Thanks for the prayers...

Thank you so much for the sweet comments on my last post! We really appreciate all of the love and prayers...

Something I failed to mention in my last post is that the reason Chad and Janeene came back to the U.S. was because of some chronic pain that Chad has been having which ended up being completely unrelated to the tumor. The only reason the tumor was found was because of all of the medical tests to find the cause of the pain. I thought that I would share the latest update with you in Janeene's words. This is the update they just put out to their family, friends, and supporters:

"We have some good news and some more for you to pray with us about.

First, the good news…the pathology report came back, and although Chad’s tumor was malignant, it was the non-invasive low grade variety, which means that since the doctor got it all, we won’t need anything like chemo, but only periodic checkups. Praise God with us for that!!!

He said that normally he would have Chad checked again in 3 months, but since we are, Lord willing, planning on being back in PNG before that time, then he would recommend that we get Chad checked in 6 months. So at that time we will look into the possibility of a trip to Australia or another nearby country with good medical facilities to have that done and then a quicker return to the ministry in PNG.

Which brings us to our prayer item: For us to return soon to PNG, we still need to get to the bottom of what’s causing Chad’s pain. We have seen a neurological surgeon who looked at the results of the spinal MRI, and though a synovial cyst was found, it does not appear to be linked to the area of pain. But he decided to try putting Chad on some medication to see if there is enough improvement to warrant more treatment on his part. It’s only been a few days now, and thus far results are fairly inconclusive. We will continue to consult with doctors and weigh further options. So far this has been a real mystery, but God knows all, and we can rest in that—and in His great love for us. Thanks for your prayers—they are much appreciated these days!

Please pray for:

~Wisdom for our doctors here, as they search for answers and a course of action to treat Chad’s pain.

~Grace for Chad as he deals with the pain on a daily basis. Many of you live with pain and know how chronic pain can wear a person down over time. Please pray for the grace and the peace that passes all understanding.

~Contentment, as we have had to adjust to this abrupt interruption of the work we’ve been doing in PNG. We know that this is what God has for us now, but it is still a struggle for us at times, especially knowing that we’ve had to leave our partners the Williamsons alone in the village and have left the young church in the middle of teaching through the great book of Romans. But we do know that God will work all this out for His glory and our growth—ours, our co-workers, and that of the Tobo believers as well.

We just need to go back to that again and again and choose to rest in God.

~Guidance in the future as we will need to find a good place for followup on Chad across the big water six months from now. Pray for all the finances, paperwork, and other travel logistics, as well as a good doctor and medical facilities."

Chad & Janeene
Elijah & Zekey