What do you do when you are the patient?

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When You Become the Patient

Dear friends,

Lena and I have returned to the US for a medical furlough and rest. Lena is meeting with a spine surgeon friend of ours this week to determine if she will be getting a long-delayed operation on a bad disc in her neck.

We are thankful for God’s provision of a place to stay and a good surgeon with whom to consult. Our pastor and family urged us to come home, and also recommended us staying off the road for a while; I am glad to comply. We will update you all as soon as we know more.

This is not our regular furlough, and we have every intention of returning to the work as soon as possible. My national translation partner Ben is looking after the ministry and the mission in our absence. Lena’s clinic, however, had to be closed as she was the only nurse we have at present.

We covet your prayers that God will do for us what needs to be done, and for our friends and co-workers in the work back in PNG. Thank you for remembering us and the ministry in prayer.

Blessings in Christ,
John & Lena Allen

John & Lena 2013

20 thoughts on “What do you do when you are the patient?”

  2. You both, along with your ministry in PNG, will be in my prayers. May God richly bless you through this trial. I will also have this need put on our prayer list at Liberty Baptist Church in Mooresville, NC.

    Love and prayers,
    Glenda

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  4. White Creek Methodists have you on our prayer list and we will all be thinking of you and hoping Lena is much better soon.

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  5. Praying for Lena. I just had cervical spine surgery in May. Am doing very well. I know how uncomfortable Lena must be. You both take care of yourselves. We need you 🙂

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  6. Mrs. Allen,

    I’m so sorry to hear that you are having physical troubles, but I am glad you can get help! You do so much for so many.

    If you end up needing someone’s strong back and arms to help you when you go back to the work, please call us. We have an 18 year old daughter, Estee, who has been very inspired by your work and has asked about visiting you and helping you before. So far, we have said no because of the cost involved with getting there (Daddy would want to escort her so it costs double : ) Another daughter of ours ended up being able to stay in Guatemala for a few months because the missionary’s parents (whom we knew) were able to travel with her on their way back. Having them escort her one way instead of my husband reduced the cost enough that it became workable.

    She is exceptionally strong and diligent and just overall tough. She feels she has been called to the ministry and has a desire to help those who are already out there doing the work but just need an extra hand. She is very interested in the medical end of things as well, but truthfully, so far, none of us have felt that God wants her to start college.

    We are currently planning a couple of missions trips (to Haiti and the Philippines) this year and she intends to go on both of those trips, but if you needed help, I think she very well would be interested in being a blessing to you more than anything.

    I am not trying to ask a favor or beg for you to take her : ) I just want to bring it up in case you find that you are in need of some extra help for a time. If it would be a blessing for her to serve you, maybe we could work it out. Please think and pray about it and let us know if we can help you in ANY way. (Speaking of which….do you have financial needs because of this?)

    Your sister in Christ,
    Mrs. Joel Byram (Jennifer)
    Open Door Baptist Church
    Des Moines, Washington
    253.327.5209 (Jen’s cell phone)
    206.851.8640 (Pastor Byram’s cell phone)

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  9. Lord bless you and protect you. I know the burden of the heart to get back as soon as possible burns within you. Also being back in the States for a temporary visits has lots of pulls and needs in different direction. Lord bless you real good. Hugs and Prayers from Brasil.

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