August 2012
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
I couldn’t have imagined my 30th year would be so life-changing. Welcoming our gorgeous daughter to this blue planet was thrilling, the biggest thing that’s happened to me, second only to marrying the hot musician/pastor/nerd who happens to be my husband.
But I also received the most devastating news of my life this year. A few months ago my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. As you may know, pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive, and often advances and kills rapidly. But they had caught it pretty early, and the tumor was operable. In late June, the tumor was surgically removed at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, the same hospital my Dad and I were born in.
Even though the surgery was successful and his recovery surprisingly quick, cancer is a never-ending battle. The pathology report showed that the cancer had spread to at least a few lymph nodes. So the future is uncertain.
I am incredibly close to my family, and this news has shaken me deeply. But seeing my dad’s absolute confidence in God, and even his joy in imagining an imminent meeting with Jesus, is the best comfort I could have. Even though I long for Dad to be around to see Ariana grow up (and I’m sobbing freely as I write this), I know there is absolutely no safer place to be than inside God’s will.
And it seems like He had already been preparing a sweet, long reunion with my entire family this coming winter.
A year ago I started planning my sabbatical, after six years in Bolivia without an extended time in the States to connect with you all. In Word Made Flesh, instead of furloughs every three to four years, we set apart a nine month sabbatical for strategic rest, renewal, and re-visioning every seven years, echoing the God-mandated rest for the land every seventh year (Leviticus 25:4).
This sacred gift of sabbatical, being able to step out of active ministry for a few months, comes right when I crave and need time with my family, time to consider life.
So Mache, Ariana and I will head to the States for Thanksgiving to begin this period of reflection. We’ll be in the States until early February and on the road for most of that time. We’ll roll through Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Nebraska, North and South Carolina, Georgia, California, and Texas.
If I didn’t mention your state and you’d like a visit from us, let me know! We’d also love to plan Suti Sana bag parties, talks with small groups, Sunday Schools, or churches, and time to sit on couches with hot chocolate and catch up.
Please let me know if we can share a bit of life with you this winter. Write, call, stalk me on Facebook, and together we’ll make a plan!
Love you all,
Cara, Mache and Ariana