Staying Flexible, Handling Sickness

...I am in India with the Asian Access leaders. The past week I was in the Delhi area.

...David Dayalan, Mike Hoisington and I have all been hit with sickness this week at the North India A2 training for Session 1, Class 3.

...David said he never gets diarrhea. He was down 24 hours with it. I admitted Mike Hoisington (who was the faculty for this week) to a hospital on Monday for emergency surgery. At lunch Monday he walked up to me choking signaling he couldn't breath. I pumped his chest. That cleared his mouth and wind pipe, so he could breath again. Turns out he had some food that got stuck in his esophagus. We found a good hospital close by and an excellent ENT doctor.

...They tried several things to dislodge it, but the food stayed stuck, which meant it was difficult swallowing and he couldn't take much water or any food. So finally at 11 pm the doctor did surgery on Mike to stick a tool down his throat and pull out the food. It was chicken that got stuck. Now how rare is this. It has never happened to Mike and he hasn't had any previous history of problems like this.

...Mike was under general anaesthesia and remained in ICU overnight. He is fine now and regaining his strength here in Chennai. The doctor said he should rest for the next 3 to 5 days and can continue on his Asia trip. So Mike will be teaching in A2 South India this coming week and then on Friday he flies to Hong Kong for some meetings.

...As for me I got a cold and sore throat on Monday. A minor problem compared to Mike's situation. But with Mike totally out, David Dayalan and I stepped in and covered the teaching at the session - which actually went very well according to the feedback.

...Right now I am emailing you from a humble Christian retreat center south of Chennai where Mike, David and I are recovering. I am on a cell phone link to David's computer.

...By the way, the total bill for the doctor, ICU, surgery was $1000 USD. That's all. Incredible. Come to India for your major surgery needs - it's a deal. I paid for this on my credit card. So, we are recovering and doing okay. Pray for us next week. Mike is the main faculty, with me doing a couple of teaching times.

...So, it's been quite the week. But the work is going well.

Arkansas with Lynches

...I enjoyed visiting the Lynch family in NW Arkansas this past week. They are staff with Asian Access. Stu and I work closely together on the work in Asia.
...Here I am with Stu and Hilary and three of their four children on a beautiful Arkansas fall day. They are enjoying some fall weather before relocating to Singapore in a few weeks.

In LA for Installing of New President

...Mary and I were in Los Angeles this week for the installation dinner and evening of Joe Handley as the new president of Asian Access.
...What a wonderful evening where 95 guests, staff members and board members gathered to honor and install our new president. Above is the prayer of commissioning for Joe and his wife Silk, with the Board of Directors gathered around them and a laying on of hands of blessing.

...Joe followed with telling those gathered what a special privilege to lead such a strategic organization.

...Mary and I enjoyed being together with a number of our staff family of Asian Access. Here we are with the new president, Joe and his wife Silk, along with Elliott and Lori Snuggs. Elliott is VP of Operations, with whom I also work closely. What a great team of which to be a part.