Torch, Summer 1999

and needed some encouragement. Does that sound like an opportunity? I have been part of this phone buddy system for over a year now, and the opportunity to encourage people has been overwhelming. It is amazing how the Lord has had me talk with people from all over the country and tell them how I continue to do so well. When you talk with people who have recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, they are very frightened; they feel very helpless and hopeless. They are thinking about eternity more than they ever have before. I have talked with about 15 people through this system so far, and they range from a pediatrician from Roanoke, Virginia, to a film maker in California. I always share my faith with them and plant a seed. I continue to have contact with many of them. I was even asked to speak at an international lung cancer conference in Italy! This international lung cancer conference was attended by lung cancer oncologists, research scientists, and surgeons from all over the world. I made some significant contacts with many of these world-renowned doctors during the four-day 8 Torch conference. In my presentation, I was able to share my faith with this statement: "But more than anything else, I realized that my personal relationship with Jesus Christ has played the greatest role in my survival. When facing a life– threatening illness, it is so reassuring to know that God loves and cares for me more than anyone else, and He has a purpose for all that I am going through. Another aspect that has truly helped is the prayer of my family and friends ." I closed with, "I have surpassed the statistics [that we learned about] when finding out that I had stage IV lung cancer, and for that I dearly thank God. I heard a quote that I feel is very appropriate. The quote says, 'The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift not a right.' I realize now like never before that each day is truly a gift from God." Once again, we believe a seed was planted with the people who attended that conference. Later, the Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company invited me to speak at a conference in Chicago. Of course, I was happy for the chance. So Jessica and I went off to Chicago and spent a couple of days touring the city as well as giving my speech. We had a wonderful time. It was a very special time for mother and daughter, and we had a blast. Times with Jessica are very, very special, even more so than they have been in the past. Also on this trip I met the president of Eli Lilly and many corporate people and divisional and regional representatives. I presented a 20-minute speech and led a 30- minute question/answer session. One man came up to me afterwards and said, "I really appreciate the testimony you shared and how open you were. I am a new Christian, and a lot of the people I work with never hear about the Lord, so I really appreciate you taking that and giving such an open word about that." I also received a card a week later from a lady who attended. She, too, thanked me for being so open with my testimony. ALCASE also did a lung awareness campaign visiting various cities throughout the country. They asked me to speak at a conference later in the fall, and I did a 10-minute presentation there. I also was able to share my faith at the end. It was speaking mainly to doctors, nurses, care givers, and cancer survivors themselves. Since that conference, two other people have contacted me. I will also be (continued on page 13)