Rainald Feldmeier Update

I requested prayer some weeks ago for friends who were in Africa but the dad (Rainald) had been ill and they had found tumours in his testicle and the family had to return home to Australia so he could get treatment. Here is the latest email update:

I would like to thank everyone who has prayed, texted, emailed, given and phoned us. Your support and encouragement has been what gets us through especially the tough days. We arrived back on the 30th and drove Rainald straight to Royal prince Alfred Hospital. There he was admitted and the tests begun, firstly they thought he had TB and we all had to wear funny gowns and masks if we wanted to go near him. When that scare was over they concentrated on the tumour which proved to be testicular cancer in stage 3, it had travelled to his lungs, liver, abdomen and lymphatic system. He was in alot of pain and by now weighed 70 kg, 15kg less than usual. Last tuesday chemotherapy started and he is under going 5 straight days followed by a monday treatment, twice then back to the 5 days. He is receiving very high doses and no doubt will not feel too well over the next 3 months. Because we had to fly out so quickly we had to take business class seats they were very nice but came with a price. $12 500 one way for the two, these seats were also much more comfortable for Rainald and he could lie down. We couldnt get the kids out of Malawi till the 20th so they are still there and wont arrive till 22nd october. It has now been more than a month since we have been together and if you know our family and how close we are thats tough. The other downer about the kids is that we cant have them with us while Rainald receives treatment as Rainald and I will stay with my sister. She and her husband have a house in Sydney and their three adult children still live at home. There just isnt room so the kids will move back to Gympie and stay at our house that is being rented by friends and they will look after them. Hopefully this will be till christmas when we can all be together again. Rainald is not in as much pain anymore, they operated and removed the tumour. He is very weak and has lost a lot of muscle tone. His road to recovery will be long. He is in quite good spirits today it helps when you see someone doing something to make you better. During the time when we didnt know what was wrong we struggled alot. We have had some friends come down and visit this was good for our spirits. We enjoy the calls as being so far away from friends has its struggles. My sister has been great, we now realise what sisters are for and she is an enormous support and friend. Again thank you for your prayers.
Blessings jennifer And Rainald

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

WELL SPRING IS IN THE AIR AND I POPPED OUT INTO THE GARDEN TO TAKE A PHOTO OF THE LARGE RED FLOWERS (TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG). I TRIED TWICE TO PUT THEIR PHOTOS AT THE TOP OF MY BLOG AND TWICE IT TOLD ME THAT IT HAD ENCOUNTERED AN ERROR REQUIRING MY SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN SO I HAVE LEFT THEM AT THE BOTTOM. SO MY STORY WILL BE A LITTLE BACK TO FRONT.

I'M HOPING THAT THESE LITTLE BUNCHES WILL TURN INTO GRAPES. THERE IS A QUITE A FEW PLANTS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE WHICH HAVE LOOKED DEAD ALL WINTER. IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS THEY HAVE BECOME COVERED IN GREEN LEAVES AND BUCKETLOADS OF THESE BUNCHES.

WASN'T SURE WHAT THE PLANT BELOW WAS AS IT WAS BARE OF LEAVES WHEN WE MOVED IN. KNEW IT HAD TO BE A FRUIT AS IT WAS COVERED IN NETTING. WHEN I LOOKED TODAY IT WAS COVERED IN PEACHES.
THE MANGO TREES HAVE HAD LOTS OF FLOWERS. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL SET AND THERE WILL BE HEAPS OF MANGOES.
IT IS PRETTY HOT HERE TODAY (33 DEG CELSIUS). TIGGER, FRANKIE AND BLACKIE CURLED UP IN NICHOLAS' BED FOR A DAY OF NAPPING.

TOM SPENT THE MORNING WITH ME AT THE COMPUTER. HE WASN'T IMPRESSED WITH BEING DISTURBED WHEN I WENT OUT TO TAKE THE PHOTOS.

BUT SOON SETTLED BACK DOWN TO NAPPING.

THIS IS WHAT I WENT OUTSIDE ORIGINALLY TO PHOTOGRAPH. THIS LARGE CACTUS IS IN THE BACK CORNER OF THE YARD AND I HATE IT. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD PLANT IT.
BUT WHEN I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW THE OTHER DAY I SAW THESE LARGE RED FLOWERS GROWING IN FRONT OF THE CACTUS AND THEY LOOKED SPECTACULAR.

THEY ARE BIGGER THAN YOUR HAND.

ALSO FLOWERING IN THE GARDEN ARE THE HIBISCUS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLANT IS BELOW. IT DOESN'T HAVE VERY MANY BRANCHES BUT THEY ARE ALL COMPLETELY COVERED IN THESE WHITE FLOWERS.

THE POOR OLD PECAN TREES LOOK SO BARE. THERE ARE 3 IN THE YARD AND THEY DROPPED HEAPS OF PECAN NUTS AND THEN DROPPED ALL THERE LEAVES.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED A QUICK TRIP THROUGH THE GARDEN OF OUR RENTAL HOME. IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME HOW DIVERSE GOD'S CREATION IS.

Pat's Birthday Tea

BIRTHDAY CAKE! YUM!!

PATRICK'S COUSIN PETA DIDN'T WANT HER PHOTO TAKEN BUT AFTER SOME GENTLE PERSUASION WE GOT A PHOTO.

HIS OTHER COUSIN KELLY IS NOT SO SHY OF THE CAMERA AND WAS HAPPY TO HAM IT UP WITH PATRICK.



PAT'S PRESENTS FROM HIS COUSINS. THE TRUCK IS A FAMILY JOKE. THE SHIRTS WERE PRETTY APT.

KELLY WASN'T REAL SURE ABOUT THE TRUCK SHE LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BITE HER.

NICHOLAS HAD HI FIRST SUMMER SWIM. PAT BOUGHT THIS 'COOL HAT' THAT EVERYONE WHO IS COOL IS WEARING. NOT SURE HOW CLEAR IT IS IN THE PHOTO BUT IT HAS A BEADED PIECE ON TOP WITH A PLASTIC ROTOR BLADE ON IT. WE WENT TO THE SHOPPING CENTRE ON SATURDAY AND SAW 6 OTHER TEENAGERS WITH THIS HAT ON.

PAT'S BIRTHDAY WAS A BIT DIFFERENT TO LAST YEAR'S. LAST YEAR HE AWOKE IN A HOTEL IN NONG KHAI, THAILAND. WAITED FOR AGES TO CROSS THE THAILAND BORDER AND EVEN LONGER AT THE LAOS BORDER FOR VISAS. EVENTUALLY GOT INTO VIENTIANNE, LAOS. HAD ITALIAN (PIZZA) AT A FRENCH RESTAURANT IN LAOS TO CELEBRATE BECOMING A TEENAGER. SOMETHING HE WILL NEVER FORGET.

Praise The Lord!!

Prayer is so powerful and our God is so awesome. Since 2 days after the prayer request was made for little Jeremias (4 year old with the prolapsed bowel) his bowel has not prolapsed again. Praise the Lord. Please keep praying for a complete recovery.