I’m back! Lily and I arrived back to Iquitos a few days after my last post. We had our last U.S. missions team for the summer awaiting us with a grand home-coming celebration. What profound joy knotted my throat and pushed mightily up out of my tear ducts as we crossed the threshold…HOME!
We then had several more days of team-hosting, evangelism, and ministry to take care of before finally getting a chance to rest. After all those weeks of hospital vigils, praying for Lily’s life, and pushing through crisis mode, it has taken this long to feel normal again. But here I am!
I missed you all. This blog, and you all as my community, have become such a precious part of my life. I can never ever begin to adequately thank you all for the way you stood with us in prayer for my baby. There just aren’t sufficient words. Although I wasn’t able to individually respond to each of your comments, I read and treasured every one of them. And now, I am rejoicing in spirit to come “home” to you! I love you all.
For my first two posts, I would like to share with you what I wrote for our ministry newsletter. They sum up quite well the whole of what I experienced through this ordeal. But first, though, I want you to show you this picture:
The Iquitos ICU staff put this blanket on Lily. It says “Jesus loves me” all over it in both Spanish and English. When I saw it, Holy Spirit spoke to me that it was a spiritual picture. He had her under a blanket of His love throughout the entire hardship she endured. Selah.
Here is the first of the two articles:
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“Lily’s airway is closing up. She might die. We are doing everything that we can!”
I never dreamed I would hear a doctor say such words to me. But I did, on June 23rd, the night we took our precious little girl into the ER. The memory is a blur. I was frozen in place, pleading with God. Israel was on his knees in the hallway. His hands in the air, he interceded, tears streaming down his face.
With epinephrine and steroids, they saved her. I watched her little chest heaving, gasping for air. Soon afterwards, they intubated her and admitted her to ICU. She’d had a seizure. She was soon diagnosed with severe bacterial pneumonia. They immediately put her into a medically induced coma.
Here we are, seventeen days later at this writing. In that interim, they also found malaria in her blood and successfully eradicated it. In spite of this, she was still not strong enough to get off the ventilator. They decided she needed to be airlifted to Lima for treatment not available in our remote jungle city.
All day on July 6th, we tried to secure an airplane for this purpose. The weather was stormy and flights were not getting in or out. Thousands of prayer warriors stood with us in prayer, petitioning Heaven. God provided a military plane and a brief window in the storm. It was just long enough for the plane to come get us out. Then the storm continued. Far into the next day, no more flights were able to land in Iquitos. Truly, He had opened the skies just for us.
Less than 48 hours later, the doctors here in Lima were able to wean Lily off the ventilator. She is now breathing on her own. Yesterday, she woke up from the coma. She looked so very disoriented. I asked her if she knew who I was. She shook her head, “no.” A little while later, she remembered, to my great relief.
Nonetheless, as I write, we have not gotten to the end of this trial. Lily is still quite out of it. Today, she couldn’t tell me how old she was. The doctors say her confusion may be caused by encephalitis or meningitis.
I don’t know if I’ve ever written a newsletter before where it wasn’t yet the glorious end of the story. However, I’m seeing the happy ending with my eyes of faith. I see Lily fully restored to health. I see her running and laughing. I can feel her sweet little arms hugging me.
This is my sustaining word: “NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]” (Heb. 11:1, AMPC).
As of yet, my little girl’s complete healing is not revealed to my senses. But I have the title deed. This is what the title deed says:
She will be home soon.
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When I sent out the e-mail version of our newsletter, some days had passed. I added this post script:
P.S. I wrote the above on July 10th. Three days later, she suddenly was fully back to her usual self cognitively, talking my ear off! My faith became sight!
We are not out of the hospital quite yet, but we are so close. Oh what beautiful, beautiful joy to have my precious Lily back! Yesterday I was reading a book to her about how much I love her, with tears streaming down my cheeks. I’ll never be able to thank Jesus enough!
A beautiful testimony of His love for each of us, His children.
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Yes and amen! He is SO beautiful, SO loving, SO faithful!!
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Cannot imagine what you felt as you saw your little girl fighting for her life.
