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Last Minute Blessings

Team Sinkler in Bozeman

As I write this update, Team Sinkler is winding down another adventurous day, ready for rest.  Today we write from beautiful Bozeman, MT.  This is the place of our upbringing, a place full of friends and family, and a place that still elicits an emotional response as we round the last turn or see the Bridger Mountains on the horizon.  We pulled into town a week ago, pushing over the 7000 mile mark for our distance travelled in the Suburban since Thanksgiving.  That, of course, doesn’t include the airline miles travelled in our trips to both Arizona and Florida in that same stretch.

As expected, we have run into our share of obstacles along the way.  A major portion of these last two months in the United States were dedicated to getting our medical care established with good doctors who would support us while we travelled abroad.  While we expected some time in their offices, we have certainly received more than we bargained for.  When I say we, I specifically mean our adopted son, Isaac.  In order to get a good baseline of his current health, we ran some blood tests to understand him better and to find anything that might have been passed along from his family.  Through much prayer, God blessed us with a very smooth appointment to obtain the needed sample.  Keep in mind, too, that the test was ordered by a doctor in Tennessee and obtained by a clinic in Colorado.  We also had a sleep study performed to monitor his blood oxygen saturation during the night due to some concerns about his sleep habits.  To help get the sleep study performed, we solicited the help of doctors in Montana to get the orders in and have the results examined.  This test was also performed in Colorado, and revealed some things about his erratic sleep.

While the doctors checked into the results of Isaac’s sleep study, we flew away to Arizona to spend time with dear friends and say our good-bye’s as we prepare for Uganda.  While enjoying our last night of fellowship and sharing what the Lord has done, Isaac tumbled from a toppling stool and fell face-first onto the cross member of the stool legs.  The initial scream said that we were headed to the emergency room that night, and pulling his clenched hand from his face we confirmed that suspicion.  Four hours and five stitches later our little man was getting tucked into bed for a future that didn’t look to get much better.

While we flew back to Colorado and then drove our way to Idaho, Montana doctors were pouring over test results that showed evidence of sleep apnea.  They recommended that we see a pulmonary specialist to take a look at what factors may be contributing to his difficulty sleeping.  Now the trick was to find doctors who would take a look at all of this, who also happened to be in the cities we were traveling to.  By the working of God we were able to get an appointment with both an ENT and pulmonary specialist in Bozeman with just a week of notice.  These men are usually months out on their appointments, but bent over backwards to help us in our current situation.  All parties agreed that Isaac should have his tonsils and adenoids removed in order to eliminate obstructive challenges from the range of possibilities.  The surgery would have to be performed with plenty of time to allow for healing before we left the country.  Amazingly, and in my opinion miraculously, we saw the ENT on Friday and were scheduled for surgery just four days later.

As I write, Staci is in the hospital with our little man who will remain there overnight in order to be monitored for his oxygen saturation level.  He’s definitely hurting, and not at all too pleased about us having the procedure done.  However, he’s on the path to healing and time will tell if we have been provided with a great help to his future development.  Will you join us in praying for his healing, and that Isaac would find restful sleep as an outcome of the surgery?

If Isaac’s struggles haven’t been enough, we have all endured our round with the flu and other sinus infections as they have come around.  We have commingled germ samples from across the United States and fought as much as we could, but exhaustion eventually became the enemy that would render us defenseless.  We continue to pray for the sale of our home in Dickinson, for the health of our family, for Isaac’s recovery, and for our financial provision via monthly and initial start-up support.  We sometimes feel that the enemy surrounds us and we are too tired to go on.

We read encouragement today in 2 Chronicles 32:7, “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him.”  Hezekiah was able to exhibit strength and courage because he did all of these things for the glory of God and placed his faith in Him.  In 2 Chronicles 31:21 the Bible says of Hezekiah, “And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart.  So he prospered.”

May it be said of us that we did all of these things in service to God, and that we performed this service to Him with all our hearts.  Our family is so imperfect, and in as much as we believe in God’s ability to perform miracles in our lives, we pray that he would help our unbelief.  We aren’t worthy of the calling He has placed on our lives.  However, as imperfect as we are, 2 Chronicles 31:18-19 says, “…May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God…”  Where we were lacking, the good Lord has provided atonement, and through Him we lack nothing.

Thank you so much for your prayers, for your support, and for being used of God to affirm us in our calling.  So many of you have been instrumental in this journey, and have meant more to us than we could ever express.

Bozeman Sunset

 

 

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  1. Mary Lawrence
    January 17th, 2017 at 22:19 | #1

    So good to see you 3, hope we can connect b4 you leave…love you all so much!

  2. Renee Tofslie
    January 17th, 2017 at 22:26 | #2

    Oh dear ones, thank you for sharing your lives with us. Love you dearly and am so thankful for each of you. That verse is powerful, may you remember it always, may it strengthen you daily. He has lead you and you are going, He has provided and will continue to provide all that you will need, meeting right where you are. That has been so very evident. Praising Him for His beautiful work of hearts of service in each of you. Keep your eyes fixed on Him, the author and perfecter of your faith. Bless you this evening as you rest and awaken to His new mercies of a new day.
    Love you and praying, Aunt Renée

  3. Kyle
    January 18th, 2017 at 08:27 | #3

    Jarid,
    I thought of you today during men’s study when Armando took us through some verses in James 5. James 5:16 is all over you and your family. It was an honor to be in the company of those men while I prayed for you, Staci, Benjamin, Kaiya, and Isaac at the close of study today.
    It is amazing to see God work through His people.

    Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you kids!

    Kyle

  4. Jerome and Harriet
    January 18th, 2017 at 13:42 | #4

    Dear Jarid, Staci and Kids;
    We know the Lord is leading you, guiding you, protecting you and providing for you as you continue to follow Him! Praying for Isaac’s complete healing! Praying for your family’s needs to be met in every way! Love you so much!
    Jackson Family

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