Update: West Family Medical Assistance; Thank You

- World Missions Ministries Communications Office

Dear Ministry Partners and Faithful Supporters of Ben, Deysi, and the West family,

We are glad to report that Ben and Ariel are doing well. Both are in the final stages of recovery from injuries incurred in their car accident earlier this year. Please join us in praising God for the healing process He has walked them through and acknowledge with us the blessings from those in the medical field who have been instrumental in their progression.

On a special note, and on behalf of World Missions Ministries and the West family, we want to express our appreciation for your sensitivity and generosity in your response to their need. It is a joy to share with you that all their medical expenses have been covered. Your selfless giving, prayers, and the Lord’s additional provision through the Oklahoma Complete Health program have completely underwritten all bills from hospitals, doctors, surgeries, and other items to date. Please join with us as we Praise God!

Currently, and in the months following, both Ben and Ariel will continue in therapy. These future expenses will be covered by your contributions, which should be sufficient. If future surgeries, which at this time are not foreseen, are required, we will keep everyone informed.

In closing words, we cannot communicate the significance of your prayers, deep heartfelt concern, and generosity for our Missionary Family, especially in this season for the West family.

Again, thank you for faithfully supporting WMM missionaries. You are a vital part of accomplishing the Great Commission. May you be blessed as we work together in the Lord’s harvest.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Respectfully yours,

J. Talmadge Gardner (Executive Director, World Missions Ministries);

Steve Cofer (Director of Missionary Care)

- A letter from the Wests, Missionaries to Peru

Dear faithful donors, prayer partners, and friends,

The response to the accident that my daughter Ariel and I were in back on March 14, 2024, has been tremendous. We have been the beneficiaries of countless prayers, letters, and financial gifts to help cover the unexpected expenses. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for thinking of us, for praying for us, and giving sacrificially!

This letter is to give you an update on our recovery and the current state of our financial need. After multiple surgeries on Ariel’s left ankle, left arm, and right hand; two surgeries on my right wrist and hand; and with months and months of (somewhat painful) therapy, we have both recovered significantly!

Since being released from the hospital after more than 30 days in late April, Ariel went from only using her wheelchair to mastering her “knee-scooter” (May), she then began to walk with crutches (June), started climbing stairs (July-Aug), began bike-riding (September), and is continuing to improve with no more surgery expected on her severely injured left foot/ankle. Praise the Lord! She is still expected to have more minor follow-up procedures on her hand and arm, mostly related to getting back to normal movement and function, but we are thankful for so much improvement already.

After my second wrist surgery (June 27), I started more intense therapy to regain mobility. The improvement has been slow, but steady. I have regained more than 90% of my normal function, and about 70% of the strength in my right arm. For a time, I was barely able to use my fingers or lift a book, but in the last few weeks I have played 18 holes of golf (poorly), shot my bow hundreds of times (targets only; no deer yet), played pick-up basketball (game-winning 3-pointer), and thrown a football and baseball hundreds of times. There was a point back in the Spring where I thought I might not be able to do ANY of these things again. So, this is a huge praise report that God is indeed healing my badly broken (even the doctors grimace when they speak of it) wrist as physical therapy continues. Thank you again for giving and praying!

World Missions Ministries has informed us that gifts for our medical needs have continued to come in and we want to gratefully notify you all that our needs have been entirely met at this time, and, in all likelihood, no further assistance in this regard will be necessary.

Thank you once again for praying and giving, and may God bless and keep you!

Ben West