One year and counting...

Yes, we hit our one-year mark on January 12th, back when Ed and Jaylin were still in America.  That year really flew by, and although we wish we had more of a handle on the language than we do, we can see that we've come quite far in adjusting to this new life over here, the kids especially!  We look ahead at the coming year, and anticipate more language improvement, as well as more ministry opportunities.  The kids will continue in each of their schools, as the spring semester begins on Tuesday.  In the spring, Ed will be taking over the JV Slovakia Intern and North American church recruiting, which means that he will be in charge of finding and bringing the interns over for the whole summer to help with all of the camps, as well as finding and bringing the American churches to help with each term of our camps.  

Shaylee turned two, and yes, we were blessed with another Jelka cake.  We enjoy our times with this wonderful family.  Pavel, Jelka, and daughter Jelka come to bring the cake and to celebrate with us on each of our birthdays!  Also, the picture of the slumber party at the bottom, is when our friends, Kevin and Kristy Steiner and their boys came for a visit!  They are our friends from Tremont, but currently they live in France.  They made the long drive east, to spend some time with us between Christmas and New Years!  We had a great time with all of them!

Thank you to those of you who are still praying for Jada.  She is still undergoing her chemo treatments, and has finished her radiation treatments.  She is experiencing all of the expected side effects from the treatments, and is now losing her hair.  Her attitude continues to be that of a daughter of the King, and we love seeing how she is honoring Him through all of this, as well as her parents!!!  :-)  Doug keeps their blog well-updated, so please visit www.thedimewithdoug.blogspot.com whenever you are wondering about Jada's progress.  

An Update on Jada

The pathology report has been given to Doug and Jessica, and here are the results:  Jada has Clear Cell Sarcoma, stage 2.  This is a different diagnosis than the original Wilm's Tumor, with a less-favorable prognosis.  They have been told that her chances of being cured are at 70%.  She is currently undergoing both chemotherapy and radiation.  More details and pictures are on Doug's blog...thedimewithdoug.blogspot.com, which is definitely worth reading! Doug and Jess have an amazing outlook right now, and that is quite evident in Doug's writings which are straight from his heart.

Oh, and also, Pierce Anakin Rumbold was born to Doug and Jessica on January 11, early in the morning.  The whole family was home when he was born, and they marveled at the perfect timing of the Lord with Pierce's birth coming right in between hospital stays!  The baby came fast, and if Doug were at the hospital with Jada, it would have been an issue getting him home in time to help Jessica during the birth!  God is so good and so faithful, and He is showing Doug and Jessica as well as our whole family this truth as He gives us encouragement like this during this time of trial!  Baby pictures are also on Doug's blog!

Praying for Jada

We've had an unexpected turn of events in the Gary Rumbold family this week.  Ed's brother, Doug, and his wife, Jessica, took their 5-year-old daughter to a routine kindergarten physical last Wednesday (Dec. 29).  It was there discovered that she had a Wilm's tumor, a malignant tumor in her kidney.  She was admitted into the hospital on Friday (New Year's Eve) where she began a series of tests, and then on Monday had surgery to remove this "huge" tumor.  Ed and I decided that it would be a good idea for Ed to go back home to be with Doug and Jessica and all of the Rumbold family during this time, so he took Jaylin with him and made the trip back to America.  It was worth every second of the 24-hour trip to Illinois when Ed and Jaylin were able to walk into the hospital room and bring some cheer to unsuspecting Doug and little Jada.  It is good for Ed to be with his family now, and to be every bit of encouragement that he can be during this curve in the Rumbold family's road. 

 

 

We are still awaiting the pathologist's report to find out the histology of the tumor, and further treatment necessary for Jada.  For now, she was released from the hospital just today and will be finishing her recovery in her own home, in her own bed.  Better yet, Doug and Jess will be able to be home and finally able to get some sleep.  They also have a two-year-old son who has been babysat all week, and Jessica is due with their third child TOMORROW!!!  Ed and Jaylin will be coming back to Slovakia later this week.  The rest of us are still here, keeping up with all that's happening through phone, e-mails and Skype.  If you are interested in hearing updates on the story of Jada, or reading about the journey of faith they are walking through, you are welcome to visit Doug's blog: www.thedimewithdoug.blogspot.com  Thank you for praying for Jada and her family.