A number of people have said to me that they often read the blog but do not post a comment in fear of not being able to articulate something ‘nice’. Forget nice, this is cancer.
Don’t worry about being articulate or even appropriate. Marisa (and I) feel so much strength through your comments. During the low days of the first cycle, Marisa would lie in bed and I would read your comments to her. Some days your comments were her only source of smiling.
So, in the spirit of not knowing what to write, just feel free to write anything. Even if it is just hello. And also, if you rather not have your comment posted on the weblog for everyone to read, just let us know–we have to approve each comment before they are posted.
We just spent the last five days partying as Marisa was finished her first cycle and today the second cycle started at home and tomorrow we go to the cancer clinic. Thank you for all the meals, well wishes, cards, notes, jokes and above all prayers.
Peace,
Mendelt
Life 
43 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 29, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Ken and Dana Huizinga
Mendelt and Marisa,
You know you are absolutely right. There is nothing good to say about cancer but that shouldn’t stop us from writing to you, letting you know how we feel, and having you know that we are thinking of you. We sometimes try to candycoat everything to make it sound nice and sweet, but lets face it not everything is that way.
I know that you know that you are surrounded by family, friends and people that are struggling or have been through similar situations. We can all give you different forms of encouragement. It seems that every family has been touched by cancer in one form or another.
I know all things are in God’s hands and all we can do is pray and accept what he gives us. The hardest part most of the time is waiting and wondering what exactly is in store for us. I know Ken will be the first to tell you that everything happens for a reason, at the time we do not understand “Why me”, but in the end it becomes clear.
I pray for you as you begin your next round of treatments. I love you both very much and I hope you know that if there is anything you need us to do, great or small we are there for you with open hearts. Keep smiling, keep your chin up and always know that God will be carrying you through all your struggles….
LOVE YOU LOTS,
Dana, Ken and the boys……
January 29, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Susanne Wood
Thanks for your encouragement to write with abandon, Mendelt.
In that spirit, I have nothing profound to say except that I spent almost 2 hours at the dentist today getting 3 fillings. I usually am quite anxious at the dentist but today I focused on praying for you all as the drill whined away. It was wonderful to focus on something/someone else and the time went by quickly. A psalm that kept coming to my mind was Psalm 23 and so I prayed those words for all of your beautiful family.
Take courage, Marisa and Mendelt, as you embark on Round Two. You are not alone. You are so loved. Take courage.
love and prayers,
Susanne and Daniel and family
January 29, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Melissa
Hello,
Just wanted to say that I am praying for you. Stay Strong!! God Bless!!
Melissa Koning
January 29, 2007 at 6:37 pm
Chris and Cheri
Five days of partying?!?! Sounds like your typical old testament feast. We’re pumped to hear this. We’ll continue praying for you as take on round 2.
PS: on behalf of the long distance viewers, a before/after picture of Heit would be most entertaining.
PPS: Skipper from Charlottetown showed up in Calgary today…the prayer support has now extended to PEI.
January 29, 2007 at 7:04 pm
Ryan Schipper
Marisa Mendelt and fam.
I’m just sending some prayers up for you guys, your whole family and especially Marisa! And I’m so sorry and sad for you guys, but at the same time encouraged to see the way the Lord has been giving you strength in this situation. May He continue to do so!
I just flew into Calgary this morning and was grabbin’ some grub with CG. He filled me in on this news. And now I’m just in his office checking out the blog. I’ve only read a little and now we have to go, but I wanted to let you know that you are in our prayers. And Carlena is passing this on to her prayer chain.
And now I’m off to play some “christian” basketball with Chris Groot.
My performance will be dedicated to Marisa’s cancer fight!
Schipper out.
January 29, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Martha Groot
I’m so glad you said that Mendelt…’cause the kids have been asking to send more jokes…but I just didn’t know……so, I just read them your latest message and they said “can we PLEASE send Marisa and Mendelt more jokes??” (also Uncle Chris and Aunt Cheri really like to read them) I absolutely love kid jokes…the innocence alone makes me smile….I hope they bring a smile to your face too!….Claire is blaring her joke at me…so here goes:
Claire (Age 4):
“KNOCK, KNOCK!!!!”
