We returned to Germany to pack our belongings and say farewell after four years of ministry there. On 8 February, I preached in an evening Spring Convocation service at the European Theological Seminary. On Sunday, 12 February, I preached at Crossroads International Church in Freudenstadt. The ETS students and faculty had a wonderful farewell service for us, as did the church. We thank God for the time we had with them since 2007. Germany would not renew our visa and so this time is now over. We are praying and asking God to open a church in America where we can pastor.

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Since the beginning of the new year, we have decided not to return to Germany to work at ETS during the Spring semester. Instead, we are seeking a church to pastor in America. Germany will not renew our visa and we would have to leave there by September. We feel after prayerfully considering many factors that it is best to remain in America. We are returning to Germany for 10 days on 3 February to arrange shipment home of our belongings. While there, I will preach at ETS and the local church. My health is very good. The oncologist is very pleased with the results of the injections. My liver is functioning normally and I feel energetic and strong. We are looking forward to finding a church who will accept us as their pastor. Please keep us in prayer through this process.

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Rodney’s father, Wayne Friend, died on 27 November at age 85. Daniel, our son, fell at his job on 5 December and hit his head. This caused him to seizure several times and have bleeding in the brain. He was in the hospital a week, but has gone home. Rodney’s mother also went to the hospital on 10 December, the day we had a memorial service for Rodney’s father. Rodney continues to receive injections for the malignant tumors in his liver. God has brought us through it all. We still hope to return to Germany in late January for the Spring semester at the European Theological Seminary. This will be the first Christmas that we have ever seen our grandchildren, 8 and 3, open Christmas presents. This will be a special blessing for us. God bless all of you with a great Christmas!

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For the third day straight, we visited  classes at Lee University during their missions week emphasis. On 27 October, we visited the Old Testament Theology class taught by Dr. Jerome Boone and spoke about missions. Dr. Boone was my professor in the 1970s at Lee and hopefully some of those current students of 2011 will some day become missionaries also.

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On Wednesday, 26 October, we were invited to the Mission of the Church class at Lee University in Cleveland, TN, to share about missions during Lee’s Dee Lavender Mission Week. Dr. Jerome Boone teaches this class and Rodney spoke to the class. It was a real privilege to address the students.

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Lee University is having their annual missions emphasis week this week. We were invited to the chapel service there today on 25 October. We were also asked to visit two classes today, where I spoke to the Lee students about missions. These were the Demography and Social Theory classes both taught by Dr. Karen Mundy. It was great to be back in the classroom!

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On 21 October, we attended the monthly communion service for missions personnel at the Church of God International Offices in Cleveland, TN. Rodney spoke and officiated at the communion service. This was his first time to speak anywhere since his surgery on 1 September. We thank God for the faithful work of all the missions staff serving at headquarters. They are the partners in ministry for the missionaries.

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As an update, I am feeling better and moving about as I did before the surgery. I receive a monthly injection, but that has had no side effects. The purpose of the shots are to shut down the tumors in the liver. The liver is operating normally in spite of the tumors. Thank you for your prayers. We are eager to return to Germany as soon as possible.

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Our daughter, Leslie, came to assist Carol and me while I was hospitalized. Leslie is a RN who lives and works in a hospital in Palmdale, CA.  She works on a Medical Surgery floor there, the same on which I was.We had not seen her this summer, and we thank God for her help and our visit of six days with her. We were blessed to have a “private nurse” helping us.

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On 30 August, I (Rodney) became quite ill and went to the doctor. After being sent to the hospital emergency room, it was discovered that I had cancerous tumors in my small intestine and liver. The one in my intestines was surgically removed on 1 September. I have been recovering well. For the multiple tumors in the liver, I have begun taking injections three times daily, given to me by Carol. We will miss the Fall semester now in Germany. Our hope is to return for the Spring semester. We are believing God for a healing of my liver. Please continue to pray for us and support us until we get back to Germany. My illness required the cancellation of our final two services of the Summer itineration: Clearwater, FL and Port Huron, MI. We are grateful for Pastors John Armstrong and Richard Shelton for their undertsanding and support.

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