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November 27, 2006
Last Days in Manila
I can chew again! But I certainly didn’t starve while waiting for crowns to be fitted. The OMF Center in Calapan, Mindoro is located on a hill overlooking the sea and the grounds are beautifully kept and full of flowers. It’s hard to imagine that Paradise could be more beautiful. The retreat was WONDERFUL! I loved getting to know some of our new workers and sharing in more depth with long-time friends. On Saturday afternoon, a group of us went by small boat to an island to swim and snorkel. Again, spectacular weather and views, birds singing, lovely coral and shells, and best of all, the joy of swimming in a WARM ocean! God prepared the messages our speaker shared with us and I know that others were blessed as much as I was.
Meanwhile Dave was spending the weekend with our friend John Richards, whose wife was at the retreat. On Saturday John and Dave went by motorbike up to nearby Mt. Halcon to visit the Mangyan Bible School, a tribal Bible and agricultural training center about 25 Km. from Calapan. Dave enjoyed meeting and talking with the leaders at the school and seeing all that is being done there. It was hard to leave on Sunday afternoon, but good to visit with friends in Tanauan. We couldn’t see everyone we wanted to, but we were overwhelmed by the prayers of those we did see.
Monday morning we continued our journey towards Manila, stopping on the way in Calamba to see my friend Lerma. Lerma reminded me that she was 16 when we became friends, and now she is close to getting her doctorate and vice-president and CEO of a college of 3,000 students!! And my son is the age that Lerma was then. Then next stop on route to the dentist was at OMF Lit., the Christian publishing company started by OMF and now completely in Filipino hands. We wanted to see the newly renovated building, and some of the newly published titles. We were also able to talk to the CEO Ramon Rocha who has done a wonderful job of leading the OMF Lit. team. Not only are many local books being published, but a number of important books from other countries are reprinted locally to make them available and affordable to Filipinos.
In Filipino society, it is customary to have godparents or sponsors at a wedding as well as when a child is dedicated. We have this godparent relationship with a number of couples (as well as children) and this means that when our ‘inaanak’ (godchildren) have children, they are our grandchildren! So last night we saw two of our grandchildren who are just a year or two younger than Wil! We are encouraged by the spiritual growth we see in so many loved ones here.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness of friends from Cornerstone who have not only provided a cell phone to use while we’re here, but chauffeured us many times, offered us penthouse accommodation, and in so many ways shown us how lavish God’s love is for His children. We feel like God is strengthening our souls and spirits daily and preparing us for the unknown trials ahead. Our flight is due in Portland at 6:55 am on Thursday and I am scheduled for surgery at Kaiser Sunnyside at 10:30 that morning. The surgeon will try to remove the new lump in my breast at that time. When we get the results of that procedure, we will have a better idea of what new treatment options are possible for me. Please remember Dr. Panutich as well. By now the transplanted stem cells should be growing in his body. How I pray that he will make it through this time of having a weakened immune system and be able to return to his medical practice.
Posted by David at 6:56 PM
November 23, 2006
Wonderful Whirlwind time in Manila
It feels as though we are in a wonderful whirlwind! We’ve seen two former helpers: Pusing who was with us last term, and Mila who was with us when Ben was born. Both are strong in the Lord and doing well. After a relaxing afternoon (including a swim!) and evening with the Burdicks, Dave spent Tuesday at PMA and Karen was at Faith Academy. In both cases we thoroughly enjoyed catching up with friends. That evening was the OMF prayer meeting at the Mission Home, so reunions with more friends who are like family to us. Anne Stanworth spent half a day traveling to Manila to see us since she won’t be able to attend the Women’s Retreat. After another dental appointment on Wed. we went to Manila Bay to watch the sunset and had dinner on a boat in the bay. On one side we saw the incredible beauty of God’s creation in an awesome sunset; on the other, the colorful lights and sounds of the bustling city. We also drove past the new Mall of Asia, said to be the largest in all of Asia. Considering how long it took us to drive around, I’m glad we hadn’t planned to walk through it!
We have been so conscious of all we have to be thankful for every day, but on Thursday we celebrated American Thanksgiving. Even though eating is getting rather difficult (three teeth are prepared for crowns and waiting for them to be fitted on Monday), we enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner with Larry and Mary Caldwell and family. I discovered what a wonderful cook Mary is, and Dave was able to discover the spiritual heritage of our hosts.
