Open Our Eyes, Lord

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to another Christmas party for squatter families. The place where we went was Basaco where ACTION has done quite a bit of relief work following a massive fire in that location. A new church is being planted there right on the water front. Pastor Noli and his wife Fe have moved into that squatter area in order to be near this new church. I had been there in November with my sisters Dawn and Janna.

Yesterday parked at the pastor's house and stopped in to see his wife cooking along with an elderly woman, Pastora Mota of the church. We greeted them and then left to walk to the church. We had to be very careful as we walked because there are a lot of slimmy mud puddles along the way. At one point, a rock slipped under my foot and my toes got covered with mud. No time to stop so we had to keep following the pastor. We had some new friends join us, John and Tiffany Laudermilk with 2 of their 5 children. They are praying about what God would have them do regarding returning as career missionaries.

We lost track of Jeff and the pastor along the way so I didn't know how to get to the church at one point. So I asked the folks standing around where the church is. They directed us to the Catholic church. When we realized that we were not in the right place, our guides realized we were looking for what they called the "born-again" church. Yes, indeed, that is the one. The woman who was guiding me told me she was Catholic but she knew a couple Mormon missionaries. I didn't have the opportunity to explain that she needed the True message of the Gospel. I gave her a Gospel tract and now she knows where the Gospel-preaching church is. I didn't get her name.

When we walked into the little church full of people we immediately began pouring sweat. There were no fans--or electricity for that matter. But the people were so happy. Many recognized me from before so I felt like it was a reunion. The pastor got the party going. His daughter sang several songs that were choreographed by the young people. The audience also sang several songs. As before, Jeff was asked on the spot to preach. I must say he's getting to be good at preaching in Tagalog without any advance preparation time. He gave quite a challenge. It was a blessing to then hear John share his testimony. He had a rough start because he wasn't used to people talking while he was sharing but he soon overcame it and shared from his heart.

When we were there in November, I met one mother who will have 5 children under the age of 4 when her baby is born this month. You may think that is a misprint, but it is not. I saw her again yesterday and she is "great with child". Maybe it will be a Christmas baby. Her children were all born in November and December so by the end of this month, they will be newborn, 1, 2, 3 and 4 years old. In November met another woman with a 4 month baby Jay that was dying of malnourishment and worms. After meeting them in November, we acted right away to get Jay, on a nutritional feeding program. So when I saw Jay yesterday, he looked more alert and has filled out slightly. I held him for a few minutes and it seemed to me that his body was stiff and his back arches. He's not pliable like I am used to in infants.

It was very moving at the end of the party when Pastora Mota closed the party in the most heartfelt prayer for the church and those in attendance that day. I learned that she is 87 years old and had come to know the Lord as her Savior in 1955. Her husband is now with the Lord. She bought fruit for us visitors and she helped financially to make it possible for the pastor to move into his house in the neighborhood. His house is small but it is 2-story cement. They moved there 2 weeks ago. There is a mosque just down a few yards from his house. The area is quite heavily populated with Muslims.

Extra people always come around and as before there isn't enough food and gift packs for those who were not counted in. We said good buy and walked back to our vehicle. But God is continually orchestrating Divine encounters. This is so amazing to us. As we arrived at the pastor's house, a trike driver named Jun pulled up to make a delivery. (A trike is a bicycle with a side-car for passengers or gear.) Jun immediately recognized Jeff and called out "Kuya Jeff!" as if he had found a long lost friend. He had met Jeff at Sampaloc Bible Church back in the early 90s. He was a street boy back then and Jeff met him when he was involved in program for street kids at the church. What an amazing encounter!

While Jeff was talking to Jun, I had an encounter of my own. A young boy about 8 years old came up to me with a very angry countenance. He spoke too fast for me to catch what he was saying but he was really chewing me out. At the end of his ranting he called me stupid. I have no idea what prompted him to do this but I didn't have time to react because Jeff (unaware of that encounter) wanted me to meet Jun. I felt prompted of the Lord to pass out the rest of the tracts I was carrying. I gave one to Jun. Then the kids gathered around to get one. I passed out several and by that time, the young boy who chewed me out had become friendly.

