Everyone,




(Scroll down for ministry news) As I write this I feel a bit like the little boy who cried "Wolf". When Kent and I were on our way to see the doctor Monday I said to him "I just have no idea what to expect. She may say, 'Here is some medicine, you can go home to Greece'; she may say 'We need to do surgery'; she may say 'We need to do a scan every few months for a while'; I just don't know what to expect." When the doctor came in she started by saying "this is all so confusing, these tumors really don't look like ANYTHING we have seen before and I am not sure how to proceed" I asked her what the PET scan showed and she said "Oh that's right, I hadn't looked at that yet" and she pulled it up on the computer. She read the report and said "Oh.........this says you have renal (kidney) lymphoma." Of ALL the things I thought she would say that wasn't on the list! As we talked she said that the radiologist was reading the patterns of how my kidneys lit up as renal lymphoma but that didn't mean for SURE that I had the disease and the only way to be sure was to do another biopsy. She said 90% of the time biopsies are accurate but there ARE instances of false negatives. She said "The question is do we do another needle biopsy and see if we can get more tissue or do we go in surgically and get a bigger chunk so we can be sure". I said that I voted for the surgery and she said that the problem with that was that if it IS lymphoma we want the kidneys to be in the best working condition possible to flush out the chemo and the surgery would compromise them somewhat. Also she said the tumors do not have smooth edges so it would be hard to get a whole tumor. She ended by saying "I want to consult with other doctors and other radiologists to see what is best and to see if they have any other ideas - there are a lot of smart people out there and I need some time to think about this and talk to some other people."



Yesterday I saw the oncologist who I already had an appointment with and he said that he really doesn't think it is lymphoma because all the pieces don't fit but all the pieces don't really fit anything. However the only thing to do is to biopsy again and after talking with the kidney doctor they decided to go in with a needle first and see if they could get a firm diagnosis and if not, then they would go in surgically. So I am having another needle biopsy likely tomorrow or Friday and will probably know the results from that Monday or Tuesday. If the results are negative they will be scheduling the surgery. How to pray? If I DO have lymphoma pray that it will show up on the needle biopsy. Or if I have something else pray that they can get a diagnosis from the needle biopsy. As far as how I am feeling about all this I just sort of feel nothing - it's like too many times of gearing myself up for dealing with whatever comes and never knowing. So right now I am just in a wait and see mode - I'm sure if it comes down to a lymphoma diagnosis it will be hard because I thought cancer was off the table but I said the other day "It is what it is" and Kent said "Or it isn't what it isn't". Thanks for riding this roller coaster with us - we love you all.



Ministry News:


Here are a few encouraging things that have been happening in Greece:


This week at ICF (a local church where one of our team mates attends) there was an Afghan/Iranian couple that has been coming to the ARC. Another older Afghan woman was with them. The husband of this family was sharing from the Bible last week with another Afghan man at our Farsi Meal and Outreach after the talk on Tuesday. Another Afghan woman has been coming to the prayer time at ICF for the last month or so. She also has been coming to the ARC.

Around Christmas during the Men's Meal and outreach, in front of other Afghans a man said "now I believe this". This is amazing to see this man say this in front of other Afghans.

Last Wednesday there was a good group of people at the men’s time and there was a man that used to be part of the Taliban. He is very open to hearing about the Gospel.

At the doctor’s day "R", an Afghan believer, shared her faith with another Afghan woman. After the woman left, "R" and "M" (another Afghan believer) prayed for her. The doctor's day went very well and refugees were blessed, not just in being able to see a doctor or a dentist but in being able to have a day away from their stressful lives, to have a meal, to sit and talk. Many good conversations happened that day. I am attaching a couple pictures from the day.

As always we are so thankful for your partnership with us and with the Lord in this work. We sometimes don't understand why we are "on the bench" right now but God does and we trust in His perfect will and timing.



Serving Him Together,

Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@gmail.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: www.iteams.org select: US, Select: What do you want to do, Select: Give
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)

Good News

Everyone,



My doctor just called to say that my bone marrow and my PET scan came back unremarkable except for my kidneys which we already knew were a problem. What this means is NO cancer! The doctor wants me to see a urologist this week to begin chasing down the kidney thing which is something Kent and I had decided to press him on anyway. We know I have tumors in my kidneys. We know they show chronic and acute inflammation. We know the tumors are not malignant but it seems to me they could still be what is making me so sick. Anyway I am feeling encouraged today and pray they we can find a way to treat whatever is going on in my kidneys and that it will prove to be the source of my illness. I wanted to let you know the news as I know many of you have been praying so diligently for me. Thank you and I love you all.



