Saturday Post -- 07/05/11

Here are some pictures of Amanda doing what she does best in Audiology. In the first, she's checking the patient's timpanic membrane. In the second, she's carrying out an audiometry test using FT's specialised audiometer (the patient sits in a sound-proof booth).

Amanda was the recipient of good news about her visa, which regular visitors will have been praying for. Her re-submission proved to be successful and she is therefore free to stay in the country, along with myself, until March 2013 (when we will have to apply for the biggie, the permanent residency visa). Like me, she now has to deal with obtaining her identity card, another long process and with the chance that it won't arrive from La Paz before we leave for Canada in early August.

However, something else arrived from La Paz this week which was another source of great encouragement: a set of musical equipment for the church. My Grandpa Murdoch, among many, many other passions, loved people, loved music and, more than anything, loved the Lord. His death in January 2009, albeit 'full of years' at 91, left quite a hole in our family. So when we received word a few months ago that we had received a share in his inheritance, our thoughts instantly turned to how we could use it to build up the church. And what better way to honour the memory of a man who, when he came to visit the family, would quickly dispense with the niceties and plonk himself down at Dad's piano for half-an-hour, thumping out one gospel standard after another, than by encouraging the music ministry.

As you know, I've formed a small band in recent months and, although we haven't yet played on a Sunday, we're edging ever-closer to that possibility. The time is ripe to energise these guys. So our dear friend and brother Pastor Juan Antonio Maldonado (from our namesake church in La Paz) sourced a keyboard, a stand and a new amplifier, into which I can also plug my bass when we bring that down from Canada, God-willing, in September.

The keyboard also renders me excuseless when it comes to practising for Jessica's wedding. Mercifully for all concerned, I haven't been asked to take care of the service, however, Jessica and Dan would like me to tinkle the ivories for an hour or so at the reception. Having not even been within yards of a piano/keyboard for nearly three years, methinks it's time to get a move on.

Prayer
• For Amanda's identity card application, which we hope to deal with next week.
• For our friend and former Spanish teacher Farid, who has been coming along to church the last couple of Sundays, where we are teaching from The Gospel of John and, therefore, explicitly evangelistic messages abound.

Praise
• For the arrival of the year's first sur (south wind) this week. A dramatic drop in temperature and completely welcome in this climate.
• For the key arrivals from La Paz this week of the equipment and, most of all, Amanda's visa.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda