A Quick Update & Some EXCITING NEWS!

*** I wrote this 2 months ago, but was afraid to post it :)  When you read the EXCITING NEWS part, you will understand why.  I think it's safe to post this now! *** 

Let me start with a medical update.  I saw my surgeon Dr. White on 3/8/11 for a follow-up appointment.  Everything checked out fine.  The plan is for me to see him again in July and get a new baseline mammogram at that time.

On April 1, I saw my radiologist Dr. Bobo for a follow-up too.  My skin has recovered really well from radiation, and I will not need to see him again until October.  During my appointment, Dr. Bobo asked me about my plans for the summer.  When I mentioned going on mission trips, we (including the nurse who spent 4 1/2 years as a missionary in Rwanda) ended up having a lengthy conversation about God, mission trips, and His provision!

Then, I was able to spend some time with my friend Tonya who works at the front desk.  She was sick during the last 3 days of my radiation so we had not said goodbye yet.  What a strong Christian lady and foster parent!  It truly has been a privilege to meet her and the other wonderful people at radiation.

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Now for some EXCITING NEWS!

Before I had my surgery on December 1, my friend Jamie B. from church sent me an e-mail making sure we had people bringing us meals after my operation.  My friend Sheri set up a meal website and Jamie helped spread the word to the ladies at Bible study.  

Honestly, I felt guilty.  I know that bringing meals is the Baptist Christian way, but my family and I are so blessed.  And God had already begun burdening our hearts for the people living in poverty in Africa, especially the children.  They were (are) literally starving to death while we had a pantry full of food and a list of people waiting to bring us more food! 

So we prayed about how to handle this.  God led my husband and I to make a donation to a ministry in Africa for every meal someone brought to us.  This was a win/win situation. We would donate the grocery money we saved (because generous people like you provided meals for us) so others in Africa could have their needs met. 

In my pea brain small thinking, I figured we would get meals for about a week.  Ha! Ha! Ha! I obviously forgot how BIG MY GOD IS and how much HE LOVES THE POOR & NEEDY!!!!!

"Praise the Lord!

Yes, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Praise the name of the Lord!
² Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and forever.
³ Everywhere—from east to west—
praise the name of the Lord.
⁴ For the Lord is high above the nations;
      His glory is higher than the heavens.

⁵ Who can be compared with the Lord our God,
who is enthroned on high?
⁶ He stoops to look down
on heaven and on earth.
⁷ He lifts the poor from the dust
and the needy from the garbage dump.
 ⁸ He sets them among princes,
even the princes of His own people!"

Psalm 113: 1-8 (NLT)

The Message says

"He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,
rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,
Seats them among the honored guests,
a place of honor among the brightest and best."

Psalm 113:7-8           

Let's just say that one week of meals turned into 4 MONTHS of meals!!! 

God impressed upon the hearts of my friends (who would not take no for an answer) to keep organizing meals for us (no names - Tina, Angela, Sheri, Lisa!)  And God impressed upon the hearts of sooooo many of you to bring us meals, whether if you were scheduled to or not! 

Time after time, I would come home to find a meal waiting on the porch or get a call from one of you asking if you could bring over some food.  God prompted you to prepare a meal and you chose to be obedient!

What I want you to understand is that while you were blessing us with a meal, you were also ministering to the needy in Africa!!!  This was so much bigger than me, us and a meal. 

On 3 separate occasions, I thought the meals were finished.  I would be just about to make the donation, and then more meals would come!  Each time, I wanted to say no to the meals, but then God would remind me this was NOT ABOUT ME! 

And while God taught me many, many lessons about allowing others to help me, ultimately He taught me this:  When He prompts me to do something, like fix a meal, send a card, make a call, speak to someone I don't know, etc., I need to do it immediately - even especially if it doesn't make sense because He is at work all around me and on so many different levels.  I can't see the whole picture, but He can.  I need to trust Him.  I need to obey Him. 

It is such a privilege to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of others.  And I for one  do not want to miss a single opportunity or miss HIM!

Without any further ado......

Guess how many meals we received??!!!  Remember, initially I was thinking 6 or 7 at the most.  But, God had much, much bigger plans!  Are you ready???...

Drum roll please.........

!!!65 MEALS!!!

Oh! My! Can you believe it!!!  You all are so very, very generous! 

And because of your generousity and obedience, we decided to make a donation to 2 different ministries in Africa - Amazima Ministries in Uganda (I dare you to read Katie's blog :) particularly her June 3 post) and The Mercy House in Kenya (I double dare you to read Kristen's blog  :) as she and her family, including her 3 young children, leave for Kenya on Saturday for nearly a month - she actually has a prayer calendar you can download.  Be sure to read about Maureen too.  I heard her story at Student Life Camp last summer.  She is a very grateful, giving, God-fearing woman.  She is a living testimony of how God rescues people from poverty through the generousity of others.  In her case, it was through Compassion International .)

Why these 2 ministries you ask.  Well, those stories are God stories for another post.

So, if you felt prompted by God to bring us a meal but never did, you can still be obedient. You can donate the money you would have spent on the meal to The Mercy House or Amazima Ministries or to a ministry of your choice. JUST DO SOMETHING to help others!  No amount is too small.  What we consider to be a little ($3, $5) becomes a whole lot in God's hands!

I also wanted to add that Lucia brought us a delicious meal AND gave us some extra money to donate!  Thank you Lucia!

I've said it before but feel like I need to say it again... THANK YOU for the way you have ministered to me and my family through your meals, prayers, cards, phone calls, smiles, hugs, gifts, etc.  GOD USED YOU TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES! AND IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN AFRICA!

Loving HIM with all  my heart & soul,

Nancy