Three of three - Thoughts About Finality

Sharon and I are trying to complete the necessary medical questionnaires for us to be able to be medically approved once we complete our upcoming Stateside Assignment (called STAS - I still prefer to call it "furlough"). Because of this health questionnaire, there are some questions that we did not know the answer to, so we made some calls to our parents in the States. I think that I understand the basic reasons why the questionnaires, especially for the missionaries, are so extensive. But I still don't like doing them.

Well, because of this questionnaire, I called my dad to get some family history information. My dad turned 85 and my mom 84 in February. During our last furlough my dad had to have colon cancer surgery. I was attending a missions conference in Texas when I was told about dad's surgery and was able to change my flights and be there with my mom and dad during dad's surgery and recovery. It was a time that I was glad that I was able to be a part of. Living in Brazil limits me from most of these life changing events.

Yesterday, when talking to dad, he gave me the information that I needed for the questionnaire and some information that I am still trying to process. Dad said that the doctors have discovered that he has another cancer in his colon. He said that on May 10th he will undergo another surgery. He told me that without the surgery he will probably live about a year.

This was information that a part of me never wanted to hear. The reality that my dad is finite and that some day he too may no longer be living really hit me hard! I realized that I am feeling very selfish right now. I want my dad to live until he's at least 100! I realized something else as well. My wife, Sharon, lost her mother to cancer during our first furlough (June 1998). As I was feeling sorry for myself, realizing the finality of my father, my wife has had to deal with her loss of her mother for almost 10 years now. Sharon's daddy also has been sick with emphysema for several years and she has had to deal with the struggle of her sick daddy living on the other side of the hemisphere and being powerless to be there anytime that she wanted.

Please pray for Sharon's dad (Jay) and mine (Dick) as they face the finality of their lives and as we face the reality of having to let them go. Pray also for us as we begin preparing for returning to the States for our next STAS (aka "furlough") which will begin in late June of this year.

Thank you for your prayers.

Jeff Renard - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil