Ah-Hong

A week ago I was still in the hospital recovering from knee surgery, but while I was there, I saw God do a greater work than just the fixing of my knee.

On the first morning after I had admitted myself into the hospital, I stood by the window enjoying the view from the 9th floor. From behind me to my left, I heard a somewhat weakened voice say "good morning" in Taiwanese. I looked over to see one of my hospital roommates. Ah-Hong, as I would soon learn his name, was laying in his bed glancing over at me. His father was sitting by his bedside, providing care for him.

Ah-Hong, 38, had already been in the hospital for 5 weeks. An injury left him with a brain hemorrhage that they were having difficulty controlling. Two surgeries had left him bed-ridden and weak, his body suffering the slow atrophy that comes with such a condition. The left side of his body was imobile, and though he was coherent, the constant pain he was experiencing him was obvious. I asked him if his head hurt at times. He said, "It always hurts".

Just before I was taken for surgery I had a chance to pray with Ah-Hong. I shared briefly with him about God, and Jesus, and that he could have peace through faith in Him. Later that afternoon a fellow missionary came by to visit me. He and a Taiwanese co-worker from a local church were able to talk with Ah-Hong and share with him more fully about Christ, and they then prayed with him as Ah-Hong said he wanted to trust in Jesus as his savior.

We rejoice in Ah-Hong's new spiritual birth, but it is difficult to see his physical suffering. Though never married, he has a 13 year old son. Ah-Hong's parents are raising him. He comes to see his dad in the hospital only on the weekends, as he is normally too busy with school during the week.

Physically, Ah-Hong does not have much hope. Before I left the hospital I talked and prayed with him again. I told him I wanted to come back and visit him soon, and asked how much longer he thought he might be here. "I'll probably be here till I die" was his answer.

We pray that Ah-Hong's faith would grow, for it is by faith that any of us receive the good things God has for us. We pray for healing as well. God may choose not to heal Ah-Hong's body, but God has given him the promise of something better. The hope of being whole again someday. And that gift is certainly worth rejoicing about.