The night before we left the tribe to start heading back to America the Patpatar believers organized a farewell meal for us. Standing to his feet during the little program, one of the men began to share. “Why us? Many years ago God started to get up the thinking of Aaron and Lori so they would be missionaries. Then they ended up here in the Patpatar, then here in our village, then here among us. Then God made it so we were here too to hear the truth. Now we are part of God’s clan.” In tears the man concluded, “It wasn’t another village or another tribe. It was here and now we have life. I don’t know why it was us, but I am so thankful to God.”
This week we have found ourselves asking the same questions, “Why us?” We have spent our days with Briella up in NICU at the hospital and watched her grow and progress remarkably well. Her 14 ½ inch body has stretched to 15 ½ half and she has gained 20% of her body weight and now tips the scales at 3 lbs 9 ounces. She has begun to nurse several times a day and has had hardly any issues. Yet her neighbor to the right who was born about the same weight is not going to make it. Other babies around her are demanding constant attention because of lung, heart, or breathing issues. For some reason God has allowed our Briella to have life. I don’t why it was us, but I am so thankful to God.
We can’t help but believe that part of it is God graciously answers the many prayers you have offered. We continue to thank you for upholding us and Briella in prayer. Lori is now pretty much full time at the hospital as Briella is learning how to eat. The girls begin their second full week of school and are adapting very well. This week I am away in Indiana for an international tribal church planting meeting.
This week as you reflect on God’s undeserved mercy and grace toward us, may you bask in the amazing thought of “Why us?”
Aaron
Fact: Though small Briella is still capable of big messes. She is now attempting to master the ability to make sure her bowels are working during the few seconds of exposure between the diaper changes. (There are new pictures, no messes, uploaded to our website.)
The 3 oldest girls with Mom for their first day of school.