Chapter Five - The Email

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ"

Galatians 6:2

Since I was young, I have been a very private person. That was how I was brought up to be. Problems of the heart and home are not to be shared with the world but to be solved within one's means. Why trouble and burden people who are already laden with their own burdens and problems? Solve it yourself! Perhaps, deep down in the recesses of our sinful hearts is the desire to look 'good' in other's eyes and to be able to have it all under control - Pride. I don't know if it this is true for you, but it was for me. [Of course, we are not referring to the sharing of sins but burdens.]

The need to keep up with a persona was all unnecessary. As I grew older and understood the purpose of the church through God's word, these apparently noble philosophies are not biblical and they were probably a construct of our civilized, compartmentalized and convenient world that is really selfish in its root and nature. Surely, the church of Acts shared their burdens and prayed for one another. As God slowly reveals His plan in my life through many eventful turns, I have also learnt that these are humbling lessons to show how insufficient and weak I am - and it is only God that can give the peace and victory in every circumstances.

So when Daniel decided to pen a long email to the church and request for prayer in light of the grim reality, I was without protest. The email is quoted verbatim as follows:

"Dearest Friends, Brothers and Sisters,

I write this mail humbly asking for your prayer and fastings to ask God for mercy and deliverance upon my wife Joann and our unborn child.

2 days ago during the 12th week scan a decision was made to do a detailed scan of the right ovarian cyst which had been present since the earlier bedside scan. This revealed a huge 12-13cm cyst which contained solid and irregular areas which are suspicious features. Urgent arrangements have been made to proceed with an Op to remove it (Rt ovary and tumor) on the 4th Feb,during which a frozen section will be done to determine its nature with a possibility of proceeding with further operation if it is cancerous. It is a major operation.

Based on ultrasound appearance, it appears more like a tumor. Our baby is doing fine but the doctor suggests that we allow 2 more weeks for the baby to stabilise. Meanwhile Joann is resting. We are grieved and tired but God's is good to us.

Dear Friends, my wife is very very dear to me and I humbly ask that you will plead with God together with us to intervene and deliver us from this situation. I pray that He helps us for no other reason except for his mercy and favor upon us as helpless needy people of His own.

Please pray for:
1) total cure and deliverance, that the tumor is benign (not cancerous)
2) joann's and unborn child's health to be built up during this 2 weeks
3) During this 2 weeks that the cyst will not grow or rupture, that if God wills, He may even shrink it
4) Ease and God's guidance upon all doctors during the surgery as the cyst is huge and she has fibrous adhesions on the same side which may cause some difficulty
5) God's mercy upon all of us during this period to strengthen and guide our paths during this difficult time
6) God to preside over all and bring great Glory to His Name
7) that We will obey and follow where He leads.
8) that God will be with baby Sarah during this time when we are busy

We are sinners saved by grace who are undeserving of anything apart from God's mercy. We have before given our lives and family to God and do so again publicly before you and God's presence. I ask that the Lord deliver us and grant us life to serve Him fully with our children.

Please commit us to the LORD.

Yours humbly with much gratitude,

daniel"