Salvation Army answer to prayer

Dear Champion of the Lord and the Unborn,

The Lord richly bless you! Our Lord continues to move through this mysterious illness. Somehow, without our knowledge, Salvation Army and the local Temple, TX newspaper found out about Liz's plight.

Apparently the reporter wanted to do a story about the ministry of Salvation Army during the Christmas season. He asked a Captain Burchett about one story that stood out to her and she mentioned Liz's ordeal. The following is the article that made front page news today. To God be the glory! - Rusty

Salvation Army answer to prayer

At least one of Elizabeth Thomas' two prayers will be answered this Christmas. Her first prayer was to make certain her family of 10 has a Christmas this year. The other prayer was to be out of the hospital in time to enjoy it with them.

Her first prayer was answered with the help of Capt. Martha Burchett of the Salvation Army.

As part of the annual Angel Tree toy distribution conducted by the Salvation Army, Capt. Burchett heard of the Thomas family's plight and decided to take immediate action.

Although the Salvation Army normally does not deliver gifts directly to the needy families taking part in the program, this was one instance that Capt. Burchett made an exception.

"'Mom' has been in the hospital for two weeks and the dad was caring for their 10 children," Capt. Burchett explained. Leaving the toys in her car, she made a surprise visit to Mrs. Thomas' room at Scott and White.

"She had no clue I was coming," Burchett said.

A patient at Scott and White Memorial Hospital for an unknown ailment, Mrs. Thomas said that when Capt. Burchett arrived in her hosptial room, she could hardly believe it.

Capt. Burchett showed up with her smiling face and said 'We are here with Christmas for your kids,''' Mrs. Thomas said. "I didn't even know her, and now I have a truck full of Christmas."

Mrs. Thomas, her husband Rusty and their children live in the China Spring area. The family runs a full-time ministry called Elijah Ministries , based in Waco area.

"We travel and do a lot of outreach on the street locally," she said, adding that their children also help out with the work of the ministry.

She explained that a few months ago she began having problems with her stomach. At first doctors suspected cancer. Although they have ruled that out, she has been in the hospital for more than two weeks now. But with Christmas nearing, Mrs. Thomas said she remains hopeful. Of her two prayers, one has been answered.

"I don't know the results of the second one yet," she said. "Regardless, we
are thankful..."

by Robert Stinson