Our God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing our God cannot do!

Dear Friend and Family,
Last night a very close friend shared that a friend of hers was in the hospital. Without knowing the situation, I started praying. I awoke in the middle of the night, and she was on my mind. Then again this morning, I was overwhelmed with this burden to pray. Tonight I got more of the story and now I understand why the Lord kept bringing this friend to mind...in fact, it's not just her one friend, but a couple and their newborn baby. Though I don't know them, God has placed them in a special place in my heart and I long to hear stories of His great faithfulness in delivering them from this difficult situation. This family is desperately in need of a miracle. Please join me in praying that the Lord will provide just that for Randy, Gaby, and their baby Adrián. Also pray for strength, hope, and joy for these new parents.
The story is as follows:
Feb. 24, Adrián was born. He was born 2 months premature because Gaby (the mother) had preeclampsia. The baby was born weighing only 2 pounds, he's tiny! A few days ago, he was moved to a national hospital and is now in an even more delicate state: he has pneumonia, septicemia (bacteria in the blood), he had an intestinal hemorrhage, edema (swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues), and he's now had about five blood transfusions. The prognosis is not good.

In this hospital where the baby is now, Gaby and Randy (the father) only have 30 minutes to see the baby each day, and it's one at a time. Gaby hadn't even recovered from the C-section when she was hospitalized (in a different hospital) Tuesday because of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVP- a blood clot). She will be kept in the hospital five days, without being able to see her son Adrián. Randy was also affected by partial facial paralysis on the same day Gaby was admitted to the hospital.

La Historia en Español:
El 24 de febrero nació Adrián. Adrián nació de siete meses porque a Gaby, mi amiga, le dio preclampsia y hubo que intervenirla de emergencia. Mi chiquito pesó solo dos libras, es diminuto! Hace unos días lo trasladaron a un hospital nacional y ahora está en un estado todavía más delicado: tiene neumonía, septicemia, tuvo hemorragia intestinal, tiene edema y ya lleva como cinco transfusiones de sangre. El pronóstico no es nada bueno.

En este hospital, mis amigos Gaby y Randy tienen solo 30 minutos para verlo cada día, uno por uno. La Gaby ni descansó de la cesárea, hasta que la hospitalizaron a ella (en un hospital diferente) el martes porque le dio trombosis venosa. Entonces, estará internada cinco días sin ir a ver a Adrián =( Y bueno, el mismo martes, a Randy le dio parálisis facial nerviosa!

Again, I know the family and friends of this sweet new baby covet your prayers. Thank you! "The prayer of a powerful man is righteous and effective."-James 5:16.

Being the Body

January was a month filled with lessons in humility and trust. 3 weeks without a car left me completely dependent on others not only to take me to and from school each day, but also to provide me with a place to stay. (My house is too far away to get rides to/from there daily.) Additionally, a number of serious migraines left me completely incapacitated. It was during that time which I was overwhelmed by the body of Christ loving through actions and not only words. I cannot express the gratitude I felt toward the Lord for placing such individuals in my life nor toward those individuals for willingness to help in any and every way. So…what does the body of Christ look like in action? I’d venture to say the following:

It looks like a family opening their home to someone in need of a place to stay indefinitely.

It looks like an individual giving up her bed for days so that another might have a comfortable place to stay.

It looks like rides to and from work, and cars loaned out to individuals in need of transportation.

It looks like visiting a friend’s sick mother in the hospital, though she’s unconscious and may never know you were there.

It looks like calling for appointments, and taking the sick to the doctor and to have tests run.

It looks like bringing dinner to a friend who is too sick to get out of bed...your bed, at that.

It looks like heartfelt prayers in any language.

It looks like phone calls and e-mails of encouragement.

It looks like providing for physical needs, be they financial or otherwise.

It looks like a hug on a hard day. And on a good one.

It looks like making one feel like family.

It looks like sincere love for others.

To all those who have helped me during the ups and downs of life in Guatemala, THANK YOU! And to those who have prayed for me, even from hundreds or thousands of miles away, know that you are being the Body in a very real way too, and I appreciate every prayer prayed on my behalf! I couldn't be here doing what I am, without you!