We're home at last!!!

Finally, we've made it back home (South Auckland, New Zealand). The trip went okay- several times I saw Dad walking past me on the plane, so I know he was exercising a bit. At the airport friends Keith Wagener and Trevor and Jan Yaxley, and relatives Tony and Lovonny Gray were there to meet and greet us. We have a wheelchair from the days when my father's father needed one, which is collapsible, which means we will be able to take Winkie out more easily. It's good to be here. I know that it is only a temporary stay for me, and don't know exactly what will be happening in the coming days, but am pretty sure that I have my work cut out for me- Mom too. Right now, we're trying to arrange for connecting him with the right doctor, and making sure things like getting his wound dressed every 1-2 days are taken care of. According to Dr. Lim, he should be able to get his stitches removed by June 5.

William Pratney

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Posted by Israel Anderson

We're getting ready to depart soon for Auckland, New Zealand. Winkie is doing well, and is just awaiting his discharge from here the hospital. Here is a word from him:

"We're finally on our way back to New Zealand. Though we appreciate all the care we've been given here by the church and hospital we're looking forwards to being back in our home land. You have been more than generous in helping us with your prayers and gifts and love. We'll update you as soon as we get back home."

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Posted by Israel Anderson

Hi. Dee Patton here. I'm in Texas with Israel Anderson and my hubby, Jim, holding down the fort and doing the various and sundry things that need doing each day to help support Winkie's recovery and ongoing ministry. Israel is at the revival library each day ministering to those who come through, setting up some incredible ways to access Winkie's archived messages, and communicating as best he can with many of those who are hungry for news about Wink. I've been doing lots of communicating too, trying to keep people informed and working on this and that - trying hard not to be overwhelmed by it all.

Just last night I worked out the details for William's flight back to New Zealand and today succeeded in confirming a ticket for Winkie on the same flight. Fae is there too, of course, and will be going back home with her boys. She has an open ended return ticket. Our goal was to make sure they were all on the same flight home and it looks like we've accomplished that. If all goes as planned that home going will happen next Wednesday, May 16 and they will arrive in Auckland on the 17th. As you're praying for the Pratneys, pray that all the little things that need to happen to make the trip home a smooth and comfortable one will occur. We're so very thankful to have come this far and are ready for some celebration!

Another thing I've been working at is taking care of the gifts that have been coming in from so many of you, both through the mail and from Paypal via this web site. I've also been sending weekly payments to the hospital in Korea. Each time I pay for a flight or send a wire tranfser to pay the hospital I am almost overcome with gratitude to our God and to all of you who have been with us on this journey from the very first step. It's not over by a long shot, but it is just amazing how much love has been poured out in the form of prayer and gifts and letters, cards, flowers (to the hospital all the way in Korea) and emails. Those of you who are waiting for receipts for your gifts, please bear with me just a little longer. I should be able to do that soon.

Please don't believe the rumors that fly about millions of dollars being given. That would be great, but you know, it's even more wonderful that God has opened the hearts of so many regular people - the body of Christ -  to give just the right amount to meet the ongoing need. So far about $125,000 has been given in one form or another and roughly $75,000 has gone out to cover the expenses of just the last six weeks.

Israel has been collecting encouraging email messages to give to Winkie and I've been doing the same with the cards and notes people have been sending through the mail. I'm sure Winkie will enjoy reading each and every one as he recovers at home in NZ. I was able to send one packet of notes and cards to Korea with Dr Leland Paris, who visited Winkie at the hospital, but there are MANY more that I'll send along after they get home and settled. We've been trying to think of a way to acknowledge and bless as many of you as possible. There have been so many wonderful ongoing contributions to the recovery fund and so many who have been praying unceasingly that we just had to do something.

So, we decided to do a web page here on the site that was like a "Wall of Blessing". There is no way we could acknowledge EVERYONE who has prayed and given and prayed some more, but we'll sure try. 

Thanks and Hugs from all of us here in Texas and from the Pratneys as they prepare for the next phase of Winkie's recovery.

Dee Patton

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Posted by Israel Anderson

Korean Insights from Fae Pratney

On the humorous side of life.

How many visitors can you squeeze into a hospital elevator ?

I don't know but I've been flattened more than once
Don't know - even more when patients join their relatives
Don't know. It depends how many kids are on adult shoulders.
Don't know. It depends if you leave your gear at ground level.
Don't know but you learn to recognize the local fragrances.
Don't know but I'm the only blonde I've ever seen.
Don't know but I'm familiar now with foods they bring their relatives.
Don't know but more Koreans if I manage to exit at the right level. (scratch that; I've lost weight on this healthy Korean food and their hot kimchee)

Some simple challenges to friends and relatives.
1. How long could you sit cross-legged on the floor of a Korean restaurant?
2. How often have you eaten with chopsticks?
3. When did you last try to learn an unguessable language?
4. Could you sleep Korean style on a floor mat or opt for a bed?
5. Would you remember to remove your shoes at the door?
6. Would you put the plastic shoes on to enter the bathroom? (Why? Because the whole floor stays wet after using the shower hose.)

Fae Pratney

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Posted by Israel Anderson

Winkie has met with several neurologists now, in regards to the shakiness in his left hand. They did a number of coordination tests with him. He has also had a series of electrical shock tests, which revealed an impairment in his left ulnar nerve (nerve running along the outside of his left arm from elbow to wrist). They are prescribing pills for it.

Winkie continues to give counsel to all who come to see him.

William Pratney

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Posted by Israel Anderson

We finally got a rough estimate on when we might be able to leave. Dr. Lim came by this morning and said he thinks Winkie should be able to leave on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week (May 15th or 16th). Assuming Winkie is able to and well enough, we should be in New Zealand by May 18th.

