| We washed her little body and snuggled
her into a diaper and soft sleeper. She had no energy to suck or
swallow, so Dr. Jansen, a missionary doctor friend, inserted a nasogastric
feeding tube. We fed her the precious, life-giving milk every two
hours round the clock. She lay quietly on Katie's lap during evening
prayers. (Alifa said, "She's a good girl. She is being quiet
during worship.") She survived her first night with us and
we rejoiced. Our 5-year-old Andrew prayed fervently that she would
"grow strong and healthy." People were praying everywhere,
but it was not to be.
At her 4:00 a.m. feeding time early Sunday morning, I hugged
her close, because her hands and feet were so cold. She looked
at me again with those big, soft brown eyes. Then they suddenly
lost focus. Her breathing became irregular. She hiccupped a couple
of times and was gone. Our precious Angel was gone. I hugged her
tight and cried and cried. If only we had known of her situation
earlier. If only her family and hospital staff had known of our
willingness to help. Angelina's death has spurred us on to open
our home as a crisis nursery, fulfilling a long-held vision for
ministry in this city. While we are not very well organized yet,
we are up and running. And the Lord has blessed us with the precious
privilege of caring for several more needy infants in this city.
"Why did Angelina have to go to Heaven so soon?" asked
4-year-old Alifa.
"God loved her even more than we did, and wanted her to
be with Him." I answered.
"Why didn't she take her suitcase?" she asked, pointing
to the tiny rattan bag of clothes at the foot of the crib.
"She left it behind to share her clothes with Baby Darlene,"
I said, looking at the new 3-week old occupant of the crib.
Since that inauspicious beginning a long month ago, Darlene and
Benson and Moses and Selina have come for care. We started with
one crib. Now we have four, and a team of five prayer warriors,
a staff of three nannies, and a whole community here and abroad
actively providing for their needs. Each child has his or her
own story. But the bottom line is a story of love and grace and
blessing. Angelina's death resulted in hope and the possibility
of life for others. Reminds me of another Baby—whose death
and resurrection brings us hope and life. The story of Christmas.
May yours be joyful and blessed.
With love from all of us,
Frank, Nancy, Nathan, Moses, Jessie, Katie, Andrew and Alifa
The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 48
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