Wednesday, July 18, 2007

...so...how to cover two weeks of life in one short blog??...let me first write about the last Toronto appointment before I mention camp. On monday afternoon we flew into Toronto...we took the subway to the hospital and made it there an hour before Ramona's CT scan. The 8:40 p.m. CT Scan was uneventful except for the fact that it was a little late. And I appreciate the offer Marion to use the AIM appartment, but Ramona and I knew we would be tired and only around for one night....so we stayed downtown...Ramona's appointment at 9 a.m. the next morning with Dr. Waddell gave us some pretty discouraging and scary news. Ramona's lungs are not clear. The left lung has atleast 6 tumors the size of loonies and the right lung, the one they cleared out 4 weeks ago already has one more tumor about the size of a loonie. This means the cancer is once again growing fast....if no more tumors grow, Dr. Waddell said that these would be easy to remove...the problem is that we don't know how many more will grow. Surgery for the left lung is booked for August 7th.....i don't know how describe the doctor's expression...he was hinting that they may need to do chemo if the lungs look too bad...this part is up in the air right now. We have an appointment with Dr. Wong (Winnipeg) where we will, I'm sure, talk about this. Please pray hard. This is pretty scary news we're hearing. There is no proper segway to change topics now, but I wanted to end this blog on an encouraging note. While we were at camp (and I'm sure now too) a lot of good things were happening. Kids were not only having fun and getting hit with paintballs, but were becoming Christians as well. It was powerful for everyone to hear Ramona's testimony last week. Ramona is taking a break from camp this week and resting. I plan to return to camp for Thursday and Friday of this week and depending how things go, we'll probably both be at camp the last two weeks.

For now,
Earl

13 comments:

Evan and Mel said...

Thanks for the update. We will definitely be praying for you both and for all the doctors involved.
Evan and I were so pumped to hear that you were at camp again this year. Keep doing wonderful things for God and the campers.

We will also be praying for peace and strength as you start this next step in your journey.

Anonymous said...

we're praying!! may you continue to experience god's peace and love and strength! i really admire the work you're doing at camp! keep it up! and keep looking up!
tiphanie wiebe

Anonymous said...

hey... thanks for the blog update. I'm sure this must hit hard and wow, I wish you would've had different results from the CT scan, but I am so thankful that you are in Good Hands. Hope to see you soon. My mom says she's praying for you as well...

Later, Crystelle

TJ said...

I don't really have any profound words.... We are with you as you keep fighting.

We are praying,
Stan and Tara

Anonymous said...

oh man guys, that is not the news anyone wanted to hear. Can't tell you how much we're praying and feeling for you. Hoping you all the strength you need to persevere in your fight and also to keep your faith. I'm sure your lives are making a big impact for the Kingdom at camp. Love Christy

Anonymous said...

Last night as I read your email these words kept coming to me. Don't give up, Don't give up. God is the same God as he was yesterday when things were going well.. I know it is easy to get discouraged and even get angry at God. Tell God how you feel but Don't give up.
Praying for you along with many others.

Brigitte said...

It's always difficult for me to find the words in English to express my feelings, I am with you every day, I can imagine how it is hard for you I pray for you the more I can, Lilou and I are your best supporter in France, all my love xxx brigitte

Anonymous said...

i love you guys and i'm praying for you Keep on fighting You guys are great

Unknown said...

Hey Earl (and of course, Ramona), thanks so much for the update. It must be hard, frustrating, even, to share the events of your life (good or bad) without letting emotion grab ahold and season your account of what God's doing here. I can't imagine what must be going through your heads right now, and your perseverance and strength through all of this tells me that there is something supernatural going on here, and that is an encouragement.

I know a lot of people have offered psalms as encouragement in the past, but God's really opened my eyes to another perspective of your situation. Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God ore courageously and fearlessly." (1:12-14)

My church back home is going through a series on this book, and my pastor pointed out something marvellous. Paul was arrested and put under house arrest for preaching the gospel, and was writing back to the church at Philippi... but rather than complaining, rather than spending his days in fear for his life (I'm told he faced death, or life in prison, at the worst), rather than praying for his own release, Paul is joyful - JOYFUL - that he is there. In chains, no less. He views this situation not as a setback, but as a new and unique opportunity to share the gospel with those who are charged to watch over him. It is not his being freed that would serve as his witness, but his attitude, his peace and joy at this otherwise terrible situation that would have been most amazing to those around him. Ramona, you are, in a sense, a prisoner to this cancer, and it seems like God's set out for you yet another time of 'house arrest' - but I encourage both of you to take heart, and even though your pain and frustration may be great, your faith, your persistence in prayer, your gentleness and peace in knowing that whatever the future holds for you here on earth, earth and eternity both hold CHRIST! I know an encouraging word on a bad day can often be more abrasive than a grumpy one, but I really do pray that you see God has and will continue to use this in such a big, amazing way.

I'll be back in Toronto on the 1st, I'd love to visit and pray with you again if you're up for it.

Sorry this was so long... Much love, as always!

Erin

Dianna said...

Thank you so much for the update. We are def. praying for you both. God has your life planned long before you were formed He had plans for you. Trust in Him lay it on Him He will direct you. It's probably hard at times to have faith. I can't imagine what you are going thru. One feels so helpless. But we can only encourage you with scripture and promise to pray for you. That's the best thing we can do for one another. Holding them up in prayer. Strength for the day, -Dianna, Len and our children

Chantel said...

Praying for you guys! Stay strong and positive. God Bless.

Anonymous said...

Hey Guys haven't talk to you in awhile, but i do still try and keep up with reading your blogs, I'm pumped you both are at camp it's really cool your there. I'm gonna pray for you guys tonight for sure, I can't even come close to imagining what your life has been like this long while, It is very encouraging that your keep faith in God in this whats probably seems like a very long time struggle. Peace Out what what lol. Scott Rickey

Anonymous said...

A dear freind of mine once going through cancer treatments wrote this quote in her blog-
Today's inspiration:

Pain is temporary.It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever. That surrender, even the smallest act of giving up, stays with me. So when I feel like quitting, I ask myself, which would I rather live with? Facing up to that question, and finding a way to go on is the real reward!

Lance Armstrong

I am praying hard for you along with so many others.