Today at 6am we saw Gerdie off as she was pushed inside the surgery room.  
But of course before she was taken out, we prayed. The dormicum she took minutes before didn't take long to take effect. I remember the last words she told me... "Sir, updated ako sa reading natin ha... July 24"

I am impressed by the faith of this girl... I whispered to God "Surely my Lord will will not take this faithful servant away".

We had coffee with the brother reggie and I was touched by what they said about our team "We've never met you guys but we can really feel your presence."  I give credit to each and every one in the team.  Galing niyo talaga! Thanks for all the support guys.. Big or small I appreciate them.

I prayed to God that I will fast until I hear that the operation was a success. At 2pm today I got a text that they were able to do the Whipple operation successfully. Praise God!!! The Cancer looked local and by the looks of it, at least every visible cancer mass was taken out.   Now lets just pray it does not grow back. Lastly, praise God i was able to eat!

Now we come to the final hurdle.. The bills.... (sweat) (sweat)

We need 2 more donors of blood (any type)
The bill for the operation is around 600k (excluding medicines and room) We need cash support from anyone wants to give any amount.

Those who want to help can just deposit to Medical City room 1111 under Gerdie Francisco. If you find this hard then I can help. You can deposit to my BPI account and I'll just give a list of all those who donated to her so everything is accounted for. She will send you a confirmation email to verify receipt. :)  you may email me at artist_ph@yahoo.com to get account #.

Oh... No visitiors for Gerdie this weekend.  Monday pa again...

Everyone who has had a loved one with cancer knows.. that one of cancers greatest ally is depression.  Once the patient has given up hope, the battle is finished.  That person is bound to die. So if there is anything i want to rally my team to do, it is to give Gerdie hope, faith and encouragement.

For 7 months and 22 days now, everyone in the team has been reading the "Chronological bible". Its a day by day with dates which we never got to start on Jan 1.  So what happened was were following wrong dates.. like Today March 13 we are reading July 22. I actually complained about this before cause it was harder... But now i realize why... Everything was in  perfect timing with God's plans.  Today... a day before Gerdie's big operation was God biggest encouragement message...

"Have you not heard or understood? Do you not know that the Lord is the everlasting God, the  Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint of weary.  No one can measure the depths of his understanding.  He give power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak.  Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. BUT THOSE WHO WAIT ON THE LORD WILL FIND NEW STRENGTH. THEY WILL FLY HIGH ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES. THEY WILL RUIN AND NOT GROW WEARY.  THEY WILL WALK AND NOT FAINT."

An assurance that was followed in the next chapter by "Do not be afraid, i am with you." Not once, nor twice but three times. and "I will strengthen you, i will help you" also three times.

Another chapter away on the same day of our reading it ends with a fantastic assurance once again... God says "Do not be afraid, for i have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great toruble, i will be with you.  When you go through rives of difficulty, you will not drown! when you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."... "you are precious to me. You are honored, and i love you."

Fantastic don't you think? Perfect timing as only God can orchestrate it.  Do you have trials in your life? Problems or difficulties perhaps... God is calling you attention saying "Come to me, take my hand i will give you rest..."

if you want to give your own encouagement to Gerdie, please visit her blog which she gets to read www.gerdiefrancisco.com

Last Saturday March 6, Gerdie was supposed to train for video.  On her way to my house she called to ask if she can postpone it since she wasnt feeling to well. Instead she went straight to Medical City where she was checked and was diagnosed as having Gall stones.  Something was blocking the veins to the Pancreas and was not allowed to go home anymore.

A endoscophy was done on her they discovered it wasnt a stone but a mass.  .  At 00:30am March 10 my phone rang while i was sleeping.  It was the doctor... he said "John.. Bad news.  I don't like what i saw. but i wont confirm anything until results on the biopsy come out." Yesterday, it was confirmed that she was positive of Cancer.

I cried... much more than when i found out my dad had cancer (actually i am crying while i write this blog).  Cause i felt that i was a shepherd to this sheep and i knew that Gerdie was one of my best in the bid to do God's mission.  However, i also knew that God knew better than me. His plans are greater than mine and i submit to whatever plans he has for Gerdie. Today my prayer "Father, i need more workers... do not let anything happen to her."

Imagine Nation is not just a company... Its a family. As these photographers train to get better in their photographic skills, we also make sure we grow in spirit.  I recall how Gerdie was when she first applied.. blurred shots, ugly colors, wrong exposures... and i saw how she grew from apprentice to junior and now she is one of our 5 senior photographers. 2 months ago, Gerdie also shared the Purpose Driven Life to her fellow Povedans.  She never went to reunions or home comings, but because of this purpose, to the shock of her old classmates, she went. I know this is just first of many more ways she will be used...

Tomorrow 7am she will undergo the knife... Tomorrow is the big day.  and i request the following prayers for her:

a.  That the cancer is just on Stage 0-1.
b.  That the cancer is isolated and contained so that it can be removed via surgery.
c.  That the major vein at the back of the Pancreas is not affected (because this cannot be removed).
d.  That there will be no complications.
e.  That her recovery period will be quick.
f.   That 100% of the tumor will be taken out tomorrow and that it will not grow back.

Pls keep on praying guys... If you can read this Gerdie. We love you and we're behind you all the way.

Lastly.. just want to share my reading today:

"Christ Jesus came to this world to save sinners - and i am the worst of them all.  But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners.  Then other will realize that they too can believe in him and have eternal life" 1 Tim 1:15