Let me begin by saying that I appreciate so much the prayers and thoughts for Elizabeth. I just wanted to share with those praying for her something that happened the past few days. Last Saturday night, well, all day Saturday; Elizabeth was having a very painful day. That night before she went to sleep, she asked me to pray for her at her bed. After I prayed, she asked for her Mamaw Mac to pray. As my mom began to pray, I could already see that Elizabeth was beginning to calm down. When my mom finished, Elizabeth asked for her Aunt Joyce and uncle Harrie to come and pray with us. My brother Harrie and Joyce prayed the sweetest prayers for Elizabeth and you could see her calm even more. When they were finished, she called on her Papaw Mac to pray for her. Her Daddy, Mamaw, Uncle Harrie, Aunt Joyce, and Papaw and I stood around her bed while we finished praying for her. It was amazing to see her just calm down and fall asleep. The next morning when I called the nurse to check on her, she said that Elizabeth had the best rest she has had. The Lord is showing us that He is in control and for that I am so thankful.

Another thing happened Sunday night before I had to leave. Elizabeth knew that my daughter, Leah, and I were going to have to come to Monroe to check on Elizabeth's scholarship for college the next day. She was not looking forward to us leaving all day. Every afternoon about 6:00 p.m. the nurse has to come in and change the bandages on her hands for the second time. It's so painful for Elizabeth to have to go through this twice a day. My mom and I were in the room when the nurse came. Elizabeth asked us to stand by her bed and just start praying. She told me to pray first, so I did. Then she asked my mom to pray for her. I've always believed my entire life that if my Daddy and Momma were praying for my children and me that everything would be all right. I guess that's the assurance from God Himself. Jesus knew that His Heavenly Father was always there for Him. That's the same assurance that lets me know that no matter what I face, that my Father and Mother will always be there for me, too. My mom finished praying and then Elizabeth began. This is some of what Elizabeth prayed while the nurse began taking the bandages off. She prayed, "Dear Jesus, I know that it's because of You that I am here today. Because I know that if it weren't for You I may not even be lying in this bed right now. I just thank you for watching over my family and me. I thank You for my family and friends praying for me and being here with me. I just love my nurses and I thank You for them too. Please, dear Jesus, just make this pain bearable." I noticed that she didn't ask the Lord to take the pain away completely, but she prayed that she "knew that it was because of Him that she was able to bear the pain, and that if He wasn't in control, (she) knew that the pain would be so much worse than what it was". She prayed through the whole changing of the right hand. Her right hand is the one that the Doctor says that will need some skin grafts Friday. She did so much better this time, and I know it was because she prayed the sweetest prayer to God to help her through it.

When the nurse started on the left hand she asked my Momma to go and get Papaw. Here, too, God was already working again. Because as Momma was going down the hall to get daddy, he was already on his way to Elizabeth's room. When he stood by her, he told Elizabeth to recite the 23rd Psalm. The night before he told Elizabeth to recite this when she felt any pain. When Elizabeth was only five years old, she stood in front of the First Baptist Church of Bastrop, LA and recited the 23rd Psalm word for word. So, she and I began. Well, Elizabeth is 18 years old now and since then we have kind of forgotten a few of the words, but Papaw was there to help us along. Then, my daddy prayed for Elizabeth. After he finished, Elizabeth prayed again. This time, she also asked the Lord to make her a stronger witness through this so that she could help others in the same situation. Right in the middle of her prayer, the nurse said, "Oh, look Elizabeth." When Elizabeth looked up, we saw the most beautiful new skin on the top of her left hand. All of that old burned skin had just lifted of and there was the most beautiful skin I have ever seen. Elizabeth said, "look Momma - there's not a scar at all!" I know that this is God. I know that through our faith we are to depend on him totally - but, the night before I asked God if He could give us some kind of sign - so that we could know that He was in control of this. This was a sign from God - so that we can know that everything is working for the good and that HE DOES ANSWER PRAYER!!!

So, PLEASE, continue to pray for my Elizabeth. She has always been the one that was the comedian of the family. I don't know of anyone who came in contact with her that didn't love her attitude and personality. But-now I see a beautiful change in her life. I know that she will never be the same now. Because through the prayers of all those around us and everywhere else, my Elizabeth is growing stronger in her faith, and she is already a great witness through all of this.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT. THANKS TO BROOKWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH FOR LETTING MY FAMILY USE THEIR MISSIONARY HOUSE. THANKS TO ELIZABETH'S WONDERFUL DOCTORS AND NURSES AND PHYSICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AT LSU MEDICAL CENTER.

Please continue to pray for her. Every morning at 7:00 she has all of her bandages changed and then at 6:00 p.m. her hand bandages are changed again. If you could, pray a little extra hard at these times.

I know that God is using this to strengthen us as a family. I told my sisters this morning that I would've never thought that I would be saying that this has been one of the most special things I have ever been through. BUT - by the grace of God, I am looking at this now in a totally different light -- GOD IS SO GOOD

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!

Marian and Dennis Riles