An update ... FINALLY! :)

Hello All!

I'm sorry that it's been SO long since the last update. With Melvin home, I lose track of time. It's crazy. We have much to update. So, I'll start with the basics and then share what God is doing in the midst of this trial.

First, the basics. Melvin is doing well most of the time. The cough continues to hold on, although at times, it does seem to almost go away, but then seems to get worse again. He has not complained of any sharp pains in his head for a while now. So, our prayers have been answered regarding the headaches. This new chemotherapy (Vectibix) has caused a pimply rash on his face, chest, and abdominal area, as well as slightly on his arms. According to the oncologist, this is a good thing. The more he breaks out, the more effective the chemo is. So, we continue on, believing for a God report on his next pet scan, or that his blood work will be so greatly improved between chemo treatments that his oncologist will order a pet scan to find out what is going on to show such marked improvement! :)

We have a new addition to our family again this school year. Chi is from Vietnam, and she is already such a blessing to our family. We had prayed about taking another student this year, and really felt that the Lord said yes. So, Hannah now has a big sister! Just another way that the Lord has continued to stretch our faith. It doesn't make sense to take in another person when our circumstances seem so uncertain, BUT GOD is in control, and we have stepped out in obedience to Him. And it's going to be exciting to see what God does this year in our lives and in Chi's life! :)

Now, that being said, let me share how God has been moving since our last blog update.

At the beginning of August, our pastor took a missions team to New Mexico. As is with most churches, we had guest speakers who filled in while the team was gone. Our guest speakers who filled in did a phenomenal job. We had opportunity to eat lunch with one of the visiting ministers. Melvin shared a bit of our story with them, and they shared with us as well. That night, in service, the speaker told Melvin that he had been praying for two weeks, asking God to show him a miracle, and when he was in service with us that evening, the Lord spoke and said "well, you've asked for it, now you're going to see it." The Lord just really touched this man's heart regarding Melvin. We had a wonderful time with this couple, and knew that when they left that evening, that they were committed to praying for us. Well, the following evening, I receive a friend request on Facebook from a man in India. He sent me a message sharing his testimony of how God had healed him on his death bed. I was touched by the story, but confused as to why he had sent me a message, and why did he choose me to send the message to? I didn't know this man, and didn't know how he knew my name, etc, etc, etc. Well, that night, I received a message from our guest speaker. You see, our visiting speaker has ministry partners in India, and other countries as well. But the Lord had laid Melvin on this speaker's heart so much, that he contacted his ministry partner in India and asked him to pray for Melvin. This man in India ... he pastors 17 churches! He asked his churches to fast and pray for Melvin's healing. Over 700 people in India fasted and prayed for a man in America that they do not even know! Incredible! Every day since, our brother in India messages me on Facebook to ask how Melvin is, and has even told me that he can not describe the love that the Lord has placed in his heart for Melvin. They have since held a 3 day fast and prayer event for Melvin's healing. It's just incredible to me. And it greatly encourages me. I don't believe that God would raise up people in India to pray for Melvin's healing if He wasn't going to do a great work in my husband's life (and in mine, too). God is raising up people all around the world to pray for a man in America that they have never even met. Maybe the Lord will open a door for us to meet some day. Who knows what God has in store for us once He has healed Melvin? Or even before He has healed Melvin!?!?!!! Maybe we'll travel the world sharing that God is the ultimate healer and that He still does miracles! Our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!


The following Sunday, we had another guest speaker. And the Lord moved. And this brother spoke over me that there were people close to me that were starting to question my faith, and he prayed that the Lord would strengthen my faith and encourage me. I know that there are people that are starting to question whether God is going to heal Melvin ... some who do not know the Lord, some who do. And there may even be those who feel that we need to face reality and set our affairs in order. Melvin and I have talked about that. To us, if we "set our affairs in order", then isn't that completely contrary to our statement that we believe that God is going to heal Melvin? God has promised to heal Melvin. To us, that's it. There's no other answer than that God is going to heal Melvin. Do we know when? No. Do we know  how? No. We just know that God has said it, and if God says it, then it's going to happen. 

