Nairobi Day 10: Shock and Awe – by sara

my positive pregnancy test

Isaiah 8:18, “Here am I and the children the Lord has given me.  We are for signs and wonders…”

The past several days, several weeks in fact, have brought me nothing but stress and stomach flu – or so I thought.  I had been joking with Chad that my body was “acting pregnant” — remember, though, that every good joke contains an element of truth.

Being trained as a birth and postpartum doula, I know all the signs of pregnancy but I’ve long since stopped looking for those signs in myself since Chad had a vasectomy nearly 13 years ago.   Also to be taken into account is that before our wedding 15 years ago my doctor told me that my chances of ever conceiving were not very high.  But anyone who has known us since “the beginning” remembers  that God has already worked miracles to grow our family and keep our children alive.

Sabra was a honeymoon baby who surprised my doctor and our family, but for 10 weeks following her birth I had severe bleeding and a fever.  After passing out at our consignment shop one day, Chad took me to the St. Mary’s Emergency Room where a kind  midwife was on duty as a nurse.   She took one look at me and said  that I needed antibiotics and a D&C, –  or a miracle.   She also told me that she hadn’t ever seen such a bad uterine infection and that I shouldn’t get my hopes raised in regard to ever having more children.   Yet as she told me the “facts” as her job required,  all her words were infused with hope.

I  did start the antibiotics but that night we went to our church, First Assembly of God in Wyoming, Michigan, where Sam Rijfkogel prayed for my healing after the service.  He didn’t even touch me, but asked me to lay my hands on my stomach instead.  His only words were, “Womb be healed in Jesus’ name.”  Instantly warmth flooded through my body and I knew God had healed me.  Good thing I was near the exit door at the edge of the sanctuary and that the ladies room wasn’t far away.  I made it there just in time to get rid of the blackened horrible clots that had been causing all the cramping and infection.

This wasn’t the first time that I have seen my loving heavenly Father do His healing work, and it wasn’t the last.   Soon I was pregnant with Samuel, who is just 18 months and one day younger than Sabra, and at that point Chad & I began talking a lot about adoption.  It was then that we felt God prompting us for Chad to have the procedure, which he did in 1998.  Little did we suspect that now, after 15 years of marriage, 2 wonderful children, 12 moves and beginning life in 3 different countries that we would find ourselves pregnant!

I am blessed to have such a heritage of love for children given to me by my own mom,  by the women of Living Word Assembly of God and by others, like Pebbles & Stones founder Kalthleen Trock, who’ve sown “nurture” into my life by their example.  Isaiah 65:23 is a verse that gave me hope after Sabra was born.   It says, ” They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.” (NIV)

As you continue to journey through life, let a flame of hope kindle in your heart and remember that our Father’s promises are not just for me or for somebody else, they are for you.   Seek those moments of awe in His presence, being assured his grace and mercy will shock you, too!