Jackie and I are back in Soddo after some time in the USA visiting new grandchildren and sharing

Christmas with our extended family. We now have 5 grandchildren and another on the way. We thank our children and the LORD for these gifts to us. Most of the time when Im away, I have someone with orthopedic skills to help cover for me. In the past, the orthopedic cases tended to dry up, which is good in some ways when there is no one to cover but bad for hospital finances. Now when I leave, it doesnt slow down. Patients are even coming from near the Kenyan border. I am thankful to Dr. Alan Johnson and his wife Marlene who covered for me in December and also shared the load in November. I am also thankful to Dr. Dave Solfelt and his wife Barb who covered in January. My partner Paul Gray filled in when they were gone. Thanks to all. Injury and tragedy are used by God to draw us to Him. I would like to share the story of a woman who recently experienced this. The 45-year-old was involved in a traffic accident in northern Ethiopia and sustained an acetabular injury, which was severe. The acetabulum is the cup part of the hip joint. The surgeon she saw in northern Ethiopia knew of my work and he sent her to Soddo, a two-day trip by car. I cant imagine the pain. When she got here, our doctors put her in traction (weights attached to a pin in the leg) to keep the hip from worsening from muscle contraction. Shortly after she arrived we operated to put her fracture back in place. The operation was difficult, but it went well and she did not have complications (such as infection, nerve injury or blood clot). During the week after her surgery, we asked her where she would have gone if she had died in the injury. She didnt know. Our Ethiopian resident Dejene shared how she could have a relationship with Jesus. She accepted the LORD into her life and asked Jesus to forgive her of her sins. Serious injury anywhere in the world is difficult to bear, much less in Ethiopia. There is so much uncertainty about how the injury will be managed, especially if it is difficult. We are thankful that God is sending to us people from many parts of Ethiopia for help with their injuries. We are also thankful for Jesus healing of peoples hearts. I am grateful to be part of what the LORD is doing here in Soddo. Please pray for us to be faithful for those people God gives to us to serve. Duane and Jackie Anderson