“Who’s there?”
“JOE!!!”
“Joe who?”
“I FORGOT TO WATCH TV!!!!!”
oh…she has another one….
“knock, knock”
“Who’s there?”
“Marisa”
“Marisa who?”
“Guess what, my favourite colour is pink”
Jeremy (9 year old avid Leaf fan)
“What did one TO Maple Leaf say to the other TO Maple Leaf?
“Let’s go for the cup dude!”
Eric (6 years old…he really wanted to say this one for Marisa!)
“Why did the apple stay home from school?”
“cause it felt rotten!”
We pray and think about you guys ALL the time! Picture us sitting around our dinner table, adult hands holding small child hands, crying out to Jesus that he hears all the prayers directed toward you both, your children and your parents. Mendelt, I don’t know your dad very well…but I think he’s awesome!
Martha, Steve and kids
I also think it is important for you to know that our Burlington CRC church is praying for you all.
January 29, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Theresa Schilthuis
Hi Marisa and Mendelt.
True confessions – I am a closet blog reader! But please do not hold me hostage too long as I need to tend to 21 6th grade students in Honduras tomorrow at 7:20 AM… 😉
I have often felt the impulse to write but usually declined (sorry). I guess didn’t feel the need for my comments to be posted….I didn’t want to write just to have comments “seen,” and so I didn’t write at all!
Anyhow, I want to let you know that you can add Honduras to the list of places where prayers are being offered! I often think of you on impulse, which I think can be the Holy Spirit prodding me to pray. So I do.
Your strength for one another, rooted in the Lord, is amazing. Your level of being real is refreshing: you shout, cry, laugh, and mourn as necessary. I think that will help with the healing and the conquering, as far as I can understand it.
Way to go with the shaving, Marisa! I’d do the same thing.
To be honest, I thought the next blog would be that you shaved your head too, Mendelt. Maybe that will have to be a fundraiser or something… 😉
Thanks for prodding me.
Hope the treatment went as well as it could go today.
Sincerely,
Theresa Schilthuis
(Christy’s high school friend)
January 29, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Ryan and Carlena Schipper
Hello Mendolt, Marisa and family!
It was just about an hour ago that Ryan called me from Alberta (he’s hanging out with Groot tonight) to tell me about Marisa’s battle with cancer and then he forwarded this website to me. I’m still not believing it, but after reading all the entries from you, Mendolt and Marisa…unfortunately it is true. But i’ll be honest with you, it’s hard to believe that this is happening to someone that we know. We always hear about people struggling with cancer, but then when it’s someone that we know, it’s really hard to swallow.
Reading all the entries has brought me to tears over and over, and i’m so comforted to read that you guys have such an incredible faith, and that your are fully relying on the power of God! I love it!! He truly can perform miracles and we’ll be praying for a miracle in your lives for sure-namely, with the cancer you have, Marisa. Like i said, our thoughts and prayers will definately be with you during the upcoming days. We’ll look forward to hearing more via this incredible website.
We send our love, hugs and well wishes from PEI to you all!
Take care,
Ryan, Carlena, Laryssa and Jr.
January 29, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Ryan and Carlena Schipper
oops…sorry about the spelling of your name, Mendelt…carlena
January 29, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Tricia DeVries
Marisa, Mendelt, Zion, Jacoba and Zekijah,
I would fit under the category of a “closet blogger.” I have read your blogs daily and have been wanting to write but have not. Thanks for the nudge. I have not seen you both in a few years. Marisa not since highschool and Mendelt not since working at Christian Horizons, but I think of you often throughout my day and I am praying for all of you. The pictures of you and your children were great to see! I will keep checking the blog and will continue to pray.
