Uncle Harvey and Kuya Danny

This past week has been a tough one. Last Sunday was the wake and memorial service for Uncle Harvey. He was loved by so many and there were alot of people at his memorial service. It is one of those rare times when what they say about the person who has died is actually true and accurate... he really was a nice guy; he showed his faith until the end; he shared his love for God and shared his faith with all he came in contact with; he showed his love and care for his family; he had a positive attitude even when he faced so many challenges, even when his health was compromised. We will miss him very much and we have been privileged to know him. Our church family will not be the same and we will miss hearing him sing and laugh.. we will miss his encouraging voice.. Frendell feels the loss of a prayer partner... it brings to mind the verse found in Luke 6:44-45 "A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs never grow on thornbushes, nor grapes on bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart".

Today we visited Kuya Danny in the hospital. He is also fighting cancer and his journey has been the longest of anyone I know. His first surgery was in 2005. He just finished 14 radiation treatments and was hospitalized because his electrolights were out of whack. He met us with a smile and shared with us how God has really shown His faithfulness to him through his journey with cancer. He is thankful that he does not have alot of pain. Even though he gets tired quite easily, he reads his Bible and his spirits are lifted when his family and friends come to visit him. He said that he has surrendered his battle with cancer to God's hands and whatever God wills for his life, so be it. He has shown tremendous courage through all the treatments he's gone through.. and I believe he's had both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. I loved talking to him and seeing his smile and most of all, he encouraged me and reminded me that God's grace is sufficient for me. It always amazes me when I meet people who show the strength of character and the depth of their faith, even when in the face of adversity. It challenges me to work on my character, for our true colors show when we are faced with challenges and discomfort. I hope that I will produce good things because I have a treasury of good things from my heart.... two men who I have the privilege to call friends.. two men who have shown me faith and courage even as we took this journey through cancer together... Kuya Danny, my prayer is that God will grant us many more years with you...

Good-bye, Uncle Harvey

The past several days have been difficult for our church family in Chicago Fil-am, as Uncle Harvey has been fighting for his life. I know I talked about him here not too long ago, when we celebrated what he meant to our church family and had an anointing service for him as well. Today, he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. Our church lost a warrior for God. He lived almost 7 months from diagnosis. Auntie Lita and all their children and extended family are devastated but they have shown tremendous courage and strength during this difficult time. Uncle Harvey has left a legacy of faithfulness and trust in His God, in spite of the cancer that has ravaged his body. He has given encouragement to me and other people with his positive attitude and his humor and his music. We listened to his CD last night and again today on our way to and from his house. I will carry his voice in my heart and I hope that if I am ever faced with the challenges that he has faced, that I will have his positive attitude and show my love for my family, my church family and my friends as much as he did before he died.

I am tired and yet I cannot sleep. I cannot help but wonder why him? why now? I know that in God's wisdom and in His timing, this is what His will is. As I listen to the rain drops breaking in the silence of the night, I know that God was there today, as we said good-bye to him, as we tried to comfort each other with the hope of seeing Uncle Harvey when Jesus comes. Death always gives me a different perspective... all of a sudden, all the things that I spent so much energy worrying about does not seem to matter anymore. What seems to matter is how much have I told my loved ones that I really care for them and love them? What seems to be important is, have I aligned my life with God so that I know I am doing His will in my life everyday. What seems to hinder me from finding peace and growth in my relationships is when I hang on to past hurts and grudges, instead of giving forgiveness and grace. I think about so many broken relationships that I've experienced and have seen others experience as well. I think of churches splitting and feelings hurt and judgments made and gossip spread and criticisms that have destroyed.... and in the end, when all is said and done, these things did not matter at all. What mattered were the words of comfort and hope and peace that were shared. What mattered was the support and love and friendships that have been experienced together. What mattered was the faith and prayers and trust in a God who understands all that we're going through and is there with us every step of the way.

"When peace like a river attendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul". Good-bye for now Uncle Harvey and I hope to see you when Jesus comes again. Thank you for your faithfulness... we will miss you and your smile and your beautiful voice.

because I knew you, I have been changed for good.....

God and Cancer by Frendell

Mahal has been writing articles monthly for the Filipino Newspaper "Pinoy". This is his article for this month of October. It touches my heart that he dedicated this article to me... I love you darling and thank you for going through this journey with me. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I did.

