Quick Liberty Team update

Just talked with Danielle briefly and she said they were not coming back to the States. Guess that means they are all having a GREAT time. Nell says the only Hiccup so far has been the hippo's that have taken up residency in our swimming area. Six to ten Hippos are in the area so swimming has been out but national geographic pictures have been in! Team unity seems to be outstanding and the campers are being "loved on" big time by the students. We changed the camp program slightly to make the daily schedule more conducive for the students to have more time to directly interact with the campers. Seems to be working well so far. Praying that the Spirit of God would move mightily in the campers hearts as well as the students are. Thankful our whole Sports Friends Ethiopia staff has participated in making this camp week so special! The Wetzels and Smiths are receiving high praises from Nell for their care and compassion for the Liberty team. I will provide a more specific ministry update on Friday after the camp concludes. Thanks for praying for this ministry initiative.

Next Step......

After todays mtg with the doctor we have concluded that surgery to remove the lymph node on the right side of my neck for further testing is the appropriate next step. That lymph node will then be tested for various forms of lymphoma of which there are approximately 35. The doctor has decided he will also biopsy some of the tissue from the tonsil which means after cutting the node out he will go into the throat area beneath the tongue for this. Kinda a 2 for 1 special we just couldn't say no too I guess. Actually, truth be told Chris talked him into the second part of the surgery......she loves those special deals! But when she asked the doctor to do the surgery at the goodwill store to save money I put my "throat" down. No way to that! Anyway, thanks for praying friends and I'm so sorry this has been such a drawn out process but we appreciate you standing in the gap with us. After the surgery we expect to get the results in one weeks time. I will post the time of the surgery when we receive confirmation on that. bd

brian

Finally a Diagnosis!

Don't know what it is yet, but I'm on my way to Dr. Kamerer's office to find out. Looking forward to knowing something definitive today. Excited and nervous at the same time.

"be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" 2 Timothy 2:1

Update from Chris

Dear Friends and Family,
I just wanted to update on our situation and keep you in the loop for prayers. First of all, thank-you to all of you who sent cards, e-mails, Facebook messages, or called Brian to make his 50th birthday so special! He was so blessed by all the love expressed and the fun memories shared. We had a fun dinner out with a couple of dear friends, before which Johanna and I blindfolded him and took him out--surprise!-- shopping for his recliner chair, a gift from the whole family. Of course Johanna found the largest one in the store-- waaay to big for our little sunroom/ TV room. It is almost four feet wide and swallows you up in it. Naturally, it is oh, so comfortable. I have my work cut out for me trying to get them to focus on a smaller size. At least it was not leather; they are being thrifty minded, if not practical! =)
Well, the last two weeks have definitely been a roller coaster ride for us, as Brian has been to one doctor after another and had all kinds or tests and scans. So far, the results have not been definitive. Thursday he went in for a second biopsy, during which they stuck three needles in his neck and wiggled them around for a good, long time to be sure to get enough cells for the lab. Evidently, this was still not good enough, because we have yet to get results. There was no obvious malignancy on the samples, which we take as good news, but they are doing a more thorough test (photo cytology?) for lymphoma, and may yet remove the lymph node to examine it. We will keep you posted as soon as we get any concrete news.
We have been uplifted and cared for by the body of Christ on every side and feel God's peace. On Sunday after church the elders and our pastor prayed over Brian and anointed him with oil, reading from James 5:13-18. Our children also, have seemed able to rest in the knowledge that God is in control, for which we are grateful. Perhaps our prayers are already being answered and God is beginning a healing work in Brian's body. We know He is able! We are also willing to go through whatever He has planned for His glory.
Whatever the test results, the hardest part has been the waiting, and, for Brian, being told he could not go with the team from Liberty to Ethiopia. He asked the doctor twice whether he was sure about that, once again as late as this past Tuesday. It was a great disappointment to him after having worked on it for so many months as SIM and Liberty's first partnership, and especially with John and Danielle leading the group. We sent them off Thursday in the very capable hands of Dan Linz, son of Don and Barb Linz, who trained us when we first joined SIM. Danielle is so excited to share her beloved Ethiopia with these students and with John, and we are praying that the Lord might call some of these young people to full-time ministry with SIM. John and Danielle are already praying and working toward full-time missions themselves. We heard from them briefly today through Berhanu, so they did arrive safely. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THEIR SAFETY AND THEIR MINISTRY THROUGHOUT THE TRIP, AND ESPECIALLY FOR DANIELLE, FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS PREGNANT WITH OUR GRANDSON. Her doctors have been very careful to cover all the bases and gave her the okay to go, but you know how parents can be concerned for their children!
Much love in Christ,
Chris

No NEWS is GOOD NEWS?

