Many of you have been praying for our family recently. In the past 3 and 1/2 weeks my dad has had quadruple bypass surgery, my mom's last scan for cancer showed three new growths, and my aunt and grandmother (mom's side) were in a really bad car accident. They are both still in ICU at a hospital in Louisville. Thank you so much for your prayers. Here is the brief update.
My dad is recovering very well. We are trying to make sure that he is doing everything he needs to do to make a full recovery. He still has a long road ahead of him and he gets tired easily. However, we consider ourselves truly blessed as his doctor's words were that he was a "walking time bomb" for a lethal heart attack. Thanks to everyone who visited, brought food, and most importantly prayed for him during this time.
My grandmother has 7 broken ribs, a cracked sternum, and a collapsed lung. The thing we are most concerned about with this situation is that she is 93 and recovery is going to be painful and slow. My aunt has a ruptured diaphram, crushed elbow, and and some heart problems. She has many surgeries ahead of her in the next few weeks. Once again, prayers appreciated.
My sister, Julie, and I flew to Boston to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to get a second opinion from a sarcoma specialist about mom. We are going to continue this hopefully LONG road of trial and error treatments, experimental meds, and praying for a miracle. The prognosis for leiomyosarcoma is not good, but my mom is a fighter, for sure! We will be traveling to Boston at least a few times in the next few months for some biopsies on the new growths as well as some clinical trial medications that can only be taken in Boston. We are flying back to Kentucky today. Once again, and I think you see the trend, please keep praying for us.
If you would like to send cards or words of encouragement to my mom or dad - here is their contact information. They truly are two of the most amazing people on the planet.
Sonny and Ruthie Fentress
1221 Stoneridge Road
Lawrenceburg, KY 40342
I will try my best to keep you guys updated.
29 June 2011
17 November 2010
News about My Mom
Many of you have asked for an update on my mom. So, I thought this would be the best way to get the information out. About two weeks ago, my mom had 'irregular cell' activity that showed up on a PET scan. This was alarming to all of us since she is 15 months past her last treatment from breast cancer. In a matter of seven days, we discovered this – and the mass was surgically removed. The growth was the size of a cantaloupe. However, the slice that was taken for initial biopsy and examination came back benign, so we were relieved. On Friday, my mom received a phone call from the doctor saying that the rest of the growth had been sent off for testing, and they had discovered a rare malignancy nestled inside the benign growth. I had never heard of this before. So, on Friday, my mom was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma. We still don't know much (and we were told not to do research on-line). We do know that this type of cancer has two major characteristics. It is sporadic and aggressive. It is also usually resistant to chemo and radiation. My parents went to the doctor yesterday – and they requested a second opinion. The doctor strongly supported that decision. He recommended the complete sarcoma center at Dana Farber Brigham and Women's Center in Boston, Massachusetts. My parents will travel there together on December 3rd. If you would like to send my mom a card, please send to Ruthie Fentress, 1221 Stoneridge Rd. Lawrenceburg, KY 40342. If you are in Lawrenceburg, then I am sure my parents will not turn down a meal, a visit, or a favor – although they wouldn't ask for any of the three. Above all and as always, your prayers are appreciated – for my parents, my sister Julie, and me. God has really given me a peace these last few days that I know could have only come from Him. We know that none of this is a surprise to Him. He is faithful and He is able.
Evolution of a Calling
Websters.com defines evolution as “a process of gradual, peaceful, progressive change or development” and “any process of formation or growth; development.” For the past decade, I have been blessed to travel around the world and explain how God began to form my calling at an early age. At the age of 9, I began playing basketball, rode on an airplane for the first time, and became a Christian. The third grade was a big year for me as God was instilling passions inside of me that, eventually, He wanted to use for His glory. For the last ten years, He has given me ISF as an avenue to live out these passions on a daily basis. Sports, traveling, and missions are all still very important to me.
Throughout my time at ISF, God has helped raise awareness of new areas of ministry that excite and energize me. One of these is discipleship throughout the mission process. God is able to use people’s obedience to go and serve internationally to take them to a new level in their spiritual journey. I absolutely love watching and participating in this process for volunteers. For the past three years, God has also grown a desire in me to help take care of and be an advocate for the 143 million orphans around the world. The Bible is so clear that taking care of orphans and widows IS the heart of God.
As the calling that began at the age of 9 continues to evolve, it is with very mixed emotions that I share with you that I will be leaving ISF in December and taking a position working with Samaritan’s Feet in
Scripture tells us in Ephesians that God predestines a plan for His children and works everything out according to His ultimate purpose: to glorify Himself among the nations. In order for His name to be magnified, we as His children have to evolve, grow and mature so that we can be an effective tool for the Kingdom. In reflection of this past decade, I can see the hand of God on my life. He really has worked out everything according to His own plan because there IS a bigger picture that I cannot always see. I am grateful for this process, even though it has been difficult at times. I have learned SO much about mobilization, about communicating well with others, about myself, and most importantly about God’s heart. I have made so many new friends; many of these I am sure will be lifelong relationships. The ISF staff has been an extended family to me. I really cannot put into words how grateful I am for my decade with the International Sports Federation.
God Bless you as you continue to surrender to the story that He wants to write for you – there really is no greater adventure on this side of heaven.
08 October 2010
Tumaini has a CAR!!
Here is an excerpt from my Kenyan journal of one of my favorite days at Tumaini.