His condition? Well, he'll have to travel with his stitches, but he's okay with that (ready to go home, I think). He's had a rash or something that's developed on his lower legs- red dots all over - don't know what it is - but Dr. Lim's arranging for a dermatologist to see him (he believes it's something other than a rash or allergic reaction). Also, Winkie's left hand continues to be a concern for him, as he still cannot write well yet, and experiences quite noticeable shaking in it when attempting to use it. We showed this to Dr. Lim and he said he would also arrange for a neurologist to see him. Winkie is still under observation. He is still getting X-rays, blood tests, and they're still trying to monitor his temperature and blood pressure. Dr. Lim is concerned (nothing to be alarmed at, just trying to be prudent) with Winkie's bowel condition. We found out that this is the reason for the continuing X-rays.

Winkie sleeps now as I write this. Mom and I are about to take him out for a walk. I look forwards to walking the shore of our beach in New Zealand.

Thanks to everyone who prayed prayers of faith for him. He is alive! And he's making a marvelous recovery. I never could have guessed that leaving with a medical outreach missions team for Africa over a month ago (as a videographer and A/V technician) would have resulted in me having to come to South Korea, Asia, to attend the bedside of a father in serious condition. And now I go to New Zealand, also a place that wasn't on my schedule- but I guess it was on God's. Good thing I came prepared!

William Pratney

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Posted by Israel Anderson

Winkie has had yet another restitch job on his lateral wound. They made it even tighter this time. So, this is (on his main wound) stitch job #3, I believe. There is still some seepage and we're told it may be another 2 weeks. He has been ministering from his bedside to everyone who comes to visit him, from national Church leaders and ministry leaders (including youth and worship leaders), to international visitors and military personal. If anything I would say he has become even more em passioned about his 16 principles to change the world, as laid out in his 21st Century Reformation Manifesto teachings. Stressing the importance and value of these, he has been exhorting everyone from YWAM leaders, to business people, worship leaders, international military personal, pastors, and the list continues. I am a little reminded of the apostle Paul, who at the end of his life simply received people at his home, and ministered to all who came to him.

Winkie had a lot of visitors yesterday. We were visited by a YWAM/ex-Last Days Ministries team who prayed for us and had prophetic words for Fae and I. We also received a visit from some American Air force officers, who brought us some toiletries and food. Dad also had a visit from professor Kim (the physiotherapist who has been graciously helping us) and her husband. They brought us some delicious Asian food.

Mom and I have been helping Dad exercise. Mom's been making sure he goes on daily walks and professor Kim's asked me to help him do isometric exercises and help increase his range of motion. Winkie is able to brush his own teeth now, and shave (with some assistance). Dr. Lim has stressed the importance of his eating protein foods at this time, and I continue to give him supernutritional drinks and smoothies with ingredients from all over the world.

William Pratney

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Posted by Israel Anderson

Winkie is looking well. We took him for a walk outside yesterday. We wheelchaired him down the elevator and across the road to a kind of field next to a soccer field inside the University grounds. I took his shoes off and he walked around barefoot, and did some exercises. His wound is still healing. There is one main place where the wound hasn't completely closed yet, so he basically has a hole in his abdomen where pusish fluid is leaking out of. It's supposed to have closed already, so his hospital stay may be prolonged just a little longer than we had originally thought. In fact, Dr. Han said this morning, if we could keep him on like another week, he could get his stitches removed before leaving- a good thing for us. He still can't walk or stand for long periods of time, his appetite has diminished some and he's lost a lot of weight. I've been trying to get him to eat more. His arms are thin- like a child's. His legs also need a lot of work. His muscles, Dr. Lim said had actually atrophied, so we're in the process of helping him build them again.

Winkie underwent another series of tests this morning- both blood and X-ray. We weren't given a reason, but believe it could have been as a result of a slightly high thermometer read out, and the fact that Dr. Han might be relinquishing authority over Winkie to Dr. Lim soon, thus ensuring his patient's health status before the transfer. Winkie will be allowed to keep his same hospital room (doesn't have to move), but he will now be transfered to Dr. Lim's care.

William Pratney

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Posted by Israel Anderson

Dear family and friends from across the world, this is Fae here. With a heart full of gratitude, deep affection, and great thankfulness to God for His ongoing provision in one of the most difficult situations I've ever faced... It's been a real learning curve to try to handle the stress and culture shock coupled with the most difficult experience I've ever had in my married life. William and I have been given responsibility in the medical system here for Winkie's care 24-7 since he moved from ICU. I have relied on God daily for His help and strength and have seen amazing answers to prayer. And the mail, emails, scriptures and gifts both small and great have been a constant encouragement to my heart. But not all the trials went away.

When you've just come from the hospital and you're feeling nothing but fear, and you're walking alone at 1:00AM back to the apartment, and the lonely elevator looks extremely dismal, everything can become so overwhelming.

My walk with God...you feel a bit like Job. God is righteous. God knows all things. You're being tested as to what you feel about God. And whatever you're going through you're trying to see how much is of God...

You're feeling numb. You're reaching out to God without feeling anything. You're relying on God when sometimes you're not seeing any immediate result. I am purely in faith resting on the word of God. I didn't think Winkie's life was over. I didn't think God's purposes for his life were over. I had to face the reality of what would happen if he did die. The financial thing was heavy to me, but I didn't worry about that at all because God had said not to.

Reading and re-reading the scriptures that some of you sent served to confirm my own faith for his miraculous restoration. The combined weight of your continued prayers and intercession finally turned into the day I now call "Miracle Monday"- the day he came out of his coma. To see him now sitting up in bed, talking, remembering and smiling into my face seemed like a resurrection.

Love to everyone,

Fae

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Posted by Israel Anderson