The Beauty of Ministry

Throughout my time with Lydia, not only was I ministering to her, but my King Jesus was ministering to me.

During this time, He spoke this beautiful verse over me:

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" ~Matthew 25:40

Day after day, I sat by His side and fed Him. I held His hand as He was given extremely painful injections of the myriad of medicines He was on. I gently lifted Him and put Him into Selah's infant bathtub.  I sat by His side and bathed Him as He screamed in terror. As I held Him in my arms after His bath, my heart again broke.

King Jesus also sweetly reminded me of one of the verses I cling to when I feel as though "my" efforts are insufficient. To remind me that I am being used as His hands and His feet, and He is the One working through me. I am not called to do ALL of the work, but just the tasks He has assigned for me, with the help of the gifts He has placed in me. Ultimately, when I do what He has asked, it is Him who is doing the work, with me as the vessel.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." ~1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Day after day, Jesus sat by her side and fed her. Jesus held her hand as she was given extremely painful injections of the myriad of medicines she was on. Jesus gently lifted her and put her into Selah's infant bathtub. Jesus sat by her side and bathed her as she screamed in terror. As Jesus held her in His arms after her bath, His heart again broken.

The beauty of ministry is, this is NOT where the story ends! Jesus is in the business of transformation and restoration! 

Lydia has not remained in the state we found her. In fact, she is a different child today than when I first met her. The supernatural healing has begun, both inside and out. 

In addition to her suffering, I've been by her side for the amazing way she has progressed - by leaps and bounds!

Her first steps!

It is terrifying to look at a dying child and fall in love...But the incredible thing about choosing to invest in the "hard cases" is that you get to witness something truly miraculous! You get to see the hand of God at work in a very real way. I prayed for supernatural healing over Lydia. And daily God is showing up and answering that prayer.

Sweet kisses <3

Funny faces

Goofing around

The day she laughed for the very first time :D

(I plan to write an update about Lydia in our upcoming hard copy annual newsletter, so be on the lookout via your mailbox - yes, they do still exist :) - and if you would like to be sure to receive a copy, but are unsure if we have your address, please feel free to comment or private message my FB inbox)

The Daughter of a King

Her eyes were vacant and lonely. They stared past me and everything else in the room. Hidden there was the story of the tragic childhood she has endured. At 4 years old, and only 15 pounds she was a pitiful sight to see. She was too weak to eat, too weak to talk, and just too weak. As I held her hand, I couldn't help but think Lydia is just one year younger than my 5 year old, 40 pound daughter. My heart shattered to pieces as silent tears streamed down my face.

The first day I met Lydia

Over the next few days, weeks, and months, this child filled my mind. I went to bed asking the Lord to have mercy on her, I woke up begging Him for the supernatural healing of her body. I spent every day, multiple hours a day sitting by her bedside. Painting her nails. Changing her diaper. Helping her slowly and painstakingly swallow a small 150mL cup of a nutrient rich milk drink. Her body so unfamiliar with consuming anything, that it took over an hour for her to finish this minuscule amount. Each tiny gulp was held in her mouth for a long while before she very slowly allowed it to trickle down her throat. The whole time she stared off into nothingness.

As I got to know more about her, I soon came to realize malnourishment wasn't the only thing her frail frame was suffering from. Spending countless hours at the hospital gave me quite a bit of insight into the other diseases that were ravishing her body - tuberculosis, epilepsy, and HIV/AIDS. Dr. Guffey, the incredible American doctor that has recently joined our staff, told me I had picked a really hard child to fall in love with. She was literally days away from dying when we found her, and even with medical attention she had a lot to overcome and her chances of survival were slim. Despite the odds, and possible heartache it might entail, I couldn't give up on her. Something deep within told me she needed something more than the doctors could offer, and I took on the mission His Voice gave me.

I took this photo (and many others) for child services,
but to protect her privacy this is the only one of this nature
I am willing to post

Day after day, I sat by her side and fed her. I held her hand as she was given extremely painful injections of the myriad of medicines she was on. I gently lifted her and put her into Selah's infant bathtub (which I brought because nothing in the Zambian hospitals is provided, I mean nothing - no towels, no soap, no blankets, NOTHING). I sat by her side and bathed her as she screamed in terror - seemingly unaware of what a bath was. As I held her in my arms after her bath, my heart again broke. She was nothing but bones, and the gap between the condition of her body and that of my Rylee was so huge! How could someone, let alone her mother, allow a child to get to this point??!!? I just don't understand.

Throughout each new and terrifying experience, I tried to soothe Lydia in the only way I knew how. Often with my own girls, when all else fails to comfort them, I make up songs. Mostly short and simple, but they seem to enjoy them. So when her eyes went wide and she shrieked from fear, I did the only thing I knew - I made up a song...

"Lydia, sweet Lydia, you are so beautiful.
Lydia, sweet Lydia, the daughter of a King."

Even though she couldn't understand the words, I wanted to pour truth over her. Truth that would sink deep within her and wash away the lies that have filled her life. Her earthly father deserted her leaving her as an unworthy and unwanted burden, and her earthly mother was denying her nutrition because she saw Lydia's sick body as a waste of resources. But her true Father saw her, loves her, and rescued her. In His eyes, she is so beautiful - His treasured daughter, a princess in His Kingdom.

I sang softly in her ear...

"Lydia, sweet Lydia, you are so beautiful.
Lydia, sweet Lydia, the daughter of a King."

The Truth will overcome, He will have victory here. And it starts with a simple song I pray will be written on her heart forever.

(I plan to write an update about Lydia in our upcoming hard copy annual newsletter, so be on the lookout via your mailbox - yes, they do still exist :) - and if you would like to be sure to receive a copy, but are unsure if we have your address, please feel free to comment or private message my FB inbox)