Pecks’ Bushels of Blessings

The March 2015 Prayer Letter of Michael and Karen Peck

Dear Prayer Supporters,

By now you no doubt have heard of the special assignment that the Lord is bringing to Karen, my family, and me. On February 24^th Karen saw our primary care physician thinking that perhaps she had the onset of bronchitis. After viewing her chest ex-ray, he sent her immediately to the University Hospital Elyria Medical Center. The medical team was waiting for us to arrive in the emergency room. A few scans later, the news that no one expected came.

“Mrs. Peck, I am so sorry to have to tell you this. Your CAT scan revealed that you have a mass in your right lung. We will treat this as cancer until we discover otherwise.” The otherwise didn’t come. Further tests and a major PET scan revealed that my dear wife, who never smoked one cigarette in her life, nor was she ever around second-hand smoke, has stage 4 lung cancer.

This curve in the road was sudden. It came without warning. Our family has obviously been greatly impacted. Being in the ministry for over four decades, I have walked with families through such crises. I watched as some families ran away from the Lord in anger. I watched other families run to the Lord sensing their great need. These two types of families had two different questions and two different hand gestures. The angry clenched their fists and asked, “Why did you allow this?” The other opened their hand widely and asked, “What do you want to do in this situation?” We truly want to be the second kind of family.

Karen started her chemo therapy on Friday, March 20^th. Please be praying specifically on these dates.

April 10^th Chemo therapy # 2       April 29^th CAT scans

May 1^st Chemo therapy # 3          May 22^nd Chemo therapy # 4

These are very heavy-duty “big guns” chemo therapy. Please be praying for her as these chemo therapies leave her sick and extremely fatigued. When we complete the four chemo treatments, she goes on maintenance chemo therapies. This particular mass produces much fluid. Currently she has a pleurX catheter that every other day I have been trained to do the draining. This surely helps her to breathe better.

We have seen the Lord opening many doors of witnessing opportunities throughout this situation. She is known at the hospital and doctors’ offices as the “win-win” lady. Karen has tenderly and sincerely shared with so many that if she responds to the treatments and has time with her family, she wins. If the Lord is going to take her Home, she really wins. It is so hard to see my precious Karen experiencing this. Please earnestly pray for us. We really need it. All during this time, our missionary ministry is continuing to grow. I will update you on these matters at another time.

Please follow Karen’s updates at www.michaelpeck.org. Click the “About Me.” Scroll down and click “Prayer Letters.” The latest update will be at the top of the list of the posts. Thank you so much for your prayers as we travel some of the absolutely most difficult days we have ever traveled.  My verse that I am claiming during this time is Psalm 56:3. Take a moment to read it, and you will see why it helps me so much.

Michael and Karen Peck

Serving with Baptist Church Planters and sent by the Central Baptist Church of Binghamton, New York