April Update

G’day Praying Partners:

I wanted to give you a quick update – even though it hasn’t been a month – because of answers to prayer since our last update!

First, Jackie’s surgery went well. She was in hospital 4 days and has been home about 10 days. Earlier this week she received a phone call from her surgeon to come in the next day because she needed to talk about pathology results. Her first words to us were “I don’t have good news” – not what we wanted to hear! There was cancer in the uterus – but none was detected in the tubes or ovaries. The surgeon feels like it has all been removed but, as she said, she is not the expert where that is concerned. Jackie’s case has been referred to a gynecology oncologist who will review it then contact her for an appointment. Our prayer, of course, is that it’s all been removed and just yearly exams will be necessary. Thank you for your prayers for healing.

Second, we found a house! Rob actually found it while Jackie was in hospital. The papers have been signed – Jackie got to take a walk through last night. We have until April 4 to get shifted into the new place and get the old place cleaned up. Rob has some men lined up to help with the move on Easter Monday. Jackie will be in a strictly supervisory role (which if you know her you know that will drive her crazy!). The house is a bit north of us – about 7 minutes up the road – and will suit our needs perfectly. Thank you for your prayers for housing.

Lastly, our Easter Eggstravaganza went really well. We had a smaller group of kids – mostly because Rob wasn’t at school the week before to promote it (had to take care of Jackie!). We reckoned that the smaller group was good to give our inexperienced “organizer” a chance to get her feet wet without too much pressure! They ended up with 40+ kids and 15+ parents. What an opportunity we have to share the gospel with people who would NEVER step in our church! Thank you for your prayers for God to be glorified!

Happy Resurrection Day! How incredible is it that we serve a Risen Saviour! We are praying that you will have many opportunities to share the Saviour with those around you.

You all will never know how much your prayers mean to us – especially with so much on our plate! At times it can feel overwhelming, but God is so good to give us that “peace that passeth all understanding” which helps us to keep going!  Thank you so much for uplifting us!

Shining the Light Down Under

Rob and Jackie

March Update

G’day Praying Partners,

This is going to be a quick update with a couple of pressing prayer needs. Jackie was called in for a follow up for her procedure and our assumption was incorrect – a pre-cancerous lesion was found on her uterine lining which is requiring a complete hysterectomy. God has opened the door for her to have the surgery on March 11 – barring any emergency that might bump her surgery. Please pray that this doesn’t happen, that the surgery goes well and that she has a quick and complete recovery. We are praising the Lord that this was found because of the diligence of the specialist that she went to early on to be determined to be “extra cautious” about everything. There have been many times along the way that an “all clear” could have been legitimately given and 2 years from now when she went in for her regular check up we would have been looking at a very different situation. God is good!

Unfortunately this means that she will be recovering when we have to move – to a house we have not yet found! This is a very pressing need as we have to be out of this house by April 4. We know that God has the perfect house all lined up for us – we just need to find it! Please be in prayer that this happens soon so we can get that settled. As you can imagine, this is a bit of a stress for us.

Lastly, our Easter outreach is scheduled for March 20.  We talked about cancelling but felt the Lord leading to press on – so that is what we are doing. Obviously Jackie won’t be there – she has handed off a “to do” list to the other ladies for the organization of the day. Please pray for kids and parents to come, the gospel to be clearly shared and lives to be impacted. Mostly pray that God would be glorified through it all!

Thank you for your faithfulness to lift us up to our sovereign God. We know that He is in control of every detail of our lives. How thankful we are to have a loving God go before us!

Shining the Light Down Under,

Rob & Jackie