Naftal with Jesus

1am Wednesday morning, Naftal went to be with Jesus.  Thank you so much for all your prayers and interceeding for him.  Continue to pray for the little boys in his dorm, as they will be told today, and the tias who cared for him, and for his American mom here, Laura.  The whole center is affected by the loss of one of our children. 

Naftal Update

Naftal has contracted malaria.  He is in constant pain and the medical system is failing him.  Next week there is a ‘planned’ biopsy…however, anything can happen between now and then.  On Wednesday, March 24th, many of us here at the center will fast as we stand in the gap for this little guy.  You are welcome to join us – if not in fast, then continually in prayer.

Blessings…

P. S.  Fernanda continues to grow.  What a miracle!

Update on Naftal and Fernanda

Naftal is not showing improvement.  He is in great pain and the treatment he receives is slow and sporatic.   There is nothing more we on earth can do for him.  Please pray for his pain to subside so he can rest and sleep and that the Holy Spirit will show itself to him for comfort and assurance of God’s love for him.  His father visits every day and also needs our prayers for courage and strength as he battles this illness with his son.  

Fernanda is a little 15 month old girl who, up to now, has weighed 13 pounds and kept losing weight every day.  She is beginning treatment for TB this week.  Following is an update from Erin, the American nurse who attends her.  Please continue to pray for both of these children.

Here's my latest update on baby Fernanda:
Thursday night we brought Fernanda to the front of the church to be prayed over by missionaries, educators/tias, older youth, kids, Mozambican pastors, and visitors.  We were at our wit's end, nothing was working, and she had just lost 300 grams (14 ounces) in one day.  The whole church lifted up her name in one voice and prayed with all their heart for healing for this one little baby girl.  We prayed for over 20 minutes.  Many kept praying after I had no more words or tears left.  Fernanda, wide eyed and alert, just stared around at everyone with their hands outstretched, touching her, calling out her name.
Friday a few of us missionaries started gathering daily at 3pm to pray over her while many of you all around the world got on your knees and joined us at exactly the same time.  We weighed her Friday and for the first time we had an utter halt in her weight.  She didn't gain weight, but she didn't lose anything.  She started having an appetite and eating all her food. Saturday she gained 60 grams.  I shared with the tias our joy, excitement and expectation to see God show up and help little Fernanda.  I told them about all of you interceding all over the globe for this one little girl.  They were amazed and in awe.  That night the two tias that were on shift together gathered and prayed over her.  Today (Sunday) she gained........510 grams (that's over 1 lb)!!!!!  She is now 14 lbs 6 ounces (6.54 kg).  We have not changed a single thing in her care.....she ate everything again today and has still been crying out for more food.  She has life in her eyes and is much more comfortable today.  She has started bonding with one of the tias on this shift.  The tias are excited and amazed at the work God is doing. We are too!!!
We have been praying for healing, comfort, fever reduction, a ferocious appetite, weight gain, bonding with the tias, healing of her mother, to bring the family together-back to unity and closer to God using this event, for wisdom, for Fernanda to be plucked out of the mire and set on the firm Rock of God so that she can grow old and have a family and take in orphans and babies that are near death like herself and love them with the LOVE of GOD back into His arms....so she can cry out and tell of the miracles He has performed in her life, how He has changed her and saved her, set her apart for GREAT things!  Praise the Lord for hearing our prayers and answering them!  Continue praying for tomorrow as she starts treatment, for no side effects from the harsh medications and for grace and favor with the Mozambican medical system as we attempt to navigate it (they can require us to come 5 days a week and wait hours each time to receive her daily meds as all the other patients have to do for the entire 6 month treatment period). Pray for her continued weight gain, fever reduction, comfort, bonding to the tias.  Pray also for encouragment of the tias/drawing them closer to our Heavenly Father as they see his mercy, grace, love, and power through this experience.

"I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.  He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.  Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD."  -Psalm 40:1-3

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all you iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."  -Psalm 103: 1-5

Thank you for the prayers for Fernanda.  Keep them coming!!
In His hands,
Erin

Latest Update on Naftal

News is not good for Naftal.  He looked much worse today than he has all week.  Wednesday Doctor Olivier confirmed there is a secondary tumor in (on?) his heart.  Also, it looks like there is a tumor on each kidney rather than just the one we thought.  This is obviously not good news.  They are now thinking of starting with chemo before surgery to try and shrink the tumors.   Continued prayers…..

BEETS!!!

Today we pulled our beets to sell to the kitchen! As you can see from the pictures, we are pretty proud of them. Next we will plant our lettuce, cabbage, onions, carrots, and cucumbers. What an accomplishment – in the sand even!!

Wash before delivery!

The corn is as high……..

and the trees are growing, too!!

