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Date
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November
10, 2004 |
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Name
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Becky
Whittington |
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Praying
for you guys seems to be the only way I can find peace with this
situation. You count me in. I'm there in prayer. Each day, each hour,
each minute they all count and so does every prayer. Believing
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Date
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November
10, 2004 |
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Name
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Cindy
Bulthuis |
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Email
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cbulthuis@att.net
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Home Page
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City
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Lockport
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State
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IL
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USA
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Tom,
Jennifer, Eli & Ben have a safe trip home tonight. We're praying that
Ben's swelling goes down. The doctors may not understand fully what is
going on, but rest assured that God understands. Continue to trust in
Him and cast your doubt and worries into His capable hands. We pray that
each one of you is blessed with the grace, wisdom, strength and peace
needed during these confusing times. We also continue to pray for the
health of each member of your family, especially Big Ben - we believe it
can happen. As always, believing and praying for the best of blessings.
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Date
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November
10, 2004 |
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Name
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Rhonda
Thomas |
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MS
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Dearest
Ben, My prayer tonight will be that you have the most wonderful time at
Disney with Mommy Daddy and Eli, and the best birthday ever. You have
touched the lives of many people and I'm sure you have brought many
closer to the Lord. You have done in 2 years what countless others have
failed to do in many more. I feel like I am a better mother, sister,
daughter, and friend, just for having known you and your family through
this site. I pray for you, your brother and parents everyday and will
continue to do so. Still Believing.....
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Date
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November
10, 2004 |
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Name
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TrishTotty |
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Home Page
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City
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Memphis
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Tn
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Wishing
you a safe trip home to WV. I hope you have a wonderful trip to Disney.
I know Ben's reaction to seeing Mick-mee will be precious! I am always
praying that you (Tom and Jennifer) will have strength, courage and
wisdom, but above all peace. I also pray that Eli will keep up his
wonderful faith. Of course, I pray for a miracle for Ben. He will be
healed, like a previous entry said, one way or another.
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Date
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November
10, 2004 |
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Name
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Barbara
Messer |
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Email
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messer856@charter.net |
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Home Page
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msn
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City
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south
charleston |
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State
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WV
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Kanawha
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Comments
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Our
family prays for you through these painful times.We hope that GOD will
be beside you during your times of pain.Benjamin has the face of an
angel,and a smile so big and bright.You are very lucky to have the time
with him.Enjoy each and every day to the fullest.GOD BLESS and be with
you,during the next few months.Remember this,if GOD should take him,you
will se him again.And the memories you have of him,no one can ever take
them away.He is such a beautiful little boy.We hope and pray for you in
the days to come.GOD BLESS you all.
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Justin
Nelson |
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Email
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justing_nelson@msn.com |
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Home Page
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City
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Crystal
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State
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MN
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USA
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Ben, You
were brought to our hearts through a dear relative that has befriended
you and your family during her stay at St. Jude's. In checking
Mckinley's updates tonight we saw a special prayer request for you and
your family. You will all be in our prayers on a daily basis. Be
Blessed!
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Jessica
Jernigan |
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Email
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JJblue33@hotmail.com
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Home Page
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City
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Denton
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TX
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USA
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Comments
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I just
want you to know that I am still praying and that the story on 11/6/04
about Eli pleading with our Lord touched me in a very special way. It
made me tear up and I had to have my roommates read it because I
couldn't read it to them. I feel like I know all of you and I love you
so much. I am sorry that the radiation hasn't worked as well as we would
have liked but praise God that he isn't lethargic and that he is
laughing and playing. That is God working right there.
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Dear
Bowen's, Wish I could come up with the words that would take this all
away. I was looking at Abi's picture (my granddaughter) and realizing
how VERY blessed we are to have here. I look at Big Ben's picture and
see what a tremendous testimony he has shared with the world in his two
years of life. Big Ben Bowen will FOREVER be remembered in the hearts
and minds of those who have read his story. They will carry with them
the tremendous strengten that Ben and his family displayed through all
the struggles of his illness. They will be remembered as soilders of the
cross, showing there is victory even in the midst of a storm. I am very
proud to say that I know this Godly family and I know that whatever God
choses to send their way, they will love and honor Him.
