"I'm a missionary, I don't have time for this!". The church we had been planting, the young men I was training, but more importantly, my three children, my wife... I didn't want to leave them so soon. I quickly prayed, but my buzzing mind was only fumbling words. I remembered arguing with Mark, my mentor, about going to the hospital. The symptoms had been progressing, but I had been too focused on ministry to notice.

"SIM's processes are there for a reason", said Mark. "We are going to arrange a flight to South Africa, where you'll see a specialist and get the tests you need." It was at that point that the worst was confirmed. Cancer. A serious one, that needed to be addressed immediately. The hot, humid weather in Johannesburg was suffocating. Still, cold sweat ran down my neck.

I called Debbie at noon. She kept repeating: "The Lord is our Good Shepherd. He knows where he leads us." But she kept drinking her empty cup of coffee, and her hand was trembling. When both our mentors came on the call as well, their words steadied us. They were wise and gentle. After the call, we had a list of helpful resources, and the right words to tell our kids. They felt especially supported by the counsellor they could reach out to, to walk with them through their feelings.  

A few days later, the physician provided a treatment plan with options. I could receive treatment at a clinic where I served as a chaplain. Debbie and I talked together, then with our mentors and our teammates. The decision was to stay until the end of the school year.

By then, the treatment was shown to be working well. For a few years, I did ministry part-time. As my strength returned, we kept reassessing our situation. Eventually, I got back to full-time ministry. For eleven years, we were able to serve this community. When the cancer returned last year, it was amazing to contemplate how God had blessed us. The church had grown. We had built peaceful relationships with our neighbors. Orphans and widows were being cared for. Local leaders were ready to take my place.  

Because Mark stopped me in time, I was able to keep walking with all these men and women I had grown to love so dearly. And now that I am going back to Canada, I can only praise God for His faithfulness and thank all of you who made this care possible. By His grace, I was able to complete my race.