God Opened New Doors for This Family Living with Disability

By Joni and Friends|Published On: January 12, 2024|Categories: Family Retreats, International Family Retreats|

When husband and wife Karl and Sarah visited Thailand, they fell in love with the Thai people. Bangkok became their home, and they worked as missionaries, planting new churches.

Little did they know the life-changing experience coming their way that would lead them into disability ministry…

Getting the news…

After discovering that Sarah was pregnant a second time, Karl and Sarah were eager to welcome a new baby brother to big sister, Eden.

At a routine 20-week ultrasound appointment, however, Sarah learned troubling news. Doctors told them that their baby boy had myelomeningocele spina bifida, the most severe form of the condition.

Doctors painted a grim picture of what their son’s life would be like—once their baby was born, he would need two surgeries. He probably would never walk, he would not be able to use the bathroom on his own, and he would most likely have cognitive and learning disabilities. Despite being advised to terminate the pregnancy, Karl and Sarah trusted God for his good plans, for their son and their family.

Meeting Judah

Medical consults and testing done in the United States allowed the option of a spinal closure surgery performed at 26 weeks in-utero—a treatment that helped Karl and Sarah’s baby. They chose a name for their unborn son: Judah.

“Judah means ‘Praise the Lord! We continued to praise the Lord for Judah and for his future,” said Karl and Sarah.

After birth Judah required medical appointments and developmental evaluations that continued for nearly two years.

His parents wondered if their missionary dreams had died—it seemed like everything they had prayed for and invested in had evaporated.

Discovering God’s Plan at Family Retreat

When Karl and Sarah were invited to an International Family Retreat for missionaries in Thailand, God opened new doors for their family. At Family Retreat, Karl and Sarah’s family met other missionaries, saw new opportunities, and saw how serving overseas might be possible again.

“God showed us we are still called to missions and have important ministry work to do,” said Sarah.

Karl, Sarah, and their beautiful children have now returned to Thailand as missionaries, full of joy for God’s provision and goodness.

“I suddenly realized that God gave us Judah as part of our calling. People with disabilities are created in the image of God with value and worth. Churches need to welcome and include families with disability. Maybe that’s what God is calling us to do in Thailand! We praise God for our son. And we believe that through his life and his story, many people will come to praise the Lord, as well!”
Karl

You can make a difference for missionary families—and other families—living with disability!

When you support Joni and Friends New England, families like Karl and Sarah’s who need God’s love—and share the Gospel with others—at home around the world.