Today I saw change, miracles of change.
The day started with me taking Krissy, Kelly, and Tricia to see Maureen and Cecil at the hospital. The hospital has done a 180 turn since the first day we were there. Now, the security guards let us in even when it isn't visiting hour, the nurses and doctors ask for prayer and all of the moms in the infant ward light up when we walk in. That's a big difference from the snubs we got four days ago when we walked in with Cecil.
We spend about an hour and a half in the ward praying big prayers of healing and recovery over the moms. There were babies with curled up fingers that relaxed, coughs that stopped and joy that over ran the place as we prayed. It was one of the most fulfilling experiences with our creator of my life. I held a little girl named Rachel that the mother said would not let anyone pick her up. She let me. Not only that, but she reached for me, and when I held her she laid her head on my shoulder. We prayed for about 10 babies and mothers, and their doctor. The joy in the room was tangible, instead of the sickness and sadness that was tangible the first day. God sent us with a bunch of joy for those people, and it overwhlemed them. We saw these mothers that we have gotten to know smile for the first time today. It was BEAUTIFUL! The pictures are on someone else's camera -- I'll get those when we get back to the states.
By the end of the day when two of our medical team peeps went back to check on Cecil and they walked in on all of the moms laughing and hanging out together. They called themselves sisters and said that this was the most blessed day of their lives. The babies were all alert and smiling for the first time. I lilke a good change miracle.
NEW Shoes:
This afternoon I watched as one of our team members gave a little boy his first new thing ever -- a pair of soccer shoes. The boy was so stoic all week, but when we put those shoes on him, tears of joy ran down his face.
Tonight we had a celebration of the goodness of what God has done this week. It ended with a baptism, and I was honored to baptize many of my team members including Susanna, Marianne, Sara and Lisa.
This week showed me that God claims things in this world that we think are impossible, and he makes them possible. We think that sick babies are sad, God sees an opportunity to heal. We see kids with no shoes, God finds a way for them to have the best shoes. We go from being totally warm and dry to all cold and wet -- God sees obedience and follows it with blessing.
Continue to pray for us -- trip two lands in a few hours!
6 comments:
Rachel,
Thank you for sharing so much of your heart with us in your blog. You and your hubby have been in my daily prayers, and I weep almost every time I click over here and read about what God is doing -- not only in amazing, tangible ways but in your hearts as well, the places only He can reach & touch. His love is too beautiful for words -- but you get pretty close in sharing that beauty with your words here. Thank you for that.
Rachel, I'm really identifying with you on this one. When you get back I want to share some possible news with you about ministering to the sick. Your experience at the hospital sounds phenomenal. You are so blessed to be able to bless others that way! Love you. Be safe.
AMAZING STORIES, Rachel! Thanks for writing even when you are tired.
Loveya.
Thank you for showing us the beauty of the children and mothers of South Africa. The Joy comes through your words and fills us here. A Baptism of the Spirit.
Mom
Rachel, Once again, thanks for making your posts. The kids and I have been thinking of Kim and where exactly she is from yesterday afternoon's departure from DC to presumably touching down about 90 minutes ago.
For others of us still in the states, I've created a list of the blogs that I know about here: http://orangeshirtguy.blogspot.com/2007/07/theyre-off.html
Your stories are real and great, keep them coming.
Dave
Rachel...thank you so much for bringing those of us at home this year along on the trip...your experiences are amazing and God is reaching through the computer and touching people thousands of miles away through your words. He's incredible.
P.S. - if you happen to meet a little girl named Lucy, tell her Sara loves her and misses her.
Post a Comment