Tricia (Kersten) and Harmen DeVries
Diana, Bryn and Dirk
January 29, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Fred and Helen Reitsma
Hi Marissa and Mendelt,
We’re with you tomorrow, as always, in our thoughts and prayers.
We’re so thankful that you trust God, that you love each other so passionately, that your family dares to plead for your health and well being to our loving Father, and that you are able to openly express your emotions. You have made this journey so real for us.
Goodnight.
January 29, 2007 at 9:59 pm
The Pols fam
Okay, I’m hoping for a little chuckle here — kids write some really cute things. I’m going to share a few sentences that our son Owen wrote at school last week — little Owie doin’ the grade one thing. Don’t grade him too hard, Ms VanderVeen. 🙂
Teacher gave them a paper titled, “Let’s Write Sentences!” They had to complete these on their own. I’ll put Owen’s portion in quotations.
Here it goes:
1. At lunch time “yu eat yor lunch.”
2. My bookmark “is nise.”
3. Miss Beldman “is brootful.”
4. When I am twenty years old “I can wirck hord.”
Okay, so we need to work on the spelling, but so sweet, and he seems to be a pretty sensible fella. “A” for effort, right? Maybe Dana would like to share Nate’s sentences….we’d love to hear what he had to say too, right Mendelt.
Glad you had a good time partying the bunch of days – take advantage of those “feel good – tastes good days” for sure. Hope that you have plenty more of those real soon. May you both be strengthened as you head back to the clinic for treatment number two. Check, check!! Every one down, is one less to go. Yee ha! 🙂
Praying for courage, strength, and God’s peace.
Love you dearly,
the polsies
xoxo
January 29, 2007 at 10:24 pm
Melissa Tigchelaar
Hi Marisa and Mendelt,
My heart goes out to both of you and your kids as you battle this disease. I want you to know that we are upholding you all in our prayers daily! God is faithful to His children! I know that when we ask for strength, comfort, peace–He will give these to us!
We will keep praying as you enter into another phase of your treatment, Marisa.
Oh, I just love the cute pictures of your kids! They are beautiful! What a blessing!
Jeff and Melissa Tigchelaar(neeDeGroot)
January 29, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Jordan
Dear Mendelt and Marisa,
Your latest blog has inspired me so much, I’ve always wanted to come out of the closet. Its hard being a closet blogger, but with your support I hope to get through this confusing and trying time in…whatever…
You guys are in our prayers…
Love Jordan and De
go Raps
January 29, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Margaret
Dear Marisa and Mendelt
you were in my thoughts and prayers all through this day knowing you were starting a new round of chemo. I wish i could take some of that load of your shoulders All I can do is pray that our heavenly Father will lighten the burden. May your trust be in Him even though it’s sometimes hard to do when the going gets tough. Trust that He is there for you!
Love Marg
January 29, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Daphne and Tim Vaandering
Hi Mendelt and Marisa, or better known to us as Miecey!!
My mom and I were having a coffee and talking about you and we both said how much we were thinking of “Miecey”. I always have known you as that but forgot how that name came about. Well my mom told me the story. When Marisa was starting to talk we would ask her what her name was and she would very proudly say “Miecey” , to this day when we talk about you, its always about Miecey!!! Hope that puts a smile on your face as you enter another week.
Love
Daphne and Tim
January 29, 2007 at 11:26 pm
Corrie
It’s amazing how you encourage us by your comments – even when they are not very upbuilding. But because you share from the heart how things often really are it makes us humble and keeps us on our knees.
