We've had a number of letters and e-mails from people who stayed with us in the past since we posted our request for prayer. Recently a young woman who came to us quite a few years ago wrote and shared her experience. Here is what she had to say...
Stephanie Kautz April 1 at 8:03am
Hi Carol, I don't know if you remember me, but I had the great pleasure of coming to visit you in Debrecen about 7 years ago. It was during a deep, painful depression that I was going through, and when I came to your mission house, I found a postcard on my pillow from you saying that you hoped this could be my "hiding place". I just looked at the pictures of the house that you have on facebook, of that bedroom, and all the memories flooded back, along with the deepest gratitude i can express, because all i can say is that the Lord was with me in that house, and He helped me grieve in my own way over the sadness that had clouded my life. I still have the postcard, and I still remember you, with all your deep sweetness. Thank you thank you for believing in me during that time. I am praying for you now, I know that the Lord will provide and carry all your burdens. Bless you...Love, Stephanie Kautzp.s. i gave you a friend request, if you look at my picture, maybe you will recall me, but if not, i understand because i know i was just one of many young women that you have helped.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Update April 1, 2010
Prayer Request/ Missions Opportunity
Mission House/Guest House Ministry
Debrecen, Hungary
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I am writing to request your prayers and as our Lord leads, invite your involvement in a ministry that has blessed us immeasurably for more than a decade.
My name is Robert Greathouse and my wife and I have served our Lord in Debrecen, Hungary through the gifts of hospitality and compassion in a guesthouse ministry that has provided a place of respite for countless of pastors, orphans, and missionaries. Last year I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, requiring us to sell our ministry assets and return to the states, a lengthy process we have yet to conclude.
Our story began in 1996 when my wife Carol was invited to take part in a mission trip to Hungary and Romania. The people of this region captured her heart in a way that only God, Himself, can orchestrate. She felt compelled to return in 1997 and 1998. At that time, she assisted with an evangelistic music ministry, again visiting orphanages, cultural houses, and small village churches with the music team.
During those trips Carol became involved in a ministry whose focus was to reach out to the Roma (Gypsy) population in both countries. Living in mud huts heated only by archaic wood burning stoves, Carol came face to face with true poverty. Yet even among the stench of unwashed bodies and disease and filth, these people beamed with life – God’s life. And as the big-eyed, ragtag children took hold of her hand, God knitted her soul to theirs and she knew she never again would be the same.
In late 1998, we learned of the level of fatigue and burnout ministers in this region suffer. The ministers of the gospel desperately needed a place of respite. The call burned in my heart in a way I could not ignore. So when the Gypsy Mission Foundation as well as our local church in Debrecen (Calvary Chapel) asked us to pray about becoming full-time missionaries based in Hungary, taking part in outreaches in both Hungary and Romania, we did just that. And God brought us confirmation after confirmation.
In May of 1999, we moved into full-time ministry based in Debrecen, Hungary. At first we rented a small house but it soon became apparent the needs of the ministry far outweighed our ability to provide in the limited space of our little home. This was in 2001, and after long and heart-felt prayer, we believed the Lord was asking us to invest our savings in His Kingdom.
This was a difficult decision for Carol who felt more “secure” with our savings safely invested in the States. Finally, there came a time when she realized that if she said “no” one more time, she would be saying no to her Lord. That decision made, we began looking for property. In June of 2002, the mission house and attached guesthouse was completed.
In the years that followed, a myriad of guests from a host of countries filtered through our little ministry. They say we were a blessing to them. But we too have experienced the blessing of the Lord in immeasurable ways.
In February of 2009 God began to bring our time of ministry to close when I was diagnosed with terminal metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer. I have undergone surgery to remove the tumor and radiation treatment. The doctors told me after these treatments there are no other treatments available for this type of cancer and at most I may live up to two years.
Since the treatment, we have been working to “close up shop” in Hungary. The biggest part of that is selling the ministry house. It has now been one year since the diagnosis and our prayer is that the Lord will help us sell the mission house/guest house complex before I am unable to travel back to America to live out my life.
It is our most earnest prayer that the house could continue to be used for ministry purposes. We would ask that you would pray for us about this and spread the word to ministries and individuals who might be interested in full-time mission work in this part of the world.
We are asking $300,000 for the property and will consider leaving a large part of the furniture for a mission organization or church willing to continue the ministry here. With the increased cost of land and construction, our builder has said it would cost over $500,000 to build today.
The mission house consists of a large kitchen/dining area, a large living room/meeting room, two bedrooms, a large laundry room/pantry, and two bathrooms. In addition, the guesthouse is a fully self-contained house with two bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen/dining/living room area.
Debrecen is a University City with a population of approximately 300,000. It is just 30 minutes from the border with Romania and about 1 hour from the border with Ukraine. One of the major refugee camps for people seeking refuge in Europe is only about a ten-minute drive from the house. It is 2.5 hours from Budapest and 1-1.5 hours from Slovakia. Since there is a large population of English speakers within the Debrecen church, our need for translators has always been met. The possibilities for all kinds of ministry are endless.
We have put together photos and have posted them on Facebook. If you or someone you know has an interest in this ministry, you can access the photos at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2033107&id=1471608264&l=a8f5871915 Please feel free to pass this information along to others.
Above all, we ask for your prayers for my wife and I. Pray that God would allow us to continue believing that He is in control of everything, the timing of the sale, who will take over the ministry, and those who come to serve Him and be blessed through their time here. It is truly a stressful time for us now, but even so, we would not trade the blessing of being involved in God’s work here in Hungary over the past decade for anything.
