Dear friends,
A No Cancer Update
I will start by saying that I had a great check up with my surgeon and they see no cancer. So I am good to go. I am very grateful for this news! I may switch oncologists to one more like the one I had in Denver. I am a question asker and appreciate a doctor who is comfortable with that.
I also talked with a person in her office about the concern I have that I sometimes feel like a hypochondriac. I don't want to be one, but most medical issues can lead me to be wondering if I have cancer again. She assured me that it is normal to feel this way and she calls it, "normal appropriate hypochondria." She explained that having had cancer is like knowing that there is a murderer living in your backyard. You choose what to do with that knowledge. Vigilance is appropriate and will continue to be something I have to deal with. The oncologists don't think of me as a hypochondriac. I feel that as a Christian who has an intimate relationship with Christ, I have the ability to relax and know that the Lord is lovingly over this situation. Cancer can't do anything to me that God doesn't allow, and what better place to be? Still it is a bit like walking a tight rope to deal with medical issues knowing that it could be that each time. This all may sound silly to you, but I thought I would share it in case any of you have been through the same feelings, or know a cancer survivor who might have also experienced this.
I was given a prescription by the surgeon for my first fitted undergarment since my mastectomies 10 years ago. Everything in the intervening years has had too short straps or didn't fit my new shape, or hurt, or didn't look right under my clothes, or made me look uneven. I am excited for something comfortable and well fitting that is covered by insurance. That is the Lord's provision and I am feeling like a new woman!
Restless Leg Syndrome
This has been an issue for 10 years- ever since my first chemo treatments. I have been unable to sleep at night without prescribed medication all these years. If I stopped taking it, I would be up most of the night thrashing around the bed, tightening the muscles in my leg over and over, getting up and walking around...even if I was exhausted.
This happened every time I stopped taking the medicine. I thought I was having symptoms of withdrawal. My doctor assured me that I was on so low of a dose, that there would be no withdrawal symptoms. Two weeks ago we talked about this when I had had 4 sleepless nights after stopping one of my meds, and was feeling desperate for some help to know what to do. He asked questions and figured out that the other medicine was actually treating restless leg syndrome, and when I stopped taking it, I experienced the symptoms of RLS.
I went to my integrated medicine doctor who does lots of alternative treatments the next day. It turns out that I already take all the supplements that could help RLS, so he prescribed a medicine that is designed for Parkinson's patients, but which at a lower dose, controls RLS. I am currently titrating up to the level that will work best for me. I am actually sleeping through the night! After years and years, it is such a relief! He thinks chemo probably started the problem. It has to do with nerve synopses in a certain spot in the brain. It is very likely that this all started in 1999 when I went through pretty tough chemotherapy. So the mystery is solved. I have since met others with RLS who are also on this Parkinson's medicine, and it works well for them.
GHANA
At the end of June I am scheduled to leave for Ghana with 5 other adults and one youth from my church. One large component of our trip is to train national missionaries in children's ministry skills. I am leading up this part of our time there. 2o missionaries from 20 areas in northern Ghana will come to Tamale to learn how to do excellent children's ministry and discipleship with the resources they already have. We will be going to Partners International missionaries, so this is connected to our ministry at PI as well as to our church which has adopted this area in northern Ghana.
While in Seattle for a consultation on global children's ministry in April, a friend helped me with the curriculum for our two days of training in Ghana. Thank you Karen! Three of our team members have been trained in Kidzana (www.kidzana.org), so we will be working together. This is my first time doing this training overseas, so it will be exciting. Many of our Partners International leaders around the world in the 10/40 Window are watching how this training goes in Ghana so they can have us come and train their people if it is effective. That is just a LITTLE pressure, don't you think? I am confident that in our weakness, His power will be revealed as perfect.
I need to raise about $2200 for the trip. If you would like to get one of my letters with details of how to be part of my finance and/or prayer team, email me at nancyfritz@aol.com and I will send you one.
The Fritz Kids
Jenni has been home for 1 1/2 weeks between college and going to Baltimore to work at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab this summer doing an internship. She will live with Laura and has a college friend who will be working at the same place. Jenni goes to France this fall semester with Grove City. This week she switched her license to Washington, went to the dentist, got a haircut, got some work clothes, caught up on her sleep and went for walks with Mumzy and Pops.
Allison is still in Korea. She is finishing the school year soon and then will be involved in some English camps. She gets done at the end of August. She may do some traveling on her way home and plans to be with us for a month as she decides what to do. Washington just laid off 800 teachers, so that won't be an option around here. She would eventually love to be involved with African children at risk somehow.
Laura is working hard for AT&T. She almost has her school debt paid off and is happy about that. And of course she is excited to have her sister there for the summer.
Jesse just got to the Gambia. He describes this location as the nicest one so far. He is supposed to be there for a month and then comes home on June 18th. They were teaching computer classes and fixing computers during their last stay in Thais, Senegal. We are waiting to hear more details of their ministry in Gambia. He has internet there after all, but didn't think he would. You can read his blog at http://www.whereistimbuktu.com/. There are some pictures and good stories there.
Seattle for the Weekend
Tomorrow Greg and Jenni and I are going to Seattle for 2 nights. One of our Partners staff is getting married on Saturday night. She works under Greg's leadership and is a sweetheart. And then Sunday morning we are dropping Jenni off at the airport before heading back to Spokane. We will try to find something fun to do in Seattle on Friday night and Saturday with Jenni.
I hope that catches you up on what is happening here with us. Partners is still facing financial hardships, but the board meeting went well last weekend. We had a meeting with the president yesterday which was a very good update.