What a day! We got into our vehicle tired, hot and thirsty but encouraged. We had much to talk about. While we were driving back Tiffany asked me what it has been like for us to raise our children on the mission field. We had a very good discussion but I told her our kids have been bent. They do not look at the world through ordinary eyes. I told her about a conversation I had with Micah when she was troubled over what was happening in North Korea. She asked me almost in tears why do the events of the world grieve us so deeply when some people seem unaffected. I told her it is the calling that God has placed on us. Sometimes we carry heavy hearts for all the tragedy and suffering that we see or learn about. But what joy to have the privilege to bear this burden and to allow God to use us. "Open our eyes, Lord." Job 31:16-23

A Christmas Memory

I was organizing my music in iTunes today and saw that I have several versions of "Away In A Manger". That brought back a memory of Christmas here in the Philippines. What I love about Christmas here is that the nativity scene can be displayed anywhere -- even on government property. In the front of the Meralco power company, every year they put a huge nativity scene. Joseph and Mary are probably 3 stories high. At the Greenhills Shopping Mall they used to display a very large room with a diarama of the Bethlehem and at the center was the Nativity scene. In the distance you could see the sheep grazing, the wisemen on their way, even on a side panel the murder of young children is portrayed. It was beautiful and a highlight to take the kids there every year. There was no entrance fee. In the midst of large crowds at the stores and malls we often hear Christian Christmas music.

Well, I think because of this, Micah got to be quite used to the Nativity scene all over the city. One day as we were driving somewhere when she was about 5 years old she burst out "Look mom, there's the Way in a manger." What a profound truth coming from the mouth of a babe. The Way came to be born in a stable and placed in a manger so people like me can behold God. Now my own personal version of this famous Christmas song and I always sing it that way "The Way in a Manger."

Evangelistic Christmas Party

Jeff and I just attended an evangelistic Christmas party in a slum not far from the ACTION office. The party was sponsored by a group of women from our church Greenhills Christian Fellowship. It may have been a challenge for some of them but I applaud them for coming and reaching out to these children. To get to the party site we had to cross a river on a very precarious foot bridge. The party was held in an open court yard in the middle of a squatter area. There were a lot of people around. There were about 100 children on the list but as always, many more children than that show up. You also pass many kids as you walk to the party. It is hard to do parties and feedings when you know you can't reach everyone. But we can't allow that to stop us from doing what we can. The party went well but there was no microphone. The message was hard to hear but the kids did respond. I prayed that the gospel tracts we passed out would help them remember the message. We passed out gift packages and Jollibee meals (a treat to children here). There were not enough meals to go around and I noticed one girl in particular who was quite sad. Her name was Anna Jane. I gave her a package of almonds I was carrying with me. Right next to the party was a "wake" or viewing of a 1 1/2 year old girl who died of meningitis. Her name was Roxanne. What a contrast. Mourning and rejoicing side by side.

ACTION along with two churches have working in the community for several years by having medical clinics, recruiting campers, regular Bible study and a feeding program hopefully starting soon. The ministry started in this slum called Calvary Hills after we were doing outreach to families living on the streets of Cubao and several were lead to faith in Christ. Eventually they wanted to return home which was Calvary Hills. Today there's a small church that meets Sunday afternoons as a result.

Today we start our annual evangelistic Christmas party ministry for street kids and their families, prisoners, slum dwellers and victims of previous mud slides and flash floods due to typhoons. To date we have 57 parties. Pray that God is glorified by His character being on display to all who participate, many come to faith in Christ and for our partner churches that they'll be ready to receive new people into their congregations.

