reminders / perspective - andrea & cesar
its been an emotional couple weeks.
with a team of friends in town, we met a young girl who had a severe problem with her ears and nose. 4 years old, her nose and ear bleeding - completely miserable. sadly, she's been in this situation for years.
we've had boys quit and leave the academy.
we've felt unexplainable tension in general.
we've had health issues in our family.
we've cried numerous times in the last couple weeks with locals who are suffering in different ways.
but amidst all of this, God has been so very faithful. moments of his sweetness have carried us, filled us with strength.
we were able to help the young girl with the ear/nose infection, and get her to a specialist. and another young girl that we love to a doctor to discuss surgery options.
we've experienced growth by talking and praying through the issues of tension.
we've grown closer with local friends as we've cried together.
and as always, sitting down with my friend Cesar puts things in perspective. his entire body fused together, he has a bone disease that should have killed him nearly 8 years ago. he is in constant pain, yet maintains has a joy in the Lord that is unexplainable.
he adores our daughter Luciana Andrea (named after his wife). amazingly, every time we bring her to see him, she smiles the most wild, incredible smiles. this day was no different...
as Cesar recounted the first time he met Luciana Andrea, at 1 week old, he made a simple comment that humbled me and ministered to me deeply. last year (2012) was the toughest year of his life - he was on the brink of death numerous times. he said he had been praying fervently throughout the year to allow him to meet Luciana Andrea.
when he saw her for the first time, she was asleep. we placed her on his chest, and he cradled her in the one arm that he could still move. in her sleep, she smiled the biggest, most outrageous, intentional smile. it was crazy- we all had goosebumps.
anyway- back to the present day. as Cesar retold the story, he said that in that very moment, when Luciana Andrea smiled at him at 1 week old, he heard the voice of Jesus through her smile. the voice said "I love you Cesar- you asked me for this."
humbling. to think that my family can minister to this man. he pours himself out every time we see him. he ministers to every heart that walks through his door. he is my mentor - a true giant of the faith. and my family can minister to him? when he talks of how much love and hope we bring him, it makes me uncomfortable! i just don't even know what to say.
to think a newborn baby can minister to a man who has been faithful through almost a decade of pain and suffering. her smile speaks to him in the voice of Jesus. unreal.
God gives strength during the tough days. he so often reveals his goodness to me when i am "down." i am thankful for these reminders. they give me energy and joy. they help me see my selfishness and put things in perspective.
Paul said to us in 2 corinthians 6: "through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
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| cesar with luciana andrea |
with a team of friends in town, we met a young girl who had a severe problem with her ears and nose. 4 years old, her nose and ear bleeding - completely miserable. sadly, she's been in this situation for years.
we've had boys quit and leave the academy.
we've felt unexplainable tension in general.
we've had health issues in our family.
we've cried numerous times in the last couple weeks with locals who are suffering in different ways.
but amidst all of this, God has been so very faithful. moments of his sweetness have carried us, filled us with strength.
we were able to help the young girl with the ear/nose infection, and get her to a specialist. and another young girl that we love to a doctor to discuss surgery options.
we've experienced growth by talking and praying through the issues of tension.
we've grown closer with local friends as we've cried together.
and as always, sitting down with my friend Cesar puts things in perspective. his entire body fused together, he has a bone disease that should have killed him nearly 8 years ago. he is in constant pain, yet maintains has a joy in the Lord that is unexplainable.
he adores our daughter Luciana Andrea (named after his wife). amazingly, every time we bring her to see him, she smiles the most wild, incredible smiles. this day was no different...
as Cesar recounted the first time he met Luciana Andrea, at 1 week old, he made a simple comment that humbled me and ministered to me deeply. last year (2012) was the toughest year of his life - he was on the brink of death numerous times. he said he had been praying fervently throughout the year to allow him to meet Luciana Andrea.when he saw her for the first time, she was asleep. we placed her on his chest, and he cradled her in the one arm that he could still move. in her sleep, she smiled the biggest, most outrageous, intentional smile. it was crazy- we all had goosebumps.
anyway- back to the present day. as Cesar retold the story, he said that in that very moment, when Luciana Andrea smiled at him at 1 week old, he heard the voice of Jesus through her smile. the voice said "I love you Cesar- you asked me for this."
humbling. to think that my family can minister to this man. he pours himself out every time we see him. he ministers to every heart that walks through his door. he is my mentor - a true giant of the faith. and my family can minister to him? when he talks of how much love and hope we bring him, it makes me uncomfortable! i just don't even know what to say.to think a newborn baby can minister to a man who has been faithful through almost a decade of pain and suffering. her smile speaks to him in the voice of Jesus. unreal.
God gives strength during the tough days. he so often reveals his goodness to me when i am "down." i am thankful for these reminders. they give me energy and joy. they help me see my selfishness and put things in perspective.
Paul said to us in 2 corinthians 6: "through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
Comments
Thanks
Chuck