Dr. Winter
We got word that Dr. Ralph Winter died during the night. I worked for him when I was on staff at the USCWM from 1980-83. I enjoyed closed friendships with his daughters and family and was often in their home. Dr. Winter's contribution to the world of missions can't be measured. He was a brilliant man. He followed hard after God. Our prayers are with his family and the USCWM community.
God bless you- Nancy Fritz nancyfritz@aol.com 509-990-8465
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
An overall update...
Dear friends,
It is almost the end of April! Time is moving faster and faster it seems. I remember watching the clock in 4th grade and it taking FOREVER for the hand to move five minutes to the 12 and the bell for recess. Now the hours of the days fly by much too fast.
Since Easter I got done coordinating an outreach day for our church. We had 15 teams fan out all over the city of Spokane to spend Sat. morning painting, gardening, clearing trails at a camp, mending fences, washing windows, organizing closets...at ministries all over the city. It was a fun day. And now I can move on to my next project. Probably sending out a letter.
I had my last insurance paid Physical Therapy session yesterday for my knee. It still has a way to go, so I am trying to get it back to par. Marc, my PT, told me I only have a few month window to regain movement and strength in my knee, so I have been working hard on my exercises. My surgeon and PT said my quad isn't strong enough yet, so they suggested biking at a gym. I researched and found the least expensive one. Tomorrow I will meet with a trainer and learn the machines my PT wants me to use. I go almost every day to at least bike and I think it is helping.
My recent medical discovery was that my PT thinks scar tissue is pulling on the right side of my diaphragm and that is what causes the pain I get on my right side by my ribs. So the bad news is that scar tissue is causing that intermittent pain, and the good news is that cancer isn't causing it! That is always a plus for me. This scar tissue could be from my tram flap breast reconstruction. I see my breast cancer surgeon tomorrow for a check up and will ask her about it. She will be checking my ever growing scar tissue to make sure she thinks I am still clear of cancer. She is a very wonderful doctor. I have a scan on Friday for her too.
I am on a very strict diet to kill an overgrowth of candida in my intestines. I am also not eating gluten for a few months. There has to be a lot of creativity to figure out what I can eat. Greg is doing this with me since it is just the 2 of us.
I got my shots for Africa and am still alive. I went to Seattle for a Kidzana sponsored consultation with 18 others regarding the job of reaching all of the world's children with the Gospel. These consultations will be held internationally as well to get input from the 2/3's world. It was amazing to be there with this key set of leaders.
Jenni turned 20 on the 29th. Allison turns 23 on May 2nd. I am feeling very old and achy these days. They said on the news tonight, that they think someone in town has the swine flu. I hope all of you will be careful, and I will try to be also.
I will let you know how my visit with Dr. Moline goes tomorrow. Blessings- Nancy Fritz
It is almost the end of April! Time is moving faster and faster it seems. I remember watching the clock in 4th grade and it taking FOREVER for the hand to move five minutes to the 12 and the bell for recess. Now the hours of the days fly by much too fast.
Since Easter I got done coordinating an outreach day for our church. We had 15 teams fan out all over the city of Spokane to spend Sat. morning painting, gardening, clearing trails at a camp, mending fences, washing windows, organizing closets...at ministries all over the city. It was a fun day. And now I can move on to my next project. Probably sending out a letter.
I had my last insurance paid Physical Therapy session yesterday for my knee. It still has a way to go, so I am trying to get it back to par. Marc, my PT, told me I only have a few month window to regain movement and strength in my knee, so I have been working hard on my exercises. My surgeon and PT said my quad isn't strong enough yet, so they suggested biking at a gym. I researched and found the least expensive one. Tomorrow I will meet with a trainer and learn the machines my PT wants me to use. I go almost every day to at least bike and I think it is helping.
My recent medical discovery was that my PT thinks scar tissue is pulling on the right side of my diaphragm and that is what causes the pain I get on my right side by my ribs. So the bad news is that scar tissue is causing that intermittent pain, and the good news is that cancer isn't causing it! That is always a plus for me. This scar tissue could be from my tram flap breast reconstruction. I see my breast cancer surgeon tomorrow for a check up and will ask her about it. She will be checking my ever growing scar tissue to make sure she thinks I am still clear of cancer. She is a very wonderful doctor. I have a scan on Friday for her too.
I am on a very strict diet to kill an overgrowth of candida in my intestines. I am also not eating gluten for a few months. There has to be a lot of creativity to figure out what I can eat. Greg is doing this with me since it is just the 2 of us.
I got my shots for Africa and am still alive. I went to Seattle for a Kidzana sponsored consultation with 18 others regarding the job of reaching all of the world's children with the Gospel. These consultations will be held internationally as well to get input from the 2/3's world. It was amazing to be there with this key set of leaders.
Jenni turned 20 on the 29th. Allison turns 23 on May 2nd. I am feeling very old and achy these days. They said on the news tonight, that they think someone in town has the swine flu. I hope all of you will be careful, and I will try to be also.
I will let you know how my visit with Dr. Moline goes tomorrow. Blessings- Nancy Fritz
Monday, April 13, 2009
Easter and India!
Dear friends,
It is Easter and I wondered how the weather was in Denver where our church traditionally has an outdoor Easter service.
Thursday night's service included communion and foot washing, and on Friday night Greg and I watched The Passion of the Christ together here at home. Remembering the price He paid for us to have the ability to be in relationship with Him for eternity, is a healthy thing.
