Confident Hope

Posted on May 3, 2025 by rogersneighborhood

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Don and I met with the oncologist this past Wednesday afternoon to discuss my latest PET scan after a year of treatment. The results have shown a complete response to the treatment. This means that the cancer that was detected in March 2024 has resolved, and there is no new cancer growth found anywhere in my body!

In the past few days, I have felt the significance of this miracle and all that God has done and continues to do now in this season. The scan did reveal some changes in my thyroid that will need to be watched -most likely due to the radiation I received in my neck, so I will be following up with my general physician for regular check-ups and lab work. Thank you for your faithful and continued prayers as my body heals and recovers from treatment.

I have now entered what the oncologist refers to as a “surveillance season.” This journey began with faith, learning to live one day at a time and embrace the present moment with Jesus. Today, I have new eyes that see life and the world around me differently. The transformation continues as I respond to Jesus’s invitation to continue to trust Him and to live each day with confident hope.

The photos below were taken just a few days ago during my walk on a trail close to our home in Murrieta. What is significant is that last year this entire area was burned to the ground. For months it was absolutely lifeless. It moves my heart to think of the renewal and life that can come to even the most devastated places and situations. HE makes all things new.

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Look Up!

Posted on April 4, 2025 by rogersneighborhood

“They looked . . .and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.”  (Exodus 16:10)

It has been several weeks since I posted an update, and I felt a prompting to sit down and write and share what’s stirring in my heart today in the hope that it may encourage you, too! Thank you for your faithful prayers.

I continue to gain strength each day as my body recovers from the treatment I underwent this past year. I am scheduled for a follow-up PET scan on April 16 as a baseline scan after completing all treatments. I will meet with my oncologist on April 30 to receive the scan results. After almost two years, I had the blessing of visiting my family in Upstate NY this past week. It was a gift to have time together, and I treasured every minute. The temperature was significantly colder than Southern California, but I bundled up and continued to enjoy daily walks on the paths around the farm.

As I walk, I find my eyes looking up. I am in awe of the sky, the colors of the clouds, the sun shining through them, and the sunrises and sunsets. It takes my breath away. It is like getting an infusion of HOPE each day as I LOOK UP and get lost in the majesty and wonder of it all.

“Keep looking up – 

The waves that roar around thy feet,

Jehovah-Jirah will defeat

When looking up.

Keep looking up –

Though darkness seems to wrap thy soul;

The Light of Light shall fill thy soul

When looking up.

Keep looking up –

When worn, distracted with the fight;

Your Captain gives you conquering might

When you look up.”

Author Unknown – From Streams in the Desert

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Faithful Still

Posted on February 9, 2025 by rogersneighborhood

It has been one year since I received the phone call informing me that my biopsy came back positive for metastatic ductal carcinoma. Don canceled his planned trip to Kenya on 2/9/2024, and we began a journey with Jesus down an unknown path of chemo, surgery, and radiation. 

I have experienced a profound transformation from the inside out this past year, and I am so grateful for the wave of prayers that have come my way faithfully from friends like you. I started endocrine therapy this week and have entered what my oncologist calls a “surveillance season.” I continue to experience fatigue that has become familiar, yet I feel like my body is beginning to gain more strength each day. I will have a follow-up PET scan in late April.

We are so grateful for your faithful prayers! Don will board a plane tomorrow, 2/9/2025, at 1:45 p.m. to return to Kenya and reunite with our ELI Kenya ministry family. 

HE is Faithful Still! I was listening to this worship song as I walked today.

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Confident Hope

Posted on January 7, 2025 by rogersneighborhood

As I (Amy) reflect on January 1st, 2024, the Lord gave me the word “Courage” for the new year.  I felt a sense of adventure and an invitation to step into 2024, knowing that there were things that the Lord was asking of me that would take a new sense of courage. I embraced the verse Joshua 1:9 and wrote it down in my journal. Separately, the Lord had prompted Don that the word “Strengthen” would be key for his year. We were both surprised to find that in the Message translation of Joshua 1:9, both words are mentioned with great emphasis and promise: “Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

I am in awe of the strength, courage, and presence we have found available to us, especially through this past year. Truly breathtaking awe! As last year came to a close and we welcomed 2025, I found it hard to journal all that was in my heart as the tears came every time I reflected on the miraculous power of God that I have experienced on this sacred path with Jesus.

