Hello fellow travelers on the Jesus walk. This is my first post on the blog. Amanda set this up, and has been keeping it going while I was working and staying with Bill. I am writing as I listen the the Blue Angels fly overhead. They are practicing for their weekend performances and perform right over Mercer Island so I feel like I am on the runway.
Bill is doing better. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord. His breathing is definitely better. He is able to take deeper breaths and doesn't feel so much like breathing is a chore. He is still taking Oxicodone for the pain from the chemical pleuradesis, his chest has a dull pain in the lower rib region. However, modern medicine is working okay and he is better. Bill's appetite continues to improve and he was able to comfortably drink orange juice this morning. Bill has had a glass of orange juice everymorning of his adult life so it was a treat to be back to that. His dry, and sore mouth is healing and he is swallowing much better. Phooey on the Cancer and the Sjogrens to combine and cause problems. Bill tries to walk a bit further everyday and says that he has more energy. Praise God.
The heat is all of our biggest problem. I know that all of you in the hot part of the US are laughing at our pathetic whining about the heat, but we are used to having webbed feet and laughing in the rain, not the heat. However, we are so blessed to have friends. Our friends from Lutheran Ministries NW (Bill's chaplain group) showed up yesterday with a room airconditioner for our bedroom. It was 103 in Seattle yesterday. After his radiation we went to our friends the Ryersons who have central air and camped out in their family room. Bill slept in their recliner and Amanda and I went shopping in the airconditioning for shoes. We were all successful. Lynne & Tom fed us a great meal & Bill enjoyed seconds. WOW. Then, when we got home & found the new airconditioner running and cooling our bedroom Bill smiled and laid down to watch TV and had a great night's sleep. We moved a mattress into our bedroom and Bill & I, Amanda & the dog, Kai all slept in comfort. We are so loved.
Bill wants me to tell you that he and Amanda are on chapter 8 of Luke. Luke has always been one of Bill's favorite books of the Bible. He is starting to have people stop by and enjoying seeing them again. He is still not talking on the phone much, but we are hoping that he will feel well enough to talk briefly to all of you who are calling. In the meantime, Amanda and I are feeling refreshed and encouraged with your calls, emails, and cards. We love you all and thank God for all of our family and friends. Love, Sue
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Hi Bill,
ReplyDeleteYou and your family continue to be in our prayers. May God continue to hold all of you in the palm of His hand as you walk together through this most difficult time of your lives.
Love,
Dick and Elaine Lootens
Bill, Sue and family; Glad to hear the good news and progress Bill is making. Could not help but laugh about the heat. Last night when we did our out reach it was 97 degrees and extremely high humidity. Bill I am sure will remember the acronym H. H. and H. (Hot, Hazy and Humid.) An old Baltimore term. When we went to bed it was deinitely a hot one. We continue to pray for all of you and give thanks to God for our friendship across the miles. Be safe and keep the faith. God has been and is still in the healing business. What an awesome God we serve.
ReplyDeletePastor Paul, Debi, and PJ
Hi, Bill, Sue, Amanda, and Minnie. We are so grateful you have a blog. It's great to keep up with the Clements' household and to hear the good news about Pastor Bill's improvements.
ReplyDeleteWe are going to Ashland Oregon next week for the Shakespeare Festival and will be able to plug in every day and look for updates.
Wendy is also improving mightily. She walks with a cane much of the time but is now branching out to walking with no help at all.
We keep you in our prayers, of course. Pastor Bill, your visits to Wendy after her surgery were very inspiring to both of us, very moving. Keep up the good work! Much love from Wendy Wendland and Joyce Ray
Hi Bill, Susan, Amanda, Minnie,
ReplyDeleteWe are so thankful to the Lord for Bill's improvements. We are still praying and loving you all across the miles! Mary and Fred
Wild Bill
ReplyDeleteUncle Fred here, as Karl calls me.
just home from a hard day on the golf course. I remember us playing at Lake Lawn and then taking our brides horseback riding in the rain - Mary's white pants were ruined. At least as far as wearing in public :) Praying for each of you during this journey, love Fred and Mary
Earlier this year a number of Thrivent Chapters provided matching funds to a fund raiser for Bill's prison ministry.
ReplyDeleteFollowing is an acknowledgement Bill sent to the Thrivent members.
Blessings,
Dick Lootens
To my sisters and brothers in Christ at Thrivent,
On behalf of our Lutheran Ministry Services Northwest Prison Ministry I want to say “thank you” to your Thrivent Chapter for your contribution to our LMS Prison after Care Fund. As the chaplain for prisons and jails and for the after care ministry, I reach out in mercy and compassion motivated by Christ and his gospel to those coming out of jail and prison and in need.
I am especially tuned to scripture such as:
Matthew 25 “I was in prison and you visited me”
Hebrews 13:3 “Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them”
Your contribution will allow LMS Prison After-Care under the direction of Chaplain Bill Clements to provide for special funding requests for ex inmates.
• To assist ex-offenders who are exiting prison and jail to pay for initial costs associated with re-establishing themselves in society including entrance to living facilities and rehab programs.
• Two main reasons for an ex-offender to re-commit crimes after being released are a lack of support and the lack of financial stability as a result of having a criminal record. The Aftercare Ministry Fund will help stop this cycle by providing spiritual, emotional and financial assistance.
• To provide nominal financial support to relieve the significant financial pressures and emotional stress that occurs when released from prison or jail such as food, job clothing, transportation and medication.
• To provide funding for initial costs associated with re-establishment back into society such as rent and deposits on apartments and utilities.
As a direct result of your gift I have already (June 2009) been able to secure an apartment for one individual by providing the deposit and first month’s rent. I will be helping this individual move into his apartment and I continue to guide and support him as he settles into his community and church.
In the service of Our Lord,
Chaplain Bill