It was cloudy here today and rained in the afternoon, so no croquet this Easter. Fellowship at church this morning was excellent. The music, the message, the celebration of the resurrection of Christ... what a privilege to worship freely in this country! We had a wonderful dinner with our small group (16 of us) and watched the little ones hunt for eggs.
I left my phone at their house which I discovered after getting home. I went back to get it just in time to receive a call from the president of Partners International's wife, Anita. She wanted to know if I could come over (they live close by) and explain Kidzana to two Indian leaders who are staying with them. One is someone I have wanted to meet for a long time, Moses Swamidas, and with him is Rev. Promoth. Moses has connections to our church in Denver, and is also one of PI's partner ministries. He is a leader in the Dalit Freedom Network based in Denver who I have worked with on curriculum as well. Rev. Promoth was married a year ago and they are expecting their 1st child in 5 months. He also told us that he hosted 4000 people at his wedding! That is a serious wedding!
Anita also took the Kidzana training like I did, and she and I are praying for an opportunities to help provide this training to our partner ministries in the 10/40 Window. These men are working primarily with the Dalits of India and shared about the 200 churches planted and the 3000 children in their Sunday Schools and Christian Bible Clubs. They have a desire to do an excellent job discipling these children while they are young so they will grow up with Christ and have a firm foundation in His love and the truth of the Gospel before fatalistic Hindu thinking has taken hold in their hearts.
Well, by the time our discussion was done, we were trying to figure out the best time for Anita and me to go there to train about 200 of their children's leaders. We have been formally invited. We would plan to teach those who would in turn teach other leaders of children. And then they would train others and the training would spread among the 200 churches and other church plants Lord willing, keep spreading and more and more children would get excellent Christian education and discipleship. So maybe in January Anita and I will go. Feel free to pray with us!
I am currently working on my preparation for Ghana this summer. I need to raise some of the money to cover my 2 week trip. The plan is for us to go to a city in northern Ghana and do a Kidzana training of leaders from all over the north. They will come in for the training for 2 days. After that we will go to 3 different villages and spend 2 days in each, do a children's program Kidzana-style so the workers there can use what they have learned with our assistance. We will also focus on women and men's ministry looking for long-term connections for our church. We are adopting this region and hope to find practical things we can do to help them with their ministry.
So, again, my heart is on the other side of the world dreaming of millions of children who will get to learn about Christ's love and be discipled and established in a solid walk with Christ. It would be a privilege to be involved with this. Let's see what God does! I have made some interesting medical discoveries this week that make a lot of sense in light of the medical issues I have been facing. I will tell you about that next time.
I hope you had an excellent Easter with those you love, and got to reconnect with the One who loves you most! Blessings- Nancy Fritz 509-990-8465 nancyfritz@aol.com
It is Easter and I wondered how the weather was in Denver where our church traditionally has an outdoor Easter service.
Thursday night's service included communion and foot washing, and on Friday night Greg and I watched The Passion of the Christ together here at home. Remembering the price He paid for us to have the ability to be in relationship with Him for eternity, is a healthy thing.
It was cloudy here today and rained in the afternoon, so no croquet this Easter. Fellowship at church this morning was excellent. The music, the message, the celebration of the resurrection of Christ... what a privilege to worship freely in this country! We had a wonderful dinner with our small group (16 of us) and watched the little ones hunt for eggs.
I left my phone at their house which I discovered after getting home. I went back to get it just in time to receive a call from the president of Partners International's wife, Anita. She wanted to know if I could come over (they live close by) and explain Kidzana to two Indian leaders who are staying with them. One is someone I have wanted to meet for a long time, Moses Swamidas, and with him is Rev. Promoth. Moses has connections to our church in Denver, and is also one of PI's partner ministries. He is a leader in the Dalit Freedom Network based in Denver who I have worked with on curriculum as well. Rev. Promoth was married a year ago and they are expecting their 1st child in 5 months. He also told us that he hosted 4000 people at his wedding! That is a serious wedding!
Anita also took the Kidzana training like I did, and she and I are praying for an opportunities to help provide this training to our partner ministries in the 10/40 Window. These men are working primarily with the Dalits of India and shared about the 200 churches planted and the 3000 children in their Sunday Schools and Christian Bible Clubs. They have a desire to do an excellent job discipling these children while they are young so they will grow up with Christ and have a firm foundation in His love and the truth of the Gospel before fatalistic Hindu thinking has taken hold in their hearts.
Well, by the time our discussion was done, we were trying to figure out the best time for Anita and me to go there to train about 200 of their children's leaders. We have been formally invited. We would plan to teach those who would in turn teach other leaders of children. And then they would train others and the training would spread among the 200 churches and other church plants Lord willing, keep spreading and more and more children would get excellent Christian education and discipleship. So maybe in January Anita and I will go. Feel free to pray with us!
I am currently working on my preparation for Ghana this summer. I need to raise some of the money to cover my 2 week trip. The plan is for us to go to a city in northern Ghana and do a Kidzana training of leaders from all over the north. They will come in for the training for 2 days. After that we will go to 3 different villages and spend 2 days in each, do a children's program Kidzana-style so the workers there can use what they have learned with our assistance. We will also focus on women and men's ministry looking for long-term connections for our church. We are adopting this region and hope to find practical things we can do to help them with their ministry.
So, again, my heart is on the other side of the world dreaming of millions of children who will get to learn about Christ's love and be discipled and established in a solid walk with Christ. It would be a privilege to be involved with this. Let's see what God does! I have made some interesting medical discoveries this week that make a lot of sense in light of the medical issues I have been facing. I will tell you about that next time.
