Tuesday, July 26, 2005
A LOT HAS HAPPENED
It has been a week since I posted. A lot has happened. My problem is that I don't really know how much anyone would be interested in what has happened. But in summary....
I have heard from my good friend, Thames. He's having a real "adventure" in his travels. Not all is going smoothly for him, but all in all, it is good. I still miss him so much. And I am still so very thankful he came my way. This is a real "faith issue" for me because I can't do anything but pray for him and his safety. I can't even know on a regular basis how he is. It is a good faith exercise though. I just have to "hand him over to God" to care for him. I just wish I could do more for him.
My dear wife, Karon, has been in and out of the hospital since my last post, though I did refer to it in the comment section. As was to be expected, her immune system was severely reduced as a side effect of the chemotherapy treatment. She had to go to the dentist to have a broken tooth and filling repaired and her teeth cleaned. I had forgotten that because of the chemo she should have taken an antibiotic before and after going to the dentist. Evidently when you get your teeth worked on, bacteria goes throughout your body. To a normal immune system it is no big deal. But her white blood cell count was almost zero so it was a "big deal". So we went to the emergency room Thursday night and after several hours there, they realized why she had such severe infection. They hospitalized her until Sunday afternoon and "pumped" antibiotic into her 24/7. By Sunday afternoon her counts were near enough to normal that she could be released. She feels really cruddy but is working most of each day.
We had a very successful Vacation Bible School at church last week and a good closing program Friday night. Sunday morning we had new people in service as a result of our VBS. So that is all good.
Things are good at church. We are trying to educate and prepare people to partner with one of our young people who is going to the Ukraine in January as a full time Christian worker in the church in Berdyansk. We hope our church will be able to commit to providing at least half of the young lady's monthly support needs. August 7th we make our commitments. We'll see what happens.
We're trying to add on to our building. Oh what a miserable process that is. It is no one's fault. That's just the way it is. Lots of tough decisions to make. Thankfully our church is united and we patiently struggle together to learn God's Will in the matter.
During August I'm taking my annual Study Leave given by the church. I'll speak at church August 7th because that's our big Sunday--commitment Sunday for the mission work, fellowship dinner and quarterly congregation meeting. Then I'll be out of the pulpit until September 11th. I'll be working on a lot of things--fall and winter teaching and various other things.
Work at my week-day job is great. I am so thankful for it. God is good. Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of that.
More later.
Jim
posted by jim 8:30 AM 5 comments
Comments:
Hey. I just happened upon this journal through Thames's. I just want you to know that you and your wife are in my prayers. Sometimes illness is so hard to endure... for everybody. I'm glad that Karon seems to be doing a bit better, at least.
Eileen
Eileen
# posted by 
: 8:52 AM
: 8:52 AM
Hey Jim,
I'm glad to hear your wife it out of the hospital! I will continue to pray for you two.
I know what you mean about Thames. I wonder what adventures he's having each day. We miss him pretty bad.
Sincerely,
Miss Nebula Jones (Nik)
I'm glad to hear your wife it out of the hospital! I will continue to pray for you two.
I know what you mean about Thames. I wonder what adventures he's having each day. We miss him pretty bad.
Sincerely,
Miss Nebula Jones (Nik)
# posted by : 9:01 AM
: 9:01 AM
Jim,
What a scary thought to have one's white blood cell count down to zero! Glad things are going better now. I've been praying for both of you. Take Care,
Jeremy
What a scary thought to have one's white blood cell count down to zero! Glad things are going better now. I've been praying for both of you. Take Care,
Jeremy
# posted by : 8:40 AM
: 8:40 AM
Jim, thank you for your kind, kind words. I am overwhelmed with the compassion that people have poured out to my family in the past week.
I will be updating at my old journal, Rhythms of the Seeker (http://seeker.wavesoflife.com/rhythm/)... it seems a better place to process my grief than live journal.
Do you mind if I link your weblog?
Post a Comment
I will be updating at my old journal, Rhythms of the Seeker (http://seeker.wavesoflife.com/rhythm/)... it seems a better place to process my grief than live journal.
Do you mind if I link your weblog?
# posted by : 3:24 PM
: 3:24 PM