Father to the Fatherless

Friday morning we spontaneously decided to visit Sonrise Baby Home and Sonrise Children’s Home, orphanages run by devoted Christ followers. We stopped first at the baby home, an orphanage for babies 2 and under. They were clean, well-fed, and obviously cared for. I expected it to break my heart. Instead I found myself praising God for this place of love and safety for these sweet babies to stay until someone takes them home to their forever family. 

Julie (my sweet friend who is in the process of adopting from Uganda)

Melanie (my dear friend and our team pharmacist)

me and Johnny

 

The children’s home (ages 3 and up) was equally impressive. The children were just getting home from school. They ran straight to their rooms, pulled out their little bins, took off their uniforms, and put on play clothes. They giggled and smiled. There was lots of excitement but remarkably little chaos. They were delightful.

The children’s home has a tiny, one-room medical clinic in the back. The nurse kept charts on each child and the little clinic was spotless. However, when she opened the medicine cabinet, it was nearly empty. She shared that she does all that she can to help the children but it’s obviously difficult without any antibiotics, pain relievers, or malaria medication. As we spoke, she held a little boy and told us in her African English, “he is having the malaria.” She noted that if she cannot help a sick child, the only other option is to take them into town to see a physician. Unfortunately this is not always possible because they cannot afford the gas to take them.

We left there knowing that we were supposed to help. As God would have it, one of our team members was a pharmacist (Melanie). We collected our money and the next day, Melanie led our team in purchasing antibiotics, basic pain relievers, and many other kinds of medications, including both oral and IV. Thankfully, in Uganda, you can purchase any medications without a prescription and because of God’s provision we had the expertise and resources to do just that. We estimated that we were able to provide the equivalent of $10,000 worth of medication! We asked Ivan, the orphanage director, to meet us in town and we surprised him with the medications plus the leftover funds. He was so grateful! He tearfully told us that he never asks anyone for money, he just prays to God, begging God to provide for the orphans. God used our down time and a spontaneous change in plans to provide for these children. He was orchestrating it all along! He put together the pharmacist, the visit, the funds, the timing, all for their good and His glory. What a privilege to witness the love of the Father toward the fatherless.

 Ivan and some of the children

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord

Thursday we travelled back to Jinja to Renee’s clinic to reunite with our team members, Julie (physical therapist) and Vivian (pediatric nurse). We weren’t quite there yet when we passed Katie (Davis) on the road and she told us a little boy was in crisis at Renee’s. As with all the children at Renee’s, 2-year-old Hatim was admitted due to severe malnutrition. They had been nursing him back to health with a liquid protein diet. However, when they introduced solid foods to him again, his little body began to shut down. He was in cardiac distress and they were having trouble stabilizing him. Thankfully, one of our team members is a cardiologist so we rushed to the clinic. Melody went in and the rest of us stayed back, not wanting to interfere or be in the way. We spent the afternoon praying for Hatim, his mother, the medical team, and Renee. I am so burdened by the weight Renee carries day after day, night after night as she tries to save the lives of these precious children. God has, without a doubt, divinely equipped her for this ministry. He performs miracles through her as He saves children that hospitals turn away, parents abandon, and everyone labels “hopeless”. In the end, He is sovereign over both life and death. However, Renee’s heart breaks for every child that does not survive and I’m sure the enemy pounces on every attempt to cause her to question herself and her decisions. So as I prayed for Hatim, I prayed for Renee’s heart to be protected no matter the outcome. Hatim was stabilized and they watched carefully over him, taking shifts throughout the night.

Later on Friday, we got the call that Hatim had passed away. We all wept. Our hearts broke, especially for his mother who was pregnant with her second child due any day. The team had done everything possible. I believe God sent Vivian (nurse) and Melody (cardiologist) for this very purpose: to assure Renee that she is making good decisions and providing excellent care. These deaths are not her fault. She did not fail. Melody told us “I have 13 years more education than Renee and I have nothing to add to her treatment plan”. Hatim’s life was in God’s hands. All we can do is confess in the words of Job, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD”. Please pray for Hatim’s mother. Please pray for Renee and her ministry through Serving His Children. I have seen the miracles of healing with my own eyes and felt the weight of loss in my own heart. Renee is simply a young woman, living in obedience. Please stand with me in lifting her to the Father.