AND… in two days (Wednesday 1/8), I will reach an important milestone of completing the last of twenty-five radiation treatments, and I am filled with CONFIDENT HOPE. Those are the words I am embracing for 2025. “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NLT)

I have revisited many of my reflections from this past year, and what I wrote last April resonates profoundly in my heart today:  “This is a season where I am again experiencing the power and presence of God on an unknown path that I could never have imagined I would be on. My walk this evening on a nearby trail reminds me so much about the beautiful views unique to my current life path that could not be seen anywhere else. I am grateful for the deep trust cultivated over the years in our faithful God, which continues to grow even more now. I hear my Savior’s invitation to live each day WITH Him in the present moment. I’m not thinking so much about tomorrow or yesterday or months from now, but just today. And I am discovering a deep sense of joy, peace, and hope that is powerful evidence that He is near.” 

And then I reflected on this quote from Brennan Manning:

“…The music of what is happening can be heard only in the present moment, right now, right here. Now/here spells nowhere. To be fully present to whoever or whatever is immediately before us is to pitch a tent in the wilderness of Nowhere. It is an act of radical trust – trust that God can be encountered at no other time and in no other place than the present moment.” Ruthless Trust – Chapter: The Geography of Nowhere

As I begin 2025 I find that the toughest climbs—the rockiest paths— do lead us to the most beautiful viewpoints. In so many places in my journal this last year, I found myself writing, “I can see now…” Yes, I see the Kingdom of God with new eyes, and I’m experiencing joy and peace because of a new level of trust in my triune God, who is with me and leading me daily. 

The finish line of radiation treatment will be crossed this week and though I feel the physical toll on my body, I know that it is in my weakness that HE is strong.  Through His word and reading today, I am reminded that there is an invitation from my faithful God, who loves me more than I could ever imagine, to join HIM on this adventure of faith.  

As I look to the New Year ahead of me, I accept God’s invitation to adventure WITH HIM with confident HOPE. I will take the next steps one at a time – leaving the roadmaps and the outcomes up to HIM, trusting my Good Shepherd with each day – one moment at a time!

We are so grateful for your faithful prayers and encouragement!

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25 Days and HOPE

Posted on December 8, 2024 by rogersneighborhood

“The Lord is my strength and my (impenetrable) shield; my heart trusts (with unwavering confidence) in Him, and I am helped; therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song, I shall thank Him and praise Him.” Psalm 28:7

I began my chemo treatment the week of Easter 2024, and now radiation treatments have started as we begin this season of Advent. On my evening walk yesterday, I lifted my eyes and had to pause to take in the brilliant colors of the sky as the sun set. It took my breath away and put a song of praise in my heart.

This past Tuesday, I began 25 days (5 days/week for 5 weeks) of radiation treatments, which end on January 8th. I am so grateful for your continued prayers for me. The fatigue has hit me this week as my body is fully aware of the battle it is in and fighting. I am grateful this Advent season for the HOPE and PEACE I have in Jesus. 

Psalm 28:7 remains a declaration of my heart as I walk through each day. “Lord, you are my strength and shield; my heart TRUSTS with unwavering confidence in YOU, and I am helped; therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song, I will THANK YOU and PRAISE YOU!” 

This special Advent season, my heart is overwhelmed by the gift of Jesus and the HOPE and PEACE available to all of us because of our Savior who came to give us life in Him. 

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Praise!

Posted on November 11, 2024 by rogersneighborhood

The Doxology – a well-known hymn written by Thomas Ken  – is a beautiful hymn of praise that holds a meaningful place in my heart.    I grew to love and anticipate a special tradition in the Rogers family. Whenever we gathered for a meal, we joined hands and sang the Doxology.  Several months ago, as I  came to the end of my chemo treatments and was looking ahead to surgery, I marked my calendar for November 1st as a recovery goal to begin to re-engage with ministry and community.  Don & I had the joy of attending a conference the weekend of November 1st. During the opening meeting, as we worshipped, my heart was overwhelmed with how far God has brought us over these months, being in person –  worshipping with strength and my hands raised. The first song that the worship team led was the Doxology! During these powerful moments in the presence of our Triune God, I was once again reminded how deeply known, seen, and loved I am.   