Interested parties may contact us at this e-mail address: hungarianmissionhouse4sale@yahoo.com
In His grip,
Rob and Carol Greathouse
Debrecen, Hungary
Mission House/Guest House Ministry
Debrecen, Hungary
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I am writing to request your prayers and as our Lord leads, invite your involvement in a ministry that has blessed us immeasurably for more than a decade.
My name is Robert Greathouse and my wife and I have served our Lord in Debrecen, Hungary through the gifts of hospitality and compassion in a guesthouse ministry that has provided a place of respite for countless of pastors, orphans, and missionaries. Last year I was diagnosed with terminal cancer, requiring us to sell our ministry assets and return to the states, a lengthy process we have yet to conclude.
Our story began in 1996 when my wife Carol was invited to take part in a mission trip to Hungary and Romania. The people of this region captured her heart in a way that only God, Himself, can orchestrate. She felt compelled to return in 1997 and 1998. At that time, she assisted with an evangelistic music ministry, again visiting orphanages, cultural houses, and small village churches with the music team.
During those trips Carol became involved in a ministry whose focus was to reach out to the Roma (Gypsy) population in both countries. Living in mud huts heated only by archaic wood burning stoves, Carol came face to face with true poverty. Yet even among the stench of unwashed bodies and disease and filth, these people beamed with life – God’s life. And as the big-eyed, ragtag children took hold of her hand, God knitted her soul to theirs and she knew she never again would be the same.
In late 1998, we learned of the level of fatigue and burnout ministers in this region suffer. The ministers of the gospel desperately needed a place of respite. The call burned in my heart in a way I could not ignore. So when the Gypsy Mission Foundation as well as our local church in Debrecen (Calvary Chapel) asked us to pray about becoming full-time missionaries based in Hungary, taking part in outreaches in both Hungary and Romania, we did just that. And God brought us confirmation after confirmation.
In May of 1999, we moved into full-time ministry based in Debrecen, Hungary. At first we rented a small house but it soon became apparent the needs of the ministry far outweighed our ability to provide in the limited space of our little home. This was in 2001, and after long and heart-felt prayer, we believed the Lord was asking us to invest our savings in His Kingdom.
This was a difficult decision for Carol who felt more “secure” with our savings safely invested in the States. Finally, there came a time when she realized that if she said “no” one more time, she would be saying no to her Lord. That decision made, we began looking for property. In June of 2002, the mission house and attached guesthouse was completed.
In the years that followed, a myriad of guests from a host of countries filtered through our little ministry. They say we were a blessing to them. But we too have experienced the blessing of the Lord in immeasurable ways.
In February of 2009 God began to bring our time of ministry to close when I was diagnosed with terminal metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer. I have undergone surgery to remove the tumor and radiation treatment. The doctors told me after these treatments there are no other treatments available for this type of cancer and at most I may live up to two years.
Since the treatment, we have been working to “close up shop” in Hungary. The biggest part of that is selling the ministry house. It has now been one year since the diagnosis and our prayer is that the Lord will help us sell the mission house/guest house complex before I am unable to travel back to America to live out my life.
It is our most earnest prayer that the house could continue to be used for ministry purposes. We would ask that you would pray for us about this and spread the word to ministries and individuals who might be interested in full-time mission work in this part of the world.
We are asking $300,000 for the property and will consider leaving a large part of the furniture for a mission organization or church willing to continue the ministry here. With the increased cost of land and construction, our builder has said it would cost over $500,000 to build today.
The mission house consists of a large kitchen/dining area, a large living room/meeting room, two bedrooms, a large laundry room/pantry, and two bathrooms. In addition, the guesthouse is a fully self-contained house with two bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen/dining/living room area.
Debrecen is a University City with a population of approximately 300,000. It is just 30 minutes from the border with Romania and about 1 hour from the border with Ukraine. One of the major refugee camps for people seeking refuge in Europe is only about a ten-minute drive from the house. It is 2.5 hours from Budapest and 1-1.5 hours from Slovakia. Since there is a large population of English speakers within the Debrecen church, our need for translators has always been met. The possibilities for all kinds of ministry are endless.
We have put together photos and have posted them on Facebook. If you or someone you know has an interest in this ministry, you can access the photos at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2033107&id=1471608264&l=a8f5871915 Please feel free to pass this information along to others.
Above all, we ask for your prayers for my wife and I. Pray that God would allow us to continue believing that He is in control of everything, the timing of the sale, who will take over the ministry, and those who come to serve Him and be blessed through their time here. It is truly a stressful time for us now, but even so, we would not trade the blessing of being involved in God’s work here in Hungary over the past decade for anything.
Interested parties may contact us at this e-mail address: hungarianmissionhouse4sale@yahoo.com
In His grip,
Rob and Carol Greathouse
Debrecen, Hungary
Monday, October 5, 2009
October Update
Dear ones,
We are finally coming up for air and since we've received many requests, it's time to update you on what is happening here in Hungary.
Rob and I traveled to Debrecen in early August and literally hit the floor running. So many things to do that it was hard to decide what to do first!
Taking stock of what was needed and how to accomplish it, we first needed to paint the inside of both the mission and guest houses. God blessed us hugely when an unexpected new supporter came forward with a 6 month commitment which enabled us to hire the painting done rather than doing it ourselves. In hindsight, we both know it would have been an impossible task and would have taken us much longer to accomplish. Thank you dear unexpected supporter. (You know who you are.)
For nearly 3 weeks, we and our guests found ourselves moving furniture and sleeping accomodations from one room to the next. It was a real interesting experience cooking when nearly everything was covered with sheets of plastic!
