Dear Family and Friends,
I can’t believe it has almost been seven months since we left the snowy plains of Illinois!“The Lord is my strength and my song and He has become my salvation” Exodus 15:2 This verse has become so real to me over these past months of adjustment and change and we thank God for His daily strength and joy He has given us even through the rough days. We are thankful for family and friends like all of you that have supported us in so many different ways. We have really been given an awesome example of how all the different parts of the body of Christ work together to build each other up and to further His Kingdom.
Well, Payton’s Thomas the Train b-day was a hit and we had a great family time celebrating his third year!!! I made pizza for dinner and we had a good laugh sitting around the Thomas the train tablecloth, cups and plates. Luke’s b-day was last Monday and we were able to get out by ourselves so that was nice.
We are excited also about the new family that arrived on Tuesday and they have three little girls similar ages to our kids so you can imagine how excited our girls were to meet and play with them. We are also continuing to move slowly back to our house in town and are looking forward to being closer to the other families. Payton is looking forward to having bunk beds and the girls are so excited that they don’t have to share a room with their messy little brother.
I am continuing with my Wednesday and Thursday Bible studies and have really been blessed and learned so much from all the ladies. They have such a hunger and desire to know more about God and they are opening up and sharing deep issues and problems in their lives. It is neat to see God developing these relationships and I will continue coming out weekly to the farm to meet and study God’s word with them. Luke preached last Sunday at a church in the Chyiesa compound. We all went and enjoyed the awesome worship of singing and dancing and hearing God’s word. The women presented me with a gift in front of the whole church by dancing and dressing me in a chitenge and matching head covering. It was embarrassing but very honoring at the same time. You never know what is going to happen or what you will be asked to do when you are visiting a church!!Well enough about the Whitfield’s!!!
We have a specific need to share with you this week. It is for our house-helper Maureen and her family. While Luke was visiting the states Maureen came to me and shared that she is HIV positive and she has known for about four years. I was definitely surprised and agreed that we would believe with her for her healing. She was apologetic that she had not shared this news with us earlier, but told us that only her oldest sister actually knew about her condition. She also shared that her white blood cell count was at 27 and that the doctors were very surprised that she could even move let alone work. A normal persons count is 600 or more.Well, the next week passed and as many of you know our weather is changing from “colder” to warmer now and there are often colds and sickness that come from weather change. So you can imagine with Maureen’s immune system very low she got sick and we had to take her to the hospital. The doctors called us in shock saying that Maureen’s count was down to 4 and they were surprised that she is alive at all. So she stayed in the hospital for a week and is now at home and on ARV’s to help her get stronger. She is very weak and needs rest and care.It was a tough realization for us that we could no longer employ her because of her health. As we sat on the floor of her small compound home I could see the desperation and fear in her eyes as she shared her concerns with us. She has agreed to resign from ACTION and working for us and we will continue to try to help her in any way possible. Her biggest concern is for her four kids, ages 6,8,10 and foster boy who is 17. Her husband left her last year and took all their belonging with him. Maureen shared quietly with me that she contracted the disease from her unfaithful husband. I can’t imagine all the hurt that she must be feeling as this man has in many ways ruined her life. Thank God that she knows the same God that we all do and trust that He is going to take care of her no matter what that looks like.Maureen’s niece Mulenga is staying with her to help and take care of the kids, which is a blessing for her. But she continues to have many needs and concerns. Like I shared earlier we are going to assist her financially as much as we are able to and would like to give you all the opportunity to give in any way the Lord is leading you. If you are interested in helping financially we can let you know more specifically what her monthly needs are. Please keep Maureen and her kids in your prayers as they face some difficult months ahead.
We appreciate your prayers and kindness and we look forward to seeing the awesome ways God continues to move.We are looking forward to another week and will update you will all the details!!!Thanks again for all your love and support and know we are thinking of you all!
God Bless,
Elise for all the Whitfield’s!!!!
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