Paul Daniel Heck

Born 2/27/1928 - Died 7/23/2008

Nothing ever goes as planned. This summer I came home to raise support for my mission work in Micronesia. I was not even home a week when we had to take my Dad to the hospital to have a endoscopic procedure to try to clear blockage from his liver. Turned out that the blockage was a malignant tumor in his bile duct..... Although what we read on the internet was not good, None of us imagined that within three weeks my Dad would no longer be with us in this world.

I firmly believe he is now in heaven with Jesus.

Before he left though I had time to share scriptures about heaven and sing some songs with him. We song Amazing Grace and Jesus loves me. It amazed me that with such little energy that he chose to sing in his last days.

He also made sure that we each new that he loved us and was proud of us. Even during the last few days when the bilirubin was coating his brain and he was hallucinating, he still was able to recognize each of us to the last day.

It was a very exhausting time but I feel extremely blessed to have that time with him.

The Long Road Ahead

One thing I have reminded since I have been back in PA, staying with my parents as I try to raise funds for my ministry. Shortly after I returned, my Dad was diagnosed with Bile Duct Cancer. Since then we have been in a whirlwind of Doctors and Hospitals.

Bile Duct Cancer is relatively rare and can be pretty aggressive. If the tumor is operable, there is some hope. However, at this point, they don't believe that they can remove the tumor. There is a major artery in the center of the tumor.

We are going to at least one of the major hospitals in Philadelphia called Fox Chase Cancer Center for a second opinion.

Please pray for my family as we go through these appointments for wisdom and encouragement.

Amish Country

This past weekend I spent time with my friend Jill and her family. Here we they are after enjoying some good "local food". :o)
Here I am in my Chuukese Skirt in front of the Amish Buggy. I wore the skirt to speak in Jill's church about my mission work in Guam. Wayside Presbyterian Church gave me some support last year. I was glad to meet them. Hopefully the relationship will continue.
This is a statue of an Amish man outside the restaurant.
A local rooster running wild near the restaurant making me feel that I might just be in Guam.
A scenic view of the countryside. I have really been enjoying the beauty of the Pennsylvania countryside....

Mission Headquarters

One of my first stops on my trip home was to Mission Headquarters in Schooley's Mountain, NJ. It was great to spend time with Steve and Anne Stinnette as we caught up and talked about support raising. I also had time to talk with some issues with Jane and Mike Galley. We all enjoyed lunch together as the waitress snapped a picture.