After the painting was completed the big job of cleaning up began. Thank God for Dani and Andi who are our "temporary" residents in the guest house. Interesting thing about the construction here in Hungary; the walls are all concrete so that when they are being painted, they first have to sand them. Of course all this dust gets into and on everything, necessitating a thorough cleaning of every surface when it's done. We spent more than a week washing down and polishing windows, floors, and furniture.
Never knowing when to quit, both Rob and I ended up with back problems. Too much bending and lifting which then led to heat packs, ice packs, and lots of Ibuphrofen. Gosh, it's tough getting older!
So, the house was back in order and the next item on our "to do" list were the yards. Our Hungarian church made an announcement and the following Saturday, we had 14 hardy souls show up and between them, the yards were whipped into shape and all the old building materials were sent to the recycle center in a huge dumpster. Interesting thing here in Hungary; you may not even need a dumpster because before we knew it, we had people stopping by to ask if they could take the old bath tub, toilet, and wood scraps. That allowed us to dispose of more than we thought possible.
Once all the cleaning up was done, Tibi from our Hungarian church stopped by and took lots of photos inside and outside the house in preparation for creating a webpage to list the property for sale. That has now been done and you can go to the webpage by clicking the link below to see the listing. Please feel free to pass it along to anyone/church that might have an interest in basing their ministry here in Hungary. http://www.toplak.hu/elado-kiado-ingatlan/Haz/Csaladi-haz/Hajdu-Bihar/Debrecen/hirdetes-76855724.html
Our beautiful city of Debrecen is close to several borders so it makes it a perfect "jumping off point" to minister into Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Plus, we have all these young Hungarians who are becoming fluent in English and serve as translators.
Rob's health is holding up so far. Other than a slight change in his voice and less energy than what was normal, he is keeping busy. We had hoped a ministry would consider purchasing the property and our plan was to include as much furniture as possible. But since that doesn't seem to be in the cards at this time, we aren't sure how much to pack up to bring back with us once we finally move.
The waiting is the hardest part. Funny thing about the spiritual life, it is so easy at times to say all the right words but to live it out is a whole other experience. The "Refiners Fire" is a difficult place to be, whether it is yourself or a loved one going through it.
Rob's hope, and one could say his dream, is that once he is back in America, he would like to take a road trip to visit our many friends and family around the States. We are praying for a quick sale and smooth transition back to life in America as soon as possible. Understanding that might not be God's plan , we pray for patience to wait upon His perfect plan.
Thank you one and all for your faithfulness in lifting us in prayer. May you and yours be blessed in the days ahead.
We are finally coming up for air and since we've received many requests, it's time to update you on what is happening here in Hungary.
Rob and I traveled to Debrecen in early August and literally hit the floor running. So many things to do that it was hard to decide what to do first!
Taking stock of what was needed and how to accomplish it, we first needed to paint the inside of both the mission and guest houses. God blessed us hugely when an unexpected new supporter came forward with a 6 month commitment which enabled us to hire the painting done rather than doing it ourselves. In hindsight, we both know it would have been an impossible task and would have taken us much longer to accomplish. Thank you dear unexpected supporter. (You know who you are.)
For nearly 3 weeks, we and our guests found ourselves moving furniture and sleeping accomodations from one room to the next. It was a real interesting experience cooking when nearly everything was covered with sheets of plastic!
After the painting was completed the big job of cleaning up began. Thank God for Dani and Andi who are our "temporary" residents in the guest house. Interesting thing about the construction here in Hungary; the walls are all concrete so that when they are being painted, they first have to sand them. Of course all this dust gets into and on everything, necessitating a thorough cleaning of every surface when it's done. We spent more than a week washing down and polishing windows, floors, and furniture.
Never knowing when to quit, both Rob and I ended up with back problems. Too much bending and lifting which then led to heat packs, ice packs, and lots of Ibuphrofen. Gosh, it's tough getting older!
So, the house was back in order and the next item on our "to do" list were the yards. Our Hungarian church made an announcement and the following Saturday, we had 14 hardy souls show up and between them, the yards were whipped into shape and all the old building materials were sent to the recycle center in a huge dumpster. Interesting thing here in Hungary; you may not even need a dumpster because before we knew it, we had people stopping by to ask if they could take the old bath tub, toilet, and wood scraps. That allowed us to dispose of more than we thought possible.
Once all the cleaning up was done, Tibi from our Hungarian church stopped by and took lots of photos inside and outside the house in preparation for creating a webpage to list the property for sale. That has now been done and you can go to the webpage by clicking the link below to see the listing. Please feel free to pass it along to anyone/church that might have an interest in basing their ministry here in Hungary. http://www.toplak.hu/elado-kiado-ingatlan/Haz/Csaladi-haz/Hajdu-Bihar/Debrecen/hirdetes-76855724.html
Our beautiful city of Debrecen is close to several borders so it makes it a perfect "jumping off point" to minister into Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine. Plus, we have all these young Hungarians who are becoming fluent in English and serve as translators.
Rob's health is holding up so far. Other than a slight change in his voice and less energy than what was normal, he is keeping busy. We had hoped a ministry would consider purchasing the property and our plan was to include as much furniture as possible. But since that doesn't seem to be in the cards at this time, we aren't sure how much to pack up to bring back with us once we finally move.
The waiting is the hardest part. Funny thing about the spiritual life, it is so easy at times to say all the right words but to live it out is a whole other experience. The "Refiners Fire" is a difficult place to be, whether it is yourself or a loved one going through it.
