Hello friends,
as the time is nearing to leave here i’m getting super sad! this country feels like a part of me now, and the people are like family! These last few days we’ve been seeing the beautiful nile falls and today we tested 130 children.
Out of these 130 kids 5 were test HIV positive. We feel blessed that the numbers were this low, but, hurt for those who were positive. The village we went to today was about 30 minutes from STAO and we also tested kids at a neighboring AIDS orphans ministry. The doctors were really patient and efficient with their time and good with the kids. It was so good today to see each member of our team have a special interaction with the children and adults. all of us differ so much in our ministries and together it is so great to see us move as one body of Christ and so united.
Our health is so good ( minimal bouts of stomach pain =) ) But, Gods been so faithful to our team and we give the praise to him for our safety. The Holy Spirit has really moving the other night as satan really tried to attack our home. We had some really tough spiritual warfare in the girls room. But, praising God for His power and sovreignty made the demons fleeing. Continue to pray for spiritual protection! Thanks sooo much!
One last note, I’m sure you’ve heard a little about Sophia, she tested positive and was being abused by her caretaker! WEll, i went to visit her father and she hasn’t seen him for two years. I told him about the abuse and that sophia wasn’t going to school and that the lady wouldn’t taunt her saying don’t you wish you could be smart like my kids. Also, she would feed her own kids and not sophia! This was heartbreaking for Sophia’s father to hear. HE sent her away because his wife left him and he was crippled. Sophias HIV ended up being a blessing and now Sophia is safe and at STAO! Praise God! but, her 14 yr. old sister is not in school and hasn’t been for awhile due to school fees…but, i’m going to pay for them as she is taking care of her father and 9 yrs old deaf and mute sister!
Her father was sooooo love and gentle with the children and this warmed me to the depths of my heart…. His prayers had been answered….all along he thought his daughter was in school…and now she is….this is his only dream that his daughters get to rise up and get good jobs! He truly blessed me and i was able to pray with him! I can’t even express how happy i am! This made coming here soooo worth it! God’s so good and helps direct us in ways we could never know! He’s so good! Continue to pray for this family as they continue to try to pay for basic needs! Thanks so much for all your prayers! I love you Ritchey family! =) and everyone unrelated to me! We really miss you! God Bless! DAnielle
Comments
Hi Danielley,
I miss you too!! Your post made me cry, I am so glad to hear how God used you and your team to be an answer to Sophia’s Father’s prayers, as Melissa mentioned in her blog, “His ways are higher than ours, his thoughts are higher than our own”. Our human ways of thinking can’t make total sense of Sophia’s situation but she is always on the mind of our Heavenly Father and he obviously cares so deeply for her and has intervened for her.
My prayers are for all of you to be encouraged, stay strong, healthy and have confidence that you’ve done the work you were all sent there to do, and God’s work will continue through His servants who remain there and the next ones he brings along. Can’t wait to see you!!!!
Love you,
Mom
Danielle,
God bless you for being such a blessing to this family! His love in you is so evident. All praise and glory to God!
Danielle,
It has been so interesting to see where you are and what you are doing. Those are precious, precious children there!
It is nice to see your love for the Lord “in action”, and I know that He will continue to use you wherever you are. I pray that you will all return home safely !
Love you,
Grandma Nancy