On the Journey With...
Fellow Warriors
After a truly meaningful and successful first round, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our second “Building Your Resilience Against Cancer” course this September. I’ve mentioned it before, but I wanted to take this opportunity to elaborate on the inspiration behind the course and how I hope it will serve those who participate.
Every cancer patient is faced with two profound questions upon receiving a diagnosis. The first is about discerning the next, best steps for medical treatment. This is no small matter, involving a great deal of research, prayer, and the willingness to make countless adjustments along the way.
However, the second, and I believe equally important, question is: “What am I supposed to do in the midst of this? How will God redeem this journey?” This question is deeply personal. For me, the answer became a new ministry. I feel a calling to merge my teaching and pastoral gifts with my own cancer journey, creating a space to walk alongside others facing a similar challenge. This is the heart of the Cancer Pastor ministry.
I believe this pastoral role is often overlooked in the mix of things people need to be resilient. While a cancer diagnosis instinctively brings to mind medical and nutritional needs, the spiritual and pastoral needs are just as crucial. The need for a pastoral voice, someone to talk to, and a person to pray with during the emotional roller coaster of cancer is undeniable. This is the need I am called to fill, and this 16-week course is the centerpiece of that ministry.
The course includes:
- 16 weeks of video teaching on topics unique to the cancer journey.
- Weekly small group sessions with fellow “warriors” and trained facilitators.
- Participation in a text group for sharing experiences and processing questions.
- Access to personalized pastoral counseling and support as needed.
For a more detailed description, please take a few minutes to watch THIS VIDEO.
Here is what two of our first-round participants had to say:
“This has truly been a wonderful experience walking alongside fellow warriors on their healing journey. The conversations were not only life-giving and comforting but also inspiring. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit as we tackled some very difficult topics and am so grateful for all the prayers and concern as we each navigated our own experiences. I pray that more opportunities like this would be available for people going through a diagnosis and treatment program—the support is crucial. Thank you, Piet, for genuinely sharing your thoughts on how to walk through a cancer journey with dignity and grace and to lean on the Lord through it all.”
~ Suzanna
“Piet has an excellent way of consolidating, with clarity, the thoughts that cloud and confuse people on their cancer journey. He brings the thoughts to the forefront for the group to talk about and learn from one another as we hear each other’s hearts. As a result, we always leave the group feeling cared for and uplifted. I loved the camaraderie we built and the genuine care for one another. You don’t have to feel alone in this journey!!”
~ Toni
The cost of the course is $395, but a special $150 discount is being offered to anyone you recommend. The next course begins on Sunday, September 7th. To sign up, simply send your (or your friend’s) contact information to my executive assistant, Jenni, at jennifer@20threesix.com, and she will take care of the rest. All the resources and meetings are facilitated through on-line resources and platforms – so people can be a part from any where in the country!
Soul Care with
Pastor Jenn
To Pastor (verb): to shepherd, advise, and guide into a place of deeper spiritual understanding
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field, and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for the flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.”
Matthew 6:28-30
It’s easy to get bogged down in the details, isn’t it? To spend your time wondering or worrying how tomorrow or the next day is going to unfold. If you’re a planner like me, thinking about all the details of life is especially tempting. After all, if I don’t think about it and plan for it, how will it all come together?
Of course, the truth is, no matter how much we hate to hear it, you can’t plan for every contingency. There’s no way to see every possibility and plan for them all. I know – it makes me uncomfortable too. But this is the reality of being a human in a world full of other humans, all of which are imperfect. It’s beyond our ability. Things are going to happen that we didn’t see coming, we couldn’t plan for, and we aren’t sure how to manage when we get there. That’s life.
Those are the moments I go back to this scripture. Nothing ever takes God by surprise – not ever. He sees everything past, present and future – down to the flowers of the field. As I’ve been repeating to myself lately, “God is in the details.” And He really is. Nothing slips past Him.
I’ve made a decision in this season of my life, rather than worrying about that upcoming stressful situation, to instead use my breath to say, “I can’t wait to see how God was in the details.” I pray you can do the same and in doing so, you find peace in knowing you are cared for at the most intimate level by the One who loves you most.
Caregivers Corner With
Kathi Peters
Caregiver (verb): One who provides direct support for one who is in need of practical help, encouragement and love.
