I've (Bethany) had something on my heart and mind to write for about three weeks now, but I haven't the time or the brains to process it this morning, so you are going to get a big run-on sentence, brain dump kind of update...sorry, a more thought out one is coming soon, I promise!
On November 15 Joshua had his scheduled 3 month ultrasound and chest x-ray, as well as some labs. Praise God with us for a clear report on all fronts! Whew...a sigh of relief must have been felt across our home when that news came in!
Back when we scheduled the November scan, we also got the ok from the Doc to plan a short trip to SA to iron out some future details, given the November scans were clear. Alex booked flights so we had them ready, but could cancel if needed.
I worked on tracking down and lining up an oncologist to review Joshua's case and discuss what follow ups can happen in SA moving forward. It took about a month to get that all sorted, but in God's kindness He directed messages back and forth.
I could not get my head around packing until I knew the scan results on the 15th. There was a large mountain in the corner of our room that was the catch all for potential packing.
Needless to say, once those scan results came back my packing brain kicked into high gear. Throw in Joshua's birthday week and Thanksgiving week and now we are down to the wire with packing and getting things done because we leave on SATURDAY!!!!! (Lord willing).
This is a trip of faith for sure, last week Alex wrapped up preaching a two part series from Mark chapter 13 (listen here if you'd like, Part 1 and Part 2) and at the end he talked about how we are called to be on guard for the coming of the Lord. That is so much more real to us these days, being on guard, having our eyes open, trusting God's plan. We are in no way perfect in this area, but we are much more keenly aware of how God's hand moves and changes plans for His honor and glory.
Please pray with us as we take this trip. Pray for safety - we fly out on Saturday, December 2. We arrive in Cape Town Sunday evening SA time and stay over night, then we drive to George the next day. Pray for good sleep on Sunday night and alertness while on the opposite side of the road on Monday. Pray for our meeting with the oncologist on Wednesday December 6, pray for clarity of what he is able and willing to do in collaboration with the doctors here (in theory Joshua should need an ultrasound, chest x-ray, and labs once every three months for about another year). Pray for renewed relationships there in George. Pray for usefulness to the Lord for the approximately 6.5 weeks we will be there, and pray for safety for our travels back mid January.
Thank you for the love an support we have received from each of you these past months (years!). Your prayers and encouragement are such a gift to us!
We pray as James did in chapter 1:2-8
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
and chapter 4:13-15
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
Comments