Update #41

Jewel has now had 3 of her 25 radiation treatments. She continues to struggle with tiredness and nausea. We continue to be blessed by the highly professional yet warm and caring team at the Cancer Clinic.Yesterday at the clinic we ran into some friends we had not seen in quite some time. They were accompanying a family member who was also being treated for cancer. There is an immediate bonding that takes place at a moment like this.

As we conclude this year and prepare to enter a new year we recognize that our journey takes some expected turns. While we live complex and often complicated lives our experience of these last few months has driven us back to simple faith in Jesus Christ.

As we prepare for 2010, I am reminded of the following story. (It’s a bit long but I think makes a profound point.)

A man at LAX was worried about missing his plane. He had no wristwatch and could not locate a clock, so he hurried up to a total stranger and said,

Excuse me; could you give me the time please? The stranger smiled and said, Sure. He sat down the two large suitcases he was carrying and looked at the watch on his wrist. It is exactly 5:09. The temperature outside is 73 degrees, and it is supposed to rain tonight. In London the sky is clear and the temperature is 38 degrees Celsius. The barometer reading is 29.14 and falling. And, let’s see, in Singapore the sun is shining brightly. Oh, by the way, the moon should be full tonight here in Los Angeles, and...

Your watch tells you all that? The man interrupted.

Oh, yes, and much more. You see, I invented this watch, and I can assure you there’s no other timepiece like it in the world.

I want to buy that watch! I’ll pay you two thousand dollars for it right now.

No, it’s not for sale, said the stranger as he reached down to pick up his suitcases.

Wait! Four thousand. I’ll pay you four thousand dollars cash, offered the man, reaching for his wallet.

No, I can’t sell it. You see, I plan to give it to my son for his twenty-first birthday. I invented it for him to enjoy.

Okay, listen—I’ll give you ten thousand dollars. I’ve got the money right here.

The stranger paused. Ten thousand? Well, OK. It’s yours for ten thousand even.

The man was absolutely elated. He paid the stranger, took the watch, snapped it on his wrist with glee, and said. Thanks as he turned to leave.

Wait, said the stranger. With a big smile he handed the two heavy suitcases to the man and added, Don’t forget the batteries.

As we enter this New Year, we want to be careful about the excess baggage we take with us. Our lives are stripped back to the basics of faith and trust in a God that brings hope and meaning. So while we face another year of twists and turns we do so knowing that God goes before us.

Happy New Year!

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff and Jewel

Update #40

As we begin this Christmas Eve day it feels good to be home and wind down from the last few weeks of busy travel and activity. Unlike other years, I only have a little shopping to do instead of doing most of my Christmas gift buying the day before Christmas. :-)

I am particularly grateful that in spite of the major snowstorm on the East coast, I was able to get in and out of New York City for some very important meetings hosted at the Salvation Army’s International Center for Social Justice. I also had an opportunity to visit with some young colleagues who are doing some amazing things for the Kingdom on Wall Street.

Everywhere I have travelled in the last few weeks, whether Korea, China or New York, I have been asked about Jewel and told that we have been prayed for very much. This is so encouraging.

It has now been four weeks since Jewel had her last chemo. It seems as the cumulative effects of the treatments has produced daily exhaustion. Jewel is very grateful that the chemotherapy is now completed.

Even though Jewel gets very tired she has been able to engage in some light activity. It was great to see Jewel pick me up at the airport when I returned from New York. This feels like a little of our normal activities are returning.

We continue to pray that Jewel gains strength. This is particularly important as she prepares for her daily radiation treatments that begin on December 29^th.

Tonight we are looking forward to going as a family to the Christmas Eve service. It will be the first time in months that our family has been able to go to Church together. On Christmas day we will keep it pretty low key. I will work with Natasha on preparing Christmas dinner. We will then have a short visit with some of my family.

