WE MADE IT TO ORLANDO!

Friends we are here in Orlando finally. It was quite a trip getting everything settled but we are all settled in. Shane, Lisa, Ally and Chase will be here in a few hours. I am blogging today because we want everyone to be in prayer this evening. We are going to the healing revival that is taking place in Lakeland this evening. Please be in prayer with us this evening between 9:00-11:00. That is the time that those in the prayer line are being prayed for. We believe that God will do a miracle for Eric. We love you and look forward to blogging you on our return. Also for those who have been inquiring tomorrow is Papi's Bibbidi Bobbidi Princess Boutique with Ally. What fun those two will have. Remember to pray tonight and we love all of you. Sherry

Getting Ready for Disney

Pastor had chemo yesterday. Today he is very tired and weak. He has done better this week with the chemo. Last week the chemo was really hard on him. This chemo's side effect is pain in different areas of your body. Well he has pain anyway so it made the pain intense. This week we did some prechemo things and it made chemo a little better. Pastor and I are believing for a miracle and I know it will happen. We are going to Disney next week with Ally and Chase. Ally is so excited she calls Papi almost everyday to talk about going. Please remember us in your prayers this next week that Pastor will be able to enjoy this trip with our grandchildren. One of the great blessing of this trip is that there is a tremendous healing revival happening in Lakeland at this time so we are planning to make it over there and have Eric prayed for. Pray for us, as it would be great to to come back healed by the Lord. We are so blessed by your blogging. We are amazed that some of you have found us. We love each of you and know that God has a plan! Sherry

Back from the Master's

What a great trip Sherry and I had to Augusta, Georgia to attend the Master's golf tournament. I will say this though - there is no place like home. The Dream Foundation made the trip possible finding tickets for us, finding a host home where we stayed with a great family. They also paid for our air fare, had a couple of restaurants host us along with many other things. As many of you are aware we had about 4 different interviews where we were in two papers and on two television stations. In some ways they presented the "final amen" or an apparent end that is in sight. I want you to know that Sherry and I are a long way from giving up - we are simply pressing in for the miracle that we believe God is preparing for us. We began a new round of chemo today. This chemo is different than any we have had so far, then we begin radiation on Friday - so continue to pray and hold up the banner of faith. I will say that even in the middle of faith there are times of tears and weakness. For years as a pastor when someone would go through something similiar to what I'm going through I would say, "I understand" when indeed I did not. My faith is strong, but my tears seem to come more frequently. I speak these words to you not trying to say what would be "spiritually correct" as much as being totally transparent. I believe that is the best I can do for you right now. It is because I love each of you as my spiritual children. Indeed I do feel like Paul who kept addressing the Lord concerning his "thorn in the flesh" until the Lord gave him those great words "My grace is sufficient for you". I truly believe God's grace is sufficient for each of us. Thank-you for allowing my ramblings, all I know to say is that I love you more each and every day. Thank-You - Pastor Olsen!!!!!!!!!
P.S. If you have not seen the interviews you can go to google and search "Eric Olsen's Master's Dream" and you should be able to pick-up the spots that ran in Augusta and here in Miami last night at 6pm on channel 6.

Packed for the Master's

Sherry blogged on Monday and I thought I would update you before we leave tomorrow morning for the Master's Golf Tournament. When Sherry blogged the plan was to start radiation, however when we went to the doctor I asked her to look at a large whelp on my back. Once she did she sent me to the simulator, which is somewhat like a cat-scan. She called us back and said that she is not going to start radiation yet, because there is a large mass that has shown up in the abdomen, along with this malignant mass in my back. They did a full cat-scan yesterday (Wed.) to get a better look - we have not heard the results yet. As of now they are going to start Chemo and Radiation next week. Again I wrestle with what to write - I certainly don't want to simply share the reports that all seem negative. Our faith is strong - if we have given up at all it is that we have given ourselves up to the will of our Father. We have never gone through anything like this before and so what we are trying to do is let you - our family and loved ones - in on everything we are feeling and going through. As from the first we are asking you to hold our arms up in the battle and to continue to pray the Word of God over us. I know what the situation is - but I know what the Word of God says! I appreciate all of you and will try my best to both keep you informed and keep your faith strong at the same time - that is what we are trying to do! We love you - Pastor Olsen

We're Back

It is Monday and the house is quiet and somewhat normal. All the kids and grandkids left today. We had a great time being together. We laughed and cried some. It was tiring on Eric. He was in a great deal of pain and the pain meds made him sleepy. He did all meals with us and did a few activities with the kids and shopping for a few hours with all the girls. Shaun became the offical wheelchair pusher. Ally our granddaughter was thrilled to spend every morning with Papi. She would come early to our room and get on our bed. She would sit chat away with Papi. It was precious memories for us and I hope for her as well. I could just keep on chatting about the cruise but I have other things to tell you. Today the Dream Foundation came with a package for Eric. He has tickets to the Masters Golf Tournament next weekend. Shaun is meeting us for Saturday and Sunday rounds. Shane is going to be with us on the Saturday round. We went to the radiation onocologist today and she was concerned about Eric's back as well as his hip. Starting tomorrow he will have radiation everyday on his back and hip. This should help with the pain. As of now I am the offical chauffer and Eric hates it. He does not like being a passenger so he has to get better to get the drivers seat back. We missed all of you and look forward to hearing from you. Love you Sherry