I missed blogging for the whole first quarter, so I guess I'll just fill in the gaps by sharing some highlights! Simple Grace traveled throughout the southeastern states during January, February and early March. Cold weather stalked us everywhere!
The early part of our tour included the annual WE CARE Prison Crusade
One of the prisons we ministered in was Bullock Prison near Union Station, Alabama.
Even though the institution looks formidable, a strong church resides
within these fences and the inmates were receptive to Jesus Christ and His gospel of love and forgiveness. It was our tenth year of prison ministry. We joined over 400 volunteers who visited 20 institutions with the united purpose of redeeming lives!
Our southern tour always includes Henderson State Beach near Destin, Florida.
While others on the beach wore parkas and stocking caps, Bristol and I plunged into the chilly water! Pretty obvious we are Northerners!
Simple Grace in Concert
Sunset at Henderson State Beach, Florida.
"They who dwell in the ends of the Earth stand in awe of Your signs;
You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy." Psalm 65:8
The Atlantic Ocean was cold and gray while we were there. Yet every day it appeared different from the prior day. We didn't swim! =)
Just a few days after this, we encountered a white-out snowstorm in Atlanta and up to 4 inches of snow in South Carolina and Georgia! It was party time for the locals.
Sterling and Havilah enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air at Atlantic Beach, FL.
This campground resembled a tropical rainforest. Signs warned of alligators!
We found fish in the sky!
"You who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets, and you who travel on the road - -
Sing!"Judges 5:10
"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place?" (Job 38:12)
"If I take the wings of the dawn
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me." (Psalm 139:9-10)
"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day." (Prov. 4:18)
"Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard." (Isaiah 58:8)
Sharing testimony about God's faithfulness and mercy.
Bristol steps up to share a song about our Savior.
Another chilly day near Sarasota, Florida, with friends Dale and Mary, and Roger and Evie.
Worship with Gospel Express at the Sarasota auction. Soon we were on our way back to Nebraska!
Sterling had medical tests scheduled the day we arrived home. He received a 'normal' report on every test. Hallelujah!
This stinky little critter met us on our porch the minute we arrived home after seven weeks!!
He didn't live long enough for regrets. . .
This quilt was in the mail waiting for us when we got home! Avery made it for my birthday and sent it to Pennsylvania to be quilted by the Amish. What a gift! Beautiful!
Avery's dog had 9 puppies while we were gone! They are adorable! (And available!)
(smile)
Our bus burned a quart of oil about every 25-30 miles as we left Florida.(groan!)
It required an entire engine rebuild, which necessitated traveling by auto, SUV and travel trailer to our concerts when we returned to Nebraska. The bus is repaired and back on the road, PTL. We all have a new appreciation for traveling by the comfort of our coach!
The following blog is a record of our email communications as our family faced a cancer diagnosis for our 18-year-old son, Sterling. To start from the beginning, scroll down to the first entry of this blog post which begins on January 1st, 2010. (There are two January 1st entries; start at the 8:29 a.m. entry.)
We are expecting a full report from Sterling's oncologist on Thursday, January 14th. We will update here on the blog and through our e-letter. You can sign up for our weekly ministry e-letter by visiting www.simplegrace.org or simply send an email to kathy@simplegrace.org and request that your name be added. The usual e-letter has only our schedule and a short devotion.
......Kathy
January 21, 2010
Sterling’s report from the CT scan and the oncologist is that there is no evidence that the cancer has spread to the rest of his body. ( Praise and thank the Lord!!!!) While there is the possibility that some cells may have migrated (25-30% chance), the plan is for aggressive surveillance for possible spreading. What that means for Sterling is monthly blood checks and chest X-rays, and every three-month CT scans to check for tumors. The plan is to do this for one year. The good news is that 70-75% of men with this type of cancer need no further treatment ever!
We ask for your continued prayers that God's perfect will would be accomplished through Sterling's life. Thank you!
January 9, 2010 (11:03 pm)
Friends and Family,
“Purpose” by Sterling Hitch
You know one of those families that seem to have danger follow them absolutely everywhere? I’m talking about one of the few that actually cause insurance companies to lose money? Well that’s us. Those who follow us may know that we had three barns burn down, lightning strike our house, a car fire that destroyed the vehicle beyond recognition, and a bus fire all within 18 months’ time.
