Yesterday, in church, Nikki felt she needed to stand up and testify and to encourage the people to trust in God in every situation, no matter what things looked like.
Proverbs 3:5 says:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight"
As she stood up to testify, all the lights and sound in the church went out (due to a general power failure) and blackness surrounded us. There are no windows for natural light in the main auditorium so you can imagine how dark it was. It was such a vivid and graphic picture of what our enemy, Satan, is attempting to do - to drive us into or to keep us in a place of darkness / blackness / depression and fear. He attempts to steal our faith and even our testimony of God's goodness in our lives by keeping us in a place of self pity. Nikki decided that the blackout would not deter her and that she would stand up and testify anyway. She shared frankly about her disease and prognosis and where her faith and trust is. It was powerful. Many people were touched by her testimony and she had the opportunity to pray with them and encourage them after she spoke. What a brave and courageous warrior she is! (Her name means "victory of the people" - apt)
It has been said that God uses times like these to test our faith in Him. How do we respond in times of difficulty - do we run to God or away from Him. Do we blame Him or do we trust Him. Where is our faith? Whom do we trust? What do we really beleive? Nikki and Adrian leave no doubt about what and whom they beleive and this belief has been the key to the grace and peace that has covered them through the last 3 years.
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, a few weekends ago, Nix and Adrian were blessed with a weekend of pampering at the beautiful Bon Cap Wine Estate in Robertson. They were blown away by the kindness and generosity of the people who own and manage the place. I thought that I would include a copy of the latest newsletter sent out from Bon Cap to their clients as they write lots about the sweet Boyds in the post. Nix helped them put together a banner for the newsletter - as she does so well. So here it is...
October 2010
A few weekends ago we were blessed to meet the most amazing family with strength of character and a positive attitude towards life.
They (and I am referring to them as it is not an individual battle but one faced by the entire family) have been on a rollercoaster ride over the past 2 and a half years.
What started as a condition diagnosed as Adult onset Still’s disease (an auto-immune disease and a type of Rheumatoid Arthritis) It turned out a year later that not only did she have the Arthritis condition, but that Nikki had a very rare type of ‘inflammatory’ breast cancer which was in the tissue and not contained in a lump, as cancer would usually present itself. After extensive tests, it was discovered that the cancer had already spread into her lymph, bone and liver - and that it could have been there for anything up to 2 years. Whether this was the cause of the Arthritis or not, remains unclear, all they know is they are fighting 2 different diseases; One that needs immune suppressants to control it effectively, while the other, needs the immune system boosted to fight the cancer effectively. So the Clash of drugs and decisions regarding which ones to take and which ones not to take remains their biggest challenge.
A few weeks before we met her, Nikki started having some unusual symptoms like visual disturbances, `severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, forgetting things and dropping things. So the doctors ordered a brain MRI. It was at this point that they received the next shock: the cancer had spread to her brain, where they found several inoperable tumors. The doctors suggested radiation treatment along with a course of steroids to ease the symptoms – she did both and has now completed the course.
She is determined to fight this awful disease, and is determined to come out stronger. What she tells the doctors is that her mother was healed miraculously of colon cancer when she was 39, and she trusts it will be the same for her - so they’ll have that to leave as a legend for their children… That …with God, they can beat this - and the Cancer doesn’t need to win.
They are very blessed in that they have the full support of friends and family rallying around them to help in any which way they can – and for this they are immensely grateful.
In a small effort of support, Bon Cap invited the family to spend two sun filled days on the farm. After recently discovering cancerous spots on the liver (which was clear at the beginning of the year) we believed that an all expenses covered trip for the family to spend some time with each other, celebrating life, and everything that it is meant to be, might be just what the doctor ordered. Clean country air, scrumptious meals, organic wine, decaffeinated coffee could do any individual some good in this fast paced, stressful world of ours and no one is more deserving then Nikki Boyd and her family.
The family got the chance to celebrate Hannah’s seventh birthday while on Bon cap with a cake, happy birthday sing along by staff, balloons and a hearty Farm styled breakfast to start the day with – fit for any princess - before heading home, cake in tail, to supportive friends, family and sister at home.
To read more on the incredible walk Nikki has been going through please have a look at a blog site which was setup and is regularly updated by her (very special) sister, Eve. Here is the address if you are interested: http://nikkiboyd.blogspot.com
Nikki, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Please come and visit us again soon.
Bon Cap team.
