Some Journey

Email from Andy Mendonsa

The following is an email that Andy Mendonsa sent out to his "prayer warriors". What a great testimony of faith, that even when things seem to be at their worst and don't make sense, God is in control and works all things together for good.

"Dear Friends and Supporters: I sent out an email early tuesday morning about my son, but there was a problem getting it out so it only went out last night. we have more information and need for prayer now. yesterday they were finally able to get him stable enough to do an MRI in order to determine the extent of Asher's injuries to his spine. the mri revealed that his injuries to his spine are extensive. he is paralyzed at least from the waist down the doctor said and maybe from the neck down. he is still in a coma and not responding to anything. they have him on a respirator as well as about everything else you can imagine. on his right leg he has a compound fracture to his femur. they had to do surgery on him in the ICU for it yesterday in order to be able to do the mri. he does not seem to be in pain.

as devastating as the news was for my wife, daughter and i when we were told of the news yesterday afternoon in the Lord's grace i come home last night filled with optimism. the fact that he is alive is a miracle. all the people that have come to the hospital, especially my son and daughter's friends, has been overwhelming. most of my son's friends are skaters and to see the compassion and love they all have for asher and to hear them tell why they love and care for him so much has just broken my heart and let me see a side of him that i never would have. these guys have cried and cried over him since this has happened and they have shared with us how they have prayed for him. last night the icu nurse watching over asher let us bring 5 of his friends in to see him.

yesterday our widows here devoted their entire prayer time praying for asher and his healing. i know that is what is being prayed all over our city, nation and the world for asher. i think i was afraid to ask God to heal him yesterday when we heard the news that he is paralyzed. God has given me the strength and the courage to not be defeated by this news and to cry out to Him along with so many others that have so much more faith than me right now. I have cried out to God throughout the night and morning and asked Him to raise my son from the dead, to restore his body that has been so broken up and according to medical science beyond repair, to bring complete healing and restoration to him.

tuesday night as my mother cried out to God throughout the night for him, God gave her so many scriptures. psalm 23, 121, 146, and 96. also Ezekiel 37. ezekiel 37 is the passage about the dry bones that represents Israel and God using this image to illustrate Israel restoration.

since i don't believe in accidents i know that there is a greater purpose to be fulfilled through this. whereas, i could not see the devil in this at first, it becomes very clear to me know that he has laid a trap for my son, wanting to derail all that God is doing in such powerful ways throughout the world through the spreading of "pure and undefiled worship" as widows are being led to cry out to God in prayer.

i have always known that the devil attacks us where we are the most vulnerable and i have always known that i am the most vulnerable with my own family. i can tell you i have never felt so vulnerable and helpless like i do now, but i am not going to let the devil have the victory here. asher fell 5 stories and landed on several boards on his back that both cushioned his fall, prevented him from falling even further through another hole in the floor that descended in to the basement of the building that was pitch black darkness. at the same time these broads that probably save his life also caused the vertebrae damage. praise God. we have our son and he is alive and we are asking everyone to please fast along with your prayers.

please pray for the man who owns this building where asher fell. this building is in a place near the skate park where asher has been hanging out for years. it has been abandoned for years and left completely unsecured it is a miracle no one has been hurt in it before now.

i was reading scriptures about Jesus and healing and i came across Acts 10:38 "Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and {how} He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. "

i have never made a connection between those who Jesus healed and their being oppressed by the devil. i didn't at first, but now i believe that not only is my son being oppressed by the devil in his body right at this very moment, but that that same oppression is also oppressing all of those surrounding him with their love. which makes complete sense. when someone is released through the power of the holy spirit it has the complete and opposite effect on the one that is released as well as those who are surrounding them with their love and devotion.

i am broken to the very depths of my being over what has happened to my son. i have cried like i can't remember crying is so long. even writing this i am having to stop and take time to cry. i know that God's tears are even greater, though. asher is His son, His creation, His love, and our pain and suffering is nothing compared to Jesus' on our behalf. i am just praying that God would use the pain and suffering that is going on now with my son as a result of his injuries to speak to those that are drawing near to him to be able to know what Jesus' own suffering did on our behalf. i know that it has opened my heart to it in a way that i have never been able to imagine it before.

thank you for your love and concern for us over the years and your prayers. a very broken father, andy mendonsa"