Monday, September 8, 2014
Dear Praying Friends –
I can hardly believe that it was less than a week ago that I wrote you to ask you to pray for Rick because he had contracted Ebola virus disease. You’ve all seen what has happened since then on the national news, so I am not going to fill you in on all of those details. I’m not sure I can get the timeline right myself! This has probably been the longest week of my life.
We have felt the power of all your prayers. I believe that the speed with which Rick was evacuated and his relative strength at the time of his evacuation is the result all that prayer. The trip was tough on him, but each day since then has been a little bit better. I have appreciated all the messages of concern and encouragement and admiration that I have received from hundreds of people in the last week. I hope that by posting on facebook and through this email, in addition to the information that we are releasing publicly, you feel that you know what is happening since I can’t get back to everyone personally.
Max and I arrived in Omaha on Saturday and the Nebraska
Medical Center has welcomed us kindly and generously. Our country director from Liberia and his
wife, Will and Jenny Elphick, have been with us over the weekend and Dave and
Mary Decker will take their place when they leave today. The last two days have been full of meetings
with doctors, signing papers, planning a media strategy, a little shopping for
things we forgot in our haste to travel, as well as trying to keep family up to
date and stay in touch with Jared and Caleb. We are extremely grateful to be a
part of SIM in this circumstance—their commitment to their members and to
prayer have made us so proud and blessed to be members of this mission.
Rick really did improve over the weekend, but the doctors
are cautious because they don’t have a textbook on the clinical course of Ebola,
and they are trying experimental treatments for the first time in a human
patient with Ebola. They are literally
writing the book. We pray that the expansion of their knowledge will contribute
to some medical solutions that are viable in Africa, and soon.
I don’t want to make this long, but we do want to continue
to use Rick’s story to remind the world of the tragedy that is going on in
Liberia and West Africa. Finally, it is
getting the attention of the West and some resources are being allocated to
support the medical efforts to save lives and stop the epidemic. Pray that the money and supplies will be
distributed quickly to the most effective partners in the battle. If anyone asks you where they can make a
contribution, direct them to the sim.org website, where clicking the banner
will direct them to the contribution page. http://www.sim.org/ebola/
Thanks again for your love, concern, messages and your
prayers. God is with us.
Love, Debbie
11 comments:
Debbie, we are praying daily and you and Rick are in my thoughts constantly. You are both an inspiration and I'm proud to be able to say I know you and have worked with you even if it was just for a few months. Sending you love and continuing to pray for strength and healing. Thank you for this update.
Thank you for the great update, Debbie. We rejoice with you that Rick was evacuated from Liberia so swiftly and that he is doing better. God bless you!
Debbie, we are praying for you here in Senegal. We also are so thankful for the SIM team and leadership and are so glad that you are being well cared for. We are also so proud of you as you represent the mission and, more importantly, the Lord! You guys are shining like stars - testifying to the Lord's heart so beautifully. I read the story of Lazarus yesterday and thought of you guys and how Jesus has a plan and the power to heal and how He works through awful, sad, and difficult times to show people who He is. He is already bringing good out of this mess and we pray that you will know that He is very near to you and that He is at work through you. May He strengthen you and make you aware of His love today.
I have been praying for Rick since I heard he had Ebola. I am so sorry that he has had to go through this, but his faith is strong. God is by his side and praying he will be united with his family soon.
Thanks for writing, Debbie. Here in Omaha we get the local news version of how Rick is, but we have also been concerned about you. I'm glad the Deckers are with you. We're happy to help too with transportation or shopping whenever you feel things have settled more into a routine for you. As we look out our 9th floor windows and see the NE MED Center, we continue praying for Rick's miraculous recovery.
Debbie, we love you guys and we are praying day and night!
Debbie, We have been praying daily since we heard the news...for Rick's healing, for your peace, strength and witness and for the boys. May God continue to bless you all. With much love, Esther and Sam
We do not know you but are praying for Rick's recovery and the expansion of resources for Africa.
Debbie, thank you so much for taking the time to update us. You and Rick, Max, Jared and Caleb are all constantly in our prayers. You guys are bringing much glory to God, and it is already clear that He is using this. We are also praying for God to bring both attention and greater resources to West Africa. Much love, Dave and Jen Brock
Welcome to Omaha. I pray that you will find the support and encouragement from not only the doctors and staff in the hospital, but the city of Omaha residents who are continuing to pray for your family. We hope the Lord will bless your time here and that you will have peace that passes all understanding to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. We are here for you....Omaha is praying for you and your family!
Prayers to you from Acton and Westford, Massachusetts. May your recovery be speedy, Rick -- and may your family come home very soon. Many blessings!
Post a Comment