May 23, 2013
Dearest Friends and family
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The motel we stayed in Tulsa the last night (May 15th) had bed bugs.
Kathy had bites that morning and after we had checked out, reported it, the
manager called us when we were checking in at the airport and gave us the night
free. The bites turned to whelps so she is putting antibiotic cream on them.
We had actually planned to use one of our free nights but the booking was messed up so we THOUGHT we were going to have to pay. Note: "above all we think or ask" it turned out to be free, well Kathy is paying the price but I thanked her for her sacrifice.
IN THE AIR AGAIN
We left Tulsa at 11:30 May 16th on Southwest airlines via Denver to Los Angeles.
We were traveling with 4 trunks and 4 suitcases loaded with medical supplies,
truck and car parts, food items and clothes. Southwest did not charge us any
extra, bless them!
LEG CULTURE RESULTS
While in Tulsa we also got a call from the Infectious Disease people at the
VA telling me the culture came back on my leg. "BACTERIOLOGY FINAL
REPORT => May 12, 2013 07:59 CULTURE RESULTS: ESCHERICHIA COLI - Quantity:
LIGHT" They have put me on Cefuroxime 500mg twice daily for 10 days.
However since the medicine will have to be sent to Jason and then to me I went
to the chemist here and got what they have which is Flucloxacillin 500mg 4 times
a day for 10 days. The sooner the better to get it healed up.
YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK???????
While in Tulsa I also received an email from my daughter in law. It was the
government's response for my request of copies of my medical records during
my military service. This is the third request. The first two requests came
back saying they could not locate any medical files. Here it is:
ARRIVAL IN LA
We arrived in LA, found our bags, loaded them on two trolleys and pushed them
down to the International departure building. We were too early for check-in
and went upstairs for something to eat, just chilled - reading and using the
computer. At the table next to us there was a Filipino man who was having a
hard time getting his extended handle to go back down into the bag. I finally
ask if I could help and found that a ball bearing that was supposed release
was not but I was able to work around it and get the handle down. You would
have thought I had invented a new miracle drug or something he was so appreciative.
We got him on his way to Manila with many thanks and hand shakes.
We finally checked in for our Air Pacific flight to Fiji at 7:30 pm and had to pay for the extra bags. Not, the whole amount only $392. Cheap at twice the price, really!!! We made our way to the Air Pacific lounge and lounged for 3 more hours before our flight. Free food and computer time. I went ahead and put my compression hose on for the long flight (10 1/2 hours). We left at 11:30 pm PST, May 16th.
The flight was a bit bumpy but the free upgrade to business class seats made up for it. Served us real breakfast as well.
We touched down in Fiji 5:15 am Saturday May 18th and we waited in the Air Pacific lounge waiting for our 11:00 am flight to Port Vila. More free food, could have taken a shower and did take off the compression hose.
ARRIVAL HOME
When we arrived in Port Vila Saturday around 12:00 and there was no one to greet
us at the airport so I called Steve and his daughter answered at the house saying
Steve was at the football (soccer) games and he had left his mobile at home
charging. So they sent someone down to get him and he called and said he was
on his way with his truck.
We came through customs fine but had to pay $20.00 for some vegetable flower seeds we brought back because we did not have an import permit??? Waited outside in the breeze for Steve and then went up to his house in his truck to our truck. He had driven our truck once and when he went into a tight steer the power steering hose popped off and he didn't know how to reattach it. So for 30 minutes (without the right wrench) he and I wrestled the hose back on and tightened the clamps.
We went to the store for some basis things, put gas in the truck and headed home. As well as the "check engine" light we now have the "brake" and "ABS" lights on and the brake pedal is soft. (More fun repairs it seems!!!) We got to our house about 3:30 pm. First thing was to find the keys to all the containers, then drag the generators out and get one started for fans and the refrigerator. Then get all the covers off everything in the house. Steve brought the luggage in his truck as he had to come out there anyway.
We kind of got stuff situated Saturday evening before we crashed about 8:00 pm. Hot and humid, fans on high. While we were gone they got over 20 inches of rain. Much of the garden did not like that much rain but the Chinese cabbage went wild. My tomato plants grew to over 6 feet high but not enough sunshine so very few tomatoes. Peas, bean, carrots, and cucumbers sees all rotted.
