Hard work at times

Please all pray for me to have continued strength at work. I heard today that a 6 year-old orphan boy that we were treating died yesterday. That is the youngest death that I have seen since I arrived at JSK. The deaths of children really affect me sometimes.

What have they done to deserve being born into such terrible circumstances? Every time they come to the centre I try to give them a ballon or a pad and pen, those sorts of things. How futile it seems at times in the face of quite terrible suffering (and death). Andi who runs the project says that he believes this child has now gone to a better place. I balieve that death does give God a chance to deal out some equality. The passage in Matthew 5 commonly known as "the beattitudes" springs to mind. I believe that in death people who have suffered in this life will recieve God's compassion and grace. Children who have had terrible lives will be sons of God, and recieve sooooo much love and comfort in heaven. This makes it easier to say goodbye to these little ones.

I know a lot of Christians are "exclusivists", and believe that all humans must make an active confession of faith in this life to go to heaven. What I believe is that if you do make an active confession of faith, and ask for God's forgiveness, then you are automatically accepted and forgiven, and that you automatically go to heaven. However I believe that everyone else is judged, and that they do not automatically go to hell. This gives me some hope for these children (and also my grandparents). A common question and problem for exclusivists is the question "what about those who have never heard".

In John Ch9 v 41 Jesus says "if you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin"

Jesus also says "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners". This is why I am in India. There are a lot of sick people here (both physically and spiritually), and I am a Doctor.

I realise that I am not necessarily right about all of this (above). However it does give me hope. In Corinthians 13 it says "Faith, Hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love" (not faith).

New Profile Photo

I hope some of you have noticed our new profile photo, which now also shows Freya.

Exeter

 

Exmouth

 

In Leeds

A couple of years ago, Steve and I built this BBQ. It is nice to be able to enjoy it when we visit them.
 

Swimming in the river in Crawfordjohn

What a great day we had.
 

Deep sea world

Alistair loved the "fishes" at deep sea world in north queensferry. Frea was pretty mesmerised too!!

 

At Edinburgh Zoo

We went with my sister and her ever increasing brood to Edinburgh Zoo. Penni (my sister) is a member there.

We bought Alistair a little fluffy penguin in the gift shop, and we have called it "Penni Penguin"!!
 

At Stewart and Pennis

 

At granny and grampas

 

Visiting Phil and Catriona

We were very fortunate to manage to meet up wit so many friends and family when we were back in the UK. Both Phil and Catriona, and our other friends, Ross and Aileen had relatively new babies as well, so it was lovely to have a day with them.

Alistair loves running!!
 

Terribly afflicted by PPS!!?

It is true I'm afraid, and as a medical man I know just how serious this condition can be; it is proud parent syndrome!! Sorry, but I cannot hold back any longer. I simply must tell you how sweet Freya has been recently! She has really started to engage and laugh, and she is sooooo much fun now. She also has 2 teeth! and she has started to crawl!!!! OK, I think that is probably enough for now!