Yesterday, I got some surprising news from the hospital. Another surgery was canceled, which meant a new opening in their schedule. As a result, my surgery date has been moved from Friday (March 1) to Monday (February 26). That's only five days away!

Since getting that call, our main focus has been working to get Joanne and the kids here. The main challenge is that Joanne needed a new passport. She submitted a renewal several weeks ago, but it was delayed, and then we didn't have time for another renewal because my surgery date got moved up so suddenly.

Today, we received a major answer to prayer: in just one day, Joanne was able to get a temporary passport from the Canadian consulate in San Francisco. The staff member there said this was the fastest processing time she had ever seen! Now, she and the kids can fly to Toronto tomorrow. It will be nice to have a weekend together before my operation.

On Monday morning, I'm to arrive at the hospital at 6am. The surgery is scheduled to begin at 8am, and sometime in the afternoon the surgeon will be ready to provide an update to my family.

Thank you all for praying for me and my family. We will keep you updated. I'm deeply thankful to God for guiding us this far, and happily trusting him with the surgery and its outcome.

As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust. (Ps 103:13-14)