Medical Update: Refiner's Fire
“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.” — Psalm 51:8
Freak Accident
Last Sep 18, a week before my trip to Vietnam to teach in the Disciple Bible School there, I got injured while playing basketball. After minor surgery to drain the blood and an MRI, the doctor confirmed this week that both my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial meniscus are torn and will need surgery to be repaired. The ACL won’t heal naturally. Without surgery, an ACL and meniscus tear may cause ongoing pain, knee instability, repeated injuries, and eventually early arthritis.
God’s Protection
It’s possible that my ACL was already compromised since my basketball injury in YWAM Cebu in 2018 while studying in the Word by Heart School. God has been protecting my knee throughout the past 8 years of carrying tons of concrete, sand, and stones; hiking the mountains for evangelism; and traveling through multiple countries to preach the Word.
Why will GOD Allow This Now?
The past weeks have been me living a life of a disabled man. I cannot carry things and have to depend on others for simple things like washing my dishes, buying groceries, and even closing the door. Sometimes, as I lay in pain, a depressing sadness comes, and I just weep and sigh. Slowly, God’s comfort is being poured out, and I have had to let Him deal with things in my heart that weren’t pleasing to Him. I slowly realized that this was a time God has set to refine me.
Refiner’s Fire
“But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.” — Malachi 3:2–3
So that God’s ministers will bring righteous offerings in the house of the LORD, He allows difficult times to come. It is indeed painful at the moment, but out of it, my faith is being refined and the genuineness of it is being tested. After a period of sadness and despair, right now I’m resting in His peace and in His faithfulness.
“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:6–7
God’s Love Expressed
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” — 1 John 4:12
Throughout this ordeal, I’ve seen, felt, and experienced the Love of God through His people here in YWAM Baguio and through the prayers, encouragements, and even financial help of family and friends all throughout. It brings me low to a place of humility and gratitude to receive all of this love.
Next Step
Surgery will be costing a lot. The cost given for the surgical implants alone amounted to 250,000 PHP. Knee rehabilitation is also required to prevent the replaced ACL from being torn again. I made a GiveSendGo account (like GoFundMe but a Christian organization) to raise up to 500,000 PHP for total medical needs. I already used my PhilHealth for the minor operation to drain the blood. Kuya Johnny is also helping me reach out to various government agencies to see if they could help with my medical needs.
Here’s the link:
Please pray for God's healing and provision. If it's possible, prayerfully share the fundraising link to people you know. God is still Good. I will forever give Him my thanksgiving, worship, and praise.
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103
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