Babies, Birthdays, and Bible FM

What a wonderful and busy week this has been!

We got word Tuesday morning that Pastor Jack needed a med-evac flight for his wife, Esila, who was about to have a baby!  She stayed around the property all day Tuesday.  By night fall we thought we were going to have a baby, but ended up working around the clock.  Many prayers were prayed for Esila and their little one. At about 8am Wednesday morning, Rachel decided it was best for her to be flown to Port Moresby, where they have more options to help deliver her baby safely. At 4:30pm Wednesday evening, little baby Jack was born!  He is precious!

This weekend, Ariel, Hannah, Emily, Angel, and I took a nice hike up to the home of the future Bible FM tower. Lesson learned, I am out of shape!  Once we made it to the top we enjoyed some of the best biscuits I've ever put in my mouth! We had fun trying to throw rocks at the nearby palm trees, and carving our initials on almost every log we took a break at.  On our way down, we listened to the Star Wars theme song for some motivation. Towards the end of our hike we took a detour to go see a water fall.  It was nice to cool off in the icy water, and see home again.  

Today is my birthday, and it's already been so wonderful!  My sister Grace and friend Kelley, were so thoughtful in putting together a slideshow of my friends and family wishing me a happy birthday!  It was the best gift I could have gotten.  I can't help but feel overwhelmed from all of the love, support, and prayers of my family, church family, and friends back home!  You all made today wonderful!  I love you all so much and am thankful for each of you! Tonight Rachel made a delicious dinner, and the girls each made me a card. Today was wonderful.  Looking forward to what God has in store for year 22!

"God's been Good!"

Here are just a few things that have been going on recently...

This week Bro. John and Mrs. Lena left out early Tuesday morning.  They plan to run several errands in town before leaving for the states.  One of which, is buying all of my groceries for the next few months.  They will be sending those back in a week or so.  I'm looking forward to getting all of the new supplies and some peanut butter!  It was wonderful to stay with them while they were here, although it was short-lived.  I am thankful they are letting me use their house as my own while they are out!  Since they've been gone, Porsche their dog has been keeping me good company.  She's a great guard dog as well as Blue, she stays on the back porch and Porsche on the front.

We've had a great week in clinic.  Lots of the medicines that have been ordered have been delivered this week.  I know it sounds simple, but to get more than one order at a time is rare.  We've gotten so much, Rachel and I aren't sure where everything is going to go.  So much medicine, so little space.  I think we might be ready for Armageddon now ;)

I've been blessed this week to be able to Skype with my family and my friend Emmy all the way in Zimbabwe - Emmy, not my family.  Both times were wonderful.  I didn't even try Skype last summer so this was a great treat!  It was wonderful to hear their voices and see their faces, not just a few words on the computer screen.

My friend Kelley has been sending me some music to listen to.  I've downloaded all of them now, and can't quit replaying them.  I've felt like I'm back at home listening to Amie, Jacob and Christine, the Halls, the Cleghorns, and even my sister on the violin!  It has brightened my week so much!  I keep walking around with, "God's been good in my life! I've been blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night!" playing in my head, and I don't mind it a bit!

Last night Ariel and Hannah came for a sleep-over.  We made pizza, and had orange kool-aid for dinner. After watching a movie and doing each others hair, we decided it was time for bed.  This morning we sat around the kitchen table laughing about memories from last summer, while enjoying some oatmeal.

A lot has been happening with the new vision God has given TTMK.  Bro. Matt has been in Port Moresby this week working out details over the land.  It has been exciting to be here as all of these things are falling into place.  I look forward to what is going to happen while I am here and in the years to come for TTMK. If you don't know what I'm talking about you can check out this blog, and you can definitely be praying!

I think that's enough rambling for now... Looking forward to what this next week holds!

Uriah's Story

His mom brought him up to the clinic porch.  It was nearly all he could do to keep his eyes open.  If there is anything finer than thread, he was hanging onto it.

