# 28, February 6, 2003

Many Shepsons Have Health Care Concerns

PH has received information that a number of our members have already faced anxiety producing medical/surgical procedures or will be facing such procedures.

SSBSC missionary Bill Simpson had a suspicious looking mole removed last week and got a good result. He wrote PH:

"The mole which our dermatologist thought was suspicious looking ten days ago and which she removed was, indeed, suspicious looking. She called back this afternoon to report that the mole was a melanoma in situ, meaning that it had not spread, no invasion, but that for safety, it requires that a larger clear margin around it be removed. That will be done Wednesday morning at 9:40. She said it is the best possible scenario in a situation like this - the earliest stage - so that we are very thankful that it was caught so soon."

Kathy Wade will have additional surgery on next Tuesday. She wrote Bill and Charlotte recently and this information was shared with PH. Kathy wrote:

"Henry (probably PH) is right about you two: our truest missionaries at RRCB! Thanks for being with me that day. My schedule is: I'm to be at Henrico Dr. Hosp. on Forest at 11 a.m. on Feb. 10. The surgery is set for 12:30 p.m. and I'll go in the surgical outpatient
unit--which I've been to twice already. I know the hospital TOO well."

Kathy will be having day surgery and should be home by evening. The prognosis for this surgery seems good.

Retired missionary physician Franklin Fowler is home after a cardiac catheterization and coronary artery stint placement. Franklin wrote Bill and Charlotte and this information was forwarded to PH. Franklin wrote:

"Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. I entered the hospital on Tuesday noon. At about 2 PM I was taken into the cardiac catheterization department and they proceeded to catherize two of my coronaries. They found one about 80% occluded and another about 95%. The performed an angioplasty on them and inserted two stints. I was back in my room by 4 PM. (The progress of medicine is unbelievable!) Tim and Sue, Jim and Lindon had all came to be with us. I know they were of great comfort to Dorcas, and certainly to me. Pam came over, Richard had to be in Washington on business. The doctor was well pleased. I spent the night in the hospital, and came back to the Manor yesterday afternoon. I spent last night in our nursing unit, primarily so Dorcas could get a good nights rest. I cannot praise St. Mary's hospital enough. All was well organized, with personal interest in their patients, and professionally excellent.

I have learnt again how good God is, how important family and friends are. These experience brings you closer to our Lord and to each other.

Thanks again for your concern. I am to take it easy for the next two weeks, just enjoy being lazy (easy to do for me) though I hope Dorcas can put up with me."

North Carolina SSBSC missionary Mel Torstrick Is having a rough time. Mel wrote the following:

"Because you asked--
Last Wednesday I met with a neurologist. He poked all over the place with electric
shocks. He said he knew what the problem was (thumb and index finger
immobilized) but he couldn't do anything about it in that I have a nerve
condition-Peripheral neuropathy

Says it is inherited and it has been there all my life and just showed up
because I had trauma to my right forearm No medicine, no PT .

Thursday the pulmonologist gave a good report on the liter of fluid he
removed Next time it fills up he will do a full lung something to stop it from occurring
again

I asked if the pain I had been experiencing on my left side had anything to do
with lung. He lifted my shirt and said, You have shingles Boy did that hurt. He gave
some pills that helped me the first day and then better the second day, etc.

We are to enter our two bedroom apartment the middle of March. Large windows
on two sides, 10 foot ceiling with crown molding, etc. Two baths, large closets." Mel

In your prayers continue to remember Bill, Franklin, Kathy and Mel. Also Bill and Charlotte's daughter Catherine and their two grandchildren, Marian and Henry, have moved to Richmond and were at church last Sunday. Bill and Charlotte are doing some revitalizing baby-sitting. Keep Catherine and her children, the Manor Bible Study Class, Chester's father, Rick and Linda Mears, the pulpit committee, the church staff, and those only known to you in your prayers.

January Duffel Bag Campaign Results in 59 Bags for ISH

River Road Church contributed 59 emergency duffel bags to ISH during the January 2003 churchwide campaign. The contribution of duffel bags is a particularly important need at ISH because when a child in Henrico County is rescued from an abusive or neglectful home the social services worker needs to have clothing and toiletry items immediately available to take to the child. Duffel bags make that possible. Again this year, River Road Church contributed at least one bag for every age boy and girl from infant through 17 years. Thanks to everyone who helped make this campaign a rousing success. Bill

Norma Hays of the Board of Missions Thanks all Shepsons

Great job Bill and Charlotte!! I think I can speak for the board when I
say that we are so happy to have you two heading up the auxiliary chapter
of the Board of Missions in the SSBSC!! ..../nwh

PH wonders if the SSBSC is more like the Alpha chapter of the BOM.

