Sometimes there are stark reminders of the poverty and disease that surround us daily. This story is one of those. An elderly woman brought a 14 year old, 40 lb. boy named Mark Anthony to us with an advanced case of Schistosomiasis. He was orphaned as a baby when his parents died of the same disease. Schistosomiasis, an often fatal illness, results from infection of the blood with a parasitic flatworm that causes debilitation as well as liver and intestinal damage. It is most commonly found in Asia, Africa and South America, especially in areas with water that is contaminated with fresh water snails which contain the parasite.
Soon after his first visit to us, we travelled to Mark’s village surprised him with his first ever birthday party! We brought balloons, a few simple gifts and a banana cake. Mark Anthony, along with four others, prayed and gave their lives to Jesus Christ that day!
After repeated visits to us with no sign of improvement, Derek knew God was asking him to move out in faith in a bigger way and to love this boy with the love of Jesus!! Derek, the elderly woman and a very frail Mark Anthony left at 3am one morning for the very difficult & long trip to another island.
Mark was examined by a doctor and hospitalized. An ultrasound revealed severely damaged and enlarged internal organs. An X-ray also showed Tuberculosis in his lungs. According to the doctor, Mark Anthony had no hope of recovering. We chose to believe God’s diagnosis for the situation! We believed our God for a miracle! We were praying that His healing hand would reach in and restore all that the enemy had worked to destroy in Mark’s life. We longed to see this boy grow physically and spiritually; to be a man after God’s own heart! All is possible with God!
After a few days we were thrilled to see that Mark Anthony was starting to respond well to treatment. Life and color came to his face after his first blood transfusion. God had already worked in the hearts of donors to provide funds so we could purchase many of the medicines and supplies needed! Derek’s instructions to the doctor were clear. Derek told the doctor to do whatever he could to save this boy, to go as far as he would if indeed he were his own son. We all started to pray for the funds to come in for what God had asked us to do. Waiting was not an option— it would not show the faith we spoke to Mark and others about! We stepped out in faith as a ministry and God provided as He has so faithfully done in the past.
Throughout the entire admitting and examination process Derek was by Mark Anthony’s side. When he looked into his eyes he could see terror mixed with a glimmer of hope. Hope is not something most poor people have. When looking into the face of sickness and disease many suffer and die without the possibility of getting medical attention. Our concern and love was a foreign experience for Mark Anthony. God was using that to shine hope in his heart! During those first two days God formed a special bond between Mark Anthony and Derek. God gave Derek words to encourage and lift his spirit. They spent time praying and crying together. Each touch of affection was soaked up as a dry sponge would absorb water.
It was our joy to lavish the love of the Father on this orphan. During follow up appointments, Mark Anthony gave testimony of God’s love & salvation. He boldly told other patients medical staff what God had done for him.
Doctors confessed that when they first saw Mark they were expecting to soon sign his death certificate. Continue to pray for God’s protection and complete healing over Mark Anthony! Mark Anthony’s story goes from his hopeless diagnosis with Schistosomiasis to his salvation & faith in Christ that led to an amazing healing & recovery. From that time on, Mark had trusted Jesus with additional adversities that had come his way. We prayed for him as he became independent and went on to do farm work.
We have lost touch with him. One of the side effects of the many diseases he has had and the meds taken is compromised mental development. He struggles to focus for extended periods and has short and long term memory challenges that caused him to resist getting an education. As a result his academic level is well below others his age. We continue to pray that Mark will become all that God has planned for him. We pray that the great work He began in the life of Mark will continue for His glory. We love and miss that young man!
