This week has been characterized by good news. Isaiah was moved to Boise, ID (a six hour ambulance ride) to an acute care facility that specializes in head traumas. While he is still in a coma, at times he has been responsive, giving a thumbs up when asked if he understood.
We continue to wait and pray…wait and pray.
From Elisabeth Elliot’s email today:
“At times nothing seems to be happening. So it must be for the bird that sits on her nest. Things are apparently at a standstill. But the bird sits quietly, knowing that in the stillness something vital is going on, and in the proper time it will be shown. It takes faith and patience for the bird, and such faith and patience never seem to waver, day after day, night after night, as she bides the appointed time.”
In the last year our church has had many difficulties and many displays of God’s mercy. In July, at a cabin in Imnaha, two-year old Andrew fell unseen into a raging river, bobbed past bystanders and was plucked out of the river at the last possible moment blue and barely breathing by Isaiah’s older brother and thus saved from drowning. Witnesses say Brian almost ran on the water to get to little Andrew. A month later Matt, a younger dad, went over the edge with his truck and miraculously no one was hurt beyond minor leg injuries.
When you are going through grief, distress, burdened and careworn, hymns speak to the soul in a special way. These days I wobble more than sing! (Wobble? Warble? Related?) Today we sang:
When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress. (from
How Firm a Foundation)
Here in our sickness, healing grace aboundeth,
Light in our blindness, in our toil refreshment,
Sin is forgiven, hope o’er fear prevaileth,
Joy over sorrow. (from
Only-Begotten, Word of God Eternal)
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia. (from For All the Saints)
Let all the godly when they grieve and suffer
To Thee, O Lord, their supplications offer.
Surely when floods of mighty water rise,
They shall not reach him who on Thee relies.
Thou art a hiding place for those who serve Thee;
Thou, mighty God, from trouble dost preserve me.
Songs of deliverance everywhere resound:
Thou me with great rejoicing dost surround. (from Blest is the Man, Psalm 32)
People ask how Isaiah’s mom and dad are holding up. Our pastor says “They aren’t. They are being held.” Can I quote these dear ones who are stretched beyond what they thought possible?
Isaiah’s mom: “God is sovereign!! He is in control of our past, present, and future and we will trust. And besides, we don’t have a choice. We MUST trust.”
Isaiah’s dad: “Marathon, not sprint. I keep saying it. The Lord is good and gracious.” His dad calls him my warrior Isaiah.
Thank you for your prayers. This is one situation where Facebook has been a huge blessing in disseminating information to a large group of people. One friend started to list states where people were praying for Isaiah. The comments added countries, spots all over the globe, where people have prayed for our brother. The outpouring of love (and you are part of that) is overwhelming.
Update of others in the wreck: Jeff, the driver, died at the scene. His wife and kids need prayer. The other five boys are all discharged from the hospital in various states of healing. We are praying for continued emotional and physical healing. It is a mercy, an amazing mercy, that anyone survived falling 350 feet.
A Living Pencil 