God’s Way of Dealing With Cancer and Sin

One of the most painful diseases one has to go through is cancer. Anyone who has witnessed someone die from this disease can attest to the gut wrenching pain one goes through before it’s over. What’s even more staggering is how many people have had to deal with cancer. Just last year, over 1.4 million died in America because of cancer and it’s been estimated that every five minutes, somewhere in America, someone is diagnosed with cancer. Very rarely do you meet anyone who has not been affected by what some people have called the disease of the century. I personally have had family members who have died because of cancer. I currently have family members who are subjected to chemotherapy, radiation, or medication to fight this disease, and by the time you read this article, one of my friends whom I just talked to today, would have already died from pancreatic cancer. It’s been my experience that when a family member is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family gets affected. If a family is a closed knit family, the experience becomes even more painful for each family member. As one sees the physical, emotional, and sometimes spiritual trauma one goes through, either as they personally fight with cancer or as they witness someone with it, the question that is usually asked is, “Where is God while we’re going through this experience?” Surely a God who claims to be all powerful and all caring would heal people from this disease, especially those who worship Him. But because it doesn’t happen, all thoughout the world, in every hospital and home, millions of people ask, “Why God, why me, why now, and why don’t you just do something about it?”

Because of one’s intense suffering, it’s very easy to come to the conclusion that either God doesn’t exist or He just doesn’t care. As a Christian, however, I have a very different view of suffering and I would like to share it with you. I understand that there is no way to answer all the questions about how God deals with cancer, much less to do it in 900 words or less. In the first place I’m not God and secondly I’m really not that smart, but I think we can know how God deals with this disease by knowing how He deals with sin.

Sin has many similarities with cancer.

They are both deadly. Once cancer or sin is in you, YOU WILL DIE, the only question is when.

The only way to win over sin or cancer is to have it taken away from you. For cancer it’s through surgery, with sin, it’s only through Christ.

I used to think that it was strange for Jesus to say, “If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out…or if your hand causes you to sin cut it off (Matthew 5:29,30).” To Jesus, it is better for you not to have body parts and get to heaven than for you to have them and die. Any person who has been diagnosed with cancer knows the only way to deal with cancer is to take it out, by any means necessary. Even if it is through killing the good cells so you can kill the cancer cells, which is what chemotherapy is about, you need to do everything you can to take the cancer out.

Cancer affects every part of your body. Sin will affect every part of your life. It’s just a matter of time before a controllable disease, if it’s not dealt with, will become an uncontrollable one. Sin will eventually control all your relationships, your self-esteem and eventually your eternal future.

So how does God deal with sin?

He personally takes it out. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

He heals us from the effects of sin. That is what the cleansing us from all unrighteousness is about.

He promises those who trust in Him that He will bring them to a place where there is no sin, or cancer, and that place is heaven.

At the very least, if we can conclude that if God has a plan for sin that actually works, then he definitely has a successful plan for cancer. The journey we all must take would be to find out what that plan is. What I have found is there is a huge difference between people who trust God and His plan when it comes to dealing with sin and cancer. I think I can narrow that difference down to one word: HOPE. As each person eventually faces the effects of sin, or cancer, those who face it with God, face it with HOPE, those who don’t have a relationship with God, face it with HOPELESSNESS. Their reactions are quite different. Both sets of people cry, but the former can smile through the tears. Both are resigned to the consequences, but the former is looking forward to a new beginning. Both suffer immensely, but the former knows the pain is temporary, the latter thinks it’s the end. The former goes through the journey knowing their God is with them every step of the way, the latter experiences it alone. I can only pray that no one who reads this article ever have to face sin or cancer alone.

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This article is dedicated to my lovely wife and to all the brave people who face the hardships of cancer. If you have any questions or would like to respond to this article, please do so at www.pastorfrendell@gmail.com.

Pink Tea Luncheon Florida Trip 3

Jae was the emcee/host for this Pink Tea Luncheon. She also served as the moderator for the panel discussion that was held right after the luncheon. She did a wonderful job as emcee/host. I am very proud of her and all the hard work she and her team put into this luncheon. It was a very touching way for cancer survivors to be honored and recognized and to realize that so many people are supporting the cause to learn more so we can prevent and hopefully find the cure for cancer.

The two ladies standing next to Jae were the two breast cancer survivors who started the charity, Braz Cauz.. they were raising money so that women who cannot afford it will be able to still get mammograms for free.

Ate Baby and me... cancer survivors in our family... she just celebrated her birthday the day before... it was a wonderful time to celebrate life and be reminded that everyday is not to be taken for granted. We have gone through so much in our family in the last two years and I am grateful that we were able to attend this event together. We have been so blessed and I hope that I will never take it for granted. I pray that I will not cower when I am asked to tell my story, if only to give hope to someone else who may be going through cancer right now as well.

Girls day out at the Pink Tea Luncheon

Josie, me, Genie, Ate Baby and Jennifer

Each attendee received a pink box filled with goodies, like a perfume sample, compact mirror and nail file.

Genie getting her 'hot pink' hair trimmed...

Jae, as the emcee/host of the event, had to also have 'hot pink hair'

Table center pieces were little bras that were decorated in all different ways

Josie and Genie both took the day off to attend the event...