On this Christmas, we want to live in the reality of God’s love for us. I am reminded of a quote of Barbara Brown Taylor

LET US REVEL in the light of that star beneath which the ordinary becomes holy and the holy ordinary, beneath which it becomes exceedingly clear that there is nothing more we must do or be to be loved by God.

Merry Christmas to everyone. Thanks for your love and care.

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff

Update #39

It is now day sixteen since Jewel’s last chemotherapy. While she has had some days that have been difficult with pain and nausea overall she has come through this bought of treatment with no major side effects. Exhaustion now seems to be her biggest struggle.

On Monday, Jewel will return to the Cancer Clinic for a CT Scan and prepare for her radiation treatments that begin the week after Christmas.

Yesterday I was able to go with Justin and Natasha and pick out our Christmas tree from Chung’s – our town’s ‘famous’ provider of pine, balsam and spruce trees. It was fun for Jewel and I to work with our kids in dressing the tree. Although Natasha decided we should not hang all the hand-made ornaments that she and Justin had made since they were three years old. She mentioned something about not wanting to be embarrassed by tacky handicrafts.

This has been a bit of crazy week. I had to make a quick trip to Korea for 3 days to speak at the 20^th Anniversary of the Christian Council of Korea. This council, which became a member of WEA earlier this year, represents about 12 million Christians in Korea. Along with speaking at this celebration, I was able to meet with some key leaders to discuss staging a major global event. Lot’s to think and pray about.

I’m looking forward to spending this week at home. Lot’s of meetings at the office planned. Also, lot’s to do on the home front, including looking for a car for our daughter so she has transport to get to college in January.

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff

Update #37

It is day 4 after Jewel’s last chemo. While there have been no major problems there have been several reactions to the treatment. These have included leg pains, some nausea, numbness in hands and feet, and the loss of her voice. In addition, Jewel is very tired. In spite of the physical impact of the chemotherapy, Jewel continues to have a positive spirit.

I am making plans for a couple of short trips this month. These were not the trips I had originally planned, but I have been reminded today of the old saying”

"Life is what happens when we're working on what we had planned."

I have also been thinking about my visit to China last week with 23 other WEA leaders.

http://www.worldevangelicals.org/news/article.htm?id=2710&cat=press

Lots to work on for the future.

However, I’m learning to take one day at a time.

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff

update # 36

Today Jewel completed her third and last chemotherapy treatment.

It was a long and grueling day at the Cancer Clinic. The caring medical team slowed down the speed of the intravenous drip so that Jewel would experience less pain while the chemo was administered. After six and a half hour of treatment the process was complete. A huge smile of thanksgiving came across Jewel’s face as the IV needle in her hand was removed.

Throughout the day, several other patients came in and out of Jewel’s treatment room. As the strangers in the room shared their courageous stories there was an almost instantaneous bonding. There was the Vietnamese man who has been receiving chemo for 2 ½ years and is now getting an experimental drug as a last resort. There was a 39 year-old woman from the Philippines battling advanced cancer. Another woman travels regularly to Vancouver from another city to receive treatment for ovarian cancer. Then there was a man who seemed to keep a smile on his face the entire time even though it was his 28^th cycle of chemo. Each of these cancer fighters came with their own story, their own journey. On the way home, Jewel prayed for each one of her roommates for the day.

As we arrived home, Natasha had prepared a wonderful turkey dinner in respect for the American-side of our family. Lots to be thankful for today. In particular, we are thankful that Jewel’s chemotherapy has come to an end and that the Lord has given great strength for this often unclear journey.

As we end this day, Jewel is extremely tired but is resting well. She now has four weeks to recover and gain strength before she begins her 5 weeks of radiation.

But today is not the day to think about the next treatment but rather be thankful for how far Jewel has come along.

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff

Update # 35

This week is filled with medical appointments and treatments for Jewel. Yesterday we were able to go the Cancer Clinic and meet with 2 specialists to discuss the radiation treatment following the completion of her chemotherapy. Once again we were very impressed by the diligence and sensitivity of the medical team. They gave a clear explanation of the treatment as well as any potential side effects. They thoroughly answered all our questions.

