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I thought I would send an update to follow-up on my last update from Israel. I cannot begin to thank each of you enough for your intercessory prayers on my behalf during our trip to NY, Greece, and Israel. I am thrilled to report that the sinus and respiratory infection with high fever that hit me in Greece and miraculously cleared completely overnight after my mom sent out an update pleading for your prayers has remained healed without a hint of a sniffle or cough. Additionally, we had asked your prayers for strength and stamina for the consistently long days of touring in Israel.

Our days started early at 5am and ended after lengthy dinners with new friends around 9pm. We then usually did a little hand washing of essential clothing items (we did not check any bags for our almost 3 weeks of travel), download pictures (I averaged over 100/day), take notes, read scriptures and reference articles for the sights of the next day, and then we would collapse into bed for a few hours of sleep! Many of you know that I am unable to work due to my high level of pain and my consistently chronic flu-like fatigue that began about 2 years ago. I was terrified of the schedule for Israel because there were no free days or even parts of a day like we had in Greece. (We had one full free day in Greece and that, in God's all-knowing provision, was the day I was so sick with high fever. I had a full 30 hours in bed without missing any of the scheduled part of the tour. It was that night that we flew to Tel Aviv and I called mom to request the CarePage update for prayer. We had considered staying in Greece and flying back home when I was well enough. After much prayer and believing it God's will for us to go to Israel, we persevered in faith that God would provide - AND HE DID!) I digress ... sorry - back to the request for stamina.

I have not accomplished a week of activity without being forced to bed for a day or more in over 2 years. I completed every day of our week in Israel including the miles of walking and enduring temperatures over 100 degrees and 100% humidity everyday. It was supernatural strength alone that provided for my endurance. Many discouraged me from making this trip and many times I wondered if it was wise but I consistently had a peace I could not understand about being able to travel for almost 3 weeks. For 2 years I prayed for the endurance to take this trip of a lifetime. I was also blessed by the encouragement, perseverance, and presence of a lady on our bus that has progressive MS and has had, I believe she said, 5 artificial hip and knee replacements that have failed to work. She could do some level walking with her crutches but often needed a wheelchair to navigate the sights. When you see the pictures of where we walked you will better understand her strength and fortitude. Her husband was a wonderful servant to her and the Lord blessed our bus with several very strong men who often carried her in her wheelchair up and down countless stairs and over hundreds of yards of rough terrain. Her strength inspired me and her situation also allowed our group a slower pace to maintain. She continually and selflessly offered me her wheelchair and offered to sit out if I needed it.I was able to continually refuse her kind offer because of the supernatural strength I was feeling. Our tour guide, Yeheskiel (Hezi) was 72 years old and could walk circles around the fittest in the group!! He had great patience and quickly adapted to our group's need to have a slower pace. We began starting our days about an hour before the other 6 buses. I think it benefited all of us due to the extreme heat and provided more opportunity for picture and note taking, not to mention just taking in the wonder of the sights! We were also blessed with a physician on our bus that kept an eye on all of us!! Thanks Janie Rae for being such an inspiration and having the courage to take such a challenging trip. To all of you who prayed for Steve and me on this trip, I can't put into words my thankfulness for you and I pray you are encouraged by the work God did through your prayers.

I have so much to say and many pictures to share about our trip but I have decided this forum is not the most conducive to so much information. I have opted to create a separate website where I can post pictures and blog endlessly if wanted about the trip - maybe more for my recollections later than for you - but I hope to have it up and running in 2-3 weeks. I am not the most computer savvy so it may take a little while for me to figure things out. If my plan works, this will be a great site where I can update other events in the Brooks' life and add more pictures. CarePages limits pictures on the site as well as words per update. (For those of you who just thought, "Lee doesn't need more space to write" shame on you! heehee) I definitely do not have the gift of brevity like my husband.

And I would like to end by expressing my love for my wonderful, servant-leader husband who makes all I do possible. He selflessly gives of his time, his gifts, his resources, strength, and unconditional love to make me feel like the most beautiful, loved bride in the world. He has endured a long road of suffering with me and not one time has he ever uttered an unkind word about it. It was not what he "signed-up for" as some would say, but he would quickly respond, "He signed up to love me ... forever ... for better." (and there is no worse as most complete the phrase.) It is because of him that I truly understand the scriptures' discussions of love."Husbands, love your wives, as Christ

loved the church and gave himself up for her ... (Eph.5:25)"

Thank you, my love. Although we did not know the gravity of the words engraved in our wedding rings, they still ring true - "Today and Always"

(Medically, we are awaiting scheduling with the University of Washington Medical Center for further cardiac testing to evaluate the benefits of a pacemaker, surgery date for

the muscle biopsy, a day of autonomic testing to gather more information, and continued prayer

regarding newly presented findings that indicate brainstem compression and the possible need for another brain surgery. Pray for coordination of these dates in an expeditious manner that will work with Steve's schedule without hardship.)

Thanks for checking in on us!

In Faith Alone, Lee and Steve

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Messages

Sandi Henry

September 12, 2009, 6:52 PM

What a blessing and miracle! God is good! Lee, I know you make it easy for Steve to be such a good husband. You two are an inspiration to me! I love you! sandi

Gina Johnson

September 12, 2009, 10:42 PM

Lee, This trip was gruling for a healthy person! I talked to you several times in Israel and did not have any idea what you were going through or that you were not the perfect picture of health. No complaining and such class! Wow! Thank you for sharing and you two are an inspiration. Gina Johnson on the Green Bus

carol sparks

September 13, 2009, 1:36 AM

Lee and Steve, So glad to hear of God's continued faithfulness to you and Steve. In His grace, Carol Sparks

Link Hudson

September 16, 2009, 2:44 PM

This post made my day Lee! I am so grateful that the trip went so well and that God moved again in the lives of so many people! Linda Hamilton September 21, 2009, 1:53 AM Hi Lee and Steve!! Hello from Tom and Linda Hamilton of Priest River, Idaho (Aqua Bus rocks!!). Meeting the 2 of you on the trip was, and is, such a huge blessing....our lives

are so very blessed for having shared the incredible trip to Greece and Israel with you. And several dinners.

You are my inspiration, Lee, for tiny packing for a humongous trip.I came home and promptly purchased a curling iron that Barbie would be proud of!! We would count it a privilege to pray for you both as your journey continues....please stay in touch! Hugs and blessings, Linda Hamilton (and for Tom, too!!) ;o)

Jena Smith

September 21, 2009, 4:04 AM

So glad to hear about your trip and how amazing God is! I miss you very very much!! Jena

**Lisa Taylor** Brown September 22, 2009, 7:38 PM Hey girl! I just got off the phone with your mom and got this site figured out! I think of you so often and am extremely excited to be "hooked" up to your link reports! Sounds like you had a great trip and I'm so grateful that you made it home safely. Know that you all are in my prayers.

Love you! Lisa Taylor Brown

Jane Kelly

September 28, 2009, 12:22 AM

Lee, I continue to pray for you daily. I am hoping that the testing and surgery and all else has gone smoothly. Hope to see you soon. Jane Kelly