Typhoon Updates

You can read more updates about Typhoon Durian/Reming and our relief work in that area at this site: http://jeffmaryann.wordpress.com/

Super Typhoon Durian

Super Typhoon Durian veered away from Manila for which we are thankful but it directly hit and caused much death and damage in Bicol, Albay, Mindoro and Marinduque provinces. Villages near the 8,000 foot Mt. Mayon, 220 miles southeast of Manila, were buried by mudslides and car-sized red-hot boulders loosened from the volcano. Mt. Mayon is the Philippine's most active volcano. It has been rumbling for months and began emitting lava in mid-July. The death toll is over 400 but will surely rise.

ACTION has a very active network of 8 churches in Bicol and another in Marinduque of 6 churches with whom we do ministry to street children and children at risk. We are trying to communicate with these partners to put together a relief distribution plan but because cellphone and power towers are down, communication is slow and difficult at this time. Hopefully we can have a plan put together by Monday.

In previous years ACTION has done much relief work for evacuees around the volcano and last September we started a supplemental feeding program for malnourished children evacuated from the perimeter of the volcano. Last August ACTION sponsored and led a consultation meeting for several of our networks around the country so we will be better prepared and can respond quicker in the event of a natural or man-made disaster like this. We do all of our relief and development work in the name of Christ and spread the Gospel as we are able. Also, in October we just had a camp for street children in Bicol.

A typhoon is a tropical cyclone that occurs in the western Pacific and Indian oceans. This is the 4th devastating typhoon to hit the Philippines in the last 3 months. In September Typhoon Mileyno hit Manila directly with nearly 200 dead and much damage.

Christmas in the Philippines

Last Friday night I attended a lovely evening event with a couple hundred women from my church, GCF. They called the evening "Christmas Fanfare". Part of the event that these women are doing is to collect several items which can be given to street children for the Christmas ministry of ACTION. Some of them are also going to participate in serving at one of the parties on December 9. I was invited to join our pastor's wife, Li Pentoja at her table. I truly enjoyed myself. As an ice-breaker event she asked us to share what our family tradition has been for Christmas Eve.

When it was my turn, I had to admit that for many years here in the Philippines, the Christmas season has been very stressful and discouraging. It hasn't been so much because I missed my extended family, but that was part of it. There is a lot of commotion here at Christmas time. Actually, Christmas shopping starts in September. The stores and malls are very crowded. Music is played very loud. Traffic gets worse. We have to be doubly vigilent against purse snatchers and other forms of theft. Hands are put out in front of us looking for a few pesos frequently while a song is sung or "Merry Christmas" is offered. Envelops are given to us from many local officials, utility companies, garbage collectors and beggars to make it convenient to give our Christmas gift to them.

Added on top of that, my husband has been extra busy in the month of December. He would be involved in as many Christmas parties for street children as he could. By the time Christmas Eve arrived, he was needing time and space to recuperate. I would spend December making all preparations for whatever our family was going to do. I purchased all the gifts, decorated the house, shopped for and cooked the food, then put it all away after. I found it difficult to view the season as something special. Added on top of that, I was always mad at myself that I couldn't appreciate how unselfish Jeff had been in helping to create a lovely Christmas party for children who will have no other gifts, special food or love showered on them.

Well, eventually I learned to just enjoy the Lord. Make Him the center of all I do. Let go of any traditions that were stressing me out that I was trying to maintain. So, no more oyster stew (I was the only one who liked it anyway). In 2003, it was our first Christmas in the Philippines without our kids. I decided not to put up the Christmas tree so we had very few decorations. After Christmas Jeff told me he missed the tree and asked if we could put it up the next year. I was surprised. I didn't realize how much he enjoyed it.

The next Christmas, 2004, came right after 4 typhoons had hit the east side of the country causing massive mudslides. We had been on furlough for a couple months and came back here to learn that we needed to start disaster relief right away. Not only that, but we needed to have our apartment painted and some repairs made. So those activities were added to the parties for street kids. Our son was in California and our daughter was in Kuwait, waiting to be sent up to Iraq for her deployment. So neither of them could join us. Needless to say, I didn't put up the tree then either. In 2005 we were planning to go to the US for a few months to help Micah following her deployment so we didn't decorate again.

