Update

This is Julie again. Today has been a day of ups and downs. After talking to Jennifer and Josh yesterday, we were encouraged...Josh appeared to have turned the corner and was feeling at least a little better. I still spent considerable time in prayer, asking God for complete healing, but I felt at peace.

Then came the phone call from Jennifer. Due to how expensive it is to call FROM Uganda, we never get calls, we always do the calling TO Uganda. When I heard her voice, I knew something had changed. They had taken Josh to the clinic in Soroti and he had been given IV fluids due to dehydration. Josh had begun vomiting again and there was continued blood in his urine. Not sure if this was something other than malaria, Tim and Angie and Jennifer felt it would be best to take Josh to the Kampala clinic (6 hours away) where there is a British doctor whom they trust. Blood tests and urine tests were being run and the hope was that the doctor would tell them to keep doing what they were doing and to continue the malaria medication. The concern was that the malaria might be masking something more serious so they wanted to run tests. I was to call back around 1pm our time.

Obviously it is difficult to be here with Josh so sick and half way around the world. Family, friends, church and coworkers were notified and people began praying. It is so amazing to be a part of the family of God! I know this to be true, yet everytime it happens I am humbled and blessed beyond words. Each time we've experienced a crisis, we have been upheld and surrounded by the prayers, love and care of fellow believers.

When I called Jennifer back around 1pm this afternoon, she said it was good news! WOW...just the words we had been praying for!! The blood tests showed the parasite was no longer in his blood, meaning the malaria medication was working. Josh had stopped throwing up and had been given fluids to rehydrate him. While he was still weak and very tired, he was definitely feeling some better. His kidneys still showed signs of illness, but that was to be expected due to the malaria. He had been released from the clinic in Kampala and had even eaten a small amount of food...the first in several days. They are keeping the IV in for now and will give him fluids periodically to keep him hydrated. The plan is to stay in Kampala for a day or two to let him rest before undertaking the long trip back to Soroti.

To those of you who have been praying...THANK YOU! Your prayers and concern mean more than I can say. Please keep praying. Pray that Josh will continue to improve and that there will be no more set backs. Please thank God for the healing Josh experienced today. Thank God for the AMAZING team that surrounds Josh in Uganda. The love, care and concern they have shown Josh is a blessing beyond words! Pray for renewed strength and energy so that he may soon return to his work in Uganda. We serve a God who is the Almighty Healer as we have experienced time and again in Josh's life and I want to shout it from the rooftops!

Blessings,
Julie