Tony’s Blog

Tony called with some more good news today: Rather than having the sutures removed on Thursday, the Dr. decided to leave them in until Monday, at which time Rhonda will have them removed here in Chattanooga.  The implications will be positive, as having the sutures remain in should make travel easier and less delicate for Rhonda.

Also, Rhonda will be released from the hospital sometime today, most likely before dinner.  They are thankful that the release is as scheduled, and are eager to settle in to the hotel for the next few days.

Pray today for:

• The release to go smoothly and early enough for Rhonda to get much rest tonight.
• For rest for Tony, as he has been busy taking care of Rhonda!
• For the Homewood Suites to be very accomodating and comfortable for Rhonda.

Rhonda began to feel much better on Saturday, and has continued to get stronger since then.  Today is Monday, and Rhonda will be released from the hospital tomorrow! She has been up and walking a few times and doing very well.
She and Tony will be checking into a Homewood Suites for the remainder of their stay, and will travel back to Chattanooga on Saturday.  Prayer points for the week are the following:

• Pray that Rhonda will continue to get stronger so that she is ready to travel by Saturday.
• Pray that the hotel works well for them, and is a very comfortable place for Rhonda to continue recouperating.
• Pray that her pain level stays low and that God has allowed the procedure to eliminate her suffering.
• PRAISE the Lord for a smooth, complication-free surgery for Rhonda!

A room opened up for Rhonda at about 4 pm yesterday, so she was situated there throughout the night. However, please continue to pray as she is dealing with intense, painful muscle spasms as a result of the surgery. She finds it painful to move or even to breathe deeply.

Tony and Rhonda are expecting a visit from the doctor sometime this morning (it is Friday at 9:45 as I write), and hope to figure out a solution for Rhonda’s pain. Once the pain subsides, she will begin some post-operative therapy.

Today’s prayer needs are as follows:

• Pray for clarity and productivity as the doctor visits this morning.
• Pray for the nausea to completely subside.
• Pray for a helpful balance of pain medicine that allows Rhonda’s pain to be manageable, while still allowing her to be cognizant.

Rhonda’s surgery went well this morning, with no complications! The doctor reported to Tony that there had clearly been tension on the spinal cord, and they were able to get some extra spinal fluid flow immediately once the tethering was released.

Rhonda is currently in the recovery room (it is Thursday afternoon at 1:30 as I write), and they are waiting on a hospital room. Once they get Rhonda situated in a room, Tony will touch base to give another update.

For now, please pray:

• That Rhonda’s pain and nausea will be very manageable.
• For a room to open up quickly so that Rhonda will be as comfortable as possible as she recovers.
• For SLEEP for both Tony and Rhonda tonight!

Again, thank you prayer warriors! Your prayers are being answered!!! Please click here if you’d like to contact Heather at the Chattanooga Youth Network.

As I type, Rhonda is in the midst of her “tethered cord” surgery at the hospital.  Tony called this morning with an update about the morning thus far.  They arrived at the hospital for pre-op procedures at 5:30 AM and Rhonda went into surgery (very tired from only a couple of hours of sleep) on time at 7:30 AM.

As for an update on the hours of pre-surgical testing yesterday, Tony said God gave much favor with the nurses and the day went very smoothly!  Praise God for that answer to prayer!

Prayer Requsts for today:

• Pray for the surgery itself; for clarity and wisdom for the doctor(s) and nurses.
• Pray that God would provide results through the surgery; that He would choose to restore Rhonda to health for His glory and for her good. Pray for alleviation of pain!
• Continue to pray for grace and peace as Tony interacts with hospital staff, and for rest for both Tony and Rhonda today.

On behalf of Tony and Rhonda, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. Tony and Rhonda arrived safely in New York on Monday, and spent the day on Tuesday relaxing and recovering from the travel day. Today (Wednesday) will be a long day of pre-surgical testing at the hospital.

Today’s prayer needs are the following:

• Pray for strength and endurance for Rhonda as she has been feeling weak.
• Pray for patience and energy for both Tony and Rhonda today as they will spend about 6 hours at the hospital.
• Pray for favor and helpfulness of the doctors and nurses in thier interactions with Tony and Rhonda.
• Pray for energy for Tony as he attends to Rhonda’s needs after surgery.
• Pray for every aspect of the surgery to proceed smoothly and effectively.

Please click here to go to the Chattanooga Youth Network’s Website, which also has information about Tony and Rhonda’s trip as well as the most recent Director’s Update letter by Tony.

Thank you again for lifting the Souder’s before the throne of grace!

