It's been about a week or so since the last update, not counting the emergency update about my sister. Speaking of which, in case you didn't recieve the update about her that I forwarded to some of you, here's the latest that I've recieved from my Dad:
"Brittany had an MRI and ultrasound yesterday and records, images & lab results were sent to U of Md oncologists for a second opinion.
Though not all materials have been received & reviewed, yesterday's tests indicate that the original diagnosis may be erroneous. There is no indication of any tumors or cysts and the endometrial (?) tissue appears normal. A physical exam and new tissue sample are scheduled for Aug 4th. (Delay required to allow her to heal from the latest tissue sample). We're thankful for this news, but are quite bewildered at the specificity of the original diagnosis that led them to conclude it was stage 3, regional lymph node affected, tumors are 4cm, possibly inoperable, etc. Please share this praise and continue to pray for Brittany and her doctors.
I'll provide further updates as results unfold. Thank you so much for responding to our need with love, prayers, and emails."
Jack, Barbara & Brittany Healey
So, please continue to pray for Brittany. This latest news is most definitely encouraging, but the ordeal is not yet over.
By way of update, our car is at the body shop as I type. Indeed, this was supposed to be the last day it was to be at the shop, but I fear the repairs may take longer. But praise the Lord, we aren't having to pay a dime to have it fixed, or for the rental car in which they put us. God is good!
As far as how other things are going here in California, I'm very happy and pleased with our new ministry at Bethany Baptist Church. The people have all been incredibly loving, receptive, and supportive. Pastor Rushing has been a tremendous help and encouragement. God is blessing in my preparations for and leading of the worship services in church. And the area is simply beautiful, with many things to do and in which to take part. Dulcy has remarked many times how much it already feels like home (after only a month). God is truly confirming His call to us for ministry here time and again, and we praise Him for that.
That's not to say that all things are peachy, so to speak. Our faith is still being tested by some things that we had hoped would be resolved by now, and those are our chief items for prayer requests. Probably the biggest one right now concerns the pension money from the Korean Government that I was supposed to recieve upon our final departure. It was to be mailed to us in check form, and was supposed to arrive by July 30th. Well, here we are on the 29th, and it hasn't yet arrived. I've contacted the school's business manager, to see if she could double-check everything on that end, but have yet to hear back from her. It's only been a day since I emailed her, so I expect to hear back from her soon. But this is a rather large prayer request for us, as we were planning on using some of that money for enrolling our kids in school ($1000 for all three kids), and the first month's tuition ($860 for all three kids). So, unfortunately, until that money comes in, we are at a stand still with our kids' educational needs. Please PRAY that the money will come in very soon. We are going to visit Dulcy's family next Monday through Friday in Washington State, so it would really be good if it arrived today or tomorrow.
Moving on, another thing that we hoped would have been resolved by now is supplemental employment for me. The last two schools that I had as possibilities haven't yet come through. One of them would cost us up to $360 a month in gasoline alone because of how far away it is from where we live. And the other is still deciding on whether or not they are going to hire a new teacher. I am going to be contacting the one further away today, simply so that no stone is left unturned. In the meantime, I have begun putting in applications at other places, too. So far, I've applied at Barnes & Noble, Target, Toys R Us, WalMart, and Borders, and I plan on applying at the Post Office, Sears, and hitting a bunch of places at the mall today. The only problem I forsee with these secular places of employment is that I don't believe they will provide enough income for sending our kids to a Christian school. So, please PRAY that God will guide us as He already has in finding supplemental employment as it has direct bearing on getting our kids' educational futures lined-up.
While these two requests loom rather large on our emotional radars, we are increasingly confident that this is where God has called us. Pastor and I have been going out door-to-door two days a week for the last three weeks now, and have made some really decent contacts. It is a joy to work with Pastor Rushing and the others here at Bethany Baptist. There is such a strong love for God here, and a desire to see His Kingdom grow in our area. Dulcy is enjoying having a house to call home. She just remarked yesterday of this, and stated how much she loves having a house. And for the first time in a long time, I have an accountable, mentoring relationship with another Godly man. This has been an incredible source of encouragement for me, as I can share things with Pastor, and ask questions, and now that any response he gives is in love and confidence with no other agendas attached. Not that any relationship I've had in the past wasn't so, but I know that to be the case now, beyond the shadow a doubt. Pastor has taken me under his wing, is teaching and discipling me, and encouraging me in the ministry. I could not have hoped for more.
Well, I should be getting to the list of things I have to do today. this was one of the items on that list, so I am making some progress...:) I only have eight more things to do...:( But it is a joy to be in the service of The King!
Until Next Time...
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey.
Mark 10:45
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