I hope you had an excellent Easter with those you love, and got to reconnect with the One who loves you most! Blessings- Nancy Fritz 509-990-8465 nancyfritz@aol.com
Friday, April 03, 2009
My 10th anniversary since breast cancer!
Dear friends,
A year. 365 days strung together. Each has a name, a tag that makes it special. Some of them become very memorable- your birthday, your wedding day, the day each of your children were born, and the days that you receive news that shakes your world. Sometimes great news, and sometimes hard news.
When April 1st rolls around every year, it brings with it an avalanche of memories for me. That was the day I began my cancer journey 10 years ago. April 1st, 1999, I went to the doctor so he could tell me the lump I was feeling was really nothing to worry about. A few days later I received a call from him. I was mystified as to why in the world he would be calling me. My mind started catching on when he mentioned my mammogram results, a 2 cm cancer tumor, and telling me to go see a surgeon in the next few days. I was in shock. I was afraid of the unknown and mostly wondered what this meant for our family. I still had our kids to raise. They needed me and Greg needed me. I didn’t have time for cancer!
Well, here I am still alive 10 years later. I have learned a lot- not just about cancer. I have learned that God is deeply in love with me. -That if I have to go through hard stuff, He is right there with me in the center of it. He is real and trustworthy. I have put my life into His hands and given Him the freedom to be the author of my days. He will decide how many I will have and how the journey will progress as I live them. He has done miracles for me.
I should have known better, but during the 7th year a biopsy of what seemed to be nothing, again resulted in phone calls from doctors. By then I had learned to clue in more quickly when the doctor calls me. That time it was chemo and radiation. Another 8-9 months of dealing with all that came along with that diagnosis. I didn’t have time for cancer that time either.
I haven’t physically bounced back from that year of treatment as well as I did the first time. I have less strength and other medical problems to deal with, but I can still enjoy the ministry the Lord is giving me to teach missions to kids. Greg and I have just entered the empty nest years (or at least months, until Jenni and Jesse come home for the summer). I am looking forward to a mission trip to Ghana this summer with our church to help train children’s workers in the north part of the country in how to do effective ministry and discipleship with the kids in their spheres of influence. It’s like shooting the Missions and Christian Ed balls into the corner pocket and winning the game. It is a God thing!
So after 10 years of living with death as a possibility from cancer, I have tried to live my life so that I make my days count. I am grateful for them and don’t take them for granted. That should be true if all of us, but there is some extra dose of reality about it when the questions of whether it will come back and when, etc., frequently lurk in the back of your mind. I for one, want to say “YAHOO! and Hallelujah!” to the Lord for these10 amazing years. I have friends who are already with the Lord, perfectly healed from cancer. For now I have things to contribute this side of heaven and I pray I will be faithful to do them well. In my weakness His strength is made perfect. What an amazing God. If you don’t know Him, it is probably hard to understand my perception of Him and think of Him as loving. I have learned not to ask, “Why me?” but rather, “Why not me?” David Jerimiah’s book, A Bend In the Road put into words what my heart has learned over the years. He also has had cancer a few times.
Well, I need to get some sleep, but wanted to let you celebrate with Greg and me on this special 10 year anniversary!
Blessings- Nancy Fritz nancyfritz@aol.com 509-990-8465
A year. 365 days strung together. Each has a name, a tag that makes it special. Some of them become very memorable- your birthday, your wedding day, the day each of your children were born, and the days that you receive news that shakes your world. Sometimes great news, and sometimes hard news.
When April 1st rolls around every year, it brings with it an avalanche of memories for me. That was the day I began my cancer journey 10 years ago. April 1st, 1999, I went to the doctor so he could tell me the lump I was feeling was really nothing to worry about. A few days later I received a call from him. I was mystified as to why in the world he would be calling me. My mind started catching on when he mentioned my mammogram results, a 2 cm cancer tumor, and telling me to go see a surgeon in the next few days. I was in shock. I was afraid of the unknown and mostly wondered what this meant for our family. I still had our kids to raise. They needed me and Greg needed me. I didn’t have time for cancer!
Well, here I am still alive 10 years later. I have learned a lot- not just about cancer. I have learned that God is deeply in love with me. -That if I have to go through hard stuff, He is right there with me in the center of it. He is real and trustworthy. I have put my life into His hands and given Him the freedom to be the author of my days. He will decide how many I will have and how the journey will progress as I live them. He has done miracles for me.
I should have known better, but during the 7th year a biopsy of what seemed to be nothing, again resulted in phone calls from doctors. By then I had learned to clue in more quickly when the doctor calls me. That time it was chemo and radiation. Another 8-9 months of dealing with all that came along with that diagnosis. I didn’t have time for cancer that time either.
I haven’t physically bounced back from that year of treatment as well as I did the first time. I have less strength and other medical problems to deal with, but I can still enjoy the ministry the Lord is giving me to teach missions to kids. Greg and I have just entered the empty nest years (or at least months, until Jenni and Jesse come home for the summer). I am looking forward to a mission trip to Ghana this summer with our church to help train children’s workers in the north part of the country in how to do effective ministry and discipleship with the kids in their spheres of influence. It’s like shooting the Missions and Christian Ed balls into the corner pocket and winning the game. It is a God thing!
