Praying For Pancho...

Thank you all for your fervent prayers for Pancho and his family.  After a 6 hour surgery yesterday, Pancho emerged in good spirits.  We weren’t sure if we were going to be allowed to see him, but the Lord opened that door.  As we were walking down the hallways, looking for his room, I was praying for strength...unsure of what I would see or experience.  Thankfully, His peace, which surpasses all understanding, flooded my heart. As we stood there in his room, in silence, unsure of what to say, I was reminded of all my hospital visits back in the states.  It came to me, that God had given me those past experiences and opportunities to prepare me for such a time as this, down here in Mexico.  Pancho was in and out of sleep...but he knew we were there. I asked Sabrina how the surgery went, and she said she had no information.  She had been in that room for over an hour, with no word, updates, or anything from the doctors.  I can’t imagine seeing your spouse, after an intense 6 hour surgery, and having no information about how it went.

I couldn’t bare it anymore, so I asked her if it’d be alright if we tried to go find out more information.  Nieves and I asked a few nurses and then were directed to a room where there were a couple doctors that looked like they were in their twenties.  One of them was very nice and began to share how things went...

Overall, the surgery went well.  The cancer had completely taken over his throat and part of his tongue. It seems like they were able to remove all of the cancer.  They were able to take part of his chest muscle to help reconstruct his jaw.  The doctor said that he is in a very delicate state right now, and needs to be under careful observation.  He will probably be in the hospital for at least a week.  His left lung is not functioning properly.  They don’t know why, so they are monitoring that as well.  He has to breathe through a tube in his throat.  He is unable to eat and has lost some of the functions of his tongue.  With therapy and time, he should be able to communicate a little bit, however, he will not be able to talk as he once did.  In the end, it seemed like the doctor was pleased with how things turned out.  I was very thankful we were able to gain this information, and also able to share it with Sabrina and Pancho.

Back in the room, for the next 45 minutes or so, we had an incredible, powerful time of prayer, reading from the scriptures and singing worship songs to Pancho.  The Lord had stirred on my heart, to read to him, Isaiah 40:21-31.  I grabbed his hand and started reading.  By the time I got to these verses, Pancho squeezed my hand with a slight smile on his face...

“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Is 40:29-31).

When we were done reading, Nieves asked if we could sing him some songs.  With a big smile on his face, that was a confirmation that Pancho was ready.  Holding his hands, with no guitars or instruments, we began to sing...

All who are thirsty, all who are weak, come to the fountain, dip your heart in the streams of life.  Let the pain and the sorrow, be washed away, in the waves of His mercy, as the deep cries out to deep...come Lord Jesus come.  Come Lord Jesus come!

We then sang, the choruses of How Great is Our God and Mighty To Save.  It was one of the sweetest, anointed worship times I’ve ever had.  It was hard to keep from crying, as I watched Pancho’s wife grab his arm, lay her head on his shoulder, close her eyes and begin to weep.

I couldn’t think of a better way to end our time yesterday then with worship and prayer.  Before we left we were able to get a few pictures with Pancho.  Actually, something funny about that. Pancho wrote a note to his wife, asking her to take a picture of him, because he wanted to see how he looked.  We all chuckled and smiled.  As we walked out the door, Pancho told us he loved us all and gave us another thumbs up.  It was a truly a glorious day!

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).