I am Jennifer Tamio from Outreach Department. I once had plans to work abroad but for some reasons, the Lord didn’t allow me to. Now, my 66 year-old mother, was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer along with anterior wall ischemia or “heart attack”. The scheduled operation last January 2016 should last 5 to 6 hours but after 2 hours, the doctor told me that they had to cancel the surgery because it was too dangerous. That’s when I started to pray to God through ExCEL services and to hold on to His promises.
After a year, the tumor spread, began to bleed and was not subsiding so we decided to take her to the hospital again. It pains and weakens me to see the blood gushing out from her but I remembered the Lord telling me that His strength is made perfect in my weakness. So I entrusted everything to Him; everything that may happen.
Out of my despair, I whispered and asked God if He could take me instead of my mother just for her to be spared from all the pain. But I was reminded that His thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are always higher than mine. I believed that God would hear my prayer to heal my mother like how He healed countless people in the Bible.
There came the time when my mother needs an operation again as soon as possible and the Lord never fails to be faithful! He has provided everything we needed at that time. After the procedure, my mother told me that something strange happened. While she was in the recovery room, she saw a mysterious man. When she asked him for assistance, he approached and told her with so much peace and comfort, “Ilabas mo lang ‘yan. Nandito lang ako at babantayan kita.” I knew that the man was actually the Lord!
The ultrasound result shows that out of twenty tumors, nineteen are positive for stage III-B cancer. However, my mother did not want to take therapies because she had witnessed how they made other cancer patients physically weaker. My mother took several tests to determine if she still has to take chemotherapy and radiation therapies. God is so good, He did not allow her to take any therapy. Instead, He continuously gives strength to her so she can attend ExCEL services. Besides, if she takes chemotherapy sessions, there will be approximately 25% chance that she will get better unlike in the presence of the Lord, there is 100% chance of healing! Now, I know the real purpose why He did not allow me to work abroad; it’s because He wants me to take care of my mother first. By God’s grace and strength, we are still fighting for her complete healing, but we know that God has already won this battle for us.
