CC: Pray for MK with bacterial heart infection

[1bassoon]

We received this email from friends in Kenya -

 

Dear Praying Friends,

Ben Entwistle is an RVA alumnus from the class of 2006. He is currently in intensive care at Nairobi Hospital with a serious infection in his heart which now seems to have spread to his kidneys as well. He has suffered a stroke as well which has left the right side of his body impaired. His thoughts are also confused and his speech slurred. His heart was damaged a number of years ago from a bout of Rheumatic Fever. Ben was back in Kenya to attend his younger brother Jesse’s graduation from RVA this past Saturday. Ben’s parents, Dan and Lynda, are missionaries with AIM and serve in northern Mozambique. Besides Ben and Jesse, they have a daughter Lucy, and two other sons, Seth and Michael. Please lift this precious family before the throne of the Great Physician and the God of all comfort. I, Mark, have close connections to this family as I attended RVA at the same time as Dan and played on the same rugby team together. I have had the privilege of coaching both Ben and Jesse as well.

 

Thanks for praying -

[teamturner]

I will pray for this dear family. What is RVA by the way?

[momofkhm]

What is RVA by the way?

 

RVA is Rift Valley Academy - a boarding school for children of missionaries. I have friends who are dorm parents there this past school year.

[Jean in Wisc]

So much given, so much taken...a missionary's life.

 

Prayers here.

J

[Soph the vet]

Praying here for Ben.

[crazycoffeechic]

Praying for Ben.

[Dayle in Guatemala]

Praying for Ben. How scary for them!

[momofkhm]

The hospital he is in is not equipped to preform the surgery he needs but he is too sick to move to another facility.

 

In the midst of all this activity and emotion, the entire Kijabe community is praying for the miraculous healing of one of her beloved sons. Ben Entwistle, a 2006 graduate of RVA, came back to Kenya for his brother Jesse’s graduation and for alumni weekend. Ben became very ill last week and was urgently admitted to the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi on Friday afternoon after an apparent stroke. Everyone is in shock as Ben looked fine over alumni weekend, playing rugby and even scoring the winning goal in the 3-2 alumni triumph in soccer. The most recent news is far from encouraging: The bacterial growth on the heart is so severe that it has spread elsewhere and might cause another stroke any time. Ben is in urgent need of heart surgery. He is in no condition to be transported, and while it’s one of the best hospitals in Africa, Aga Khan may not be equipped to provide the treatment he needs. Pray that, through God’s interfering, with or without antibiotics, Ben would recover at least well enough to get to where he can receive the needed surgery. Please pray for God to heal Ben completely.

From http://koningfamily.wordpress.com/

[1bassoon]

Here's the update I received this morning. The Lord gives, the Lord takes away - blessed be His name -

 

 

Dear Friends,

I have copied an email below that was sent out by Ben’s grandparents just a few minutes ago. Please join with us in lifting up Ben’s family as they grieve his loss.

Mark and Carolyn

 

We just had a call from Dan in South Africa. He reported that Ben did really well for the first 3 1/2 hours of the flight. Then, his heart developed problems. The team on the plane did everything possible to revive Ben, but the pulse stopped and nothing could be done. The plane had been on the ground about 20 minutes when Dan called. He was still at the plane and trying to determine what to do. He really has no one in South Africa to turn to for help. He needs immediate prayer for wisdom and he desperately needs God's presence and strength. Judy found this wonderful verse in Psalm 54:4. "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one that sustains me." We are praying this for Dan and Lynda and for the dear children. We are also claiming it for our entire family.

 

At times like this it is so wonderful to have Jesus, whose eye is on the sparrow. We know He is greiving with us. He has not failed. Once again life has triumphed over death. We have total confidence that Ben is 100% well and we will see him again. God is good all the time and even Ben's passing comes through His loving hand.

 

If any reading this message do not know the Lord or has wandered from Him, we plead with you to come to Him. At such times in life, there is nothing like knowing that one's sins are forgiven and that Jesus is able to present us faultless before the Throne of Grace. That is what He has done for Ben. He has done it because He loves Ben, not because Ben deserved it. Oh what comfort we have despite the tears.

 

Our family wants to thank all of you who have prayed us through this time of pain. Your messages have brought solace and encouragement. We have felt the love of literally thousands and have thanked God over and over again that we are part of the family of God.

 

To God be the glory!

 

Much love to all,

 

Roy and Judy on behalf of our family"

[Dayle in Guatemala]

How sad! Continuing to pray for the family.

[elegantlion]

Prayers for this family. I am so sorry to hear about their loss.

[crazycoffeechic]

Oh, that's so sad. Continuing to pray for the family.