Friends For The Journey

(UPDATE)

Debbie had chemo yesterday. Despite the usual physical discomfort and side effects, she is doing extremely well. The cancer tumor markers have dropped from over 60 down to 0! First, her oncologist changed her protocol to three weeks of chemo, and one week off, but yesterday the oncologist changed it again to two weeks of chemo and one week off. We are encouraged.

Last night we had our usual backyard “god-party” with nearly 14 people, including 3 or 4 atheists/agnostics and a couple of Buddhists and several Christian backsliders and church drop-outs. We discussed the importance of community, spiritual authenticity and friendships around a fire pit. It is fun to watch their progress toward faith.

I am back into the winter semester at Florida International University, working 20 hours a week as a Teaching Assistant for LAH2020, an intro course to Latin American History. I have nearly 80 students, of which only two are not from Latin America: one student from the Middle East and another Anglo-American. The rest of the students are from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. I will be advising them, leading them in discussion groups, and grading their essays.

Thank you again for all of your prayers!

Joseph