5 August 2026

What Happens When a Missionary Gets Sick?

By Danielle Gibson

Yana, the two-year-old daughter of Nazarene missionaries Ingrid and Terence Lustaña serving in Taiwan, suffered multiple 104-degree fevers in early 2025. Each time her fever would leave when treated with medicine, then come back stronger as the medicine wore off. During emergency room visits, doctors said the cause was likely a urinary tract infection. They suggested giving Yana fever medicine until the cultures came back. The tests came back negative, but the fevers continued.

One night, although she had a fever, Yana’s hands and feet were cold. An odd rash appeared on her legs and stomach. Terence and Ingrid decided to go to a different hospital this time, so they drove to Taipei, Taiwan. Yana’s blood test indicated inflammation and infection. The new hospital admitted her right away and sent them to the pediatric infectious disease doctor who took a blood culture, a urine culture, and a stool culture.

The fevers were so high that the doctor did not wait for the cultures to come back, but started Yana on antibiotics. Through this troubling ordeal, Ingrid remembered, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20.) She looked over at her husband and wondered if God was truly with them.

Suddenly, a 6.4 earthquake shook the hospital. Ingrid was reminded of the passage in which God appeared to the Israelites in an earthquake. As terrified as she was, Ingrid believed God was telling her that he was with them in this tribulation.

The Lustañas knew their global Nazarene family was standing with them as well. Many were praying, and many had contributed to the Missionary Health Care Fund. This fund, which covers missionary insurance and health expenses, meant that Ingrid and Terence could focus on getting the best care for their sick child without worrying about mounting medical bills.

Over the next few days, Yana's fever continued despite the antibiotics and fever medicine. All tests came back negative. The hospital recommended transferring her to the top children's hospital in the country where a team of doctors and nurses were waiting for them. This team redid all of the tests, added more, and started a different round of antibiotics. Finally, Yana’s fever began to go down. After 72 hours without a fever, Yana was released to go home with the recommendation of regular check-ins with a cardiologist to be sure there was no damage to her heart.

Although the underlying cause of Yana’s illness is still unknown, the family rejoices that she has remained fever-free. Happily, a recent one-year follow-up found no signs of heart damage.

Thank you to Nazarenes everywhere for praying and for giving to the Missionary Healthcare Fund (Fund 215) which is our NMI 110th Anniversary Project.

Most of all, praise God, the Great Physician!

Click here to access Kids Kaleidoscope, a monthly addition to NMI Central to awaken and nurture a spirit of missions in everyone.

Would you like to give to the 110th Anniversary Project? Give through your local church and mark the offering “Fund 215."

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