Joshua's Surgery

Thank you for the many contacts regarding Joshua. We appreciate each of you.

Joshua's surgery was yesterday. It was almost 3xs as long as predicted. The surgeon was able to place all of the bones in his hand, wrist, and the end of his arm back in position and fasten them without having to do the Scenario 2. He has five pieces of "free floating" (surgeon's words) bones and four fractures.

Scenario 2 was going in from the top of the wrist and affixing a plate to hold everything in place. This would have kept him from moving his wrist and would have necessitated a second surgery and a longer healing time.

We are very thankful the surgery is behind us. Joshua is in quite a bit of pain today and is resting at his home.

I apologize for being slow on the updates. My days are very full and rewarding. I am on my feet until 7-8 and sometimes 9-10 each day. I am thankful to have the opportunities and the health to do what I am doing each day, but it limits my time for things like updating the blog. My love to all!

Stage 4 Cancer Over Two Years

February 10: Karen is still having severe pain daily. She believes her back was injured when she had a tooth extracted around the time of the stem cell administration. She also had a major bleeding incident which kept her in the hospital overnight which she is recovering from. Please pray for her Karen and her family. Thank you! May the Lord bless you abundantly for ministering to my friend through the power of prayer. 

Jan 23 6:30 a.m. Karen's son, Malcolm wrote me. There has been very little progress. She was able to sit up twice. She is still in severe pain. Please continue to pray.

Jan 22 7 a.m. There is no update on Karen from Joe. Please pray for my friend and her family.

Jan 21 4:30 p.m. Karen is still in severe pain. They are trying to get pain medications to her so she can be transported to the ER. Please keep praying.

Jan 21 10:15 a.m. Karen's husband says she is unable to move and is in terrible pain today. She had a stem cell transplant last week and that could be the cause. 

Karen has used alternative medicine to treat her cancer. She has been in stage 4 for two years now. It has been two years since she was told to "go home and die." There is no doubt what she is doing has prolonged her life and opportunity to serve the Lord.  

Please pray for her pain relief today. 

She really dislikes missing ministry on Wednesdays. She can go most weeks, but it wears her out.

our inner self is being renewed

2 Corinthians 4

The Light of the Gospel

4 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Treasure in Jars of Clay

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Joshua's 9 Breaks

Joshua has five separated bones and four fractures in his arm/hand/wrist. His surgery is next Wednesday.

Please pray for Sarah's baby

My young friend, Sarah, who I consider like a niece is bleeding during a high-risk pregnancy. The baby is still alive and in the sac. She is at the hospital where they are trying to get the bleeding to stop. If you will, please lift a prayer for the life of the baby and Sarah. Thank you!

Finally, an appointment!

Joshua finally heard from the surgeon yesterday. He has an appointment with their Suffolk office on Thursday morning. We hope this appointment leads to a date for his surgery so his bones can be properly set and start to heal.