(Originally posted on December 23, 2018)
Who is Marleny?
I call Marleny, “Manita,” which is a fun Spanish word for “little sister.” She is a young mother of 3 kids, (8, 4, and 2 years old) and although she lives in Mao, she frequently travels the 30 minutes to spend time in Maizal and to attend church services in Bejucal.
How has the ministry impacted her life?
With increasing back pains that were keeping her in the bed, unable to care for her kids or to go to the church services, we took her to Santiago to see a doctor. It was then that we learned that Marleny was born with a double sclerosis. Her back was deformed with her spine in the shape of a twisted “S.” Over time, it was deteriorating and was beginning to affect her ability to walk, breathe, and grip things with her hands.
“This will require a 6-8 hour surgery, and she might not survive it.”
The doctor had not seen a case like Marleny’s before - the surgery was an emergency operation and we had to have $2,591.00 available before they operated. We had a week.
In less than 6 days, God used many people in the USA, Canada, and here in the DR, to provide more than the surgery costs - the extra helping for some weeks after - with food, meds, and recovery costs. God supplies every single need.
Marleny is healing well. She still has several months of recovery before she reaches her new state of “normal.” With a surgery so extensive, (22 screws and 2 bars to straighten her spine) the doctors are amazed at her progress and we just have to keep giving the glory to God. He is Healer.
Pray for Marleny:
1.) Pray for continued healing. In all, she will have a recovery process of between 6-8 months.
2.) Pray for those of us who are caring for her, her 3 kids, and keeping house/cooking. Daily care is exhausting, but God gives more grace.
3.) Ask the Lord to use this journey to unite the family (both sides) and for the Christians to continue being able to love with God’s perfect love - living out what we preach - even when things are hard.
To God be the glory, great things He has done.