Myrna

Health and Ministry News 2014

Everyone,



(Scroll down if you want to skip the health and personal stuff to read about ministry news) Another week has come and gone. We spent most of the week snowed in at my parent's home in Eugene, OR. Thursday was my Mom's 90th birthday and we had planned a family dinner at a local restaurant with all the family. My sister from MA had flown in and was staying at my parent's home and my other sister and brother and their spouses were coming down from Portland. The snow put a stop to that since even the restaurant phoned to say they were closing. We had also planned a party following church on Sunday but church was also cancelled due to the ice and snow. So we had four days of just hanging out at my folk's with my sister. It was a good time but we were all going a little stir crazy by the time things thawed out on Monday.



Yesterday (Tuesday) I had my bone marrow test. I must say after all the horror stories I had heard about how painful it was I was pleasantly surprised. I told the doctor it felt more like being stung by a bee and not even a very big bee. He did three draws of marrow and a biopsy of the tissue because they are going to test for everything they can think of - cancers, infections, fungus etc. He said that my blood count was low again so that something was stressing my marrow but that it could be just all the inflammation from my arthritis being so bad right now. It will be two weeks until we have the results from these tests. Tomorrow (Thurs) I have my PET scan. They will insert radioactive material into me through an IV and after it circulates through my body they will scan my whole system. This can reveal cancers, infections, or just anything abnormal that is going on in my organs. Dr. Chang said he would call me if there was anything that needed to be followed up on from that test and get it going right away.



Thanks to all of you who prayed for me and encouraged me as I worked through my feelings of discouragement last week. I still have my moments but for the most part my pity party is over and I am just waiting to see what happens next. I appreciate being able to share my heart with you and know that you will understand and uphold me during these times.



The work in Greece continues - this is from a recent note to the team from Christy who is our acting team leader in Kent's absence.


I don't know how many of you had a chance to look around the main room today after the program, but most of the adults were having spiritual conversations! We ask God for His Spirit to move in our center, and I believe it is! Praise God for being a God who pursues us and is building His church among the nations! Be encouraged, our God is alive and active.



Please be praying for the doctor's day coming up tomorrow Feb. 13th. Again a note from Christy.

We have everyone invited for Doctor's Day and I think it's going to be a great group of people. Sahar will send out more info later. Be praying for this time. Many of the people coming have shown interest in spiritual things lately. Sahar will give a short message during lunch from Isaiah about how Jesus came to heal us from our spiritual sickness of sin. Let's join together in praying that this day will not only bless families physically, but also be a step in their journeys towards knowing Christ.



Thank you all again for you unfailing love and support to us and to the work in Greece. We love you all.




Serving Him Together,

Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@gmail.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: www.iteams.org select: US, Select: What do you want to do, Select: Give
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)

Biopsy Report

Good News/ Frustrating News



I went to the doctor today for "the big reveal" the results of my kidney biopsy. The good news - I do NOT have cancer in my kidneys. They saw dead tissue or scarring but no cancer cells. This is good news. The Frustrating News is that we are left with not knowing what is wrong with me. I started to cry and said to the doctor "You need to know that saying "We don't know what it is, is NOT an option." I am SICK. I have to rest after I take a shower before I have the energy to get dressed. Kent and I went to the movies and I ended up huddled up under a blanket shivering until the end of the movie when he could get me home to bed and I could then go through having a fever and sweating. The night we planned to go out for Kent and Katie's birthday I was home in bed shivering, feverish and sweating. I have ZERO energy and can't even go for a short walk without sitting down to rest. We have no LIFE." The doctor said he understood and also wanted to get to the bottom of it. Our next step is to do a bone marrow test and a pet scan to rule out any other cancers or perhaps infections anywhere in my body. If nothing shows up there we are left with consulting with an infectious disease specialist. They cannot do the bone marrow test until Tues the 11th and it will be two weeks after that before we have results. More waiting, more limbo, more not knowing how to plan! I should be rejoicing in the fact that my kidney biopsy came back clear and yet I feel like crying. Please pray for patience for me and for Kent and for peace. Pray for answers soon and for a plan. Thank you for continuing to hold us up.




Serving Him Together,

Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@gmail.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: www.iteams.org select: US, Select: What do you want to do, Select: Give
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)

Health and Ministry Update

Everyone,

I had my biopsy today. It was fairly quick for the biopsy but I had to lay on my side for a couple of hours afterward so we arrived at the hospital at 7am and even thought they bumped us up earlier we didn't come home until around 1pm. I was still feeling the effects of the anesthesia so went right up to bed and slept for four more hours. I have to lay low a bit today an tomorrow but otherwise feel fine. We will get the results from the doctor on Monday, Feb. 3rd.