                                   Left to Right: Melody, Renee, Vivian

Call Me Prissy... I Don't Know Nothin 'bout Birthin Babies!!

After getting the update on Nora, Melanie and I went back to the delivery room to find a mom struggling to deliver her baby. This was her 6th child and she had been pushing for two hours with no success. Clearly something was wrong. The doctor told her the baby was “getting tired”, though they had no real way to monitor the baby’s well-being in that little clinic. He announced that he was leaving to prepare the OR for a c-section. However, the mom and her husband seemed unwilling to sign the necessary paperwork for surgery. The atmosphere was tense and we were so concerned about this mom and her baby. Melanie and I just stood by watching it all not knowing what in the world to do. We looked at each other and knew we needed to pray. We stood there in that tiny, unairconditioned delivery room in a remote village in Africa and called out to the only One who could intervene. We prayed aloud and simultaneously calling out to God to save this baby and mom.


After several minutes the OR nurse entered intending to get the father to sign the paperwork for a c-section. She looked at the mom and decided “we can get this baby out”. So she literally climbed on top of this mother and began pressing down hard on her abdomen. We had been told by the doctors that the nurses and midwives will do this but that many moms and babies have died because the uterus ruptures under such force. The midwife was yelling at the mom but the mom was losing strength. Needless to say, our fears increased with every passing moment. Finally, the midwife looked in our direction and said “come help me”. I’m sure we must’ve turned to look behind us. Who? Us? Well there was no one else there and, frankly, I was happy to have an assignment if it meant helping in this emergency. The midwife asked Melanie to hold one of the mom’s legs and asked me to help her sit up. So I did. I reached my arm around this mom’s waist, letting her lean back on my chest and shoulder, my arm against her bare, sweat-soaked back. And we ALL pushed. Finally, after many minutes, a little head emerged. Soon we could see the problem. The baby’s umbilical cord was wrapped around its shoulder and chest. Thankfully, it wasn’t around the baby’s neck. The nurse pulled the cord over the baby’s head and the baby boy was finally born. WOW. Boy did we cheer and cry. I’m certain I worked harder to bring that baby into the world than I did with my own children!

Our celebration was short-lived when we realized this baby was not breathing. He was gray and lifeless. His little head was horribly misshapen from being in the birth canal for so long. Again we prayed fervently, begging God to breathe life into the baby. Finally, after what seemed like many minutes, the baby boy began to cry. More cheers. More tears. The nurse and midwife thanked us over and over again for our prayers. I will always believe that God allowed us to witness a miracle that day. He displayed His power over life and I pray He received all the glory!

New Life

After Juliet left with Renee, Melanie and I were able to observe a c-section birth. The team used Ether to sedate the mom. We watched through the window of a swinging door, inhaling plenty of Ether ourselves. While the team prepped for the surgery and the mom was still awake, she was left on an operating table in the center of the room, completely nude and all alone. She appeared remarkably calm in spite of the circumstances.

The c-section was amazing and a beautiful baby boy was welcomed into the world right in front of our eyes! We cheered at the sound of that first cry.

We then went back to the maternity ward where we met Nora. She was in labor. She was from Kampala, the capital city, but had traveled many hours to this village to visit her sick mother. Her husband was in Kampala and her mother was too sick to be with her. So she was in labor with her first child and was essentially alone. When we met her, she was 6 cm dilated and contracting every 5 minutes. She was also experiencing excruciating back labor. Sandra and I ministered to her the best we could. Of course, there was no pain medication. She didn’t even have a bed to rest in but was told to walk until time to deliver. We wiped her brow and neck with a cool cloth. I let her squeeze my hand during contractions and exams (and, boy did she squeeze!!). At times she would squeeze so hard that I had to brace myself to keep from being pulled over. We walked and breathed and prayed. We took long, deep breaths together. I rubbed her lower back during contractions. It was a hard but sweet time. She was so appreciative and once said “Thank you so much, I appreciate your company” in her sweet African accent. It was so hard to leave her at nearly 8 cm. We stayed until the very last minute that we could. We prayed over her and I continued to pray all through the night that God would comfort and protect her.

