April 5: Just a quick update on Jonatán

Thank-you for praying for Jona!

Our God "who gives life, and breath, and all things" gave Jona (and us!) several stretches of restful sleep last night...

Don't forget to thank Him for the rest He gave you last night, too!

“Be still, my soul...”

We’ve been singing a favorite hymn repeatedly these days. It’s Jona’s favorite hymn – and the one he was trying to sing when gasping for breath after his dad resuscitated him ten days ago...

Yesterday we had a wonderful time as extended family, singing hymns. As we prepared to start, Jona requested Be Still, My Soul – and tried to sing through the oxygen mask...

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone;
Sorrow forgot; love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Words: Katharina von Schlegel, 1752
Music: Jean Sibelius, 1899

We love this hymn text more than ever now. The Lord has used this hymn to minister repeatedly to me. I posted it on this blog in July of 2010 one year into this trial...

Please continue to pray for us...

Pray fervently tonight...

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!

April 3: Update on Jonatán

Thank-you for praying for Jona throughout the night last night. He was able to get some rest, but his body is overworked and extremely tired now. Every breath is an incredible workout for his chest muscles.

Lord willing, I plan to post more later today; however, I wanted to write at least a quick update, thanking you all for your faithfulness in praying for Jona – and for all of us.

Do continue to pray...

April 2: Update on Jonatán

We continue to praise our loving Shepherd...

Jona had a good night last night. After a friendly visit from some of the staff who helped care for him at GHS, he slept for a five-hour stretch – without medication! He then went for another five-hour stretch without medication – into the late morning...

We were very, very thankful to be together as an extended family today, celebrating Grandpa Garwood's 75th birthday! (Click on the hyperlinked words to see pictures.)

Another blessing this evening was the Skype call from the youth group at the church in Pando, Uruguay – the church that Jona's Grandpa Torres pastored when Esteban was a teenager!

Overall, the day went well for Jona. He is quite tired right now. Once again, the night hours are near; they are always the most difficult for Jona. Please pray fervently for him.

A dear friend encouraged us last night with the following thought based on Psalm 121:

Each night we bring to the One who never sleeps our pleas for Jona to find rest in sleep.

Please do pray for another restful night.

¡Feliz Cumple, Abu!

Today is Grandpa Garwood’s 75th Birthday. The cousins enjoyed decorating, and we all enjoyed celebrating together.

We’re thankful to our gracious God for allowing us to spend this day together as extended family!

DJ and JD with Grandpa!

April 1: Update on Jonatán

Thank-you for praying!

Last night started out quite rough, but our loving Shepherd gave His beloved sleep (Psalm 127); Jona was able to get some good stretches of rest.

Earlier today he was sitting up in the dining room, interacting with his grandparents (who arrived last night) and listening to his mom read touching, encouraging, and often humorous letters from his classmates.

Amazingly, he hasn't tried to pull any April Fool's pranks on us!

Right now as I type this update, he’s back out here, interacting with visitors and answering his littlest cousin’s chattering – pretending that he’s being told about last night's football game or the OJ Simpson Trial!

We are thankful beyond words!

God is giving wisdom and strength to Esteban as the primary care-giver. We are blessed to be here and observe how wonderfully Jona trusts his father’s judgment. Please pray specifically for continued wisdom and strength.

Praise the LORD with us!

Jona's grandparents, Donald and Patricia Garwood, arrived in Greenville after an all-night flight and an all-day drive. Thank-you for praying for safety in travel.

Jona's Aunt Julia was granted a visa yesterday morning. She is now following up on passport details and should be able to fly out early next week. Please continue to pray.

Thank-you to all who responded to the request for a travel or medical pillow. Several are allowing us to borrow “husband” pillows you already had – and the travel pillow we alluded to yesterday arrived at the house today!

We are constantly overwhelmed by the love and support being showered on Jona and our family. Most of all, we appreciate your interceding for Jona before our gracious Father’s throne of grace.

Please keep praying! May God bless you!