An update from John

[Another email sent by John, just yesterday... 1st October 2008 - if you're confused about how this relates to Re:Act click HERE for more information...]

Firstly thanks for the overwhelming response to the last email. You are amazingly caring people. So many wise words (I didn't know there was that much wisdom available from my friends!). They have uplifted me and I am rapidly returning to my place of peace that I so longed to find.

Today I had the pleasure of going to a "Refresh" day at Urban Saints (Crusaders, if you're my age!). This is a day of prayer and reflection led by an outside preacher, church leader or other learned christian. I went just to have a time of quiet and a time to reflect, but in fact found God speaking straight at me! Be strong, be courageous. trust me and push through even it appears too tough. Remember I am always there...........so I guessed that a lot of that was directed at me. He certainly got my attention! It turned out to be a time of assurance and strengthening, a time of hearing God through all sorts of people. Unexpected and so timely.

The staff team then all prayed for me with an amazing passion that humbles me totally - I just wonder how often I pray for anything with the passion that was shown this morning (guys you are amazing and I love you, like family).

So I am much much stronger than when I last wrote - but then again I recon I need to be. The scan is tomorrow at 9am and will last between 2 and 4 hours (!) - what am I going to do for that amount of time? If they expect me to lie still they've got another think coming! Anyway, the scan looks as though it won't be quite as bad as I had been advised - no lead piping (sounds like part of a Cluedo crime) and no radiation for 6 months. I think I will purely glow for a couple of hours!

If you read this in time - and I know I've left it late, please pray that:

1. I will cope with the scan. I am finding lying still for more than an hour very hard, even at night.
2. That my stomach pains will go - I have had bad pains from excessive trapped wind (huh, you get the full works with me guys!) for ages now and it really does wake me up at night or cause real pain during the day. So relief from this, at least in the short term would be brill.
3. That the scan shows everything is ok. Its hard to imagine - but we do have an amazing God and it would be foolish to not ask!
4. For Jo and the boys as they quietly wait for answers.

Thank you as always for being there. You have already helped me and have lifted me to a more peaceful place. Naturally I'll be back writing to you as soon as I have more to write, but for now thats about it,

Thanks again,

John