From Jan. 8

We want to send you all our greetings from Indianapolis, where Marty and I have celebrated the end of 2012 and have been able to visit with family and friends. The most exciting news is the arrival of our most recent granddaughter, Talia Stephanie Salvatori, bornDecember 21 at 8lbs, 5oz. We were able to be there to take care of the older sister and brother and welcome little Talia home a couple of days later. The parents are Franco and Stacy.

The next big event is Marty’s hip replacement that is scheduled for January 9, at 8:00am. We have planned our return to the Congo to allow for recovery and rehabilitation time. Everyone we have talked to who has had the surgery assures us that the recovery goes well and that the anterior method procedure is well-developed. We are still asking for your prayers and trusting the Lord for a quick and complete recovery. Marty is eager to be pain free as she carries on her ministry in the Congo. I hope to be ready to return to the Congo by late February and Marty by mid-March.

The work progresses during our absence. God has truly blessed us with excellent co-workers. As always, we have many projects that are underway. Progress is slow, but sure as materials and equipment arrive by riverboat and truck.

The newest addition to our equipment is a really good quality hand brick machine. We have constantly faced the challenge of trying to find kilned brick with which to build. Buying brick from those who make them at Lodja has not worked well and in places away from Lodja we are not able to find kilned brick at all. Now we have a really good machine that presses the brick sufficiently and that we can take to our other building sites. It will make a real difference in the quality of our construction work.

We would like to express our deep appreciation to both our prayer and financial supporters. We pray the best for each of you in 2013.

From Jan. 12

Our last update told you about Marty’s imminent hip replacement surgery and here we are four days later and she is already home in and our bed. We are grateful for your thoughts and prayers and for the may emails that we received from so many who expressed their concern and support.

She has done very well and the prognosis is good for an eventual complete recovery and the pain-free use of her new hip. Added to her wrist surgery of several years ago, I am gradually getting a bionic woman. I am now truly her PCP, “Primary Care Provider,” for a while.

There was one unfortunate mishap that will delay her recovery and our return to the Congo. During the procedure the insertion of the stem of the lower piece into the femur bone caused the bone to split and it had to be repaired with wire. They normally like for you to begin putting weight on the leg immediately, but with the crack in the bone Marty will now have to wait for 4 to 6 weeks before she can pull her full weight on the repaired hip! This is a very rare occurrence. 

Needless to say that it has been a great disappointment for her and a setback for us both in terms of when we can return to re-engage our ministries in the Congo. But, as with all the different aspects of our work, we have learned to trust the Lord with the timing and details of how things work out. He knows why he has allowed this to happen and we continue to trust him for a full recovery and complete healing of the bone and hip. The doctor says that while rare, this does happen and the bone will heal completely with time and the hip will be as good as otherwise.

The work in the Congo will continue in our absence under the care of our co-workers. Marty left lessons for the children’s ministry that will allow them to work until she gets back. I am in touch by phone and our road and construction projects will continue as well until I return.

Again, thank you all for your prayers and love,
Your Partners in Congo,
​Paul and Marty