Saturday, August 8, 2009

" But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— " 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Most of you have experienced first hand the spiritual battle that takes place when you step out in obedience and adopt the "unwanted" of the world, the children that satan is sure are his. It is real.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

I would like to share the "wrestle" that has taken place each and every time we have brought a child into our home--mind you, it took the third child to open our eyes to see what was really going on.

"Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith..." 1 Peter 5:8

Child number one:
I came down with strep throat on our way home from picking her up at the baby home. In bed for 3 days. Developed what was later to be diagnosed hypothyroidism, suspected to be brought on my the virus strep.

Child number two:
Finished paperwork. Scheduled a drop-off date. Got a call that my mother was diagnosed with breastcancer. Flew back to America just a week after child number two was brought home. Had an "emergency" surgery while visiting my mother. Surgery failed after just two weeks.

Child number three:
The morning we woke up to travel and pick up my daughter I could barely get out of bed. Laid in fetal position the whole way to the baby home (a 3+ hour drive). Quickly picked her up--spent two days in bed at a friends house. Drove home in the fetal position and was diagnosed with a kidney infection.

**This is about the time we realized that the battle is real, and fierce.**

Child number four
(now we know how to prepare-PRAY, hard):
Begin to experience pain in my lower stomach and back. Strange cycles. A scan reveals I have an ovarian cyst.

Child number five:
This child was the most difficult battle. He is from a very oppressed part of the country. I contracted amebiasis while visiting this child. The pain in my back and lower stomach persist and only get worse. Examination shows that I have endometriosis. Zane drives through the night, 1o hours, to pick up our son. He is home 4 weeks before I have to fly to Kenya to have a surgical procedure to remove the endo. While I am in surgery I develop a complication and have emergency surgery 48 hours later. Gone from home for almost 3 weeks.

Child number six:
Notice chronic and persistant fatigue, headaches, dizziness and joint pain. After extensive testing, I am diagnosed with my current disease, brucellosis.

Note: All of these illnesses started on the day or just before we brought the child home.

The enemy hates, hates, hates what we are doing. Snatching children from the clutches of the destroyer and redeeming them in the name of Jesus.

I stand up (or right now lay in bed) and rejoice that although I am struck down,

I AM NOT DESTROYED!


6 comments:

Shonni said...

Wow...what a sober reminder for us to pray and FIGHT for these precious ones. Two weeks ago, a day after we received news of our little guy, I feel twice...one time the stool "somehow" broke right out from under me sending me down two stairs crashing. The next day a chair "somehow" folded up on me as I was standing and I fell and broke my tail bone...
I am so sorry that you are sick and will continue to pray for you and your family!
It is a battle, but it belongs to the LORD and is IS MIGHTY TO SAVE!

love2bmom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nicole said...

Hi.. I'm pretty sure that I cam from Shonni's blog... I've read some of your past post and have been praying for you and your family. Your last sentence in this post sent shivers up my spine... It is so real... So true.. and I hope and pray that you keep fighting for those dear children!

Kathy said...

Yes, it is a battle, and Satan does not give up easily, but I am so glad you recognize it and resist him in the name of God. Thanks for standing up for the orphan - it so clearly is not always easy, but it also so clearly is what God calls us to, and our obedience not only rescues children for Satan's clutches, but delights the heart of God. I know He is delighting in you, my friend. Praying for you healing. Keep fighting the good fight!

Anonymous said...

Oh Sweetie,

So sorry and yet at the same time, rejoice that you are loved so much...To be killed daily for serving our God...What a privilege..Sometime I may E-mail you my story...We are equal in our fight and in our battles here on this earth...Just imagine sitting on God's porch and sharing in Heaven...Oh! What a day!...Many sincere prayers of Blessing and God's strength are daily being sent your way! Shi~

Kellie Trenkle said...

wow, summer! i'm so glad you wrote it all out like that. when it's put together, there is no way one can mistake it for coincidence.

may God bless you richly for your perseverence under attack! and you won't know until the other side how far reaching your obedience has the souls of those who know your children now and in the future.

we, your peers, are honored to know you and zane. keep on keeping on!

in HIM!