Pink Tea Luncheon Florida Trip

When I was in Florida, Jennifer took us to a Pink Tea Luncheon, sponsored by her hospital Fish Memorial Cancer Institute. There were about 500 people who attended this event, cancer survivors, their family and friends and supporters. They had a panel of experts in the field of breast cancer, from medical oncologists, radiologists, nurse practitioner to a plastic surgeon.

The fundraiser for that event was called Braz Cauz. It was an idea started by two breast cancer survivors, where they asked local artists to design bras (like the one above) and then auctioned them both at the luncheon and online. It was so neat to see all the creative things/ways that people used for the bras. The money raised will be used to pay for mammograms for women who cannot afford them and get lost in the system.

Josie and me with our boas :-)

Genie, Ate Baby and Jae (Mom and daughters)

The event was held was at a Marriott Hotel. They did a wonderful job setting up te place and serving a menu fit for tea, with salads and sandwiches and fruit and desserts. Delicious :-)

Celebrating Fall

I've come to expect it now, that whenever I travel, I get home and get sick. I think all the traveling has worn me out. The back to back trips to Florida, Georgia and Michigan wore me out. We got home Monday night and I was so exhausted I just collapsed in bed. Have had a cold all week and couldn't get up for the past 3 days. I'm finally feeling better today and decided to celebrate the cooler fall weather by baking an apple cake and an apple pie from scratch. It's been a very long time since I made pie crust and unfortunately I didn't find a vegan recipe, so it has good ole' butter. I just hope it takes good. Haven't tried it yet. When we were at Rachel's and Sean's house last Sunday, Sean made this amazing apple pie and he was kind enough to share his recipe with me. He inspired me to bake, so bake I did. I have missed baking and now I know why I haven't been able to do it too much. It was hard to take too many breaks while I was coring, peeling, slicing and rolling out the dough... so now, I am having lots of shooting pain and throbbing on my arm and right chest. But, it's all worth it, I hope :-) I did use organic pastry flour, which has whole wheat flour in it. So it's a little healthier I hope. I just hope it tastes as good as it looks :-) One of these days, I'll post the pictures of the pie and the cake :-)

I'm loving the cooler weather and the leaves falling. Fall is my favorite time of year. Today I was reminded to just 'be still and know that I am God'. My friends 19-year-old daughter, Elyssa, started an online inspirational website. www.messagesonline.wordpress.com. Please check it out. I needed to be reminded that. I've been restless and not feeling well and I was glad to be reminded that God is there and He is in control. No matter what happens, I know that He is there with me. I hope you celebrate fall wherever you are and celebrate God's faithfulness and goodness to us.

Florida Trip 5

Josie, with her 2 kids David and Amada and Olivia...

I was so glad that I could be there to celebrate Ate Baby's birthday with her, her kids and grandkids. They all helped her blow her candles out :-)

Oliva, Ethan, Max, David and Josie, Ate Baby and Amada...
Happy Birthday to you! Delicious marble cake... we had Italian food for dinner which was so delicious I couldn't stop eating the pasta and salads...

Ate Baby and Jae... hey, where's Genie and Kuya?

Ethan with his razor.. he's quite the athlete. That day, he rode his scooter, his bike and practiced his karate moves.... I got tired just watching him :-)

Florida Trip 4

Liv made me breakfast on Sabbath morning: scrambled eggs, toast and fruit. It was delicious :-)

Later on that day, we went to Josie's house and here is Amada beating me at the game "Go Fish!"... she's very good at this game..

Genie, Josie and Amada.... Josie was showing me her scrapbooks and picture albums... she's very creative too

This David, Josie and Wayne's son. He's so cute and very "malikot"....

Ethan and Maxwell (Jennifer and Kevin's son) are both taking karate lessons. They are also both very good at playing video games. So cute, these bosy are

Florida Trip 3

See how tall Olivia is now? Almost as tall as her Mom. I love how Genie and Olivia matched the colors of the posters.. They are quite the fashionistas.
We had a wonderful time at Epcot, inspite of how warm the day turned out to be....

