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-----Original Message-----> > >> 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 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. " 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. 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 the 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 water bottle. 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 by way of a corollary, " 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 twenty-two pound parcel. l 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> > >> could 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> > >> she asked: " Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give> > >> this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that> > >> Jesus really loves her? " > >> > >> 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. " > >> > >> " Before they call, I will answer! " Is 65:24>> >> > >> Live as if Christ died yesterday, arose this morning,> > >> and is coming back tomorrow.> >> > >> Please share this amazing story with as many others> > >> as you can. Our God really IS . . . AN AWESOME GOD!> >> >> > >> 1 minute prayer>>> >> > >> This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. When> > >> you receive this, say the prayer. That's all you> > >> have to do. There is nothing attached. This is> > >> powerful. Just send it on to whomever you want - but> > >> but do send it on.......please! Prayer is one of the> > >> best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but! a> > >> lot of rewards. Let's continue praying for one> > >> another.> >> > >> Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this> > >> right now. I am asking You to minister to their> > >> spirit at this very moment.> >> > >> Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy.> > >> Where there is self doubting, release a renewed> > >> confidence in Your ability to work through them.> > >> Where there is tiredness, or exhaustion, I ask You> > >> to give them understanding, guidance, and strength as> > >> they learn submission to Your leading.> >> > >> Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to> > >> renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing> > >> them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is> > >> fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your> > >> courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal> > >> it, and break its hold over my friend's life.> >> > >> Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and> > >> raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage> > >> them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the> > >> evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power> > >> they have in You to defeat it. I ask You to do these> > >> things in Jesus' name......In Love,....Your Friend.> >> > >> P.S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend> > >> will bless you both. Passing this on to one not> > >> considered a friend is something Christ would do.