It's Christmas!

Christmastime is full of joy and peace. Wouldn't it be nice if it could be Christmas the whole year? In a sense it is, because the baby of Bethlehem was given the name Yeshua or Yehoshuah meaning Jehovah saves, and the sacred historian added that this was to fulfil the prophecy that the virgin-born child would be known as Emmanuel meaning "God with us" (Matt. 1:21-23). Given those two names of the Christ, the significance of His birth cannot be restricted to one day in history or in the calendar: Jesus will always and forever save people, and Emmanuel will always and forever be with people,

This year that is coming to an end, Roshini and I experienced the truth of the saving presence of our Lord in a special way. As you know, from 2016 I have been diagnosed with the haematological cancer Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL). One of the features of this cancer is that the platelets drop, at  times dangerously low, and so when there is any bleeding it becomes impossible to stop the bleeding until the count of platelets is improved. On March 31, there was a bleed in the brain and within minutes I lost consciousness. Roshini managed to get some help and rushed me to the hospital and I was given some medicines to bring down the pressure on the brain. Roshini's older sister Dinchechy rushed from Cochin, and then Ishaaq arrived the next day from Melbourne and Elishba a few days later from Sheffield. The surgeon had told Roshini to get the children. Elishba, being a doctor, had to go back after a few days because of duties, while Ishaaq ended up staying for 6 weeks. Christmas being a time for families to gather, with Ishaaq and Elishba being there, we did have a gathering of our old nuclear family. Christmas came early for us.

With Ishaaq and Elishba there, Roshini's nieces Shana and Shwetha turned up to meet their cousins whom they had not seen for years

A few days after being discharged, there was another episode of losing consciousness. This time Ishaaq was there to take charge, relieving Roshini, and I was rushed to the hospital. This time the neuro surgeon was called in and a burr hole was made to relieve the pressure on the brain. Finally, it was all over and I was back home.

For my birthday, Ishaaq prepared a gourmet meal. (My son and son-in-law are great cooks and their exploits put a lot of pressure on me — you know from whom — for not being able to do more than boil milk and scramble an egg). Friends Minnie and Ben, who give us rides to and from church, brought the birthday cake.

Because of all that happened, Roshini and Ishaaq decided that I needed an attendant 24 x 7. For the next four months Anchao Konyak (from Nagaland) was with me to accompany me on my walks and do other stuff. It is a miracle indeed that I have recovered without any trace of  the stroke that I had suffered.

The Lord has been very merciful and kind to Roshini and me. He is Jesus. He is Emmanuel.

Ishaaq, Jess, Priya, Alisha and Juliet are enjoying a hot Christmas in Melbourne

while Elishba, Joe, Sophie and Zach are enjoying a cold Christmas in Sheffield

We wish you a Merry Christmas in the name of Jesus the Saviour and a Happy New Year in the name of Emmanuel

Love,
Roshini and Kuru