代禱信 Prayer Letter 11

1.  我昨天完成了28次電療，當中有一些副作用，但是並無大礙。讚美神，也感謝所有的代禱者的禱告。

I have finished my 28-time, 6-week radiation therapy yesterday.  There were some minor side effects but overall, it was not that bad.  Praise the Lord.  Thanks to all the people who prayed for me.

2.  計劃8月6日開刀前檢查，8月7日開刀。原則上，我還是禱告不需要開刀，雖然覺得醫生會非常反對。

My pre-surgery check-up is scheduled on August 6^th and surgery on August 7^th.  Basically, I am still praying for not having to go through surgery, even though my doctor will strong advise doing surgery.

3.  秀君和三個孩子們預計8月25日回美國，也就是在我開刀完，住院10天左右，回家休養一星期後，他們再飛回去，這不是我們的計劃，而是機票確定的比較晚，航空公司最早可以幫他們劃到連在一起位置的日期，正好是我生日那天，孩子們的學校也要開學了。請禱告他們一路上順利，孩子們能聽話，平平安安回到堪薩斯市。

Siew and our kids are planning to return the U.S. on August 25^th, which means that they will return after my surgery and my 10-day hospital stay after the surgery.  We did not plan this.  This is the earliest date that the airline can guarantee us their connected seats.  That day is also my birthday and the time when the kids’ school is about to start.  Please pray for travelling mercy.  The kids will behave and they can return to Kansas City safely.

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昨天放射性治療最後一次，完成了全部28次、為期6個星期的電療，非常高興，當中比較明顯的副作用就是第三個星期排便很痛，第四個星期腹瀉很厲害，但是其他的時間大部分都還不錯，我曾聼過有關電療的其他令人戰兢的危險狀況，我這次都沒有發生，感謝讚美主，很想感謝很多人，像持續 為我禱告的眾多代禱者，我的家人，支持我的朋友們。

I have finished my 28-time, 6-week radiation therapy yesterday.  Yes, I was very happy about that.  The major side effects from radiation therapy were the painful pooping time on the third week and diarrhea on the fourth week.  Other than that, it was not that bad.  I have heard some horror story about radiation therapy before and none of them had happened to me this time.  Praise the Lord.  I really want to thank my family, my supportive friends and all the people who are praying for me.   

今天和主治大夫回診，也開始進行第四次化療。計劃8月6日開刀前檢查，8月7日開刀。開刀後，取出淋巴結，再看看有沒有擴散，有沒有必要繼續做跟進的化療（不小心聽到我的主治大夫對另外一位大夫形容我壯的像條牛一樣！沒辦法，6個星期的電化療治後，體重掉不到一公斤，白白胖胖的，看到我的人都看不出我在做治療）。原則上，我還是禱告不需要開刀，雖然覺得醫生會非常反對。

I also met with my doctor today and started my fourth chemotherapy.  He planned to have my pre-surgery check-up on August 6^th and surgery on August 7^th.  My lymph nodes around intestine will be taken out and checked to see if the cancer cells have spread, which will determine if I need further chemotherapy after the surgery. (I overheard my doctor told another doctor that I am strong like a cow.  What I can say!  After 6-week of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, I lost only about 2 pounds and still look pretty “chunky”.  Friends who visited me often commented that I don’t look a bit like a cancer patient at all).  Basically, I am still praying for not having to go through surgery, even though my doctor will strong advise doing surgery.

這兩天排便比較硬（好像沒留意就喝水少了，又正好軟便的化療葯休息了兩天），所以就比較痛，痛的程度，不輸給前幾個禮拜；但是不一樣的就是，因為我知道電療已經做完，知道這個情況不會再惡劣下去，所以痛是痛，但是覺得沒什麼大不了的。我們的意志真的是一個力量強大的實體，當一個人認定情況是好的、或積極正面時候，眼前的難處就看起來沒什麼，然後愉快的心理會產生輕鬆的身理。但是反之，同樣的難處，當一個人覺得不可能、很負面的時候，真的就變的困難無比，就會力不從心。所以，神要我們盡心、盡性、盡意、盡力的愛祂；我這次學到“盡意”愛祂的特別功課，“盡意”就是要竭盡我的意志，奮力抓住祂 [的美善]（賽64:7a），活在信心和盼望裏面，當我的意志因為認識祂的愛而堅強時，就沒有什麼事情能叫我與祂的愛隔絕，很不容易的功課，卻是很有福氣、很有品味的道路，也是 神最大的誡命，一定要持守的。

I am having hard stool again when I go to toilet these past two days (I forgot to drink a lot of water and had two-day break of chemo medicine which actually soften my stool a lot).  That means it hurts and the level is about par with what I had before.  The difference is that I don’t think of it as a big deal at all because I know that radiation therapy is over.  Our will is a very powerful agency.  When a person believes that he or she is in a good condition or the current situation will get better, the apparent difficulty will seem unproblematic.  Our mental optimism will build up our physical strength.  On the contrary, when a person is pessimistic or hopeless to overcome, the very same situation will become challenging and impossible.  God wants us to love Him with all our heart, our soul, our mind (will) and our strength.  I have learned a special lesson on loving God with all my mind, which is to hold onto Him [His goodness and mercy] (64:7a) and living in faith and hope.  When my mind or my will is strong in knowing His love, there is nothing that can separate me from His love.  It’s a very challenging lesson but it is surely rewarding and it is also His greatest commandment so it got to be kept.