26 November, 2001  

We have been settled in Maryland for a few months and I wanted to give you an update on how we are doing. I know many of you are continuing to pray for us and we are grateful.

I am enjoying my work in the surgery department at the Veterans Hospital in Baltimore. It takes me about 45 minutes for the commute from Annapolis but I am enjoying listening to Chuck Swindoll on the radio and listening to tapes during the ride. I have appreciated the warm welcome and patience of the staff and the many opportunities to learn in the operating room and in conferences. I attended the American College of Surgeons meeting in New Orleans in October. I was awed by the technology in surgery, educated by the lectures and encouraged by the friends in surgery I met from all over the world. It seems some envy what we are doing compared to the practice of surgery here.

In the church we are attending I am teaching an adult Sunday School class on the book of Acts and Dorothy is teaching the fifth grade girls class. The church family was incredibly helpful in setting up our rental house and helping us get settled.

Dorothy has been busy with two morning Bible studies, a Moms in Touch group (a Christian prayer and support group for mothers who have children in public schools) and the Pioneer Girls club on Tuesday evenings for the girls. She survived a campout with 18 fifth and sixth grade girls and 6 moms for the "camping" badge. She is also enjoying working out in the gym two mornings a week with her sister Sue. Between times, she is keeping the house in order and the rest of us clothed and fed. (No small task!)

Marie is enjoying being a fifth grader and likes her class in the public school two blocks from our house. She has many interesting projects and it has been wonderful to see her creativity blossom. She is bringing a friend from her class to church with us every Sunday. Dorothy took her to the orthodontist this week and it looks like she will need braces for a while. She has taken the news well.

Heather and Anna are doing well in second grade and for the first time are in separate classes. All three girls are enjoying taking piano lessons and are good big sisters to their little brother David.

David is doing great and in spite of his being born 11 weeks premature, he is now “on the growth charts” within his age range for weight and height. He is jabbering away in his own language and has a delightful disposition and laugh. He is a special treasure to us and brings us great joy. Thanks for your prayers for him. He has just started climbing so pray for us!

We have had opportunities to speak in a variety of churches and small groups over the past weeks. We appreciate these opportunities to challenge Christians about world missions and especially the great needs in the Moslem world. On December 1, we have been invited to speak to a medical missions conference for medical students in New York City. Thanks for your prayers for the conference and us.

Jos has come through a difficult time when the city erupted in riots between the Christians and Moslems in September. Evangel was instrumental in caring for many of the wounded but suffered a great financial loss. The staff has not been paid for October yet. Please continue to pray for the leadership and witness of the hospital. If you would like to help, the SIM Evangel Hospital project number is #NG 83500.

We are still planning to return to Nigeria in July 2002. I am excited about beginning the artificial limb workshop and solar battery powered hearing aid project. Dorothy is looking forward to beginning a new ministry challenging church leaders to tackle the problem of caring for orphans of people in the church who have died of AIDS. She will research this important problem while we are on furlough this year.

Since I am working at the Veterans Hospital this furlough, we are not taking the salary/allowance portion of our support. We still need $1400 a month coming in to SIM towards our travel, medical, retirement and SIM administrative expenses. Any excess donations will help us purchase medical supplies and equipment for our next term. Thank you for continuing to support us for these expenses. When we return to Nigeria in July 2002, we will go back on full support. Before returning, we will need to know who will commit to our support for our next term and will send you more information on that in the Spring.

Again, thanks for your interest, prayers and support. We have been blessed with an incredible “home” team of partners in ministry and we are grateful to you and the Lord. Be encouraged we pray for you and enjoy hearing from you as well.

In Christ,    

Bill, Dorothy, Marie, Heather, Anna and David Ardill  

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