Finally this year, I put up our tree again. Jeff has really appreciated it. I have learned to make Christmas about the Lord and others and not about me. That makes a big difference. Ironically, the more I try to create a nice little romantic environment for myself, the less content and appreciative I am. To the degree that I can let go of my own self-centeredness, is the degree to which I thoroughly enjoy the season. It all comes back to Jesus and what He is all about. I appreciate that the Lord Jesus Christ gave so sacrifically to save us. I want to live my life to please Him and not to please myself. Oh, how I love Jesus!

Have you ever read this famous Christmas card verse in its full version in the New American Standard?

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

Don't stoop to be a king

We recently had a guest speaker at our ACTION team meeting in Manila. He told us that his in-laws have a plaque hanging in their house. It says:

If you are called to be a missionary, don't stoop to be a king.

Then he added this challenge to us:

If you are a missionary, don't stoop to distractions that hinder you from worshiping the King.

Wow. Lord help us to not be distracted from worshiping you and focusing on what you have called us to do!

Tho He slay me... by Os Hillman

This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. -- 1 John 2:5b-6

When Christ came to earth, He came to bring to mankind the gospel of the Kingdom. Over the centuries, the Church has tended to emphasize only a portion of the gospel. That portion is the gospel of salvation. (However), Jesus came that we might have more than just salvation. He came to give us a whole new life that was accompanied by signs, wonders, and His Spirit living in us and revealing Himself to us daily. He came so that we might walk on this earth as He did. If our lives are not reflecting the same things as Jesus' did, we must ask why? I have noticed (three distinct types of believers) throughout my 24 years of walking with Christ.

First, many of us come to Christ out of a need for salvation. Our hearts have been touched by His call on our lives. We reason and analyze the claims of Christ and make a decision for Him. It is the convenient time to accept Him in our lives. This first stage is often characterized by a “Bless me, Lord” attitude toward God. It is the first stage that primarily brings salvation into our lives. Some never really go past this first stage.

The second stage is the crisis stage. A crisis takes place in our lives, and we are motivated to seek Christ with a whole heart. However, this motivation is not out of pure love for Christ; rather, it is motivated by the desire to get out of the pain of living. The motivation is to solve the “what” versus the “why” in my life at the time. This stage is best characterized as “Help me, Lord.”

In the third stage we begin to experience the gospel of the Kingdom. It is the place where Jesus resided in His walk with His heavenly Father. It is the (place of conviction). The numbers of people who live at this level are quite few, but these people are experiencing the reality of a walk with God that is foreign to all others. They are seeing daily occurrences of His involvement in their lives. They're motivated by a deep love for Him. They know Him. These people have an attitude characterized by these thoughts, “Have me, Lord; though He slay me, still will I trust Him.”

Where are you today? Have you merely accepted His salvation to simply float along? Or do you seek Him with a whole heart only when a crisis occurs? His desire is for you and me to live a life of conviction, (motivated) by our love for Him and His love for us. This is where we will experience the gospel of the Kingdom.

News from ACTION Zambia

Greetings from Lusaka. We had a great flight here and did not suffer from jet-lag at all. Fortunately I have had a lot of energy and that has been a real answer to prayer. It has been a great and meaningful experience to visit the Ripleys and the ACTION Zambia team here in Lusaka. I have been learning a lot and it will be hard to leave on Sunday. Today is the Zambia presidential election so pray for safety and peace in the aftermath of the election.

There are a lot of differences from this place compared to Manila and where I was in Niger. But when I was in church on Sunday and listened to the wonderful African singing with great joy, I couldn't hold back the tears. A flood of memories came to my mind. It is so good to worship the Lord with people from other races and cultures. Good practice for heaven, eh?

