I sent this email update to my friends and family on September 5, 2008.  How appropriate to post it at this particular time.  It is a great reflection of how God has opened doors for our family's story and how He continues to lead us, every step of the way!


Hello everyone,

 

James 5:16b says “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”  Chapter 5, verses 13-18 all talk about praying for specific needs and how the prayer of faith will be answered.  Thank you so much for your continued prayers for our family, thank you for pouring out your hearts, lifting us up and seeking the Lord on our behalf!  God has answered so many specific prayers and continues to move in amazing and mighty ways!  So much has happened over the past couple of months, the “Mystery Diagnosis” show continues to be run and re-run and we continue to have a constant stream of emails and website hits from people seeking answers for themselves and their children.  God continues to use this vehicle to reach out to people from all over the world!  Only God could do such a HUGE thing!

 

I have shared with you, on several occasions over the past year, how I feel that God has been leading me more into the medical field. I’ve asked you to pray that God would make the path clear and work in all the details.  Well, He has certainly been leading and has moved in mighty ways.  Joe has worked for US Airways for the past 9+ years and his last day was yesterday.  He was contacted by a company out of California and, after months of interviews, has accepted a position for a medical research company.  God has moved him from the airline to a medical research company!  The CEO at his new company has a passion to make a difference in the lives of many and he truly believes one person, one company can make a difference in this world.  The company has scientists working on tests to help identify medical issues in people before they become life threatening as well as cures for cancer and many other diseases.  Joe and I had dinner with Greg, the CEO, and his wife last month and I shared the story of Noah and Alexis with them.  I shared our faith and how God has led us every step of the way with their medical issues as well as the opportunities to reach out to others. Greg clearly realized the connection between what we are doing and what his company is doing. He told us that he wants to develop a test that you could take to determine if you have Dystonia.  We have been overwhelmed and completely in awe of where God is moving us and how clear He has laid out the path. 

 

Joe is starting his new position next week and we will be joining him in California within a month.  We have prayed for open and closed doors and God has shown us this open door while He closed the door at US Airways.  What an awesome testimony of praying for specific needs and the prayer of faith being answered!  Joe’s team has affirmed him in so many amazing ways, letting him know how much he has influenced them in their personal lives as well as their professional lives.  God is SO good to us and we, once again, are completely overwhelmed and amazed at the way He works in every detail.

 

Thank you for your continued prayers on behalf of our family.  Your prayers are powerful and effective and God is using each one of them in mighty ways to accomplish His work!

 

In His mighty and powerful hands,

 

Retta (Joe, Zach, Noah and Alexis)