Heather Smith
Administrative Assistant
Chattanooga Youth Network
Click here to email me

Six weeks from today, August 3rd, my wife Rhonda will be in a Long Island Hospital going under the knife to remedy a “Tethered Cord” problem. This surgery should affect several longtime issues she has endured and yet like most things there are no guarantees. No warranty’s on work performed. But we are praying that God would do more than we could ever ask or imagine for Rhonda’s health through this. We know He has been at work in and through all of these health issues over the years and we are thankful for His sustaining grace each moment. Please be in prayer for us as we try to get all of the logistics taken care of over the next couple of weeks. My main concern is the travel back to Chattanooga. The site of the surgery is the base of the back, which will by nature make the sitting position very difficult for Rhonda. I need wisdom concerning how to work this the best for Rhonda.

We are greatly encouraged by all the prayers offered on our behalf…so let us know if you are praying.

The book of proverbs pacts a powerful punch practically speaking. It really is quite fun to gain insight on so many major and minor aspects of life in such a few pages. One of the reasons I love proverbs is the succinct nature of the insights…there are Ah Ha! moments in every chapter. The other day I was with a pastor friend of mine who God has used to speak into my life over the last 4 years and he challenged me with Proverbs 27:14 “He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him”. This a powerful proverb in how to speak the truth into anothers life. If we do it in the wrong way “a loud voice”, and at the wrong time “early in the morning”, then we basically have made a blessing a curse. WOW! I am so thankful for my friend and his sharing this proverb with me. I needed to be reminded that however important truth is, it must be shared in the right way and time.

Today Proverbs 27:14 is becoming a key part of communication approach.

Recently my sister in law finished her battle with cancer and went home to be with the Lord. She left a wake of kindness behind her and we will miss her in the extreme. Her passing has a good news, bad news twist to it. The good news being she is no longer in pain and is with Jesus. The bad news is the loss of a wife for my brother and a mom for my nephews 8 & 10 years old. The loss of a daughter, sister, and friend by others connected with her. I must say I don’t like it…loss that is. I realize that this is one of the sad results of our first parents…Adam and Eve going their own way. When I returned home from the funeral I was met with more loss with a severe accident near my home where two people were killed. Loss is everywhere, and it hurts. I think that one of the best things a Christian can develop is a fully orbed way of viewing and understanding loss and suffering. May God help us with this understanding while we live with loss that seems to be at every turn.  Pray for my brother and his boys to be held in the arms of God.

Being a parent makes me think of leaving a legacy. Recently, I experienced two ends of the legacy spectrum. First, I had the privilege of speaking at a parents forum for Middle Valley Baptist Church where the parents desire to raise children who love God more than anything else in the world. Then I experienced the second end of the spectrum. I left that meeting and went to the mall to go by the discount bookstore…which is a hobby of mine…borderline addiction. As I left my car I noticed a man stumbling along with his two children who looked to be 3 and 5 years old. I thought at first that he was playing a game until I heard the 5 year old girl crying loudly when they got to the car. I decided to go see if I could help. I determined that the man was either drunk or he had some medical condition. He should me what looked like a recent scar from a major surgery. The girl was yelling for me to not hurt him…and the door shut so I could not hear the end of her sentence. He said he was going to wait for his wife and got into the car. He waited for a few minutes and then drove off leaving me in a quandry as to what I should do.  I looked for the mall security because my concern for the children was growing by the minute. The mall security were no help so I jumped into my car and followed them. When they ran up on the curb while traveling down hwy 153 I decided that I had to call the police. I followed them to Walmart and called the police one more time.  They said they were on the trail and that I should not follow him anymore.  I obeyed and watched the blue Jeep Cherokee with Michigan plates drive off wondering if those children would be alright. 

Experiences like this leave me a little more pensive than usual.  What will happen to those children?  Was the Dad drunk or did he have some other problem?  I don’t know.  I do know that a parental legacy is being left…either positive or negative.  Parenting, by nature, is a legacy leaving venture. That reality makes me ask “What legacy am I leaving…”? Today I made another installment in “my legacy” with my twin daughters.  Was it a day of blessing to those who crossed my path or a day of pain to those who “crossed me”?  I’m reminded that four short years ago my Dad passed away.  I realize more and more how my father left his mark on me. My wife reminds me (in a good way) when I do something that has the imprint of my dad all over it.

The idea of leaving a legacy is intriguing. The sound of legacy seems like it is something that is thought out and executed with intentionality and yet I find that most of us are coasting into whatever legacy we will end up with.  I think the last thing I want is to coast into a legacy and yet I have to battle everyday to live with intentionality.  It’s a battle because life is challenging and the days are long and who has the energy to read that missionary biography to their children after an exhausting day.  And yet, there is no greater delight in the world than the delight found in God.  Stories of great christians ignite the heart with passion for God and His purposes.  God has put His hand on us as His children for a purpose and each day we must pursue His purposes for us our world. 

We must work by the power of God in us to not COAST into the legacy God desires for us to leave!

How have your installments been these days?  Is God being seen and savored by your life?  Are people encouraged by your relationship with them? Leave a legacy of blessing.