One Year Ago

This time a year ago, I was in South Africa undergoing tests because of a lump I had found in my breast. A few days later my life was changed when I received a phone call from my doctor saying the biopsy had come back positive for carcinoma. I had cancer. Suddenly I was faced with having to make a lot of tough decisions about my treatment – return to the States or stay in Africa? Lumpectomy or mastectomy? Proceed with chemo despite the effects it could have on my body?

I can say without a doubt that I felt the Lord guiding me in all of those decisions. I’m not going to lie….it was a crappy year and I am very thankful it is over and I hope and pray that I never have to go through it again. But having survived cancer, I have so much new revelation of God as my strength and Comforter. He so graciously surrounded me with amazing family and friends to care for me during the 7 months of my treatment. He gave me strength when I needed it. And through it all, He deepened my love and calling to the street children in Mozambique, Africa. You see, that was the hardest part….being away from my boys. Surgery was no fun, chemo was really hard and radiation was so drawn out…..But all of it was easy compared to being separated from my boys for 7 months.

I’m home now. It’s been 4 months since my treatments ended. I’m healthy and loving my life. Upon my return to Mozambique in October, God gave me so much grace to just pick up where I had left off 7 months earlier. In many ways, its like I was never away. I am so grateful for God’s kindness and the promise found in 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”

Thank you to all of you who stood beside me and cried with me and counseled me and prayed for me. Thank you to the wonderful doctors who provided my care. Thank you to the friends who went to chemo treatments with me and to those who so graciously invited me to out to lunch or a movie. Thank you to my mom and dad for taking such precious care of me even when I wasn’t very fun to be around. I love you all so much and am forever grateful for the family and friends God has blessed me with!