After service that day, a friend came to me, and said this ... "Charity, when you were leading worship today, I looked up at you, and I saw a rainbow over you. I looked away, and looked back and it was still there. I don't know what it means, but just felt that I needed to tell you." Well, at the time, I thanked her, and stored it away to think about later. Well, when I thought about it later and brought it before the Lord, I felt that the Lord was confirming that He would fulfill His promises to me. Well, when I shared this with a family member, they said that when they think of a rainbow, they think of "it's never going to happen again." The rainbow was a sign to Noah of God's promise that never again would the whole earth be flooded. And then later, I saw a post on Facebook that shared that after every storm, there's a rainbow. Well, I receive all of that ... God's going to fulfill His promises to us, we have the victory over these circumstances, it's not going to happen again! The storm is over! How many of you believe that sometimes God reveals things to you in the Spirit before it happens in the flesh? Well, that's what I believe is happening. Melvin's healing has not manifested yet in the flesh, but it has already happened in the Spirit realm. It's going to happen. We will see Melvin healed. And, I want to encourage you today ... this battle is being won through the prayers of the saints. That's you! And we thank each one of you for standing with us in this battle. There are people all over the surrounding communities, throughout the United States, and now in other countries that are interceding on our behalf. And I praise God! He is worthy to be praised!

And ... last but not least, this last week, I received an email from a family member who told me that he was praying for us as a family, and individually. He said that recently, the Lord had laid it on his heart to begin to fast for us as well as pray. And he asked me to anoint Melvin with oil and pray for him like we've never prayed before. He said that he knew that we had probably done that many times before, but just really felt that the Lord wanted us to do this, and that He would honor it. So, on Sunday morning, in church service, the Lord began to move. And we anointed Melvin with oil and began to pray. Different church members came up and prayed, and it was just a special time where you could feel the Lord's presence. Well, a dear friend came to me after service and told me that the Lord had showed her Melvin's lungs black with cancer, and that she was then able to see the cancer just falling off of them. And a dear lady in the church told Melvin that she felt that the Lord had said that He had not brought Melvin this far for Melvin to wither away from cancer, that God still has much for Melvin to do. So, we receive those promises from the Lord. We're just waiting on the healing to manifest. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! These are all such an encouragement to us, and I pray that it is for you, too. I know how easy it is for doubt to creep in when you're not seeing an immediate answer to your prayers. But, just hold on to Jesus! Whatever you've been crying out to the Lord for is on its way! He is faithful, and His Word will not return to Him void. Just stand on His Word. Stand on His promises. And wait for His promises to become reality! Our God is a good God! And I just praise Him in the midst of our circumstances. I praise Him that our needs are met. I praise Him that Melvin's good health has been restored! I praise Him that our bills are paid, and that we have more than enough so that we can bless others as they have need. And I praise Him for the many lives that are being touched and are going to be touched by Melvin's testimony! Our God is Healer!


Please continue to agree with us in prayer regarding Melvin's healing, and for provision. Melvin is currently on short term disability through his employer, and then will switch to long term disability while he applies for social security disability. So, we now begin the process of social security disability. Our church is hosting a benefit on October 1st to help us with our finances right now. Someone will send out an email or facebook update once all the details have been announced.


I hope that this update encourages you as much as it has encouraged Melvin and I. Sometimes when you are walking thru a battle, God stays silent for a time, and it feels like God is not there, or that He's not hearing you. All of these events that have taken place have just reminded us that God is still here, that He is fighting for us, and that He has a purpose and a plan for what we are now facing. So, continue to stand with us, and we'll watch it all unfold in God's timing!  We love each one of you and cherish your prayers!


Numbers 6:24-27
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace."