Christmas Greetings and News December 2018
How can this be…what happened to 2018! We look at each other in wonder and amazement
about the passage of time! But our next
thoughts are about God’s Great Faithfulness this year and in the past 15 years of
serving Him through ICH. What a
privilege to take Christian Hospice around the world and witness time after
time as people have found God’s comfort and peace in difficult times of illness
and grief! It has been our honor to be
the extension of all of our supporters, friends and family reaching into the
world with His message of hope through Jesus.
Now we celebrate this same message of hope with each of you during this Christmas
season!
We have important news
to share about ICH. Our Board of
Directors has made the decision that December 31, 2018 will be our last day of
operation as a ministry. After much
prayer and consideration we feel that God is leading us in closing this chapter
of ministry in our lives. It has been an
exciting adventure from the early days of serving Him as just the two of us
drove to remote new areas to teach hospice care, to expanding our ICH staff and
mission teams for work in 14 countries around the world. How clearly we have seen God provide and lead
in His perfect timing!
We won’t deny it has been a difficult decision. Over the past several months we have experienced
the continued decline of financial support.
This is a frequent and increasing problem with so many mission
organizations today. Also we are
honestly looking at our age, (feeling it too) and health as well as family
needs. Another factor is that there are
no new prospects of younger people who are stepping up and have an interest in
this area of ministry. But God has
opened a door through another large mission agency, SIM.
The SIM home office is in Charlotte, N.C. and we have had
conversations and meetings with their leadership. They have requested that we make the ICH
curriculum and resource materials available to them and their missionaries who
are serving around the world in 40 countries.
This is already happening with one of their medical ministries. We have been in contact via email and placed
much of our information into the hands of a nurse and educator in Bolivia. Her feedback has already been very positive
as she is sharing ICH with the national medical staff and using the resources
with families in need of Christ Centered hospice care.
Our hearts are full of gratitude to God! He is responsible for each step of ICH
inception and development. It has always
been our goal to place ICH concepts in the hands of others and making it a tool
for the national believers for their own people. We have made ourselves available to SIM on a
volunteer basis to assist them in preparing new missionaries who pass through
the Charlotte headquarter. How wonderful
to know that God will not allow “dust to collect” on ICH training materials and
resources!
Now on a personal note we would like to share a personal
testimony that is currently happening in our lives. Ron had what we thought was a common wart
appear about 2 months ago on the back of his right hand between his middle two
knuckles. As he has in the past, he treated with over-the-counter drops for a
couple of weeks. With no improvement he went to the VAMC and was seen there and
was given further topical treatment for a wart.
After continuing 3 weeks as it grew we were increasingly concerned and
he returned to the VA. His primary MD
referred him to the dermatology department and he was seen there 3 days
later. A biopsy was done and he received
the results a week later. His now walnut
sized wound was really squamous cell carcinoma.
Typically this is very treatable in the early stages. However the VA was unable to help in his
situation so a referral was sent Friday November 30 to a local Dermatology
group here in Columbia. After a very
anxious and prayerful weekend, Ron began placing phone calls about an
appointment. The referral was delayed in
red tape for 3 business days so finally on this past Wednesday, December 5, we
decided to just show up at the dermatologist office. The
receptionist told us his information was not in the system and there was a 2
month waiting list for appointments. But
when Ron mentioned that yesterday he had talked to the nurse she asked us to
wait. Within minutes the nurse stepped
out into the waiting room and called his name and ushered us back. The doctor also arrived quickly and after an
exam he recommended immediately removal.
The nurse then personally contacted the VA doctor and obtained emailed
copies of all the referral paperwork needed.
We listened as the doctor expressed great concern over the size and
warned us of the possible loss of two fingers on Ron’s right hand. He could not predict until the removal and
microscopic exam to determine the depth and involvement. After the procedure we waited. Within 2 hours the doctor returned with an
“all clear” report. He had gotten all
the cancer and the margins are clear! It
was a miracle of perfect timing and provision!
We were praising God out loud in the office and have been continuously even
through these days of painful recuperation!
Thank you to all who were praying with us! God once again has shown Himself faithful and
merciful in this latest life-journey experience with Him.
We would like to express our deep, heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has
had a part in ICH ministry through the years whether mission partners, financial
support, prayer support, or friendship and encouragement. We thank our precious family members for
their understanding and frequent “good byes” as we left them on mission through
the years. It has been a privilege
beyond words for us to have traveled the world, made new friends in so many
places, shared the Good News of Christ’s love and comfort with so many in their
final days, and learned amazing things of God as we trusted Him each step of
the way. We want to direct all the
praise back to God as we remember again our verse of promise, Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before
you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Thank you, thank you, thank you from our hearts to all of
you for your support and interest in ICH!
May God richly bless us all as we continue to serve Him
together!
Ron and Susan Naish
Contact information is unchanged:
170 Bethview Dr.
Irmo, S.C. 29063
803-781-0656 or 803-497-1867
intlchristianhospice@yahoo.com
www.ichospice.blogspot.com (The blog tells our story since 2005)