Round 2 starts tomorrow. Hard to believe. I’ll be praying as I’m flying and don’t ever think we’re too busy too pray for you all. God always gives tugs and nudges to bring us to Him for you and Ann Mary and your friend Anita. The list continues as do our prayers. May God give you courage tomorrow and in the days ahead. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Thought for the day: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb. 4:16
cJz
January 30, 2007 at 3:01 am
Mem Hoekstra
It is 2 am and I can’t sleep. I talked with God for a while and then asked for healing for Marisa, Anita, Jacoba and other loved ones. In two days I am going to B.C. and I am torn between leave taking and the ten little ones who are waiting for me on the West coast. Still can’t sleep and then I remembered Mendelt’s invitationto write something on the Blog. Well here I am. Just a few weeks ago I threw away my notes on how to turn the computer on and off and now I am blogging! Strange word web log. Web and its symbolic meaning is easy to grasp, but log… it is something Heit puts in the woodstove to keep us cosy. I like Logos, Greek for Word. Amelijah, six years old, was asked by Frances after her first day back at school after the Christmas break: “What did you do at school today?”Her answer was :”The day was FULL of words”.
Words…we read them, we write, see, hear them. The Word, The Word became flesh. Saving, inspirational…our days are full of them.
In his remarkable and moving book Walter Wangerin, Jr writes: “Our communal relationship is knit with the love of God. Christ becomes the tie that binds us one to another.And when we express love at all, we express him, we represent him, we draw upon him, we share him, and therefore we share unshakable Truth and Life with those we cherish”
Dear Mendelt and Marisa, it is God who accompanies you all the way and we stay the course with you.
Love, Mem
January 30, 2007 at 4:31 am
Mike and Karen Carmody
Good morning Marisa. It’s 4:30 am (I hope you’re sleeping) and we’re off to the airport to board that plane. Just needed to check out your blog before we leave. We’ll continue to pray for you while we’re away – especially as you start that chemo again today. Praying for strength for you and your family. I hope to check in every once in a while over the next few weeks.
Love you lots.
Karen
January 30, 2007 at 6:52 am
mendelt en willy tillema
Dear Marisa, Mendelt and your whole family,
Just let you “feel ” that we are thinking at you.
Words cannot always express our exact feelings …… but we say from the bottom of our hearts:
“A lot of strenght for all of you during this second period of chemo”
Try to keep on being strong, although there will be the ups and downs.
Dear greetings,
Mendelt en Willy
January 30, 2007 at 7:53 am
Rick and Gonda Voortman
Hello Mendelt and Marisa,
I have been following your blog daily and keeping you in my prayers. It is amazing how many of the same people we know. Small world I guess. Stay strong and take courage as you approach the next round of treatments. Please know you are being prayed for daily.
Rick and Gonda Voortman
Alexander, Braden, Angela and Kendall
January 30, 2007 at 7:53 am
Fran VanderMeulen
Hi Marisa,
It’s Fran VanderMeulen and I’ve just come upon your blog through the OCSTA news. Your stories touch my heart and I thank you and Mendelt for the honesty in which you share your walk. I didn’t know about the prayer service , being in Cambridge, but I find myself praying when I drive (eyes open) and when I coach basketball. Have hope in the pain that you will drive to the basket again. We are praying for you in the CCS staffroom.
With a big hug,
Fran
January 30, 2007 at 8:31 am
Ingrid
hello again. Alll is back to normal at the vos’ for the time being. Three of us had the flu in the last several days so I hope that the other 2 won’t get it. Especially ted. It’s hard to get a replacement for him. (the perils of owning your own business.) I know that you are probably up to speed on this info from our own little corresponder. She enjoys that keep in touch email and we are bleesed because of it.
We are planning to make a meal for you but Karen C. doesn’t need one until March 12. That’s MArch break:) Was there anything in particular you would like? Like maybe…. borenkool? I can’t remember what Ted usually made when you came for dinner and we are flattered that you remember them as being good meals. Perhaps you could give a heads up and put an order in . it may be that one of the kids doesn’t like borenkool(correct spelling?) Anyway, have as great a day as possible. I know chemo isn’t nice. It was a good idea to shave your head beforehand and I bet you look great without the hair. It might come in very different. What would you like? Thinking of you often,
Ingrid
January 30, 2007 at 8:55 am
Kim Reitsma-VanHaitsma
Well, here I am at work again, reading your bog when I should be working! I have been off for 2 weeks, and you would think I’d be scrambling around getting myself caught up… I had to put a new password to login to my computer, so I thought the logical choice would be, Marisa1. You’re who I’m thinking about (and prraying for) all the time anyway, so it just made sense. Won’t forget that one.