We visited families in the village the next morning and by the time we made it back to the clinic, Nora had already gone home. She had delivered a healthy baby girl during the night. Praise the Lord! The midwife told Sandra that Nora had named the baby Celeste. It means celestial and was in honor of “the angels” God sent to help her the day before. Wow.

Uganda Day 1: Meeting Juliet

My first couple of hours at the Manafwa Health Clinic were spent touring the facility. Hundreds of people come everyday, waiting for hours to be seen by one of two doctors. There is no running water at the clinic and the facilities are quite primitive. Despite their very limited resources, this clinic treats HIV, TB, malaria, and dehydration. They do surgeries and deliver babies (lots of babies – stay tuned for those stories!).

After touring the clinic, I began to feel pretty useless. I’m not a doctor or a nurse, so I wasn’t sure exactly what my role should be. I turned the corner to see Josh (Serving His Children’s team coordinator) holding a tiny, lethargic, sickly little girl. Juliet had all the signs of severe malnutrition. Her hair was losing its pigment, her skin was breaking down causing open sores and cracks all over her body, and her hands and feet were severely swollen with edema. Her shoulders and back were so bony and her eyes were so sad. I gently took her from Josh but she winced from the pain of being touched. She was too weak to cry but let out a tiny sound, like a newborn kitten. Although she looked like a young toddler, Juliet is actually 4 years old.



For awhile she sat in my arms, not responding to anyone or anything. I had no idea what to do with her as we waited for her mother to return and for Renee to finish clinic so that Juliet could be admitted to the Jinja clinic. I have a four-year-old little girl at home. So, on the one hand it was so easy to love Juliet. On the other hand it was almost unbearable to see her suffering. So I comforted her the same way I would’ve comforted my own little girl. I held her and swayed. I sang “Jesus Loves Me” over and over. Finally she relaxed and rested her head on my chest. As long as I was singing or humming, she would keep her head right there on my chest. So we walked and we swayed and we sang. After awhile, I sat in the back of the matatu (van) and leaned back on a backpack so Juliet could rest without me putting too much pressure on her hurting little body. She finally fell asleep. Oh how I loved holding her. I believe that’s exactly what Jesus would’ve done if He were physically present in that moment. So I was His arms holding her. I was His hands gently stroking her tender skin. I was His voice singing over sweet Juliet. “Jesus loves me…little ones to Him belong…they are weak but He is strong.” Oh God, thank you for my time with Juliet. They were two of the sweetest hours of my life. Father, please teach her mother how to love her and feed her and care for her. Please draw her mother to You.

Guatemala 2010

Isaiah 41:17
When the poor and needy seek water,
and there is none,
and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the LORD will answer them;
I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
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We were driving through Guatemala City, past the “ghetto” where the poorest of the poor live. The homes are really tin sheds, at best. Our pets and lawnmowers have nicer accommodations. Many of the children who live in this ghetto are orphaned. “Poverty” doesn’t even seem to accurately describe what we saw.



We arrived at the church, Iglesia Adonai. We enjoyed a wonderful service with familiar worship songs sung in Spanish. The boys behind us were giggling and trying to engage us. We smiled back and communicated with gestures and our limited Spanish. They asked to play with my camera and I happily obliged, watching them take pictures of their friends as their friends tried to hide behind one another. Riley shared her activity book and the boys were amazed by the erasable ink.

