a difficult day

some of you know my living situation and some of you do not....let me explain. i did a rotation at M.D. Anderson as a student and was looking for a place to stay. a wonderful friend, steve telian, hooked me up with a physician that used to be his fellow at the University of Michigan. they invited me to come stay on their 3rd floor for the 6 weeks. we had a great time together and they offered me a place to stay if i came and took a job here. i don't think they were expecting me to really end up in texas!!! when i told them that i took the job, they told me i was moving back in. so i did!

they live in a house that was built in 1907 in the area of montrose. they have a little house in the back that i'm sure was a servant's house back in the day. it is small, but quaint. the alfords are a major reason as to why i feel more at home in houston. they are my second family.

gene is a head and neck surgeon. mary is a dentist at a government run HIV/AIDS clinic. they are an incredible couple with a lot of love and generousity. john is their oldest son and he is a junior at Texas A&M. i haven't gotten to know him as much since he has been at school since i got here. bess is now a freshman at Texas A&M also. they are both super smart and she was debating going to Vanderbilt for college.

the sad thing about this note is that their third child, Charles, was killed in a car accident yesterday. he was a super cheerful and goofy 16 year old that was on the lacrosse team, sang in the choir, and hunting. he loved Jesus and Honduras. Mary was also with him in the car and she is going to be okay. she has a couple broken bones that had to be addressed surgically.

this is a tragedy for the Alford family because they have lost their son. the blessing is that they can be confident that they will see him again. their hope, peace, and comfort in this horrible time is in Christ. it is wonderful that we do not have to morn for Charles himself. we know that yesterday was his best day because he got to meet his Savior and Creator. please keep the Alford family in your prayers. i don't have my pictures available right now, but will hopefully put some up of the family.