During this time in Central America one of the things god gave me a heart for is to pray for pregnant women of all ages. Before I left for the race my Oldest sister camille was pregnant for the first time around five months and lost a beautiful baby girl. I didn't understand why this happened or why miscarriages happen in general, but it was defiantly a point of time where I was just questioning the lord. Why god? Why? The pain that I saw in her heart made me so sad to the point I didn't even know how to comfort her. Or comprehend the level of pain she was dealing with. Camille is expecting again and I know this baby will be born healthy, beautiful, and perfect 🙂
On month one I woke up one morning and god told me Andrea their is an email that you need to read today from you family and its going to be hard. I decided to not check it until the next day because sometimes its just easier to procrastinate and pretend you didn't here it! The nearest internet was down the street to a little Burger King and I remember going straight to Facebook opening an email from my mom. She was informing me that my sister Anna, who is a Senior this year is pregnant. I read half of it, jumped up from my seat, ran to the bathroom and started doing the ugly cry. You know when your snot is flying everywhere and you stop breathing. I think I sat in their for about an hour and just cried why god? Why?
2 Corinthians 7:10- For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
That day I stayed back from Ministry and had the house all to myself to just think , pray, and feel numb. We were living a couple houses down from a brothel very well guarded by two men at all times and running all day everyday with loud music. I remember almost falling asleep when I heard a girl screaming at the top of her lungs towards the brothel. She was screaming as if someone was chasing her or hurting her. My first instinct was to run to the kitchen, grab a knife and go after her. My body instantly went numb and weak. I heard the lord say Andrea go into the backyard and pray( by the way the backyard is completely fenced with high cement walls so i am safe) . So i did, I prayed and prayed and prayed not even trying to ask why anymore. He was asking me, why don't you trust me? Do you know that I have that girl? That I am with her, that I have a plan? Do you know that I allowed what happened to Anna and that I have the best for her? Do you know that I am restoring Camille and plan to give her the most beautiful family she could ever imagine? I started to ball and ask for forgiveness, I started to understand that he knows what is going to happen before it happens, that he understands, listens, and only gives the best when we don't deserve it. And it is only my having weak faith to fear for the sadness of the world.
Romans 11:34- For who has known the mind of the lord?
He asked me, why are you crying for Anna, why do you cry out of fear? And I just thought because she is so young! Her boyfriend is so young! God their lives are changed forever! She isn't ready lord this can't be what you have for her? And I felt this peace come, it was so calming, so quiet. And he showed me Anna, he said Andrea, she will be fine, she will be more than fine, she is blessed, so blessed, so strong and beautiful. I only have the best for her, she is mine before anyone else's and I will form the most beautiful child and she will be a great mother. Do not fear for her life, that is not who I am. Love her, encourage her, and be excited for her. Now everyday I wake up excited about these babies god is forming and grow more and more faith in gods plan.
Romans 12:12- Rejoice in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfast in prayer;
When I go to the hospitals I go straight to the women's pregnancy word and I just sit with the young women. Some of them won't speak and they look into my eyes such fear and sadness. And in all situations many of them are raped, very poor, or very young completely in on the process alone. And I hold their hands and cry with them, encourage them, explain to them the gospel and how precious these babies are no matter what their circumstances are. That the baby will be written in the book of life and have a great name glorifying god and his kingdom. That they have taken such faith to be this far not aborting them.
Romans 12:21- Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good
Im coming to an understanding of how holly the process of a women baring a child and god knitting together a brand new creation that he creates so intricately and intentionally. Its beautiful how he gives us the chance to create a new life with a spouse he places in our path. Do we stray off the path sometimes and have consequences for our actions when it wasn't gods plan? Yes! But the most BEAUTIFUL part about god is that he restores! he RESTORES, all we have to do is ask for forgiveness, and receive his mercy and grace! FOR by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of god! Ephesians 2:8. So wherever you are at in life, it is never to late! Their is nothing god can't and won't forgive, restore, and heal! ALELUAH !!!! Thank you JESUS!!!!
Romans 8:15-
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "abba, father "The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of god, and if children, then heirs- heirs of god and joint heirs with christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together.
P.S. I only need 300 more dollars for my world race deadline coming in 4 days !!!!! PRAISE GOD! thank you for all of your support and prayers god is moving so powerful through these nations and I'm so excited to keep moving forward !!!!
