Good morning Dave & Irene,

Anna & I get your medical updates daily and partner with you and Irene in this journey. We pray daily for the family.

Irene’s testimony was so powerful and profound that we found ourselves worshiping and praising God. What a beautiful, Godly helpmate God has given you. So, my words of comfort and encouragement do not come from a perspective of distress or discouragement but from one of optimism and assurance promised us by God. The comfort and contentment we have in the blessed hope. God has promised to never leave us or forsake us and nothing can separate us from His love. This promise separates us from the world. It’s obviously sustaining your entire family.

Rest assured .... “God is being glorified”. We love you both.

Blessings,
Jim Maynard

Thanks for the video Dave.

Very impressive.  I continue to pray for you both.

Yes.

Reed

Dave,

My prayers continue to be with Irene and your family. What a strong faith she has ....

Robyn

Hey bro, the video is great stuff. Continuing to hold you both up in prayer.

Keep pressing ahead.

Devin

Last night we watched the video.  Irene is so gracious.  What a special lady!

Take care .... we send our love and prayers to both of you.

Jamie, Lisa and Emily

Impressive!!!!!!!!!!!  We were so pleased when we saw the video at church .... Every day I whisper Irene’s name to God and cheer her on .... We love you guys!!!!

Irene,

You are so loved!

You have been on my mind many times these last few weeks…and always in my prayers…always…

Blessings cover you from head to toe.

Dear Dave and Irene,

Charmaine and I prayed together for both of you today and will continue to lift you up in our prayers for God’s continued blessings, the possibility of a miracle of healing and restoration of health, and that His Holy Spirit will be evident and present at all times, especially when there may be tough challenges to face from time to time.

We love you with the love of our Lord, and ask that the Great Physician, who heals and comforts all of those who hurt, will be present with you today.

In prayer and service,

Don

I just wish to add a little word of encouragement to you all. I heard of your story and situation on the Crown Ministry Radio on 12/29.

My wife was diagnosed with colon cancer in May of 2007, and our world has been turned upside down - kind of the same West vs. East travel experience Mr. Dias talked about on the radio. She has been given 6 months to a year to live by the doctors, but we are hoping for a miracle - if that is God’s will.

Best Regards to you all and may God grant his healing to Irene.

Dear Friends -

We think of you all daily and sent our deepest love for you. We know you’re going through an unimaginably difficult time and your faith and love for each other is an extraordinary example for all of us. Please know that we continue to pray for you, Irene, and your path to recovery.

Your testimonies and devotions are profound and faith-building. Our God is so very faithful and will daily show us His way.

God is good…may we continue to rejoice in Him as we journey into this new year.

much love,
joe and sally

Good Evening Dave,

I heard your story on Money Life today. When I got a chance I looked up your website to learn more about your family. The website is very impressive.

We definitely have something in common. I was diagnosed with Follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1995. Since then I have had multiple recurrences and an autologous stem cell transplant on January 15. My next doctor’s appointment is this Wednesday when we find out our next move.

God is definitely good no matter what he has planned for us. I can say with certainty that cancer has taught me and my wife Deborah about God’s mercy, grace, and love in a very special way. It is a lonely life because people don’t understand what we go through, but like you and your wife we have used our experiences to share how much faith helps us through each and every day. It is a missionary journey and a very special ministry.

If you have a minute and want to learn a little about my situation please visit my blog HOPE in the Heartland at: http://www.revolutionhealth.com/community/people/profile/hopekc

Thank you for sharing your faith and your story today on the radio. And for writing about your story.

Sincerely,

Daryl

Hello Dave and Irene,

WOW!!  What a journey you are on!  Please forgive me for not sending you my prayers and love in such a long time!  I think of you often and my beautiful daughter JoAnna!  I would look forward to the times at President council when I could see you and JoAnna.

I too, have been on a journey during 2007 (but nothing like yours).  I was diagnosed with breast cancer and experienced a mastecomy of the right breast.  During my series of chemo I experience a setback in December 2007, the chemo triggered an attack on my liver causing hepatitis B.  Through prayers and our Savior’s great healing powers I was able to return to work in June 2007.

I would describe your journey as a world class trip, in comparison my journey which would classified as an insignificant domestic trip!  Irene, you are such a beautiful and gracious person - I can truly see God’s grace all in your continence. 

Well, God will be taking me on another journey soon, due to our economy and the condition that this world is in, I will be joining the ranks of many unemployed people.  I know God has a plan for me so I wake up each morning trusting Him.  You and Dave are truly a union made in heaven.

Love you both,

Helen Bush

Dave,
I visited your web site and enjoyed catching up on Irene’s journey.  I have decided that the two of you truly belong in the Hebrew’s Hero’s Hall of Fame line-up (Heb. 11).  As were the men and women of the Old Testament among the most faithful and righteous and included in this passage, so too are you and Irene worthy of such an honor!
 
Blessings,
John

Hi Irene,

We just got a copy of your book “Irene’s Journey of Faith”. As we left the hospital yesterday for a short break in treatment, the nurse came into the room and handed us a copy of the book and said she thought we would be interested in it.

My husband has been getting chemo treatments at UCSF since July. This is his second stint with cancer. The first (bladder cancer) was 5 years ago, and they told us that the 5th year of remission is a good sign that it won’t come back. Well, God had different plans. He was diagnosed in July with lymphoblastic lymphoma. The strange thing is that the bladder cancer is a smoker’s disease, but my husband has never smoked a day in his life. The lymphoblastic lymphoma is considered a childhood lymphoma…my husband will be 62 on the 22nd.

We both knew that this was God’s plan, even though we didn’t know what the plan was. My husband and I are with the Gideon’s. The first 3 weeks that my husband was in the hospital, he handed out 65 testaments; his personal record. When he gave one to a nurse, she said, I wondered when I would get one. All the other nurses had one, and she wondered why she hadn’t gotten one yet! (He had run out and I had to replenish his stock weekly).

As you know, it isn’t easy being stuck in the hospital, but we are making the best out of it. My husband’s doctor was so impressed with his progress that he would bring Stephen to other patients and show him off as a “model patient”. We still have months to go before the final treatment, but we have gotten so familiar with the staff and patients that going in has become a way of life.

I was the volunteer administrator for the San Francisco Prayer Breakfast for the last 12 years, and have been involved with Young Life, and Bold Assurance Ministries. I had to take a break from the prayer breakfast to care for my husband. As I thumbed through the book, I realized I knew the name Dave Dias, and several other names mentioned in the book. Ryon Paton, Don Thomas, and Wally Hawley were all names I recognized. I even bumped into Mark Laret while visiting the hospital.

We are looking forward to what God’s plan is for us in the next 18 months. “We don’t know what the future holds, but we know who hold the future.”

I’m asking for prayer for a patient who was my husband’s roommate at one time. His name is Sam Adams. As my husband was leaving on Sunday, Sam came into the room and it they were both elated to see each other again. The nurse said it was very rare that former roommates would ever share the same room again. Sam is a Coptic Christian of Egyptian descent. He is having a very had time with his treatment. Please pray for him to receive peace during his treatment.

God Bless your recovery.

Joyce Sarkisian

Dearest Irene,

You have been on my mind for several days now. Each time I think of you I pray for you. I continue to ask God to have mercy on you with this nausea. I cry out to the Lord on your behalf and at the same time I am amazed by your great courage. God continues to remind me that life is an unpurchased gift. Treasure each day. I pray that you will have days ahead where you feel well and that you will have a new song. Know that you are cared for dear one.

Veronica Eckhardt