Thank you for your continued support in praying for wisdom and God’s leading as we walk this sacred path with Jesus. At the very beginning, we often wondered if we should be getting a second opinion. We were able to have a lengthy appointment with a radiation oncologist from Kaiser and simultaneously get a referral to the City of Hope in Temecula. We are grateful for the open door and God’s leading. We were able to meet with the radiation oncologist at City of Hope last week, who spent time reviewing all of my scans and appointments and the current treatment plan. He fully agreed with the treatment path I am on. I will have my CT mapping on 11/18 and begin 5 weeks of radiation (5x per week) beginning the first week of December. My neck, left chest area, and left underarm will be the areas of focus for these radiation treatments. 

As I look ahead and face the unknown again, I cannot find the words today to adequately express my gratitude, unwavering trust, and confidence in God, His good plans, and His faithfulness. My life is in His hands, and I celebrate how far He has brought me as we journey together—one day at a time!

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Open Hands

Posted on October 25, 2024 by rogersneighborhood

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zeph 3:17)

“Hold everything in your hands lightly; otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.” Corrie Ten Boom

Link to song SCARS

“. . . So I’m thankful for the scars, ‘Cause without them I wouldn’t know Your heart.    And I know they’ll always tell of who You are.  So forever I am thankful for the scars . . . I’m thankful for Your scars,   Cause without them I wouldn’t know Your heart.   And with my life I’ll tell of who You are. So forever I am thankful”

As I walked this morning, I noticed from almost every angle that I could see the cross up on a hill in our city. As I worshipped and walked, the lyrics of the song “Scars” became my anthem for today. I am so thankful for your faithful prayers for me and our family. God’s presence has brought peace as my healing continues after my surgery, and I am grateful for how far God has brought me on this journey.  Today, I celebrate that I can now move and raise my arms and hands above my head!

As Don & I look to next week, my heart remains open as we seek God’s wisdom and guidance for the next steps in treatment. There is a new surrender as I look to the recommended radiation ahead. As with my surgery, we sought the Lord’s leading, wisdom, and guidance and saw HIS faithfulness in every step. We have an appointment to see a radiation oncologist on Tuesday next week (10/29). The nearest location within our insurance is about an hour and fifteen minutes without traffic one way. As I have been praying with open hands regarding the next steps on this journey, I am ready to step into HIS plans. Open hands for me this week has meant once again surrendering my desire to see, know and even have a bit of control over what’s next for treatment and all the fear that can come in like a wave in the midst of the wrestle. I am seeing another invitation from my Abba to TRUST Him!

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The Miracle of Transformation

Posted on October 11, 2024 by rogersneighborhood

 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ” Galatians 2:20

It has taken me a bit to sit and type out an update to share . . .I have pages in my journal that I have been writing and processing with Jesus. The Lord brought to my memory this morning that one year ago today, Don and  I were in a sea of celebration, dancing, and rejoicing on a field in Kenya with over two thousand transformed lives of women & men who have experienced freedom from a lifetime of brewing alcohol and living in bondage to the vicious cycle of addiction. The joy, the music, the stories of transformation, all of it was a testament to the power of faith and healing. As I remember that special event today, I still remember the overwhelming awe at the miracle of transformation I witnessed before my eyes. 

Today, on October 10th, 2024, even as I type this update, tears well up in my eyes as I know deep in my heart I am also experiencing firsthand the powerful transformative work of the Creator of the Universe in my life. I have been referring to this season as my “cocoon of transformation” – inside and out – much like a butterfly I am now in a chrysalis. I know my God, who specializes in metamorphosis, and there is a growing anticipation in my heart that is filled with HOPE and excitement for what is to come. I know a new butterfly will be released after moving through this season of healing. 

