Tuesday, February 7, 2012


Give praise to the LORD, proclaim His name;
   make known among the nations what He has done Ps. 105:1


On January 6th I had the privilege of meeting my newest granddaughter for the first time.  What a joy to finally hold her!  Yet it was with great concern that we observed her way-too-tiny frame.  Her big brown eyes captured my heart immediately.
The chances to hold her were few because she was again admitted to the hospital.  When we talked to the pediatrician at the hospital, he guessed her age to be about 4 1/2 -5 months.  She weighed about 8 lbs.  The basic diagnosis- failure to thrive. We felt so helpless.  Needless to say when we left that hospital room, our hearts were very heavy with concern for her health.  We had to put her in God’s hands.
We returned home, my daughter-in-law tried to find a family that was going to Ethiopia to take special formula for her but there was no one going for a couple of weeks.  She checked into a shipping company who told her they could ship it for a few hundred dollars.  However they were honest with her, telling her it would most likely sit in customs until some government official decided to release it- no guarantees!
The thought crossed her mind, “I wonder if God wants to do something special here?”  My verse to her was that our God was a God who can do more than we can even imagine. I think He really wanted to show usJ
So “randomly” she Googled “sending formula to Ethiopia”, having no idea of what she would find.   Up pops a website, www.intothestreetsofethiopia.com, a Christian organization that sends formula to Ethiopia.  Jodi called them and they immediately put out an urgent email and FB message asking if anyone was going to Ethiopia.  Within 24 hours an attorney from Arkansas was on his way with $525 worth of formula donated by his family’s pediatrician.  You have to understand this formula is special and comes with a hefty price tag.
The next hurdle was finding someone over there that could go to the airport to meet him rather late at night and get the formula; he was only passing through.  Again God answered prayer!  God faithfully worked out all the details and she has been getting the formula for 2 weeks.
God is so amazing!  While we were there, we met a young mom who is patiently- probably impatiently by now- waiting for her embassy appointment.  Chrissy has graciously gone out of her way many times to visit our little girl and make sure she is getting her special formula and that everything is being done properly.  Even though her appointment has been delayed, she has been a God-send to our family! Please pray that she gets her appointment soon and that everything goes smoothly for her.  She has blessed us so much.
 
What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows”.  Matt 10:29-31

Somehow, when I think of what God has been doing for our special little one, I am reminded of the sparrow.  In the eyes of the world, she is just a little girl that really doesn’t matter.  BUT to God and our family she is special and He knows every hair on that small head with the big brown eyes and He is taking care of her until we can bring her home.
We just received a weight report and she is now 10.5 lbs!!

To be continued....