So, I think we have mentioned this before, but I unfortunately visited a dentist in Kenya. Which turned into a nightmare. Not only could I not chew on one side of my mouth for two months, but now we are trying to get him to pay the bill to fix his mistakes and he is refusing. So, it has been a really unfortunate mistake, to the tune of several thousand dollars. I have been in conversation with him, so if you could just pray that God would just pray that God would change his heart (he is an American missionary dentist). Otherwise, add this to your book of wise quotes;

Thou shalt not goest to the dentist whilst in third world countries unless it is to get your tooth yanked!

P.S.  Happy fourth of July! It is actually the first one Sam and I ever spent together. Last year, I was in training in Mississippi for Africa, and the year before I was on a missions trip in Australia. And since we are out in Philly visiting our new nephew for the first time we called my husband “Uncle Sam” all day (ironic i thought).

No, I haven’t thrown my crutches to the wind. Yet. But, my mom is home from the hospital after spending a total of 22 days there. She is looking great (her hairdresser did a house call today, how cute) and eating at long last! Yesterday she ate a whopper! You are a lucky woman when your doctor tells you eat anything that you want anytime you want.

So, thank you, thank you for all your prayers. She has a long way to go (and a pretty sweet scar), but our God is good and sustains us through all.  Easier said I guess in good times than in bad, but true in all times nonetheless. I pray God continues to teach me to trust Him and His plans for our lives.

 Romans 8:31-39

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
   ”For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I know we alluded to our future plans in our last newsletter, but finally some of the pieces of the puzzle are coming together!

I (Amanda) am going to be working as a missionary for Campus Crusade for Christ this next year at Bowling Green State University, specifically with international students. For a variety of reasons, we are going a non-traditional route, and our local church BG Covenant is facilitating the missions work. Basically, I will be working with Bowling Green Covenant Church to connect them to the international student community at BGSU, and they will be facilitating my support-raising (instead of the Campus Crusade offices).

So, I am beyond excited! Praise God for his provision! I was devastated to leave Kenya, but am stoked about this new path God is leading me down. We will be getting in touch will all supporters very shortly to let you know how you can support this new ministry venture if you are interested. If you want to get in touch with me and chat, I have a new phone number: 419-419-9842 and the same old e-mail: ajhoops@gmail.com. More information to come!!

Random African Pics!

                                     Kayaking, rafting, rock climbing and more.

A couple of people have contacted me asking for an update on my mom. She got out of the hospital last Tuesday, but had to be readmitted yesterday because her digestive system was not functioning properly. It seems they they are on the track to finding a solution, and she is in good spirits now.

The doctors believe they got all the cancer out with the removal of all those organs, but they found that her kidney cancer, while contained, was quite aggressive, so they are considering chemo. That would not happen for several weeks if at all. So, you can pray that she will be able to come back home again soon and even that she will not need to endure chemotherapy.

On another note, things seem to be falling into place so that I will be able to work with international students with Campus Crusade at BGSU. So, keep praying for that one!!