Our missionary staff in the mountains of Gunma Prefecture Cancer theme verses
“This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. . . . You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you’” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17, NIV).
Shortly after Cheryl’s cancer recurred in September 2009, a friend visited to share some verses from 2 Chronicles 20 that God had given her for Cheryl. Since then, they have become our “cancer theme verses,” especially verses 15 and 17 above. Indeed, we are seeing the Lord fight the cancer battle both with and for us. We are also seeing his deliverance from day to day. Praise the Lord!
An update on Cheryl
Although we reported in our last newsletter about Cheryl’s “deliverance” from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to return to Japan on March 1, the news shortly afterwards was not as we’d hoped. A CT scan on March 23 revealed that the tumor in the void where the kidney once was has begun growing again, confirming the Japanese doctor’s suspicions that the anti-cancer drug Sutent is no longer working for Cheryl. Our Japanese doctor apologized that he had only one other drug to offer us. However, since the alternative attacks the cancer in the same way as Sutent, it seemed unlikely to us that this was a good “next step” in this cancer journey.
When we contacted Houston, we learned of a new drug, Afinitor, which was released in the U.S. in March, 2009—the very month the cancer was first discovered. With some investigating on both sides of the ocean, we learned that this new drug is to be released in April (this month) in Japan. Talk about timing! Just when the Sutent has stopped being effective, the only clinically proven drug that currently exists as the “next treatment” for patients like Cheryl (where Sutent has failed) has become available in Japan. Needless to say, we are standing firm and watching the Lord deliver! We are amazed.
Please pray that Cheryl will indeed get the medicine on April 20, as promised by the drug company. (She may be the first person to get Afinitor in all of Japan, says her doctor.) Pray also that the time lag between the Sutent and Afinitor will not allow the cancer to make great strides in her body. Unfortunately, she has begun running a low grade fever and is quite tired most days, neither of which are good. However, we know that God is faithful and in control, and we are praising him. Please praise him with us.
Spring staff meeting
Thanks for your prayers for our spring staff meeting, March 29-31. We greatly appreciated the presence of Don and Caroline Armstrong (in the photo, far right, back row), our regional coordinators for the Asia-Pacific region. It was their first visit to Japan, and we think we did them well, especially in encouraging the cherry trees to be at full bloom just for them. (Since you can see the remains of winter at our retreat center in the mountains, no cherry trees were in bloom there, but for the rest of their 12-day visit, the pale pink blossoms cooperated wonderfully.) Our staff members were encouraged by the Armstrongs’ visit and by our close fellowship together.
Additional prayer requests
●Please pray for the new girls who entered Tamagawa Seigakuin on April 7. Pray that the Lord will touch their hearts in life-changing ways during their Tama Sei careers.
●The kindergarten at Tamagawa Church welcomes its new 3-year-old class on April 12. Pray that seeds planted in their tender hearts will take root and blossom.
●April 18 is Tamagawa Church’s annual business meeting. In his pastor’s message, Bernie will encourage the congregation to take some practical steps towards becoming more outward-looking. Pray that this may also become the congregation’s vision; and,
●Pray that all the necessary preparations for our 3-month home assignment/medical leave from May 19 will go smoothly and that everything will be accomplished on time.
