November 30, 2025
Susan Hoover
Dear family and friends,
Greetings once again, from Paraguay! I guess most of you aren't experiencing temperatures today like we are here in South America. It's been up to 34 degrees C today -- that's like 92 F. We stay comfortable here in our little room, with the AC on. So thankful to have that!
Today is the first day of Advent! In years gone by, I never paid much attention to Advent, didn't really know the meaning of it except that it's leading up to Christmas. But in the more recent years, it has become more clear to me what it's all about, and more meaningful. And this year, I am downright excited about it. Especially after the message we heard this morning, about what it means, not only looking back to the first coming of Jesus when He was born in the stable and laid in a manger. No, we are preparing and looking forward to His second coming! That's what it's all about! The minister this morning brought out the story of Simeon and Anna in the temple, how they were waiting for a long time to see the Messiah. And when Jesus was brought to the temple, they knew that this was He. How did they know? The Spirit of God told them, I'm sure. And now, they were ready to die! God had fulfilled His promise, and now their departure was imminent. I found the message immensely fascinating and exhilarating. Even if we were at home, listening to it online, live.
This passage of Scripture also blessed me so much today. I will share it here. It comes from Hebrews 12. "For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore ..... But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. .....Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."!
What a beautiful passage! So many lovely word pictures. That innumerable company of angels, the church of the firstborn .... Mount Zion, the city of the living God! That is what we are a part of! Sometimes I can hardly wait to see it all. And in the meantime, we are a part of this kingdom which cannot be shaken. It's almost too much to grasp. God, You are so awesome!
Anyway, back to earth!! My first knee surgery is history. I went into the hospital on Monday, late afternoon. All went well, the surgery took about one hour on Tuesday morning. I was not put to sleep, for which I am thankful, as I think recovery is easier and faster if you don't get general anesthesia. So I was given a needle in my back which numbed the lower half of my body, and also something to make me a bit drowsy, But I was awake and aware the whole time, while not feeling anything of what was happening.
I had to stay flat on my back the rest of the day, for optimum healing for where the needle was in my back. Flat, with my feet elevated and no pillow under my head. It got a bit tiresome, but finally the hours passed! (I think it was 12 hours I had to stay that way.)
On Wednesday morning I was discharged. I cannot put any weight on my right leg, nor bend the knee very far, at this point. On Thursday we went back to emergency, because my incision was bleeding. Part of the problem is my varicose veins -- I received good attention and had to stay on one of the ER beds for about an hour for observation, then we came back home again. I cannot drive the car right now, and of course Peter has not had a license for years, so we got Roberto, our kind neighbour, to take us to the ER. He and his wife are fellow workers here at the Home.
And so that has been our little adventure of the week. I have crutches, but I prefer the little rolling stool that Peter uses to push me around from place to place. The thing is, my other knee does not appreciate doing all the work and all the weight bearing, and it is actually hurting more than the one that was operated on. My shoulders also felt the strain from the crutches. And so, we learn as we go! Tomorrow (Monday) I go back for a checkup. I have no idea when to expect I'll be able to walk on this leg again. I hope it won't be six weeks, but we'll go with what there is! I can feel healing is already taking place -- the Great Physician has been at work! We are thankful to Him that everything has gone so well. His love and mercy are never-ending.
Peter is a busy man nowadays. He has been doing the Home laundry since I am not able, besides taking care of me. (And he takes excellent care of me!!) And of course he still cares for the elderly men too, trying to meet their needs and wants. Others are also caring for the elderly, so it's not all on him, but still. I can hardly wait till I can be up and doing my regular duties again. When Tina is here, she will take over the Home laundry, but last week one of their sons from Canada came with his family to visit, so she came fewer days than she usually does. Hope she comes this week!
Well, there isn't much else to say, so I'll let you go, wishing you all the Lord's blessings in this beautiful Advent time! Let's remember to watch and wait!! Jesus may come!
Love,
Susan for the Hoovers