Wednesday 3 August 2016

Walking together

Dad's world has shrunken.

The man who drove overland in a pasted-together-from-the-scrap-heap truck.  The man who sat in a small town on the border of Iran and Pakistan with some 10 dollars in his pocket and no real hope of making it to India. The man who took me and Stefan and Premi on countless journeys, fueled by faith that God would provide (and our Lord Jesus so graciously did - over and over again).  The man, who even just a few years ago showed up at Frankfurt airport at the beginning of a European tour with our dear aging mother - with the same princely sum of 50 Euros in his pocket... This intrepid wanderer now moves gingerly, managing the various pains that the cancer lump in him has spawned.  His journeys are geographically very limited.

Dad's main travel these days is between his bed and the chair next to it.  He prefers sitting because it is easier to manage the pain sitting.  He is on morphine - which helps.  But we are not talking about a medicine that allows him to run around and play basketball.  This med helps - somewhat - in controlling what would otherwise have him screaming.   A blessing it is.  A happy-happy-no-problems-at-all-wonder-tonic it is not.

These last 48 hours have been grim.  Dad vomitted copiously yesterday.  He falls asleep when doing simple tasks.  He is not able to keep the meticulous records of his pills and when he took them as before.  Last night was very rough.  Dad kept having to change positions.  Sometimes lying down.  Sometimes propped up seated.  Drifting in and out.  The odd phrase coming out showing the confusion in his mind.   We were wary of giving him too many drugs as he had vomitted so violently earlier in the day.  Many prayers were said at various hours.  Darkness was long.

But daybreak did come.  Dad was able to keep down his morning doses.  In the afternoon he had a long-overdue bowel movement in response to a small intervention on our side.  He listened attentively to me reading a biography of DL Moody to him.

It has been raining copiously in Lalitpur (tender mercies after 2 years of drought and many prayers), but in the late morning the clouds cleared for a bit and we got some sunshine.

Dad is determined to walk.  Each day he asks to be taken out.  When I saw the sun I suggested we seize the opportunity.  He readily agreed.

The spirit is willing, but the legs are weak.  We made it out the door.  Slowly shuffling.  We got near the small gate in our garden of Bethel Villa.  Then Dad said softly that we should probably head back.

Dad is not passively waiting for the end to come.  But he is not raging against the onset of his final days either.  It is a privilege for Sheba and me to provide some care for Dad on this part of his journey - and we do so very much on behalf of Stefan and Premi and their families too.  We are also blessed with helpful and supportive colleagues here at HBM Hospital in Lalitpur for which we are very grateful - and Dad and Mum have a huge cloud of dear ones praying for them - the winds of intercession are blowing towards Lalitpur city for sure.

In the very limited space in which Dad lives right now, I wonder at way that he and Mum are working through the frustrations of the limitations their lives now have.  It is not easy to be dependent and we keep praying and reassuring about how much a privilege it is to walk with him these steps.

We know that our Lord has already walked before Dad and knows the number of his days.  Our good shepherd is carrying his little lamb Raymond through the dark valley.  And will take him safely home.


25 comments:

  1. We thank God for the accomplished life of your dear dad. May God comfort him. May God give you all strength and grace to take care of him. Joseph Raju, Gospel Missions of India, USA.

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  2. Thank you Andi for sharing with us this difficult and real part of your dad's pilgrimage... And for wonderful example of a loving son.

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  3. Our gratitude, love and respect to your parents.

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  4. May God's protection and care always be with you forever. May you constantly feel His loving and tender touch and may you sense his never-dying love for your dad in his pilgrimage and suffering. Thank you Andi for sharing.

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  5. Thank you Andi. I have to wonder if angels are hoovering around you all. I do know that a great cloud of witnesses are near. We thank God for faithful servants of God: your father & mother, grandparents, and your generation that is carrying on the work of God in India.

    Praying for the overwhelming peace of God to be present in the moments left, however long that may be.

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  6. Oh, Andi, may the God od the universe draw close to you all. You are on my mind and in my prayers.

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  7. Praying for Ray that the Good shepherd will take home safe as you have mentioned Andi. Praise God for each of you taking care of Ray.

