Here’s what God spoke to me this morning through Oswald Chamber’s writing…

“Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life:

gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth.

This is generally said with a sigh of sadness; it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step,

but we are certain of God.

Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time. When we become advocates of a creed, something dies; we do not believe God, we only believe our belief about Him. Jesus said “Except ye … become as little children.” Spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next. If we are only certain in our beliefs, we get dignified and severe and have the ban of finality about our views;

but when we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous,

joyful uncertainty and expectancy.^[1]”

I sat this morning quiet and still, feeling so weak and exhausted, but internally so filled and encouraged by these words.   The uncertainty of my days has marked so many months.  I read this and heard Jesus affirm, that this is exactly what He wants of my life.  Not to live by routine and schedule and order—which I often crave and find security in, but rather a life that is lived day by day.  So, today, I prayed again for this—to be positioned and ready for His will.

I actually was feeling awful—I even teased Dave about taking the ‘day off’ to stay home with me.  I wasn’t sure how I would even get breakfast on the table or begin our day of schooling.  I was mustering all I had to make some oatmeal and direct the morning routine, when Dave ran in the door.

“Jewels, will you come hold a baby who’s freezing?…He’ll die if you don’t.”  I really had to ask him to repeat what he said and expand a bit.  “A baby was found, he was just brought in…I’ve never felt a baby this cold…he needs to go skin to skin and no one will do it.”

Of course.  My heart was in.  My flesh was not.  A million thoughts and emotions raced through my mind…”immediately abandon to God”. 

The gracious uncertainty just changed the course of my whole day.

God, give me the strength, please…

I knew what had happened…the baby had been born during the night and placed in the ditch.  I knew he would be dirty and stinky and cold…and how could I hold another woman’s baby to my chest?  Because Jesus asked me to.

My precious kids…moved their feet so quickly to keep up with Daddy and I across that field to the hospital.  Granola bars and books in hands…I didn’t speak.  I wanted them with me, but was fearful of what they may see and experience in these next few hours.

The baby was wrapped in blankets but was blue and freezing…Dave quickly unwrapped him—found that he still had 8 inches of his umbilical cord attached and was covered with dirt and sand.  I took a deep breath, asked for strength for my weak flesh…my weak heart. My heart.  Oh, the Father’s heart.  He rescued him from a pit.  Dave clamped his cord and quickly tried to brush off some of the dirt.

Into my sweatshirt…on top of my big round belly, this little boy snuggled.  He felt a bit like cold meat against my skin…his temperature would not even register on the thermometer.  He cried and wiggled, pushed…then realized he could stop fighting.  He rested.  My baby girl inside pressed and kicked and shared her warmth.

I read and sang to my kids…and to this little baby.  We sang “Jesus Tender Shepherd”…I had a picture of Jesus holding this precious life all through the night—never leaving him…protecting him and rescuing him.  “Angels kept him through the night…”

Caleb responded to this line…”Mommy, God gave him an angel…and now you’re his angel.”  Maija prayed, “God, keep him in your glory.”  I just prayed…”Thank you, Father…please let me hold life, not death today.”

For two hours, this freezing little body was on me.  As he felt, I felt numb…There was overwhelming sadness…and so much hope.  Had God chosen me today, just to hold this little one—to be a harbor for life to be restored?  Why was this little boy thrown to the side?  What desperation did this mommy have?  What grace that rescued him?  This song,  “HE holds the orphan in his loving arms…this is who You are…”  Our Father loves so deeply…

     “We do not know what a day will bring forth…but we are CERTAIN of GOD.”

After 2 hours, I began to feel a warmth on my stomach…his little cheeks were turning pink…his fist balled up was no longer cold against me, his cold little toes were now wrapped warmly around my baby belly.  I took the temperature again.  34.5 degrees C.  It registered!  He was warming.  Thank you, Father.  From then, every 10 minutes, I checked and his temperature was rising.  I felt such a depth of joy…and team work with this little boy…He was strong and brave, and I kept telling him that.  I prayed restoration over his little spirit.

By noon, his temperature was up to 37 degrees C…and he had swallowed a few drops of formula.  We were ready to admit him and I was thankful.  God saved.  So amazing and so unexpected.  I felt a strange awareness that God chose to simply use my warmth and my willingness.  There seemed to be nothing extraordinary about what God asked.  It was precious to hold a little life for HIM.  I felt humbled…humbled to hold one of his children, humbled to sit and be dirty and stinky, humbled to watch life come back…to feel it so close.

Today, God spoke clearly to me… “Simply position yourself to be available to me. It may not be extraordinary; I just want your heart.  I want your, “Yes.”

