Joshua Update

For those of you following Josh's saga, an update from his parents below:

God is being glorified daily in so many ways through the work that He is doing to prove His character and Word true in the lives of Josh, Sadie, Kylee and Bethany. Thank you for your continued prayers and your part in glorifying God. As you all can imagine it’s not an easy chapter of life for them, and the prayers, gifts and help of many people through the grace of God continue to sustain them and bear fruit through their lives.

Since the last “Josh Update” on November 15 here are a few things that God has done to sustain Josh and his family in the midst of their continuing journey of hope with his brain cancer:

· Although one of Josh’s many falls resulted in him breaking his weak right arm (humerus fxr--EN), he continues to get up through the pain to do all he can to pass on God’s grace to those around him. His arm has completely healed now, but recently Joshua has been falling from one to three times a day. Joint, back and side pain on his good left side has increased due to the right side weakness. Yesterday, God provided so that he could get a cortisone shot to hopefully relieve some of the pain in his hip. He has only been able to attain uneven and unsteady walking using a cane and leg brace over the past eight months since the recovery process began after his surgery last spring, and he may have to go to a wheelchair. This would mean huge new adjustments for them in their small condo with steps leading up to it.

· Chemo-therapy continues to be approved by their insurance provider, and his blood counts are once again healthy to enable him to resume his intra-venous bi-monthly chemo-therapy in Phoenix and his oral three week chemo-therapy each month. Due to the time needed for his broken arm to heal there had to be a two month pause in the chemo-therapy and that turned out to be a blessing in bringing back a good appetite for the holidays. There will be another MRI in February.

· Josh’s alertness and a return to more conversational involvement continues to grow and improve making relationships with family and friends increasingly more vibrant and fruitful.

· Josh goes about each day in faith trusting God to enable him to do whatever he can to fulfill God’s purposes and plans for his life. His greatest heart’s desire is to see God care for his wife Sadie and their daughters who are now 4 ½ and 2 years of age. Bethany Faith’s two year birthday is today. You might remember that Sadie was 6 months pregnant with Bethany when this whole cancer challenge began. We praise the Lord for both Kylee and Bethany and their sweet faith in Jesus as they watch, help and pray with Mommy and Daddy and go through this together as a family.

· Sadie is increasingly reaching out to help and bless those around her: babysitting neighbor children, giving a very moving testimony at her M.O.P.S. (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) goup, and giving a baby shower for a good friend. As you can perhaps imagine, the challenges of life with two little ones and the many added responsibilities with all of Josh’s medications, handicaps and falls are not easy for Sadie. And this week Sadie and the two girls all ended up with a very bad cold. As we sat around our table on New Year’s Day and each shared a goal for 2008, Sadie said “I’m asking God for hope.”

· Sadie’s M.O.P.S. (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) group and many people from our church, The Heights, were led of the Lord to do a home make-over of their two bedroom condominium to encourage and bless them in November. Fresh new modern style painting, some new furniture, new lighting and a marble counter top in the kitchen are a few of the things that are daily reminders of God’s hands on care and encouragement for them through the very generous Body of Christ. God continues to provide for them through disability income, gifts from many people and public health insurance.

If the Lord places it upon your heart would you please join us in special prayer for one month until 2-22-08 to ask the Lord to please:

1. Take away the cycle of falling and increased pain in Joshua’s back, side and right hip joint. And instead for Josh to transition into steady walking and the freedom of movement that comes from less pain and stronger muscles, rather than going to a wheelchair.

2. Use these next 30 days to give Romans 5:1-8 kind of hope, joy, insight and contentment to Josh, Sadie, Kylee and Bethany. (See the verses printed out below.)

3. Bless all of the details and planning as Josh once again heads up a Cancer Treatment Center city-wide “Journey of Hope” here in Prescott on May 15^th.

Thank you for your part in what God is doing to glorify Himself each day here with Josh, Sadie, Kylee and Bethany.

Yours in Christ,

The Prescott Sloans

Romans 5:1-8

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,

Because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Perseverance, character;

And character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us,

Because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

Whom He has given us.

You see, at just the right time,

When we were still powerless,

Christ died for the ungodly.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man,

Though for a good man someone might dare to die.

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

--Romans 5:1-8

May you be blessed and encouraged as you believe and find the treasures of our Lord Jesus Christ in God’s Word in the midst of the challenges and sufferings that you are facing as well.