Rob's hope, and one could say his dream, is that once he is back in America, he would like to take a road trip to visit our many friends and family around the States. We are praying for a quick sale and smooth transition back to life in America as soon as possible. Understanding that might not be God's plan , we pray for patience to wait upon His perfect plan.
Thank you one and all for your faithfulness in lifting us in prayer. May you and yours be blessed in the days ahead.
In praise and gratitude for our Savior Jesus Christ.
Rob and Carol Greathouse
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Going Home - To Hungary
Rob is finished with his 32 radiation treatments and it's time to organize our trip back to Hungary. We will leave California on August 6th and arrive in Hungary on August 7th, hooray!!!
Rob likes to keep busy and while here he has helped Janine (our hostess) with a number of projects including organizing her garage, putting in a new kitchen sink and tile, and sanding and staining her outdoor furniture.
Your prayers have bathed us in love, encouragement, and peace as we've walked through this desert trek. Rob has healed from the radiation burns, is gaining strength daily, and oh so ready to go home and tackle the next phase in this journey...getting the mission house property ready to sell, on the Internet if necessary.
Our Hungarian church family has offered to help us with the painting inside both houses and we are so grateful for them, even if they didn't help, it's so nice to be a part of such a loving and supportive family of God.
Rob's prognosis is uncertain. The doctors have said with the radiation treatments they hoped he would have at least two more years. Our hope is that we can sell the property and get moved back to California before the cancer makes another appearance. The doctors are not too happy about his decision to return to Hungary but Rob is adamant that he wants to help me tie up all the loose ends before our move back to the States.
To all our brothers and sisters, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for standing with us in these uncertain times.
May God bless you one and all.
Carol and Rob
Friday, June 26, 2009
Prayer Warriors Unite
Cancer...the dreaded words conger up all kinds of emotion. Fear strikes first, then disbelief, followed by the questions, why me, why now, what will the future look like.
Then, the peace of God fills us with the realization that everything, even this, is in the hands of our Creator, who loves His children with a never ending supply of grace and mercy.
As you know, Rob is going through his own battle with Metastatic Squamous Cell Neck Cancer. Thursday, June 25th marks a milestone of sorts because that is the day he had his last radiation treatment, 32 in all.
In the past two months the cancer gene in his family as claimed the life of Rob's beloved Uncle Bob, and just this week, we received the news that his very beloved Aunt Nadyne has been diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in it's last stage.
So much heartache, so much sadness at the thought of what lies ahead (on this earth) for those close to us as they walk through yet another fight with the enemy, Cancer. Yet we are comforted by the knowledge that we will see one another again when we have a great reunion in heaven.
Please dear ones, pray for our family members who have been devastated by this disease, who are coming alongside to provide care and comfort to those affected. We have been bathed in the love of God and wish the same loving kindness for them as well.
Rob decided he wanted you to see for yourselves the almost "Star Trek" mask he has worn for his radiation treatments. We've also taken a photo of his neck so you will know what is happening. Your prayers and encouragement in these past months have meant the world to us and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the love you've poured out upon us.
May God bless you each and every day.
Rob and Carol
Monday, June 1, 2009
Health Update
Dear ones,
It's been a while since we've updated you so here's the latest scoop.
Rob has completed 13 of the 32 scheduled radiation treatments and so far, he is being a real trooper as the effects of treatment make their appearance.
He now has a burning sensation and some blistering in the treated area. There is some pain just under his chin and swelling in his throat. His voice is also changing again, much like it was post surgery.
Rob had a clean shirt on when we left the house for church on Sunday but when we walked out of church, the front of his shirt was covered in beard hairs. He reached up and as he rubbed his neck, clumps of beard began falling. So the next phase has begun, no beard where he is being radiated. He's not too sad to see it go but wishes it was the whole neck area so he wouldn't have to shave at all!
One of the most noticeable things is the increasing fatigue. The doctor says this will increase throughout the treatment but will progressively improve once treatment is completed.
All in all, Rob is being a real trooper and wants you all to know how much he appreciates all your prayers.
We are praying Rob will regain enough strength to be able to return to Debrecen in early August to make some changes and possibly paint the inside of the houses. We will also have to decide what to pack up to bring back to the States once the property is sold. So far, there is no buyer in sight. Please keep this in your prayers. It is difficult to straddle two continents, not knowing what steps to take next.
Thank you all for your words of encouragement and love. We are being bathed in God's love and grace each day. Included are some photos of Rob taken in the last two weeks.
Blessings in Christ,
Carol and Rob
Friday, May 22, 2009
What's Happening Now
Busy days and more to come. Rob has completed 8 radiation treatments so far and is really a trooper!
So far, he is beginning to experience a burning feeling to the treated area and also more tiredness. He is taking more naps throughout the day and just conserving his energy for what lays ahead. His doctor said he would begin to experience the full effects of the radiation in the weeks ahead.
This past weekend we had the opportunity to go camping with our daughter and grandkids. They have an RV and a boat so we were able to have a great time on the water. Rob's fishing was limited to the evening hours so I don't have photos of him sitting on the back of the docked boat with his line in the water.
I did get a few photos of our grandkids wakeboarding and tubing plus me just hanging out on the boat which I've posted above.
Thank you one and all for all your loving encouragement and prayers. God is good, giving us a quiet place to hang our hat, rest when needed, and also be a blessing to our hostess Janine, who has turned her home over to us. She even gave up her master bedroom so we could have more space to be comfortable. Sitting on her patio with the beautiful waterfall has become an oasis for us, allowing us to feel God's love all around us. Blessings upon blessings just keep pouring out on us and we are so very grateful.
