May 15, 2005 – The "Welcome Home" & "Still Making Progress" - Update

God has blessed me with another good week of making some progress. I have been able to go without oxygen supplementation for more than a week now. I do make use of one liter at night and have been using two liters when I ride my bike in the garage. Otherwise, I am still making progress and very thankful. I will get a report from Dr. Feibelman this week from the results of my CT Scan and Pulmonary Function Tests from this past week and we are hoping to conclude this round of IV antibiotics this week. With the exception of a big pain in the side and gut from the second chest tube insertion, which causes a shortness of breath as the pain increases, we are hoping the medications are making an impact and helping my condition improve. Thank God for His mercy and answering prayer.

James 5:13 (New Living Translation) Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord.

I am thankful for so many who have prayed and are praying for me. God has been faithful in answering your prayers and I trust you’ll join me in thanking Him for each step of progress as I keep you updated on things.

It would be impossible for me to write an update without mentioning Winter Park Church and the wonderful children from the Child Development Center. Winter Park Church has put up with their ailing pastor for the past four weeks as I have to preach sitting and was connected to oxygen the first two weeks back. The church has been more than supportive to Jan and me and we are thankful to be back.

The children of the Child Development Center were a source of inspiration to me and to many others while in Denver. I carried a book they made for me in which the director, Marguerite McNeill had interviewed the children and asked them what they would pray for Pastor Bob if they could ask God. Michelle Lyons added wonderful "perfect expression" pictures. The book is impossible to put down because of the dear children. Not only that, but the children kept Pastor Bob’s room filled with pictures and expressions of care throughout my stay in Denver.

There’s a chapel service for the children every Wednesday where I speak to the children. The first day back was quite special.

GROUP HUG

Pastor Bob explains his use of oxygen to the children as something that helps him breathe since he does not get enough ogygen in his breath. The children said, Pastor Bob is back and he has "breath." When they saw me without the oxygen, they said, "Pastor Bob is here and he has no breath." 

Pastor Bob explains how special their book is to him and how he would not take even a million dollars for it.

This past week, we took a group shot, as the children were preparing for their annual Art Festival. 

Pastor Bob and the Chidren from the Child Development Center "gettin goofy" but want to thank you for praying for Pastor Bob and for all your love and support.

These children are most precious.

Psalm 127:3 (NLT) Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.

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