Friends, this week I was once again reminded of how God puts people and circumstances into our lives and how we react to them contributes to our growth as individuals.

I guess what I’m getting at is that the things that God has “planted” deep in our hearts, really without thought on our part is God-given and will be with us throughout our lives.

This is what I was reminded of this week after the second visit of a mom who gave birth to quadruplets in her home with only family to help her, the family decided that she should bring the babies and herself into the Clinic after one of the babies died at about 2 months old because the mother was not able to make enough milk to sustain all 4 babies with her nutritional level (this is typical in our very rural area of Nigeria) the access and availability of care as well as believing that going to a hospital or clinic will be beneficial to you or your baby (or babies in this case).  Also, as it is a poverty-stricken area, the funds for care are prioritized.  Frequently, unless you are VERY sick you don’t visit a medical center for treatment.  Okay that is the background, now on to what God reminded me of!

Back in late 80’s early 90’s I was blessed with a friend named Helen Eveland.  I loved Helen, she was a wonderful servant of God who served in Hawaii as a missionary for many years.  When she retired, she came back to live in the area she grew up in, Backus MN.  Helen had been single and was in her seventies I believe when she finally married another retired missionary.  Well, they spent about 9 months or a yearish working with a hospital with pygmy people in Africa somewhere.  After they returned back to Backus, Helen told us about her trip.  The thing that stood out to me was that a mother had twins at the hospital and one of them died because they only had one blanket.  This broke my young mother’s heart and I thought of the cruel injustice of this.  My children played with blankets, we had easy access to blankets, they were taken for granted in our lives!  Well, I decided I was going to do a blanket drive and send those blankets to the hospital.  I was told that frequently when you mail things to Africa they don’t get to their destination, it was VERY expensive for me to send the blankets that the kind ladies at church and families donated for me to send, but I knew if we prayed they would get there.  So off I sent them…..and waited!

Three years later  receive a letter and a picture from the hospital that I sent the blankets to.  It was a picture of them loading up the boxes.  EVERY single box made it there to the hospital.  They thanked me for the blankets and said they were very welcomed.

Seeing this mother and the three remaining babies reminded me of this similar circumstance that God had placed in my life so long ago!

Friends, there is injustice in this World, but we are not of THIS world.  He has called us to touch those that we can touch, to encourage those we can encourage, to pray with those that need prayer.  Unfortunately, I have not come up with a plan to eliminate slavery, human trafficking, starvation, or extreme poverty and corruption.  But I CAN do something with the people God puts in my path.

My thought for today is this:  What is God putting in your life today that is preparing you for tomorrow?  20 some years ago I definitely did not think I would be living in Africa, personally able to do this work He has called us to.   HHHHHHMMMMM!!!