A tribute to Dr. Jerry Umanos in the song that follows. My Breathe of Aire choir sings this song (the California Baptist Choir here) and it seems to me this is the the way Jerry lived in all aspects of his life.

Give Yourself Away

What do we do when the unthinkable happens?

Thursday morning we learned of the shooting at CURE hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. We immediately looked up world news online and our fears were confirmed.......Dr. Jerry was one of those who died at the hands of an apparently newly hired 'security guard.'  He was greeting guests at the visitors gate, where Jon and Jerry have entered many times.  Two of the guests were also killed and one was injured.  Details are slow in coming to us as everyone there has been preoccupied with the logistics of the fallout.   The Taliban is not responsible for all the violence that goes on in Afghanistan. Sometimes extremist muslims act on their own. 

Dr. Jerry became a dear friend, not only to Jon but to everyone he worked with.  We have been receiving e-mails from Afghan officials and professionals and friends that he befriended and they are all heartbroken, as are we.  

One doctor wrote: "I do not have words for such a big loss.  Last night we were together in [at]  wedding party.  We talked and I will never forget the last time I hugged him.  He was a great man, we will ever never forget him.  He was as close as a brother to us."

Jerry was an unusually gifted physician,God-fearing man and generous Christian. Why him?  All I can say is he lived fearlessly, loved unconditionally, and gave his Lord all he had to give.  I will include the link to the Chicago news

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-chicago-doctor-killed-afghanistan-20140424,0,2375219.story

John and his wife had arrived in Kabul about 3 months before we did in 2011.  They were in language school but eager to find how they would contribute to the betterment of Afghanistan.  John was an IT expert and taught at the University.   They were very attentive to us and we enjoyed being with them.  Here is the article that tells more about John.

http://www.suntimes.com/27056815-761/two-more-people-with-chicago-ties-are-
confirmed-dead-in-kabul-hospital-attack.html#.U1uxFVfFn9s

Despite our sorrow, our fear; despite the injustice, the terrors of man.......
we still trust that our Maker, Redeemer and Father/Mother sees beyond our seeing....and we submit.
Both Jerry and John would want God to be praised....

O God beyond all praisings, we worship you today
and sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay.
For we can only wonder at every gift you send,
at blessings without number and mercies without end.

Then hear, O gracious Savior, accept the love we bring...
that we who know your favor may serve you as our King.
And whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill,
we will triumph through our sorrows and rise to praise you still:
to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise,
                                                                           Michael Perry

The scenery has changed....but still lots of mountains!

We left the beautiful blossoms of spring in the Pacific Northwest yesterday and backtracked to the late winter of Alaska.  Snow is banked around us in Glennallen where it melts by day in 50F highs before the freeze of night returns.  We are ensconced in our basement apartment of last summer where the only two windows are filled with snow up to the top 6".

Joel and Karen Medendorp are the couple we worked with in Redbird, KY. in 2004.  He is the administrator of Crossroads Medical Center,   http://www.crossroadmc.org/.  This mission outpost was a hospital in the beginning but now patients are flown out if hospitalization is necessary.  Their ER capabilities are excellent and the needs of the natives and tourists are well taken care of.  Jon has to get used to the slow pace here again.... not a high patient load in a day.  In fact, I hope there is enough of interest to make this blog interesting!
We walked to the IGA tonight to get a few more groceries....maybe 1 1/2 miles?  For my crippled knee that was an accomplishment.  I hope I can do some everyday as the life is rather sedentary otherwise.

 Daylight is longer here.....the shortest day(Winter Soltice) being between 10am and 2pm, with an hour each for dawn and dusk.  We are headed for the longest day in June which will be the 4 hours of dark, or so.  Right now it's in between.
We may have seen the Northern Lights last night, but we opted to go to bed.  Hopefully another chance will come along.

Jon surprised me, once more, with acknowledgement of our first date.....50 years ago today!  A sweet card from a loving husband.  Guess where our first date was?   To a missionary conference....go figure.


My last picture is of the Metanuska Glacier, which feeds the Metanuska River at the base of the Ghugach Mt. Range, which we followed on the Glen Highway from Anchorage.  Notice the size of the glacier compared to the trees......things are massive here.  Especially the blue sky!