Friday, May 18, 2007 at 1:01am
How can you help a stranger?
Column: For His Glory
I have written about Adam, the soldier who is in need of our prayers, in two earlier columns — on April 13 and on April 27. His sister, who is my friend, just gave me an update, and I would like to share it with you directly from her. She writes:
"God DID answer our prayers and the bleeding stopped. Adam got to come home for one week, and we thanked God for that. He flew back a few days ago to Walter Reed in D.C. He has tests on his birthday May 10 (he turns 20), and then he flies back to Afghanistan. His commander and his doctors got into a huge fight. The doctors said they forbid him to deploy again, but the commander gave him ORDERS TO and told the doctors that they are shorthanded in Afghanistan and they need him to come back. We found out that Adam has a disease, where your veins randomly burst! The doctors said it's not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN it will happen again. They can't fix the vein, because it's under some thick skin near a major organ. He also had a ruptured ulcer, and tested positive for the tuberculosis virus. So he has just been through the WRINGER. He came home very pale and skinny, but in good spirits. God is really helping Adam to heal on his own. I totally give God the credit for bringing Adam home a week and stopping the bleeding despite this medical condition that he has."
It is amazing how people who are suffering can be held by the hands of the almighty and recognize, even in their darkest hour, that God is there watching over you. Adam has made progress, but we still need more prayers because I would love for God to cure him of this rare disorder. Adam cannot afford to be in this weakened condition and still be asked to serve his country. Therefore, we need to continue to ask for healing so he can be at his best, alert and agile to avoid any disasters. Yet more important than avoiding calamity on the field of battle, we would pray for his healing so he can raise his child who will be born to him in July. His sister writes:
"His wife flew out to see him a couple days ago as a surprise. I am not sure when she is coming home. But they do need continued support as they give birth to their first child in July, and she is worried to death about him knowing that he has this rare disorder."
Imagine if you were the wife of this soldier, about to give birth knowing your husband is in a war. How anxious would you be? I would be unable to sleep, worried about his safety. So what can you do for a person you do not even know? If you feel like doing something, just take the time to pray for him. To pour out your heart for a soldier in need.
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well" (James 5:16).
— — —
Gio Marin is an author, currently working on a master of divinity degree at Andrews Seventh-Day Adventist Theological Seminary, with a dual emphasis on systematic theology and church growth & evangelism. Visit For His Glory, the blog, and send an email to {email GioMarinColumn@aol.com}GioMarinColumn@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Gio Marin.
"God DID answer our prayers and the bleeding stopped. Adam got to come home for one week, and we thanked God for that. He flew back a few days ago to Walter Reed in D.C. He has tests on his birthday May 10 (he turns 20), and then he flies back to Afghanistan. His commander and his doctors got into a huge fight. The doctors said they forbid him to deploy again, but the commander gave him ORDERS TO and told the doctors that they are shorthanded in Afghanistan and they need him to come back. We found out that Adam has a disease, where your veins randomly burst! The doctors said it's not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN it will happen again. They can't fix the vein, because it's under some thick skin near a major organ. He also had a ruptured ulcer, and tested positive for the tuberculosis virus. So he has just been through the WRINGER. He came home very pale and skinny, but in good spirits. God is really helping Adam to heal on his own. I totally give God the credit for bringing Adam home a week and stopping the bleeding despite this medical condition that he has."
It is amazing how people who are suffering can be held by the hands of the almighty and recognize, even in their darkest hour, that God is there watching over you. Adam has made progress, but we still need more prayers because I would love for God to cure him of this rare disorder. Adam cannot afford to be in this weakened condition and still be asked to serve his country. Therefore, we need to continue to ask for healing so he can be at his best, alert and agile to avoid any disasters. Yet more important than avoiding calamity on the field of battle, we would pray for his healing so he can raise his child who will be born to him in July. His sister writes:
"His wife flew out to see him a couple days ago as a surprise. I am not sure when she is coming home. But they do need continued support as they give birth to their first child in July, and she is worried to death about him knowing that he has this rare disorder."
Imagine if you were the wife of this soldier, about to give birth knowing your husband is in a war. How anxious would you be? I would be unable to sleep, worried about his safety. So what can you do for a person you do not even know? If you feel like doing something, just take the time to pray for him. To pour out your heart for a soldier in need.
"And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well" (James 5:16).
— — —
Gio Marin is an author, currently working on a master of divinity degree at Andrews Seventh-Day Adventist Theological Seminary, with a dual emphasis on systematic theology and church growth & evangelism. Visit For His Glory, the blog, and send an email to {email GioMarinColumn@aol.com}GioMarinColumn@aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Gio Marin.