My Wife's Journey

This is the account of my wife, Elena Collins (nee Cheng Yuk Chun). As of this last December 7, Elena and I have been married for twenty years, and at last count we have three children: Jessica, Stephanie and Jordan.

When David began losing weight, I wasn't at all concerned. In fact, I was quite thrilled. Rather than there being negative symptoms, all the symptoms were positive - David was slimmer, his back problems had disappeared, and he seemed generally healthier (although easily fatigued). One benefit, too, was that the refrigerator had more food, and we were saving money on groceries!

When we moved to Melbourne, David moved down first and got everything set up for me. He was several months down in Melbourne (from January to July) before I joined him, and each time he came up to visit me in Newcastle, I could see that he was getting thinner, but I thought he was pining away because he was missing me (and wasn't eating as well, because he was missing my cooking)!

When David began to complain about stomach discomfort, I encouraged him to see the doctor. Originally, the doctor in Newcastle thought it might just be reflux, then later an accalasia (blockage of the eosophagus), but when one evening David had fever and chills (with severe tremors), I was holding him and felt the entire bed shaking, I became very concerned.

When the first gastroscopy results came back, and the news was that David had cancer, this simply confirmed a possibility that I had already considered, but hadn't wanted to mention. As we both listened to the doctor give his report, both of us were very quiet. I felt almost as if the doctor was talking about somebody else.

The grace of God was very evident for me, though. Two weeks before this, I had been reading a Chinese translation of Phillip Yancey's book, Reaching for the Invisible God. The book explained how Christians go through exactly the same difficulties non-Christians go through, and what happens when it appears that God doesn't answer your prayers. He was teaching about how our faith overcomes the circumstances, and this made a very big impression on me. Because of this, my heart was prepared for the news, and I had total faith in God. Although David's cancer was a medical fact, I had peace that the Lord was in control. This was a very special peace - not just a mental acceptance of God's help, but an absence of fear. I simply knew that God would handle the future.

One thing that became obvious during this time is just how much people in the church love David, and treasure his ministry. I've witnessed this love and support expressed to me and the family. For example, someone bought us a juicer, just when we needed one. Another time, when the days became very hot, someone gave us a portable airconditioner. Someone else gave us a water distiller. These are just some of the wonderful expressions of love that we have experienced.

Emotionally, my church friends (here in Melbourne, and also in Newcastle and Hong Kong) have also been a great support for me, since I don't feel like I'm facing this on my own.

The Lord has encouraged me with John 16:33:

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

This scripture tells us that Jesus has already overcome this world. When our heart goes through trouble, we can know that the Lord has everything in his hand.

Another verse that has meant a lot to me is Luke 18:1-7:

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, "Grant me justice against my adversary." For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, "Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!"' And the Lord said, 'Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?'"

Both David and I have been pressing into the Lord in prayer. If even this uncaring judge responded to the incessant pleas of the widow, how much more will our heavenly Father, who loves and cares for us, respond to our prayers? And so we keep on looking to the Lord.

There is no doubt the most amazing thing David and I are experiencing is the peace of God. Here I am, still able to laugh, even able to joke about the situation. This can only happen because of the peace God gives - a peace the world can never give.