Okay, I know God said let the little children come unto me but what do you do when the children are struggling to live. I have spent the last 2 days in agony. I have seen a family that is struggling to survive hold on so tightly to their own children that they can't see the pain they are causing them. I know the mom and dad of this family love their children and want to take care of them but if they can't and the children get so sick they die, HOW CAN THAT BE RIGHT! I know, I know, God is in control. I tell myself that every minute of every day that I think about this family. I want the kids to be with the parents because that is how God designed it but if the parents can't feed the children and provide for their basic needs what does one do about it. Their is a plan and God will receive the glory in the end and I know I only came down here to do His will but when my heart is breaking and the children are hurting how do I just sit by and pray. It isn't enough. I want to do more for this family yet they are content to continue to provide what they can for the children even if it isn't enough.
I was completely amazed that this little 8 month old girl was just sitting not even fussing about her circumstances. She is covered from head to toe and every where in between with sores from a parasite called scabies. This parasite causes itching so bad that it would keep an adult awake at night. This little girl slept soundly last night at our house. God has given these people who suffer an extra measure of something so they can survive and be okay. That something I am sure I don't have and most North Americans don't have. To know that a child is in pain and yet the child doesn't cry out or carry on like our North American children do when they get offended or their feelings hurt. What an amazing love God has for these people.
My prayer is that God will provide a way for us to help this family and many others like it.
Maybe it will be a home for the sick, where children can come for treatment and get better before they have to go back home. Maybe it will be a home for children that don't have a good place to live. Maybe it will be a home where God's love prevails and the children are healed and don't have to live away from their parents but they also don't have to live in the filth that is making them so sick. Oh Lord, I pray that You will open the doors for us down here to help these little children come to You and know that you are the Great Healer and Provider. Amern
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
time flies
Time moves so fast. I am reminded daily of how important it is to use our time wisely because we have such little of it. We have been enjoying our time with a special friend of Sierra's from the states this week. We have shown her where we go to school, where the best ice cream is, how to get around on public transportation and many other places.
For those of you who have been following the story of the 3 month old needing surgery we have been trying hard to get help for him this week. The system here is very slow. We did however, manage to take her to the children's hospital in Managua on Thursday and they have done the x-ray on his head and have decided the next course of action is to have an appointment with the head of pediatrics. This appointment will be next week wednesday. Please continue to pray the damage to the brain will be minimal and that it will be repaired after they do the surgery. I would also ask that we all pray the head of pediatrics will see the need to the surgery quickly and not put it off for too much longer.
I know God has a plan for this little baby boy and I know we can only do as much as we are allowed to with the help of the doctors here but I am still going to pray for a miracle. The family really loves this child and he would be growing up in a good loving home so he deserves every chance he can to succeed and survive a healthy, normal life.
John will be leaving in a few weeks to go back to the states for a month. He needs to do more fundraising and sharing what we are doing down here so that more people can get involved and help. With all that is going on in Haiti it will be hard to focus on Nicaragua but we are praying God will open doors for John and provide a platform where he can share what is happening here.
For those of you who have been following the story of the 3 month old needing surgery we have been trying hard to get help for him this week. The system here is very slow. We did however, manage to take her to the children's hospital in Managua on Thursday and they have done the x-ray on his head and have decided the next course of action is to have an appointment with the head of pediatrics. This appointment will be next week wednesday. Please continue to pray the damage to the brain will be minimal and that it will be repaired after they do the surgery. I would also ask that we all pray the head of pediatrics will see the need to the surgery quickly and not put it off for too much longer.
I know God has a plan for this little baby boy and I know we can only do as much as we are allowed to with the help of the doctors here but I am still going to pray for a miracle. The family really loves this child and he would be growing up in a good loving home so he deserves every chance he can to succeed and survive a healthy, normal life.
John will be leaving in a few weeks to go back to the states for a month. He needs to do more fundraising and sharing what we are doing down here so that more people can get involved and help. With all that is going on in Haiti it will be hard to focus on Nicaragua but we are praying God will open doors for John and provide a platform where he can share what is happening here.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
so much need for praise and prayer
WOW! what an amazing week! We were able to treat over 1200 patients this past week with medication, vitamins and parasite medicine. God is so good!!! The team from Oklahoma touched many peoples lives including ours. We worked all week in 5 different places near or around La Paz centro. In the last place we were at on Friday, we encountered one family in great need of prayer. Their little boy is 3 months old and his fontanelle has already closed. The nerve damage to his brain has already begun and if there isn't a surgery soon it will be irreversible. John and I and our interpreter Michael are working very hard to find a doctor in Leon or Managua to do the surgery. We have about 2-3 weeks to get it done before his brain will be permanently damaged. Please pray with us that there will be a doctor here in the area willing and able to do the surgery this week so the little boy will begin to recover.
As well, we would like you to join us in prayer for a famliy in La Paz centro with two little girls. The mother is in great need of surgery and she is too scared to go to the hospital. The father has said he will take her if we will help with the children. Of course, John and I have excitedly agreed to help with the children, but they have not yet taken the steps to get the mother to the hospital. Please pray that the father will do the right thing and the mother will be willing to go when the time comes so the family can also begin to heal.
Right now we are enjoying the pleasure of having Sierra's friend from the states join us for two weeks. Abigail is 12 and seems to be enjoying her time here. We pray that her life will be impacted greatly through God's love and she will see all the amazing things God is doing down here. Serving God is a sacrifice and brings a return far greater than anyone can imagine. I pray that she will also see that.
We look forward to a brief reprieve this month of February before the teams from the states begin to come. John is planning on travelling back to the states in the next few weeks and I would again ask that you join us in prayer that he will be able to make the proper contacts so we can find enough support to stay for several years.
