Dear Drake-Dunn, McCarty-Thompson family and friends near and far,
From Sherry's last entry,"They may never return!", almost a month ago, I am sure many of you assume we truly must have been lost in the mountains! We wish!!! Please forgive us for not responding before now. After the beautiful wedding week and weekend and a restful, very quiet week afterwards in Cashiers, Valle Crucis and Blowing Rock, NC, we hit the ground running, playing catch up with the Chapel Choir and rehearsals for Sunday services and upcoming Christmas music. We also had a retreat with the Choir planned for the following weekend so we had this preparation and execution - all wonderful but it has kept us pretty busy. There has also been a lot of catching up to do after being away from the church and ministry and quite honestly, the normalcy of life for 2 months! We are so, so blessed to be back and enjoying the ministry and fellowship with the Choir and the Chapel body! Below is a letter I wrote to The Chapel body on our return which I hope will give you a good update:
From Sherry's last entry,"They may never return!", almost a month ago, I am sure many of you assume we truly must have been lost in the mountains! We wish!!! Please forgive us for not responding before now. After the beautiful wedding week and weekend and a restful, very quiet week afterwards in Cashiers, Valle Crucis and Blowing Rock, NC, we hit the ground running, playing catch up with the Chapel Choir and rehearsals for Sunday services and upcoming Christmas music. We also had a retreat with the Choir planned for the following weekend so we had this preparation and execution - all wonderful but it has kept us pretty busy. There has also been a lot of catching up to do after being away from the church and ministry and quite honestly, the normalcy of life for 2 months! We are so, so blessed to be back and enjoying the ministry and fellowship with the Choir and the Chapel body! Below is a letter I wrote to The Chapel body on our return which I hope will give you a good update:
“How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?” 1 Thessalonians 3: 9
Dear Chapel Family,
How can we ever express our love and humble gratitude to you for your faithful prayers, love and support for me, Kathy, our daughers and now son-in-law during my illness and recovery! Your prayers, emails, phone calls, cards, visits, meals, the blog entries always continued to lift us up in the most perfect of timing as only God can do!
What an overwhelming joy and blessing to be back with the choir last Wednesday and with the Oaks congregation Sunday leading worship with the Choir and Worship Team! I trully believe God chose to heal me through your untiring and faithful prayers, lifting Kathy and I up in those darkest of days! As I shared with the Oaks congregation on Sunday, we truly came to understand Psalm 91 and other related scriptures like never before in this journey, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty! Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name!” Our God is an Awesome God – So gracious and merciful! And we discovered this like never before! Thank you for praying these prayers for us when we were too weak physically, emotionally and sometimes spiritually!!! As the song goes.“Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that’s truly been changed!” Bless YOU! ThankYOU!!! PRAISE JESUS!!!
Dear Chapel Family,
How can we ever express our love and humble gratitude to you for your faithful prayers, love and support for me, Kathy, our daughers and now son-in-law during my illness and recovery! Your prayers, emails, phone calls, cards, visits, meals, the blog entries always continued to lift us up in the most perfect of timing as only God can do!
What an overwhelming joy and blessing to be back with the choir last Wednesday and with the Oaks congregation Sunday leading worship with the Choir and Worship Team! I trully believe God chose to heal me through your untiring and faithful prayers, lifting Kathy and I up in those darkest of days! As I shared with the Oaks congregation on Sunday, we truly came to understand Psalm 91 and other related scriptures like never before in this journey, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty! Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name!” Our God is an Awesome God – So gracious and merciful! And we discovered this like never before! Thank you for praying these prayers for us when we were too weak physically, emotionally and sometimes spiritually!!! As the song goes.“Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that’s truly been changed!” Bless YOU! ThankYOU!!! PRAISE JESUS!!!