I was thinking I should probably do the opposite of what Mendelt was advising and jump in the closet once in a while instead of adding my comments on a whm. Oh well, live with it, I guess.
AIOPYT Love, Kim
January 30, 2007 at 9:23 am
Robyn Bezuyen
Hello Melisa and Mendelt,
This is Robyn Bezuyen again. Truly since I have never met you I felt that maybe I should not write, BUT as Terry sometimes says, I’m not really good at keeping thoughts to myself! Anyway, I think that you are showing so much courage and strenth that it is a blessing to all of us who are reading your journey. We at Providence CRC Coffee Break pray for you each week as well as Anita Lubbers! Thank you for sharing so that the rest of us may get a small understanding of what you are going through. I hope you will remember that we as women have circled our arms around you to give you our strenth too.
Peace and love
Robyn Bezuyen
January 30, 2007 at 9:47 am
Teresa Wunsche (Miedema)
Hello again,
I read your blog almost every day (while I should be working, but can’t focus) and am so moved by the frankness with which everyone expresses their feelings. It is refreshing to ‘hear’ real conversations and earnest prayers. Aren’t kids the greatest uplifters ever!? There is no way to read through their jokes and innocent remarks and not smile – God bless them!
Today I will be involved in a Walk for Memories for the Alzheimer’s Society, but I will be thinking of you as you face head-on Round 2 – God’s power to you!
Teresa
January 30, 2007 at 11:25 am
Julia Van Huizen
Hey guys,
This blog is awesome. I cannot believe the network of people it has reached! Makes me wish I had one of my own so I could re-connect with friends, old and new. It’s kind of sad that we require a “difficult” situation in order to remain in contact with one another, isn’t it? I keep seeing entries from names of those I know or “knew” from Redeemer, highschool, etc. There is a real plus to technology, especially in terms of prayer chains.
I read your blog every couple days, sometimes everyday, and I just love it.
Mendelt, I just want to acknowledge your positive attitude. Your determination to remain “up” for Marissa makes me feel very happy for Marissa that she has such a support in you. You are a good husband. Marissa, I’m thinking of you and I encourage you to keep up the fight.
Blessings from,
Julia (Dam) and Jon Van Huizen
January 30, 2007 at 11:32 am
Janis and George Thies
Dear Mendelt, Marisa and Family
As tears stream down my face right now i’m filled with awe at your testimony. Wow….God does send amazing strength when called upon….especially in such circumstances. My prayer for you is first of all healing. The Lord is a wonderful gracious compasinate God and we are all praying that “this too shall pass” Praying that this cancer and the treatments that go along with it don’t make you too sick.
We were always suppose to “get together” but it just never seemed to happen,(thats what happens when we leave the men in charge of this!! 🙂 if you guys are up to it still we would love to have you down, but of course would understand if you don’t feel up to it still because of all thats going on, but i’m sure my kids would love to have your kids over for a playdate! So please let me know if there is anything we can do for you …..you are just down the street! Or if you all want to come over for a pizza night to try to get your thoughts off of cancer for a little while, we would love to have you down. And since there is some snow i’m sure George and Mendelt could take the kids on the snowmoblile! Or Marisa if you need to rest, Mendelt you are always welcome to come down with the kids and hangout. (George has been meaning to call you for quite sometime to see how you guys are doing….and to let you know the greenhouse just hasn’t been the same without your regular visits 🙂
Blessings to you and your family! And prayers from us are coming regularly throughout the day! (:
Keep up the great attitude! And way to go with shaving your head, way to let cancer know that its not going to take you down! You are a strong and amazing woman.
