Jean vanier update
March 19, 2019
Dear friends, Jean finished his radiotherapy sessions, which he endured quite well. After several weeks in hospital, he left the hospital and is taking some rest in Paris in order to stay close to the medical services that follow him. He remains fragile (some days are better than others) but his morale is good. He is supported by Odile and several other people who assist him. When I saw him last week, he told me that he was living all this in trust ("day by day"). All our cards, wishes and prayers do him a lot of good. He is sorry that his great fatigue means that he cannot answer individually, he wanted to thank us all for it Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Christine
February 13, 2019
My dears, I need to share with you troubling news. Jean is not doing well. He is in the hospital in Paris. He has cancer of the thyroid gland. Because of the cancer, he is not able to swallow. Doctors are giving food through the stomach. But his body is hardly accepting this way. We all need to gather and pray. He needs to get food, and get stronger to be able to get the irradiation for cancer. The radiation will make cancer smaller and he will be able to breath normally.
Lets pray for Jean. Lets give our support through prayers so he doesn't feel alone in the hospital. He needs us, our prayers very much. All Faith and Light needs to be united now for Jean.
Ann Emmott, England
January 4, 2019
My dear brothers and sisters of L'Arche and Faith and Light, and all those with whom I am united by spirit and heart, I first wanted to say thank you for having accompanied me by prayer and your friendship in this intervention which has just taken place and which has gone well. It was during this operation that they took some of my thyroid and found that there was hidden cancer. I was strongly advised to do radiation therapy to prevent the cancer from growing further.
The doctors prescribed me about fifteen sessions. They explained to me all the side effects in the hope that I could find my life as before. I am aware that these side effects can be a little painful and I count on you to continue to accompany me in the descent towards fragility. I know that this is where I would discover our God of humility and meekness.
During all this period which could last two months I will stay in Paris in the apartment that l'Arche in France and a friend generously rented for me and I will be accompanied during this time always by Odile, Annick come from Belgium to help, and by Christine. During this time of weakening I will have very few visits but I know that you visit me by the prayer and your support. I especially wanted to say thank you for this accompaniment by the heart and the spirit. I will surely need your help during the most difficult times, but I feel happy to work as best I can so that the kingdom of God, the kingdom of love, can grow on the earth with my offering.
I embrace you and remain in communion with you.
Jean
12/19/2018
Yesterday, I went to Paris to visit Jean when he left the hospital. He was tired but happy not to be in the hospital anymore. If he was happy to leave, the people at the hospital were rather sad because he made connections with many people and did them good. His recovery will take time and for the moment, Jean remains in Paris supported by Odile and Annick. When I asked Jean if he had anything to tell us he asked that we pray for the people who are in the hospital because there is a lot of suffering on many levels in places. I go back to see him at the end of the week and it will be nice to be able to bring him drawings, cards that you have prepared for him.
Christine
12/12/2018
Jean's operation went well. It takes more than a week to confirm the results. Jean is always very tired. Please keep praying, it is important for jean that we are together in prayer. Thank you for your patience.
Christine, community manager, Ark, Trosly