And we are also very grateful for your prayers for Maggie and now her husband, Spencer, their wedding and all the uncertain days leading to it. The wedding day and ceremony was a holy, glorious display of God’s presence and unconditional love in ways beyond our imagination! We felt His love overflowing, gushing from heaven! The entire weekend with the family and friends that had gathered from all over the country was a taste of heaven for sure, God’s blessing of provision, love, and unity as we surrounded these two to bless them and encourage them in their uniting in holy matrimony – one in HIM!!! The picture above says it all - a radiant bride who I couldn't take my eyes off of! And this is one of my favorites! O Happy Day!!! They are now happily, prayerfully returning to the arena of life in Atlanta after their fairy tale adventure of wedding and honeymoon!
As far as my present health and update, after all the procedures, tests, and blood work,(and the doctors are still scratching their heads somewhat!), it was finally the liver biopsy that revealed I have hemochromatosis, a disease of excessive iron build up in the body, affecting any organ and really any part of the body. This is a hereditary condition. The treatment for this in my case is weekly phlebotomies (giving a pint of blood) until the excessive iron is neutralized. This can take months, years, therefore I certainly covet your prayers that it could be treated in a minimal amount of time and for good health in the process. My doctor has also advised that I see a cardiologist as a precautionary measure because of the low heart rate I experienced during and after hernia surgery this Summer which could also be a symptom of this condition. And because it is genetic, my daughters, brothers, and their sibblings will need to be tested. I would ask you to pray that none of them would carry the gene! We are however very thankful that at least we know!
Finally I ask your prayers as Kathy and I return to ministry and the adjustments after being out during this time. It has been an exhausting and enlightening journey that began back in July with double hernia surgery and those related issues and then the symtoms with the jaundice, the inflamed tissue in the pancreas, the pancretitis and liver ailments. I am gaining strength each day as God continues to heal and restore my body! I again thank you for your prayers, your grace and mercy in this time of illness and recovery. We are thankful and look forward to what God has in store in the days ahead with you, the beautiful body of Christ!
These words of blessing and gratitude are certainly for you!!! The scripture that God gave to Sherry at the very beginning of this journey for all of us rings even louder and clearer for Kathy and me. "If the Lord had not been on our side . . . " We believe and know that your prayers, your calling on the Lord on our behalf surely had everything to do with Him showing His favor upon us and healing me. We praise our Almighty God and continue to give Him thanks for you! And as you have prayed, God has truly been glorified as we continue to share our story and God's amazing healing of my body and His grace and mercy on our lives!
I can also give you a further update on my health since I wrote the letter above. I have had 3 phlebotomies. I go each Monday and this is going just fine. The iron level is fluctuating. It was close to the level that Dr. McDonald would like it to be last week but back up this past Monday. Prayerfully the Lord will heal this condition as well and the level will soon be where it should be. As we wrote earlier, Dr. McDonald also advised that I see a cardiologist. I met with cardiologist Dr. Fontenot last Thursday. After a consultation, check-up, EKG and Echocardiogram, he evaluated I was heart healthy! Praise God, another great report!!!
God is so good, so gracious!!! It is just too amazing to think back on these days beginning August 16th and that 1st visit to Dr. Gaspard's office! Oh my! It brings me to my knees every time I ponder it!
Kathy and I do ask your continued prayers as we adjust back to the work of the ministry at The Chapel and life in general, especially after the beautiful wedding and all the excitement leading up to it! To be honest, it is so good to be back but it is an adjustment. As I have mentioned to several, I feel like I can identify somewhat with the soldier coming home from war. The world, life, church ministry has continued to move rapidly, sort of like trying to hop back on a moving merry-go-round! But we are praising God we are healed and healthy to jump back on!
Therefore this will be our last entry. How emotional this is after all you have done for us! No words are appropriate to say thanks for something this big, this monumental, this significant- this life marker! But as scripture and songs have been our help in expressing our hearts through these days, I sign off with the words of one of my favorite songs - a praise to our Awesome, Loving God and YOU!
