Autumn Update 2007

Well, it’s been about two months since we’ve moved here. In many ways, I can’t believe it’s only been two months, because of how smoothly and comfortably we have settled in here. But then again, I can’t believe it’s been that long since we left Melbourne and all our friends and family behind.

We are enjoying the consistent weather here in Adelaide. It’s subtly getting cooler, but still we’re still having very warm days. The weather has been quite hot since we’ve been here, which ordinarily wouldn’t be bearable, but because it’s consistent and drier than Melbourne, it’s been much easier to cope with. I will be looking forward to the cooler months ahead, however! Still haven’t really received much rain. Only a couple of days of very very light drizzle, although just this past Friday, we had a day where it rained quite heavily for most of the day. It was so lovely, and so needed!

Work continues to go well and I am really enjoying the walks there in the morning and home in the afternoon. Vaughn’s studies are also going really well. His favourite subject is Hebrew – he is thriving on it! He also enjoys his other subjects, but Hebrew stands out as his forte. He’s made many new friends with his classmates, especially our next door neighbour. I get along really well with his wife, so it’s not as bad that they spend so much time together!

After a trip to a GP and then to a specialist to confirm it, I found out that I have a perforated ear drum, which requires surgery if I want hearing restored in my right ear. I still have very faint hearing in that ear, but my brain doesn’t use that ear, unless the left ear is covered. I’ve decided to have the surgery and am just awaiting a time with the hospital to have the procedure done. It’s a little bit scary, but I’m glad I’ll be going under general anaesthetic, so won’t be conscious during the operation. Basically, they will be taking a bit of muscle from the very top of my ear and grafting it on to my eardrum. If the skin graft is successful, my body should then repair the eardrum, growing over the hole and my hearing will gradually return, so long as an infection hasn’t occurred in my second half of my ‘middle ear’, while I’ve had the hole.

I also had some moles checked out and they seem ok, but the GP has done a biopsy on one of them just to be sure. I was nervous about the local anaesthetic, as I hate needles, but it was easier than I thought. After the initial needle, I didn’t feel a thing… I thought I’d feel more pressure on my back, but I didn’t, which was a definite answer to prayer because I was very nervous before going back for the biopsy. I’ll get the results of that on Tuesday, so please pray for a clear outcome.

So, apart from these health issues, everything is going well in Adelaide. Vaughn and I are looking forward to a trip back to Melbourne in May. It will be so wonderful to catch up with friends and family. I will be celebrating my 30^th while we are there… I’m not worried about the big 3-0. I’m just excited about the excuse for a party!

Admittedly, I’m a little bit sad at the moment. My best friend, Naomi, is heading overseas with her husband, Michael at the beginning of April, so shortly I will be saying goodbye to her. They are heading to the USA (via the world), to study at the Lutheran Seminary in St Louis, Missouri. It was always going to be hard saying goodbye, but in the last month or so, she announced that she is pregnant, so although happy for her, I’ll be sad not to spend time with her through her pregnancy, not to be able to throw her a baby shower and most importantly, won’t be there in person to celebrate the birth of their baby in September. But that’s okay! I’m grateful that their last couple weeks in Australia have been spent in Adelaide, so I’ve got a number of opportunities to see her before they go.

Prayer Points:

PRAISE: We’ve continued to settled in well to Adelaide life and work

PRAYER: That the results of the biopsy come through clear and that surgery on my ear will go well, without complications and a successful outcome at the end.

Thanks for reading!