Tired in but not of...
Firstly, thank you to the multitudes of you who have been sending in notes, emails, facebook messages, skype messages, etc etc in response to the news about my dad. It's amazing to think how many ways there are to be in contact and your support through prayer and friendship have been a huge blessing. Please do forgive us if we don't reply however, because there are a lot of you and though this situation has called our attention away from certain things, we are all still pressing on with the tasks that the Lord has set before us.
I was thinking about what I should title this blog. It's sometimes hard to know how to sum up everything that I want to say in just a line so that I can put it in this little subject heading and click 'publish'. Some of you might recognise that saying from my dad's messages. As I was praying this week in the midst of the stress and the hunger and the tiredness, this little saying just kept coming back to mind.
The early 4:30am starts are still something I'm getting used to. The late nights of planning, marking, filing, organising, etc are also somethings that need some getting used to. Then of course, my classes of hyperactive kids. *smirk*. In all honesty, though some days are just really tough and I find myself realising that everyone is in a similar boat. I won't tell you what happened yesterday but it made me realise that I'm not the only one that sometimes just wants to sit down in a corner somewhere and cry. I don't know about you but I get really embarrassed if people see me cry. I guess I've just never been this stretched out but as I find myself in that kind of state, it's been really refreshing to learn from David in the Psalms just how to release all that anxiety, stress and tears into God's hands. I'm not there yet, I pick up more worries and stress during the day but God has been faithful. Where I am weak, He is strong. When I'm down, He picks me up again... there are a few songs out there on this, aren't there?
Well, things aren't going to be getting any easier. Quick update for those who have been asking. My parents are heading back to Singapore on the 8th of December for my dad to start his radio and chemotherapy. We are hoping that he will get an appointment to do an MRI here in London before he leaves (because it's free here) but if not, may have to pay a sum to do it in Singapore. I'm still waiting to hear if I've got a seat to fly back to Singapore on the 22nd straight after my 3 exams. If not, I'll also be paying for a budget flight or something. I'm planning to be staying in Singapore until the 8th when I have to return because I'll already have missed a week of school and need to be back in order to finish certain assignments. My parents will stay on for as long as the treatment takes. We have been told it will be about 6 months where my dad will have to go to the hospital 5 days every week. I have heard that he will be allowed breaks though, which means he will still be attending some meetings inbetween.
We are entirely grateful to the Lord for the many friends and family who have been in touch with us and have prayed faithfully with us. It has been overwhelming to see God's love, grace and faithfulness through His people, His church, our family. Praise Him indeed for this strength in unity.
We continue to trust in His sovereignty.
Debbie
