UPDATE- An Urgent Call to Prayer

Posted by on February 6, 2013 in Blog, Uncategorized | 2 comments

   Friends, we are humbled by your prayers! We are humbled by your love and care for a dear friend of ours that many of you have never met but have only heard stories of over the years. We are humbled by your notes of encouragement to send along to Josy and notes for us.  We received well over 125 messages on email and facebook.  Many of you passed our prayer request on to others, emailed it to your friends and families, sent it to prayer chains, shared it on facebook, and pastors and congregations were praying collectively for Josy on Sunday morning.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

   Over the weekend Josy received a transfusion of 4 units of blood.  On Monday morning, the scheduled surgery day, Dr. Frank decided to postpone the operation until today.
   Just two hours ago, Jamie spoke with Dr. Frank at length.  His opening words– “let me tell you about our friend…”  In the end, the suspected kidney stone in the ureters wasn’t there– perhaps it never was there, or perhaps God intervened and removed it… we know He can do this.  What Dr. Frank did find is that Josy haschronic kidney failure…..  The good news is that his condition isn’t end-stage kidney failure in which dialysis is required.   The bad news is that Josy’s condition is thought to be caused by his long-term infection withschistosomiasis 12+ years ago.  The good news is that there is no current schistosomiasis infection now.  The bad news is his kidney failure is non-reversable with medication or treatment but the good news is that it should be manageable with proper care and close attention to diet.  Time will tell.
   Josy will remain in the capital city, Antananarivo, for a couple of weeks for further testing to be able to better assess his kidney function.  We ask that you would continue to pray during these days and weeks ahead. Pray for a more complete return of functioning for his kidneys, pray for healing from the surgery, pray for the peace that passes all understanding for him, His wife Ana, and their 3 children, Josya (8), Princia (5) and Joice (3).  And of course, pray as you feel led…
   To be honest, the past 2 weeks Josy has been in complete mental anguish– sure that he wouldn’t live another day.  Over the weekend, Josy began to experience great peace and a renewed hope in Christ. Everyday that we spoke with him, he sounded a little better.  On Monday evening, over the phone, he sang a song for us to describe how he’s feeling now and how Christ has met him in this place and space…  You may remember the popular worship song from the late 90’s… You are my All in All we must’ve song it over 1,257 times with Josy and a bunch of other college students while in Madagascar on a short-term mission team in 1999.  To jostle your memory or if you aren’t familiar with it…
You are my strength when I am weak
You are my treasure that I seek
You are my all in all…
 
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all
 
Taking my sin my cross my shame
Rising again I bless Your Name
You are my all in all
 
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all
 
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your Name
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is Your Name
Worthy is Your Name
Worthy is Your Name
 
   We have absolutely no doubt that the prayers of God’s people all over the world on behalf of Josy are being answered.  Dr. Frank agreed– he told Jamie tonight that the entire operating theatre sensed the prayers as the surgery was incredibly smooth with minimal blood loss and a keen sense of peace prevailed.  Thank you.
   We will update you again in the coming weeks.
 
God in all ways, always God–

 

 

***Next to malaria, schistosomiasis is the second most devastating parasitic disease and over 200 million people are infected worldwide.   Schistosomiasis is considered one of the “neglected tropical diseases”.
 
Unfortunately, schistosomiasis is a hard-hit reality for us–in the last 3 weeks, we know one man who died due to a long-standing schistosomiasis infection and have provided treatment for several close friends who have shared with us their symptoms.  Mass eradication efforts are critical to control this parasitic infection.

  

2 Comments

  1. I am in prayer for Josy, for his complete healing, renewed energy, wisdom in diet and that the damaged liver cells will regenerate to place of health and optimal function. Josey has been a living testimony to God’s grace and healing power, I pray that Josy will continue to be used to bring God glory over and over again!

  2. So grateful for the news and answered prayer, as well as the reminder of that great song!
    Continuing to pray in CA!

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