A "Tex message" update from the Mankinses

We are now in hot Dallas, Texas. We flew here last week to fit in a good 2-week visit with family once we had some dates set for medical procedures in FL.

Early last week, we saw a specialist in Gainesville, FL, who did some more testing on Chad, and as a result we were able to schedule the following dates with him:

We fly back to Orlando on Tuesday (August 4th). Then the next day (5th), we go up to Gainesville for a procedure called a nerve block, involving an injection of steroids into a nerve which may be stuck in a cycle of firing and may be responsible for causing all the pain. If this works, it will bring Chad some temporary relief (anywhere from several hours to several days of relief), and will then tell our doctor that we are on the right track to proceed with a surgery on Aug. 24th. This surgery uses cutting-edge robotic technology, and would microdissect and cauterize a specific nerve or nerves. If all goes well with this surgery and it resolves the pain problem, Chad would need several weeks of recovery. And then in about a month, the doctor could see him again and clear us for return to PNG. This would put our return at around the end of September.

So we would like to both thank you deeply for praying and continue to ask for your prayers in these times.

Also be in prayer for our partners these days. The Williamson family are still ministering in the village alone, and will be looking forward to the return of the Knapps the first week of August. As if that last week before leaving the USA wasn’t hectic enough for us missionaries, the Knapps have had a little extra stress recently, with their youngest son Malachi Knapp (5 yrs old) visiting the ER with a kidney stone! So we know that Malachi and the whole Knapp family could use some extra prayer from us, too.

Still In God’s Loving Hands,
Chad, Janeene, Elijah & Zekey

good news and...

We have some good news and some more for you to pray with us about.

First, the good news…the pathology report came back, and although Chad’s tumor was malignant, it was the non-invasive low grade variety, which means that since the doctor got it all, we won’t need anything like chemo, but only periodic checkups. Praise God with us for that!!!

He said that normally he would have Chad checked again in 3 months, but since we are, Lord willing, planning on being back in PNG before that time, then he would recommend that we get Chad checked in 6 months. So at that time we will look into the possibility of a trip to Australia or another nearby country with good medical facilities to have that done and then a quicker return to the ministry in PNG.

Which brings us to our prayer item: For us to return soon to PNG, we still need to get to the bottom of what’s causing Chad’s pain. We have seen a neurological surgeon who looked at the results of the spinal MRI, and though a synovial cyst was found, it does not appear to be linked to the area of pain. But he decided to try putting Chad on some medication to see if there is enough improvement to warrant more treatment on his part. It’s only been a few days now, and thus far results are fairly inconclusive. We will continue to consult with doctors and weigh further options. So far this has been a real mystery, but God knows all, and we can rest in that—and in His great love for us. Thanks for your prayers—they are much appreciated these days!


Please pray for:

~Wisdom for our doctors here, as they search for answers and a course of action to treat Chad’s pain.

~Grace for Chad as he deals with the pain on a daily basis. Many of you live with pain and know how chronic pain can wear a person down over time. Please pray for the grace and the peace that passes all understanding.

~Contentment, as we have had to adjust to this abrupt interruption of the work we’ve been doing in PNG. We know that this is what God has for us now, but it is still a struggle for us at times, especially knowing that we’ve had to leave our partners the Williamsons alone in the village and have left the young church in the middle of teaching through the great book of Romans. But we do know that God will work all this out for His glory and our growth—ours, our co-workers, and that of the Tobo believers as well.

We just need to go back to that again and again and choose to rest in God.

~Guidance in the future as we will need to find a good place for followup on Chad across the big water six months from now. Pray for all the finances, paperwork, and other travel logistics, as well as a good doctor and medical facilities.

Chad & Janeene
Elijah & Zekey


My sweet boys :)

thankful

Thanks for praying! Chad’s surgery today was successful and the entire tumor was removed from his bladder. We’ll see what next week brings with the pathology report. Also we have an appointment with a neuro-surgeon next week for a problem with Chad’s back which might be the source of the past 4 months of pain. We’ll let you know more when we know more.

We are so thankful for your prayers, and for each of you!!



Chad & Janeene

Elijah & Zekey



PS- Please also keep in your prayers our partners, the Williamsons (alone in Toboland), the Knapps (here in the US wrapping up their furlough time), and our Tobo brothers and sisters in Christ.