I recently stumbled across a post from someone on Facebook—a younger man with the same diagnosis as my husband, David.
A quick word about Facebook. I’m part of a few groups for men with prostate cancer (is that weird?) and one for spouses and partners. These groups have been incredibly helpful. First, they remind me I’m not alone. Second, they’re a treasure trove of resources. And third, reading posts from people whose situation is far more advanced than ours gives me a deep sense of gratitude for where we are right now.
Back to my new Facebook acquaintance. He posted a blog entry full of excellent suggestions for advocating for yourself when you’re the one with the diagnosis. What I especially appreciated was how often he included the caregiver in that conversation. (Sometimes, as a caregiver, it’s easy to feel invisible—so it’s encouraging to feel seen.)
Here are a few of his insights that stuck with me:
“You know your body better than anyone. You feel subtle shifts in energy, mood, or physical function. Your caregiver sees how treatments affect your daily life—your sleep, appetite, confidence, and relationships.”
“A diagnosis can make life feel like it’s on someone else’s timetable—ruled by scans, lab reports, and follow-up visits. But when you take an active role in researching, asking questions, and seeking second opinions, you move from reacting to leading your care.”
“When you both come to appointments prepared, the conversation changes. Instead of asking, ‘What’s happening?’ you’re saying, ‘Here’s what we’ve noticed—what are our options?’”
I don’t know about you, but for me, researching and asking questions gives me a sense of empowerment—like I’m doing something. Some days, I want to bury my head in the sand and pretend this isn’t happening to us. But then I regroup, refocus, and recommit to advocating for David in any way I can.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.”
Worship Moment
with Joel Salabarria
To Inspire (verb): to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
Song: Be Praised (featuring Kymberli Joye) (Spotify and Apple Music)
Band: Todd Galberth
From: “Encounter” (2022)
This song is a reminder that worship isn’t just a moment—it’s a response to who God is and all He’s done. He spoke light into darkness. He breathed life into what was dead. And when we look back at our story – every battle we survived, every time He held us together – how could we not give Him praise? “Let there never be a day that I don’t rise to bring You praise.” Even on the hard days, He’s still worthy. He’s never failed, and He never will.
So let us echo the anthem: Be praised. Forever and always.
You spoke those words, let there be light
And there was
And in that same breath, the stars fell in line
With one voice creation cries
You do all things well
You do all things well
So be praised
Be praised
Forever and always
Lost in the dark, up under the dirt
I was buried, left to die
I heard Your voice calling my name
From the tomb I came alive
And You do all things well
From the tomb I came alive
You do all things well
A Word of Thanks
To YOU Who Faithfully Walk Alongside Us
To Encourage (noun): to give support and hope to someone so that they will do or continue to do something.
This is probably one of the biggest lessons coming out of my healing journey…
I pray regularly for God to do His healing work in me, and I’m grateful for the many ways He has shown up throughout this process. Often those answers come in the form of people God graciously send my way. I have seen so many answers to prayer – things that are far beyond coincidental!
And yet, right alongside that, I have also felt a new level of responsibility to do what I must do to cooperate and help facilitate the healing process.
Not going to sugarcoat – that has been the hardest part.
To attend to the things I eat, to focus on good rest, getting my steps in, pushing weights around, saying ‘no’ to unhealthy habits I practiced for way too long… and then to stay at it… every day! Yeah, as many of you know – not easy…
A large part of why I started this newsletter was to create a bit of accountability around these matters – and to share resources from other “experts” who provide encouragement and help on points of focus that are critical in the journey. It has been such a meaningful experience to lay these out each week
But, today, I’m just feeling especially grateful for all the support and encouragement so many of you have provide to other fellow strugglers. I’m sure it means way more than any of them can put into word, so I will say it on their behalf, “Thank you!”
– Thanks for checking in
– Thanks for cheering them on
– Thanks for the helpful suggestions
– Thanks for believing with them that miracles still happen!
None of us can do this without you!
Nutrition Nuggets with
Suzanna Hake
To Nourish (verb): the act or process of being nourished.
Here’s a common question I get about BINDERS…Isn’t that just for detox? That’s what most people think, but binders can do more than you’d expect. They’re not just for protocols; they’re for everyday living.
