Pray for Healing for Sonia Rosales, Oak Hills missionary to El Salvador

LATEST UPDATE (August 2009)

Praise God for Healing and Provision

Doctor's reported in late June that Sonia's cancer is in remission and she was able to return to El Salvador in July. Praise God for healing and for answered prayer, and for the family of believers who have prayed so faithfully for Sonia and her family. She is now back home serving the kids and giving glory to God, and her walk is certain to be a testimony to so many, both there and here.

Another great praise was the tremendous turnout and generosity of the Oak Hills family at the June picnic fundraiser. It was a wonderful, fun event and raised over $40,000 to cover outstanding medical costs! The Rosales family felt extremely loved and cared for. Thanks to all who planned and participated.

Picnic Fundraiser Planned for Sonia, June 14 

Bring the family for a day of food and fun for a good cause on Sunday afternoon, June 14 across the street from the Crownridge Campus, at Raymond Russell Park, from 12:30-4:00pm. Oak Hills missionary Sonia Rosales has been battling cancer and has spent the last several months in San Antonio receiving treatment. Sonia has poured out her life over the past decade as a missionary to her native El Salvador, working alongside her husband Rafael and their three children. Their vision of transforming lives in rural El Salvador yielded Fundacion Suenos, the Dreams Foundation, which many at Oak Hills support through child sponsorships and participation in our Manos de Cristo ministry. Just as so many of you have rallied in prayer for Sonia's health, the Foundation is rallying financial support to help cover rapidly accumulating medical costs. The fundraising family picnic will include a barbeque lunch, silent auction and various family activities. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased before or after services at the Crownridge campus the weekends of May 30/31 and June 6/7 in the upper mall area above the bookstore, or at Raymond Russel on the day of the event. You can find more information on the foundation website, www.fundacionsuenos.com/sonia, or call (830)981-5751 or email aday@fundacionsuenos.com for more info. Or donations can be mailed  directly to :Fundacion Suenos, 24165 IH10 W. Ste 217-403, San Antonio, Tx. 78257-1159. Please join us for a fun filled afternoon.    

UPDATE FROM 4/7/09

Sonia had surgery on Friday, April 3 that included the installation of a jejunostopy tube to improve her nutrition. She continues to recover in Santa Rosa hospital. Here is a note from Rafael with an update:

Dear brothers and sisters, Sonia and I are grateful for everything and for His spiritual body. Sonia is slowly improving and the post-op symptoms are also slowly subsiding such as pain, general discomforts, etc. etc. She will linger at the hospital for a few more days probably until Thursday or Friday, She is being well taken care of, four doctors, three of them members at Oak Hills, several nice and loving nurses standing ready to assist her and three wonderful children staying with her at the hospital mostly for company and great body of believers praying firm all the way from Canada through San Salvador and Brazil. She is also being fed through her jejuno with a special nutritional formula and remains stable in her weight althogh the amount of formula is increasing by the dat to her her small intestine used to it. According to the doctors and the nutritionist, she will get to a point where she will be gaining one pound every other day. God willing.

As for me, I was leaving yesterday and was not allowed on account on my passport being too close for expiration. Went back with my luggage home and back to the hospital. I am processing a temporary passport with the Canadian consulate and by Tuesday next week I may have it. So i get to have more time with Sonia and hopefully by next week if I leave she will be left at home in better shape. God only knows why these things happen.

With gratitude my heart goes out to you and all my brothers and sisters for your love, care and prayers.

Rafael

BACKGROUND

Rafael and Sonia Rosales and their family have served the Lord as missionaries to their native El Salvador for over a decade. Many of you have experienced their ministry firsthand through short-term mission trips; through association with their children's foundation, Fundacion Suenos; or through their leadership of the Manos de Cristo boxes every year.

Sonia was diagnosed last fall with stomach cancer and had her stomach removed in November. She has subsequently traveled to San Antonio for further treatment. In late January, she began a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation that will keep her here in San Antonio for the next few months.

She has been blessed by the outpouring of love and prayers from so many.  Please keep praying fervently for Sonia, as well as for Rafael and their three children Ernesto, Rafael Jr. and Sandra.  Only God knows the extent of the impact that Sonia has had on the children of El Salvador and only He can heal her so that He can return her to the ministry that He has appointed her to.

Please pray for complete healing, for comfort during treatment, for strength, and the Lord's provision.

FUNDS NEEDED TO HELP COVER MEDICAL EXPENSES

Fundacion Suenos, a San Antonio based non-profit organization established to work with the Rosales's outreach to the children of El Sunza, is raising funds to help cover the substantial cost of the treatment in the U.S. Contact for donations is Annette Day: aday@fundacionsuenos.com or visit the foundation website at http://fundacionsuenos.com/. Donations can be mailed to: Fundacion Suenos, 24165 IH10 West, Suite 217-403, San Antonio, TX 78257-1159 (Rosales Fund)