We continue to praise God and trust that He will provide for our every need. There were so many answers to prayer this week with the medical team that I know without a doubt God will continue to answer our family prayers to allow us to continue to serve Him here in Nicaragua.
As well, we would like you to join us in prayer for a famliy in La Paz centro with two little girls. The mother is in great need of surgery and she is too scared to go to the hospital. The father has said he will take her if we will help with the children. Of course, John and I have excitedly agreed to help with the children, but they have not yet taken the steps to get the mother to the hospital. Please pray that the father will do the right thing and the mother will be willing to go when the time comes so the family can also begin to heal.
Right now we are enjoying the pleasure of having Sierra's friend from the states join us for two weeks. Abigail is 12 and seems to be enjoying her time here. We pray that her life will be impacted greatly through God's love and she will see all the amazing things God is doing down here. Serving God is a sacrifice and brings a return far greater than anyone can imagine. I pray that she will also see that.
We look forward to a brief reprieve this month of February before the teams from the states begin to come. John is planning on travelling back to the states in the next few weeks and I would again ask that you join us in prayer that he will be able to make the proper contacts so we can find enough support to stay for several years.
We continue to praise God and trust that He will provide for our every need. There were so many answers to prayer this week with the medical team that I know without a doubt God will continue to answer our family prayers to allow us to continue to serve Him here in Nicaragua.
Friday, January 8, 2010
God is Good!
What a wonderful week I just had. I was able to do some training for the teachers down here all week. God provided an abundance of materials for me to share with them and some refreshments as well. Much of the material was new to them and they took many notes. I was so happy to share some of what I know with them and they also were very grateful for the time I spent with them this week. School starts for them next week monday and I pray that many of them will put into practice what I shared with them. Please join me in praying for the Compassion school as it starts a new year and that many children will learn about the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Weather, whether, whether you like it or not!
It sounds like many people on the east coast are dealing with some terribly cold weather. Snow, wind, storms! Actually, the weather down here has been unusual as well. At least for us it is unusual. The wind has been very strong. From what I understand we are heading into a very windy time, so windy it is dangerous. We will have to see how it all turns out. I certainly don't miss the 10 degree weather and am thankful more and more each day for the wonderful glorious warmth we have down here.
We have certainly enjoyed all the well wishes people have sent us over the holiday season.
We continually covet your prayers and support as we enter into a new year with many, many new experiences. The presence of our Lord and Savior is strong down here and from what we read His presence has been moving there in the states. Happy New Year to everyone and may your new year be one of accomplishments for the Lord.
We have certainly enjoyed all the well wishes people have sent us over the holiday season.
We continually covet your prayers and support as we enter into a new year with many, many new experiences. The presence of our Lord and Savior is strong down here and from what we read His presence has been moving there in the states. Happy New Year to everyone and may your new year be one of accomplishments for the Lord.
Friday, January 1, 2010
A new year!
How exciting! God has not only given us a new year, but a new decade and a new chance to be His arms and legs and body for Christ. I am hopeful this new year will bring many more people to Christ and the saving grace of salvation. With God before us, who can be against us. We are blessed to be down in Nicaragua and serving the Lord. He continues to provide for every need we have. Praise the Lord. As I was reading on facebook this morning, many people were sharing what they hope to accomplish in this new year.
As I reflect on this past year and what I would like to see happen in this new year, I come to the conclusion that without God's help I will not be able to accomplish anything. Therefore, as I decide what goals I would like to make, the first and foremost goal will be to spend more time in the Word of God. To earnestly seek Him and know that He is God. Among other goals, I would like to see the children's home we came down here to start actually start. God will have to do so many miracles for that to be accomplished and I will continue to pray for miracles. I know that God is in the business of miracles and if I have enough faith God will see to it that all things work together for His glory. Another goal I will strive for is to be more patient. Many times if I could have been patient for a longer time life would have worked out so much better. I know in my head that if I could wait on the Lord and His timing it would go more smoothly, but my heart sometimes pushes me to places I wish I wouldn't go. It is similar to what Paul said in Romans 7:15, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." What an amazing truth about life. We constantly struggle to do good and many people here in Nicaragua believe that if they are good they will go to heaven but it clearly states here in the Bible that we can not ever choose to do good because of our sinful nature. How humbling to know that no matter how hard I try I will never make it into the Kingdom of Heaven without the saving grace of Jesus Christ. I pray that as the new year gets underway that God will bless your life as you focus on Him and give your life over to His power and glory. To God be the Glory!! Happy New Year!
As I reflect on this past year and what I would like to see happen in this new year, I come to the conclusion that without God's help I will not be able to accomplish anything. Therefore, as I decide what goals I would like to make, the first and foremost goal will be to spend more time in the Word of God. To earnestly seek Him and know that He is God. Among other goals, I would like to see the children's home we came down here to start actually start. God will have to do so many miracles for that to be accomplished and I will continue to pray for miracles. I know that God is in the business of miracles and if I have enough faith God will see to it that all things work together for His glory. Another goal I will strive for is to be more patient. Many times if I could have been patient for a longer time life would have worked out so much better. I know in my head that if I could wait on the Lord and His timing it would go more smoothly, but my heart sometimes pushes me to places I wish I wouldn't go. It is similar to what Paul said in Romans 7:15, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." What an amazing truth about life. We constantly struggle to do good and many people here in Nicaragua believe that if they are good they will go to heaven but it clearly states here in the Bible that we can not ever choose to do good because of our sinful nature. How humbling to know that no matter how hard I try I will never make it into the Kingdom of Heaven without the saving grace of Jesus Christ. I pray that as the new year gets underway that God will bless your life as you focus on Him and give your life over to His power and glory. To God be the Glory!! Happy New Year!
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