Wanting to do something to thank her, we found out Janine wanted to change her kitchen sink to a stainless one so we took her shopping for a new sink and faucet which Rob and Janine's Dad will install next week.
We are still praying for a buyer for the Mission House in Debrecen and try to remember the timing for this is also in God's hands.
Blessings to all,
Carol and Rob
Monday, May 4, 2009
Some Good News, At Last!!!
Thank you all for your prayers these many months. Rob just finished talking with his surgeon and finally got an idea of the prognosis for his future.
He was told that if he chose to have radiation to his surgery site, it could add 2 years to his life. If no radiation, he could expect about 1 year. Of course, he is choosing to have radiation which will start in the next two weeks.
Please know how much your prayers have encouraged us. We ask you to continue to pray for God's mercy and strength as Rob faces his next hurdle.
Additionally, there has been word of a possible buyer for the mission house property. Keep praying!! Thanks.
Love and hugs to you all!
Rob and Carol
He was told that if he chose to have radiation to his surgery site, it could add 2 years to his life. If no radiation, he could expect about 1 year. Of course, he is choosing to have radiation which will start in the next two weeks.
Please know how much your prayers have encouraged us. We ask you to continue to pray for God's mercy and strength as Rob faces his next hurdle.
Additionally, there has been word of a possible buyer for the mission house property. Keep praying!! Thanks.
Love and hugs to you all!
Rob and Carol
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Rob's Dream Machine
Thanks everyone, for your prayers this past week. Rob was able to make the trip to Southern California and Nevada with no problems.
While in Las Vegas visiting my brother Wayne, Rob had the chance to sit on Wayne's Harley Davidson motor cycle. It has always been Rob's dream to own one but he was more than content to just get the chance to sit on one. You can see his huge smile above.
Monday, Rob will see his surgeon and hopefully get some answers about the prognosis for his type of cancer. Right now, we don't know whether to plan to return to Hungary or stay here for the forseeable future.
Please keep praying for the sale of the Mission House in Debrecen Hungary. So far, there hasn't been any one coming forward with interest or an offer.
Blessings and love to all.
Rob and Carol
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Making Progress!!!
Wednesday was doctor day and the news is good. Rob was able to have ALL his tubes removed and he is one happy man now that all his "attachments" are out!!! See that smile on his face above!!!
The doctor also gave him the biopsy results. They show that of the 18 lymph nodes removed, 17 were benign and only one large node was malignant. Not sure yet what that means but Rob will ask his Oncologist in a couple of weeks to explain ALL the details.
Baring any restrictions, Rob wants to make the trip to Los Angeles to the Hungarian Consulate after seeing his surgeon next week Wednesday. If all goes well, my sister Georgia will drive us to L.A., then to Long Beach to visit my cousin, then to Riverside to visit one of Rob's uncles, and finally to Las Vegas to visit my brother and his family.
Most likely, the week after we get back, Rob will begin his radiation treatment. We've heard some gruesome tales of what that will be like so we're asking for prayer for Rob's strength to get through it without too many side effects.
Except for being beardless, we're both surprised at how little change there is in his appearance. Of course a lot of that could be the result of swelling.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your faithfulness in praying for Rob. He is encouraged by all the love being poured out to him. Thanks to all who have written e-mails, snail mail, and made phone calls.
Thanks Pastor Bodi and Doctor Krisztian, your calls from Hungary meant the world to us.
Blessings to all,
Carol and Rob
The doctor also gave him the biopsy results. They show that of the 18 lymph nodes removed, 17 were benign and only one large node was malignant. Not sure yet what that means but Rob will ask his Oncologist in a couple of weeks to explain ALL the details.
Baring any restrictions, Rob wants to make the trip to Los Angeles to the Hungarian Consulate after seeing his surgeon next week Wednesday. If all goes well, my sister Georgia will drive us to L.A., then to Long Beach to visit my cousin, then to Riverside to visit one of Rob's uncles, and finally to Las Vegas to visit my brother and his family.
Most likely, the week after we get back, Rob will begin his radiation treatment. We've heard some gruesome tales of what that will be like so we're asking for prayer for Rob's strength to get through it without too many side effects.
Except for being beardless, we're both surprised at how little change there is in his appearance. Of course a lot of that could be the result of swelling.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your faithfulness in praying for Rob. He is encouraged by all the love being poured out to him. Thanks to all who have written e-mails, snail mail, and made phone calls.
Thanks Pastor Bodi and Doctor Krisztian, your calls from Hungary meant the world to us.
Blessings to all,
Carol and Rob
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Rob is Home!!!!
The picture below is Rob smiling and thanking everyone for their prayers. The doctors allowed him to come home Saturday although he still has a catheter bag plus two drains in his wound. You can see by the smile on his face he's happy to be out of the noisy hospital even though he was blessed to have a private room!
He had a rough night, waking several times (it's hard to get comfortable with all the "attachments") but his pain level is manageable with pain meds.
Rob will see his surgeon on Wednesday to have his catheter removed and hopefully, both of the drains. Rob is hoping to be able to make a trip to Los Angeles in about 2 weeks to go to the Hungarian Consulate to have paperwork signed.
After that, he will start the radiation treatment about week 3 post-surgery. That will entail 6-7 weeks, 5 days a week of radiation targeted to his surgery site. They are saying the affects of the radiation will begin about week 2 or 3 with a burning affect much like someone who has experienced a fire. He doesn't know more than that yet but will find out more once he has his pre-treatment meeting with the Radiation Oncologist. No one is saying what comes next so we'll keep you posted how you can be praying once we know more.