I had 3 wonderful good looking needles put into my lymph node on the right side of my neck today. No pain no Gain, right! Bottom Line they are doing more tests on the samples they took today and will have an answer for me in the morning.

Going to enjoy a pizza and some March Madness tonight. We are in very good spirits despite having to wait another day!

Brian for Chris too (who has been in bed for last 48hrs sick as can be....ugh!)

"Abide in Me" John 15:4

Woke up this morning after the best nights sleep in 2 weeks. Feeling absolutely peaceful and ready for the day. Abiding in Him and feeling the prayers of so many today.

Three weeks ago I thought I'd be excited about this day for another reason....I'd be back in Ethiopia! The Liberty team departs Washington, D.C. today later this afternoon. Please pray for the students who are going to have their faith strengthened, to have a servants attitude, and for God to stir in some the desire to be a intern or long term missionary with SIM in the future. They will be gone to the 21st of March.

Truth be told I'm more anxious about Danielle going on this trip pregnant than I am about my test today at the BCC here in Charlotte at 2pm. So if you would, pray for Danielle to stay healthy for the duration of this trip and thereafter. Thank you.

Biopsy 2pm Thursday, March 11th

I can't wait to go to Blumenthal Cancer Center tomorrow at 2pm to have somebody stick needles in my neck. That's unusual for someone who is such a whimp like me! But hey this waiting around is for the birds. I know...I know PATIENCE! Easier said as advice to others than to live out oneself! At least for me today. I got the hospital run around all day and it was frustrating. But thanks to my friend Breck Bolton we got this final tell tale biopsy set for tomorrow. Yes! Thanks Breck.

Anybody come up with there own opinion on what the "not definitive" result yesterday meant. I think many of us came up with our own theories. Here's my take on the "not definitive" first biopsy result yesterday. Doctors were so convinced I had cancer because of the size of the lump in my throat and the large lymph nodes that when the cells came back not showing signs of cancer they were shocked. Therefore they want to dig deeper and take more cells from multiple area's in the lymph nodes to be completely sure. Just a TOTAL GUESS! But I say dig all you want. Let's be sure. It's hard not to get your hopes up after the "not definitive" result but I've been trying pretty hard to guard my optimistic hopes just in case. Love for it to be "a definitive NO cancer" result tomorrow, but still I understand the journey I'm on and I trust God withever the result.

So I been studying and learning more and more about trials. Whatever the result is tomorrow this has been a trial for our family. Whether it turns out to be just a little one or a big one is yet to be determined. Everyone of us has trials...regularly. They come in all sizes and from various sources. Sickness, failure in a task, a relationship issue with someone you care about, the loss of a job, the loss of confidence, financial problems, ailments, disease, and countless other types big and small. That's life on this earth. But as a follower of Jesus Christ be encouraged by these words no matter what size of the trial your facing or what the source of the trial is:

"We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." Acts 14:22 Spurgeon say's,

" God's people have trials. It was never God's design for His people to be untried." "Behold I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction" (Isaiah 48:10).

God's people were never chosen for worldly peace and merely earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of life was never guaranteed. When the Lord drew up the character of privileges, He included chastisement among the things we should expect. Trials are part of life. Trials were predestinated for us in God's solemn decrees and bequeathed to us in Christ's legacy. As surely as the stars are fashioned by God's hands and their orbits fixed by Him, our trials are allotted to us. He has ordained their season, their place, their intensity, and the effect they will have on us. Not even good people should expect to escape troubles. If they do, they will be disappointed for all their predecessors have had trials. .....remember the biographies of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs. All these vessels of mercy passed through the fires of affliction. It is ordained that the cross of trouble will be engraved on every ship of mercy like the royal mark distinguishes a King's vessel. Although tribulations walk the path with God's children we take comfort knowing that our Master has traveled it ahead of us. We have His presence and sympathy to cheer us. His grace to support us, and His example to teach us how to endure. The trials of this life will seem as nothing when we reach heaven. "

I love this perspective! This was Paul's perspective and that's how when he was in jail, persecuted, robbed, stoned, etc etc he still had the joy of the Lord. It's impossible to have this joy in and of ourselves. Impossible! But in the Spirit we can respond authentically and genuinely in a way that is completely different than any natural response would normally elict. Ahhh...the GLORY of the IMPOSSIBLE!...when someone "lives out' the righteousness of the Lord in a difficult circumstance or situation and only God can receive the glory because you know one's natural inclination is much different. Be encouraged by this truth.