Late spring 2023

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Well, what can we say? This year is half gone. Trials have been mainly those of physical problems and movements in relation to those ailments. But, through it all, we are learning even more to trust our Good (only) Shepherd of Love. Those words are words from some of our favorite songs.

Most of you know that we are now happily living with our daughter Judy and our son-in-law Jim Burdett. We are so thankful for their love and generosity to have us here, and we trust the Lord together to meet all our needs. Their daughter, Heather, is a real blessing, too, using her training and experience and her kind ways to help care for her Grandma. But some do not know how we got here and what all has happened so far this year. This is catchup news for some of you. But for all, this is urgent.

I, Tom, left the Homes of Ethnos360 in November of last year and continued to visit Corinne every day in the rehab center, as I had done the past 4 months. That move was my goodbye to friends and staff. We knew we were going to miss being there, and we certainly have. However, that blessing is outweighed by that of being with family – Jim, Judy, their daughter Heather, and our son David. Please notice our new address below. We would love to hear from you.

We are only three miles away and so we still go to some of their chapel services. Also, I lead a weekly Bible study time with some friends, and I still take my turn playing piano for chapel.

We applied for Medicaid for Corinne, and our request for approval to move her to Judy’s home so that the needed therapy would continue at home. Finally, in January, Medicaid was approved and she was encouraged to go ahead and move out. Praise the Lord that our insurance, along with Medicaid covered the cost of her 6-month stay in the Rehab. Now, most of you will remember that the reason she was in the care center was for the rehabilitation of her health after a light case of stroke or a TIA, which affected her speech and loss of memory beyond the memory loss in her increasing dementia. Since she has been home with us her memory and walking ability have improved. However, lack of balance has caused her to have a high risk of falling. She has done so a couple of times but without serious injury.

However, not so good with yours truly. Because of not keeping good sleep habits I can easily fall asleep and fall off bed or chair. I guess an angel of God has kept me from serious effects. However, after hurting my head in a fall, our neurologist has ordered an MRI of the brain to make sure I don’t have another hemorrhage like I had in 2015. Another fall caused a broken nose bridge, and another gave me several fractured ribs where the ribs join the back vertebrae beneath my left arm. Both of these were painful and took some time to heal, but they are fine.

Here is what we would like you to pray about. The word cancer has always been sort of like a foreign word in our family because none of us had experienced it.

However, as you know, a cancerous tumor was removed from my colon in 2015…

…and then another one was found and removed from the exact same spot in 2018. Now, ever since then, 3 different specialists have used various tests to make sure that any recurrence or metastasizing, I think that’s right, in other places can be caught and treated early.

Recently, a CT-Scan revealed a spot on one lung. A wider PT-scan showed that it was just adhesions.

However, that scan showed something developing on the liver.

They could also see something suspicious in my blood, something that could be a carrier of cancer to other parts of the body, they said.

So they are working on appointments for both MRI’s. However, the holdup has been that they need to bring in a particular type of MRI that is compatible with the pacemaker that is ticking away in my chest. A technician from the makers of the pacemaker will stand by and observe during the special MRI procedure to make sure there is no conflict with the pacemaker. Now that’s a layman’s explanation. Then the next day I’ll get another MRI, ordered by the neurologist, of the brain this time.

Then a colonoscopy is scheduled for May 31, followed by an endoscopy in July.

So, today, right now, they are deciding a date soon on which to schedule an MRI to focus in on the liver to see what that’s all about. And then the next day an appointment for an MRI of the brain. They could not make the necessary arrangements yesterday, so they will continue in the morning. Please pray about all this now, and during the important days ahead.

By that time they should have me all figured out. I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future, indeed. We are at peace, but it does concern me because we have been praying for reasonable health so that I can get back to work on the Hamtai language Old Testament translation project. I hope to resume work with Jim Jora, the Hamtai believer helping me with editing and improving the first draft of these portions which were translated by Malcolm and other Hamtai men on our translation team.

But Jim fell into immoral sin about 2 years ago and his fellow leaders disciplined him, removing him from both teaching and involvement in Bible translation. They did the right thing, but they have not followed up with any attempt to help him with the goal of proving he has learned how to win over temptation and restoring him back into fellowship and possible ministry. Anyhow, he has made things right and is back in fellowship now. I think he is not ready to be allowed to teach officially in the church, but he should be allowed to resume working on translation with me. I have written and requested that they consider that. I talked with Jim on Monday for an hour plus on WhatsApp. He is enjoying God’s grace and forgiveness, and would like his fellow believers to forgive as well. Please pray with us that the right decision will be made.

God willing, I will have a good new computer on which to resume my work; it’s due to arrive this week. I ordered it from Dell Computers with monthly payments for as long as it takes to pay it off. It will replace the old one which has endured hard work on Hamtai language materials for 12 years until it broke down and “froze up.” Pray for the smooth transfer of data and programs from the old hard drive to the new one. We may have lost some, but some have survived the crash. This is important because I may have to renew licenses for the translation tools we love and need, the Translators’ Workplace, and Paratext.

I’m writing this on Corinne’s “Wow” computer and I’m not sure this format will stay in an Email. And I am not sure whether or not all names on my mailing list were ever put on this machine, which we don’t use anymore because of Corinne’s poor eyesight.

Psalm 71.14-16

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

I must say goodbye for now. Judy and Heather are out shopping for weekly supplies and I am looking after Corinne and getting some other letters done.

I’m sure you can pick out some points from this long letter for which you can pray for us and praise with us.

Thanks to those of you who pray and give.

We’ll keep in touch, Tom & Corinne Palmer