So after 10 years of living with death as a possibility from cancer, I have tried to live my life so that I make my days count. I am grateful for them and don’t take them for granted. That should be true if all of us, but there is some extra dose of reality about it when the questions of whether it will come back and when, etc., frequently lurk in the back of your mind. I for one, want to say “YAHOO! and Hallelujah!” to the Lord for these10 amazing years. I have friends who are already with the Lord, perfectly healed from cancer. For now I have things to contribute this side of heaven and I pray I will be faithful to do them well. In my weakness His strength is made perfect. What an amazing God. If you don’t know Him, it is probably hard to understand my perception of Him and think of Him as loving. I have learned not to ask, “Why me?” but rather, “Why not me?” David Jerimiah’s book, A Bend In the Road put into words what my heart has learned over the years. He also has had cancer a few times.
Well, I need to get some sleep, but wanted to let you celebrate with Greg and me on this special 10 year anniversary!
Blessings- Nancy Fritz nancyfritz@aol.com 509-990-8465
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The world was in our home last week!
Dear friends,
It is hard to know where to start. I want to tell you about our time last week at our Partners International leadership planning meetings. We had leaders come in from each of PI's 10 areas of the most difficult and least reached areas of the world. These area and international leaders came with reports and met to set plans for the year. Greg and I were privileged to host in our home a man who planted the church among the Dani tribal group in Papua New Guinea many years ago, our international leader for disaster relief, and a city leader of Oasis India who leads a team that rescues minor girls from human trafficing- age 5-17.
Can you imagine the conversations around our dinner table several evenings as we asked questions, listened to them discussing issues with each other and hearing story after story from their personal experiences? Wow. Can I just say that those of you on our support team OWN A HUGE PIECE of what is happening. If you are involved in our ministry, you are evangelizing the church in China, Indonesia, West Africa, Central Asia, India, etc. You are making a tangible difference in the lives of the extremely poor. You are giving clean water to those who did not have access to it. You are training pastors, women and children. You are on the front lines with those being persecuted for their faith. That is what this ministry is about.
A brother in the Middle East disappeared last week during our meetings, and several days later we got word that he had been taken to prison, persecuted for his faith and was later released. Yesterday we got word that he is now experiencing internal emotional struggles when faced with going back to the same area. What did they do to him? How is his family and the church he belongs to doing in the aftermath of one of their own having this happen to him. Please pray for him and those like him who face these issues regularly. One leader shared that 6 of his top leaders (he was showing us a picture of 2 of them) are now gone- martyred for their faith within the last year. Wow.
We also heard story after story of very exciting church growth and of many coming to Christ. I was able to share with these leaders about the training provided globally by Kidzana to equip leaders in children's ministry. They asked great questions and I think Kidzana will end up becoming a blessing to our partners. Connecting them with this valuable resource and explaining how the training works made me feel like I had thrown a 3 pointer at the buzzer in the last quarter of the professional basketball playoffs! What a privilege to meet and encourage these brothers and sisters!
Anita, from Oasis India, has never been in the US before. She is a wife and mother of 2 girls. She goes on brothal raides to rescue and rehabilitate girls. She is beautiful and articulate. She says to see Slumdog Millionaire. It is acurate and deals with some of the issues. There are layers and layers of issues, which it didn't go into, but is totally true. Greg and I took her to see an amimal display at Cabella's (moose, elk, grizzlies, etc.), Lake Cour d'Alaine in ID, Spokane Falls and WALMART! She told me she got a second wind and jetlag fled when her gaze traveled around the inside of our Super Wal-Mart! That was so cute! She has become a treasured friend. Anyone want to go with me to Bangalore and visit Oasis there? We are invited!
I could go on all day, but I will have pity on your schedule. Our son, Jesse, is in Timbuktu right now. It is very hot there and the church is small. There are many Muslims with less than a percent of Christians. Jesse and Taylor met the country leader and traveled together 1000 kilometers across the country of Mali toTimbuktu. They will be there for 17 days. Please pray that they are able to bless the church there. They want to be servants, not tourists.
My knee is healing. It has been almost 3 weeks since surgery and I did steps last night with no pain. I start PT tomorrow. On Friday I went to the doctor and had it checked to make sure it wasn't a blood clot because of it hurting in the same place and way it did last summer when I had a clot there in my upper calf. There was no clot. I still have the bakers cyst behind my left knee, and it has enlarged and moved into the top of my calf also. That hurts, but isn't it all relative when you think about Saheed being persecuted last week? Or the girls being kidnapped into the sex trade?
Thank you for your love and prayers. And thank you for reading this and for anything you are doing to help those less fortunate. Greg and I hope to raise our support back up to 100% to lessen the amount given to Greg in salary to supplement our support. We desire to see more go to these partners I have told you about. If you want to know more about how to become part of our personal ministry and support team, please send me or Greg an email: nancyfritz@aol.com or gregf@partnersintl.org. May the Lord bless your day! Nancy Fritz (509)990-8465
It is hard to know where to start. I want to tell you about our time last week at our Partners International leadership planning meetings. We had leaders come in from each of PI's 10 areas of the most difficult and least reached areas of the world. These area and international leaders came with reports and met to set plans for the year. Greg and I were privileged to host in our home a man who planted the church among the Dani tribal group in Papua New Guinea many years ago, our international leader for disaster relief, and a city leader of Oasis India who leads a team that rescues minor girls from human trafficing- age 5-17.
Can you imagine the conversations around our dinner table several evenings as we asked questions, listened to them discussing issues with each other and hearing story after story from their personal experiences? Wow. Can I just say that those of you on our support team OWN A HUGE PIECE of what is happening. If you are involved in our ministry, you are evangelizing the church in China, Indonesia, West Africa, Central Asia, India, etc. You are making a tangible difference in the lives of the extremely poor. You are giving clean water to those who did not have access to it. You are training pastors, women and children. You are on the front lines with those being persecuted for their faith. That is what this ministry is about.