At one point, one of the boys, probably 9 or 10 years old, pointed to my water bottle and made the motion of drinking. He was asking for my water bottle. I laughed and said no. “Surely he’s kidding,” I thought. Who would ask a stranger for their water? As soon as I turned around, a terrible feeling came over me. Conviction. Guilt. Heartbreak. Before my first trip to Guatemala in 2008, Jes gave me this verse from Matthew 10, “Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” A cup of cold water for a little one. What if this boy was thirsty? How could I have so quickly forgotten that he and his family struggle to survive? That he may not know where his next meal is coming from? How could I have been so selfish? Have I ever known real hunger or thirst? What if this boy was truly thirsty? I quickly grabbed my Spanish dictionary and looked up “thirsty”. Then I asked him, “Sediento? Sediento?” He nodded vigorously. I gave him my water bottle and touched his sweet dirty face. Looking into his eyes, I told him “Jesus Cristo te ama”. He drank half of the 20 ounces in one gulp. He was thirsty.

I was so ashamed of my selfishness and so overwhelmed with God’s love for this little boy, I had to turn around so he wouldn’t see me cry. As another song began, I stood, one hand raised in worship, tears streaming down my face. With my eyes closed, I suddenly felt two small arms around my waist. I looked down to see two brown eyes looking up at me with gratitude and love. A divine moment. He wasn’t angry that I had hesitated to share with him. He wasn’t frustrated with my selfishness. In that moment, he taught me more about my Savior’s love than I could have ever taught him. Patient. Kind. Unconditional.


Before, he left, I asked his name. I showed him my journal so he would know I was going to write down his name and remember him. His reply? “Andy”. Andy?! “Mi padre es Andy!” That’s my father’s name. He showed a small smile. No way would I ever forget this child’s name.

(I had forgotten that Andy’s friend still had my camera. I was completely oblivious to the fact that his friend had captured this moment. What a precious gift to discover on the bus as we pulled away!)

I spent many sleepless hours praying for Andy that week. And I still do. I pray that he will have food, water, and shelter. Even more importantly, I pray that he will find the source of living water in Jesus. “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” Would you pray for Andy too?
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There are so many things I want to share with you about our trip. It was an incredible week. I loved sharing the experience with Riley and she is already asking when we can go back. Hundreds of children heard the gospel that week and many professed that Jesus is Lord and Savior of their lives. Some of the ladies on our team were able to share our testimonies with 120 women and teenage girls. We were able to minister to women who are hurting from past abuse, who struggle with shame, or who are overwhelmed with the burdens in their lives. These women heard the hope of the gospel. They heard the truth that, through Jesus Christ, they have value, they are freed from shame and guilt, and they have a Savior who knows their every need. So once more, I humbly thank you for your support. I thank you for sacrificing financially so that Riley and I could take this trip. I thank you for your prayers of protection and provision while we traveled. I thank you for your obedience. Please pray for us as we prepare for 2011. In July, Jes plans to travel to Southeast Asia to teach the New Testament to underground church leaders. In September, I hope to travel to Uganda with a medical team. In November, Riley and I would love to return to Guatemala. Only by God’s grace do we have the privilege to go and show Jesus to the world. Thank you for being a part of God’s mission to the nations!
I look forward to the day, when we will all worship our Father together…you, me, and my sweet friends in Guatemala…

Revelation 7:16-17
Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Baby Girl

And He who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Rev 21:5
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This is a story from the Lovelady Center, a Christian residential facility that helps women from difficult circumstances. Lovelady is a safe haven for women (and their children) who are homeless, leaving abusive relationships, recovering from addiction, or coming out of prison.


A staff member overheard two residents talking. One said to the other, "Hey Baby Girl, come over here". The staff member quickly reminded the ladies "we don't use our prison names here. We use our real names". Baby Girl replied, "but that is my real name. My mother abandoned me at birth so I was never named. My birth certificate just says 'Baby Girl'."

The staff member asked her if she'd like to get a new name. The staff member walked this lady through the process of legally changing her identity. For the first time in her life, she now has a name.

I take a lot of things for granted and then I try to be aware of that and be thankful for my home, my family, my job, the food on our table every meal. I never, not once, thought to thank God that when I was born, I was loved enough to be named, to be given an identity. Then I realize a greater truth. Despite my rebellion, in spite of all the ways I fall short of God's holiness, God has given me a new identity in Christ. I am Child of the King, Friend, Beloved. May I never forget that I have been graciously, undeservedly, and eternally blessed by a Father who knows my name. Thank you God that You are making all things new...