Hi friends and prayer support saints around the world –I am now officially another year older with my 63rd birthday the first week of this month. The wonder for which we thank God is that I would have this birthday at all. As one of my cards comments: “Happy Birthday. It is Better Being Over the Hill than Under the Hill.”  We have hosted my brother-in law from Hawaii and his son in Australia – (both Davids) – at our home last week, and also had some great calls from some of our closest friends in Australia and America this past fortnight. Thanks so much for the birthday communication and encouragement. I have a T-Shirt that says “I’m Not Old. I’m a Recycled Teenager”. The last two weeks have brought more interesting changes. I have entered a regimen of physiotherapy in our local Middlemore hospital for two one-hour sessions a week over the next six weeks. The workouts basically involve machine training – cycle, rowing, hill-climbing, grinding and leg-lifts as well as a cycle of weight and cardio training at home; all designed to help increase my strength and stamina. As I mentioned in the last post I was told I need to get back at least to the level of fitness I had before the first three operations before undertaking this last one. Although quote: “not a haircut” – the operation may take up to 3+ hours to complete – with good fitness, recovery time on this is supposed to be much shorter – it may be as early as three days out of the hospital. Some of you know that part of the procedure to save my life in Korea from the system-wide infection killing me was to flood my body with antibiotics and saline/glucose fluid where my entire body looked almost double in size. Our friend Trevor Yaxley of Lifeway ministries (who kindly traveled with Fae from New Zealand to help her on the trip to join me in that critical time) stayed on with us in Korea a couple more days until William arrived from the Sudan. This was in the initial stages when I was under anesthesia. My fingers then were apparently so swollen that there was no longer any spaces between them, and when Trevor touched them they had no give; they felt like hard pieces of wood. I am told I looked like the Michelin Man. I had up to 9 tubes and 13 drip feeds connecting me to life-support machinery, as almost everything began to shut down except my heart.After I had my miraculous recovery some weeks later, the long bout under coma had sapped more than two-thirds of my muscle strength. At first I could not stand, let alone walk, could scarcely whisper and there was even some doubt about my memory and thinking returning to full function. The torrent of prayer let loose around the world was a wonderful support for us all then, as also were the calls of other dear friends like Steve Hill and Bob Weiner who waited in the wings in the US ready to drop everything and join us for additional support if needed – all a tremendous blessing to us. These faith-building phone calls and words of encouragement contributed massively to my eventual emergence for which we are still deeply thankful. Thus began the road towards return to full strength, the journey which I am now engaged in for the long haul. I have some five weeks left before the next consultation with our new Christian surgeon friend September 14th. During this time I ask for your prayers that the cut down the centre of my abdomen will fully close up and that my strength from these workouts and walks will come up to a new level in preparation for this final surgery, date yet to be determined.It was good to touch base also by phone with friends who I have ministered with for more than a decade usually during this time in the US summer. Larry Andes of Fishnet Ministries, one of the longest-running Jesus Festivals in America and Tim Dilena at War Week in Detroit both have continued to publicly pray for us and been a wonderful source of support, honor and blessing through their ministries. I was able to convey my thanks at these events again this year through them to friends who have loved and appreciated us. My “Six-Mile” spoof video from a previous War Week with the “Directors Commentary” is now featured on YouTube: 6 Mile Video and showcases the creativity of Steve Andes and the talented team from NXTOnline in Illinois that contribute ministry also to this event, with youth and senior pastors training young people for school and street ministries in a city known as one of the worst in America for single-parent or no-parent homes.During this time of convalescence, the previously-mentioned work on the second volume of Divinity, the Nature and Character of God in Creation is also progressing well. Every week I marvel at how rich and deep is God’s Word and how comprehensive His love and practical wisdom for us. Such topics in the Spiritual Roots of Vocation as His work as a Maker, Teacher, Singer, Sculptor, Leader and scores of others are full of challenge and insight, and simply sitting down with hundreds of these verses I have felt some of the added commentary almost write itself. Despite the challenges of this recuperation year and missing so many loved friends and events I have been involved with yearly, one of the things we have been thankful for is the time to write. Perhaps God let Paul go to prison because it was the only way he would have had time to finish his part of the New Testament. In my own small form of prison, the gems of His instruction and care shine.”

Blessings to you all!

The World’s Oldest Living Teenager