May 2011 Update

Hello Friends!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Easter celebration and rejoice in the new life that we all receive through Christ resurrection!

In our last update 2 months ago, I mentioned to you about my father’s illness. His transition to Hospice has gone well and he has continued to gain strength and a renewed spirit during his time there. The nurses and staff at Beacon Place are wonderful and we could not ask for a nicer place for my Dad.

However, they are kicking him out. It is a good thing though. They are kicking him out because he has improved so much. In my last update I told you that the Oncologist prognosis was for weeks to months remaining. The hospice doctor told us yesterday that even though he still has lymphoma, his overall health is so good that they need to free up the bed for someone who is terminal. He said the average stay for someone at Hospice is about a week. My father has been there almost 10 weeks now and amazes the nurses every day with his improvement. A definite answer to prayer!

The plan is to move him and my Mom into an assisted living facility where they can be together and they can also get the care that they need. What a blessing for them to be able to be together again! We are truly thankful for the Lord’s provision in this situation.

I have been spending more time with my father and mother during the past 10 weeks. Given the prognosis in January we felt like our time with him was very limited. I didn’t want to spend all of my time with preparations with Angola and regret time lost with my Dad after he passed. However, with his latest diagnosis and with a special one-on-one conversation I had with my Dad this past Sunday, we are back into preparing to move.

Sunday afternoon, my father and I were watching an NBA game on TV and the topic of Angola came up. He wanted to know how our board meeting had gone on Sunday. I told him a bit about it and how things were moving forward with the different ministries there. He then looked me in the eye and said, “If God has called you to go to Angola, and I believe He has, then you need to keep going. Don’t let what is going on with me keep you from following what He has called you to do.” WOW! What a HUGE affirmation. Both my heavenly father and my earthly father are telling me that I need to move forward!

Please pray for us over the next couple of weeks as we get my parents settled into their new lifestyle. This is not one that they would have chosen but they are accepting it and making the best of this change all the while giving thanks for my Dad’s new lease on life. We still don’t know how long he has but none of us know the timeframe that we have. James 4:14 says, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” None of us have the promise of tomorrow and we are learning that we must move forward.

In Him,

Danny & April

Support address

AGA Inc.

25 Maple St

Addison, NY 14801

Account: 01016 or “Danny & April”