Today we are celebrating our risen Savior, Jesus and thanking God for His loving care. We are so aware of all the prayers being lifted for him and for me as well. Thank you dear ones for continuing to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Blessings in Jesus, the RISEN Savior.
Carol and Rob
He had a rough night, waking several times (it's hard to get comfortable with all the "attachments") but his pain level is manageable with pain meds.
Rob will see his surgeon on Wednesday to have his catheter removed and hopefully, both of the drains. Rob is hoping to be able to make a trip to Los Angeles in about 2 weeks to go to the Hungarian Consulate to have paperwork signed.
After that, he will start the radiation treatment about week 3 post-surgery. That will entail 6-7 weeks, 5 days a week of radiation targeted to his surgery site. They are saying the affects of the radiation will begin about week 2 or 3 with a burning affect much like someone who has experienced a fire. He doesn't know more than that yet but will find out more once he has his pre-treatment meeting with the Radiation Oncologist. No one is saying what comes next so we'll keep you posted how you can be praying once we know more.
Today we are celebrating our risen Savior, Jesus and thanking God for His loving care. We are so aware of all the prayers being lifted for him and for me as well. Thank you dear ones for continuing to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Blessings in Jesus, the RISEN Savior.
Carol and Rob
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Rob Doing Well!!!
Never one to miss an opportunity to have an In-N-Out cheeseburger, as soon as the docs gave him the ok to eat whatever he wanted, he asked me to bring him one from his favorite place, plus fries and a chocolate shake. Boy was he grinning when I walked through the door shortly before noon today.
Rob is currently out of bed, disconnected from his monitoring devices and leg pumps (keeps the blood flowing while bedridden), but still with an IV attached, and sitting in a recliner chair reading one of his favorite authors.
No pain meds have been needed for the past 8 hours so he is doing REALLY well, post-op. He is looking forward to being able to come home tomorrow and will see his surgeon on Wednesday of next week, hopefully to have the drains removed from his neck.
We will have a quiet Easter at home, probably watching one of the TV Church programs. My sis and a friend are stopping by in the afternoon to check on his progress.
Once again, we thank each of you from the bottom of our hearts for your faithfulness in standing with us through these many weeks.
May you all be encouraged and your faith strengthened as we celebrate our risen savior Jesus Christ. To God be the glory.
Gratefully His,
Carol and Rob
Rob is currently out of bed, disconnected from his monitoring devices and leg pumps (keeps the blood flowing while bedridden), but still with an IV attached, and sitting in a recliner chair reading one of his favorite authors.
No pain meds have been needed for the past 8 hours so he is doing REALLY well, post-op. He is looking forward to being able to come home tomorrow and will see his surgeon on Wednesday of next week, hopefully to have the drains removed from his neck.
We will have a quiet Easter at home, probably watching one of the TV Church programs. My sis and a friend are stopping by in the afternoon to check on his progress.
Once again, we thank each of you from the bottom of our hearts for your faithfulness in standing with us through these many weeks.
May you all be encouraged and your faith strengthened as we celebrate our risen savior Jesus Christ. To God be the glory.
Gratefully His,
Carol and Rob
Friday, April 10, 2009
Rob's Surgery Outcome
Rob thought you all might like to see him before shaving and after so no one will have a problem recognizing him in the future!!! As you can see, he still has a smile on his face and did even when they were wheeling him into surgery.
The results of the surgery are this: They did NOT have to remove the muscle in his neck or his salivary gland. The tumor was the size of a closed fist, it is "non differentiated" squamous cell cancer, at least a stage 3. His doctor said they also removed a lymph node that was totally affected. She also said that since the lymph node was involved, it may have spread to other lymph nodes and therefore could be in other parts of his body at some point, not necessarily just the head or neck area.
I was able to see Rob for a few minutes, he was still groggy from the anesthesia but knew who I was. His throat was sore from the breathing tube during surgery so he wasn't able to talk much.
Since he went into surgery at 4:45 p.m. and they finished about 8 p.m. he will be staying in the hospital until at least Saturday.
Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. Rob has been encouraged by all the love coming his way.
Blessings in Christ,
Carol for Rob too
Thursday, April 2, 2009
More Details
Hi all,
Rob got a call from his doctor yesterday and the decision is to do his surgery on Thursday, April 9th at 2:30pm. The reason for the late start is that there is a question about how long the surgery will take, anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on how much tissue is involved, if they can save his neck muscles, any lymph nodes, etc. The doctor is determined to save as much of his head and neck as possible, always a good thing!
Rob continues to be encouraged by all the comments on the blog, e-mails, and phone calls. He had a call from Pastor Bodi while he was still in Texas and Rob got to talk to a few of the former students all meeting and staying with Tenny's family.
Rob is keeping busy these days, updating our ministry financials and teaching me how to do it on my own. Something that's being in a holding pattern for the past 10 years!!! Yesterday he also worked on our taxes, never a fun thing to do but oh so necessary.
We do need prayer about the ministry financial situation. Several of our long-time supporters are in a situation where they will not be able to continue due to the recession, job loss, or other financial considerations. Please pray that God will continue to provide all that is needed to keep things going even though we are not there. In any case, the ministries continue, praises to God!
We are so grateful to Dani and Andi for their help in keeping things going in Hungary at the mission house. A real cause for concern if not for them. Kudos to you both Dani and Andi.
We love you all, thank God for you by name, each time we remember you in our prayers.
