Decemberr 2007 Word of Life Newsletter

Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ

December 2007 Word of Life Ministries Publication

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died, leaving us with a tiny, premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator) . We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates ).

James and Jody Lewis

Word of Life Ministry

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For those of you have already responded and pledged to write for Hand in Hand Publications year 2008, I wanted to say Thank You for giving to the Lord.

"And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. "All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."

The following noon , as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During prayer time, one ten -year-old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "Send us a hot water bottle today. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?" As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say "Amen"? I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything; the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever, received a parcel from home.

Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the
nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there on the verandah was a large 22-pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box.

From the top, I lifted out brightly-colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a brand new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried.

I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully-dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?" Of course, I replied!

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months, packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."

This wonderful message was written by a doctor in Africa

Hand in Hand Publications December 2007

It is our joy to welcome back to Hand in Hand Publications this month as our Guest Writer, our dear friend from the mountains of Tennessee, Karen Brooks.

"Hello. My name is Karen Brooks. God has blessed me with two healthy boys, Joshua age 8 and Caleb age 11, and my Minister husband Ken. We reside in the Hills of Tennessee and try to allow God to work in our lives wherever and in which ever way He chooses.

Our calling is Missions and we have been given an internet devotional ministry which we call Daily Bread 4today and we are also blessed to be a part of a wonderful ministry through Samaritans Purse working as Prayer Coordinator for the Operation Christmas Child project here in East Tennessee. We have a website called, Love Notes from Heaven that is accessible 24 hours a day and was also a gift from God and a friend who set that up for us. We love God and we have been saved since we were 12 years of age. The best thing that ever happened to me and the best friend I could have ever found is Jesus, our Lord and Savior. May God bless you today and always! Karen Brooks.

Sister Karen's message this month is filled with Gods love in His manifested gift to all the world, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Saviour. Christmas is a very special time of the year in which we celebrate the birthday of our Lord. The angel proclaimed that His name would be called, Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

I invite you to take a moment and visit Karen's page by clicking on the Hand in Hand Publication link below. I know you will be blessed. I would appreciate it also if you would take a little time to let her know that you visited her message this month.

Hand in Hand Publications for December 2007

At this time of the year, my wife and I would like to express to each one of you who have once again stood with me, Hand in Hand in proclaiming the Gospel this year. My how the time has flown, I cant believe another year is coming to a close. Your fellowship, and your faithfulness to God and His work are to be commended. May this Christmas Season be a very special season as you celebrate the birthday of our Lord. May your home be filled with love and laughter, may the Light of the world, shine in your heart and in your life, letting all who would come, know that Emmanuel has come to abide with you.