Julia is with the Lord

We just received this email from Barry Secrest about Julia:

Dear Prayer Supporters,
Thank you so much for your three months of prayer on Julia´s behalf. It was almost as if she had planned it, but three months to the exact date of the accident, Julia is with the Lord this afternoon, 9th of February, 2009. We know, of course, who planned it this way. It gave Jonathan and Ana, her children, a little time to adjust to the idea of her death. It is a blessing to see how God worked out all of these things. Now, we have a new set of prayers to raise:
1. Pray for the family in this time of grieving.
2. Pray for Jonathan, Julia´s son, as he begins his pastoral studies in March.
3. Pray that Ana, not a saved young woman, will not try to take us to court over this accident. This is a real possibility and would be hurtful to all. Jonathan and Paul will both side with Barb and I, but it would be awful to have to go through the process. Pray that God will calm her heart.
Thank you, again, for your financial and prayer support over this emergency. Everyone else is well.
Barry

Another update on Julia

Thank you all for your continued prayers for Julia. Please also remember to pray for the Secrest family. Below is an update received today:

Julia is worse. It did not seem possible that she could still be alive and be worse. She had five focal points of infection that have now augmented to 15. She is now on dialisis, as well. She has one focal point of infection behind the pancreas and they say there is nothing that can be done about it. They are saying she is not responding to the antibiotics of late. I talked with Cacho just a little while ago and he is calm. He said that the psyichologist wanted to know how they were coping and he told them that they were trusting in the Lord and that they had daily help from their Pastor, as well (myself, although technically, Cacho is not a member of our church, we have grown close in these months). The family is resigned to her death. Barb and I are at peace, as well. I thank God for my dad. Possibly the best advice I have received came from him. He told me to get a sort of tunnel vision in which I would focus on Christ and get through the situation as one gets through a tunnel. He mentioned that I should put it all in God´s hands and keep the emotions under complete control. I know nothing is an accident. The other two funerals which I administered this previous week have given me some help to maintain strength if Julia is to pass on. God knew. I have imagined trying other ways to slow down that van. I have imagined so many times... God knows... He always knew, even before it happened.Barry for Barb, Thomas, David and Anthony

Update on Julia

Below is another update on Julia. Thank you for praying.

Dear Praying Friends,

To update you, Julia slipped into a coma yesterday and has suffered one
heart attack. She is not breathing at all on her own. The doctors say that if
she suffers additional heart attacks, they do not believe that she will survive.
Barry has gone to accompany Cacho at the hospital. It's not over yet. God is in
control. Unless and until He calls her home, we will continue praying for her
healing. Please continue to pray with us.

Thank you,

Barb Secrest (for all)