OK, yesterday was probably my favorite of all days at Tumaini….and that is saying a lot because I have had so many incredible days here. The new car has finally arrived at Tumaini! God has really exceeded everyone’s expectations with this vehicle. There are some pictures below, so check them out. Yesterday we had a party/prayer time to thank God for the provision of the vehicle and to pray safety and blessings over the car. There were many rituals/traditions in this process – and there was a HUGE celebration. Rose’s parents even traveled from a few hours away to join the celebration.
The children were precious and priceless, as always. They were invited over to Rose’s house for cokes and snacks, but they did not know what the celebration was for. The house mother, Violet, kept asking the children what they were celebrating, but none of them knew. She then took one of the girls, Ruth, outside to show her the car, and she came back in saying, “Gari, Gari!” This is the Swahili word for car. They were so excited and they began singing one of my favorite songs they sing, “Jehovah Jireh,” meaning the Lord provides.
Then, the best part. We took the kids out to look at the car. They were SO cute. Remember, many of them have never sat inside of a personal car before – and they have only been on public transportation a few times. At one point, I counted 18 beautiful children piled inside a four door sedan. They would look at their reflection in the car or in the windows and just laugh and laugh. We turned the radio up loud and the kids were dancing outside.
Next, we ate lunch. The ladies who help in the kitchen have been teasing me about how I am Kenyan now….and there are just a few more things I have to do to receive the official Kenyan stamp of approval. Earlier in the day, I had told Rose’s sister, Neddie and Rose 2 that I was feeling more and more Kenyan, and they agreed that I was ready for the chicken head. They had killed 6 chickens for the party. In Kenya , the chicken head is reserved for special guests or the head of the house…..especially the chicken brain. You read that right…..the BRAIN. So, today, I partook – and I think this makes me officially Kenyan.
I am almost finished telling you about my fabulous day, but I can’t leave this part out. I forgot to mention that I am the only one who can currently drive the new vehicle. Amanda can, too….but she just wants to practice a little bit before taking the plunge dodging potholes, bicyclists, matatus (public vans) – all while driving on the wrong side of the road. I, however, was up for the challenge and concluded my most fabulous day driving Rose, Amanda, Rose’s parents, and a few other people to Kakamega, about 30 minutes away from Tumaini. Amanda was my co-pilot, and together we maneuvered through the adventure.
I ended my near perfect day by tucking the young kids into bed – and reading
”The Chronicles of Narnia” to the older children.
Tumaini is definitely different without having an ISF team here…not better or worse, just different. I pretty much love this place every way I have experienced it. I am so grateful for this opportunity. Thanks for continuing to read.......and pray.
24 September 2010
Kenyan Baptism
I am going to attempt over the next few weeks to recount some of my favorite memories of my extended stay in Kenya. Here is one......
The entire team had gone to Sunday School at the school with the children. After that, some of the team members decided to go to the church where several of the adults from Tumaini worship. Hesbon escorted us. We rode in a matatu with Amanda and the Roses for a few kilometers. There were 23 of us in the matatu – which is supposed to seat 14. A few minutes later, we arrived at church – and the praise and worship was already underway.
When I say praise and worship…..I mean Kenyan style. These women have the joy of the Lord that is just not very common in the
I asked Bellar to share, and she did a great job talking about worry and how sometimes women really struggle with worrying about the future. She shared from Matthew 6: 25-34, and it was very good. We were told that the service would be cut short because they were having a baptism service in the afternoon. The lady who was telling us about the baptism was the mother of one of the children at Tumaini – and she informed us that her daughter would be baptized at the service. This was a really cool moment for me. My first Kenyan baptism service, and God had worked it out to see one of ‘my’ Tumaini kids be baptized.
The service was short (REALLY short for a Kenyan service). Once we were dismissed we lined up in a procession for a “SHORT” walk to the river. Now, after traveling to
After we arrived, Hesbon informed me that I would be preaching the baptismal service. Looking back, this would have been nice to know at the church, so that I could have at least had an hour to prepare my thoughts. So, literally, in about 2 minutes, I gathered my thoughts for the sermon.I am not really sure what I said, but I am quite certain that God was shining through the spontaneity and ‘unpreparedness.’ Afterwards, some of the team members were teasing me that I was a little long-winded – not to mention that I had given a theological explanation of salvation from Genesis to the New Testament.
Next, came the actual baptism. The drums and singing continued as one by one each person walked into the river to be baptized. Once they came out of the water, they literally danced out of the river. It was one of the most beautiful memories that I have of my time in
By the end of the day, we had worshipped with new friends, walked 6 miles, and watched 5 people be baptized. It was a great day full of memories that I will never forget.
12 July 2010
Africa Project
Does Anybody want to help me go to East Africa? On July 22nd, I will be leading a group of 19 individuals to Kenya to host a Vacation Bible School for Tumaini Miles of Smiles School and Orphanage. Feel free to check out their site www.tumainimilesofsmiles.org. Tumaini is the Swahili word for HOPE, and this place truly is a beacon of HOPE in their community. There are currently 33 orphans living in the Tumaini home ranging from 5 months to 13 years of age. There are nearly 200 students in the school from Pre-K to 6th grade. God has allowed me to invest in these people's lives for the last three years, and I am very excited to return with a new group of individuals very soon. Please contact me if you have any questions. God bless you as you seek HIS best for your life!
Sincerely,
Sara Beth
HELP SARA BETH GET TO AFRICA......
AFRICA SILLY BANDZ!!!!!
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