Sam's Recovery - Cancer Can Be Beaten!

Whenever we hear of someone being diagnosed with cancer, we feel terrible and sorry for the patient.

We know that some people can survive cancer but many who would not. I lost both of my sisters-in-law to cancer in the past five years. My brothers are now in their sixty’s coping with life as widowers.

This was why my husband and I were thrilled to meet Sam last weekend when we visited him and his wife at their home in Niagara Falls. Eliza and her husband have a lovely home in the Greater Toronto Area and they serve God faithfully in their church at Richmond Hills.

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

They are church planters. They willingly leave the comfort of their established home church and go to Niagara Falls to start a new church.  Since they work in Toronto, they could not reside in Niagara Falls during the week. They bought a second home in Niagara Falls seven years ago for the sole purpose of using it for the church. Each Saturday evening, they drive to Niagara Falls from Toronto, a two hour drive, stay there overnight and get ready to help out in the Sunday Service the next morning. 

Eliza Remains Committed to Overseas  Ministries Despite Difficult Situations

I really admire Eliza and Sam’s faithfulness and dedication in serving the new church in the Niagara Falls region.  Through thick and thin, they have been supporting and helping out in that new church for the past seven years willingly and sacrificially. 

Despite Sam’s diagnose with throat cancer a while back, Sam and Eliza put their trust in God. They are positive, optimistic and cheerful all the time.  They carry on their daily life and business as usual. 

 Sam’s illness did not dampen their enthusiasm  or reduce their efforts in giving their best to God. Not only do both of them  persist in their weekly services in Niagara Falls, Eliza remains committed to helping the people and church ministries in Cambodia and other parts of Asia. Their positive outlook in life, confidence in God and generosity towards others have really inspired us.

Eliza and Sam have generously donated the use of their house to pastors, missionaries and church groups giving them a quiet and comfortable place for meetings and retreats. We were there last weekend to check out the place for our youth group training at the end of July.

It was great to see Sam looking healthy and in good spirit. He informed us that he was not beaten by cancer. He is in his sixty’s , and  a cancer survivor!  He goes to the monthly cancer support group to share his good news with other cancer patients and to encourage them.  He tries to eat healthy food such as lots of whole grain cereal,  avoid any burn or deep fried food and lives a healthy life style by going to bed and waking up early with little consumption of cigarettes or alcohol.

On that Sunday morning when we were guests at their house, Sam got up early in the morning and cooked  himself a huge bowl of homemade hot cereal with wholesome ingredients such as roll oats, raisins, cranberries, quinoa, and other multigrain. He said that  each morning it was important for him to eat something healthy, nutritious and substantial for breakfast so that his body would be supplied with good nutrition and help him build immunity against the disease. It would take him an hour to finish this big bowl of cereal ( For me, that bowl of hot cereal would last me for a week! ), but he has to do it everyday to ensure a proper diet for his body.

Most important of all, “ Maintain a positive attitude and cast your worries to God and pray.”  said Sam.

I have heard that religion and prayers play a vital role in patients’ recovery from serious illnesses.

Sam’s  miraculous recovery from cancer is a shining example of that! We thank God for Sam’s recovery and for listening to prayers!

R.T., Niagara Falls, Ontario
June, 2013