SUNDAY
Sunday I preached, we had a good turn out and the Peace Corps man, Dennis Hart,
saw me and decided to be with us instead of going down to the Presbyterian church.
We had a good fellowship lunch and then a siesta.
Before bedtime we did more organizing of stuff and finding clothes, food and dishes that had been packed.
MONDAY
Monday morning 8:00 am: 85% humidity 80 degrees. We were up at 6:00 am with
the chickens and kids. There is a country song that talks about "every
light in the house is on". Right now every fan in the house is on.
This morning I changed out the hose on the power steering pump on the truck and we have loaded up all the gas containers and fresh water containers to go to town and get perishables, gas for the generators and drinking water.
Electrical things have a hard time here and Kathy found out that the toaster no longer worked.
Yes, I note a leak in a brake line.
TUESDAY
Went to get the morning paper at the local store this morning to find out that
the delivery driver (also brings fresh bread from town every morning) left a
copy of yesterday's paper.
The outdoor light quit last night, had to be replaced. Kathy washed clothes this morning and the upper tank ran out of water so had to pump water up from the lower tank. Had the cement block wall between the two container where we have the generators fall out while I was inside. Got to rebuild that! I had put the battery charger on the motor bike battery the night before and was able to get it started up.
WEDNESDAY
I checked the brake leak and it is the main line going back to the back brakes.
It was leaking at a joint but I was unable to tighten it.
We made a run to town for brake fluid, a new toaster, to check e-mail and get bags of flour. I used the emergency brake and the gears so as not to use up all my brake fluid.
We stopped by and saw Dr King, the doctor who treated my legs. He has moved out to his own practice and was glad to see the healing.
THURSDAY
I was asked to attend the village men's meeting to discuss village business
since we now live in the village. I lasted about 2 hours before I left. Not
much different than village meetings I attended when I was a board member in
Shoal Creek Village. The only difference here is that everyone started of their
reports with "it wasn't my fault....".
I went back home and got under the truck to check out the brake line to find it was rusted through. I ended up getting the joint separated but the main line going back up to the master cylinder is too rusty. There are also small rust holes in the feeder brake lines to the rear brakes. SOOOOOOO I have blocked off the rear brake line at the master cylinder and only have front brakes and the emergency brake for the rear brakes until I can find, buy and install the brake lines. More damage from when the water flooded the container.
In the afternoon I was able to repair the small generator that quit last year. The parts I ordered New Zealand before we left were here when we go back and I installed them. IT WORKS!
Our batteries for the solar system are full charged again and we should be able to go to battery power at night and save gas costs on the generators. Gasoline still costs about $7.50 a gallon here. We are getting more sun now even with afternoon showers. We are looking at using some of the insurance money for the container to buy a small wind turbine to charge the solar batteries at night.
We hosted the peace corp young man for dinner last night. He lives with a host native family here and teaches English and French in the primary school. He is from outside Chicago, will be here for two years and is only a "pup" (DOB 1988).
Back almost a week and I have already been requested to get my Galatians Bible class re-scheduled. We still are organizing the house and getting stuff back out of the containers we had packed up.
Our plans - Lord willing
- your help providing
With the plans we have (Lord willing) we ask for your continued consideration
of the needs we have in this work. We see this as the Lord showing us that He
is still with us and perhaps "piece meal" building the school at this
time is the best way (we have not won the lottery nor been included in anyone's
large estate). If we can get the land cleared, fruit trees and crops planted
and a caretaker house build before we have to come back for the prostate surgery
then that will get us along the road to making the school self-supporting. This
would also give us funds to continue to build facilities as we need them.
By doing the development "piece meal" we might also not need monthly operating funds for the school and perhaps by the time we need monthly support the gardens and fruit trees will be suppling funds back into the school.
Please continue to pray that the cancer is manageable, the legs will heal and that we will secure funds to start clearing land and building for the school.
Thank you so much for all of you who are praying for us, supporting us and have contributed to our needs. God bless you! Thank you for your prayers!
Thank you Lord!
Grace & Peace
Tobey & Kathy
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Contributions for the Huffs, the Bible school and house can be sent to:
Huffs/Bible School
c/ Mt Hope church of Christ
2830 Mt Hope Rd
Webb City MO 64870
or
Tobey & Kathy Huff
c/ 2730 E. 24th St
Joplin. MO 64804
Ph: 417 434-8367
Web Site: http://www.oceania-outreach.com/Index.html