Five Empty Seats

Today, Wednesday, March 14th, 2012, there will be a plane taking off on its way across the Atlantic Ocean towards Kiev, Ukraine. Five seats on that flight should be taken by a faithful family on their way back to Ukraine where the Lord has allowed them to serve as missionaries for over 12 years.

Instead of being in their places on that flight, Matt and Catherine Hudson will be spending their day at a cancer hospital in Mesquite, Texas, where Catherine will receive her first chemotherapy treatment.

After a recent visit to the doctor, Catherine found out her liver was enlarged and contained many lesions. Testing and a biopsy were done and cancer was discovered. However, the doctors told her that the cancer did not originate in her liver. Further testing revealed that Catherine had Stage 4 breast cancer.

Their children are now eleven, thirteen, and fifteen. Below is a photo of the Matt Hudson family. 

Here is a link to a more updated photo of them.

Here is a copy of a letter Matt sent out to their praying friends and family yesterday.

__________________________________________________________________________________

March 13, 2012

Yesterday, the oncologist confirmed to us that Catherine has stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, which has moved to her liver. He stressed to us the urgency of beginning chemotherapy immediately. 

Catherine began taking medication last night to prepare her body for the chemotherapy. She will go in for her first treatment tomorrow morning. 

This last week has been a whirlwind of emotions and we certainly appreciate all of the prayers. At the same time tomorrow (12:00 pm), which we were previously prepared to board a plane and return to Ukraine, we will now be going in for Catherine's first treatment.

We don't understand this, but we do know that God is in control, and that His way is perfect.

Thank you for praying.

Matthew 

_________________________________________________________________________________

How difficult it must be to have made plans to return to the mission field and just as you were about to make your last visits of furlough, you have a doctor's appointment that changes your entire life as you find out you have stage 4 cancer.

Would you please join the many of us who are friends and family of Matt and Catherine in prayer for Catherine as she begins her journey in fighting this cancer? Please pray for Matt and the children as well. It has been said that since Catherine's cancer has so progressed the chemotherapy might actually be dangerous to her. Please pray that the chemotherapy will be a help to her body  in beating this cancer.

I am sure they would greatly appreciate you sending a card reminding them that they are not  alone in this fight. Please drop them a note or card at this address:

Matt and Catherine Hudson

Open Door Baptist Church

 1212 S. Beltline Rd.

 Mesquite, TX 75149 

We will be faithfully praying for you and your family, Catherine.

"From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed:

 lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 

I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah."

Psalms 61:2-4