Greetings to all,

I went to the doctor this afternoon to see how I fared under the last treatment of chemo-therapy. The news was not great, but it was the first hopeful news we had received from the doctors since I had been diagnosed with cancer. It seems that this last chemo- treatment has slowed the growth of the cancer considerably. Please note: it has neither stopped the growth or reversed it, but it has slowed it down. However, because of the rapid speed of the earlier growth this is good.

Let me explain more specifically. The doctor is using a large tumor in my lungs as a measuring stick. During the interval of the first chemo-treatment (the one that did not work), this tumor grew from 4cm to 8cm long. This is out-of-control growth. However, during the interval of the second treatment (a different one), the tumor grew from 8cm to 9cm. My doctor tells me that if the growth can be slowed in one treatment, another treatment or two can reverse the size and began shrinkage. That is my prayer request concerning the tumor right now. I begin another chemo-treatment on Wednesday. Pray with me that the tumors will begin to shrink.  

My situation is still very serious and each report will be critical. I want to thank all who have remembered me in prayer through this time. Your prayers and encouraging words have been such a wonderful blessing to me and my wife. I only ask that you continue to pray as you have been doing.

Since I do not know how this will turn out in the end, I have further wondered why the Lord allows it to draw out as it is. He could take me on home if He wishes; or, He could heal me in a moment. The thought that came to me is that we are to wait on the Lord. There is no waiting if we know the results ahead of time. Waiting means we must just trust in the Lord to work things out to His will and in His time. I pray the Lord will give me the faith to simply wait on Him through this time.  

One final note: I have had dozens and dozens of people tell me that they are praying for me. I have had one nine-year-old boy write to tell me specifically how he was praying for me and then ask for other specific requests I had concerning the sickness. I have also had reports that he is remembering me specifically in these ways in faithful prayer. Others have asked what they could do. He asked how he could better pray. I am amazed that this young man's faithfulness and believe God is answering his prayers in a special way.