Dear Friends,
Hi! I feel like writing a letter today more than a blog. Letters seem to be a little more personal and sweet (or maybe just a little more Diane-ish :o). Most of the New Testament was written as letters-- epistles full of love, encouragement, personal greetings, and exhortations to know and love the relational God who first loved us. Today and the news that I have to share are letter-types of things.
My dear friends, thank you for going on this journey with me!! I'm so glad to have you with me in spirit on these new adventures. And I especially appreciate your prayers and responses!
I'm leaving tomorrow night for Haiti!! My flight leaves at 7:45pm from Atlanta, then it's on to a quick overnight in JFK. On Monday morning, I should arrive in Port-au-Prince!! Nov. 2-6th is a retreat for the area missionaries-- the first in several years! Then, I'll stay in the capital for language training for the rest of November and on to the hospital in December. Can't wait!
Dear friends, the next bit of news is hard to write. About 3 weeks ago, my dad started having some concerning symptoms. From an ER mindset, they were cancerous until proven otherwise. From a daughter's standpoint, they were nothing until they were something. Unfortunately, it did turn out to be something. My father was diagnosed with bladder and prostate cancer yesterday. We are waiting for the biopsies to come back to know how severe it is. Hopefully, it's not much of something.
In the midst of this curveball of news in my last week States-side, the Lord has been so sweet! None of this takes Him by surprise! My dad has an incredible sense of peace. And God has made it so clear that I need to be departing for Haiti in November. It has been incredible to watch Him bring the Haiti trip together! The vice president of the missions board I'm going through was amazed that all of the funds came together in just 5 months! I had a veteran missionary tell me this week how stunned he was that all of my fund-raising is already done (i'm just $500 shy of the whole $27,300 needed!). In the spring, I felt so strongly that I needed to leave in Nov., and here I am departing on Nov. 1st!! At this point, it still seems like I need to leave, but so much of my heart and prayers will still be here in little Central, SC. I know that my dad remains in the competent hands of great physicians, the gracious hands of loving friends, and the Almighty hands of Father God.
It has been a crazy but good week here. We spent it in doctors' offices, packing (and repacking-- still 3 pounds over in both suitcases! :o)~, eating and more eating of favorite foods, spending every second possible with family and friends and my wonderful boyfriend, and celebrating holidays (we had Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all this week!). I also had my last day of work yesterday, and it was an incredible love-feast! Love, because I don't know that I've ever felt so loved at a job, especially yesterday with the news of my father's illness!! And feast, because I have NEVER in 3 years there seen so much food in that place! And I think that food there really equates with love, and it poured out in a high tea and many other yummy treats. Heehee, and I think that I will be feelin' that love around my hips for a while! :o) What a blessing to work with such wonderful people!
May the grace, peace, and comfort of our gracious, powerful, comforting God fill you today and every day! Thank you in advance for your prayers and comments-- I look forward to keeping in touch!
In His peace,
~diane
Saturday, October 31, 2009
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