Two Family Prayer Requests

Yesterday Dad had to go to the emergency room of the hospital as he was experiencing terrible pain: 10 out of 10 level pain. He was admitted to the hospital as the doctors found a cancer growth pressing in on his spinal cord and they are very concerned that within days or weeks Dad could be paralyzed if it continues to grow. They prepped him yesterday for more radiation treatment which is to start Monday. Even the radiation could damage his spinal cord so it is a very difficult procedure.

Dad's blood count is also very low and he had to have a blood transfusion and there are other issues with his bowel being addressed.

The palliative pain management team at the hospital are working with Dad and it is a blessing that he was able to get some relief yesterday from that terrible pain.

We don't know how many days Dad will have to be in hospital or what other things will develop from day to day but we do want to thank you for your prayers and ask you to pray in a special way for Dad and Mom and our family today and the next few days if you please could.

Also our Mom in the US, (Paul’s stepmom) who was just over visiting us recently and who loves Aussie meat pies like Paul does, suddenly developed strange symptoms a couple of weeks ago and took herself to the emergency room and scans showed that she has two lesions on her brain. This news has been a big shock to us and it is quite a helpless feeling to be far away from her at this time although we are so thankful that she has a strong support team around her.

Please also pray for her as she undergoes brain surgery on Monday the 18th. This Monday holds big things for two of our parents and we commit them both to our Lord’s wonderful and unfailing hands.

Next steps....!

How many steps do we have left to take in this world? I don’t know, maybe quite a few more yet! “You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip;” (2 Samuel 22:37, ESV)

So here is the next step with our translation of the Tala-Andig New Testament:  by the end of July, our goal is to be finished up to and including Revelation 22:9!  Last months’ goal of finishing up to Revelation 16:21 by the end of June was met through God’s grace to us and through your prayers!  It has been hugely exciting to translate the book of Revelation!! (If you want a blessing, read this book out loud together with your friends or family.)

The believers in Rogongon (also known as Ricodo and Kalamalamahan) just received the gift of this beautiful new church building last month and the next step for them is to broaden their areas of Gospel outreach and to keep raising support for their new trainee missionary, Jovanie Cole who is currently being trained in Lapoc. 

The immediate next step for Jubab is his trial exams which begin August 1^st and then his final exams (HSC) begin October 13^th. He has been working hard at his studies and he would really love your prayers for him these next few months: that he won’t get stressed by deadlines or exams and that his relationship with the Lord will be his anchor through these last months of high school.

The countdown is on for our next big step of closing up life as it has been this past 3 years here in Australia and moving to a new location back on the field. So with school holidays on, we took a whirl wind family trip to Sydney and had lots of poignant moments: we had a wonderful time with my sister and her family, saw the places we went when we were just newlyweds in missionary training, wondered at how many family trips we’ll be able to have like that with Jubab……experienced the mixed up emotions of sadness mixed with excitement. 

While we were in Sydney, Jubab also had his interview with the US embassy for his student visa which was granted!!!! Another step towards Bible College - God is just so good!!!