In about an hour we leave for Calapan, Mindoro. The bus to Batangas City pier will take about three hours, the boat about an hour, and this evening the retreat begins. We won’t have our computer with us, so no more news until after we get back to Manila on Monday afternoon.
Posted by David at 5:12 PM
November 19, 2006
Greetings from Manila
Greetings from Manila! We’re gradually getting over jet lag, but still are tired early in the evening and waking up very early. Our first surprise was being seated right behind someone we knew on the flight from Portland to Narita. Joan and her husband and son were on their way to China to meet their new daughter. The next surprise was being delayed in leaving Narita because of an accident on a runway in Manila. About an hour after boarding the plane we finally took off, arriving in Manila close to midnight. It was Nov. 17 by the time we got to our Mission Home! We fell into bed and slept a few hours, then made it through a fairly long day. Our mission’s General Director was in Manila for a conference and able to spend Friday morning here to give us an update on OMF. A number of people had come to the Mission Home for that, so we not only got to hear his report, but to visit with them. We spent the afternoon at the dentist’s and got appointments set for the coming week.
Saturday we went to one shopping center and found almost everything we were looking for to take back with us. In the evening we went to a Chinese restaurant with friends from Cornerstone Bible Christian Fellowship. Karen was on the team that started Cornerstone when we met. It was great to be with them and hear how the church is doing.
We’ve just returned from spending Sunday with Lord of Life Christian Fellowship, the church we pioneered as a couple and where we were part of the team for about six years. A group of students from Faith Academy who are studying Tagalog were visiting, some of them classmates and friends of Wil’s. They led the worship and Pastor Sam gave an excellent message on John 15. We were both able to speak to the congregation and Karen and Raf played “Give Thanks” as an offertory. After lunch and an impromptu program at the church we visited several people in Fairview who hadn’t been at church.
Tomorrow we’ll be with the Burdicks, missionary friends whose church we attended before leaving Manila, and Tuesday we’ll be at Faith Academy. Wednesday and Thursday I’ll be back at the dentist’s and Friday we leave for the weekend on the island of Mindoro. We’re so grateful for all the people who are ready to adjust their plans to fit in time with us. Undoubtedly there will be some friends we don’t manage to see, but we’re thankful for all God is allowing us to squeeze in.
Posted by David at 4:29 PM
November 14, 2006
Off to Manila
Last Wednesday I was able to see Dr. Schwarz, the surgeon I saw shortly after returning from Manila. He has agreed to do a lumpectomy to try to remove the lump in my breast, though warning me that until he goes in he won’t know just how much the cancer has spread and whether he can get it all. But he’s willing to try and has scheduled the surgery for Nov. 30th, the day we return from Manila! Our flight is due in at 6:30 am and I’m scheduled for the op. at 10:30 that morning. It probably won’t take very much anesthetic to knock me out after our long flight. Ginny, a friend who is also a nurse, will pick us up from the hospital and go with me to the hospital. That way Dave can come home and get some sleep. The flight from here to Japan is about 11 hours and it’s another four hours to Manila, plus the waiting time between flights.
Lots of meetings with friends have been arranged for our time in the Philippines. We will be staying at the OMF Manila Center most of the time, but paying visits to Faith Academy and spending time with friends from three of the churches we’ve helped in over the years. We’re excited to be this close to departure.
Wil was on a retreat with his high school youth group over the weekend and tomorrow he goes on a Student Council retreat. He’s busy packing now, trying to work out what he needs at each place he’ll be staying. We’re just about packed and leave in the morning.
Posted by David at 10:29 PM
November 5, 2006
Early Thanksgiving
We celebrated Thanksgiving early because we’ll be gone on the 23rd. And it seemed fitting to celebrate it with other OMFers, since most years we’ve been with our OMF family rather than our earthly relatives for that celebration. Dick and Donna Andrews, OMF Northwest Directors were coming for dinner Friday night, so we surprised them with a turkey dinner and all the trimmings. We have so much for which to be thankful. You, the myriad of friends stretched around the world who love us and are praying for us, are a major reason for our thankfulness.
Thank you for praying for me and for other friends with cancer. Lana is finishing up a round of chemo now and will have a transplant at OHSU when a donor match is found. So far she has had an infection after each round of chemo. Pray that pattern will be broken this time. Linda looks great and has another month of oral chemo before they will do further tests to see if she needs a transplant. And Harold has been told he’s doing really well and probably will only need quarterly check ups after his chemo for lymphoma in the kidney. Dr. Panutich is doing well. He and his family went out for a meal to celebrate his wife’s birthday, and to a play. Last week he had apheresis over the course of three days and they were able to harvest enough stem cells from his marrow for him to go in for transplant on Nov. 14. That will also be at OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University; Doernbecher Children’s Hospital where Ben spent so much time is a part of OHSU).
