Hi. My name is John. I was baptized June 21st 1992 in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. I remember looking at the orange water in the rusty water trough that I was baptized. Wouldn't you know, the next week, my church bought a baptistry. Since I was baptized I have had an overwhelming amount of seizures (maybe ten thousand of them), after going 15 years without any. I have had three bad phases with seizures: The first phase came during my bachelors degree and I had to delay my degree by a few years due to having a temporary loss of short term memory and of my vision (due to blinking my eyes so many times during seizures); the second phase came during my masters degree. With one semester to go until I could get my masters the same things happened to me (memory and vision). My professors told me to take the classes anyway and that my GPA was so high that I would graduate anyway. I didn't. I had to wait a year to take those courses again and graduated with a 4.0 GPA; the third phase would come in 2004. I had so many seizures and medicine that they effected my behaviour. As a result I got major depression as a side effect. I turned into a very dark person and got disfellowshipped. Since then I tried in 2007 to get restored, but my seizures where still going strong and in my depression, I offended people, and was told in 2008 that if I wanted to get restored it would have to happen in another sector of the Boston Church. In 2007 when I was told I wouldn't get restored in my hometown, I went into the hospital, having gone sleepwalking during a seizure. I walked into the local park, was stabbed in my arms and head and chest by a man who took my house keys and wallet. I was found walking down the street looking like a victim out of a horror movie covered with blood. I spent 2 months hooked up to an I.V. being semi conscious. All I could do was pray and have faith "that everything is possible for him who believed" (Mark 9:23) I spent another 4-5 months in a nursing home until going home, then another 2 months doing physical therapy. Now I have my meds all straightened out, my seizures under control (over a year now seizure free, with no depression for a side effect) and I have moved to a new sector of the Boston Church, and am in the process of getting restored. In all the bad times I had with epilepsy, as well as learning to walk again in 1995 (after getting 3 fractures in my back), as well as going to the emergency room about 100 times in 120 days due to a kidney stone in 2006, I have always held tightly on to Mark 9:23 "everything is possible for him who believes", because it those few words that give me hope. It tells me that no matter what I may be going through, that if I believe hard enough, that these struggles can be overcome. Today I am much stronger than before I left the church and on my way to being part of the church once again. Please pray for me (John finn Jr) to have awesome health, no side effects from seizures or meds), have a sharp focus on God and God's Word, and to be restored. God Bless You and Thanks, John FInn Jr If you have an encouraging story about your physical challnges, please feel free to express yourself. (JF)

Wow! Thanks for sharing your life and being so open. I really appreciate that. I was recently restored. I have battled depression. But my life seems like a walk in the part after learning about your hardships. For me, I am grateful for what I had to go through to get where I am. "It was good for me to be afflicted". Ps 119:71

I am praying for you my brother. I am here for you - feel free to lean on me.

In Unity w/ Love, Byron

Amen, thanks bro'

Wow, John! I just appreciate what you've shared - and am so encouraged at the same time challenged in my faith.. I will be praying for you! I just finished reading a book by Yancey - Disappointment With God - trying to help myself overcome some struggles (not physical though). The book has helped me tremendously, and reading this post has shed a lot more light on the word FAITH...  Will it be alright for you if I share about your life here in my church (legazpi city, philippines)? I really hope to include my bible talk in praying for you...

thanks, take care and keep the faith!

With the love of the LORD,

Mai (Penielle)

Amen bro .... Its also one of my favorite scripture.. Mark 9:23... Im so much inspired by your story .. keep it up bro ...

What did someone here say about tough people? I think, that's you! I mean, you kept your faith through all this - it's kinda heroic deed.

im so much inspired by your testimony, keep it up bro, dont lose your faith to HIM.