A Henson Stateside!

Several weekends ago we drove up to Austin for the day to see our very dear friend, Nathan Henson.  We met Nathan and Kristen when we lived in Temple while Zach was doing his advanced general dentistry residency and Nathan was in his opthamology residency (being a REAL doctor as Zach would say).  We became fast friends, and God has continued to give us a sweet friendship.  Along with a few other medical professionals and their families from their home church in Georgia, Nathan and Kristen made their home in Cusco, Peru almost exactly a year ago.  Over the past year they have been working to build (from the ground up), supply and staff a brand new opthamology clinic, start a medical school student ministry, work at an existing medical clinic (Kristen is a nurse practioner) and are in the process of adopting a sweet Peruvian baby baby, oh yes, and they're also expecting a baby in September.  It's been quite a year for them.  Last June Zach and I were able to go to Peru with a team from our church here in San Antonio and spend a good deal of time with then while we were there.  It was so neat to see the new clinic being constructed, shop at the open air market where Kristen buys many of their groceries and stay with them at their apartment (on the 4th floor, no small feat at 11,000 ft my friends).  Most of all, it was so good to just be with them.  They have an incredible way of speaking Godly truth and encouragement into our lives.  They love us well.  And we so want to love and care for them well.  So when Nathan is in Texas, it would be unthinkable to not see him.  The only thing that would have made it better is if Kristen could have come too.  For several reasons, she was not able to come on this trip and stayed in Peru.  We had a great time with Nathan- a yummy Kerby Lane breakfast and a long walk around Town Lake- and lots of time to talk.  It's truly awesome to see the way that God has provided for them and the doors that He has opened to them in the past year.  But the struggles and trials are very real...illnesses, corrupt governmental systems, being accosted by a rioting mob, denied access to the medical school where they are trying to begin a student ministry, endless delays and difficulties trying to get medical equipment through customs, morning sickness at 11,000 ft...and the list could go on.  We want to bear these burdens with them, but we feel helpless.  I know the Hensons would say they so often feel the same way.  We are grateful that our God is not helpless- and that through these times God has displayed his power, love and grace to our friends in amazing ways- and continues to sustain them and give them strength.  They are fighting the good fight- and though in many ways our fight might look differently, they encourage us through their example to do the same.  

Zach and Nathan

Zach and I (Avery's in there too!)