Lamentations 3:22-23 – “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
This is one of those prayer letters that should give all who read it reasons to rejoice in the Lord. It is one that answers the prayers of many of you, for which we daily praise the Lord. My visa arrived on May 18, and we flew out of Australia for Chicago via Abu Dhabi two days later, arriving in America on May 21. Laura saw her doctor on May 23. In the short time we have been here, she has had multiple appointments, tests, scans, and infusions. She started her first chemotherapy treatment this past Wednesday.
The medical profession considers Laura terminal and without any hope of recovery. Although she looks well, scans show that cancer is in her breast/lymph nodes, lungs, liver, spleen, and throughout her bones. We are trusting the Lord to heal her, in spite of the prognosis given by doctors. We do not have time to mention all the ways the Lord has gone before us, providing perfectly for our needs, including a wheelchair ramp where we are staying.
For me personally, waiting on the Lord was a lesson that I have had to learn again. Admittedly, patience has never been my strong point; but more a case of, “Lord, teach me patience, but I need it now.” Even in the midst of Laura’s own cancer trials, God has used her to remind me of passages like Psalm 27:14.
Thankfully, even while waiting since February, this did not take away the ever-present need to be soul-conscious. Prior to leaving Australia, during our flights over here, as well as since arriving in America, souls have still been sought for Jesus! One example is that of JR, who drove us to Hammond, Indiana, after landing at O’Hare. Quizzed about his eternal destiny, he acknowledged he was a sinner, insisting that he believed in God, though thinking his good works would help him. In the end, he was happy to hear of salvation being a gift and graciously accepted a church tract, saying he would read it, but stopping short of making that all-important prayer decision.
Prayer Requests
Pray that . . .
1. Laura’s cancer treatment will produce some desired results, including regular iron infusions, immunotherapy, and this relatively new chemotherapy.
2. These weekly treatments will give opportunities for both of us to be a witness to the lost, whether they are nurses, doctors, other hospital staff, or fellow patients.
3. The labor of reaching the lost back in Tasmania by those who remain faithful to the charge will continue unabated.
Thank you again for your continued support through all these months. God is good. The truth of Romans 8:28 still holds true. All we need to do is focus on Him and His interests. Answered prayers are always the desired result and changed lives in the process, amen! Your continued support helps make that possible.
In His great love and mercy,
Brother Andrew Steers