A date has been set

There is news in this waiting room on the journey. On Wednesday we were told that we are confirmed for surgery on Nov. 3rd. Our GP immediately said "this is not the last word..." but today he had to accept that, in fact, it probably is the last word. I assured him of our continuing peace about the situation, including the delay. It was obvious he couldn't understand how that could be. But, of course, that's exactly what the Word promises, a peace beyond understanding.

He has asked me to become an ally in crusading with him to address the medical establishment to address this dismal situation - the delay of urgent surgery for weeks and months beyond acceptable time frames. He is asking "if you don't feel you want to do it for yourself, do it for the dozens of others who are caught in the same intolerable situation." I'm thinking about working with him on this. But my impulses are pastoral, not political.

We continue to receive messages of concern and encouragement from so many friends, especially our missionary colleagues. Yesterday a phone call came from Pastor Raha in Bukavu, Congo, assuring us that his family and the congregation of Bethsaida Church were praying fervently for us. I've had the privilege of being in some of their 6 a.m. prayer meetings. Their fervency puts us western Christians ('wazunga') to shame. And then we received a very welcome email from our dear friend Simon Peter Emiau, the General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Uganda. Faith and brotherly love exude from this good man.

Most of you will know that Africa and our friends their have a deep place in our hearts. Africa and its people do that to you, especially if God has called you to be part of their lives. And that is perhaps the greatest frustration (pain!) of being side-lined temporarily with this disease and surgery. Simon Peter gave us this encouraging word in his email: "just as the cries of the disciples woke Jesus in the storm, that's what the prayers of the saints will do for you in this situation." We don't understand all of the 'mysteries' of prayer but we do know that He still answers prayer and calms storms. Thanks for standing with us.

KEN AND SHIRLEY

P.S. We now have an email account set up in our new place. Shirley will be the primary user. It has the same address that we had in Sooke: ksbirch@shaw.ca.