Uncle Nong and Auntie Em are church planters in Thailand. We have worked with them closely for several years and they have become very dear to us, so it’s been hard to be away from them these past several months while we’ve been in Canada because of COVID. We miss them.
When we heard recently that Uncle Nong was in a coma after having a brain aneurism, we were devastated. We called people to fast and pray for his healing. He underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain, after which doctors put him on full life support. We knew exactly where he was, in the hospital in Lampang City, in northern Thailand. But it was painful for us not to be able to visit Uncle Nong in person and pray for him.
Uncle Nong and Auntie Em have been such an encouragement to us. The church that they planted in their village of Huay Taak has been bearing fruit and growing as they have continued to share with others the hope that they’ve found in Jesus.
About four years ago, Auntie Em came to faith in Jesus when she was dying of leukemia and lupus. After no help was given to her from witch doctors and Buddhist monks, she turned to our co-worker, Chaloerm, and asked if his God could help her. Chaloerm prayed and Jesus miraculously healed her. She hasn’t looked back since.
When her husband, Nong, had gone into a coma, Auntie Em knew that there was still hope in Jesus. She was distraught and heavy-hearted, but still full of faith.
At that time, Chaloerm came to the hospital to visit Uncle Nong and to ask Jesus for his mercy and grace. Although he was still in coma, Chaloerm spoke to Uncle Nong and said to him, “I have scheduled the Christmas outreach for your village on December 19. You will be giving testimony about God’s power to heal you, so you need to get better. You can’t be late to your appointment!”
Our dear brothers and sisters in Thailand have such strong faith in Jesus. We have been so convicted and challenged by them, and we love them so much.
One week later, Uncle Nong was still in coma, but because his condition had stabilized, he was taken off of life support and moved to the rural hospital near his village. However, days later, the doctors told Auntie Em that her husband had stopped breathing and his heart had stopped beating.
Auntie Em immediately called Chaloerm, who made the twenty-minute drive by car to the hospital. When he finally got to Nong, Chaloerm could see that there were no visible signs of life. Despite that, he reached out his hands, laid them on Uncle Nong and started praying in the name of Jesus.
Suddenly, Chaloerm heard Uncle Nong cough. He was alive! His heart was beating and he began to breathe.
Within days, Uncle Nong was opening his eyes and recognizing people. Then he began to move and make simple gestures. Soon, he was responding and beginning to talk.
God promised that we would see miraculous acts of his great power. In John 14:12-14, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
Today, Uncle Nong is at home with Auntie Em. He is walking, talking, and interacting with guests. On December 19, he did not miss his appointment with Chaloerm and the Christmas outreach in his village. He stood on a stage in front of a crowd of people to proclaim God’s power and grace in healing him and giving him life. He and Auntie Em look forward to sharing this story with more and more people, and to encourage them to also put their faith in Jesus.
Jon and Bonnie Esau serve in northern Thailand with their four children.
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:12-14