in the ICU several days, and then in the hospital for weeks as he recovered.
We all told him last year that God had a purpose for his life because he had received so many miracles. This year his mom brought him to one of our screenings. I was so surprised when I saw him waiting in line, and he looked so good! We got to talk to them for quite a while and catch up on how he has been doing. Following his discharge from the hospital last year, he remained very weak because his heart rate was still extremely low and he would need a pacemaker. A few months ago, Dr. Bush and Dr. Kirk made a trip to Mongolia for some kids who needed permanent pacemakers placed, and our little guy was one of them. Having a pacemaker totally turned Eggie's life upside down, in a good way :). His mom actually brought him in because she was concerned he was playing too much soccer! He wants to be a doctor when he grows up. As we were talking we found out that both he and his mom had accepted Christ some time in the last few months. At some point during our conversation, mom stepped out and then returned with the dad. She wanted Sara to tell him about Jesus. Sara talked with the father for several minutes and then we all got to pray with him as he chose to accept Christ. I don't know how to put into words the joy that I felt that day getting to see him and his family and know that they are all doing so well.
Here are some more pics from screening week.
I felt so privileged to be a part of this final searching trip with the team. We had so many memorable adventures out under the blue sky of Mongolia. The Russian vans and mini buses we travel in never disappoint in giving us stories to tell.
We took small planes from Ulan Bataar out to Altai where we started our journey in the vans and buses to Ulistai. That first trip took about 8 hours and included 3 breakdowns. During one of those breakdowns, our Mongolian drivers actually disassembled the front end of one of the vans when the stabilizer bar broke. We thought the van would be retired, but the drivers produced a replacement stabilizer bar out of thin air,reassembled the front end, and off we went. Once night fell, our group was close to the ger camp we were supposed to stay in, but the drivers couldn't find their way. There are not exactly street signs in the desert, so once you lose daylight it can be difficult. This place was extremely remote, up and over boulders and rivers, and into the mountains. There are so many stories from breakdowns, to hiking adventures, to claustrophobic vans, to finding our way over boulders in the dark (and narrowly avoiding cliffs because we couldn't see where they were). Ahhhh, the memories! Wouldn't trade them for the world.
If you want to see more scenery pictures and camels and hiking, click here.
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