August 24th & 25th, 2006, From Nathan

Thursday, August 24

Dear friends, Rejoice in the Lord always!

I have been meditating on this exhortation this morning as I move quietly around Lynette's room, arranging things and cleaning up, and then as I shower and get ready for the day. Her condition has deteriorated over the last 24 hours. Fluid is reaccumulating in her abdomen much more quickly than hoped. Her speech and motor skills also show a significant decline from yesterday. How then can I rejoice? But I do feel a great sense of joy. It is a great honor and joy to accompany my dearest friend to the gates of Paradise. It is a joy because our Lord is with us and we are drawing near to Him. It is a joy because our love for each other continues to grow and deepen through this time of trial. As Lynette's body fails her spirit is soaring. She radiates peace, joy and love to all those around her. This journey is also a joy because of the love of the body of Christ which is enveloping us. We are so blessed by all of the family and friends who are making the great effort to come and visit us. The Lord has worked out many challenges of scheduling in a very high-traffic season and the complications of renewing expired passports. Lynette's three brothers have already arrived as well as our dear coworkers Fr Luke and Faith Veronis and the priest of our home parish Father Pat Reardon. Each one is such a blessing to all of us. We are also so grateful to all of you who have reached out to help in so many ways, with encouraging e-mails, letters and financial help for those who are traveling to see us. To name only a few.

We also continue to be blessed by the loving support of the community here in Albania. I am amazed at all of those who have come together to care for us so beautifully.

Friday, August 25

Lynette's physical condition continued to decline today. She now has great difficulty saying even a few words. Swallowing is also difficult. She is in a deep sleep the vast majority of the time.

It is a great blessing that her family members and best friend had all arrived by yesterday and were able to have meaningful conversations with her.

Today has been a blessed day of prayer, fellowship and singing. We have rejoiced together in a great gift of our salvation and have been blessed to live this day in the company of one who is finishing her race. She continues to be filled with peace and joy. For several hours this evening all sat around the large recliner in which she was resting. For much of the time she seemed to be completely asleep but often her countenance would be illumined by a bright smile of joy. Occasionally her eyes would open and she would say a few words to us but mostly she simply rested as we sang and praised our great God. Fr Patrick anointed her with myrrh from one of the weeping icons.

Walking to the gates of Paradise with a dying person also has its more earthy side. I just heard Lynette moving and so ran to see how I could help her. She needed to roll on her other side which she is on able to do by herself now. Before moving her I swung the bag for her catheter, which was installed this afternoon, across the bed. Urine poured out because the valve had not been closed properly last time we emptied it. I moved Lynette to the recliner so that I could change the sheets and clean the featherbed. Thankfully she immediately fell soundly asleep again in the recliner allowing me time to prepare the bed for her. Thank God she is again resting quietly on clean linens. This is only one of the menial tasks which caring for a person who is becoming increasingly helpless requires. I am grateful for each one because it is one more opportunity to express my love for her before her departure.

A team of 15 Albanian young people leaves tomorrow morning for Kosovo to run a four-day day camp for 450 children in a muslim village. This will be the first time in the five-year history of these camps that a team is going without me. Please pray for these young people. This work in Kosovo is very challenging physically, emotionally and spiritually. I will deeply miss the dear friends that make up this team during this difficult time, but I am extremely pleased that they are able to carry on the ministry even if I can not be present. We are very blessed by such competent and zealous Albanian coworkers that are such a joy to work with.