Dear Friends, Companions and Loved Ones - Robert L. Abegg

I want to thank all of you who have been carrying us through this time as we care for my parents and prepare for my Father's "heavenly graduation".  He is attempting to broadcast the following letter to all he knows, and since many of our supporters know and love him, or have simply prayed for him over the past years I want to pass it along. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, please make note of the reception to be held on February 9th. 

 God bless!

-Kevin

Saturday, Jan. 25^th, 2014

Dear Friends, Companions, and Loved Ones; 

It has been a great pleasure these last four or five years writing of the things I did in my childhood, but the time has come now to write about my near future.  I learned a few weeks ago that my cancer has regrouped within my body to the extent that not much can be done other than make the best of the last couple months that the doctors seem to think I have.  I thank you all for the privilege I have had of knowing and doing life with you.   My concern is for you, those I leave behind.  This is a difficult world in which we live.  Though technology has made many things easier, it has not solved the stress, frustrations, and deceit we all must live with.  I have said to some of you, I am glad my parents passed away before 9-11. Terrorism, they would have never understood. To kill any and all, young and old pointlessly, just for the sake of killing, I also cannot understand.  The world my parents lived in was hard and difficult.   They toiled and in many cases didn't live as long or healthy as we, but I think it was a more "friendly" world.   Even with the two World Wars my parents lived through, you at least know who the good guys and the bad guys were.   OK, enough of that.  You might say I'm leaving before the party gets too rough. 

My life has been good. The things I have seen, the places I have gone, and the sports I have done, far surpass my wildest hopes and dreams.  I thank God, and my Lord Jesus Christ for the life they have led me to live.   Their leading goes back before I even knew there was a God.  I have no idea why the Lord decided to grab hold of me, for it was a time when I thought, Jesus Christ, was only a cuss word!   What a privilege to have God guiding my way, even before I knew Him.   I read one of my stories a while back at the Chateau (the assisted living where I resided much of the past year due to my illnesses) to a group of "senior-seniors" entitled, "Be Careful How You Pray".   Because----someone up there is listening and you're more than likely going to have to live with those answered prayers. 

I have been through a lot these last few years, and a few doctors have been surprised that I'm still here.   I am here, but the truth of the matter is I'm not sure for how long.  I had pancreatic cancer surgery last March and though I was pretty close to leaving, I came through, ok.  In the last couple weeks a CAT scan picked up some cancer in my lungs and pancreas again.   Their guess is that I have about two months.  One of those months is mostly gone. The type of cancer, and where it is, means they can't do anything about it.   God is still looking after me though. Kevin, Claudia and the boys moved in with us in September, before we knew my timeline. He was able to arrange a year's "home assignment" from his missionary work and they're spending it here helping Bitta and me. That's another prayer God has answered. Our house is alive again; with Niko-8, and Jeremy-10, bouncing around like a couple Ping-Pong ball.   It's fantastic, it's invigorating, and it's fun. Kevin will be managing most of the ventures Bitta and I are invested in, and that leaves me time to write and do things with my beloved wife.   I didn't know what was coming, and neither did Kevin, but obviously God did.   Kevin is here, just when needed, to take over whenever I leave.

Lana, Jason and their boys have been down often from Sacramento to help with doctor appointments and much of the overall care that's so needed for both Bitta and me. We are incredibly blessed to have them close enough to visit for a day and lend a hand at whatever we need. Just two weeks ago we were able to take a drive to Bitta and Bob's old stomping grounds, Children's Fairy Land, near Lake Merritt in Oakland.  This last weekend we all (Bitta, myself, Lana's family and Kevin's family) went to Monterrey for a long weekend.  What a memorable weekend that was.

At first I was shaken up by my short future, but then I realized where I'm going there will be no more spinal surgeries, my two titanium shoulders and knees won't hurt, my numb feet will have feeling again, and nothing else is going to pain me!  Those of you I leave behind; I hope you can appreciate, what I was, while I was here.   I tried very hard to be the person that I myself would like to have as a friend.  Keep up the good fight, Look to the Lord for guidance, and remember, this world needs as many people with Christ-like integrity as it can possibly get.

With my love, respect, and good wishes; 

Robert L. Abegg

PS: There will be a reception (as opposed to a memorial since I'm still here!) held Sunday Feb. 9^th from 2PM – 4PM at the Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church parlor:  1801 Lacassie Ave, Walnut Creek, CA  94596 .  I would love to see all who can make it!

PSS: The family invites you to follow my status and send any notes, memories or words of encouragement via https://www.thestatus.com. Please click the "request an invitation" button on the home page just below the "login" button and fill out the brief form including my name "Robert Abegg. Thank you so much.

News of Grief ...and Hope

Last week we received the news that we knew would eventually come, but we hoped would be much further down the road…my dad's pancreatic cancer had returned and already spread to his lungs.  The doctor estimated he has about two months.

We recognize that every one of my father's days over the past year has been a gift from the Lord since the initial mass was discovered during his spinal surgery a year ago February. If that had not happened, we would have more than likely lost my father in March last year.  

Though I have worked with my dad over the past months to prepare family, finances and our hearts for this, and I rejoice in the time Jeremy, Nico, Claudia and I have had with him, I don't think we could ever be "prepared" for the news, and what we will continue to walk through in the coming months.

The one true, profound comfort we do have is the assurance we carry that after his body is spent; After his strength is gone; After he leaves the pain and decay behind, HE WILL BE NEW. And we KNOW we will see him again. 

"When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

"O death, where is your victory?
 O death, where is your sting?"

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  I Cor 15:54-57

My dad knows his savior. He knows where he is going. And we know that because of Christ's sacrifice for us, we will get to see him and rejoice with him more deeply than ever before.

For now though, we grieve and push through the wages of sin on our mortal bodies, in assured hope of a brighter future. 

Please keep my dad, Robert Abegg in your prayers. Pray for his body and mind during this time. He particularly enjoys and desires to continue writing and recording stories from his childhood and life. Pray that he is able to do so throughout this process and that he would be satisfied with the accomplishments the Lord allows. Please pray for the entire Abegg family as we navigate the grief and major decisions ahead. Please pray for my mom, Bitta Abegg, as she prepares for a future unlike the past 46 years. 

Thank you for your encouragement, support and intercession. 

God bless. 

In His Hands / En Sus manos;

Kevin S. Abegg (for the family)