To the Editor:

Galatians 6:2 states “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

This Bible verse can take on so many meanings. My husband and I have been on the receiving end of this meaning since April 2016 when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer. It had spread from his kidney to an adrenal gland, a lung, his spine, lymph nodes, and even a small amount in his tonsils. To say we were devastated is an understatement. But we quickly learned that anytime something didn’t go right, we always received a blessing in another way.

After trying a couple different medicines, the cancer started going away. In November 2015, we found out the cancer on his lung, adrenal gland, lymph nodes and tonsils was gone. We found out at his last scan in June 2016 that the tumors on his spine are continuing to shrink and the tumor on the kidney is the size of a golf ball (It was the size of a baseball when he was diagnosed). We also found out that the bones that were fractured and eroded from the cancer were filling in and healing.

We would personally like to thank everyone that encouraged us, prayed for us, and provided for us, whether it was a text, a card, a phone call, a visit, food, financially, or with prayers.

A special thank you goes to our families in Northampton and Chowan counties for being by our side the whole time: Pastor Brian and Becca Jenkins of Lighthouse of Hope for the many prayers, rides, and just for being there whenever we needed anything; Elizabeth Parker and family of Woodland, Frank Timberlake of Rich Square Market, and Barbara Outland, along with her staff at the Grapevine Restaurant in Woodland for hosting a bike run; the bikers that rode for us; our Lighthouse of Hope church family for walking with us through the darkest time in our lives; Sheldon and Eva Greene; the Jernigan family of Woodland; the late Buddy Bryant and Doryce Bryant and family of Woodland; Luther, Woot, and Sarah Ann Culpepper; the Collier family; Conway Baptist Church; Potecasi Baptist Church; and First Assembly of God in Edenton, NC.

Most importantly, we give glory to God for the healing He has brought about in Ray.

Ray and Marie Jones
Woodland