In His grip,
Carol for Rob too
Rob got a call from his doctor yesterday and the decision is to do his surgery on Thursday, April 9th at 2:30pm. The reason for the late start is that there is a question about how long the surgery will take, anywhere from 2-4 hours depending on how much tissue is involved, if they can save his neck muscles, any lymph nodes, etc. The doctor is determined to save as much of his head and neck as possible, always a good thing!
Rob continues to be encouraged by all the comments on the blog, e-mails, and phone calls. He had a call from Pastor Bodi while he was still in Texas and Rob got to talk to a few of the former students all meeting and staying with Tenny's family.
Rob is keeping busy these days, updating our ministry financials and teaching me how to do it on my own. Something that's being in a holding pattern for the past 10 years!!! Yesterday he also worked on our taxes, never a fun thing to do but oh so necessary.
We do need prayer about the ministry financial situation. Several of our long-time supporters are in a situation where they will not be able to continue due to the recession, job loss, or other financial considerations. Please pray that God will continue to provide all that is needed to keep things going even though we are not there. In any case, the ministries continue, praises to God!
We are so grateful to Dani and Andi for their help in keeping things going in Hungary at the mission house. A real cause for concern if not for them. Kudos to you both Dani and Andi.
We love you all, thank God for you by name, each time we remember you in our prayers.
In His grip,
Carol for Rob too
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Rob's Decision
Rob met with his cancer surgeon this morning and has made a decision about the course of treatment he is going to pursue.
He has decided to have a neck dissection where they will remove most of the side of his neck, nodes, and any affected tissue. That will be followed up by 6-7 weeks of radiation to the surgery area. He chose not to have the more radical radiaiton which would have meant radiating his whole head. He said the side effects were too drastic, loss of smell and taste being the most primary.
The doctor wants to do the surgery as soon as approval is received from the insurance company, sometime next week most likely. He will be hospitalized at least the day of surgery overnight and longer if needed.
Thank you again, for all your prayers and we will update the blog once the schedule is set.
God bless you,
Carol and Rob
He has decided to have a neck dissection where they will remove most of the side of his neck, nodes, and any affected tissue. That will be followed up by 6-7 weeks of radiation to the surgery area. He chose not to have the more radical radiaiton which would have meant radiating his whole head. He said the side effects were too drastic, loss of smell and taste being the most primary.
The doctor wants to do the surgery as soon as approval is received from the insurance company, sometime next week most likely. He will be hospitalized at least the day of surgery overnight and longer if needed.
Thank you again, for all your prayers and we will update the blog once the schedule is set.
God bless you,
Carol and Rob
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday's Test Results
Dear ones,
Thank you for praying today. The result is that with the exception of a small red patch in the upper chest and a small polyp in the colon, they found nothing!!! The doctor feels that neither of these "finds" are suspect but he did go ahead and do a biopsy on both. The results are not in yet.
Rob is resting after finally getting a chance to eat. In fact I just checked on him and he is snoring peacefully.
Rob will meet with his cancer surgeon tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10am to discuss all the test results, find out what she recommends, and hopefully, be able to make an informed decision about treatment.
Most of the doctors are encouraging Rob is go with the modified neck/jaw dissection plus 6-7 weeks of radiation. We shall see what he ultimately decides.
Please continue to pray for Rob to have clarity so he can be comfortable with his choice, and ultimately, that the decision is the right one for his type of cancer.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and may God bless you in abundance.
Carol for Rob too
Thank you for praying today. The result is that with the exception of a small red patch in the upper chest and a small polyp in the colon, they found nothing!!! The doctor feels that neither of these "finds" are suspect but he did go ahead and do a biopsy on both. The results are not in yet.
Rob is resting after finally getting a chance to eat. In fact I just checked on him and he is snoring peacefully.
Rob will meet with his cancer surgeon tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10am to discuss all the test results, find out what she recommends, and hopefully, be able to make an informed decision about treatment.
Most of the doctors are encouraging Rob is go with the modified neck/jaw dissection plus 6-7 weeks of radiation. We shall see what he ultimately decides.
Please continue to pray for Rob to have clarity so he can be comfortable with his choice, and ultimately, that the decision is the right one for his type of cancer.
Thank you so much for all your prayers and may God bless you in abundance.
Carol for Rob too
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Prayers for Rob
Dear ones,
Today Rob is prepping for tests to be done on Monday, March 30th. The doctor told us when Rob met him last week, that he should know immediately if they find the primary source of his neck cancer. That said, I may be able to post more indepth news tomorrow.
Rob is experiencing new symptoms; nearly constant headache, stiffness in his neck along with pain running from his lower neck into his head, and difficulty in turning his head.
We covet your prayers, that the doctors will finally be able to pinpoint the primary cancer and then determine what can be done to treat it effectively.
Rob will meet with his primary doctor late morning on Tuesday. He should have more details then and we will of course, update this blog as soon as possible.
Thank you all for standing in the gap with us. Your prayers are apreciated more than our words can ever convey.
Blessings in Christ,
Rob and Carol
Today Rob is prepping for tests to be done on Monday, March 30th. The doctor told us when Rob met him last week, that he should know immediately if they find the primary source of his neck cancer. That said, I may be able to post more indepth news tomorrow.
Rob is experiencing new symptoms; nearly constant headache, stiffness in his neck along with pain running from his lower neck into his head, and difficulty in turning his head.
We covet your prayers, that the doctors will finally be able to pinpoint the primary cancer and then determine what can be done to treat it effectively.
Rob will meet with his primary doctor late morning on Tuesday. He should have more details then and we will of course, update this blog as soon as possible.
Thank you all for standing in the gap with us. Your prayers are apreciated more than our words can ever convey.
