This goes out to you in a ‘letter’ form, from my wife, Nora.

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Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,“ 

Dear faithful friend, who has trustworthily journeyed with us for so many years; we are so grateful and know you will continue to be and do so into the future!

January 17, 2025, I quit my employment as a Special Education Teacher because I was having difficulty recalling how to do parts of my job, my schedule, what I had completed, and what I needed to do. I also continue to be greatly fatigued, with muscle weakness, and occasional difficulty putting thoughts to words. Since that time, I have been through an enormous amount of medical testing and neurological evaluations. Currently, there are several areas of medical needs being addressed. We’re finding neurological issues are a ‘long-game’, and it’s taken a year now to land on decisive conclusions.  My most recent test was a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), and fluid comparisons throughout the brain and spine were conclusive, especially given all the other labs, MRIs, EEGs and neurological cognitive evaluations in 2025. 

My major health issue was confirmed on January 5, 2026. I have been given a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s (early-stage).  

This is a scary diagnosis. There isn’t a cure. There are medications that slow the disease; yet some may cause brain bleeding. This, I am not willing to risk. There is also the MIND diet, recommended for slowing the disease. This is a combination of the Mediterranean and DASH diet. I am trying to apply the MIND diet; however, it is difficult for me to mentally put all the pieces together, so we are slowly implementing as I increase my understanding. Other pertinent venues of helping are exercise, socialization times, doing art, continued language and motor skills, etc.  Research indicates there are wide and individual variations in how Alzheimer’s progresses; so, we are trusting God in all these matters. 

My neurologist believes I am in the beginning phases of the disease. There isn’t a way to determine how fast/slow Alzheimer’s will progress. Our plan now is to continue to heal what can be healed in my body, and to see some of the national parks in our area, once the weather is permitting. I’ll continue to enjoy my garden and art class once a week as well as walks in the forest, the occasional symphony or ballet, and as many women’s events, such as Bible studies, church activities, and social gatherings as I can handle.  All these things bring me joy and a sense of God’s loving Presence on this journey.

Dan will continue in all his life-ministry activities and commitments, which seem to be ever increasing, as he also attends to my needs.  He’s quite creative in how he juggles these issues, and likely he’ll ever slowly increase his remote means of engaging ministry.  So far, and as we foresee into the near future, nothing will change much in his areas of work and how he implements.  God has been so gracious in His allowing Dan’s health to improve. 

Processing this type of reality, honestly, goes in waves and cycles, short-to-long.  So far, the waves are ones of depression, trust, fear, hope, less-than-hope, anger, anxiety, life goes on, knowing our precious Lord knows best, wondering why, and the like.  Underlying all these, is a deep abiding trust in GOD, and all His best desires.  I’m sure you can imagine. 

First, please pray against the fear I have of what the future might bring, and that Dan and I will trust our utterly faithful God through all of this, moment by moment. This is especially hard for me since I lost my dad to AIDS when I was 27, then my mom to cancer when I was 37, and almost lost Dan in 2021. I have prayed that God would spare my children the same type of loss of a parent.

Second, pray for Dan and our children (Jonathan, Bryan, and Eliana). They also will have a different but difficult journeys as this disease unfolds.  We are certainly always open to God’s restoration and healing. 

We’ll keep you up to date on all we know, as we know and experience it.  You’ll continue to receive all our monthly MailChimp/email and hardcopy updates.  Feel free to contact us for any of your clarification needs.

Thank you for praying into all this! 

In affectionate love … ❤️😊

Nora

Global Service Associates       P.O. Box 20425      Boulder,   CO      80308-3425

720.271.1104