Here’s a helpful list of when to use a Binder:
- When you’re hopping on a plane
- After checking into a hotel or airbnb
- Before or after eating out
- Around your sauna session
- After time in chlorinated pools, hot tubs or open water
- After a night out or a couple of drinks
- After indulging in processed or packaged foods
- After a day in city smog or wildfire smoke
- After being around freshly sprayed lawns or gardens
- Post hair dye, manicure or salon treatments
- Before and after dental work/cleanings
Binders are made from things like activated charcoal, bentonite clay, chlorella, or certain fibers that attach to toxins in your digestive tract so your body can safely eliminate them.
Binders act like little toxin magnets:
- They latch onto harmful substances in your gut
- Keep them from being reabsorbed into your bloodstream
- Help move them out through your stool
This makes detoxing more effective and can reduce “detox side effects” like headaches, fatigue, or skin breakouts.
Key tip: Binders should usually be taken away from food, supplements, or medications (often 1–2 hours apart) so they don’t bind to the good stuff you actually want to absorb.
A Prayer
For My Friend Trudy
To Pray (verb): Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6)
You might remember my friend Trudy from volume seven of “The Healing Chronicle” – she has been wrestling with various kinds of cancer over the years, and has always been a trooper – beyond courageous and resilient! I have always been inspired by her, in fact she was instrumental in my transitioning to Mayon Clinic for my care.
Sadly this past week she had a set-back. She is currently at Pella Regional Hospital. After prematurely leaving Mayo Clinic early due to extreme weakness and other concerning symptoms, she was taken to the ER in Pella and admitted overnight. While her blood pressure was stable, her hemoglobin was very low, and this morning she is only somewhat coherent at this time.
Please join us in praying for strength, clarity of mind, and healing for Trudy, as well as peace and wisdom for Larry and their family.
Dear Lord,
We come before you today with heavy hearts for our dear friend, Trudy. You know her journey, her long battle with cancer, and the incredible courage and resilience she has shown. We thank you for her life and the inspiration she has been to so many.
Right now, we lift her up to you in her weakness. We pray for a surge of your strength to fill her body, for her hemoglobin to be restored, and for a full and complete healing. We ask for a touch from you to bring her clarity of mind and full coherence.
We also pray for her husband, Larry, and their family. In the midst of this uncertainty, grant them your perfect peace that surpasses all understanding. Give them wisdom as they make decisions for her care.
We trust you, Lord, to hold Trudy in your hands. We place her health and her future in your care, believing in your mercy and love.
Piet's Ponderings
To Ponder (verb): to think about something carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.
The choice to ‘do’ rather than simply ‘learn’ is a key decision point we face time and again throughout our lives, it’s never just a one-and-done deal.
Even as a semi-retired pastor, I continue to sense that divine invitation to “dive back in,” and while we are often told it gets easier over time, I’m not sure that’s true. There’s always a sense of risk, and as we get older, it often feels like there’s more at stake.
Yet, perhaps there’s an even greater risk in staying put – which invariably means missing out on the grand adventure God has in mind for us. That’s why, regardless of age or stage, the time to dive in again is always now.
And maybe you’re not reading this by accident… care to join me?
Willing To Help?
Put your school supplies purchases on hold (just for a moment).
Because I can help you as you help me! Here’s how (cue imaginary drum solo)… please take less than 30 seconds to hit the subscribe button on my YouTube page!
I’m hoping to add 300 new subscribers between August 1st and September 1st. And because I believe in rewarding kindness, every new subscription will be entered into a drawing for a pretty cool “back-to-school” prize package valued at a crisp $300.
What’s waiting for you in this treasure trove of triumph?
1. The Amasouk roll-up backpack: So you can stride into class looking less like a student and more like one who has already figured out how to be stylish for whatever awaits you!
2. A Pocket Prayer Devotional: Because even the most brilliant minds need a spiritual recharge, especially during finals.
3. An 18-month planning calendar: Your new best friend for conquering deadlines and actually remembering what day it is.
4. And for when your brain cells stage a revolt, a 10th-anniversary Calvin and Hobbes comics collection: Seriously, who doesn’t love themselves a little Calvin and Hobbs?
Support the work!
The Van Waarde Foundation underwrites and supports a variety of projects related to supporting, educating, and encouraging fellow cancer warriors and their families.
Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration.
https://www.patreon.com/c/pietvanwaarde
