Friends For The Journey

“I arise today, through a mighty strength…. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man that thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me….I arise today through a mighty strength…(taken from St. Patrick’s Prayer)

Joseph and I have been praying this prayer everyday since I was diagnosed with cancer. We have drawn strength from these words that were penned hundreds of years ago and today I can truthfully say that it is only through this mighty strength that I do arise. I had chemo #3 on Wednesday and every day since then has been one of extreme fatigue, such as I have never experienced before. Today is Sunday and I am just beginning to feel a tiny bit more strength and I am thanking God!

I realize it has been a while since I sent an update, so I will try to give a quick one. Labor Day weekend Joseph and I were able to go to Ohio to attend a Family Camp that we used to go to when our children were small. It was a wonderful, refreshing time. We saw many old friends and family members, and received many prayers while we were there. We returned home on the 6th, I had chemo on the 7th and ended up in the hospital with fever and pain on the 8th. They did many tests but could not pinpoint the reason for the fever, so I went home on the 12th. The week after that I was in bed with fever again for a couple of days and back to ER on Friday. We hear it is not unusual for this to happen after chemo. We are learning as we go…

As I write this Joseph is in Bogota, Colombia for a couple of weeks working on his master’s thesis—research. He is staying with our friends Pedro and Rosalba who are pastoring the church we started there. He is sharing in the church this morning on “Fear not!” Thank you for your prayers for him while he was in Brazil. Everything worked out with the program he was in and he was able to finish a portion of his research. He will need to return to Brazil before the end of the year to finish his research there and then hopefully, get it all typed up and ready to present in May. I am so proud of him. I know it has not been easy for him to do these things and take care of me, but he is doing a great job.

I am still working a few hours a week and studying German as I am able. A friend of mine asked if my faith is still strong and I said, “Yes, my faith is still strong and I am going to defeat the cancer!” to which he said, “I believe you will.” I just want to affirm that God is my strength through this whole journey. The week that I was in the hospital, I momentarily lost my focus on Him and it was like a terrifying roller coaster ride, but while I was lying on the bed in ER He spoke to me and said, “I am still in control. Even this is not outside my knowledge. Do you still trust me?” As soon as I said, “Yes, Lord” my peace returned and I have been fine, even through this terrible fatigue. He has been so good to me and has given me such wonderful friends to walk through this time with me. Thank you, again, for your love and prayers.

Until next time,
Debbie