April 3: More on Jonatán

The hospice nurse gave us a good report when she checked on Jona this afternoon. He had seemed extra tired today, often drifting off to sleep, but she said that the oxygen-saturation level in his blood was 97% – an A+ medically! Such a report is obviously encouraging to us. On the other hand, he has not eaten much today; swallowing is becoming increasingly difficult – due in part to the tumor that has been pressing on his trachea and undoubtedly now on the esophagus, too.

We continue to pray for the miracle of healing. Some may wonder if we are realistic in doing so. My answer is: Yes! We are not praying in a new way; Esteban has insisted from the very beginning that praying for healing from this type of cancer would be asking for a miracle. We are confident that praying in this way is realistic because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He healed lepers! As our perfect and loving Father, He expects us to come boldly to Him, asking for the desires of our hearts. So, we honor Him – asking with confidence.

At the same time, we recognize that our good and loving Lord does not always grant healing. Even when He walked this earth, He did not heal every leper. So, with confidence in His goodness and power, we stand ready to receive whatever He chooses as absolute best. Jona and his family have always asked us to pray for what would most glorify the Lord, so we rest in Him – confident that He will cause all things to work together for good and do what will most glorify His Name.

Please continue to pray with us...
(I'm including our original list of prayer requests from August of 2009):

• For Christ to be exalted through this trial and our responses (Ephesians 3:14-21; Romans 8:26-39).
• For others to come to know Christ as personal Savior (Romans 10:9-13).
• For complete healing for Jonatán (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; Matthew 7:7-11).
• For grace, strength, and wisdom for Jonatán and his immediate family – his father, mother, and 11-year-old brother, Marcos – and for comfort and grace for extended family, especially those in Uruguay (Psalm 84:11-12).

Thank-you for praying!