Last Friday, a mother came to Hope Center Clinic because she was in labor. After assessment, Tony felt he needed to send her to the hospital. Her BP was a bit high, and she was running a 102 temp. Before loading her up in the truck, he decided to check to see how dilated she was. To his surprise, there was a tiny foot with wiggling toes there! The baby was not going to wait for the truck, and she was breach! Tony had never delivered a breach baby, but after a quick prayer for guidance, he proceeded with delivery. The tiny baby arrived without complication, but mom’s temp was still high. They began to massage mom’s tummy when Tony noticed the head of a second baby beginning to crown! There were twins! Baby number 2 was delivered safely as well, but mom’s health was deteriorating. Quickly, they bathed & weighed the babies and finished the delivery so they could take mom and babies to the hospital.
After the doctors at St. Damien’s assessed the mother, they determined that she needed 6 pints of blood. In Haiti, it costs the donor $25 to donate blood, so finding donors was going to be a challenge. The father returned to HC Clinic to talk with Tony about the situation. After much discussion, Tony found out that the father is not a Christian but rather a voodoo priest. Tony was concerned that this might limit their ability to find donors as well. He prayed for God to give him love, wisdom and the words to guide the conversation. Suddenly Tony remembered that the last team at HC had left $150 cash for him to do with as he saw need. He realized that this family needed to experience the love of Jesus in a way that they had never seen before. The father said, “If your God is a loving god, then he will save my wife and babies.” Tony said, “Well He IS a loving God, and He has already provided a way to get donors for your wife, and he gave the father the $150 to pay for donors.” Next the father said, “Well, the babies have been separated from their mother. They need food. Will your God provide formula as well?” Tony said, “We will pray and ask for God will provide.” They prayed and then Tony got up and went into the clinic and came out with two bottles and two large canisters of formula for the babies. The father’s eyes rimmed with tears and he thanked Tony for helping. Tony reminded him that HE (Tony) doesn’t have money and things to give, but our God is a loving God who provides and He knew this man’s family’s needs before he even came to the clinic. The father promised to keep in touch, and left to return to his wife and babies at the hospital. Please pray for the health of both mother and babies and pray for God to continue doing a work in the heart of this father. God is clearly up to something! God calls us to love one another as He loves us, and without judgement, share His love with those who do not know His love. Thank you Jesus for Your unconditional LOVE!!
Today, at 7:00 a.m., before starting the clinic, Tony and Vladimir went to the home of the new babies to find them healthy and sleeping in their bed with mom nearby. All are recovering well, and we are all celebrating yet another miracle of LOVE from our Father who loves and provides.
Please pray for continued opportunities for ministry to this family as well as wisdom and provision. Our God is a god of unfailing LOVE, and He desires to show His love to all who would call upon His Name. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” This is a PROMISE from the Word of God, and His provision is designed to show how great His love is for ALL of us! Romans 2:4 says, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” We pray that as we show God’s provision for the needs of many people daily, they will experience His “kindness, forbearance, and patience,” and that unconditional love will lead to repentance and faith in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” We know what it is like to work daily in complete dependence upon God’s provision. We are provided all we need daily so that we can “abound in every good work.” This is the way God intended for ALL of us to live – in complete trust and faith that He will and DOES provide.
You don’t have to live in a third world country to know what it means to need the love and provision of Jesus. ALL of us can claim the promises He gives in His Word and discover what it means to not just live, but to live abundantly! Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever!” It is God’s desire that His children not live in defeat, but rather in complete and abundant Joy. John 10:10 says, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” This is the promise we claim to those who are seeking relief from their pain and sorrow. Jesus gives Joy that is beyond our ability to comprehend. HIS Joy is not guided by circumstances, but rather by HOPE and FAITH in a loving God who knows our needs and gives us strength to overcome all adversity. He is HOPE, He is JOY,….He is GOD!!
haitiwest 