Next steps....

I need to get you a quick update on how I am and next steps.   A bit more then a week has passed since surgery and I am healing well but still a bit low energy which is normal.  I get the stitches out of my really cool scar I have on Monday.

Missy and I had our oncologist visit late last week to discuss next steps.  The doctor and pathology verified it was a fast growing/grade 4 tumor, which is the most aggressive.  This did not shock us as the surgeon felt post operation it was grade 3 or 4.  

I asked her to give me some positives I can hold onto based on what she was seeing and she encouraged me with several.

1.  My young age 

2. A very successful tumor removal surgery

3. I was in good health and recovering very well from surgery

4. Strong faith and good family and friend support structure.

I praise God for all of these and they are answers to prayers.

As has been explained to us, these tumor surgeries cannot remove 100% of the cancer cells, which will require me to start on January 4th a radiation and chemotherapy via pill for a six-week period.  An MRI will be done after that to see how things are looking and then most likely more chemo.

We are very pleased with the oncology team and the lead doctor attends a Southern Baptist Church and knew all about IMB mission work so there was an instant connection.  We finished our time by praying together in her office, which was amazing.  God is good!!

We have such incredible support from Missy’s family and I can’t thank them enough for their love and sacrifice.  We are also super excited to get a visit from the Hoosier side of the Wood family next week over Christmas.  I have been in constant contact with them but it will be great to give them all a hug.

Continue to pray that these weeks would be characterized by strength, courage, strong faith, laughter and most importantly that we would be a testimony that God’s grace is sufficient in all of this. We will continue to get more general updates via Missy's Facebook and our blog- www.hisvillage.com on a regular basis. 

Merry Christmas to you all and blessings to your family.

Greg

Cancelled!

As I hung out last night and reflected over a few things on my calendar in December and January I noted:

     1. Jerod flying to Mexico Dec. 18^th-Jan 15^th to spend college break with us (CANCELLED)- Praise God he is still with us here in South Carolina

     2.  Baked Christmas goods evangelistic outreach for our local Mexican neighbors and friends (CANCELLED)

     3.   Christmas party and time with our wonderful missionary team in Mexico (CANCELLED)

     4.   Leadership training and encouragement to visit the churches and families where we served our first nine years in Michoacan, Mexico from Jan 5-12^th (CANCELLED)   

     5.   Local leadership training/vision casting in Veracruz including our missionary team, local Mexican pastors and leaders on Jan 23^rd (CANCELLED)

“Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”  “Instead you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” James 4:13-15

There is one thing that the Mexicans say and it is spot on, they finish a sentence by saying, "Si Dios Quiere." Which translates if it God's will. So, just like this verse says above we all need to think more like that and understand that God may change our plans at a moments notice. 

We should set goals and plan but always knowing that God is in the middle of it all and he may move us in different directions and we must be humble to accept these changes.  Easier said then done but Lord help us accept your plans. 

Greg