From an earlier post
John had arranged for Pastor Boonta, the pastor of a very small CFAPCA church at Laobada to bring his few very poor, elderly believers to Naratchakwai once a month for fellowship, for a meal and for Pastor Boonta to present the sermon for the morning service. As well as reducing the pressure for John, this was also aimed at providing fellowship for the members of the Laobada church away from the village where the majority of the Buddhist residents have been actively antagonistic to the Christians.
Since that decision was made the sole male member of the congregation has died from cancer and his wife almost electrocuted herself and in the process burned one arm with boiling water. Their children, who are Buddhists, are pressuring the wife to return to their faith and are blaming the Christian faith for the loss of their father. Pastor Boonta’s mother in law, who they have been caring for for many years died only a short time ago and now his wife, Phon, has been stricken with some kind of illness which the hospital doctors believe to be some kind of nerve/brain disorder, which is causing extreme pain and some facial disfigurement and loss of sight in one eye but they don’t know the full extent and what is causing it yet. The doctors have transferred Phon to a hospital about 3 to 4 hours’ drive from Nakhon Phanom and have indicated that she may be bed-ridden for at least six months. Pastor Boonta and Phon have a daughter, Bow, who I think suffers from serious cerebral palsy and is quadriplegic and wheelchair bound, so Pastor Boonta now has the sole responsibility to care for her as well as his wife.
Some updates from John :
Because of Phon’s reaction to the medicine she was taking, the doctors changed it today, so we will see if it works. Doctors say they will know in 4-5 days if it is going to work. Please continue to pray for strength for Boonta and Bow also. The strain is beginning to tell on them too. Continue to pray for God’s provision to be able to pay for the expenses of remaining in the hospital.
A further update…
The news is not getting any better. Phon is now receiving oxygen; she is getting IV’s and medications through the IV. She receives morphine for pain as needed and has become very restive. The strain is beginning to tell on both Phon and Boonta. They have not given up hope but Satan is working on them. Our prayer now is that Phon will make it through this phase of treatment successfully and the medication will kill the infection. We pray that the doctors will see the wisdom of leaving the family together in this hospital room – even though it may cause the nurses and them some minor inconvenience. We pray that God will provide resources for this treatment to continue. We pray that God will provide strength and peace for Phon and Boonta as they go through these major problems and that Phon will be healed. Thank God that Bow seems to be holding up pretty well. Being able to be close to her mother is a great help.
They thank me every time I talk to them for all of you who are praying for them and they believe 100% – as do I – that without your prayers they would have given in a long time ago and so would I. Even when we don’t understand, but know God is in control, we can have some comfort from that.
I echo them in thanking all of you for your prayers. I know what Boonta is going through because I went through it when my first wife died. I also know and remember the prayers of those around me that kept me going during those times. As we pray, we may have no idea as to what is happening, but those we pray for know and are blessed by the time we take. God hears and does answer. Thank you and God Bless, John
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