Greetings from Fayette, MO! Update on Brittney.

Hello all and greetings from Fayette, MO! First of all, I want to thank you for the love you all have shown to our family. Your encouragement has been a HUGE comfort through all that has been happening.

A lot has happened since we sent a blog out in Cameroon a week ago and we can see God working through this situation already. The same day we sent the blog out we (ok, my amazing husband Jeremiah) packed our bags, arranged someone to care for our house and dog, took care of getting tickets, took care of the kids, wrote a blog, picked me up from the hospital, etc and got us ready to go stateside. That evening we drove 1.5 hrs to Douala. From Douala we flew 45min to Yaounde, 6 hours to Brussels, 8 hours to Newark, 2 hrs 15min to St. Louis where my wonderful parents picked us up and then drove another 2.5 hrs to Fayette, MO. The whole plane trip I had vomiting, diarrhea, and severe contractions. I kept praying and reviewing the advice a good friend of mine gave to me if I were to have baby on the plane or in the airport. I remember going to the bathroom and watching many of the ladies freshen up and put make up on while I was brushing my teeth trying to hold it together so they would allow me on the next plane. Thankfully, there has been a HUGE change in my health from then and I'm confident that it's due to YOUR prayers.

Me at the hospital in Cameroon. I had 2 injections, 2 different types of meds, an IV and nothing seemed to help. It was a difficult decision to make to come to the US as we weren't planning to come for another 1 1/2 yrs. We didn't want to leave the new ministry that was being developed unless it was absolutely necessary nor did we have the finances. However, through the generosity of the Saints we now have over 1/2 our plane tickets paid for and the Cameroonians we have been working with were very understanding and helpful. 

Here I am getting a nap in at the Newark, NJ Airport. One more flight to go!

The kids were GREAT travelers.

We made it! In St. Louis safely where my parents picked us up. My parents are always willing to lay down their  lives and put others first. 

Columbia, MO has some of the best medical care in the country. I'm thankful my parents are only a 40 minute drive to Columbia. After arriving, I was able to go the hospital and get a scan done to see how baby was doing. Everything in the scan looked good. The next day I went to the doctor (the same one who delivered my parents first grand-child) and he was very helpful and had me take some tests. Praise God that the tests came back and everything was OK! On one of the tests my ferritin levels were low but an iron supplement will take care of that. After talking to the doctor it seems as if a combination of things were causing the contractions and he agreed getting to the States was a good idea. Since being pregnant I've had mumps, malaria, UTI, other infections, food poisoning, parasites in my intestines, viruses, etc and my body was having a hard time hydrating. Then, about a month ago, we started having a water truck bring water in from a river to put in our tank due to the city water being off for so long. The doctor is guessing (it's hard to say for sure w/ out water samples but it's a good guess) that the quality and quantity of water was causing my kidneys to overwork. So between that and all the other sicknesses, my body was having a hard time recovering and hydrating so my body started releasing the same hormones that cause contractions. 

I am very thankful that we were able to come to get good medical care. As of a few days ago my contractions have stopped and the parasites in my stomach have gone. I am gaining my strength back and even took the kids on a short walk to the playground. I'm also curious what other ways God is going to use this situation and us to glorify Him. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28  I know my faith has grown through all this and the bonds with the Saints worldwide have grown tighter. 

A few things we will need to do to help keep us healthy and able to serve when we get back:

- When we get water hauled in from the river we will need to boil our drinking water before putting it into the filter or drink bottled water.

- Take a good vitamin and immune booster supplement.

- Be more diligent about applying bug repellent every morning and evening to keep from getting malaria and other tropical diseases from mosquitoes, tsetse flies, etc.
- Think of a good, safe way to clean our fresh fruits and veggies other than vinegar and salt water so we don't get cholera and such. (any ideas?)

- Prayer! We need extra prayers for health. A missionary lady in Cameroon recently died from an unknown cause and another lady almost died from her heart swelling from p.f. malaria. My in-laws have also faced many health issues serving in Africa. No matter how sanitary we are when going to the villages and even working w/ people in Buea (esp as I work w/ children) and water is limited; we are going to face health problems. I know people get sick everywhere you go but Cameroon has limited medical services. Prayers are much appreciated!

A sister in Christ shared this verse with me a few months ago and it has really helped me to keep my focus. "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Love,

The Happy Hostetters

p.s. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. Several people have asked us for our information so I have given it below.

E-mail-  hostetterministries@yahoo.com

House Phone # in the US-  660-248-5252 (We will send out our cell phone # when we get it.)

Mailing address in the states-   Hostetter Ministries
                                   506 N. Linn
                                   Fayette, MO
                                   65248

Mailing address in Cameroon-  Jeremiah and Brittney Hostetter
                                    P.O. Box 636 Buea
                                    South West, Cameroon
                                    Africa