Send Us Your Peace O Lord

There aren't really any words at a time like this. We can't ever understand why tragedies like this happen, but we can ask God to send us peace and healing, with the confidence that this world is only the short beginning to our everlasting happiness with God in Heaven, a happiness that Meghan and their unborn child are already experiencing. Let us also ask them to intercede for our beloved Josh, that God's will may be done.

All of our thoughts and prayers, from Italy to the Czech Republic, to the furthest mission stations in Russia and Kazakhstan are united for Josh, and for the family.

God Bless, and if anyone would like to speak about anything, anyone of us here are availible.

United to you all

Joe Nicklas Maria

Kazakh Hospital

This photo is dedicated to my good friend Lakshmi who is a doctor at the university of Iowa Hospitals. Four years ago when I was in Kazakhstan in the winter, I got some horrible asian flu that had me down for over a week. When I say "down", I mean 104 degree temperature, wierd dreams, cure me or kill me type down. The best part of the whole thing was the great medical care availible to me. So here's the highlights to note. On the far right, you can see an almost empty bottle of vodka. Vodka is the universal cure for EVERYTHING there. They were rubbing it on my chest three times a day to "invigorate" my lungs.....The next item of interest is the what looks like a coat rack, a plastic bag, and a rubberband, but is actually an IV . Ok actually it is a coat rack, a plastic bag, and a rubber band, which were transformed into my IV. Not bad huh? Next, my two nurses. The one kneeling down on the right is one of the sisters from our community who took amazing care of me, to the best of her ability, the whole time. The other is the local nurse who gave me 5injections, yes 5, every day for a week. She has a special place in my heart............

Whenever I tell people about this week of my life, I have to say that I am really thankful for this week, because I really think that until you have been REALLY sick in a foriegn land, you can't call yourself a real missionary! Anyway, that's todays picture, and Lakshmi, I'm gonna have you on standby next time!

God Bless you all!!

Joe Nicklas Maria

Yes, its been a while

Sorry for all of you who have been checking my blog and not finding anything new. I have been at home in the states, and then I was in Slovakia, but now I am back in Rome and back into the normal routine again. I will try to put some new pictures up today or tomorrow from various things, and I hope that you are all doing well and that you had a blessed and holy Christmas season. Happy New Year to all!

God Bless

Joe Nicklas Maria