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Miriam and Ed together in California the day before surgery. Ed returns to Congo at the end of January.
Monday morning about 10:30am, lying in the pre-op area of Helford
Hospital, we gathered around Miriam for a short time of prayer. She
looked a bit tired and wan. Having no eyebrows and no eyelashes gives
that impression. But her dancing eyes and occasional flashing smile
erased the impression in an instant. Miriam's mom, Ruth, her Uncle Wes
Brown, and Dick and Stephanie Sullender, pastors of FBC Monrovia, had
all joined us for the start of the day.
Wes read the verses from Paul's letter to the Philippians -- 4:6-8 :
"Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what
you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. And God's peace,
which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds
safe in union with Christ Jesus. In conclusion, my friends fill your
minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise; things
that are true, noble, right, pure lovely and honorable."
And we prayed together, as so many of you have prayed with Miriam and
with us over these last 5 months. We thanked God for his gifts. We
thanked God for the doctors, nurses, lab technicians, receptionists,
counselors, fellow travellers and friends that He is using to help heal
Miriam. We asked God once again for his help, his guidance for her
doctors and all the others involved in the surgery, for each the ability
to give their best. And finally we asked that God would use this
occasion of sickness to bring a measure of health and blessing to the
people we touch on the journey.
An hour later, Miriam was rolled on to the operating room and the rest
of us returned to responsibilities for the day. At 2:30 Dr. Yim came
out to give me a brief report on the surgery. He was pleased. It had
gone very well. He saw no obvious visual indications of active
cancer in the lymph nodes. The preliminary pathology screenings of
lymph nodes and breast tissue done during the surgery returned negative too.
After spending the night in the hospital, Miriam returned home on Tuesday.
When we think about things that are "true, noble, right, pure, lovely
and honorable" we have plenty of concrete examples to ponder from these
recent months. God has surrounded us with his love and with remarkably
talented and compassionate people, some of whom do not even admit an
allegiance to him, but nonetheless reflect a part of his character and
purpose. Thank you all for joining us in asking the Lord of all creation for what we need during this season in our lives.