Home studies

I was asked by some students if I would be willing to go to their home and lead Bible study.

WOULD I EVER!! YES!!

So I have been meeting with Hsiu and Lu for about a month now. They are not believers, but they are interested, and it is evident from the amount of classes and questions that Lu participates in,  she is quite interested in English, but even more so in the Bible and Christianity.

We have another friend, whom they know,  who is a neighbor, a Christian, and like them, home bound with a young child. So now Diane joins our Tuesday morning study. I believe she is also a great asset to this study as she is a believer and can answer questions that Hsiu and Lu may have, and will become stronger and more knowledgeable in her Christian faith.

They have chosen a book that I have been looking at for awhile. I have many colleagues that love it, but I have not had a chance to really go through it. It is a good book in that it does a great job systematically going through the Bible, points to Christ the whole way, and is full of great explanations. While it is a great tool, like many tools, they are not perfect; what I mean is the author takes some freedom in explaining the Biblical story by sharing his interpretations. This gives us a great chance for discussion and clarity on what the Bible really does say or doesn’t.

Today was a great class, both Lu and Diane were full of questions, while Hsiu seemed quiet, contemplative.

Would please pray for us as we meet every Tuesday morning at 9am (EST). I would greatly appreciate it. Please pray for the Spirit to be moving in our hearts and minds, and pray also that Hsiu and Lu would come to faith and say “yes!” to the Spirit.

Thanks & Blessings,

-Toby

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Great news on Hulda!

Hi friends,

Thank you for your perseverance in prayer. Isn’t God amazing?!
We received a wonderful update from Hulda’s husband last night. It is as follows:

“Hulda was moved from the intensive care unit to the progressive care unit. This room is more private and has a bathroom. Hulda has made some excellent progress over the last week. Monday they removed the ventilator and woke her up, since then every day has been a little better than the previous day and today they took her off oxygen and she is breathing room air. They have also removed all of the IVs (although they added another one on the back of her hand in case of an emergency), the feeding tube, and the catheter. She has three therapy sessions a day and can now sit up by herself and walk around with support. She is eating food but is limited to a soft diet. The doctor said that there was a good chance she would be moved to [a local hospital] for rehab by the end of this week where she might have to stay for a few weeks.”

Peace,
Rachel

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Continuing to heal

Hi friends,
I know it has been awhile since I last wrote. Hulda continues to heal. The healing process will be very long. She is still on a feeding tube and is unable to speak above a whisper. Her throat is very damaged from the weeks with a breathing tube. She seems very coherent. She will probably begin both physical and speech therapies soon. She will likely be moved out of critical care soon.

When I have a permanent address for her, let me know if you would like to have it. (She may NOT receive balloons or fresh flowers.)

Thank you so much for your continued prayers for her and her family. Both her mother and mother-in-law are here now taking care of the family.

God’s blessings,
Rachel

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Hulda is awake!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!

Hulda is awake! She was very restless over the weekend. They upped her pain medication and experimented with taking her off oxygen for a short period of time. She did very well. Today they removed the tube from her throat and allowed her to awake from her three week slumber. Unfortunately, her throat is too sore, so she is unable to talk. BUT the best news of all is that the x-ray taken today showed that her lungs miraculously look almost the same as those of a healthy person.

THANK YOU…for your prayers. God is continuing to work through Hulda, through her family, and through us.

We will continue to keep you updated.

I am smiling,
Rachel

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Out of the woods.

Hi friends,
Hulda is trying to get out of the woods. Since I last wrote they found significant blood pooling in her body and once they were able to drain it, her lungs appeared to be greatly relieved.

Yesterday they felt she was ready to come off the ECMO machine (artificial lung). When taking her off the machine, she started bleeding. They got it under control and she is again stable. They continue to ween her off the blood thinners.

She will stay on the ventilator for another week and then they will try to take her off the oxygen and wake her up. Her x-rays have continued to look positive.

She is healing, albeit slowly. Thank you for your prayers.
Peace,
Rachel

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Hope!

Hi friends,
I finally have some good news on Hulda!

The doctors and nurses have begun weening Hulda off the artificial lung. She is down to 40% usage and her blood thinners are down 50%. AND she is holding steady! Her daily x-rays are also looking better, although I don’t have any more information on the details.

Again, thank you so much for your prayers. We will keep you updated.

Peace,
Rachel

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