So, today where we are, let’s be certain of our Father.  Let’s position ourselves before Him, ready and willing to serve Him.      Today, I was given new riches IN Christ.

“Ficker“…means “Love”…here she is.  Only by the LOVE of the FATHER.

She was born while Dave was gone on his outreach to the South.  As the helicopter landed, a nurse from the hospital came out and met Dave–sharing with him that one of the other doctors at our hospital had delivered her baby early…she wasn’t even 27 weeks…

Her birthweight was 750 grams…not even 2 cans of Coke.

She was born a day before being 27 weeks.  Three and a half months early.  In the States, she would have a 70% chance of living.  But it is God who chooses.  Here, in most places, if a baby is born before 28 weeks, no intervention will be given…the baby wrapped and handed to the parents until they pass away.

Our OBGYN, Dr. Mark Karnes, was able to give steroids and care to this sweet mommy and baby before she entered the world, giving her lungs a little extra strength.  Dave has been daily caring for this little life and adjusting her fluids a milliliter at a time.

Today, Baby Ficker, reached 29 weeks.  This is truly a miracle.  Her life is still very much in the balance, each moment.  God’s grace and strength are needed for her to grow and develop.  She is now 880 grams…not even 2 pounds.

Will you please pray for her?  Her family is trusting Jesus in a precious way and are showing incredible strength.  Their first daughter, who is now 4, was born at 28 weeks!  We sense God has a special plan for this family…and for showing HIS glory through them.

Today was sweet…we had friends join us for our brunch and Daddy shared his devotion.  The lesson today was that we should honor the Sabbath..but more than obeying a rule, God desires our hearts—full surrender and complete obedience.  Today that devotion that came from Dave’s heart– was for Dave.

He needs his day of rest each week—more than ever before, I think.  But today, I saw God pour into him in the midst of a constant demand and constant needs.

During breakfast he was called in to see 2 patients.

He went to a funeral of a friend’s brother at noon, came straight back to a last minute meeting at the hospital, came home and was soon called again.

God gave him a couple hours at home before our church time, but again at the very end of our church service he was called back for an urgent patient.

He came home, shared his stories from the day while trying to shovel some soup and bread down…and his phone rang again.  Another baby had just arrived in a coma. The kids are in bed now, and he is still at the hospital while I sit and reflect and write.  I’m so thankful.

The child that struck me the most today was the one that came during church.  This little girl had gotten a very bad pneumonia, most likely.  Often here, when parents are fearful and unsure of what is wrong they will take their children to a ‘faith-healer’…that is what happened today. This is the third time Dave has seen this since we’ve arrived here—the ‘faith-healer’ in order to help the child breathe, will reach down and basically rip out the tonsils.  I know this is horrible…but of course, it causes so much trauma and it compromises the child’s health even more…

So, here this little one came in barely able to breathe, struggling to hold on to Life.  Dave and an amazing team here were able to get her stabilized and with a very jerry-rigged CPAP machine they were able to get her breathing almost back up to normal tonight…

…another from death to life.  We are praising God.

The kids and Dave and I worked one day a few weeks ago to try and create some type of breathing machine for babies and children. Dave thought we were unsuccessful with that, but over the past 2 weeks, he has been able to tweak it a bit to make it functional again.  Amazing what God does here…we are so thankful to be here and be a part of watching Him rescue and give Life.

We are also so excited and thankful for all of you that gave so generously and prayed for a sweet 9 year old who RAISED $8,000 for his BIRTHDAY to gift our hospital here with 3 real CPAP machines that will last and function well in a third world environment!  We are so grateful, Little J!!!  We can’t wait for you to hear of all the little children and babies that will have a chance at life, because of your heart and obedience to your Father!! HE USED YOU!!

This morning, the WORD spoke to us…asked us to listen and then called us to another day of laying down our agenda or needs to obey Him.  I watched my precious husband lead by example today and again offer his life up…It is obedience He desires, not sacrifice.  Pray we count this all JOY as we learn to be filled up in the pouring out.

He stood on the stairs, hugged me and said, “Can I show you a picture? And I need to ask you something?”  I knew.  But I looked at the picture anyway.  This little girl–just the age of my Evie lay there in this photo, not even looking human.  Her eyes were bulging and swollen and oozing with the mucosa from around her eyes.  Her little body was frail.  “Can I drive her to Addis?”  What could I say?  I packed sandwiches for Dave, injera and wat for the family.  The kids were sad, but so strong.  We hugged a very tired, but preciously obedient Daddy and waved goodbye.

The entire situation was very difficult.  It was a long drive back up and they were met with challenging issues at the hospital in Addis.  Dave had been given mis-information over the phone, so the family was responsible to pay for all the care–we thought it was free…they are from South of Soddo, so they speak no English and probably very little Amharic.  They were asked to fill out 9 forms in English and then unfortunately had to spend 2 nights in the ER.

