On Tuesday afternoon, I got a strange call from my oncologist. He told me that I should travel to Toronto "now." Based on my symptoms and scan results, he was concerned that if I waited any longer I might not be able to travel at all.

A flurry of activity ensued! I had to get some blood tests and scans to be sure I was ready to fly. Meanwhile, Joanne was packing my suitcase, and both of us were trying to think of everything that needed to be done. Pastor Nathaniel volunteered to fly with me, so I booked two tickets for an overnight flight to Toronto. Before we left for the airport, a number of pastors and elders from our presbytery, plus a few other friends, gathered at our home to pray with us for God's healing and provision.

The sun was not quite up yet when we landed in Toronto. Despite my doctor's concerns, the flight hadn't given me much trouble. I got a few hours sleep at my brother's house before heading out to an afternoon appointment with my surgeon. It was great to finally meet him, and our conversation was encouraging. I am now officially booked for surgery on March 1.

That gives us two weeks to get Joanne and the kids here, figure out our living arrangements, get to a few appointments, and enjoy some time together before the big day. No big deal! Well, actually, we would appreciate your prayers for all of these details to come together. So far, God has been providing and helping in an amazing way. We don't mind trusting him with this next week.

Thank you to so many who have responded to my request for financial help. We have received almost $20,000 since Monday, which brings us to just under $80,000 in total so far. We feel very loved and blessed to have you all in our lives.

All this travel and planning has me thinking about Psalm 139, which beautifully reminds us that God is involved in every part of our lives:

If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

even there your hand shall lead

and your right hand shall hold me.

Even better than any surgeon, he knows how my body is put together:

For you formed my inward parts;

you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

And he has been planning all of this way ahead of time:

In your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.