Grace for each moment and living out my story of faith.

Our South Sudan IV attempts

This blog has been rather quiet. It’s quietness has been an indication of the craziness of life for us this past week. I love how God speaks to me so often when I am in prayer for others. Last week I was praying for my dear friend, I was praying for grace for her as she lived out each moment. See she was tired and rest seemed far away so I was up on Friday (1 week ago) night praying scriptural truths over her, and asking God to sustain her moment by moment with His grace. At 9pm I rushed outside where the kids were camping to the sound no mother wants to hear in the middle of the night. My oldest was sick and throwing up. I’ll spare you the details but by morning I had two sick girls and not a single clean sheet, tent, towel or diaper (which I was using as rags) to my name.

Throughout that sleepless night God quieted me by reminding me that he was enough for this moment and kept me from worrying about what the future held. Graceful moments appeared in many ways this past week. Ngdang (my teammate) came and hand washed laundry and sheets and towels with me so we were ready for the day, by the evening Ginna (our friend/doctor in Kenya that does field triage for us over the phone) was walking me through hydration and fever options for my five year old, Claire (another teammate) had IV supplies and as I settled into the night shift of waking up Flower-girl every 10 minutes to try and hydrate once again I was amazed by Grace. Over the next week grace took many forms as sleepless nights turned into a sleepless week, and as we prepared to get swiftly out of South Sudan into Nairobi for medical treatment for the girls. Grace was fervent prayers being prayed on our behalf, the hug of a neighbor, the pickup trick that took us to the airstrip, dinner cooked for our family, a bathroom just when we needed it, a pilot who put a bucket in the back for our journey, a reason to laugh when I wanted to cry, Claire’s presence and comfort, ice cream in our fridge when we arrived, the Arabic vocabulary to tell the janitor of the mess we had created in the bathroom, the hug of a friend at the airport, Debbie waiting at our apartment and care packages on the table, the taxi trip to the hospital, the unexpected toys in the waiting room, a book to read when I needed to be distracted, a toothbrush dropped off at the hospital, some kids dvd’s on loan and a warm meal when we were too tired to cook.

Every day I am in the midst of living out the story of Faith God has for me. My story of faith looks different then yours, then my kids, then my husbands but the beauty is that God gives me grace to wake up each day and step forth into the story He has written for me. That Friday when the girls got sick had I known what my week held I would have cried I CANNOT DO THIS! That cry would have been correct, I do not possess the strength to navigate sickness, traveling, doctors offices and hospitals with sick kids in a culture I am not familiar with…but as I leaned into the grace provided for each moment and walked down my story of faith God brought to me more strength then I could have imagined, not in excess but moment by moment when I needed it most. I am living out my story in ways I never anticipated and experiencing joy and grace moment by moment in ways I never dreamed.

We are still suffering from sleepless nights and while better Flower-girl is still sick but the God who provided grace for what lies behind us will faithfully provide us grace for what lies ahead as we lean into the story of Faith He has laid out for us and take joy in the many ways He gives us grace when we need it most.

Praying before we took this truck to meet our medivac flight

6 thoughts on “Grace for each moment and living out my story of faith.

  • 21 April, 2013 at 1:55 pm
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    Well said. Your life is becoming the story of a God who was there. A God who cares. A God worth knowing

  • 21 April, 2013 at 2:34 pm
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    Thank you for sharing this Abuk. It brings so much encouragement. Not only for your situation but in our own lives.

  • 21 April, 2013 at 4:43 pm
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    Thank you so much for sharing your story… I have been going through a difficult period of life, and you were able to put things in such perspective… God is so great, and what I am facing doesn’t involve my children, just me…But God’s grace is sufficient! I am so proud of you for keeping the faith and relying of Gods strength to pull you through this… I know a mothers heart is for her children, I am not sure I could have been as brave or as strong as you have been. May the Lord shower you in his blessings, for staying the course and honoring him in such a difficult time… Hugs, my sister in Christ!

  • 22 April, 2013 at 6:42 am
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    Thank you, as a mom with a sick child in the united States and how helpless I feel so helpless about in saving our daughter. I read your story and testomony of streangth and it brings tears to my eyes. You sound like an Amazing Mom . My husband and I ( our family ) attend First Baptist. This morning Paster Ben shared an update on your family. We are praying for you and your children. Your husband and your dedication to serve our Lord is incredible and to raise raise 4 children while doing so is beyond my comprehension. Be safe, and Thank You for all you do , and putting our lives in perspective ! I hope everyone is well soon. Do you have a address we cn send a csre package too ?

  • 22 April, 2013 at 6:47 am
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    I just asked a question about care packages and then found the information. I also saw my computor deletes letters sometimes so hope you could read the above email. GOD BLESS YOU ALL !!

  • 24 April, 2013 at 12:49 am
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    Wow! I received the link to your blog on the prayer request email from my Sunday School class at First Baptist, Eugene. Your words – your expressions of faith, trust, and peace blessed me deeply. I’m so thankful to have found you on here, to learn more of you than just being Pastor Ben’s family. You and your family will be in my prayers.

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