Dave was discouraged and exhausted, but was able to push through.  He got the family as situated as possible and was thankful for a new oncologist in Addis to refer patients to.  God is bringing workers here–it is so badly needed.  He felt confident he did as the Lord asked and did all he could do…so he drove back home to us.  He arrived home Wednesday evening and was able to bring 2 men from our sending agency, Global Outreach International, with him on the ride South.  They would be in Soddo for a few days visiting with all the missionary families from GOI and also accompanying Dave on his outreach to the S. Tribes.  It was a gift to get 6 hours in the car to share and get to know them.

Thursday was full of work and preparation for the outreach.  Friday, the helicopter came and off they flew.  The weekend was filled with JESUS. With His LIFE.  His baptism.  His Word going forth.  Just SEE what God is doing…

50 believers in the T’ara Villages were BAPTIZED!!

(Despite swarms of angry bees, these believers stood firm and were baptized!  Four times this many people journeyed to this pool of water, but so many were chased away by the bee attack.  These precious ones stood strong and were blessed!!)The procession, praising, singing and JOY on the way to the baptism was absolutely beautiful!!More of the WORD fell on hungry hearts…JOY in worship…Medicine and compassion are being shared…Dave says in this village in particular he is seeing a true change in the health of the community!! Amazing!The K Tribe saw a book for the first time…ever.  Ben will teach the Word and teach them how to read…over time.  Can you even imagine?More teaching on the hillside!! I cannot even believe the EXTENT OF GOD’S LOVE…through 3 languages He is communicating His grace to this village–so ready to receive!! Please pray for the T’ara people…they need prayers for strength, courage and protection.He is reaching to the ENDS OF THE EARTH!! Please PRAISE HIM WITH US!!

We are learning about the Giver of Life.  How He gives and takes away.  How He truly is the Healer—the Sovereign One over each life He creates or draws back to Himself. But, my husband is here to help and to bring healing when he can, so he decided to fight against the enemy taking so many little ones too early here-by taking their breath.  He decided to fight.  He came home one night and said,  “I just need to get mad at this, not throw a helpless pity party.  I need to get the tools here so I can do everything I know I can do to help.” 

We discussed this for awhile and decided to try and make some special breathing machines for babies, called CPAP.  This was an amazing attempt as a family—we were all so excited, but there were some problems with the machines and they would not allow air to go in both directions.

Just as Dave was looking at our budget and seeing if we could afford to buy some 3^rd world CPAP machines, we received a precious email.  There is a family who adopted 2 boys from Soddo many years ago.  Their son, J, is turning 9 and wanted to ‘give his birthday’ away this year!  He wrote to Soddo Christian Hospital to see if there were any needs he could try to meet with his birthday!! I absolutely LOVE kids like this—I love their hearts…I love how God creates hearts like HIS…that beat for the things that His beat for.

The TOTAL for 3 CPAP machines, which is Dave’s hope is a little over $8000!! This little boy thought he could raise money for one, but was hoping and praying to raise enough for all 3….he’s at $6000 now!!! And his birthday is approaching.  I believe that God would love to do this for this little boy—to pour out more faith, more generosity, more JOY into this gift…and I believe He would love to touch the people of Soddo with these tools.

 This GOOD Friday…

Let’s together make this little boy’s birthday prayer become a reality…and let’s give this gift of LIFE and BREATH to precious lives here in Soddo!!

Here’s J’s letter…so inspiring.

http://the7w.blogspot.com/2013/03/our-sweet-j-decided-to-give-away-his.html

Here’s where you can give.  ALL to JESUS.

http://www.soddo.org/give_nd.asp.

Can you just imagine living like this?
Can you imagine the daily struggle to survive?
Can you imagine one day, a helicopter lands, a white man emerges, he opens his mouth and speaks your native language? Really.
Part of this untouched, unreached tribe—that is truly an endangered people group—speaks the same language that God taught Ben many years ago. So, as God allowed Ben to find these people, He had prepared in advance the way for the WORD to go forth from Ben’s own lips. Can you imagine? Can you imagine the unbelievable gift…Can you imagine how these people of the river and of the bush perceived all of this? Can you even fathom the LOVE and the perfect plan of God to reach this people?
And then, can you imagine a doctor who said, “Yes,”? That’s it really. Just being available. He hops on this helicopter and flies once a month. And striving to be like Jesus—to show Jesus—these men teach, reach out…and God does the healing. Please pray for these souls as they really are HEARING for the very first time.
THIS IS THE TIME…PLEASE PRAY WITH US!!