A Week of Praise

Feliz aniversário!  That greeting rang out several times this week as we celebrated birthdays at five different bairros in Project Life.  Twice a year the ROL likes to celebrate birthdays in the project because it is by God's grace that each of these precious people celebrate another year. It was a pleasure to treat our friends with pop, cupcakes and cookies and watch them dance, clap and sing praises to God for His blessings.  Of course the neighborhood children joined in at each bairro - it was too irresistable! There always is so much to praise God about as He continues to answer prayers in Dondo...

I often pray for people but don't always have the chance to see how God answered.  This week I was blessed to see two miraculous answers.  I was about to get in my car when a woman caught my arm and simultaneously greeted me.  I recognized her face but I couldn't place her.  She proudly displayed her baby girl whom I didn't recognize at all.  Then it hit me!  It was baby Isabel!  In April I had found this frightened, fragile, and failure-to-thrive AIDS baby adorned with witchcraft charms lying in a hospital bed.  I had told Isabel's mom I couldn't pray for her baby if she continued to wear the charms.  We explained the gospel to her and she accepted Christ, took off the charms from Isabel's body and asked us to pray.  We continued to pray for her until they released her from the hospital a couple weeks later. I had no idea what God's plans were for Isabel. Without His intervention I knew she wouldn't live, though I had peace that she was in His care.  Now I was staring at her in disbelief because she had gained so much weight that I didn't recognize her!  God's mercy is great. And it just gets better...

Last year a man came to me in Project Life asking for prayer for his wife who had suffered several miscarriages.  I hesitantly prayed for them because I honestly didn't know what God's will would be for a husband and wife who were suffering from AIDS. I knew God was the giver of life so I prayed in faith that He would make the best choice for this couple.  This week the wife gave birth to a healthy baby girl.  And guess what?  They named her Pam. I can't wait to hold her and see this little black baby that shares my name.  What a great gift God has given this little family.  What an encouragement to see God's mercy on all of us.