Since coming home Esther has continued to heal.

The tumor is shrinking sufficiently that her doctors ordered a new fiber face mask ordered. The mask is used to immobilize her head and to give the radiation technicians references for aiming the radiation. X-rays are also being taken daily so that the medical team can be sure that they are aiming precisely at the cancer as its mass shrinks.

One anticipated aspect of the radiation has been the loss of Esther’s hair. Watching Esther pick at her hair, Karen decided to remedy the situation. Since Karen cuts hair for most of her large clan, she is experienced at home barbering.

Esther has been decorating for Christmas for the first time in her life. With Naomi and a friend she made construction paper chains for the Christmas tree. Naomi, who teaches the Bible to children back in Kenya, had the children make the chains in the form of a “Bible without words”:

  • Gold for the gifts that God gave us when he created the world;
  • Black for Satan and entry of sin into the world;
  • Red for the blood of Christ which redeemed us;
  • White for redemption and grace; and
  • Green for the opportunity that redemption gives each of us  to grow.

Those are also the colors of the Kenyan flag. When the chains and ornaments were hung on the tree, Esther insisted that it needed “flowers”.

Silk poinsettia flowers were cut from their stems and wired to the tree. Esther was right; The Christmas tree was beautiful. She was delighted.

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