Tripped, Oct 2013

Yes it has been five years long. The first year was slow and the last four was a blur, mostly battling with cancer. On our trip last month to USA wife had a big scare. Halfway into the month we had to abort the trip. Her arm was swollen and her stomach had pains. We had to reschedule our flight twice and were penalized HK$5,400 but it was worth it to return earlier to calm her fear of having no insurance. We have to be thankful because we got the tickets 1159am before the midautumn festival half-day office break and we flew into HK one day before the 天兔 typhoon hit.

We are also grateful for a friend who helped us to make a doctor's appointment. The doctor sent us to a CT scan at Evangel Hospital but we had to wait for the results to be released a few days later. On the day of the results wife's legs were too jittery to walk to the counter, so I took it for her, but still she had to sign. We prayed before opening the envelope. Our eyes open to the findings: no cancer to liver or bones. We praised God because we know the doctor would say the same thing the next day. Sure enough the doctor said she can eat, exercise and work even though she had cancer recurrence, but no further damage elsewhere. I suspect the muscle pain is muscle spasm from anxiety and stress.

Here is her letter to friends entitled "Best Possible Results":

Dear friends,

I am very, very, grateful for all your prayers! Yesterday I brought the PET/CT scan report to the oncologist. Yes, indeed there is a mass (2.5 cm X 3.6 cm X 4.3cm) but it does not look cancerous at this point. The oncologist said to just monitor it for now and continue with my oral chemotherapy. So I consider this the best possible outcome. Praise God! May He heal me according to His sovereign will!

My journey back home was smooth; somehow it gave me hope that the Lord can make our return journey to Him a peaceful one as well. I was so thankful to be back as I was afraid to be stuck in U.S. without medical insurance. With the jet lag, I had insomnia and some nights I was overwhelmed by negative thoughts and feelings. I cried to the Lord for mercy. I prayed to submit to Him no matter what. In the daytime I tried to get a lot of things done. I went to an attorney’s office to do a will. We cleaned the house to prepare for major chemotherapy and lowered immunity. I am much more ready now for whatever the Lord’s plan would be.

Of course we prayed a lot, for ourselves and for others. The Lord had blessed me with Psalm 116:

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
² Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

³ The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”

⁵ The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
⁶ The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.

⁷ Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

⁸ For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
⁹ that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

¹⁰ I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”;
¹¹ in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.”

¹² What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me?

¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.
¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.
¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.

¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.
¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the Lord in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

Every verse in this Psalm is precious to me. In particular the Lord calls me to be His faithful servant.

I received a lot of encouraging emails. The very special ones were from my former Sunday school students. One prayed that“…and if it be His will that you should join Him then it will be with utmost gladness.” Indeed it is my prayer that when the time comes, I would be ready to embrace Him with utmost gladness! We do not have to die in fear, pain and agony. May the Lord bless us! Another reminded me the power of prayer. His father bought my car for him when I left U.S. I prayed for special protection of driver and passengers because I did not want him to get hurt in my car, in case he drove too fast or doze off or something. This young man shared how he experienced God’s “warm glow” around him during the car accident. The car was totally wrecked but he climbed out of it unscathed. Indeed God answered prayers in amazing ways! The young man wrote: “For the presence of God will give us protection when we pass through fire and water... and freeways J” I was deeply moved – even though we do not know what would happen in the future. In His perfect way, He prompts us to pray in ways such that we are all blessed to experience His presence!

Even as I enjoy this moment of relief, I remember those dear to my heart that are preparing for intense treatment, those that are praying desperately for their children’s condition, etc. I believe in the power of prayer!! I am not worthy of the goodness bestowed on me. None of us do. But God is merciful. May He help us walk each step with trust!

Doris