This past June, a group of 16 Americans consisting of mostly football players and a couple of soccer girls spent two weeks on a short-term mission here at our COI base in Uzhgorod, Ukraine. They soon found out that one of our Warrior football players, Roma had been diagnosed with cancer. Some of the team immediately expressed their interest in going to visit Roma and pray for him. At that point, it had only been one month since his diagnosis, but the cancer had spread quickly. I took two players and a coach with me to see Roma about one week after the group arrived. When we got there he didn't look very good, but he sure was exited to see us. They all talked with him and shared verses from the Bible about how Jesus healed people. Before we left, one of the football players shared the salvation message with Roma and asked him if he wanted to receive Jesus as his personal Savior. Roma's response was yes. We prayed with him and we prayed for him. I noticed that the man laying on the bed next to Roma was crying. God obviously was working on him as well.

When we left the hospital, I had a joy in my heart that we had just won another soul for God. But at the same time, I was very sad about my player suffering with cancer.

Over the last few months Roma had looked fairly good and yet the doctors were still saying that he didn't have much time left. God kept giving him month after month. I was able to visited him a few more times. Then on the January 2nd, 2007, Roma went to be with our Father in heaven.

I can't say that I really understand much about healing. I know that God tells us to be faithful to pray for healing and to pray for the sick. All I can do is be obedient and continue to believe in God's goodness and that His will is always done. I do know that Roma is in a much better place now where there is no pain and no tears, but happiness and peace basking in the perfect love of the Father. I want to say thank you to those who prayed for Roma.

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