Iowa Pastors Pray for Austin, Johnson

Gary Austin, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer, sent the following report about this week’s meeting of the Grace Brethren pastors in Iowa:

We had our Christmas/Valentine dinner out in Waterloo, about one hour north of Cedar Rapids. We went to Famous Dave's, a BBQ place in Cedar Falls. There were 15 in all - good food and fellowship. And a late night!

The pastors held a special prayer service for Jean and me as well as for Howard Johnson, pastor of the Davenport GBC, and his wife, Sue. Howard was discovered to be with cancer last Thanksgiving. He was a special friend to begin with - and we've taken a new step together, one we hadn't planned on, that's for sure.

As for the cancer: We have some Good News and some Not Too Bad News. Friday morning it was confirmed that I have qualified for IowaCare, a limited health care plan for Iowa residents with low income and no insurance. That's the Good News!

They will only care for your medical costs if you go to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. That's Not Too Bad News. That is in Iowa City, about 25 miles away. But we've been told they will pick up the costs of treatments I'm facing - which will run in the many thousands of dollars. That's Good News!

We started the process of trying to connect with the offices in IC and found it somewhat frustrating. That's the Not Too Bad News, for our desires would have been to have things fall into place right away. But it was a Friday afternoon. The oncologist we saw earlier this week has faxed my info to them and they told me (by phone) that they will try to get me in at first opportunity. That's Not Too Bad News, too.

You might just pray for that to happen this coming week. Let's see what God will do!

We love you and wanted to keep you in the loop as it takes its different turns along the way!