A brother in the Middle East disappeared last week during our meetings, and several days later we got word that he had been taken to prison, persecuted for his faith and was later released. Yesterday we got word that he is now experiencing internal emotional struggles when faced with going back to the same area. What did they do to him? How is his family and the church he belongs to doing in the aftermath of one of their own having this happen to him. Please pray for him and those like him who face these issues regularly. One leader shared that 6 of his top leaders (he was showing us a picture of 2 of them) are now gone- martyred for their faith within the last year. Wow.
We also heard story after story of very exciting church growth and of many coming to Christ. I was able to share with these leaders about the training provided globally by Kidzana to equip leaders in children's ministry. They asked great questions and I think Kidzana will end up becoming a blessing to our partners. Connecting them with this valuable resource and explaining how the training works made me feel like I had thrown a 3 pointer at the buzzer in the last quarter of the professional basketball playoffs! What a privilege to meet and encourage these brothers and sisters!
Anita, from Oasis India, has never been in the US before. She is a wife and mother of 2 girls. She goes on brothal raides to rescue and rehabilitate girls. She is beautiful and articulate. She says to see Slumdog Millionaire. It is acurate and deals with some of the issues. There are layers and layers of issues, which it didn't go into, but is totally true. Greg and I took her to see an amimal display at Cabella's (moose, elk, grizzlies, etc.), Lake Cour d'Alaine in ID, Spokane Falls and WALMART! She told me she got a second wind and jetlag fled when her gaze traveled around the inside of our Super Wal-Mart! That was so cute! She has become a treasured friend. Anyone want to go with me to Bangalore and visit Oasis there? We are invited!
I could go on all day, but I will have pity on your schedule. Our son, Jesse, is in Timbuktu right now. It is very hot there and the church is small. There are many Muslims with less than a percent of Christians. Jesse and Taylor met the country leader and traveled together 1000 kilometers across the country of Mali toTimbuktu. They will be there for 17 days. Please pray that they are able to bless the church there. They want to be servants, not tourists.
My knee is healing. It has been almost 3 weeks since surgery and I did steps last night with no pain. I start PT tomorrow. On Friday I went to the doctor and had it checked to make sure it wasn't a blood clot because of it hurting in the same place and way it did last summer when I had a clot there in my upper calf. There was no clot. I still have the bakers cyst behind my left knee, and it has enlarged and moved into the top of my calf also. That hurts, but isn't it all relative when you think about Saheed being persecuted last week? Or the girls being kidnapped into the sex trade?
Thank you for your love and prayers. And thank you for reading this and for anything you are doing to help those less fortunate. Greg and I hope to raise our support back up to 100% to lessen the amount given to Greg in salary to supplement our support. We desire to see more go to these partners I have told you about. If you want to know more about how to become part of our personal ministry and support team, please send me or Greg an email: nancyfritz@aol.com or gregf@partnersintl.org. May the Lord bless your day! Nancy Fritz (509)990-8465
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Knee Mending
Dear friends,
It has been 8 days since I had my left knee surgery. Thank you for praying if you did! So how did it go? Here is what I can tell you... Dr. VanderWilde apologized on the video he was making of my knee that he couldn't see a clear cause for the Baker's cyst on the back of my knee. There was a tear in my meniscus, a partial medial tear, but since it was in the middle of the meniscus and not on the edge, he couldn't trim it away or repair it. There was plica under my patella, which I think is the knee cap, that he cleaned out. I think that is arthritic debris.
So this was done on the 27th about 1:30 as scheduled. The nurses getting me ready found out I have had breast cancer, and all of them came over to talk to me. One of their co-workers was having a port put in that day to begin her chemo treatment for the exact kind of breast cancer I had- lobular. I actually had lobular and ductal cancer. Anyway, I was able to give them some tips to pass along to her and answer some questions they had. It was a very special time that I felt strongly the Lord was in the middle of. What were the chances of all those factors coming together like that at the same time? I even wrote a square for a quilt one of them was making for her!
Everything went fine with the surgery and we were home by 4:00. I didn't get nauseous and honestly that day my low right back hurt so much it overshadowed my knee completely. The pain meds helped my knee to not hurt at all and my back less, so it was all good. A friend brought over 2 meals so we had dinner that evening with lots of resting thrown in. My knee was great on Saturday, but my back was bad. They told me at pre-op that they would be putting clean fluid in my knee during surgery that might make it feel really good for a day.
Sunday we went to church and oh the knee pain! I didn't notice my back hurting any more. That day my knee swelled up big and I understood the need for the pain meds. This week I haven't driven, but I think I will be able to on Monday. I haven't done any pain meds today, and it is doing OK. It is still swollen, but less so every day. If I do too much it swells, if too little, it gets stiff. So I am doing my exercises and icing 3 times a day and have my post-op appointment next Friday. Then I expect to do PT for a month, and I'll be ready to roll!
We wonder at my string of physical problems and really think it is due to do chemo 2 times and then radiation. It just wore my body out and made my more susceptible. I don't want people to think of me as "the one who always has medical problems." But first of all I hope they see the Lord in me.
Jesse turns 18 tomorrow in Dakar, Senegal, and the father of the family he is living near and who is the Partners International boss he is reporting to, Rene Nbongo, is in Spokane and will be speaking at our church tomorrow morning. That is exciting! March Madness has begun and Eng Hoe arrived here from Malaysia yesterday evening. We had a great visit with him last night.