As far as my present health and update, after all the procedures, tests, and blood work,(and the doctors are still scratching their heads somewhat!), it was finally the liver biopsy that revealed I have hemochromatosis, a disease of excessive iron build up in the body, affecting any organ and really any part of the body. This is a hereditary condition. The treatment for this in my case is weekly phlebotomies (giving a pint of blood) until the excessive iron is neutralized. This can take months, years, therefore I certainly covet your prayers that it could be treated in a minimal amount of time and for good health in the process. My doctor has also advised that I see a cardiologist as a precautionary measure because of the low heart rate I experienced during and after hernia surgery this Summer which could also be a symptom of this condition. And because it is genetic, my daughters, brothers, and their sibblings will need to be tested. I would ask you to pray that none of them would carry the gene! We are however very thankful that at least we know!
Finally I ask your prayers as Kathy and I return to ministry and the adjustments after being out during this time. It has been an exhausting and enlightening journey that began back in July with double hernia surgery and those related issues and then the symtoms with the jaundice, the inflamed tissue in the pancreas, the pancretitis and liver ailments. I am gaining strength each day as God continues to heal and restore my body! I again thank you for your prayers, your grace and mercy in this time of illness and recovery. We are thankful and look forward to what God has in store in the days ahead with you, the beautiful body of Christ!
These words of blessing and gratitude are certainly for you!!! The scripture that God gave to Sherry at the very beginning of this journey for all of us rings even louder and clearer for Kathy and me. "If the Lord had not been on our side . . . " We believe and know that your prayers, your calling on the Lord on our behalf surely had everything to do with Him showing His favor upon us and healing me. We praise our Almighty God and continue to give Him thanks for you! And as you have prayed, God has truly been glorified as we continue to share our story and God's amazing healing of my body and His grace and mercy on our lives!
I can also give you a further update on my health since I wrote the letter above. I have had 3 phlebotomies. I go each Monday and this is going just fine. The iron level is fluctuating. It was close to the level that Dr. McDonald would like it to be last week but back up this past Monday. Prayerfully the Lord will heal this condition as well and the level will soon be where it should be. As we wrote earlier, Dr. McDonald also advised that I see a cardiologist. I met with cardiologist Dr. Fontenot last Thursday. After a consultation, check-up, EKG and Echocardiogram, he evaluated I was heart healthy! Praise God, another great report!!!
God is so good, so gracious!!! It is just too amazing to think back on these days beginning August 16th and that 1st visit to Dr. Gaspard's office! Oh my! It brings me to my knees every time I ponder it!
Kathy and I do ask your continued prayers as we adjust back to the work of the ministry at The Chapel and life in general, especially after the beautiful wedding and all the excitement leading up to it! To be honest, it is so good to be back but it is an adjustment. As I have mentioned to several, I feel like I can identify somewhat with the soldier coming home from war. The world, life, church ministry has continued to move rapidly, sort of like trying to hop back on a moving merry-go-round! But we are praising God we are healed and healthy to jump back on!
Therefore this will be our last entry. How emotional this is after all you have done for us! No words are appropriate to say thanks for something this big, this monumental, this significant- this life marker! But as scripture and songs have been our help in expressing our hearts through these days, I sign off with the words of one of my favorite songs - a praise to our Awesome, Loving God and YOU!
MY TRIBUTE (Andrae Crouch)
How can I say thanks for the things
You have done for me?
Things so undeserved yet you gave
To prove your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude
All that I am, and ever hope to be
I owe it all to thee
To God be the glory, to God be the glory
To God be the glory for the things he has done
With his blood he has saved me
With his power he has raised me
To God be the glory for the things he has done
Just let me live my life and
Let it be pleasing Lord to thee
And if I gain any praise, let it go to Calvary
With his blood he has saved me
With his power he has raised me
To God be the glory for the things he has done!
In His love and gratitude now and forever!
Ken and Kathy
How can I say thanks for the things
You have done for me?
Things so undeserved yet you gave
To prove your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude
All that I am, and ever hope to be
I owe it all to thee
To God be the glory, to God be the glory
To God be the glory for the things he has done
With his blood he has saved me
With his power he has raised me
To God be the glory for the things he has done
Just let me live my life and
Let it be pleasing Lord to thee
And if I gain any praise, let it go to Calvary
With his blood he has saved me
With his power he has raised me
To God be the glory for the things he has done!
In His love and gratitude now and forever!
Ken and Kathy