Proverbs 3:5 says:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight"
As she stood up to testify, all the lights and sound in the church went out (due to a general power failure) and blackness surrounded us. There are no windows for natural light in the main auditorium so you can imagine how dark it was. It was such a vivid and graphic picture of what our enemy, Satan, is attempting to do - to drive us into or to keep us in a place of darkness / blackness / depression and fear. He attempts to steal our faith and even our testimony of God's goodness in our lives by keeping us in a place of self pity. Nikki decided that the blackout would not deter her and that she would stand up and testify anyway. She shared frankly about her disease and prognosis and where her faith and trust is. It was powerful. Many people were touched by her testimony and she had the opportunity to pray with them and encourage them after she spoke. What a brave and courageous warrior she is! (Her name means "victory of the people" - apt)
It has been said that God uses times like these to test our faith in Him. How do we respond in times of difficulty - do we run to God or away from Him. Do we blame Him or do we trust Him. Where is our faith? Whom do we trust? What do we really beleive? Nikki and Adrian leave no doubt about what and whom they beleive and this belief has been the key to the grace and peace that has covered them through the last 3 years.
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, a few weekends ago, Nix and Adrian were blessed with a weekend of pampering at the beautiful Bon Cap Wine Estate in Robertson. They were blown away by the kindness and generosity of the people who own and manage the place. I thought that I would include a copy of the latest newsletter sent out from Bon Cap to their clients as they write lots about the sweet Boyds in the post. Nix helped them put together a banner for the newsletter - as she does so well. So here it is...
October 2010
A few weekends ago we were blessed to meet the most amazing family with strength of character and a positive attitude towards life.
They (and I am referring to them as it is not an individual battle but one faced by the entire family) have been on a rollercoaster ride over the past 2 and a half years.
What started as a condition diagnosed as Adult onset Still’s disease (an auto-immune disease and a type of Rheumatoid Arthritis) It turned out a year later that not only did she have the Arthritis condition, but that Nikki had a very rare type of ‘inflammatory’ breast cancer which was in the tissue and not contained in a lump, as cancer would usually present itself. After extensive tests, it was discovered that the cancer had already spread into her lymph, bone and liver - and that it could have been there for anything up to 2 years. Whether this was the cause of the Arthritis or not, remains unclear, all they know is they are fighting 2 different diseases; One that needs immune suppressants to control it effectively, while the other, needs the immune system boosted to fight the cancer effectively. So the Clash of drugs and decisions regarding which ones to take and which ones not to take remains their biggest challenge.
A few weeks before we met her, Nikki started having some unusual symptoms like visual disturbances, `severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, forgetting things and dropping things. So the doctors ordered a brain MRI. It was at this point that they received the next shock: the cancer had spread to her brain, where they found several inoperable tumors. The doctors suggested radiation treatment along with a course of steroids to ease the symptoms – she did both and has now completed the course.
She is determined to fight this awful disease, and is determined to come out stronger. What she tells the doctors is that her mother was healed miraculously of colon cancer when she was 39, and she trusts it will be the same for her - so they’ll have that to leave as a legend for their children… That …with God, they can beat this - and the Cancer doesn’t need to win.
They are very blessed in that they have the full support of friends and family rallying around them to help in any which way they can – and for this they are immensely grateful.
In a small effort of support, Bon Cap invited the family to spend two sun filled days on the farm. After recently discovering cancerous spots on the liver (which was clear at the beginning of the year) we believed that an all expenses covered trip for the family to spend some time with each other, celebrating life, and everything that it is meant to be, might be just what the doctor ordered. Clean country air, scrumptious meals, organic wine, decaffeinated coffee could do any individual some good in this fast paced, stressful world of ours and no one is more deserving then Nikki Boyd and her family.
The family got the chance to celebrate Hannah’s seventh birthday while on Bon cap with a cake, happy birthday sing along by staff, balloons and a hearty Farm styled breakfast to start the day with – fit for any princess - before heading home, cake in tail, to supportive friends, family and sister at home.
To read more on the incredible walk Nikki has been going through please have a look at a blog site which was setup and is regularly updated by her (very special) sister, Eve. Here is the address if you are interested: http://nikkiboyd.blogspot.com
Nikki, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Please come and visit us again soon.
Bon Cap team.
wow - God is Great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a powerful testimony you ALL are to so many of us. We see His strength carrying each of you ... and your steadfast devotion to God encourages us in our journey with Jesus. I continue to stand with you guys gor precious Nikki's miracle. Shew ... she knows and loves her Jesus!! Thank you for all you share on your blog for Nikki. Sending you a hug today Eve. You are such a precious sister to Nikki.
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