One last blessing I will tell you about...Greg had to go to Denver Wed. morning until yesterday, and I didn't think being at home alone was a good idea since I couldn't drive. So I invited Sarah M. from Partners to stay with me for those 3 days. She is 21 and volunteers at the ministry since she was layed off in January. She took such careful and good care of me while Greg was gone. We had a lot of fun and talked and talked. Oh, and we went to the grocery store and I drove around in one of electric carts! First time for everything I guess! I didn't run anyone over, but stopped so fast I almost went over the handlebars! Anyhow, God used her to bless me- big time! Thanks Sarah!
Well, I will sign off and try to connect with Jesse. Our family is going through the book of Proverbs this month, each writing something about what we have read and commenting on what the others have said. Since we are so spread out, it has been wonderful. Thanks for starting that Greg! Blessings to you today and don't forget to turn your clock forward!
Blessings- Nancy Fritz 509-990-8465 nancyfritz@aol.com
It has been 8 days since I had my left knee surgery. Thank you for praying if you did! So how did it go? Here is what I can tell you... Dr. VanderWilde apologized on the video he was making of my knee that he couldn't see a clear cause for the Baker's cyst on the back of my knee. There was a tear in my meniscus, a partial medial tear, but since it was in the middle of the meniscus and not on the edge, he couldn't trim it away or repair it. There was plica under my patella, which I think is the knee cap, that he cleaned out. I think that is arthritic debris.
So this was done on the 27th about 1:30 as scheduled. The nurses getting me ready found out I have had breast cancer, and all of them came over to talk to me. One of their co-workers was having a port put in that day to begin her chemo treatment for the exact kind of breast cancer I had- lobular. I actually had lobular and ductal cancer. Anyway, I was able to give them some tips to pass along to her and answer some questions they had. It was a very special time that I felt strongly the Lord was in the middle of. What were the chances of all those factors coming together like that at the same time? I even wrote a square for a quilt one of them was making for her!
Everything went fine with the surgery and we were home by 4:00. I didn't get nauseous and honestly that day my low right back hurt so much it overshadowed my knee completely. The pain meds helped my knee to not hurt at all and my back less, so it was all good. A friend brought over 2 meals so we had dinner that evening with lots of resting thrown in. My knee was great on Saturday, but my back was bad. They told me at pre-op that they would be putting clean fluid in my knee during surgery that might make it feel really good for a day.
Sunday we went to church and oh the knee pain! I didn't notice my back hurting any more. That day my knee swelled up big and I understood the need for the pain meds. This week I haven't driven, but I think I will be able to on Monday. I haven't done any pain meds today, and it is doing OK. It is still swollen, but less so every day. If I do too much it swells, if too little, it gets stiff. So I am doing my exercises and icing 3 times a day and have my post-op appointment next Friday. Then I expect to do PT for a month, and I'll be ready to roll!
We wonder at my string of physical problems and really think it is due to do chemo 2 times and then radiation. It just wore my body out and made my more susceptible. I don't want people to think of me as "the one who always has medical problems." But first of all I hope they see the Lord in me.
Jesse turns 18 tomorrow in Dakar, Senegal, and the father of the family he is living near and who is the Partners International boss he is reporting to, Rene Nbongo, is in Spokane and will be speaking at our church tomorrow morning. That is exciting! March Madness has begun and Eng Hoe arrived here from Malaysia yesterday evening. We had a great visit with him last night.
One last blessing I will tell you about...Greg had to go to Denver Wed. morning until yesterday, and I didn't think being at home alone was a good idea since I couldn't drive. So I invited Sarah M. from Partners to stay with me for those 3 days. She is 21 and volunteers at the ministry since she was layed off in January. She took such careful and good care of me while Greg was gone. We had a lot of fun and talked and talked. Oh, and we went to the grocery store and I drove around in one of electric carts! First time for everything I guess! I didn't run anyone over, but stopped so fast I almost went over the handlebars! Anyhow, God used her to bless me- big time! Thanks Sarah!
Well, I will sign off and try to connect with Jesse. Our family is going through the book of Proverbs this month, each writing something about what we have read and commenting on what the others have said. Since we are so spread out, it has been wonderful. Thanks for starting that Greg! Blessings to you today and don't forget to turn your clock forward!
Blessings- Nancy Fritz 509-990-8465 nancyfritz@aol.com
Friday, February 27, 2009
Knee Surgery Tomorrow- Friday
Dear friends,
Surgery tomorrow
It is another surgery eve. I think these evenings, like those before upcoming trips, get me feeling like there are a lot of things I need to get done that just can't wait. I scramble to get as much done as I can. This time I am getting the house ready for our Partners Intl. guests- Eng Hoe, John Decker and Anita. I have gotten groceries and some meals planed for when they come on March 6th. I have done my dentist, eye doctor, nephrologist, chiropractor and gyno. appointments this week. The bedrooms are ready and the towels washed. Thanks to Barb Moody, I learned how to do hospitality when we lived together at Marengo House back in Pasadena.
Since I won't be able to do steps much for a week or two, I have to do all the things that involve the basement and steps before we leave at 11:00 for the surgery center. So, since after midnight tonight I am not allowed anything to eat or drink until I get there, I have a tradition to stay up until midnight and drink a lot of water and eat a little meal just before midnight to be ready for the next 12 hours. Of course I feel very thirsty at 12:15 already! It is human nature to want what you can't have, right?
Here is my prayer request for tomorrow's knee surgery...