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Rebecca
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In her
book "Light in My Darkest Night", Catherine Marshall is convinced that
God will heal her little granddaughter, who was born with a genetic
disease. When the child dies, she feels that God has betrayed her, and
she sinks into a spiritual depression for months. At last she realizes
that she fell for one of Satan's oldest tricks -- she was trying to
control God, or even BE God, by commanding instead of humbly asking Him
to heal the baby. May we all learn from her and not fall into the same
trap. I will continue with the rest of you to pray that God will take
away that tumor, and we all know that He CAN, if that is His perfect
plan for Ben. If Tom, Jennifer, and Eli can keep believing in spite of
the latest news, surely we can too. Tom & Jennifer, enjoy every day you
have with Ben -- I hope and pray there will be MANY of them left! Have
fun with Mick-mee Mouse. :o) Love and hugs!
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Rebecca
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Now there
are no more treatments, and no more hope for Ben medically. Could it be
that this was what God was waiting for? If God takes away that tumor
now, there is nothing left to attribute his healing to but God alone.
That
is still my prayer -- that God will intervene and miraculously cure Ben
now. It seems through our human eyes that if Ben has influenced so many
lives in the past eight months, how many more could he reach with his
story in the next 80+ years if God should choose to heal him? But at the
same time, I know that His ways are not our ways and He may have a very
different plan for Ben which we may never understand in this life.
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Rebecca
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Comments
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But why
has God brought Ben through so much? Why even now do Ben's symptoms not
line up with the medical reports? God has surely spared Ben thus far
because of all the lives He's changed through his story, and perhaps
Ben's good spirits now are a gift so that Ben can enjoy his last days
instead of feeling so sick.
But is
there more to it? Could it be that God was simply waiting? If the tumor
had been fully removed during the surgeries, some may have said it
wasn't God, but the surgeons that healed Ben. Had the chemo destroyed
the tumor, some may have said it wasn't God, but the chemo that healed
Ben. And had the latest MRI shown what apparently so many of us thought
and hoped it would show -- that the tumor had been completely eradicated
by the radiation -- even now some may have said it wasn't God, but the
radiation that healed Ben.
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Rebecca
(Irby) Brammer |
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Email
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littlehouse@ma.rr.com |
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Home Page
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City
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Fairmont
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WV
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Comments
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I've
never signed the guestbook before, though I've checked the website
several times a day since it was first started. I've never really known
what to write -- but now I'll make up for lost time with an extra long
post. :o) Ever since Ben's diagnosis, I have felt certain that God was
going to heal him. It certainly seemed like that was His plan. First Ben
beat the odds in each of his surgeries, then qualified for treatment at
St. Jude. He was anointed before the church, and thousands upon
thousands have prayed for his healing over the months. He came through
so many harsh treatments and doesn't appear to have any of the long-term
problems those treatments were supposed to have caused. But yet, the
news continues to look so grim, and it seems, at least from a medical
standpoint, that Ben may only be healed at this point by going to live
with Jesus.
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Comments
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hi to the
whole family, yesterday we celebrated a mass for Ben and tomorrow will
celebrate another mass asking God to heal him and give your family the
power to continue your life believing in Him. now in Lebanon hundreds of
people are praying for Ben don't loose courage we are near you in this
hard time. i suggest to all the people that are writting in the guest
and checking it to choose a day maybe tomorrow and at a united time so
we can all at the same time pray for Ben and his family. the persons who
want to participate in this prayer pls e-mail me. thanx to everyone and
especially to Ben. may God bless this great family.
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Wendy
Miller |
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Email
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wpooh@midsouth.rr.com |
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Home Page
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City
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Bartlett
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State
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Tn
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Country
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USA
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Comments
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My
thoughts and prayers are with your precious family. Jesus has truly
shone through you. Thank you!
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Todd &
Dawn Pierce |
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Email
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dawn.pierce@bxs.com
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Home Page
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www.caringbridge.org/ms/shaepierce |
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City
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Hernando
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MS
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Comments
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We just
wanted you to know that we are still praying for you all and BELIEVING
with you. God is in control and He has Big Ben in His hands. We pray for
comfort and peace that comes only from our Heavenly Father.
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Wendy
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Email
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garbrandt@sbcglobal.net |
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Home Page
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garbrandtfamily.com |
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City
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State
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OH
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Comments
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Hi
Bowens! Praying with you every day. Enjoy Mickmee mouse and everything
else. Much love from Ohio. Wendy, Mike, and Libby
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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BeckyWhittington |
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Email
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WV
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Comments
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Hey
Bowens it is Thursday morning. Blessed with another day. I looked at
your guestbook this morning. Everyone is so kind and supportive in there
own way. They live everywhere in the world. It is amazing how one little
boy named Big Ben has touched so many lives. Usually kids are known as
oh Tom and Jennifer’s smallest one. Oh what is his name!?? Ben is his
own man Big Ben Bowen from Huntington WV. It takes people years to make
there mark on the world. Ben has done it in a little more then a year.
