Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine and ten thousand beside.”
(from “Great Is Thy Faithfulness)
2 August, 2009
Dear Friends and Loved Ones,
God’s presence has cheered and guided Mike and I during the last several weeks. The Lord is giving us strength for every day, a bright hope for tomorrow, and blessings more numerous than we can count.
I continue to receive excellent care and am almost half way through the initial six chemo immunotherapy treatments. The treatments are spaced precisely 3 weeks apart and I’ll complete them in late September. The July 21st treatment went well, and I’m just about over my “chemo crash”. On those days of severe fatigue Mike cares for my every need. On the other days I’m able to make calls, write notes to the many folks who have written me, care for our home and even do a bit of sewing.
Mike is really enjoying our home – he has stayed busy cutting down trees, mowing the grass, taking down an old building, and building a trailer to pull behind the lawn mower.
We are officially on a medical furlough, our job responsibilities have been given to another missionary in West Africa. Our return to the field is on hold for now…God has given us the grace to completely release that into His hands and take one day at a time.
You who are Southern Baptists may know that while on medical furlough we stay on full salary, and are provided with excellent medical insurance. The way you support us is a huge blessing we are experiencing first-hand and we’d like to express our appreciation to you.
Recently my sister and I made a tough decision to place my mother in a nursing home facility here in San Angelo. Mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer and is dealing with that along with depression. She’s receiving excellent care from both the staff at the home and hospice medical personnel and volunteers, and seems to be adjusting to her new living arrangements. She gets a visit from either my sister or I each day and really enjoys it when we surprise her with a chocolate milkshake J.
Our girls are doing fine – Amy and Paul, Samuel and Matty just moved into their first home and are very excited about that. They love the beautiful scenery in Bridgewater, VA. Paul continues to work for Dynamic Aviation as a pilot. Bethany, Joshua, Nathan, Isaac and Hannah are moving to Longview, TX where Joshua will teach at LeTourneau University. They’ll only be about six hours from us and we’re looking forward to having one of the girls closer to us (and three of our grandchildren J). Charity and Craig are living near Seattle, WA and are making plans to come and spend Christmas with us.
I hope this letter finds you all well and strong in the Lord, counting on His presence to cheer you during challenging times. Remember to share the Hope that we have in the Lord Jesus, so many have not yet heard.
With love and appreciation,
Wanda (for Mike as well)
Mike and Wanda Walker
10946 Mt. Nebo Rd.
San Angelo, TX 76901
325-465-4050
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small;
Love so amazing so divine demands my soul, my life, my all.”
(from “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”)
Mike and Wanda Walker are now stateside due to health problems that Wanda is having. She has lymphoma and the doctors have decided on chemo immunotherapy to treat her. This involves 4-5 months of treatment with two years of follow-up. They are in San Angelo, Texas. Please send notes of encouragement to:
Mike & Wanda Walker
10946 Mt. Nebo Rd.
San Angelo, TX 76901
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4
April 28, 2009
Dear Friends and Loved Ones,
Thank you for your faithful prayer support over the years – as we have expressed to you before, we appreciate you and the way God has answered when you’ve interceded for us.
By way of an update, our lives have changed completely since I last wrote you. Mike and I spent the month of March in the US moving my mother to a senior living facility in San Angelo, TX. A week after we returned to Ghana I discovered a lump at the base of my neck, and at the advice of the International Mission Board’s medical department we returned to the US immediately. I’ve gotten excellent and timely care, and the diagnosis is follicular lymphoma.
For we as team leaders, who have to live by a calendar and plan things way ahead of time, this has been a challenge. We are now walking in His footsteps day by day, asking for grace to appropriate His peace and joy in our lives.
Because my medical problem will take months of treatment we will be in the US for quite a while. Earlier this year we bought a retirement home in San Angelo, TX and now we get to live in it J.
I covet your prayers for me as I face this medical challenge. Pray for our three daughters also as this news has been very difficult for them. Ask the Lord to help us “consider it all joy” no matter what.
Thank you, and God bless.
In His love,
Wanda (for Mike as well)
Praise
-Good medical care and a quick diagnosis
-that Amy, Bethany and Charity and our 5 grandchildren will be coming soon for a visit.
-Mom is doing much better now than when she was in Florida
-The market ladies showed a seed if faith right before we left when they gathered together to pray for me. Ask the Lord to help this seed grow so that His kingdom will be advanced among them.
-for Grape Creek Baptist Church and the warm fellowship they’ve already extended to us.
Prayer
-for us to have the grace to appropriate His peace and joy in our lives even in the midst of these circumstances
-for my body to respond well to the chemotherapy and that it would work on the lymphoma
-for safety as the girls and grandchildren travel to come and see us
-for Mom’s continued adjustment to Baptist Memorials, many people are trying to reach out to her and draw her into the community there
-that God would help us walk in His footsteps day by day
-that we would be sensitive to the Spirit’s voice so we won’t miss divine appointments to share our Hope in Him
Mike and Wanda Walker
10946 Mt. Nebo Rd.,
San Angelo, TX 76901
