A Cry for Help—In Need of a Kidney

While in Bangkok doing Noom's visa the last couple of weeks, we had the chance to visit some relatives of Noom: Lui and Noi. Lui is one of Noom’s cousin and Noi is Lui’s wife. They have been married for about 4 years and don’t yet have children. Just 6-7 months ago, Noi began to get sick and was taken to the hospital. She was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, a disease that she unknowingly got from her mother (who died from it 2 years ago). When Noi found out 6 months ago that she had this disease, it was already too late to stop it as her kidneys were already almost completely gone.

Two times a week, Noi gets on the back of the motorbike with Lui and goes to the hospital for treatment. This 2-times-a-week treatment at the hospital keeps her alive as a machine does the same job of a kidney by removing waste from her blood (this treatment is called hemodialysis). However, this will only help until Lui and Noi run out of money to pay for the treatment. When they run out, Noi will die. Lui works as a motorbike driver and sometimes only makes 50-100 baht a day ($2-$4). When Lui runs out of his savings, he can do nothing else for his wife. Noi’s only chance is a new kidney, and fast. With the continued treatment, she is still very weak and frail. She can only drink a limited amount of water each day. A new kidney is her only chance to have a strong, healthy body and normal life. It is her only chance to be able to have children. But there are many other people waiting for new kidneys, and by the time Noi gets one through the hospital, it might be too late. Noi is only 29 years old.

Lui and Noi are not yet Christians. They have a Bible (the New Testament) and have been reading it. We have told them that God has the power to heal and they are very interested in the story of Jesus. We know that God’s will is for them to come and know Him and to see His works in their lives. We also know that God’s will is to heal Noi, whether that be in heaven, or on earth: through a donor, continued provision for hemodialysis, or a miracle.

The future is unknown for them, so please pray for their salvation and God’s provision.

Update on House Hunting :)

Thank you all so much for your prayers. Thank you also so much for your support in every way. You all make our journey in Thailand so much more pleasant through your faithful prayers and support.

We have come across a house which we really like and we feel like God has set apart for us, too. Right at the beginning when we prayed, Noom heard from God that we would rent a house from a policeman. I (Karis) also felt that we would rent a house in the same area as one of the elders from our local church (also like our "Ubon family" or "Ubon parents"). Yesterday we found a cheap and good house about 9km from the town which we almost decided to move in to this week but didn't have peace. Just before we went to give a final answer ("yes") and clean that house, we felt like something wasn't right and wanted to search just one more time. When searching this last time we came across a house in the same area as our "Ubon parents". At first, we asked the man outside this house if he knew of any houses that were open to rent in that area. He answered "yes, this house - I'm the owner" so that was funny. We later found out that he is a policeman, just like what Noom said (what he felt God told him).

This house is great quality and a good getaway when we really need a break. It has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, then outside it has another small house (or just a big room) which we can use for teams when they come to visit, or as another place for the guys to stay who we take care of (if they don't want to stay inside the house).

Something that really amazes me is that I have been praying (or hoping) for a bath for a long time. It's something that really makes me relax. But to buy a bath in Thailand is very expensive and there are hardly any houses which have baths inside them (I have never seen one). BUT...this house doesn't just give Noom and I a personal bathroom, but this bathroom includes a bath!!!! I was so excited to see this and really felt like God had His eyes on this house for us for a long time. It is a normal house, just one floor and belonging to a thai - and I never expected a house like this to have a bath. God really is a Father who gives good gifts to His children!!!

The rental price for this house is just 2,000 baht ($AU 75) more than the house we are renting now (per month), and it's much nicer with space for teams - and definitely not a place that would flood! We have prayed about this and felt like it is something God has prepared for us but we ask that everyone else would pray with us for this house - that God would protect it and use it as a resting place for us as well as a resting place for the people who help us (including teams). Please also pray for our monthly financial support. The total cost for this house each month is $AU 185.

Thankyou so much for all your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for this housing situation and thank God for His provision :) If all goes well and nothing changes, we will move our stuff in this week before the rain season starts.