The Lord was right there with you in this valley. What a testimony of His provision, love, care and healing.
So happy you guys are home and happy.
Blessings ❤️😊
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Thank you so very much, Perth Girl! His richest blessings to you, too!
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Praise God! I’m glad she’s ok.
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Thank you, Shae! ❤ ❤
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Jennifer, praise be to God, our Father, the sustainer of life, He fills our hearts with pure joy and love. Blessings will abound. Amen Len Wisniewski
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Yes, praises to Him forever and ever! Thank you, Len 🙂
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Praise God!!!! 🙂
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Yes!!! 😀 😀
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I’m so happy for y’all!!
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Thank you so very much, John!! 🙂
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Praise God. Thank you for sharing your journey. Love the Hebrews passage – faith in what we cannot see – and how you applied it to this passage.
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Thank you, CG! And you are most welcome 🙂 🙂
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Praise God! So glad to hear that He healed Lily. As an asthmatic I well understand the danger she faced and the trauma you went through. What a good God He is to answer your prayers and bring Lily back.
Love the blanket with Jesus Loves Me on it. What a powerful message. Simple truth but oh, what depth. I know in our darkest hour singing that precious song did miracles to out faith.
Blessings,
Homer Les
http://www.uncompromisingfaith.ca
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Homer, thank you so much for your kind words and understanding. It means so very much. God’s richest blessing to you!
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I am crying tears of joy for you. So very grateful to God for His grace and gifts of life and love. May Lily and your family recover fully from your ordeal. Your faith story will stand strong for others going through the same experience. God bless you for your willingness to share it with the world.
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Aw, my precious sister, I’m so blessed that you would rejoice so deeply with me. Truly, thank you!! And AMEN!! 🙂 ❤
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What an ordeal! I’m so glad things are looking up.
Speaking of looking up, I can’t imagine how people get through something like this without knowing the Lord, can you? Thank God for faith.
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I’m with you, I really can’t! Thank you so much, Ann 🙂 ❤
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Thank you, Jesus! Praying for a season of sweet peace!
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I’m so grateful for that prayer, Nora! ❤
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Glory and praise the One(Father,Son and Holy Spirit) who iIS eternal miracles.:)
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Amen and amen and AMEN!!! 😀 😀
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:))
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You, my dear sister, have been tested like fire-tried gold. You will be a stronger support to someone in the future because of what you have endured. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. . . . A storybook happy ending 🙂 — Mike
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Amen, my brother. He brought us through. He is Faithful and True! Thank you, with all my heart, for standing with us, and now for rejoicing with us!!
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Watch God do it again! Thank you Jesus! Lily is healed. She’s whole. She is perfect in health. It is done. We glorify your name Lord! Thank you Jesus! We rejoice with you sis! Keep us updated as we continue to send up our prayers to heaven! Gloryyy!!!
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Yes and AMEN!!! We do praise You together, Lord of Heaven and Earth! Thank you, my dear, sweet sister!! ❤
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Amen && AMEN! GLORY TO GOD forevermore! 🙂 you’re so much welcomed!
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❤ ❤ ❤
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I’m so glad you guys are home!! I hope you both get plenty of much needed rest. 💕
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Thank you so much, Michelle! We have indeed been resting up 🙂
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Hey Jenn, I soo soo love this message! Thanks for sharing your journey with the Lord through this entire ordeal. The Lord has spoken to me so powerfully through every jot and tittle of it!!
“Three days later, she SUDDENLY was fully back to her usual self cognitively, talking my ear off! My faith became sight!
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Joy rises in my spirit to read that! I am so very glad, my dear brother! Thank you for taking the time to let me know 🙂
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Amen!!!!!
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Praise God, Jennifer! Wonderful to hear you’re home, God bless!
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Thank you so very much, Warren! 🙂 🙂
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You’re very welcome!
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🙂
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Wonderful blog entries and a blessing to all I am sure. God’s richest Blessing now and Strength as He Heals and Restores with Rest and Divine Comfort to return your life to its flow. Love F.
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Thank you so much, dear Faye! ❤ ❤
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