And Then She Cried

Sunday afternoon marked a new milestone in our family's health recovery process. Wayne was able to leave the country and head to Brazil, via Peru. This is his first trip since recovering from cancer surgery and his first trip since Tammy's knee surgery. His leaving means that he is sufficiently healed to follow the ministry work the Lord has directed him to do and that Tammy is sufficiently healed to take care of Rebecca while Wayne is away. Given all the health issues the family has been dealing with this summer, this was a blessing and a major milestone.

But something strange also happened on Sunday. Rebecca knew that she and her mom would be taking Wayne to the airport. However, she was surprisingly giggly about the trip. For a short while, Wayne was actually getting a little down feeling that Rebecca might be happy to see him go. However, that feeling was going to be quickly corrected.

As the day rolled from morning to afternoon, Wayne loaded his one bag and his backpack into the back of the van. Rebecca was placed into her wheelchair and loaded into the van. Rebecca and mom were ready to take dad to the airport and drop him off for his trip. Or, so we thought. It takes about 50 minutes on a good day to get from our house to the airport. As we drew every closer to the airport, Rebecca giggled and laughed more and more. Tammy asked Wayne if she thought she was going. "Of course not, she saw me put my bag in the car and I've told her a dozen times this week that I was going" was Wayne's reply.

Rebecca obviously had other thoughts. When the car stopped and Wayne stepped into the back of the van to give his beautiful daughter a goodbye kiss, she erupted into tears and cries. It was clear that she wanted to go along with me. I explained to her that I needed her to stay with mommy and help her this week. Still she cried. Then I told her that when God is ready, He will provide for another opportunity for Rebecca to travel with me. With that, she pushed a brief smile on her face and worked hard to choke back the remaining tears.

What an amazing testimony of love and trust. Clearly, Rebecca had a desire to go with me to Brazil. There was no mistaking it that her heart was set on traveling once again. However, when it didn't happen, when she was reminded that our call is about waiting on God's timing, not our own, then the smile came back, the tears dried up, and the joy returned in her life. Maybe there is something in Rebecca's reaction that we can all learn from.

Life Back To Normal - Kind'a

Sorry for the delay in posting an update. Everyone is doing much better now. I am back to full strength and working a full schedule. I leave on Sunday for Brazil, and then to Haiti the week following. No time to relax as there is much work to be done. When I get back from Haiti I will be started my post-surgery treatment plan. It is actually part of a clinical trial, as there is currently no formal program for treating kidney cancer. Thankfully, the sponsors of the program are going to pay most of the cost. Keep this in your prayers as it is supposed to reduce the chance of reoccurrence by at least 25%.

Tammy is also recovering well from her surgery. She is walking unassisted and is participating in physical therapy three times per week. Likewise, Ryan is recovering well in Nashville from his hip surgery. He is back to a full schedule at work

Rebecca has been awesome through all of this. She is healthy and happy. She really enjoyed going to the football game a few weeks ago. More about that in a future post.

Keep praying for our family. We are ready to put these attacks behind us and move full speed ahead with our ministry. We have an exciting close of the year planned, as well as a great 2008.