Larry, what wonderful news continues to wend its way west from your heart! Thanks for your commitment to keep everyone informed of Lea’s miraculous treatment and response! We continue to lift you in prayer and give thanks for the Lord’s goodness!

I just told Pam YOU NEED TO TAKE A BREAK! All the time you give Lea, compounded by the beautiful effort to chronicle the support for her takes my breath away. I have a few scribbled notes each time I take Ray to the doctor and that’s it! NOW she tells me you are making a chart! Heavenly days!

Well, be sure to chart Bloomington and Quincy, Illinois, and Hannibal, MO, old buddy! We don’t want to be left hanging on the outside. You know I’m just having a little fun, and even though we have seen each other rarely in many years, I am thankful that cyberspace has provided us a chance to be somewhat reunited.

May God continue to pour out his blessings on you and your family!

FROM: Drew & Lisa
Oct 6 @ 7:44 AM

Praise God the miracles and healings keep on coming to Lea. You are e-mailing us in Fortville In. Praise God and God bless you all.

FROM: Vicki
Oct 6 @ 10:436 AM

Larry,
Praise God for the wonderful gift of Lea’s improving health. We continue to pray for the “full” recovery. We rejoice with and for you!

FROM: Marlowe
Oct 6 @ 11:22 AM

Dear Larry and Lea,

It’ s so wonderful to address this to both of you, knowing that Lea is awake and able to communicate. This passage from my daily e-mail meditation brought you to mind when I think of all you’ve been through and all that you still must endure as Lea continues to recover. You are indeed both friends of the Lord in His Passion! What awesome company to have!

Much love and WELCOME BACK, LEA!
Marlowe

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
– by Thomas a Kempis -

Drink the chalice of the Lord with affection it you wish to be His friend and to have part with Him. Leave consolation to God; let Him do as most pleases Him. On your part, be ready to bear sufferings and consider them the greatest consolation, for even though you alone were to undergo them all, the sufferings of this life are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come.
– Book 2, Chapt. 12

FROM: Jean
Oct 6 @ 1:01 PM

Good morning Larry & Lea. I thought this was good enuff to send your way.

I love you

Subject: Moses
This is almost overwhelming when you think about it.

Moses and the people were in the desert, but how was he going to provide for them? They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million people requires a lot of food. According to the Quartermaster General of the Army, Moses would have to have had 1500 tons of food each day. Do you know that to bring that much food each day, two freight trains, each at least a mile long would be required?

Besides, you must remember, they were out in the desert, and they would have to have firewood to use in cooking the food. This would take 4000 tons of wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long, just for one day.

And just think, they were forty years in transit!

Oh yes, come to think of it! They would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day and a freight train with tank cars, 1800 miles long, just to bring water!

Another thing! They had to get across the Red Sea at night. Now, if they went on a narrow path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and would require 35 days and nights to get through. So there had to be a space in the Red Sea, 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5000 abreast to get over in one night.

But then, there is another problem. Each time they camped at the end of the day, a campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was required, for a total of 750 square miles long! Think of it! This much space for camping.

Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left Egypt? I think not! Moses put his trust in God, the Great Provider. God took care of these things for him.

Our God is an Awesome God!! So, when the road you’re traveling seems difficult at best, just remember to pray. God will do the rest.

FROM: Pat & Carl
Oct 6 @ 1:41 PM

Larry,

We are good friends of Marlowe and Dean and are some of the pray-ers here in Austin, Texas. You and Lea have been so much in our thoughts and prayers the last two months. We have also met your son, Lance, when he has been at church with Kristin. He’s a fine young man!

We have a daughter in The Berkshires in Massachusetts (living in Dalton) and
will be visiting her from the 8th of October thru the 18th. I am also originally from Connecticut and have 2 nieces and a nephew still living there and we plan on visiting them, but at the moment don’t have a firm date. We would love to give you a call when we are coming thru and, if you are available, possibly meet you. My nephew is in West Hartford and my nieces are in Manchester, so we’ll be fairly close. We look forward to hearing from you.

P.S. We visited Marlowe and Dean a couple of weeks ago in Albuquerque and
had such a nice visit.

REPLY FROM: Larry Vaughn
Oct 6 @ 4:35 PM

Of course! We would be delighted. Please plan to come up to Lea’s room to meet her, as well. Please allow several minutes when you call, as I may be unable to answer just at that moment. I often let voice mail collect numbers, and I return calls when I take a break from caring for Lea. Thank you for your continued care and support through prayer.

REPLY FROM: Pat
Oct 7 @ 2:55 PM

Larry,

Just read the latest 2 updates on Lea and God sure is good!! We feel like we have known both of you for so long. Look forward to meeting you and Lea, and we will call ahead of time before arriving. As of now, we will be coming to Connecticut on Sunday, the 16th.

FROM: Jean
Oct 6 @ 5:02 PM

The only thing that comes to mind is: PRAISE GOD-a million times-
PRAISE GOD

FROM: Lou
Oct 6 @ 8:18 PM

While in the midst of sending you this album, I think I hit a wrong key. I could not get back to the message I was typing, so you may get the album twice. Sorry about that. This is the album Shana and I put together to share with a few folks. The rest are in our private stash.

FROM: Carol
Oct 6 @ 11:43 PM

Larry,
I have been sharing the “Lea Updates” with a friend that has been sharing updates of her sister-in-law, Lenny (who happens to be one of Sharon’s classmates)

Lenny lives in Canada and all of her family are in Hannibal. She has been in great pain for quite sometime and even though the Dr. diagnosed her as fibromyalgia she was placed in a psych ward until recently (last few days ). Here is the update I received tonight.

Please put this family…Lenny, her brother Bill and his wife Joyce on plus Lenny’s close friends on you prayer list. We know first hand what prayer can do.

************

Hi Bill & Joyce

I wish I had some good news to report, but things have really been going from bad to worse.

As a result of checking out the suspected fracture in Lenny’s shoulder, they discovered “breaks” in Lenny’s bones – sort of all over, I gather. A week ago they moved her to another ward where she could be more comfortable, and provided better pain management, better meals (a nutritionist came daily to plan menus with her), and of course better surroundings than with all the crazies in the psych ward. They gave her intravenous + an intravenous painkiller Tues, and did a biopsy on a suspected tumour on her hip on Wed.

Today the oncologist came to talk with Lenny (France was there too.) Lenny has bone cancer, is essentially bedridden, and will be moved to palliative care, either in that hospital or another. We’re all just adjusting to the idea.

France will be calling you Friday. Feel free to call me if you like. I’ll be home for the weekend, and really have nothing planned except visiting Lenny. Take care, keep praying.