1) New Doctors, New Treatments for Sarah
 Sarah is still struggling with pain from fibromyalgia and has unfortunately spent many days in bed over these first 6 weeks back in Japan. Just before returning to Japan, we shared that Sarah would delay her return by a week to visit a special clinic in Florida. It was a helpful experience for Sarah, but also revealed that the road to recovery will continue to be long and hard. Fibromyalgia is still not well understood and there is no set pathway for treatment. We gained some additional insight into some of the factors and potential triggers that cause her pain. She is currently following an intensive follow-up regimen from this doctor visit. This is in addition to the various prescriptions and supplements she has already been taking - at its peak, 52 doses of medication and supplements in a day!
線維筋痛症 "senikintsusho" = fibromyalgia. This is one of our new words we are using a lot in Japanese lately. We were referred to a new doctor in Tokyo, amazingly only one subway stop away in Tsukishima. What is particularly encouraging is that Dr. Suzuki actually suffers from fibromyalgia himself! Whether his personal experience will prove helpful to Sarah is yet to be seen, but he is the first doctor to truly look into Sarah's eyes with compassion for the intensity of pain that she is in. PRAISE GOD for His provision! We are trying a new treatment approach with Dr. Suzuki. In addition to this we are trying another unique Japanese technique recommended by several Japanese friends to help boost Sarah's overall health and strength. We are trying to embrace the best that both western and eastern medicine has to offer!
Please PRAY for clarity on how to move forward in treatment. We would like to simplify Sarah's daily regimen, particularly to get her off of some of the prescription drugs she is taking, but hesitant to make any drastic changes until we see if any of these new treatments are proving effective. Please do PRAY for relief from the pain. Daily life is hard, and Jon has only returned to ministry in a limited capacity so far. PRAY for wisdom in ministry roles moving forward. We dearly want to continue our life and ministry in Japan long-term, but we need to see a qualitative change in Sarah's health to make that feasible long-term. If it is the Lord's will for us to continue serving in Japan - please PRAY for Him to equip us physically, emotionally, and spiritually for that call!
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