“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

Posted by Israel Anderson