HIV/AIDS dominates so much of ministry and society here. They estimate maybe 1 in 5 or 6 people that we meet here are infected. I have met several, young and older. It is a sobering experience. One missionary told us how ironic it is that if we are in a room with an AIDS person, we want to protect ourselves. But the truth of the matter is that the AIDS person needs to be protected from us because they can't fight off any illnesses we may be carrying.

I will write more about our experiences later but here is a website to tell you something of what we've been up to. Thank you for your prayers.

http://ripleysinzambia.blogspot.com/

Why YOU Should Go to the Mission Field

Keith Green's Final Message

This article is definitely worth reading. Just click on the title and you'll be linked to the article. Thought provoking and hopefully encouraging to take action. I remember Keith Green's statement that we shouldn't be waiting for a calling to "Go" but rather a calling to "stay" if God was not sending us.

Love for the Word

Several years ago I was in a Precepts Bible study taught by my good friend Lynn Stapleton. It was held at our church, Greenhills Christian Fellowship, and we were studying to book of James. It became clear early on in the study that the women who had joined were not familiar with studying the Word for themselves. Lynn had been used to guiding women in study who had spent several hours each week working through the text on their own and came to the group ready to participate. But this group of ladies were only used to coming to a study to be taught by the teacher. So while studying the text of James together, Lynn also taught us how to study God's Word for ourselves. It was quite an interesting time.

One woman named Lilly was in the group. She was in her late 50s of Chinese immigrant descent. I will never forget the day when we were about halfway through the study, she suddenly shot a question to Lynn. I say "shot" because it was as if she immediately shot out a question that had just come to her mind. She said "Do you mean to tell me that I can study God's Word on my own and that the Holy Spirit will teach me what it says? And I don't have to have a teacher or pastor as my only way of learning God's Word?" She was astounded to learn that God would teach her what His Word means. She could and should study it for herself. She had never heard that before even though she had been a believer for quite some time. This was like a turning point in her life and it was clear that this new information radically changed her forever.

I saw Lilly in church this morning and she joyfully greeted me. I learned that after our study together on the book of James, Lilly went to tell her pastors and leaders in her Chinese church (she went to both my church at GCF and to a Chinese church) that she was learning how to study the Bible. They were happy to learn of her excitement. They invited Lynn to come and teach others in their church how to study. This led to maybe a year or two of training at that church. During that time Lilly also received training from Precepts to become a certified teacher in the Precepts Bible study methods. Then she began teaching the Word at her Chinese church to the women. The first study she tackled was the book of Romans! It was hard, but she stayed with it and was amazed at how much she was learning and how her faith was growing as she depended on God to reveal His truth to her.

What wonderful excitement for God's Word! If we don't study God's Word because we have been taught that only church leaders are authorized to do that, that is very unfortunate. But what if we know that we can study God's Word for ourselves but we don't care to--that is truly tragic.

Riding camel back in Niger Republic

Return to Africa

The last time I was in Africa was from September 1978 to June 1979. I have always loved Africa and have been intrigued by its rich history and heritage. It seems to be a mysterious and misunderstood place and people. When I left in '79, I prayed that the Lord would enable me to someday return. Now the Lord is answering that prayer after 27 years. We won't be going to the same place, but that is ok. I am sure Niger has changed enough that I wouldn't really recognize it anyway. The people I knew are no longer there.

We leave on September 21 for Zambia. It will be great to see our friends the Ripleys there and meet other people on their team. It is probably our fastest growing field in ACTION and it may not be long before they exceed the Philippines in numbers. I don't know for sure what we will do there but I pray we can be an encouragement to their team and learn from them. I think they live in a more challenging environment due to the constant death from AIDS and the myriads of orphans.

Then on October 1 we will go to Cape Town where will attend a few days of meetings with the group that is strategizing how to reach street children around the world with the gospel.

I pray that I will have enough energy to make this trip meaningful and fruitful. I feel I am adjusting to my new dose of thyroid medicine, but this whole process has been much more difficult than I expected. There is not a "quick" cure. It takes time and there are a lot of ups and downs.

