I’ve just had a message from Svetlana, with this current update on whats happening with Sergey:

• I’m so happy you are coming so soon and if God likes the idea and support us it gives even more hope to both me and Sergey!!! Decision about the surgery has not been made yet and seems it wouldn’t take place at all – tomorrow will answer. The problem is that (as surgeon we both trust a lot explained us today) the surgery (even it’s done successfully) would not help in long term – in ideal situation it’ll resolve of problem with his bowel blockage for a week or two… the cancer is in many other places so surgery is not a treatment any longer for Sergey – only chemo or new trial drug can help if work well for him. But the problem is that chemotherapy specialist apparently wouldn’t allow Sergey to have any due to the blockage… and actually we don’t know yet if Sergey is eligible for the trial or not…tomorrow surgeon would have a final conversation with chemotherapy specialist to decide if without the surgery Sergey cant receive any treatment at all… But Sergey is just waiting for you as he’s 100% sure God will heal him after you pray!!! He believes that’s his way out of death…. And he hasn’t given up fighting only because he believes and waits for you!!!!

I prayed that he wouldn’t have the surgery, at least until there’s been an opportunity to pray with Sergey. As you can see from Svetlana’s message, their faith is high, which is a blessing to me, as it may well be a case of ‘your faith has made you well’…. that’s a wonderful place to pray FROM. When you have to try and pick people up out of a pit of despair and, dare I say it, self-pity (humanly understandable, but definitely not helpful!), it’s exponentially harder to pray.

I only booked my ticket yesterday at 0130 am: I’ve just heard from the airline (Singapore Airlines – always the best every year in awards!), that I’ve been upgraded from London to Singapore (13 hours!) and Singapore to Melbourne (8 hours), and then Singapore to London on the way home next Monday! Just need someone to not turn up for their business class seat from Melbourne to Singapore! It’s hard to describe what a joy and relief it is for this to happen: one of the ‘joys’ of flying a lot with the same network of airlines (Star Alliance) and getting a little piece of gold plastic – the top tier on Singapore Airlines…. thank you, Lord!