2021-01-16-Pastor Ko’s Update

January 16, 2021

The following was orally recorded by Pastor Ko. Thanks for a sister who transcribed it.        

It has been a while since my last update. Thank you brothers and sisters for your concerns and prayers. Thanks to the Lord! God’s special grace has been shown since the Winter Conference on December 23. I had been looking forward to attending the winter meetings after the operation, but didn’t realized that with the big surgery it would take a longer time to recover. So I stayed in St. Louis near the hospital all this time.  At first, because my body was still weak, I had a hard time speaking and could not talk long without taking breaks. But thanks to the grace of the Lord, since the beginning of the Winter Conference, I can talk for a little longer. I was able to listen to the messages, and also shared with brothers and sisters during evening prayers. It surely is the grace of God to work for Him this way at this time. Thanks to the Lord! In the Discipleship Training Camp and Bible Camp I have also seen the Lord’s great work in those meetings. Many brothers and sisters came to the in-person meetings and the Lord has blessed them. Similarly, in addition to listening to the messages, I prayed with brothers and sisters during evening prayer time. Although I am not among them, we can still be together in spirit. Thank the Lord! In the Bible Camp, I also had opportunity to help them when they present their reports. These sharings also can help brothers and sisters. Thanks to be the Lord, although physically in pain, I was still able to be used by the Lord, this is really out of His great grace.

Thanks to the Lord! In January, my physical condition has been better and I have eaten more. In December I needed 16 hours a day to supplement my diet with nutrients via IV. Thanks to the Lord!  The doctor said that because I ate more than before, my IV time could be reduced to 12 hours a day. Doctors hope to gradually reduce it to eight hours and four hours, until I no longer need to rely on supplements. Reaching that goal will depend on how my body function recovers. Please pray for me for my eating condition, my goal is to reduce in two weeks from 12 hours a day to eight hours, and continue progressing.

My daily schedule in St. Louis is busy, with nurses and other hospital staffs checking on me or drawing blood. Physical therapists came to help me with my exercise, and occupational therapists to teach me how to handle things. When they’re gone, they always leave behind a bunch of exercises that take a lot of time to repeat every day. After that, rest and sleep is much needed. Please continue to pray for me so that at this stage of recovery, I can be patient and rely more on God.

Thank God! During this time, the Lord also encouraged me with Psalm 13 in particular. verses 5-6: “But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.” Thank the Lord! Although I am still having aches and pains, I am much better than before. Thank the Lord for using this passage to remind me that although I am in my hospital bed, I must continue to rely on His lovingkindness, that is, to meditate upon His Word and to pray to Him. In this way, not only I can understand more about God’s love, but also delight in His salvation that He will build us up physically and spiritually.  With God’s love and His joy in our hearts, this is the best medicine. 

Speaking of medicine—I must take 20-30 pills every day. After taking pills with water, I don’t have space for food in my remaining tiny stomach. I try to take my medicine an hour before my meal so that I can eat more food. From this experience, I know in my heart that the best medicine is to trust God’s love. When I rely on Him, I can sing praise to the Lord, for He has dealt bountifully with His kindness with me. I praise the Lord for helping this unworthy lad with His rich love and mercy.  May the Lord help each one of us to be a person who put his trust in Him and look upon His love all the days of our lives.

 

(Published on January 18, 2021)