The course of action seems very clear. Jewel will begin radiation treatment four weeks after her last chemo (which should be this Thursday). There will be 25 sessions of radiation that will be given over a time period of five weeks, five days a week. So we anticipate the radiation treatments beginning the week after Christmas.

As we entered the Cancer Clinic yesterday the verse that was on Jewel’s mind and heart was …

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Jewel found this verse very encouraging as we continue the next step of this journey.

Jewel had another appointment today to deal with the pain in her leg. Tomorrow we go back to the Cancer Clinic for her pre-chemo treatment appointment. If the results her blood work is acceptable tomorrow, she will have her last chemo on Thursday.

As Jewel and I have talked about the time I was recently away she told me about one day was particularly challenging. On that very day, Jewel received a care gift in the mail from a wonderful Christian ministry for Cancer patients. http://www.cancercomfort.org/ The gift box filled with hats, scarves, creams, and testimonies of cancer survivors came just at the right time. It gave a great lift to Jewel’s Spirit.

One of the great quotes on The Cancer Comfort Ministry website is:

"Cancer is so limited! It cannot cripple love. It cannot shatter hope. It cannot corrode faith. It cannot eat away peace. It cannot destroy confidence. It cannot kill friendship. It cannot shut out memories. It cannot silence courage. It cannot invade the soul. It cannot reduce eternal life. It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection."

-Carol Morgan

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff

Update # 34

It has been an intense couple of weeks since my last blog.

It was so good to have Jewel’s Aunt/Nurse Jean to stay with Jewel for 8 days after her last chemo. It gave both Jewel and I a great sense of peace as I travelled.

While the chemo caused a lot of tiredness and significant leg pain, we were grateful that there were no other major side effects of the treatment or her medications.

While I was in South Korea for World Evangelical Alliance’s annual International Council and Leadership meetings, I was so encouraged by the love and concern for our family expressed by so many leaders across the world.

Originally, I was to travel from Korea to China for a historic visit of WEA leaders with Church leaders in China. However, because of Jewel’s illness, I decided to curtail the trip. When I was in Seoul, Jewel felt that she was able to manage the post-chemo OK and I should continue the trip to China as was originally planned. While it was a difficult decision not to come home, it was confirmed in several ways to both Jewel and I that I was meant to travel to China.

I feel so blessed to have a wife who has spiritual insights and a Kingdom focus.

While there were a few “bumpy” days for Jewel because of the pain and swelling in her leg she has been able to make it through. In fact, yesterday Jewel was able to attend church for the first time since she became ill. With the help of friend she was thrilled to be able to slip in and out church to hear Natasha’s 10- minute presentation on her mission to Rwanda.

Yesterday, I got back home from Asia. It was SO good to see Jewel and the kids. Jewel has a new array of headgear. I was able to bring home a special hat from China. Although, our kids felt it makes Jewel look like Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmatians.

During our meetings in Korea the International Council asked me to extent my term for another 5 years, until 2015. This process of reappointment began several months ago. I was very humbled by this offer. Jewel and I believe it right for me to continue. For more details you can read the following press release. http://www.worldevangelicals.org/news/article.htm?id=2697&cat=press

The trip to China was one of the most challenging visits I have made to any country. The complexities of the situation are immense and the opportunities for spiritual impact are incredible. For more details you can check out the links below:

http://www.worldevangelicals.org/news/article.htm?id=2700&cat=press

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091119/wea-leaders-visit-china-s-fastest-growing-church/index.html

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20091117/wea-leaders-meet-with-china-church-officials/index.html

Today, Jewel and I are heading to the Cancer Clinic to meet with the Oncologist to discuss the radiation treatment that is recommended after Jewel finishes her last chemotherapy treatment. We continue to look for God’s healing and wisdom.

Yours on the Journey,

Geoff