Hello dear friends,I must apologize for how long it has taken me to update this. I can't believe it has been so long, I try to update every month! That said, let me try to give you a brief overview of these last couple months...
September
and October were full of activities and conferences. Probably the biggest thing that happened is that we were able to find a nursing home for my grandpa. He is now in the Spring Valley Nursing Home and is doing great. He seems to really like it there and we have so much fun visiting him. He is always so happy and makes the other residents and staff there laugh. They call him the "railroad man" because he is always singing "I've Been Working on the Railroad". It is so funny because those are the only words he knows so he makes up the rest...it's different every time! The last time I got to visit him was at the Halloween party.I was able to attend our District Women's Retreat the beginning of October. The theme was Thirst Quenchers and that is how I felt when I left. It was such an excellent weekend of encouragement and fun. God sustained me physically so I was able to participate in things and not get too tired out. God really spoke to me and encouraged me that weekend. One of the quotes I took from the weekend was "God's will never takes you where His grace cannot keep you." To go along with that, two passages of scripture really touched my heart. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "...'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest
on me." I left with the hope that "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24)." I think the most encouraging part of the weekend for me was to be able to talk with another missionary candidate who has just been appointed with the C&MA. There were so many things that I had been feeling and didn't know how to express, but it was such an encouragement to be able to share those things with someone who understands where I am coming from. I didn't have to explain exactly how I was feeling, she understood. Thanks so much Kristen!The last couple of weeks we have had speakers at church that have greatly encouraged me as well. Our missionaries for fall conference were from the country that I was appointed to and it was wonderful to get to know them and hear what ministry is like where I would have been heading in February. (And where I might still end up some day, Lord willing!) We recently had a pastor from overseas come and share with us. It was so encouraging to hear his story and be reminded of how powerful God is and how He overcomes the greatest of challenges!
I am so thankful to the Lord for all He has done in my life and how He is working to draw me closer to Himself. I would appreciate your prayers for the first part of December. On the 10th I go to see my doctor again and will have all of the labs redone to see if she can figure out what exactly is wrong with me. If the tests all come back negative again, she may send me somewhere else for more tests. It seems like the medication that I started taking this summer isn't doing anything. Please pray for healing so that I do not have go through the pain and expense of more tests. I have started taking some whole food supplements and eating more healthy. It is my prayer that those things will help and that I won't need more medication. Another reason that I need a diagnosis in December is so that I will be able to get some help through Disability until I am able to work again. I am no longer working. My body can't handle it right now and I need as much rest as I can get. Pray that I will stay healthy this winter as a normal cold could turn much worse for me with my compromised immune system.
Thank you all so much for the prayers and support, even when I haven't been good at writing and keeping you updated. I know this has gotten quite long, but I appreciate the time you took to read it and pray for me. It is my prayer that my life brings glory to the Lord. As I look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas, I am so thankful for everything the Lord has done in my life and for the gift of His Son. All else pales in comparison. In the scope of eternity the only thing that is truly important is our relationship with Him. May He be glorified!
(I was also blessed with being able to see my dear friend Elizabeth and her husband Janis in September. I met their little baby Daniel and got to play Auntie Jo for a couple days!)