The girls (Jennifer, Genie and Josie) along with Olivia, treated me to a wonderful time at Epcot where they were having their food and wine festival. The day started out nice and not too hot.. but by noon, the temperature had started to climb up into the '90x. Poor Genie was exhausted from pushing me all over the park. We had a great time sampling all different kinds of foods from so many different countries. It was surprising to see how much vegetarian options they had.. of course, we had to have dessert from France and funnel cake from good ole USA :-)

Olivia wanted to go with us and presented a great case on why she should be able to go :-) I'm glad she was able to come

Poor Genie pushed me for most of the day. They all insisted that I ride in the wheelchair to not aggravate my plantar fascitis. In the end, it was probably a great idea. When I got back home to Chicago, my left foot was very painful and I had to ice it and put oils 24/ 7 until we left for Atlanta. Can't imagine how painful it would've been if I had walked all over the park. Thanks for the ride, girls :-)

Florida Trip 2

This is Amada, Josie and Wayne's daughter. She has come out of her shell and is so outgoing now. Last time I saw her, she was clinging to her Mom's dress and didn't want to come to me. She loved that pink hair that Olivia gave her. All the girls wore pink hair in honor of breast cancer awareness month.. and me :-)

Olivia is Genie and Shane's daughter. I can't believe how much she's grown. She is a very good Ate and takes great care of the younger ones. She reminds me so much of Lauren... both of them are very patient and caring to their younger siblings/cousins...

I was so glad that Ethan agreed to be in the picture with us. He is Genie and Shane's son. He's very good at karate and video games. At first he didn't want to be in the picture with just the girls.. but in the end, he consented... quite the handsome boy :-)

Can't believe how much the girls have grown up? I can still remember them being Olivia's age when we all lived in California, both in Armona and La Sierra... now they have kids of their own... Josie and Genie, with Olivia

Ethan is also quite an artist. He is learning how to write the alphabet. I loved how they decorate their doors with their pcitures. I only wish I could have taken a better picture at a better angle. I can't wait to see what he'll have on his door the next time I see hiim :-)

Florida Trip

I love Olivia's door.. she's very creative and artistic and I can't wait to see what she does with this talent. Keep out of her room, boys!! She means it :-)

Ethan and Max takes karate. When I was there, Ethan had to learn a series of moves (can't even remember what it's called. Shane worked with Ethan that week until Ethan was able to pass and get his stripe. After I left, he went on to pass his test and earned his yellow belt! Hiya!!! I thought he was very smart to remember all the moves - he's only 6 years old!

Walking to baggage claim from concourse C at O'hare airport

Chicago lost it's Olympic bid

At the end of the trip, I was so happy to see Mahal waiting for me :-) thanks Darling.. I've missed you

I wanted to post my pictures from my Florida trip. I had a wonderful time with the family there. They pampered me and took such good care of me. It was such a treat for me to be with them and the kids and see how much they've grown. I am so blessed to be able to have the opportunity to be with family and learn from them and just enjoy these times together. Before cancer, it seemed like I was so busy with work and other things that going on trips like these were not always possible. I hope that I have learned to prioritize the things in my life a little bit better now. Hope was abundant as I looked at the kids faces and savored their energy... I hope that I would be blessed and be around to see what they are going to do in college, where they would travel to, who they would date, etc. God continues to show His grace and His faithfulness, sometimes in ways that surprise me.

Catalyst '09

Can't believe we're already back in Atlanta for Catalyst. Time is certainly flying by so quickly these days. Last year at this time, we had already received the news that my tumor was 'highly suspicious for intracystic papillary carcinoma'. Because we were coming here, my MRI was scheduled for when we got back and the first surgery scheduled for the 22nd of Oct. We were getting ready for our mission trip to Mindanao/Philippines.

Today, I had my shot, saw the oncologist, met with the nurse in charge of the study and had my blood work done. I guess I'm behind schedule on the blood work and will need to do it again in 8 weeks, instead of 12 weeks. Dr. Robinson answered alot of my concerns. The numbness/tingling/pins & needles on my feet she said may be just a natural part of my healing. She will monitor to make sure it's not a vascular issue. She does not think it's neurological issues at this time. Regarding the itching on the left breast: if it persists in the next month, we will schedule an MRI next month when I come in for my shot. She does not want to over test but she also does not want to under test. She said that the MRI will reveal other things that the mammogram did not. We shall see. I know she wants me to have peace of mind. I am scheduled to see the OB-GYN for some tests; she wants to make sure I will not develop uterine cancer, which is a possible side effect of my medications.

I asked Dr. Robinson if I'm being paranoid because I sometimes do get worried about the cancer coming back or getting cancer on the left side. She said, "No, it is very normal and expected actually. This is the reason why cancer is more of a chronic disease rather than an acute one; it's because people do worry about it coming back. Most people don't worry about their diabetes or high blood pressure but with a cancer diagnosis, it is always in the back of your mind. I'm so glad that she's very understanding and answers all my concerns. She is excited that I've started doing evaluations again.

After my appointments, Frendell & I took the train (blue to orange) to Midway airport. The walk was quite long from the end of the line to the ticket counter. But it wasn't too bad; there were a lot of people taking this line as well. We got there in plenty of time. It is now past midnight Eastern time and I am exhausted but I'm having a hard time sleeping again. It will be another long day tomorrow... but I am excited to be here and I'm glad we'll be able to attend Catalyst's 10th anniversary. We've been attending for 8 years now.... wow