Blessings in Christ,
Rob and Carol
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Debrecen Mission/Guest House Photos
We have been asked to provide photos on our blog for anyone interested in taking over the ministry Rob and I have been involved with for the past 10 years. The following slide show contains the only photos we have available at the moment.
If you are interested in more information, please contact us at: carolgreathouse292@hotmail.com
Rob and Carol Greathouse
If you are interested in more information, please contact us at: carolgreathouse292@hotmail.com
Rob and Carol Greathouse
Wednesday, March 25th Update
Today was a day of "No Doctors" for Rob. He was able to sleep in for a change and he's spending the day vegging out.
Yesterday, he had two appointments; the morning appointment was with the Gastroenterologist who has scheduled two procedures for Monday the 30th. The doctor will look into his upper chest and neck and also his digestive tract, looking for the primary cancer site. The doctors assure us that it is not unheard of for them not to find it when the cancer site is head or neck. It's just frustrating since treatment, if that's Rob choice, is more difficult when the primary is unknown.
In the afternoon, Rob, our daughter Cheryl, and I went to the Radiation Oncologist to get more details about treatment options. He was given three scenarios to consider. Rob has said he will not make any decisions until after his tests on Monday and he meets with his primary doctor Tuesday morning. We should know more to share with you early next week.
Thank you once again for all your blog comments, e-mails, and phone calls. We are being bathed in prayer and experience the Lord is walking closely with us through this.
Blessings in Christ,
Carol and Rob
Yesterday, he had two appointments; the morning appointment was with the Gastroenterologist who has scheduled two procedures for Monday the 30th. The doctor will look into his upper chest and neck and also his digestive tract, looking for the primary cancer site. The doctors assure us that it is not unheard of for them not to find it when the cancer site is head or neck. It's just frustrating since treatment, if that's Rob choice, is more difficult when the primary is unknown.
In the afternoon, Rob, our daughter Cheryl, and I went to the Radiation Oncologist to get more details about treatment options. He was given three scenarios to consider. Rob has said he will not make any decisions until after his tests on Monday and he meets with his primary doctor Tuesday morning. We should know more to share with you early next week.
Thank you once again for all your blog comments, e-mails, and phone calls. We are being bathed in prayer and experience the Lord is walking closely with us through this.
Blessings in Christ,
Carol and Rob
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday's Test Results
Thank you all for your prayers during the weekend. Rob had a great time fishing even though the weather was not too good. He even fished in the rain as the photo below shows. In any case, the time of rest enabled him to quit thinking about what was coming up for a time.
The procedure today went well, unfortunately the news was not good. They were unable to find the primary cancer in either his head, neck, or lungs. The new biopsy came back positive for squamous cell neck cancer, our worst fear.
The Gastroenterologist (Doc who checks the digestive system) was unable to be there today so an appointment is scheduled in the morning (Tuesday) and the test will probably be done on Wednesday if Rob decides to have it. Tuesday afternoon, Rob will see the Radiation Oncologist to discuss options for treatment.
Rob's surgeon who is heading up his care and ordering all the tests, came into recovery this afternoon to talk to him about possible treatments and also the possibilities if Rob chooses not to pursue treatment.
Ideally, she would like him to have surgery to remove the tumor and follow that up with Radiation Therapy. Unfortunately the picture she painted was not a pretty one for how much of his face and neck would be "dissected" if he chooses surgery and the effects of Radiation were pretty grim.
Rob continues to say he will keep an open mind to his options but privately says he doesn't want to go that route. Rob will meet his surgeon again next week Monday where all the pieces of the puzzle should be known and he will be better able to make a decision for treatment or not.
Please pray for Rob's wisdom and continued peace through this process. He says it's harder not knowing everything so he CAN make an informed decision about his future. So our hope is by Monday, he will have a better sense of where he wants to go with this.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and words of support. We've had an outpouring of mails and apologize for not being able to answer each one separately. You can leave your comments on this blog and I'll see that Rob gets them.
Right now he is sleeping off the effects of the anesthesia and resting comfortably.
In His Grip,
Carol and Rob
The procedure today went well, unfortunately the news was not good. They were unable to find the primary cancer in either his head, neck, or lungs. The new biopsy came back positive for squamous cell neck cancer, our worst fear.
The Gastroenterologist (Doc who checks the digestive system) was unable to be there today so an appointment is scheduled in the morning (Tuesday) and the test will probably be done on Wednesday if Rob decides to have it. Tuesday afternoon, Rob will see the Radiation Oncologist to discuss options for treatment.
Rob's surgeon who is heading up his care and ordering all the tests, came into recovery this afternoon to talk to him about possible treatments and also the possibilities if Rob chooses not to pursue treatment.
Ideally, she would like him to have surgery to remove the tumor and follow that up with Radiation Therapy. Unfortunately the picture she painted was not a pretty one for how much of his face and neck would be "dissected" if he chooses surgery and the effects of Radiation were pretty grim.
Rob continues to say he will keep an open mind to his options but privately says he doesn't want to go that route. Rob will meet his surgeon again next week Monday where all the pieces of the puzzle should be known and he will be better able to make a decision for treatment or not.
Please pray for Rob's wisdom and continued peace through this process. He says it's harder not knowing everything so he CAN make an informed decision about his future. So our hope is by Monday, he will have a better sense of where he wants to go with this.
Thank you all for your continued prayers and words of support. We've had an outpouring of mails and apologize for not being able to answer each one separately. You can leave your comments on this blog and I'll see that Rob gets them.
Right now he is sleeping off the effects of the anesthesia and resting comfortably.
In His Grip,
Carol and Rob
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