Allow me to rewind however, to September 2009 before the occurrence of the last incident listed. After our series of misfortunate events we thought it wise to purchase a fire-extinguisher. I picked it up when no one was looking and put it in a spot in our bus no one knew of except me. (For kids reading: Don’t do this at home. Always put fire-extinguishers in semi-obvious spots) ;) Anyway, I did this so that I would single-handedly be fully prepared, not if, but when, the next fire took place. I was like a child before Christmas waiting for it to happen also. I just knew I would be the one to prevent the next big catastrophe in the Hitch household (or bushold) and save the day. Note that I am almost 18 years old at this point and still dreaming this childhood fantasy.
Shortly thereafter, as I was lying in my bunk-bed half asleep on our East Coast tour, low and behold, I smelled smoke. This was a smell so vague no one else really smelled it at all, but because I had my senses trained I picked up on it right away. I leaped out of my bed, determined the bathroom as the PDL (Potentially Dangerous Location), grabbed the fire-extinguisher from my secret fire-extinguisher stash, and ran toward the danger zone locked and loaded. I then considered kicking the door down just to add effect but I reluctantly decided against it realizing the door pulled, not pushed. So I swung it open, located the smoking breaker box and a near-by hand towel to open the latch in case it was hot, swung the breaker box open, aimed my extinguisher finger on the trigger ready to fire and realized the fire was already out.
Now how many of you know that my “purpose” was to put out that fire? It’s what I was meant to do. And when I got there to discover the fire was already out, a little piece of me was let down. It’s like a calling that was in me that was never fulfilled.
So, let me ask you this. What is your “purpose” in this life? Somewhere deep inside all of us there is a longing in us for something greater; a longing to fight fires. I used to think this longing was simply for Christ. Which is true, but what after we’ve given our hearts to Him? We somehow tend to think that after we give our hearts to Christ, the adventure and search ends there. But let me tell you friends, that is precisely where it starts!
Wednesday of last week I was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. This news hit me like a freight train bound for Chicago. I am a strong, healthy, 18-year-old kid who didn’t even have a hint anything was wrong until that Monday. I was told I likely had some common condition that was not cancerous and should never affect me and I would be only mildly inconvenienced ‘til death, but to get screened just in case. After the screening they told me everything looked good and they’d get in touch with me within two days. They called me twenty minutes later on my way home and told me I was cancer positive.
I wish I could say that I thought “Hmm, You won’t give me more than I can handle” and kept driving. But…that’s not what happened. My hands started shaking so badly I had to squeeze the steering wheel tightly to keep my truck on the road. Just about that time is when I felt an enormous peace come over me. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and I didn’t even ask for it. It was neither mine to keep nor mine to give away. It was simply God’s peace being bestowed upon me for He knew I neither deserved it nor could I get along without it. And now, I am not doing all right. I am doing so well! I walk with a smile and a sparkle in my eyes. When I tell people I was diagnosed with cancer many simply don’t believe me. I had to pull out my ‘Medical Release from Work’ paper to convince the guy I work with. “You’re too happy” he told me. God’s joy is radiating from me. And right now I may not know where my life is going, but I sure know Who it’s following.
Recently I had someone ask me, if I could tell the world or my generation one thing, what would it be? I thought about this for a long time pondering what would be my message to those around me. If I go in for my CT scan this Monday and they tell me my cancer has spread and I now have leukemia giving me 2 months to live, this is what I’d say; this is the message I’d want to deliver:
So many of us are lying down half asleep waiting to smell smoke, but by the time we arrive to the PDL, the fire is already out. We grow up and hit adulthood having never really quenched that desire. We wander around as 18-year-olds, 30-year-olds, 45-year-olds still having that childhood fantasy but knowing it doesn’t really come true. Don’t you ever wonder if there is something more? 1 Peter 2:9 says: “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the Excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” A royal priesthood? Mmm that just gets me all excited! We are called out of darkness into marvelous light. PEOPLE! THIS ISN’T ADVENTURELAND AT SEAWORLD! WE ARE IN AN ALL-OUT WAR AND YOU HAVE A PLACE IN IT. I’m standing sword drawn and armor on. There is still blood on my face from my last battle and I’m marching towards another. That childhood fantasy you wonder about? I live it every day, and so can you.
Get off your couch. Go venture into the unknown! God wants tolead you.
Young Men: Start viewing girls as daughters of Christ. Serve them and their hearts more than you serve yourself. Start becoming an example to those around you. Be the first on the dance floor. Show them what it’s like to be in-step with God. Consider going into ministry work. Sound crazy? Well then, we’re on the same page. Let’s win a war, Gentlemen.