Come to Jesus and Live

This song has ministered to us quite a bit recently.

Chris Rice - Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus) Lyrics

Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O, raise your head, for love is passing by
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain, so
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live!

And like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk
Sometimes we fall...so
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live!

Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside, then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live!

Kuya Marvin Prudencio

This has been a long and difficult week. My hypothyroidism is probably at its worst point right now. I feel very sluggish, tire easily, have difficulty concentrating and a myriad of other problems. The encouragement that I find, however, is that I am being treated and all these things will pass in due time. I went to see my doctor on Thursday. She doubled my thyroid medicine from 50 mcg to 100 mcg for the next nine days and then I will start taking 150 mcg. I know that it takes a week or two for the medicine to build up to give me the full effect so it will be a few more weeks before I am benefiting from this increase. I may be at this level for about 3 months and then check again to see if I need any more adjustments.

What has made this week difficult is that our dear friend and co-worker, Marvin Prudencio, went to be with the Lord on Sunday evening. Jeff and I spent several hours at the hospital that night. We did not see Marvin because he had already died and the hospital was waiting for family members to arrive before they would do anything. We are much grieved but so happy for Marvin because his battle with asthma and cancer is over. He was going to turn 70 in September. You can read more about him at the link above.

Back in April when I was about to have my radiation for thyroid, Marvin was just beginning to learn about a problem with his lungs. He wrote to ask us to pray for him and he promised to be praying for me. He told me several times after that that he was praying. I last saw Marvin at an ACTION picnic on August 18. He seemed frail but he said he felt good and was optimistic that he was recivering from his cancer.

Conference 2004

So much on my heart

I have often wished I had a place to write a journal but make it available for others to read. So here is the place where I can do that. There have been so many things going on in my life in the past couple years I'm sure this will turn out to be a combination of my thoughts for today as well as reminising what has transpired. My life is an open book and I want to live transparent before God and others. So here I am.

I'm Preparing You

“I’m preparing you.” The words shocked me. Who said that? I looked around and did not see anyone talking to me. I was in a crowd so there were plenty of people there but those words were clearly spoken to me. I had gone to a movie with my kids and was waiting outside the restrooms for them to come out. The crowd was going into and out of the theater. I stood there alone pondering what I had heard. The voice had to be the Lord because the statement came out of no where and had nothing to do with what was on my mind at the moment. Preparing me for what? I wondered.

In the days that followed, I thought that maybe it was the Lord telling me He was preparing me for something to happen to my dad. I learned from my family that my dad had recently experienced a temporary memory loss of short term memory. He didn’t remember that he had been to my sister’s house that day for lunch or that he had been to a rodeo the day be for at the State Fair with a friend of his. He didn’t remember the Tuesday night meeting that he had been a part of for more than 15 years. So it was a pretty serious event at the time. Today my dad is doing well and it never was determined exactly what happened for those couple of days. But I had to wonder if God was preparing me for what was going to happen.

As time went on, and my dad was fine, I looked for other things God might be preparing me for. Maybe there is no “event” that He is preparing me for but He is shaping my life to use me in a greater way. Since that day He has certainly been working in my life, changing me, deepening me, shaping me, preparing me.

Lord, do what You must to prepare me
for what You have planned.
I am committed to following You.
Speak to me, I am listening.

Update on my thyroid condition

July 15, 2006

I just wanted to let you know that I had a blood test done last Monday and then saw the doctor on Thursday. I am now hypothyroid. My TSH was 29 and normal high is 4.64. The doctor started me on a low dose (50 mcg) of Eltroxin. She didn't want to start me on anything higher yet because of my hyper tension. In about 6 weeks I'll go back to see her and she'll most likely double my dose at that time. The goal will be to help me get toward the lower end of the normal range (between 1-2 would be good). One good thing I know now is that the radiation worked and I won't have to repeat it.

