Leah Stirewalt

Out of Deep Waters

Day 20 Already?

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Can you believe day 20 of my little 40 day consecutive blogging journey is already here? Interestingly enough, the last day of this 40 day run coincides with my daughter’s return from Africa (no I didn’t plan it that way).

Normally, I run my blog posts first thing each morning, so that those of you that are subscribed will get it on that same day. However, if I wait and post it later in the day (or write it later in the day – like today), it may not run the subscription until the next day. Quirky…but, I’m not techie enough to figure that out (at least not now). So, you may not be reading this until Sunday, but I’m referencing things that happened this morning (Saturday). Got it? Yeah…me neither. 🙂

My morning started out kind of bleh. Saturdays are usually wonderful. I get to sleep in. For me, that might only be 7:00 or 7:30, but that’s a couple hours longer than normal. 🙂 So, as planned, I slept in until around 7:30 today. Usually, I’ll turn over, look at the time on my phone (a/k/a my alarm clock) – oh, I have to grab those pesky glasses first (ah…the joys of aging). I digress. Anyway, as I was saying, I check the time and usually head straight to the bathroom for my morning liquidation (TMI).

This morning…I never got past staring at my phone, because it also showed me I had missed lots of activity that occurred around 5:15 am. I typically turn off the volume at night so that only the alarm clock rings through. Keeps all the other bleeps, chirps, etc. from emails or texts from waking us up. Well…because of that little habit…I missed Anna trying to get in touch with me from AFRICA!!!!! She had texted, tried to FaceTime, emailed, and sent Facebook messages. I couldn’t believe I had essentially “silenced” my baby girl!

If that wasn’t bad enough, as I read her email update…she explained how she had been sick for basically a week now (since before she even left training camp). She thought it was just her allergies flaring up, but she never got any better. Eventually, her team leader felt that Anna might have an infection and need to be seen at the clinic in Uganda.

The host pastor they are staying with ended up driving Anna, her team leader (Helena) and another teammate to the clinic. They wanted to draw blood, but Helena advised that didn’t appear to be necessary at the moment (another whew!), so Anna declined the blood test (whew!). I know they are probably very sanitary, but you just never know.

They ended up treating her with an antibiotic to help her ear/nose/throat infection, but it ended up making her throw up each day. So, now they’re adjusting her meds to a different time of day to coincide with food intake a little better.

Will you please pray for my girl as the Lord prompts? It would do this mama’s heart good!

On a brighter note, she is in love with the country of Uganda and their treasured people. Here’s a pic of a new friend she’s made while there. What a cutie-pie! Look at those big eyes!

Ugandan child

The Hardest Prayer

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My girlie and me - saying "goodbye" at Training Camp.
My girlie and me – saying “goodbye” at Training Camp.

As I shared just last week, my daughter, Anna, is spending the month of July serving as a short-term missionary in Uganda, Africa. At the young age of sixteen, Anna’s chosen to “give up” a large portion of her summer to live among some of the poorest in our world to teach them about the love of Jesus.

I think it hit me Friday night as we worshiped together…Anna and her fellow missionary team members and the parents that were present. We spent some time offering up songs of praise to the God of the Universe. Afterwards, the students were asked to line up in the aisle that formed between some rows of chairs. The worship leader asked the parents to come pray over their children – a commissioning prayer, of sorts. In return, the students were asked to pray over their parents. It was then that I lost it.

I’m not sure I’ve heard a sound more beautiful than my daughter praying over my husband and me, with tears streaming down her face. It was almost as beautiful a noise as the first time I heard her cry on January 23, 1997. Tears streamed down her face then, but for entirely different reasons. As I held that little newborn baby in my arms for the first time, I knew God had great plans for her. Little did I realize that as I held my 16-year-old “baby” girl last Friday evening, I was beginning to get a glimpse of some of those plans.

I’ve had parents tell me over and over, “I don’t know how you do it. I could never let my daughter or son travel to Africa at the age of 16.” I understand what they’re saying. I really do. In my own skin, I could never let Anna go either. But… Anna doesn’t belong to me. She’s God’s child, and He’s simply blessed me immensely by “loaning” her to me for as long as He chooses. He’s given me a great responsibility in choosing me to be her mother. And, it’s something I don’t take lightly. But, I also know that apart from Him, I would not be capable of parenting the way He intends.

In my flesh, I didn’t want her to go. But, in my spirit, I couldn’t be more proud of her for going.

In my flesh, I think of all the horrible things that could happen. But, in my spirit, I’ve placed her in God’s hands to protect. He loves her more than I ever could.

In my flesh, I wanted to go with her. But, in my spirit, this is something that she needs to do without me.

In my flesh, I’m afraid she’ll come back changed. But, in my spirit, I want her to come back changed.

I’ll never forget something a former Sunday School teacher of mine shared with a group of us. During class, she posed the question, “Have you ever prayed for God to take your child?”

What was she talking about? Was she out of her mind? Why would I do such a thing?

She explained further…

“When my first son was an infant, I prayed the hardest prayer over him I could ever imagine praying. In short, I asked God to call him home right then if there was ever a chance that he would one day reject Him as Savior and Lord. I didn’t want him to live an eternity apart from God, so I asked God to call Him home before he had a chance to reject Him.”

Gulp. I remember sitting there thinking (in one thought) how harsh that sounded but (in another thought) how much that mother loved her son to actually “risk” having God take him from her so soon. But, the agony of a lifetime apart from Him was too great.

And now…my Anna is spending the rest of the month in Uganda…sharing about her Jesus with those that are willing to listen. Maybe…just maybe…there’s another mama ready to pray a similar prayer over infant, but she wouldn’t be able to unless she already first met Him. Maybe…just maybe…Anna was called to be His voice at such a time as this. Maybe…just maybe.

My heart is so full with anticipation over what God is doing through my girl. His girl. Will you please continue to pray for her? Pray that God would bless the ministry work of the team in such dramatic, miraculous ways that there’s no mistaking His calling on their lives. Pray for continued safety and good health. After a weekend training camp and two days of air travel, the team landed on Ugandan soil yesterday afternoon around 3:00 pm. The work has begun. May He receive all the glory!

Now – for Monday’s book giveaway winner: Sarah C. (6:52 pm 7/9)! Congratulations Sarah. May Natalie’s book be a blessing to you. Please email me your mailing address so that we can get the book right out to you: [email protected]. Thank you!