Tyson and Joha Billingsley’s Recovery

UPDATE BELOW:

Tyson and Joha moved from New York to Salinas, Ecuador to help in a need-great area to teach people about the Bible. Tyson is able to support his Bible education work by working remotely. This week they traveled to Guayaquil, Ecuador to attend the English Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

On Monday evening, Tyson, after 2 days of being very ill with food poisoning, they needed to go out to get a few necessities. Being too sick to walk home, Tyson and Joha took a taxi (in a good neighborhood). Once inside, they were taken around the corner where two men jumped in the back seat of the car with the driver, brutally attacking Tyson with metal pipes and stabbing him all over with a spike. They were blindfolded, their hands and feet were tied and shoes were also taken. Despite still being weak from sickness, Tyson laid over Joha to protect her from the attack until knocked unconscious.

Joha continued saying her prayers out loud and explaining to her captors they were there as Jehovah’s Witnesses. The men were heard saying that they should be taken to a house where they would be held for ransom. Joha was able to convince them to take them to local ATMs to get money first.

Over the next hour, the men began to calm down as Joha continued in her prayer and preaching to them. After several ATMs were used and all of the money was drained, they were persuaded by Joha to drop them off two blocks from the hospital.

Tyson has spent two nights at the hospital where he is receiving treatment for over 15 puncture wounds across his face, chest, arms and back. He has been struggling with breathing due to all of the blows to his throat and jaw, and he also suffered severe trauma to his eye. Joha suffered puncture wounds to her arm and bruising to her stomach from being kicked.

Tyson and Joha’s cell phones were both stolen, along with their watches and wedding rings, and all their accounts were drained.

We are so thankful to Jehovah that he has become a salvation for Tyson and Joha, a God of tender mercies and comfort. He deserves all the praise for how well this has turned out. Tyson’s family is deeply appreciative for any help and support you can offer in this time of need as they try to get life back on track.

UPDATE 1: 8pm / Wednesday, May 31, 2023

We are happy to update you that Tyson’s eye surgery went well. They were able to clean out a lot of the blood and sterilize the damage. We are hoping this will be the last surgery.

UPDATE 2: 3pm/Thursday, June 1, 2023

Current recovery status

- Personal and financial losses: Fully funded

- Current medical expenses: Fully funded

- Potential for 2-3 more eye surgeries and the associated medical expenses: Unknown

- Secular work limits going forward: Unknown

Update 3: 3pm/Friday, June 2, 2023

Tyson has been released from the hospital.

Update 3:

Tyson has been released from the hospital. He will receive an update on the recovery of his eye and future surgeries, in the near future.

Tyson and Joha have been overwhelmed from all the love and support shown, as they continue to their long healing process physically and emotionally.

Thank you again for your continued love and support.

Update 4: 10am/Thursday/June 8, 2023

Tyson and Joha are now back in their home town. Recent doctors appointments have suggested that his initial eye surgery was successful and no additional surgeries will be needed. Although there were additional unexpected costs related to MRI’s and other medical procedures, his medical expenses seem to be well covered for. Although Tyson and Joha have a long road of healing ahead of them, they are on their way.

Current recovery status:

- Personal and financial losses: Fully funded

- Current medical expenses: Fully funded

- Future, potential, medical expenses: Fully funded

- Secular work limits going forward: Unknown

With the deepest and most sincere appreciation we all would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of loving donations. What a beautiful thing to see this equalizing. Thank you!! Thank you!!