Praise! Isaac Update 8/3 8:30

Dennis has arrived in Paraguay!

Another email from my Mother:

Isaac has been released from the hospital!

Received an email from Dennis that he and Isaac are together at the hotel. Isaac's release means that he has been seizure free (with medication) for 24 hours and that he will be able to travel, as planned on Saturday (arriving in Atlanta on Sunday). We are so thankful for your prayers and that Dennis is now there to participate in decisions regarding our next steps.

monica

PS Just got a phone call from the missionary in Paraguay (b/c they couldn't get through on the hotel phone) telling me that Isaac ate a good dinner and then went off to bed. Tomorrow he and Dennis will see the doctor once more so he can make his final assessment regarding Isaac's flying on Saturday.

Isaac update 7:00 8/2

An email from my Mother:

Praying friends

We were able to get through to Isaac's room again this evening. The challenge of connecting via phone involves redialing many times (for 20 to 30 minutes) until you get a "breakthrough". There are not many lines gong into the hospital so they limit the calls to 3 minutes. It was totally wonderful to hear his voice although he was quite medicated.

Kelly, one of 3 team members who have taken turns being with Isaac around the clock told us that the EEG went well. The minor abnormalities that they saw were insignificant and could have been the result of movement during the test. They have removed Isaac's IV so he is receiving medication by mouth to manage the seizures. Apparently they have slowed down in frequency and intensity today. PTL

I have been in touch with a doctor here who is helping us formulate the next steps of evaluation when Isaac returns. She has been most helpful in ascertaining what we need to find out from medical personell in Paraguay. She will call Isaac's doctor in the morning to obtain copies of the test results, medications, symptoms, etc.....oh, and did I say that she speaks Spanish flluently?!?! Isn't God amazing?

Pray Dennis though the night, please. Ask the Lord to let him sleep on the plane. His flight was an hour late leaving Miami, but he should be in Buenos Aires by 9 in the morning, then arriving in Asuncion by late afternoon. And pray for sweet sleep for all the team who are working, praying and growing so much!

"All the ways of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth."

monica

Isaac update 4:30 8/1

From Dawn (one of the missionaries):

"Isaac was in an ambulance at the hospital prior to being taken to the location for his EEG. The team was gather around praying for the ambulance driver intending to share the gospel with him. Isaac had a seizure. Team prayed for him. Seizure ceased. Gospel was shared. Driver received Christ on the spot!"

I feel like we are walking through the pages of Acts!

Huge Praise! We just got through on the phone to Isaac's room. It was so good to hear his voice. He is exhausted and weak b/c of the seizures and medication, but mind is clear and concern for all of us was expressed along with thankfulness for prayer covering. He had a mild seizure during the EEG and asked Charmaine Landrum if she had been holding his hand through the whole procedure. She had not. Nonetheless he said that there was someone holding his hand through the whole thing.

"When my anxious thoughts mutliply within me, thy consolations delight my soul."Ps 94:19 We hope to hear EEG results this evening. Thank you for praying that we will get word and that God will continue to minister through this brave band of believing young people!

Monica

Isaac

Some of you may know my brother Isaac. He left last week for a short-term mission trip to Paraguay. While he was there, he had a seizure of some sort and was taken to the hospital in the rural town they were in. He responded to the anti-convulsive medication but has been continuing to have convulsions off and on since then. He has been transported to the main city in Paraguay where the medical facilities are a bit better.

A CAT scan of his brain yesterday didn't turn up anything abnormal. When he goes into convulsions, his heart rate is erratic which is a concern. They expect to do an EEG (EKG maybe? I'm not sure of terms) today to see if they can find anything wrong with his heart.

My Dad is trying to get down there to help bring him back to the States. This weekend when he heard the news he dug up his passport and found it expired in June. God worked a miracle in that he was able to get down to the Miami US consulate office and renew his passport. It looked like that would not be possible but someone there took him under their wing and got it done.

He will be flying out of Miami this evening at 11 and hopefully be in touch with Isaac tomorrow. I know he's exhausted so pray for peace for him and my Mother.

Thanks,