Update on Elias and Ostman travels

Thank you for praying for Elias. Here is an update from the Gappmayrs who are back home in Germany.

August 7th update:

Hello again from us!

Just to let you all know how it went yesterday at the hospital. It was very hard for Elias. He seems to be quite traumatized by all that. Laying the line for the IV was the worst thing. He was screaming and didn’t let the doctor work on his arm. So, to make things worse, the doctor couldn’t place the line right away and had to do it again. It was quite the ordeal! Finally, we were on our way to the MRI and there again, he was crying all the time until the anesthesia put him to sleep. It was also quite stressful for us especially Carmen to see Elias in such agony, “just” to place an IV. We were glad when it was over and time to go home. Now we have to wait until next Friday, since every Friday all the specialists meet to discuss the MRIs. Then they will contact us and we’ll have to discuss further steps together. Please continue to pray as this whole situation is quite a challenge. On the other hand we are surprised at how well Elias is doing, he tries to play soccer with Lucas and friends, which sometimes is a bit scary to watch since his balance still gives him a hard timeJ.

Thank you for all your prayers and support and we ask you to continue to do so, as the road ahead is not an easy one, but God goes before us and is in every step of the way. So please pray that we might keep looking to the great shepherd of our souls and find our rest and peace in him. He is able!

In Christ

Richard and Family

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Last Tuesday we had our first appointment with the doctor here in Keoln. She said on Friday, today, a team of specialists will look at the MRI pictures and discuss further action. We received a call from here this evening saying that things don’t look too good. There is actually much more residual tumor than what the doctors in the Philippines told us. The main child neurosurgeon said most likely we will have to operate again, which again is in contrast to what doctors told us in PI. That is hard news, we had hoped we would be able to avoid another surgery. Elias is making good progress and to think to have to start all over again came as a shock for us. But we know that God is not surprised by this, he knew that all along. Now, we have to make an appointment with that neurosurgeon, but that won’t be until the after next week. Please pray also for patience and rest, that we might also trust God for the timing of it all. Thank you for your continuous prayers.

Update on us

We have arrived in Oklahoma to be with Robert & Ean for a few weeks. Other than the heat (it is VERY HOT) we are loving our time here! Robert has been busy teaching “Continuing Education” at Southeastern so we’ve had some special alone time with Ean. It’s his seventh birthday today so we’re planning some memories for the day.

It’s been great keeping busy giving reports to churches and individuals. We were in a Sunday School at Robert’s church last Sunday and we’re looking forward to being in more churches between now and when we arrive back in Florida next month.

Thanks for praying for us and for the Higaunon.

Secure in Christ’s love,

Lance & Laura