Bethany Center and Worship

Yesterday members of our church, The Way Fellowship, helped serve dinner at the Homeless Center. This has become a ministry that many members of our church feel called to help at. The first dinner is served to just single people who are staying at the center and those in the community who need a meal, the second dinner is served to families who are staying at the center. Only women and children can stay at the center together. It was such a humbling experience. Before going Kristina, our worship leader and I, decided to bring our guitars and play some worship with them. We had no idea how much God would use that time to bless the people there. As we sat and playing ( I let someone else play my guitar) and sang those staying there began to gather around and sit enjoying worshiping our Lord. It was so wonderful and probably one of the most peaceful times I have had in a long time. When we prepared to leave, the ladies asked in earnest that we would come back more often, that they felt so refreshed. What a blessing to them, but especially to us.

It was also so interesting to hear the stories of how many of these people end up at the homeless shelter. They are families just like everyone else who through a series of circumstances find themselves needing extraordinary help. For many the circumstances were not anything they could have avoided. May we be like the Christians in Acts and give generously of ourselves to love and help those who are helpless.

On another note, as for Chris, there is no news right now. We are waiting to hear back from San Antonio about the other clinical trial we hope he qualifies for. There is no doubt, waiting is very hard, but I know we just need to be still and wait upon the Lord. Look to Him and know He has everything in His capable hands.

"I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth" Psalm 121:1-2

Happy Birthday Chris

Today is Chris's 20th birthday. What a blessing he has been to my life and if his father was here, he would have such pride in celebrating his youngest son's birthday. It was fun to have his friends and family friends come over to help celebrate his day. What an amazing thing when you put it into God's perspective, he had created and known Chris even before he was ever born. My prayer is that Chris will continue to live his life for the Lord and that life will be long and bring Him glory.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SON.

Love you so much, Mom

Door might not be shut

Yesterday Chris went to meet with our wonderful Dr. Cartmell and gave him the bad news about the clinical trial both he and Chris had hoped to get into. Dr. Cartmell was not pleased and is going to appeal to the drug company to still allow Chris to do the treatment as a humanitarian needs patient (I think they call it something else but you get the idea). So please pray for favor from the company for this opening. In the mean time Chris may do some radiation to one of the lymph nodes in his sternum that is growning. He negotiated with the radiologist not to do any of the radiation next week, he has more important things to do. (Emily is home for Spring Break) .The nodes in his lungs are currently not growing. So it is kind of a mixed bag of good things and well other things. But the good thing is that God is in control, our trust is in Him and His goodness.

Tomorrow Chris will go with Emily's father to pick her up from Westmont, he is very excited for that and being able to spend time together over the next week. A trip to Palm Desert is hopefully in the plans also. It is also his 20th birthday on Monday, so another thing to celebrate.

Chris also talked with Oxy today and is hoping to begin working with them on the 23rd of March. This would be wonderful for Chris, he loves working there and it will help him keep busy doing things he is so good at.

Well thanks for all the prayers, I know they are moving mountains. May they move the mountain of the drug company to have favor for Chris to do their treatment.

Don't ride the roller coaster

As we have gone through the last week, it has been up and down, up and down, especially for me personally. Without John everything is so much harder, but God is still in control. We had prayed for clarity for treatment options. We felt the first one was the one, but apparently that was not God's plan. It is sometimes so hard, feeling like you are on the right track, but having the door closed as Chris said. But we must trust that our prayers are being answered, that the right plan is still to come and that not being able to do the one we hoped is not a loss.

John used to always say we can not ride the roller coaster, that we must stay focused on the Lord and that He is steadfast, our Rock. I have to admit I have failed over the last week, I hope to do better. Several times I have heard the words, "be still and know that I am God". Lord help me be still, especially in my mind.

Door Shuts from Chris's blog

Well, just got the call from the guys in San Antonio.

Looks like the Reolysin (virus) trial is out of the picture. Because of the previous brain tumor I had, I don't qualify for that trial.

I've been added the the waiting list for another trial (option two a few posts ago). This is a growth inhibitor study. Unfortunately, I won't be able to start treatment for about four weeks.

I'm not sure what God is doing here, but we're going to continue to have faith in Him and trust that He has a greater plan for all this, and somehow it's all going to work out for His good.

On the bright side, I'll be in town for Emily's spring break!

Prayer for favor

Sometimes things are so disappointing they are almost crushing. Chris had spent the last couple of days frantically getting scans, bloodwork etc... done to get everything into CTRC in San Antonio so that he could be approved to start the treatment on Monday. It was important to him to hopefully get it started on Monday because they he would be home when Emily was off for spring break. Also his birthday is on the 16th and he wanted to be home for that. Well after two whole days he completed all that was necessary, it usually takes a couple of weeks. But unfortunately this afternoon they called and said they needed the drug companies approval because of the brain surgery he had in January. HUGE disappointment.

Chris is very bummed, but I know he will get his good attitude back. It is just hard, everything is such an overwhelming challenge. So we ask for your prayers that the drug company for the treatment will give its approval, that we will have the favor of God. It is so hard when things appear to be in the hands of other people. But they really are in the hands of God and we will trust for his favor and provision.

What we learned in San Antonio

We had a successful trip. Before we went God had pointed out the scripture in Exodus when God tells the Israelites, "See I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." Ex 23:20. God went before us, we had prayed that the right treatment options would be clear to us, that the plan would be His plan. We felt peace as we left. My friend Rille went with us, she was a HUGE blessing, helped keep me centered and prayed as we met and discussed what was being offered. She really filled the place where John would have been. These things are so much harder without him, but God has provided.

You can read Chris's blog to see what how the visit to CTRC went at Two Doors .

We thank everyone who has been praying for us. Please don't stop...those prayers are what sustain us through our Lord Jesus.

San Antonio

We leave for San Antonio today to consult with some doctors about treatment options for Chris. If you have not read his blog, you may not know that the surgery on his lungs revealed the cancer had indeed spread there and to some lymph nodes. Not what we had hoped, but our hope is not diminished for God's complete healing over Chris. We are expecting our good God to do amazing and marvelous things. So off we go, praying for great wisdom.

Chris describes the details on his blog so you can check them out there. http://www.kooseefoo.com/?q=node/158

blessings to all of you. Dawn