New Trach

Jim is gone for about 10 days so Bev and I (Doug) will be keeping you updated. We (my wife and I) stopped by the hospital to bring a stack of messages down for John. Bev happened to come out quick and we gave her the messages and told her about the e-Cards for Josh. She said John was feeling very tired the past few days and that they were just waiting for his fever to come down and then he could be moved to a normal room. She said when he is ready she would have me come down to video a message to everyone.

Later I found my phone had some missed calls and after listening to voicemails, found out that Bev and Pastor Pat had tried to call. I guess John was ready to make the video now. When we got there a family member took us back to John's room. My wife and I had been preparing ourselves for what John may look like as we hadn't seen him since VBS a few weeks before. I was amazed to see how well he looked. He has to talk with his mouth wired shut but he does a great job. He looks very young because, if you know John and his brothers, they all look young for their age, but John now looks like he has braces due to his mouth wired shut. A lot that he said was very personal but I will share two things with you. One is he told us that he still doesn't remember anything. Pastor was talking to him about when they got him here to Des Moines and he was in a coma and the doctors didn't know if he was going to live. John said he doesn't remember anything. He also said that he knew he had two options, either go crazy, or turn to God for strength. You can tell it is God that is in control. John says he has been very humbled through all of this and that he prays hard to be able to preach again. The video will be available tomorrow after the church sees it due to it is directed towards the people of Saylorville Baptist Church.

Now to the actual update. John received a new Trach today which has helped his ability to talk. He said he feels much better now. In his own words he called the old Trach, 1800's style from Brazil. He told me the story of it all but I felt bad keeping him up so late. As soon as he is able, I know I will be up a lot visiting him. He had Bev play one of his favorite songs tonight and he kept telling me stories. He even prayed for me and my wife before we left. We finally left but told him we would come again soon with more of everyone's messages.

Prayer requests I feel are important:
1. Continue prayers involving healing of John in all ways but specifically for the fever to go away.
2. Pray for John. He is praying that he won't become a burden to his wife and family. God is really teaching him he needs others and to allow them to serve him.
3. Josh's healing and plans for coming to the US.
4. Future plans for the family as in schooling, home, and general plans for their life.
5. That John will preach again.
6. For his churchs still in Brazil and "the work"
7. Bev, that God continues to strengthen her and guide her.

- Douglas Porter

P.S. I want to thank the very first donator to the site. I used it to remove the ads from the "Leave a message for John" section also know as the guestbook. Thank You.

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