This was shared by one of Laurel’s friends after I posted it. Sharing of my posts was common: Countless friends and loved ones passed the word along for prayer, and the gates of heaven were stormed daily on my dear wife’s behalf, and on behalf of my sons and me. Our gracious, loving Father took mercy on us and healed Laurel. I still weep for joy to know that God was willing to do that.
Dorothy Jean
Another good update from Laurel’s husband Bill
Please continue to pray as prayers are being answered
Such an amazing little family 💕
After work I went to the hospital to visit Laurel. She was receiving her dialysis treatment; I often seem to be there for that, regardless of whether I see her in the morning or afternoon. I opened a couple of cards that had been delivered to her room and read them to her, told her about the adventures the boys were having with their relatives in Cape Cod, and passed along greetings from so many of you that have asked me to do so.
Forty-five minutes or so into my visit, Chaplain Paul Dunfee from Mountain View Correctional Facility, where I teach, arrived for a brief visit. After talking with me for a few minutes in the hallway and offering me some encouraging words, he and I went into Laurel’s room, where we took turns praying over her. Then, because it was time for her dialysis nurse to complete the treatment, and because it was late and I needed to come home and have supper, we left.
On our way out, the doctor met us in the hallway. Laurel continues to see some progress in her lung function, and as they remove her more and more from the sedation, she will come closer and closer to consciousness. We continue to intercede at the throne of God for her kidneys to begin functioning.
I had so many opportunities at work today to testify to the goodness, grace, mercy, and love of God–of how He is sustaining us and providing so wonderfully for us in this trial and hour of need. For those of like faith, the comprehension and shared awe of His lovingkindness is palpable. For those unfamiliar with such faith, such words seem like nice platitudes, I think, but little more than that. I can’t help that. All I know is that Jesus, our Savior, loves Laurel and Christian and Michael and me, and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us before the Father’s throne with groanings that cannot be uttered. Nothing is better than that. No place is safer than that. Children of the heavenly Father safely in his bosom gather, as the hymn says. To God be the glory, great things he has done!
Bill MacDonald
I just spoke with the night nurse. Laurel has had a pretty good night. She’s been trying to open her eyes, but hasn’t quite gotten them fully open yet–just flutters so far. No movement in her outer extremities yet. But small improvements, nonetheless. Thank you for your ongoing prayers on her behalf and mine. We’d be lost without them.
May God bless you and yours for the love you are showing to us! And to God be the glory!
Bill MacDonald
As is true for the suffering saints in communist China, so also is true for my wife in ICU: There is no safer place than in God’s will–in God’s hands. Romans 8:35-39 says:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Christopher GregoryFebruary 18
Ruth and I return to China Friday morning, arriving late Saturday night. Unfortunately though nothing has changed as the Chinese authorities have removed the symbol of the cross from the local church where our friends attend. Just another example of the real threat to Christians living in China.
Some have asked why would we return to such an environment where ones faith in Christ is subject to persecution? Because that’s where we are called. Something the Lord spoke into my spirit the other day when he said, “the safest place to be is in my perfect will.”
Communists, Socialists and every other spirit of death can never remove the security one will find when they walk in God’s perfect calling.
Pray for China. Pray for democracy. Pray for revival.)
Mack Ames Books and Maine Moose Patrol 