Naftal Update

To everyone who is praying for our precious 8 year old little boy who is in the hospital, thank you. 

Naftal did NOT have surgery on Monday.  He was scheduled for a "echo-graphia" on Tuesday morning because of their concern for his heart.  Meanwhile, he has not been treated for anemia or his labored breathing nor had any of the fluid removed from his belly which I understand is possible.  He is having some tests done, but no results have come to light yet.  Please continue to pray that they will treat some of these symptoms while they are waiting on the best option for surgery.  The good news is, he had a little sparkle in his eyes today and ate all of his dinner!  This is amazing in itself.

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST!

I interact mostly with teenagers here at the center, however, anything that happens to a child of any age here affects us all.  Following is an urgent prayer request for a little boy in Laura’s dorm.

One of our precious boys, Naftal, who is eight, is in the hospital for his 11th day.  Two weeks ago he began complaining of symptoms that sounded like malaria but then his stomach just got bigger and bigger and he was obviously jaundiced.  We took him to the hospital last Saturday thinking he likely had a liver infection.

This past Tuesday he was finally diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor, a childhood cancer of the kidney.  In the US, the prognosis is quite good but we have no idea what it will be here in Mozambique.

Naftal will have surgery on Monday to remove the tumor after which he will begin chemotherapy at some point.  To quote Erin, one of our nurses, "This is a huge thing for any child to go through in the Western world where we have amazing technology, good monitoring, wonderful doctors, nurses, and support staff, and cutting edge medicines.  Little Naftal is in a very infectious environment with medicine from 50 years ago, staff who are less than brilliant to look after him (most is done by the tia staying with him that is not related to him and is not in anyway medical), and little to NO monitoring with labs or machines or vital signs, and to top it off a heart valve problem which will complicate his surgery and anesthesia during."

In the natural, we have much to fear on behalf of Naftal.  But we are trying to keep our hearts and minds set on the promises of God and not the natural! 

Please join with us in praying for Naftal, for complete healing and protection of his body and life.  Please pray also for his father who has been so present during this time, visiting every day and calling the Tias morning and night to get an update and pray over the phone with him.  He even asked if he could stay the night with Naftal but was told he couldn't, only women are allowed to stay the night with the children  (one clue as to the state of medical environment here). 

Please pray for God's peace and presence to be a great comfort to Naftal who is in physical pain and doesn't understand what is happening to him.   We love our little Naftal and want him home with us, safe and healthy and living life as he normally does!

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You can see in this photo, he’s been in a room for 11 days with no machines and no monitoring.  It's pretty scary.

 

More news to follow after the surgery.

MY BIRTHDAY!!

Saturday, the 27th was my birthday and it was wonderful!  I could never have imagined celebrating a birthday in Africa!  I was joined for dinner by many missionaries at the center, and two couples from the American Embassy who have become friends. 

The American Ambassador and her husband were dining at the same restaurant and popped over to wish me a Happy Birthday.  Wow – that was a nice birthday surprise.

 

My first gift of the day was from a missionary who surprised me with a full propane tank so I could have hot water for a shower!!  It is always the little things that count!  Much to my pleasant surprise, during dinner I received text messages from some of ‘my boyz’.  I think texting during dinner was deliberate - reminding me that I went out without them.  I also received a terrific long letter from one of the boys I have ‘hung out’ with for the last two years.  I marvel at how God catches me off-guard sometimes and sends a reminder of His love thru those around me!  I stand in awe…… 

THANK YOU everyone who has emailed and Facebooked a ‘Happy Birthday’ message!  As I read all of them, I see your smiling faces, I remember what great times we had during your visit here, and hope someday to see you all again – if not here, then you know where!!   Please know that you are all in my prayers for God’s continued wisdom and guidance in your life!

AMERICAN SAILORS COME TO CENTER!

Wednesday, February 10th two ships from America came to port in Maputo; the USS Nicholas and the HSV (High Speed Vessel)2. Many of the sailors volunteered to come and play with the children and do a few work projects. 

 

 

 

 

The Music Program in the Babyhouse was enjoyed as much by the adults as it was by the children!  Quite an aerobics workout!

The Farm Project was a little more ‘labor intensive’.  Clearing property for expansion and building a compost bin in 100+F was a challenge for some.  

 

From tall grass to garden

ground!  Thx Guys!!

 

..

 

 

 

Of course, the happy-medium labor was painting!  Praise the Lord, the outside of Mana Tracey’s house was painted and one of the rooms in the girls camarata…..

  

 

 

 

 

It was so wonderful to spend the day with a great group of people willing to spend a full day of their 4-day leave with us!!  Our prayers are always with them!

Stay tuned – more to come re this visit!