402 and Beyond
In support of
Greg Anderson
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Greg Anderson
IF anyone needs an official start date, then it has been 402 days.
Ironically, as I finished the last pages of an autobiography of one who successfully reached the top of Mount Everest, international news spread that over 200 hikers were stranded on the Tibetan side of the mountain due to a blizzard. Reading the autobiography of such a brave hiker, I learned about the extreme weather, temperatures, and the course it takes to get to the summit (whether on the Tibetan side or from Nepal.)
I think I knew it takes a minimum of weeks to get to the top of Mount Everest. However, another interesting fact I learned; there isn’t a straight path to the peak. Rather it is a series of SLOW hikes going up to a certain elevation, back down the mountain, a break of a night’s rest (or more) and then back up and then down again. Most of this is for your body to acclimate to the extreme temperatures and lack of oxygen. (Sorry if the details aren’t exactly correct, but this was my introduction to this type of hiking.) It is sad to read the statistics of the many who have lost their lives as they set out to conquer a life long dream. Along the way, not only weather, but fatigue, illnesses and fear would overtake the hikers and many would walk away from their goal of reaching the top of Mount Everest.
I found many parallels in the autobiography of the hiker with the journey Greg and I are on. I have watched Greg face the news of his diagnosis, with the unknown. I watched him for 30+ days walk down the hall to lay on a table where his head would be held in place by a plastic cage to literally "face" radiation. I see him night after night being disturbed by short intervals of sleep. I see him not able to work or drive, taking medication, going to doctor’s appointments, traveling laborious road trips and enduring a lack of physical strength and some short term memory issues. Greg has been brave, courageous, kind, appreciative and thoughtful. To me, Greg’s journey displays equal amounts of tenacity, bravery and courage as the book I’ve now completed.
I bring this up, because we know GOD has been with Greg EVERY step of the journey. Much like the hiker, Greg with the Lord Jesus, has walked up to an elevation, to have to descend to the next check point before going up again. GOD has never ever left Greg…NOR HAVE YOU!!
You see, the hiker knew his goal was to make it to the top of Mount Everest and equally important, to return safely. Greg and I don’t know where our “hike” is taking us, but we know we need the Lord and You. We recognize this has been a long arduous journey for you too! Please don’t give up. Please keep praying for God’s Will, God’s glory and a revival.
As one of Greg’s doctors said to him last week, “You have come too far, to let a setback stop you.” Please don't give up. Please remember Greg. Please keep praying. Please keep believing.
Greg will return to the specialist in North Carolina in a couple of weeks for four appointments, namely the MRI and the assessment of how the tumors are responding to treatment. He will then have two more cycles of chemotherapy at the end of October and the week of Thanksgiving.
If this were a journey up Mount Everest, maybe I could let you know what to expect after 402 days, I believe our goal remains the same, God’s Will, God’s glory and a revival. For however many days it takes, we are forever grateful you have stuck with us on the journey!
Galatians 6: 9
And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Comments
Mary Cooper
Greg Irvin
Margaret Leo
Stephan Tchividjian
Susan Bigler
Dawn Zeevalk
Linda Cucci
PSwe will be home soon
Linda Clark
Adam Pitilon
2 Corinthians 12:9
Connie Howard
Djjjc
Susan Lemak
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” ~ Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV
Shelia Klein
Laurie Tompkins
Bruce Thompson
what a joy it was to see you guys at Offerdahl’s twice in one week!! Indeed!!
May the Lord continue to shine on you both with His presence and his peace.
Much love, from Linda and I
Shara Carara
Larry Dubin
Skip Clark
Mike Miller
Bob Scarborough
Jorge Moreno
Carol Godwin
Asking him for healing, comfort in peace.❤️
Annette Graham
Rick DellAmico
Ps. FAU football team needs him back on the sideline!! :)
Donna Young
Freddie Boase
Karen Sodikoff
Roger Karnes
Bethany Ripple
Wayne Cockfield
Debbie Lister
Ciccone3
I have followed your journey this past year. Your faith 🙏 and openess has been an inspiration to both of us. Thank you