It is cold or may I say freezing in Cambodia right now. It’s only around 20 degrees Celsius but that means it's freezing. Everyone that has a jacket has it on today. Sitting here without a fan and with a jacket on, shows you how we accustomed to the Asian weather. Cold here is an understatement for most of you not from here. We do not have a white Christmas but it feels like it with weather like this. Seems there is a black cloud hanging over Christmas this year but we need to push ahead and breakthrough this as we know that our Savior lives. Looking at the stars and Jupiter and Saturn aligns and forms a big star, reminds us of the Christmas star that the wise men saw and directed them to Jesus. Talking about a sign from Heaven this year.
It is with a real heavy heart that I wrote to you guys tonight. Two events and people we know way back from Davao-Philippines made this a sad day for us. First of all, a good friend Tom McIntosh died a day ago. He and his wife Evelyn were missionaries working in the unreached groups in the Philippines for a very long time. He gave me his dental equipment for about 20 years ago and told me to pull teeth. We were not best friends but it felt like it and I know a lot about him. We met last year again here in Cambodia and we had a real warm connection with each other. It is sad when good people die. Here is his wife telling what happened:
Thank God for dear friends who took care of Tom before he passed away, the Barkers and Dr. Phylis. Tom thought he had food poisoning. He still left Davao 12/20 before noon to go to Isulan Sultan Kudarat at our friend's house and spend a night there. He was supposed to attend a GIFT fellowship meeting at the GIFT training center the next day. He arrived at our friend's house around 4pm. He was vomiting and thought he had food poisoning. He didn't want to go to the hospital because he thought it was not a big deal. After a long chat with our friends, I sent out a prayer request to pray for him. Around passed 10pm, our friend checked on him but found out that he already passed away. He died peacefully and still looks very handsome. I am deeply saddened and can't describe the emotional pain I feel right now. Please continue to pray for us. His body is still in St Peter's funeral homes in Isulan Sultan Kudarat.
The second incident is our good friends Scott and Judy Johnson. We work together in Davao in the early days, more than 20 years ago. Judy was a midwife and Scott was an angel running around preaching and living the Gospel to everyone around him. They ran a home for children that was destitute to die but saved many in the process. I will not even attempt to try and write what is wrong, better for me to copy some writings from someone else.
I would like to introduce you to my nephew, Scott, and his wife, Judy. These are two of the most selfless people I know, and Judy is fighting for her life. In November Judy went for a routine mammogram that was followed by a phone call. The hospital told her she needed to return for a follow-up. She went in for an ultrasound and a biopsy and found out she had breast cancer. It had already spread to her lymph nodes and the oncologist told her it was fast-growing. He felt with treatment it could be cured. Before doing anything though he wanted to do a CT and bone scan to see if it had spread. It was discovered in her bones in three places (back, hip and collar bone) which meant it had already metastasized, stage 4 and uncurable. Treatment would begin immediately to give her more time, stop it from spreading, prevent bone fractures and relieve her pain. The treatment would be a very aggressive chemo every three weeks with many side effects.
Judy is an incredible woman, one who has given to others anyway she can. Over the years their home has always been open to those in need whether it be a meal, a bed or a kind word. Both served the underprivileged in Davao Philippines for years. On returning to the U.S. Scott became ill and he was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy and was unable to work. Judy became the full-time bread winner. As the MD progressed, eventually Scott’s esophagus stopped functioning and his weight decreased to 114 pounds. At the end of August Scott had a feeding tube inserted into his stomach. This was a terrible battle with many trips to the hospital for infections, sepsis, and pneumonia. He became delusional and unresponsive. He received home nursing care, as well as OT, ST, and PT. He could not walk on his own when he came home, and Judy was right there to take care of him as well as continue her job working from home. Praise God he is now up to 145 pounds and was able to go for a 10-mile motorcycle ride with Judy the other day to get them both some much needed “wind therapy.” Scott continues to use the feeding tube for his nourishment and medication.
As you can imagine the medical bills are already piling up for Scott with all of his stays in the hospital and other medical needs. Scott and Judy have insurance, but it has a very high deductible and out of pocket expense. Now besides the care for her cancer she faces the possibility of being ill from the chemo and all of it’s side effects. The possibilities of working full-time are unknown at this point. 2020 has been hard on many and the end of it has been an especially hard on Judy and Scott with so many financial burdens. What a blessing it will be when we can begin helping now as she is already feeling the effects of the chemo.
Let’s keep it at these 2 events for tonight. There are numerous people we can pray for tonight. Let’s pray for God to send healing where healing is needed. Please pray for missionaries around the world, homebound or overseas as they are targets of the enemy. Let’s pray for this FEAR that is around us to be tolerated by people and that we can look up to God in these difficult and fearful days.
May you have a very Merry Christmas and may the Lord of peace be with you all, wherever you are and in whatever situation you are, trust in God and call out His name over this Christmas time.
Love
Rossouw-clan
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