For a year or more we have been praying for the healing of a 33-year-old father of two small children pictured above. Teddy and his wife Santy worked in the province of Aceh following the tsunami. Teddy went out within a month after the tsunami with five friends who responded to an appeal we made through a former student in Manado for volunteers to help with the initial cleanup. A few months later he returned with three friends to join a longer term re-building project with funds provided by IDES. In this effort they relocated to a town on the West Coast of Aceh and worked with our coworkers and friends, Ron and Ellen Ritchey. In 2006 Teddy married Santy and after a month or two they returned to live and serve in Aceh until 2013 when they returned to Manado.
We along with many friends and loved ones prayed for Teddy’s healing. About 9 months ago he finally received the diagnosis of end stage cancer in his thyroid, which metathesized to his lungs, kidneys, and liver. He responded well to a first round of chemo, but his body apparently could not tolerate the second round.
Near the end, he told Santy he was healed and ready to go home. She took this as a sign of a miracle, but the healing was eternal and he returned to his forever home. Without knowing this story when I called Santy to express our love and prayers, I said, “Teddy has been eternally healed.” He has indeed.
Lynn and I, along with Ron and Ellen Ritchey, were able to participate in the funeral service which was marathon as is rather common among Pentecostal-influenced churches in Manado. The services went on for about 6 hours. Many people wanted to express their gratitude for specific influences that Teddy had on them for the Lord and good. A group of men who come from the same islands north of Manado which was Teddy’s ancestral home remarked that Teddy without any preachy-ness had influenced them away from drunkenness and brawling during their meetings. Santy testified that Teddy in 10 years of marriage had NEVER been short, angry or domineering in their relationship (wish my wife could say that!). Knowing the couple, I find this quite believable.
Please pray for Santy as she finds God’s plan for her and the two children (ages 8 and 5) as they move forward.
During our time in Manado we also were able to visit with Al and Linda who have served in “Rabbit County”. Because of family health and other issues, their time away from their chosen field of service continues to stretch (now 15 months). They are eager to get back to “Rabbit County” before their second child is born, but they cannot leave as long as Al’s grandfather who is 94 continues to cling to life. He has been on what is apparently his death-bed for months now. Al himself has also had a bout with kidney stones. Just yesterday he passed a peanut-sized stone. Prayerfully he will be on the road to continuing good health now. Linda, though pregnant, is doing well. Little A, their 3 ½ year old son, is a ball of energy and is going full speed. Please pray that God will prepare the way for them to pick up their suitcases, some of which have been packed for a while, and head back to Rabbit County. Pray for God to prepare them spiritually as he prepared those who will hear the message they bring. When you pray for Rabbit County, remember Ar and Ik, former students, who independently have moved to Rabbit County and are seeing fruit from their witness there.
Here in Ambon, finding locations for rent to place our workers and the program in close proximity to our target areas. Prayers, please.