Severely dehydrated from his sickness, we attempted to re-hydrate him.  Hours passed inside the clinic, and improvement seemed next to impossible.  His breathing became shallow, and he was barely arousable.  "This is it," I thought.  Pastor and the bible school students came with their wives to pray.  We prayed together, and we cried together.  Uriah just wasn't going to make it.

But still he hung on.  He would stay the night in Pastor's cookhouse.  We would check on him every two hours or so.  By this time he had a tube placed down his nose because he couldn't drink on his own.  Each visit would be different.  Deterioration to improvement to deterioration again.  My heart was aching. Throughout the night with each dog bark or rooster crow my mind would wonder, "Was that..?" or "I hope.."

Morning came.  He was still alive.  We would repeat ourselves until he was healed one way or another.  People were praying all over the world.  Praying for God to work a miracle.  It was up to God.  We knew nothing we could do would be successful without Him.  The Lord gives and He takes away, but we will always bless His name.

Day turned into night, and for four days he hung on.  It's all a blur now, but maybe it was Friday or Saturday I'm not sure.  Dad tells me he's been eating cucumbers and bananas plus he's keeping it all down.  Such a victory for this little guy.  We held him a day or two more just to be sure.  He went home on Sunday with his mom a completely different child.

So thankful for stories like these, and for the one true God who makes them possible.

Uriah's name means "the Lord is my light." - "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

I can't help but wonder if one day his mom will tell him the story of how he almost died, but God was the light that pulled them through.  I can't help but wonder if one day when Uriah is old and gray, that he'll look back on all the times that God was faithful to be his light - to be his strength.  I can't help but wonder if maybe one day I'll see Uriah's face again in Heaven.  I can't help but wonder, if all I'll be able to do is fall at His feet, and thank him for being my light - for being my strength - for being my God.

He is Enough

It's that place between sorrow and happiness.  One minute you feel your heart breaking in two.  The next minute it's about to burst from excitement.   It's hopelessness and hope simultaneously.  Sometimes I wonder if that can even be possible.

You work so hard until all your resources seem exhausted, and you are as well.  You've put forth everything. Mind, heart, soul.  You're empty.  

All you want to do is rest.  To recuperate, but chance just won't let you.  People are still sick, people are still hurting, people are still dying.  

It feels like an uphill battle, a constant struggle to keep your head above the water.  

Then I hear His reminder.  Find rest in me alone.  You can't do this on your own, quit fighting me.  

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." - Psalm 91:1

When I feel inadequate, He equips.  When I feel exhausted, He gives strength.  When I feel lonely, He is my constant friend.  

He is enough.  

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and NOT of us."  - II Corinthians 4:7

Sundays

Sundays are my favorite, but then again I tend to say that about every day.  

I love the simplicity of life here, especially Sunday.  There's no rushing around making sure everyone has been fed, and has their hair just right.   It's not about the fancy music, padded pews, or "I can't believe they took my seat!"  It's nothing complex.  It's everything simple.

We walk to church at 9 am, shake hands with everyone, and sing praises to God just a few beats too slow.  I know He doesn't mind, and that makes me smile.  We listen to what God has to say, and then I'll go to Junior church with Mrs. Becky.  The kids are so animated when we sing, and join in with every hand motion.  They hang on to every word of each story.  Except for a few, that would rather chat.  It's time for prayer requests, and almost every hand pops up.  

Church let's out, and we know this means it's time for volleyball.  Most everyone comes out to either watch or play.  I  think I enjoy watching almost more than playing.  Usually I get a new hair do, and might play a "stone game" with some of the younger girls.  They beat me every time.  I love their light-hearted spirit.  Joy flows from their heart, and I love to be right in the middle of it.  

At the end of the day it will probably rain.  The sound it makes drowns out all other thoughts.  I can think about my day, and about what I've learned.  I can enjoy my Savior, and all He's done for me.  It was another wonderful Sunday.