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  8. Thanks for sharing the journey in the midst of all the care challenges Andi. Praying for grace and strength in abundance to each everywhere in all their unique circumstances.

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  9. Thanks for sharing the journey in the midst of all the care challenges Andi. Praying for grace and strength in abundance to each everywhere in all their unique circumstances.

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  10. It is a great blessing to have believing parents, & it surely please God that you honour your father & mother.

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  11. My mom and dad and a host of others gone before, will be waiting to greet Ray. As well as the open arms of Jesus...with a resounding Well one faithful son!! We'll be praying for you all, in the days, weeks and maybe months ahead. God was good during my Dad's journey with pancreatic cancer--six months from the day it was diagnosed. God is good all the time -- All the time, God is good!

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  12. Thank you.... What a powerful & real picture of what is happening... In awe.... Ohhhh the matchless LOVE of Jesus!!!

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  13. We almost feel like we are right there with You all Andi
    Your sharing is so thoughtful and genuine. Please hug your precious mom and dad for Fred and I. We prah God's will be done each day
    .May you be encouraged.as God could still heal your Father if He chooses. If not here, he willbe totally healed in heaven.

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  14. We almost feel like we are right there with You all Andi
    Your sharing is so thoughtful and genuine. Please hug your precious mom and dad for Fred and I. We prah God's will be done each day
    .May you be encouraged.as God could still heal your Father if He chooses. If not here, he willbe totally healed in heaven.

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  15. your parents live a life out reaching out ... even today your recount of hour dad's life is reaching out to to us .... and in gratitude we cherish "the aroma of life leading to life"! Praise God. Remembering your mom too!

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  16. your parents live a life of 'reaching out' ... even today your recount of hour dad's life is reaching out to us .... and in gratitude we cherish "the aroma of life leading to life"! Praise God. Remembering your mom too!

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  17. May God give Grace to your dad, mum, you, Sheba and the kids.

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  18. May God give Grace to your dad, mum, you, Sheba and the kids.

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  19. Receive Grace Form Our Brother & Friend Jesus Everyday & Keep on walking............ In prayers.....Love You all

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  20. He is fortunate to have such a loving and caring son and family to be with at this time specially. We pray for you all, as we pray for Ray's health specially, as well as Christa.

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  21. Andi,
    I first met your parents at an Ellel meeting at DDN just before they handed the reins over to whoever took it up after them.

    Your mom was my group leader. I was so touched when she shared with me a little of her girlhood in Germany when she knew I was interested in that period of history. I remember visiting them in Shanti Kunj and she talking about God's provision to me. Despite her age, she was/is so spry, she puts us younger ones to shame.

    I didn't interact much with Ray, but his gentle spirit permeated everything he did and said.

    What characterizes both of them is joy, peace and a sense of security in Jesus' love... irresistible.

    It's sad to see him so, but I pray that he will not suffer much. How much heaven will rejoice to see him and how joyous will he be to see Jesus face to face. Over the moon, I imagine.

    But praying for all those who still have to eventually face life without him. Especially your mum. Praying for her. She won't remember me, (that's ok), but give a hug for me, please.

    God bless you and your family as you care for them.

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  22. Dear brother Andi,


    It's my privilege to write few words for Ray Icher.

    I have had opportunity to see him once in 90s.Though never privileged to work. i had heard about him. By seeing one can understand that he is very unique one of God. I don't have answers for a righteous to suffer. Believe though this gives so much pain but has reserved life after death. This situation may give us some lesson to learn. God bless your Dad and your family as you all together.

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  23. Deeply moved by what you have written. Such precious memories of your Dad and Mum! I (Frank) first met your Dad in India 1969 when with OM; he was Leena’s team leader in 1971. We’ve remained in occasional contact ever since, even visiting your parents in Mussoorie several years back. Please pass on warm greetings from us. We cry out to God for your Dad especially. You're all in our thoughts and prayers!

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  24. We have a living God who sustains us daily, we miss Uncle Ray here in Mussoorie, he was such a inspiration to all of us.

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  25. Thank God for breath of life for each day. What a wonderful friends and families Lord has given to us to care to pray .

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