People love, pray and support you without even knowing you. I find this
to be so amazing and great gift. These times have to be tough, and
confusing. I pray you can find comfort, understanding and peace in your
faith. That some how our love, prayers and support is showed to you. My
heart is broken. I feel so sad, and confused. I don’t have a magical
word to pass along. Just know I pray and pray some more and am still
holding out on a miracle that sets Ben free. Becky
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Jennifer
White |
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Email
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Home Page
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City
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Huntington |
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State
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WV
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Comments
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Just
wanted to tell you all that you will be on my mind and in my prayers
during your trip. You are on our minds and in our prayers everyday. We
are still praying and believing with you. With very much love, the White
family
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Comments
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We are
standing on that mountain with you screaming, "SHOW US YOUR GLORY OH
GOD!" And I am believing that he is not finished "showing off" just yet.
Our prayers are with all of you.
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Anita
Stephens Kay |
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Email
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ajkay0809@yahoo.com
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Home Page
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City
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Mansfield
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State
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OH
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Comments
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I wish I
had something really profound to say right now, but I just don't know
what it would be. Monday afternoon, after reading Saturday evening's
update about Eli praying for Ben, I cried all the way home from work. It
broke my heart. How can God turn down such an innocent, yet earnest,
request??? And then after reading Tuesday about the test results, I am
just completely broken for your entire family. One other guestbook entry
was saying that maybe God is waiting for the right time to heal Ben,
because people might not have given Him the credit, but given it to the
doctors and the treatment Ben has been through. As I thought about that,
I realized that all hope is not lost yet. As long as Ben is still here,
I will still pray for his complete healing. As many people as Ben has
touched through this website (all over the entire WORLD), how many more
people could he lead to Christ if he lived a full life on this earth.
But God tells us that "His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts
are higher than our thoughts." He
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Anita
Stephens Kay |
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Email
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City
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Mansfield
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OH
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Comments
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(continued from below)... knows how awesome Ben is, and how much sweeter
heaven will be with Ben there. We will just have to wait and see how the
story unfolds. Until the ending is revealed, I will continue to pray for
Ben's complete healing, here on earth. One thing I'm sure of, whether
here on earth, or in heaven, the day is coming when Ben will be
completely healed. I continue to admire your strength and faithfulness
to God. You are a terrific example to your two sons, and to everyone who
is following your story. God is very proud of you, and very honored, I'm
sure, to call you His children. I will also pray for a safe trip this
weekend to Disney World, and that you will make many precious memories
while there. These memories will sustain you for a long time to come.
God bless you! Confused but still believing with you, Anita Kay
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Comments
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I work at
ALSAC and have been following Ben's story for the past several months.
I'm wishing Ben a happy birthday and praying for this family.
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Allison
Johnston |
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Email
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Home Page
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City
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Lexington
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State
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KY
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Comments
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Dear
Bowens: How awesome it is to see prayer warriors from all over the world
come together for BIG BEN. Since the beginning of your journey one song
has come to mind whenever I think of the Bowens. Jeremy Camp's "I Still
Believe" accurately describes the feelings of all the people holding you
guys up in prayer. I still believe in your faithfulness I still believe
in your truth I still believe in your holy word Even when I don't see, I
still believe I don't think any of us understand why this is happenning,
but we definitely will still BELIEVE! Praying more than ever, Allison
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Date
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November
11, 2004 |
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Name
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Judy
Layman |
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Email
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judylayman@hotmail.com |
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Home Page
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City
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Huntington |
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State
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WV
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USA
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Comments
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Tom and
Jennifer, words seem worthless, but thoughts and prayers are strong
tools. I am praying for you two to have the strength and courage that
you will need to endure the coming hours, days and months. God Bless you
and the wonderful gifts that God gave you!!
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Comments
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Sometimes
you hear stories about sick children, and although you are sympathetic
you go on with your life thankful that it's not your child. But, with
Ben it is different. I think of him every time I look at my own son. I
want to thank you for sharing Ben with me. He is an inspiration to me to
be a better parent; to act as if every day could be my last with my
little guy. Whatever comes of this, I want you to know that you all (Ben
and his mommy and daddy) have touched people, especially me. I want you
to know that good did come from all this pain. Again, I thank you so
much and pray for all of you at least once a day. I hope you have a
wonderful trip to Disney. Tell Mickmee I said "Hi." God Bless You
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