Nelson’s medical team has done a biopsy of the mass growing in his neck, dividing it into nine specimens. They’re looking for the “key” that will unlock the specific mutation of Nelson’s exact cancer. If they can find that, he has a chance of survival—at least for several more years.

Simultaneously, the rabid lung cancer is growing so fast that they decide to do a series of general chemo treatments while waiting to find the mutation. He received the first treatment on June 7, before he left the hospital. It felt good to actually be doing something to fight the cancer directly.

Meanwhile, Nelson felt energetic enough to do something he’s always loved to do: go car shopping. He liked everything about this hunt for a used but good vehicle, and though my car has been available thus far, he knew he and Ann Sophie would need one of their own eventually. Since he’s always been partial to Hondas, he began by looking for a Honda Pilot that would be good in the deep snows of a Minnesota winter.                                      

                                                   >>>>>>>>>>

June 16, 2022 

5 am.

I’m up here at our little apartment near Mayo. I’m thankful this morning for a lull in the action, for all the people who love me, for money to do all these things with, and that Annso and I never struggle with it or between us.

I’m thankful for our great marriage that’s always such a pleasure to be committed to, for friends who come by and all the gifts people send. For the friends back in YWAM Kona, for the Chemo treatment we have available to us thus far. I’m grateful for a little health coming back day-by-day, that I had a movement today already and it’s only 5:15 am.

I’m thankful for the turn the country is seeming to make toward a conservative leadership, for these “woke” people who act the whole way crazy so good people can see them for what they are and get rid of their influence once and for all.

I’m thankful for how tragedy brings people together and how two of my brothers are coming up to Luke’s place this weekend with maybe DY. I’m thankful that Rob and Ken are coming.

I’m thankful you knew all my days before one of them came to pass, Lord, and that they are written in your book. I’m thankful for Little Will, for Mom and Annso, the little group we have here at this apartment in Rochester day after day.

I’m thankful for our newly acquired Honda Pilot and how fun it is to see Annso drive it around, an SUV in America, and how nothing like that is running around Europe.

11 pm.

 A good day overall. Lots more to be grateful for as we went along. Got the Pilot (a 2011) fixed up real good with some new brakes, and the dealer buffed out the headlights for me real good. All of it with the alignment diagnosis and hearing that mostly everything has been well-taken-care-of was good news to me.

Just $745 to get that info and the rest of it. No wonder they have the money to give you fancy waters and coffee while you wait for your car to get fixed. I told the service manager about my cancer, because he asked, and I think I made a new friend. He told me he would do whatever he could to help and even asked if I golfed or anything.

Of course I can’t right now, but the people in Minnesota here are some of the nicest people we’ve come across in ages.

                                                     >>>>>>>>>>

“What does the Lord require of you? To love kindness….” (Micah 6:8)