Dear Friends,
Hello!We wanted to give you all an update on our family and on Marcia's progress in her cancer treatments.Thanks to the prayers of so many and to God's goodness, Marcia was able to complete her chemotherapy treatments on schedule and return to Thailand near the end of May to be re-united with the rest of the family again.We attended Sean's graduation from high-school (CMIS) where he graduated with honors on June 8th. We said good-bye to friends and colleagues as we finished our term and prepared to return to the States.We left Chiang Mai on June 9th.
After a week of sight-seeing in Oregon and Washington-State we arrived back in Ohio on June 17th.Our home-base during this year is in Uniontown, Ohio which is half-way between Akron and Canton, Ohio.We decided on this location because family members are in the area and it is closer to medical facilities.It is also near the Akron/Canton Airport.Two days after arriving in Ohio, Sean began a course in drivers training, was tested and got his license all in about three weeks!Marcia began the seven weeks of radiation therapy on July 12th.These sessions are every weekday and it is about a 50 min. drive one-way to the clinic. Fatigue from the daily trips to radiation and some skin irritation have been the main challenges during this time.
On July 16th Duane and the kids drove to the ABC conference center in Green Lake, Wisconsin for three weeks of meetings. After the meetings at Green Lake, Sean went to Colorado Springs to attend a Transition Seminar for college-age youth who have been living overseas and Duane, Erin and Shannon returned to Ohio.Sean got back home on August 11th and had about one week to catch his breath and get ready for college.Sean is attending Houghton College in Houghton, NY (about an hour and half SE of Buffalo).He is interested in Political Science, History and International Relations.We took Sean to college on Aug. 21st to attend another transition seminar and freshman orientation and then classes officially start for him on Aug. 28th.Erin and Shannon will attend school in the Lake School district located in Hartville, OH.Their school year began on Aug.23rd.Erin is in ninth grade at the high school and Shannon is in eighth grade at the middle school.Both girls are signed up for dance classes at a local dance school as well. We would appreciate prayers for our three kids as they try to settle into new school situations here in the US.
Marcia has just one more week of radiation therapy.Her last session will be on Fri. Sept. 1st.After that, she will be monitored by seeing the doctors four times a year for the first few years.We are thankful for God's comfort and guidance during these long eight months of treatments since the initial diagnosis just before New Years in Dec.The tests have shown that the cancer did not appear to spread beyond the original site of the tumor and so we are hopeful the cancer is indeed gone due to the chemo and radiation treatments Marcia has had.It will be some time before Marcia's health recovers fully from the many months of treatments, so your continued prayers for her are much appreciated. The good news is that Marcia's hair is growing back nicely!
Beginning in September, Duane will be traveling to churches to share about the ways that God is changing the lives of people in Thailand and the work we will be doing during the coming term.Please keep him in your prayers that he will be kept safe and well as he does deputation. Marcia will be doing some speaking at churches closer to home as time and her health allow.
We are so very grateful to all of you for your friendship, support, and prayers for Marcia and for the rest of our family these past months. We know it is due to the fervent prayers of faithful believers like you that we have been able to have peace of mind and spirit, knowing that God is in control, that He loves us and knows our every need.
Take care and God Bless,
Duane and Marcia