Young Women: Start searching for God more than you’re searching for that perfect guy. They keep letting you down and you’re starting to wonder if any good ones exist. Your Father will not let you down. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever and He’s wanting you to chase Him in the most exhilarating love story you’ll ever experience.
Seasoned (not old) Men: Start serving your wives as Christ served the church – to the point if death. You made a vow never to leave her. Good, let it be done. You also made a vow to “have and to hold, to love and to cherish as long as you both shall live”. Little more than just sticking around, isn’t it? Start becoming the knight of her heart like you did when you were dating. She’s still crazy about you.
Seasoned Woman: Begin enabling your husband to make tough decisions. End the critical words towards him altogether. I am not talking about letting him make bad choices and I am not talking about putting up with sin. But there is nothing that takes the wind out of a man’s sails like the woman in his life not believing in him. Speak words of life into him. “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” (Psalm 31: 26) Feeling like both of you are far apart? Start running toward God and I guarantee your and your man’s paths will cross and you’ll begin running hand-in-hand. God wants to do a miracle in your marriage.
Find your purpose; it’s not too late. God has so much in store for you. He has so many dreams for you it’s unfathomable – and I assure you they’re not to sit on your couch and wonder about why life isn’t fulfilling. Start expecting the unexpected. If He is with you and it’s the Creator of the Universe that’s dreaming these dreams for you, what have you to fear? After all, the only thing keeping you from the impossible is acknowledging it as the impossible.
Postscript: I had surgery on January 1st. The lab results indicated that there was a 1.2 cm tumor removed and that it was cancerous. The cancer had not spread locally. I have a CT scan scheduled for Monday, January 11th to check the chest, abdomen and pelvis. This will determine whether the cancer has spread to various parts of my body (I.E. leukemia, lymph node cancer) or whether it is gone. I see an oncologist on Thursday and will know the results then. We are believing it is gone. Your prayers for complete healing and cleansing of any cancer in my body would be greatly appreciated – but moreover, for the total and unreserved Will of God in this situation – whatever that may mean. Sincere thanks to every person who has prayed and continues to pray for me and my family. I really couldn’t have been where I am without you and I know that peace I talked about before was because of so much prayer going up.
Also, for those of you who would like to follow me on a more personal level, my facebook URL is www.facebook.com/sterlinghitch. I would love to hear from you and your messages and comments are always so encouraging.
In His Service,
-Sterling Hitch
Beloved,
You are so dear to us! Thank you to each person who took the time to write and inquire about Sterling. Your prayers continue to encourage and inspire our family. Heartfelt appreciation to you!
Passionately pursuing Christ,
Kathy Hitch, for the family
January 1, 2010 (1:31 pm)
Dear Friends,
We are with Sterling in his hospital room. His surgery went very well. The surgeon removed the tumor and sent it to Pathology for evaluation. We will not know until next Thursday what those results will be. Our prayers will continue to be focused on complete recovery with no cancer in any other part of Sterling’s body. We rest in the assurance of God’s affection, grace and care, and we are surrendered to His will and faithfulness.
Right now, Sterling is in very good spirits and enjoying some visitors. He was expected to be in the recovery room for 30-40 minutes but was moved in 5 minutes because he was alert and felt well.
Your letters and prayers brought us to tears! Thank you for your faithfulness and friendship! We appreciate you all; every prayer, every thought, every encouraging word. Your love means so very much. We know many prayers were lifted up silently on our behalf and we thank you all for your faithfulness. We request your continued prayers.
It is New Year’s Morning and our family has an urgent prayer request for our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Sterling (our 18-year-old son) was diagnosed on Wednesday with testicular cancer. He is scheduled for surgery this morning around 10:00 CST, to remove the tumor. We are requesting prayer for a successful surgery and recovery. Our greatest concern and prayer request is that the cancer is restricted and has not spread to any other part of his body. Also prayer for the surgeon and a safe surgery procedure and protection from infection would be requested.
PLEASE lift up Sterling before the Lord today. We are completely sure of the Lord’s care and sovereignty for Sterling’s life. We also know that He hears and answers our prayers. Sterling has had a great peace throughout this challenging situation, and we are so thankful for the Lord’s grace over him.
You can write back to this address for encouragement or prayers if you wish. We will let you all know how our situation progresses.
Thank you so very sincerely! We appreciate your love and support so much! Praises to our Faithful and Loving God!
