Meeting with another great Auckland surgeon this past Friday, introduced to us by our friends the Garrets. We appreciate so much both the Garrets and their massive investment in our lives, especially in the early days when I first went into hospital. David helped arrange Faes’ ticket to Korea, sent numerous emails to friends alerting them to my situation and even did things like man the phone at our home to help free her up to get ready. Mindy their daughter had had a similar emergency situation to mine. Although technically done for the night, on finding out she was their daughter this surgeon had stepped in to help her. Both his surgery and post-op care was wonderful and Mindy felt strongly that we should meet with him for consultation on my proposed fourth operation.Ian has a missionary background himself with ten years in Nepal. He still returns each year to help out with an organization in that nation. As another believer, he also knew of my ministry and freed up some consultation time so Fae and I were able to spend a valuable guest forty minutes with him. He also went through the translated notes of the three operations and showed us what he thought had happened to precipitate the crises.He also seems keen to take on my case personally, and we have set up another visit in two months time to perhaps decide on an operation time and venue. It turns out that there is another experienced head surgeon in a new local hospital also a believer and Ian believes it will be possible for me to have the surgery done as public-funded rather than private operation. This of course would be a wonderful answer to prayer.I have wanted three things for this operation; that it would be headed up by someone of high competence and experience, so that the huge expense of all the previous surgeries will not be annulled by having the wrong person on the final job; that they would be a real believer, so that the Lord will have someone who listens to Him at the helm; and that we would be good stewards of the gifts of love, time and finance that friends have invested in our lives for this time. We have waited on Him for His peace in this.One of the great blessings we have seen through all of this is the constant and unwavering care of God and the surprising little arrangements to encourage us He has sent our way. I have always believed that living by faith is living without scheming. Even when we are not traveling or ministering, His faithfulness is ever new and amazing to us. This past week has been such an example. A district nurse pays us a visit once a week to check on the progress of my wound, still stubbornly holding somehow back on healing. (There remains a small patch about the size of a quarter near the bottom of the wound where the final skin has not yet closed up.) We got a visit from a new nurse a couple of days before the consultation. On talking to her about the possibilities of a public operation, it turns out she served as a nurse under this local surgeon for a year. She said he was the only one she would trust her own body to for this operation. Consultations have been initiated by others who contacted these surgeons for us. We have not had to beat paths to their doors to gain an audience with these skilled and busy men who have helped us get a perspective on what has happened, what is going on now and what is possible. Knowing how difficult it is to set this up, we so appreciate Gods’ hand in this. Here is the update so far on where I am. No operation can be attempted until I am fully fit and my wound has been completely closed up. I am told I need to be as fit for this last surgery as I was when I went into the first ones. John said that while the operation was “no haircut” and could take up to three hours or more to complete, that recovery under these circumstances is faster and I could be out of hospital in three or four days.The option to forgo the surgery does not look preferable, although technically the wound allows the body to still be fully functional. Any surgery then would not come under emergency or critical parameters, but be treated as cosmetic. To leave things as they are however, would be learning to live with a 22-cm hernia. At any future time the bowel could protrude out and retract at will, though not be at any great risk for strangulation.One strange thing about this band that needs somehow to be rejoined to bring my abs back into line, is what is happening to those two internal cut edges. My body seems so keen on being healed that the ends of the cut band are turning into bone. In effect, I have at present two breastbones. Ian says this ossification is rare and they only see one or two cases of this a year. I suggested perhaps that these bone ends might be joined by a titanium chain and I would henceforth have a built-in bullet-proof vest. Fit for future dangerous ministry areas? I don’t think they will take that option. but a mesh is possible. Thanks again for your faithful prayers and encouragement. I had opportunity Thursday to go on Radio Rhema, our major Christian station here to thank them and their nation-wide audience. They carried my story (read aloud from our blog for weeks to the nation) and made many aware of my need. Many friends continue to pray for us, some still daily and I hope to be able to contact those I usually minister with around this time to thank them for their support. I have also begun work on Divinity II, the second volume of the Nature and Character of God that focuses on the character of God as seen in His creation. It will cover aspects of our uniqueness as a universe, solar system, planet and as an ecosystem, the wonder of mankind and new areas like the spiritual roots of vocation. It will also contrast the beauty of His making with the ugliness and sadness of the Fall. Volume 1 which has had many appreciative readers, took some 15 years to compile. Hopefully while retaining the usefulness and resource riches of Vol. I with new tools of technology and research, Volume II should be completed in far less time. Volume III, last of the set will deal with the Nature and Character of God in the reconciliation of His creation. Blessings in the Beloved” –Winkie and Fae: P.O. Box 215 Manurewa, South Auckland New Zealand Posted by Israel Anderson