Hwang’s Prayer Hotline

Dear Prayer Warriors in Christ, September 17, 2008

Praise the Lord for that He has provided the seminary's dorm for us to live in. We have moved into the dorm. Although we had to put the children's bunk bed in a corner of the living room, they like it very much because they were reunited with their old friends who live in the same complex from two years ago. Timothy started his school as school began. He couldn't wait to explore the new environment. However, Grace was late for school for some days due to the registration process. On her first day of school, she went to the wrong classroom. One of the staff kept shouting and scolding at her, saying "You should learn how to read the schedule!" No one wants to start a new school or a new day like this. When the kids need to cope with the new environment, as parents, our role is even more challenging – counseling your own child is never an easy job.

Grace's and Tim's health is not improving after taking medication, especially Grace. Her platelet count is still low (86,000). Moreover, like Timothy, Grace was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Last Saturday we took her to see one of the herbal medicine doctors. He measured her heart rate and blood pressure. Her heart rate was only 46 beats per minute, and the blood pressure was only 74/42. This early Monday morning (Sept 25) we contacted the endocrinologist and then went to the Children's Hospital L.A. for another blood work to check out if the current medication was causing her heart rate and blood pressure to slow down. Please pray that God will heal Grace and Tim before we return to the mission field in next August as we plan. Some friends suggested us to stay in the US for our children's health concern. We thank them for their consideration. However, it's also a time to stretch our faith again. The road of faith never ends.

Last Tuesday morning before daybreak, James and I were holding a broom with a long handle to fish out the trash that we dumped the night before in the dumpster, because Grace forgot her locker's combination, and the combination slip probably was in the dumpster. We didn't want her starting her second school day with another harsh scolding. Our only hope lied in the dumpster. We had never done something like this before and we prepared to go inside the dumpster to dig. Because of love, we would do "anything" to save a day for our daughter. In the meantime of fishing trash, God asked me, "Would you do something like this for Me?" I hesitated for a second, "Oh Lord! I am willing, but grant me faith and strength to love You beyond anyone or anything!" Indeed, we can never love God too much, and I had never started a day dialoguing with God by the dumpster. Maybe my body was smelly, but my spirit was refreshed.

We have settled into the new place. The following is our new contact information:

Phone: 626-451-5836

E-mail: jhwang2020@gmail.com

Address: 6932 Rosemead Blvd. #42

San Gabriel, CA 91775

Praises and Prayers:

1. Thank God for His provision that we have a place to live in and the kids love it and enjoy the friendship here.

2. Please pray for Grace's adjustment to the new school.

3. Please pray for Grace and Tim's total recovery before we return to the mission field next August as we plan.

4. We need to buy a used compact car (gas saving car). Our budget is $2,500 (US Dollars).

5. Grace needs to borrow a cello for keeping at home to practice. Besides, if anyone knows a good cello teacher who can teach her the technique of "vibrato," please contact us.

May God bless you with a joyful week!

Serving Together in Christ,

James, Antonia, Grace and Timothy Hwang

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)