Counting blessings in the unexpected

This week hasn’t looked anything like we thought it would (but really no matter where you live what week does?). I am writing from Nairobi at the children’s hospital here. We arrived in Nairobi about 24 hours ago, on a very fast flying medevac flight. We were met at the airport by an ambulance and then at the hospital by our fabulous teammates. In the spirit of honesty I am completely overwhelmed by it all. Daniel presented with “Acute” vomiting on Sunday morning and by Monday we knew we couldn’t keep him hydrated with our supplies much longer. This all came when we felt we were running on empty so I decided to keep a thankful journal. I hope you are blessed as I am to see the Lord’s gracious dealings with us. We are leaning into this beautiful grace this week.

1) Amazing teammates in Melut who never made us feel like a burden and provided childcare, meals, medical care, transport and logistical help to get us out fast. They are exhausted and never offered us anything but grace and love

2) The UN who was able to help us get an IV line in. Honestly D wouldn’t have made it to NRB unless we could iv hydrate and they were able to find a clean line when none of us could

3) My husband, who bravely attempted placing an IV line in his two year old dehydrated son for the first ever attempt , knowing the stakes were high and succeeded first try.

4) After sad goodbyes an unexpected sleepover for all our kids at the Faders house, their laughter was so sweet to hear after all the tears of goodbyes and my amazing friend who made breakfast for them and hosted a sleepover for six kids…Nyadeng is amazing.

5) Beautiful star and sunset before we left.

6) An amazing pumpkin meat dish for dinner compliments of Bethany

7) Claudia coming in to help with logistics, hug and let me be

8) Eli’s gently solid leadership and the way his humility and grace makes it easy to submit to authority

9) Claire, almost her whole life she has served in East Africa and is phenomenal at all she does. She extends nothing but loving grace when during this very busy season she took over all patient care

10) A dehydrated child which made him sleep the entire flight out.

11) Our pilot who got word we needed a medical evac, had 15 minutes to pack, head to Nairobi on a commercial flight and then flew out at 5:30am to pick us up

12) Samartin’s purse who provided a fast plane that got us out of South Sudan in 1/3 of the time it usually takes.

13) My husband who once again has three kids by himself and has never complained

14) Mark and Stacey, who met me at the hospital so I wasn’t alone, and even brought yummy dinner so I didn’t have to eat hospital liver the first night here.

15) Debbie and the logistics team who were able to get us a flight out in just 12 hours from request (it can take up to two days)

16) Being familiar with Gertrudes, same Doctor and even gastro specialist as last time…same nursing staff and same room in the hospital. Familiarity is good.

17) A swift clear uncomplicated diagnosis of roto-virus. Which our team doctor reminded me is one of the top 5 causes of child death here…not from the virus itself but severe dehydration, praise the Lord for IV’s! (and yes folks he was vaccinated)

18) Danny’s illness happened after we had said most of our goodbyes and participated in graduation festivities.

19) A boy who is still very sick but responsive to stimulation and opinionated again.

20) All of your prayers

21) Chelle and Kevin for arranging meals, and our teammates who volunteered so we wouldn’t have to worry as J single dads it

22) Stacey who got on the phone with our pediatrician, filled him in and arranged immediate (well as immediate as anything is here) admittance into the hospital

23) The privilege of knowing you have nothing left to give and knowing it is ok because I can lean into the Grace of our God who supplies in abundance when we trust in Him.

* For current updates on our 2 year old please check our facebook page: www.facebook.com/gospelwater