We now have a vehicle to drive thanks to your overwhelming generosity. In fact we have back up vehicles so are well covered. We are amazed at how God provides our every need but are well aware that he uses his people and their willingness to share in order to accomplish this. We are very humbled by this whole process.



The team is Greece is working hard. They are planning a doctors day on Feb. 13th. We have a team of dentists from Northern Greece who are bring down a fully equipped van in order to not just examine patients but to take care of the problems. We also have a team of doctors who will be seeing patients inside as well. This is all happening at a facility about 1/2 hour from us which is a nursing home/retreat center run by Christians. They have agreed to sponsor several events a year for us. They provide the building, transportation (a bus) and a meal for everyone. This is an incredible blessing for us and makes having these types of days possible. We have 1 intern man who has joined the team for three months and another who will be arriving in a couple of weeks - this will be a great help with both Kent gone and another couple from the team on furlough which makes us short on men. Once again the Lord is providing.



Thank you all again for traveling with us on this journey. We have been amazed at the outpouring of love toward us during this time and are SO thankful to serve with such an amazing extended team. Thank you for being a part of that team. We love you all.




Serving Him Together,

Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@gmail.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: www.iteams.org select: US, Select: What do you want to do, Select: Give
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)

Myrna Health Update

Everyone -



We saw the oncologist today and as expected we won't really know anything for sure until the biopsy. The frustrating thing is that I have been taking Aspirin for my blood and Alleve for my joints and she thought I would need to be off both of them for a week before they could do the biopsy. Why my General Practitioner didn't tell me that so I could have stopped them earlier I don't know but there it is. Dr. Feilder was going to talk to the radiologist about how soon he felt he could safely do the biopsy but she said she thought it would probably be the first of next week. She said looking at my scans, reviewing my symptoms and looking at my blood work she feels it is likely that I have lymphoma - there is a marker in your blood for lymphoma and mine was elevated, the fever, chills and sweating are lymphoma symptoms, the tumors growth and the fact that I have been on Enbrel all point that direction. However she said once again that if it IS lymphoma it is very treatable. We just need to find out for sure IF I have it and what type it is so we know how to proceed. I will have a CT scan of my chest this week to reexamine a spot on my lung to see if it has changed. Kent and I are both very frustrated with not knowing how to plan because we still don't know how long we are going to be here but we do have to trust that God really is in control and is able to take care of: the team in Greece, our refugee friends, our transportation and housing needs long term if needed, our finances and on and on. Thank you again for standing with us in this time. We love you all.




Serving Him Together,

Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@gmail.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: www.iteams.org select: US, Select: What do you want to do, Select: Give
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)

Important Morley Update

Everyone,



I apologize for being out of communication for the last few weeks. We haven't quite known how and when to share what is happening in our lives. As you know my (Myrna's) health has not been very good lately but I hadn't shared that increasingly I was running fevers almost every day and feeling more and more unwell. Kent and I kept holding on to the fact that I was scheduled to come to the states for some scans at the end of January and thought I could just wait until then.



Shortly after Christmas we felt we needed to get some advice from a medical professional so we consulted with an internist that we trust there in Athens to see if he felt this was something small that could be dealt with or if I needed to go to the states. After talking with me and doing a few tests he felt I needed to go to the states immediately and that Kent should go with me.



We bought tickets and left one day later on New Year's day. We stopped for a few days to see our kids and grandkids in MA before coming to OR and consulting the doctors here. It took some time but I now have the results from my first scan. There is an increase in the lesions in both kidneys which is consistent with lymphoma but could be something else. Only a biopsy will give us a definitive answer. I had made an appointment with an oncologist when I arrived here but the earliest she could take me was Jan 21st. After seeing my scans my primary care doctor is pushing to try and get me in earlier. Please pray that we will have answers soon. We will try to keep you informed as we go along and apologize for not letting you know sooner but we were hoping to have something definite to share. Thank you for you unfailing support and love to us.




Serving Him Together,

Kent and Myrna Morley
Tripoleos 76
Elliniko 16777
Athens Greece
011 30 210 96 38 625
backhoeboy1@gmail.com
http://kent-uniquelymorley.blogspot.com
To join our Support Team:
Online go to: www.iteams.org select: US, Select: What do you want to do, Select: Give
Or Send to:
International Teams
411 W. River Rd.
Elgin IL 60123
Please designate for the ministry of Kent and Myrna Morley and indicate whether this is a one time gift or monthly support. Thanks :)