Love Janis, George, Julia, Taylor and Will Thies
January 30, 2007 at 11:57 am
Ken and Dana Huizinga
O.K Mendelt and Marisa this is for you,
I took Cheryl up on her advice and dug up Nate’s copy of Let’s write sentences. I must say I got a good chuckle out of them. I hope you will as well.
It is the same as for Owen’s, what is in the quotation marks are Nate’s own words.
1. At lunch time “i eat chanumichs.”
2. My bookmark “says I love GOG.”
3. Miss Beldman “loves us.”
4. When I am twenty years old “i em meared.”
I hope you can understand what he was trying to say. Kids do have a way of putting a smile on your face even when you feel down. I will be praying for you while you are undergoing your treatment and as you continue at home, may GOD give you much strength….
With love,
dana
January 30, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Willy Katerberg
Marisa,
I just became aware of your illness this morning as I was reading some OCSTA news. I am sure that this is a difficult time, but be aware that many people have survived this situation as well, including my mother-in-law. I can see from reading all your and Mendelt’s blogs that you feel God’s presence also. We to will pray for you and your young family and your extended family at this time.
Willy Katerberg
January 30, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Theresa de Roos
Hi Mendelt and Marissa
I admit that I am a closet-blog reader but felt better after speaking with Sheri N. this morning at work and discovering she is as well! I was telling her that I really know you both best from your ministry with the Fruitland CRC choir. We both agree that yours is a family that brings a smile to one’s face. You just radiate a warmth, happiness and gentleness that makes whoever sees you want to smile (it sounds corny but there you have it – one of my biggest secrets, I really am corny and which is why I should probably remain a closet blog reader and not a writer J).
Anyway, I wanted to say that mom and I have been praying for you and as mom has taught me to say, sterkte.
In His Care,
Theresa (and Ann) de Roos
January 30, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Dick and Anky Tillema
We heard you have had a few good days Marisa and use that feeling for the second cycle.
Take courage, all of you.
Dick and Anky
January 30, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Rene en Neeke
Dear Marisa and Mendelt,
We want to wish you all the best during this second period of chemo!
Pake asks us very often how Marisa is doing. Thanks to this blog, we can tell him what you have written. It’s good to know how you are doing, but we often feel very sad about it.
I wish we could give you all a big hug!
Love,
Rene, Neeke & kids
January 30, 2007 at 4:28 pm
hearseespeak
Wow! I just stumbled on your blog. This is a great thing you are doing. I will definately be praying for you. And your right…hearing comments from someone or just knowing someone is reading about you and praying for you can help, tons; I’ve never been sick badly but when I have something simple that lasts for about a week, I find it comforting when people just drop by to say hi or write and e-mail of concern. I am definately going to keep reading this blog. I may not know, marisa, but I want to support her adventure.
-H.R.
January 30, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Brittany Vos
I continue to look at your blogs and continue to find out more and more people that you know that I also know. It is also really great because it shows that you have an even bigger support group behind you to help you through this. I’m praying for you and your family.
Brit
P.S (this is totally off topic) Isn’t it so exciting?! The Carmodys and Mrs. Zandstra are on their way to China!
January 30, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Jodi Mobach
Dear Marisa: I hope today went well (as well as chemo goes) and I will also pray that tomorrow goes well too. I not sure that that was correct grammer. Continuing to keep you and your family, Ann Mary and Anita in prayer. Love always Jodi.
January 30, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Sonya Eikelboom
Hey Marisa,
I had myself a wonderful little visit with Monica this morning. What a nice treat that it worked out for both of us today! Unfortunately, with us both being small business owner moms, we seem to be incredibly busy and don’t connect nearly as often as we should! However, we always have a great time when we do. My two youngest are in SK and JK, so of course, if there’s other kids to play with, they think that’s just great. They were quite disappointed, though, when we got there and it turned out to be a “different Monica’s house”, so their friends Morgan & Cole weren’t there. However, Julia and Harrison seemed to be suitable replacements…isn’t it nice when kids can be so easygoing? Yeah, I know, they’re definitely not that way all the time, but oh, you gotta love it when they do things the right way!! 🙂
Praying for a peaceful night…Sonya
January 30, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Christine & Dave Mantel
Marissa and Mendelt………we pray in earnest for your healing and for strength along the way. We think of you often, and do appreciate being able to be part of your struggles through this blog.
