Time for an update I suppose. I’ve been so tired. Working a lot, it’s been good. Kopo is now working as well and we’re homeschooling the girls. It’s been quite the journey. We’re so grateful to my mum and her husband Keith who have been the best hosts for us as we all are cozy in their house while waiting for a place of our own. Let’s see, what has happened since i last updated? it’s a bit of a blur.. Ah yes Kopo and AJ had just arrived, miraculously, since her paperwork was rejected by USCIS! I’ve since re-applied but have yet to hear back, that’s on the prayer request list ☺️
AJ celebrated her 5th birthday her first weekend here. We started her day with balloons and unicorns and donuts. Also with a fun carpentry class offered by Kids’ Carpentry in Redwood City. I’ll add photos, it was a blast. Later our brother came over with our nephews and niece and we enjoyed watching the kids play in the street and ended the day with yummy cupcakes and a treat from the ice cream man. A simple day yet filled with so much fun!
As I mentioned earlier, I have been working a lot. I still work for Generations United, a non-profit organization in Redwood City,CA. It’s been so good to be back in person, and seeing all we do up close. It was nice to stay involved while working remotely, but now it is even better to be here, especially with how things have affected the immigrant community. We are here to love and serve 🙏🏽 I am grateful to know this community and hold their stories close 🤎 *shameless plug*, watch this short video to learn more about Generations United. Kopo started working at the same organization soon after my last post, he is loving it. He is so good with kids and I love seeing him in his element, He really is such an incredible man, I am beyond blessed to call him mine forever – Thank you God 😭🙌🏾
Thank you all for your prayers and kind words, i appreciate everyone who reached out to me 💝 Here’s the latest with my leg. After sorting through insurance and a connection with a Doctor to get me seen sooner than the waitlist allowed, I was able to get into Stanford Orthopedics to see what was going on with my leg. It seems the hardware inside is what’s causing my pain. Basically where the metal starts at the top is pushing into my bone and not letting my leg move as it should so it’s causing friction and pain. The bump I feel underneath is the screw and when it’s inflamed it’s the tissue around it. The screws in my ankle are going into another bone which messes up the movement of my ankle and now some of the cartilage is damaged as well as the top of the ankle bone. There is also another screw in my ankle that is sooo close to another bone that the doctor described it as “tickling my bone every time i move it” and let me tell you tickling isn’t a fun feeling but it sounds funny 😂😭🫣 Originally they told me that unfortunately, they could not take the metal and screws out for another 3 months 😭 They wanted to be sure the bone is completely healed before taking it out. I went for a CT a few days after my appointment to see how it’s healing. And just last week they called me to schedule my new surgery for later this month. An absolute miracle, the doctor wasn’t even going to do the CT because it has only been 6mo since my last surgery, but his resident suggested it so he offered it as an option for me to think about and i decided to do it just in case – Praise God!!! And just 2 days ago Stanford called again to let me know a spot opened a week earlier than my surgery was scheduled for, so next Friday is my surgery!!! I am so excited. Who knew i could be so excited for surgery 🤣 As far as the pain goes, they can’t really do anything about the pain bc it’s the metal against my bone & I didn’t want to be on narcotics for months (when it was believed it would be months) I was considering some natural options but at this point it’s just some ibuprofen and acetaminophen until next Friday. It will be a relatively easy surgery, they will use the same incision as before and I’ll just need to take care of the incision afterwards. I have a follow up scheduled for May 5th. I’m so grateful God made a way for me to be seen so quickly and for the amazing care I’ve received at Stanford. The staff have been so kind and supportive, it has been amazing 😭 It’s so reassuring and healing for the medical trauma I sustained in Samoa. Kopo and I are both still healing from that emotionally, it was something that we didn’t fully acknowledge or talk about until we arrived here in the USA. There is much I did not share and am still processing through; The Lord knows and continues to heal me in ways I didn’t realize I needed. He is so good and faithful in every situation and season.
I have not seen many people since I have been back but I’ve had a few visitors and I am grateful for those who have stopped by and cared for me and my family while I’m not out and about much. Thank you all. Once I am healed from surgery, I will be taking it easy as I learn how to walk properly without any aids, slowly start to workout again and just build up stamina to be out for longer than I have been the last 7+ months. I am SOOOO excited for the time i can go for walks again 🙏🏽
Prayer Requests
- For my pain and for God to continue to see me through until all the hardware gets taken out
- A smooth and complication-free surgery on Friday, April 18
- A speedy recovery after surgery with no lingering pain or infections
- A home for our family, we have applied to many and are trusting that God will lead us to the home He has for us, in His perfect timing
- Grace for us as we continue to live in close quarters and continue transitioning to life in the USA
- Continued trust in God and deepening of our faith as we allow Him to guide us into all He has for us
- AJ immigration case. We are awaiting a decision on her latest application.
- For us to find a home church we can get involved in
- Comfort for Keith and his family as his mom died 2 days ago and her services are this weekend.
- Comfort for many other friends who have lost loved ones in the last few weeks
Thank you all for your love and support, for your prayers and words of kindness and encouragement. If anyone has a prayer request that you would like us to pray for as a family, please email me: crystaltapelu@icloud.com or anything else, email me. I love hearing from you! God is so faithful and good, we are grateful for all he has done and continues to do. He has made Himself known to us and has shown us that we are here in His perfect timing. I look forward to what He continues to do in and through us. His story is never about us, about our family or whatnot, but what He is doing and we are down for whatever He has for us 🤎
Tapelutopia 