Talking to Dr. Panutich about my situation was encouraging. He suggested I get an ultrasound to check out the lump in the breast and see a surgeon to find out whether a lumpectomy would be a possible way to treat it. And he still sees other options for treating the tumors in the liver without going to Taxol. I am having pain in my right arm. I think it’s because the remaining lymph nodes may be enlarged because they are fighting the cancer cells in the lump.
Wil leaves for a Student Council retreat the same day we fly to Manila. When he returns he will spend the weekend with one friend, the next two nights with church friends who live very near us, then the Thanksgiving break with other close friends who have a son in Wil’s class, and the last few nights with yet another church family. It’s his choice to go to a variety of places. His comment was, “I’m a missionary kid; I’m used to moving around a lot!”
Posted by David at 10:31 PM
November 1, 2006
November Prayer Bulletin
Lampinen Prayer Bulletin
Dave & Karen Lampinen, 14300 SE Wiese Rd, Damascus, OR 97089 Home: 503-563-1146 Cell:971-322-8517
lampinendavid@juno.com www.lampinenlog.com
Dear Team, November 1, 2006
Along with a change from sunny 80° (27° C) days to freezing nights and a strong northeast wind, we've had changes in our path, some as chilling to the heart as that blustery wind. The CAT scan showed one of the tumors in my liver has more than doubled in size. A PET scan last week showed that in addition to the tumors in the liver, there is evidence that the cancer is back in the breast tissue. Dr. Leimert was ready to start me on Taxol immediately, but knowing how toxic that chemotherapy is, and that I might have to be on it for the rest of my life, I'm not anxious to start. We talked with Dr. Panutich who suggested several other possible treatments, and that was one of the reasons for doing more tests. I am still getting Herceptin, and also taking large doses of Ambrotose, a powder made from the aloe plant, which helps strengthen the immune system and helps the body fight the cancer itself. I'll continue with this treatment plan for the next month.
And on November 15, Dave and I are flying to Manila for two weeks! That may sound crazy, but lots of pieces have fit together to convince us that this is the right thing to do. I mentioned last month that I'd had a toothache. Well, I had just as much pain after the endodontist redid a root canal. Two weeks later he said that the neighboring tooth also needed a root canal! I have a lot more confidence in Jonathan Perez, my dentist for 20 years in Manila, than the dentists I've seen here, and I felt I'd get better treatment for a lot less money if I could see him. I've been in touch with Jonathan who says he will fit me in as soon as I can get to Manila and get the work done in the time I have available. Then we discovered that we could both get flights using Frequent Flyer miles…and we've just booked the tickets! We leave here at noon on the 15th, arriving in Manila at 10:45 pm the next day. We leave Manila at 7:55 am on the 30th and get to Portland at 6:55 am the same day! As well as dental work, I'll be able to attend an OMF Women's retreat in Calapan, Mindoro. It feels as though that was all planned just so that I could see everyone! Now we need to work out housing for Wil while we're away. Several friends have already offered, and he assures us he's happy to stay with friends.
We have also been invited to officially join the OMF US Mobilization Team at the beginning of 2007. That will go a long way towards providing the direction, accountability and training we need to be an asset to the bigger team. We've started doing some reading to help us with this.
Please pray especially for my health in the next month and that God will show us what treatment option to follow from December onwards. I'm more concerned with quality of life than longevity but I'm not anxious to leave Dave and Wil and many friends here any sooner than I have to. God knows the number of my days and how He wants me to use them. I'm extremely grateful for the level of medical care I've received, including quick access to very expensive tests like PET scans.
Wil's soccer team learned a lot about teamwork, but victory eluded them in a lot of their games. He has decided against playing basketball, but wants to keep in condition by playing indoor soccer and running. We'd like to see him get back to playing his trumpet too. We're hoping that he and a classmate will work on some duets of Christmas carols and be able to use those caroling.
With all the grape, apple, and tomato juice in the cupboard, plus the other canning and freezing, we see manifold evidence of the Lord's bounty, even though the cold winds blow. Thank you for your fellowship with us in prayer,
Dave & Karen
Posted by David at 6:27 PM