January 30, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Marcia Cota(deBoer)
Dear Marisa and family,
I too admit to being a “closet-blogger” – I visit this site daily and am very glad for the encouragement to add my comment. I went to highschool with you Marisa and I fondly remember you as a person who always had a smile on your face and a gentle spirit…a person who could truly be admired….I too am amazed at how this experience and your blog has brought so many together -praying for you, thinking of you, crying with you….again, it truly makes one feel blessed to be a part of a strong Christian community.
I have 3 young sons(10, 7 and 3) and a wonderful husband and as I read each entry it’s sometimes hard not to put myself in your place and wonder how I would handle the situation you face….
Thank you for letting us share this with you….your openness is such an inspiration.
My prayer for you is that the peace of God that passes all understanding be with you, your devoted husband and your beautiful children now and in all the days to come.
In Christian Love, Marcia, Sean, Branden, Jeremy and Nathan Cota
January 31, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Trinda Rensen
hi……
February 1, 2007 at 5:19 pm
Melissa (Book) Gibson
Dear Marissa, Mendelt and Family
I work at Bethesda and while I have not worked directly with Mendelt, I have enjoyed many a musical celebration with Mendelt either at the piano or on his guitar! What talent God has blessed you with! I pray that God will guide my words in such a way that you and your family may gain encouragement from them. I will also try very hard not to be too wordy – my family always requests the “Reader’s Digest” version of any story I tell!
As I have often thought of you over the past month, my thoughts have drifted to the story in Matthew 9:20 – 22 (it’s also in Mark 5: 28), which is about the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. I love this story, mostly as it is a powerful demonstration of the type of faith that is possible for a person to have in Christ Jesus. This woman believed with all her heart that if she could just touch the cloak of Jesus that she would be healed. Just His cloak – not His hand, His arm or any other part – just His cloak. And when Jesus turned to her, He said “Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.” I see the same faith here – the faith of Marissa, of Mendelt, of your families and friends and of those people who don’t know you but are praying for you. Everytime I read the entries, I am witnessing faith, hope and lots and lots and lots of love. I am also witnessing how great God’s power is and I understand more fully why God has given us our faith communities to support us through the best and worst times of our lives.
My grandmother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Bone Cancer almost 4 years ago (this summer) and is now cancer-free. And yet I remember those terrible cancer treatments – my grandmother fainting in the arms of my cousin and I, the pain, losing the hair (my grandmother got a great terrycloth ‘turban’, which kept her quite warm in the winter when she was going through her treatments – it was a great shade of purple!), trips to the hospital and asking “Why Me?” I do not think it matters what age you are, cancer stinks – for the person who has it and for the people who love the person who has it. But God is more powerful than any disease or trial that a person will face.
Please know that I am praying for you all – for strength, courage, but most of all that you will be blessed with hope, faith and love!
In Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine…..
Melissa (Book) Gibson
February 3, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Tom and Mary Wallis
Hello Marisa, Mendelt and Family,
It is not hard to see that you are surrounded by many wonderful, caring, and loving people. We wish to join with them in sending you words of support and encouragement. Your amazing faith, hope, and love for each other is very powerful. You continue to be in our hearts and prayers.
Love,
The Wallis Family
March 16, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Briggie
Hello Marisa, I have been reading your blog and wanted to tell you how blessed you are to have such an outpouring of love and prayers from family, friends and others who do not even know you. Many people go through life never knowing how they impact the lives of others, and as I read through the many posts, it is quite evident you have touched many lives. Your courage is a source of strength for so many and your testimony will glorify the Lord. God Bless you. I will be praying for you and for your family and wanted to leave you with these thoughts:
“When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, or sickness – when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us.” , Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2Cor. 4:7-9