I changed doctors recently because I didn't like where the first one was located. She also was more expensive and ordered unnecessary blood tests. I am very happy with the one I am seeing now, Dra. Lina Lantion-Ang. Her clinic is 1 1/2 miles from my house and there is always parking available (this is significant). Only problem is that her clinic is run by first come first serve basis on Thursday and Saturday mornings only. So I have to wait for about 2 hours whether I come early or late.

The last couple days have been especially hard. The medicine has not had time to build up in my system and I'm probably becoming more hypothyroid all the time. I feel very tired and want to sleep often. But I also have a hard time sleeping at night. My brain feels mushy and I'm overall sluggish and that is making it hard to work and concentrate.

It is also hard for me to accept assignments right now where anyone is depending on me for anything. I just don't know how I will be feeling from day to day. It frustrates me because I simply want to work and be effective. I don't want to slow Jeff down but he has been wonderfully helpful and patient with me. God is pouring out his grace on Jeff, that is for sure. I am fighting hard to not be ornery or moody. That can be hard at times but if I can at least have a sweet spirit in the midst of this, we will get through it with joy.

I've been working hard to finish my role in making a brochure which we have been needing done for a few years. I need to get it to the printer before I am no longer able to effectively work on it--which feels like right now. We've asked for the help of a company here so they are now doing the layout and will finish the project for us. They are doing a fantastic job and they are doing the design and layout and managing the printing at no charge to ACTION. (We only have to pay for the printing.) I just got their rough sample today and it is turning out great. We are really close to having it ready to print so please pray that I can get it off my desk completely in the next couple days.

Thank you for your prayers. I do have hope and see a light at the end of the tunnel. I pray that in the next few months I will reach a point of normalcy which I haven't really had for a couple years of this yo-yo experience. Pray for grace to get through these days which are probably the most difficult. Also pray that I will be fairly stable when it comes time to make our trip to Africa September 21 to October 7.

Looking to the Healer,

Mary Ann

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May 13, 2006

Our transition to Manila went well. I went to see an endocrinologist this week and learned that I am still hyperthyroid. In about a month I need to get the blood tests done again to determine if I have become hypothyroid. Pray for this month that I will be able to manage the changes and get on the right dose of medicine when the time is right.

-----------------------------------------------

April 21, 2006

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor [woman] called, and the LORD heard [her]; he saved [her] out of all [her] troubles. Ps. 34:4-6

Dear Praying Friends,

Our hearts have been overflowing with gratitude for all the prayers that have been given on our behalf. We know that *prayer* does not heal. Prayer moves the Healer and it is God who heals in response to the prayers of His people. I wanted to send a final update on this special prayer request before Sunday so you can rejoice with us for what God has done.

After getting one final blood test last week and learning that there had been no change, I went ahead with the iodine radiation treatment for my hyperthyroid condition on Wednesday. I didn't know what to expect but I have been doing very well. There has only been some mild discomfort around my thyroid gland and a few flares of hyperthyroid stuff. This is what they told me would happen. So I am doing well. I will need to follow this up in Manila to eventually start medication for the opposite condition. I knew I was being prayed for because I had such peace and confidence that going through this treatment was the right thing to do.

Since Wednesday, I have had to keep my distance from people and I have to avoid children and unborn babies for a full week because they can be affected by my radiation. Because of this I had to make the decision not to go to church with Jeff this coming Sunday. Although I feel fine and I would love to go, I don't want to risk anyone else's health.

Another answer to prayer is that we were able to change our departure date giving us a few extra days. We are now scheduled to depart for Manila on May 4. This is perfect because we will have a couple more days to prepare and for me to heal a bit more before the flight.

Many things are coming together for Micah as well and she feels she is ready for our departure. She has been getting things organized for her summer and lining up roommates (possibly another MK from the Philippines but that is not yet confirmed). Thank you for praying for her too. By the way, Amos was with us last week too and we had a good time with him.