I am 15 days post-op today. I had an excellent follow-up appointment with the surgeon on Monday. I am healing well and am experiencing the miracle of recovery, and I am grateful that there has been little pain. On Monday, I was permitted to slowly begin my outside walks again, which have become a gift and an important, even beautiful part of this healing journey. 

Prayerfully discerning the next steps – The pathology report from surgery identified a 1.2 cm tumor from the left breast tissue. This solved the mystery that none of the scans over the past months could see. The mastectomy surgery removed the tissue and four lymph nodes under my left arm. 

The surgeon called last night with an update after the tumor board met yesterday to review my case. After consulting together as a team, they recommended radiation of my neck area, lymph under my left arm, and left chest area. I have an appointment with my oncologist on October 17th and have also been referred to a Radiation Oncologist. 

After talking with the surgeon last night, Don and I have both felt that we are at a place on this journey where we can take a brief pause to allow my body to heal a bit more as we seek the Lord for more of His direction and guidance on this healing path. He has so faithfully and miraculously brought us this far! 

So, as I write today, my heart is filled with hope, peace, and an overwhelming confidence in the Lord and His good plans for my life. I choose to walk daily in HIS strength and power. I celebrate the miraculous care of God, who has brought me through months of chemo, given HIS protection and covering during recovery from chemo and the prep for surgery, led us through a successful surgery, and now a recovery from surgery that is mostly pain-free. I am deeply grateful for your faithful prayers and encouragement which is a constant source of strength. To God be the glory for the great things HE has done and continues to do. 

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God is faithful!

Posted on September 26, 2024 by rogersneighborhood

God is faithful and so good.

I (Don) JUST got off of the phone with the surgeon who said: “Everything went very well!!!”
Hallelujah!

Amy is now in the post op area, and I should be able to see her within the hour.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement!

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More of God

Posted on September 24, 2024 by rogersneighborhood
Seeing the heart of God's embrace

Seeing the heart of His embrace

I sat on the bank by the Kipkaren River with over a hundred friends from the community who had gathered to celebrate graduates from the ELI Kipkaren Training Center. At this particular moment, all of our eyes were on Don. When Don began his message, he had a basin of water on a small table next to him, and without any warning, he plunged his head into the water so it was completely submerged. I’m unsure how much time passed, but it seemed like forever. The crowd was silent except for a few whispers of concern. Then the whispers got louder until, with a splash, Don raised his head from the basin of water and took a big gasp of air! He was physically illustrating that we should hunger for God like we hunger for oxygen.

As I walked this morning, the Lord brought that memory to my mind. Over these last several months, my heart has awakened to my desperation for more of God. Over the past four weeks, I have experienced more physical challenges and pain on this health journey than I have had up to this point. I crossed the finish line with my chemotherapy treatments and pretty quickly became aware of what my oncology team had been referring to as the “cumulative effect” of chemo. I began to engage in more physical exercise after chemo and I have been surprised at how weak my body has become in doing everyday activities. I’ve had a few extra bumps and bruises here and there. I have had to change my pace once again and listen to my body’s needs as it heals. Jesus gave me a healing discipline when we started on this journey that I follow daily: WALK, WORSHIP, WAIT.

An unwavering confidence is growing in my heart in my Good Shepherd and the GOOD plans He has ahead as I continue to walk with Him. I hear His whisper, Continue to trust in Me. Don’t lean on your understanding, but in everything you do and say, acknowledge Me, glorify Me, and I will continue to guide and orchestrate your every step for My glory.

Surgery is Wednesday, September 25th. I know this will be another unique day on the timeline of my life when I and others will experience the miraculous power and presence of our Triune God. I am so grateful for each of you and your faithful prayers for me and our family. Thank you for covering us in prayer, especially on Wednesday. Don will post an update on Wednesday evening.

Please pray for our youngest, Nathaniel, who lives with us, as he has been sick this past week. Pray for his healing and that Don & I will remain protected from any illness that could hinder the healing and recovery time ahead.

If you have a few extra minutes – here is a worship song that I have been listening to throughout the week. THIS SONG might be just what you need today.

With our eyes fixed on Jesus – the best is yet to come!

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