Dr. VanderWilde told me clearly that there is a very good chance that this surgery will fix the problem in my knee. There is also a smaller chance that it won't work. I think that if we all pray, the Lord, in His goodness, will hear our prayers and answer them, and the surgery will work. I was told at pre-op that I might be able to tell right away. I described the cyst problem I have going on in my last entry, so I won't do it here. This week has been like the last stages of pregnancy in comparison to my knee. You are so ready to be done being pregnant, that you are willing to go through the birth process partly just to not be pregnant anymore! My knee has been so sore this week, that surgery couldn't come soon enough. I am so grateful for this chance to have it repaired since the alternative is living with it the way it is, for the rest of my life.
*So pray that Dr. V. and his team will be able to get in there and see all that they need to see, and will be able to make the corrections that need to be made. He expects it to take about 35 minutes. I will be out. Pray that he sees everything he needs to see as he will be working with a scope in a small area. I think he will video it for me. I will let you know how it goes as soon as I can. I will be up and walking some every day and have exercizes to do. I had to get surgical compression stockings to wear to prevent clots in my legs, but I didn't have to do the Lovenox shots in my stomach like I did last summer. I am so very grateful! I also picked up my pain meds today. He told me I would really need them. Well, I am ready and may the Lord go before me.
The Kidney Doctor...
Basically he said that as long as there is not protein in my urine, he isn't concerned about the blood in my urine, since it is not that severe. He asked for an additional urinalisis to look more carefully for a few things, and told me he would call me if he saw anything wrong. He hasn't called in 2 days, so I am in the clear on the kidney issue. That means I can pursue the trip to Ghana with our church this summer to do some awesome Christian education training for the leaders there. I prayed that the Lord would open or shut the doors according to His will, and so far it looks like going is His plan for me!
Allison and Jesse
We got to skype with these 2 separately on Sunday afternoon for over an hour each. I can't go into a lot of detail now, but they are both doing fine. Jesse is about to turn 18 on March 8th and is homesick for American food. He had escargo and rice the day before we talked. Allison laughed and said she also has had that recently. I will tell you more about that later. I need to get to bed and finish up my list of "must do's" in the morning before we leave.
Thank you for your prayers for me and for us and for our family and Partners. We treasure that in a huge way!
Blessings- Nancy Fritz nancyfritz@aol.com (509)990-8465
Surgery tomorrow
It is another surgery eve. I think these evenings, like those before upcoming trips, get me feeling like there are a lot of things I need to get done that just can't wait. I scramble to get as much done as I can. This time I am getting the house ready for our Partners Intl. guests- Eng Hoe, John Decker and Anita. I have gotten groceries and some meals planed for when they come on March 6th. I have done my dentist, eye doctor, nephrologist, chiropractor and gyno. appointments this week. The bedrooms are ready and the towels washed. Thanks to Barb Moody, I learned how to do hospitality when we lived together at Marengo House back in Pasadena.
Since I won't be able to do steps much for a week or two, I have to do all the things that involve the basement and steps before we leave at 11:00 for the surgery center. So, since after midnight tonight I am not allowed anything to eat or drink until I get there, I have a tradition to stay up until midnight and drink a lot of water and eat a little meal just before midnight to be ready for the next 12 hours. Of course I feel very thirsty at 12:15 already! It is human nature to want what you can't have, right?
Here is my prayer request for tomorrow's knee surgery...
Dr. VanderWilde told me clearly that there is a very good chance that this surgery will fix the problem in my knee. There is also a smaller chance that it won't work. I think that if we all pray, the Lord, in His goodness, will hear our prayers and answer them, and the surgery will work. I was told at pre-op that I might be able to tell right away. I described the cyst problem I have going on in my last entry, so I won't do it here. This week has been like the last stages of pregnancy in comparison to my knee. You are so ready to be done being pregnant, that you are willing to go through the birth process partly just to not be pregnant anymore! My knee has been so sore this week, that surgery couldn't come soon enough. I am so grateful for this chance to have it repaired since the alternative is living with it the way it is, for the rest of my life.
*So pray that Dr. V. and his team will be able to get in there and see all that they need to see, and will be able to make the corrections that need to be made. He expects it to take about 35 minutes. I will be out. Pray that he sees everything he needs to see as he will be working with a scope in a small area. I think he will video it for me. I will let you know how it goes as soon as I can. I will be up and walking some every day and have exercizes to do. I had to get surgical compression stockings to wear to prevent clots in my legs, but I didn't have to do the Lovenox shots in my stomach like I did last summer. I am so very grateful! I also picked up my pain meds today. He told me I would really need them. Well, I am ready and may the Lord go before me.
The Kidney Doctor...
Basically he said that as long as there is not protein in my urine, he isn't concerned about the blood in my urine, since it is not that severe. He asked for an additional urinalisis to look more carefully for a few things, and told me he would call me if he saw anything wrong. He hasn't called in 2 days, so I am in the clear on the kidney issue. That means I can pursue the trip to Ghana with our church this summer to do some awesome Christian education training for the leaders there. I prayed that the Lord would open or shut the doors according to His will, and so far it looks like going is His plan for me!
Allison and Jesse
We got to skype with these 2 separately on Sunday afternoon for over an hour each. I can't go into a lot of detail now, but they are both doing fine. Jesse is about to turn 18 on March 8th and is homesick for American food. He had escargo and rice the day before we talked. Allison laughed and said she also has had that recently. I will tell you more about that later. I need to get to bed and finish up my list of "must do's" in the morning before we leave.
Thank you for your prayers for me and for us and for our family and Partners. We treasure that in a huge way!
Blessings- Nancy Fritz nancyfritz@aol.com (509)990-8465
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