See, Hear, and Cheer Anne If You Can

Anne James sent PH the following invitation for the class:

"When you do your next PHA you might want to invite Shepsons to the RMTA Members' Recital Saturday, February 8, at 2:00 p.m. in the Gellman Room at the Richmond Public Library. I will be playing the Schubert Fantasie, Op. 103, with Diane Lusk. This great work for piano duet was written during the last year of Schubert's short life.

The RMTA is the Richmond Music Teachers' Association. Franz Schubert's short life spanned thirty-one years (1/31/1797 - 11/19/1828). He was born in Vienna and was the twelfth of thirteen children. He was allegedly one of the torch bearers at Beethoven's funeral in 1827. He died a year later from advanced syphilis.

SSBSC Religious Herald Project Is Under Way

The SSBSC Project to Fund a $1,000 Religious Herald Contribution In Honor of Julian Pentecost is making progress.

Michael Clingenpeel, Editor and Business manager of the Herald, and Lee Ellison, Circulation and Development Director of the Herald, send their thanks and appreciation for "this significant support for our Baptist state paper.... Reaching our goal will do much to ensure a more solid foundation upon which to build for the benefit of generations of Virginia Baptists to come."

The Herald is attempting to raise $1,000 each from 175 contributors to celebrate this, the 175th anniversary of the Herald, and a worthy project it is. Bill

Shepson Sheila Marsh Has Catacombs Fever

Two Reverend Doctors have already committed to speak/teach/discuss for the SSBSC Catacombs lectures this summer. Our own Rob James will share his knowledge of Tillich as revealed in his soon to be available book on the subject. Also BTSR (Big Time Spiritual Reverend) President Tom Graves will speak on three Sundays in regard to the philosophy of religion. There will be greater detail on all of this in future PHA's. Shepson Shelia Marsh has successfully acquired commitments from these renowned theologians. And she is still at work.

Donna and Rob See Johnny Depp

SSBSC medical missionaries Donna and Rob Brown brought their surgical skills to St. Vincent's and helped many of the least among us. They returned safely and have many stories to share. It seems that movie star Johnny Depp was spotted in a restaurant. The Brown's daughters (Lauren and Karen) actually spoke with this heartthrob and he kissed them each on the cheek (not Rob and Donna, but Lauren and Karen). Last year they met Hugh Grant, this year, Johnny Depp, maybe next year James Bond will appear. Rob can fix his hernia and Donna can remove his cataracts.

John Oliver Is Twenty-nine on Saturday

He does not look old enough, but John Oliver will be twenty-nine on February 8. Sherrill and Ray Judd will celebrate their thirty-eight anniversary on next Tuesday.

Preaching Schedule

February 2 Rev. Chester - well done
February 9 Rev. Bob
February 16 Rev Barbara
February 23 Rev Tim Norman
March 2 Rev Woody Hasty
March 9 Rev Pat Robertson (not really, just wanted to see if you were still reading.)

Teacher Bob Will Begin John Chapter Six

It is difficult to believe but Teacher Bob is scheduled to begin the sixth chapter of John this Sunday. This is a long chapter with 71 verses. How many Sundays will it take to get from the feeding of the five thousand to calling Judas a devil? PH would never hazard a guess. However in an effort to find some explanation for the miracles encountered in this chapter, PH noticed in verse 10 that a lot of grass was present during the feeding of the five thousand. What kind of "grass" was this? As some of you baby boomers might know, some forms of "grass" might cause all sorts of sensory miracles. Well, PH won't go there, but chapter six will confront us with a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two fish for which Jesus will give thanks and a few verses later the disciples will be terrified when they see Jesus walking on water. Five thousand people is a fair number. Why would so many ordinary people follow Jesus? John gives us one clue in verse 2. "A large crowd followed him, because they had seen his miracles of healing of the sick." .PH doubts that anyone will be walking on water this Sunday, but maybe just one Krispy Kreme donut could be increased to nourish all Shepsons? And if there are any healings……….prayers have been answered.

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