Radiating,

Mary Ann

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April 18, 2006

I had a follow up appointment with Dr. Salama on Wednesday and Jeff came with me. The doctor said my hyperthyroid is probably Grave's disease. He said that his preference for treatment would be radiation and it would be safer for me. So I am scheduled to get the radiation (simply swallowing one pill) on Wednesday morning, April 19. I will get a large dose of radiation because my thyroid is functioning at 42%. So this answers our questions of what treatment, when and where to have it done.

I asked the doctor to order another series of thyroid blood tests on Wednesday so I can be sure about the diagnosis because a lot of people have been praying for me. He was happy to have me retested and said I can call the office on Friday to get the results. On Monday I learned that there was no improvement in the TSH (.01) or other results.

Please pray that I will handle the radiation without too much discomfort. Pray also for us to know if we should delay our return to Manila for a few days or weeks. The good thing that we learned is that we will not need new passports. If we delay, we will send them back to Manila and get the long-term visas stamped in them and get them returned. So it is good to know that that issue will not be a hindrance.

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April 8, 2006

Jeff and I would very much appreciate your prayers regarding a hyperthyroid condition that I recently was diagnosed with. The questions of what treatment to get, when to get it and where (Minnesota or Manila) are a major factor of the decisions we will need to make soon. We need God's wisdom in every way.

This probably would not be such a critical situation except for two major factors. First, we are scheduled to return to the Philippines on May 1 (arriving the 2nd). We can delay our return but the Philippine visas in our passports expire on May 11. If we delay our return it can only be for a few days or else we'll have to get new passports and reapply for visas when we get back to the Philippines. The second major issue is that if I am treated with medication (rather than radiation or surgery), it would lower my bodies resistance to diseases and illnesses and at the sign of any sickness I would have to get a white blood cell count done. The medicine is taken long-term, meaning a couple years up to life and I would have to constantly be monitored by a doctor and blood tests. There is also the 1 in 200 risk of seriously damaging my immune system. Because we are missionaries in a polluted and "illness-laden" environment, this could compromise our service in Manila and would hinder my involvement in ministries outside the home.

In the past month I have had 2 series of thyroid blood tests, a thyroid scan and a thyroid ultrasound. The results of the blood tests show that I am hyperthyroid but the good news is that the scan and ultrasound came back normal. There are 3 treatments for hyperthyroid -- drugs, radiation or surgery. In my case because my thyroid looks normal, surgery is the least likely option. When I talked to the nurse yesterday to get the results of the ultrasound, I learned that the doctor had wanted me to begin a prescription of Tapazole but they must have had a mix up in their office because that prescription never got ordered for me. I told the nurse that I am really reluctant to take that medicine for the reasons I mentioned above. So I asked her to tell the doctor that I'd like to reconsider radiation treatment and that I need to make a decision soon as to what to do because of our departure date. The reason radiation was not his first option of treatment for me was because I got sick for about an hour after I took a very low dose of that iodine radiation for the thyroid scan. But the short term discomfort of radiation may be a better alternative than long term medicine that could make me vulnerable to many illnesses over the years.

In the meantime, it seems that some of the symptoms of hyperthyroid have been increasing. Especially annoying are times when it affects my emotions and I feel like I can't cope or handle a simple task before me. I also have heart palpitations, feel run-down and difficulty concentrating. The last few weeks of a furlough are always stressful and difficult so this is making it all especially hard for me right now.

I was fortunate to get my appointment with Dr. Salama moved up for April 12. I asked Jeff to come with me to that appointment so he can also hear what the doctor has to say. There are so many factors involved in this decision and I am trying to research and learn as much as I can so we can make a wise decision. So with that background, please pray for the following requests.

Specific prayer requests:

1. The right treatment plan, timing and location for treatment will become obvious.

2. The Lord will give Jeff, Micah and me an extra measure of grace as we wade through this uncertainty while I also have thyroid-related emotional ups and downs.

3. The Lord will prepare Micah for our departure. This may seem unrelated but it is my number one concern about the timing of our return so it weighs heavily on me.

Resting in Him,

Mary Ann