Leah Stirewalt

May 3 will never again be just another day. 2011 changed that for me forever. It was on this day, two years ago, my husband “disappeared”; or at least that’s what we initially thought. Chris was so predictable that when the minutes and hours kept ticking by from the time he would normally be home from work, I knew something was wrong. The rest of the evening’s activities included calls to the local hospitals to make sure a “John Doe” hadn’t been brought in following a wreck or something, prayer requests being sent out in droves, a visit to the local police station to file a missing person’s report, driving around town looking for my husband and/or his bright red truck. Sadly, May 3 ushered in May 4…still with no sign of Chris.

Many hours later, I got the call…some friends from church had FINALLY located his truck…the hunt was now on for Chris. Little did they know at the time, he was lying only about 100 feet away from them. Within the next 30 minutes, however, Chris’ lifeless body was discovered the evening of May 4, the result of him completing a suicide.

I filled this blog with posts during that grief process (you can actually click HERE for the very first post following his death). I thought I’d never get over the shock of becoming a widow at such a young age. I remember that particular May 3 and 4 vividly. I may not remember the details of the events that followed in the next few days and weeks, but I’ll never forget those two days. The pictures…the details…everything is just as clear today as it was then.

In those early days, I vowed to do something. No matter how badly I preferred to curl up in a ball and ignore everything around me, I vowed to read something from my Bible each day. I also promised to talk to God daily. As I share my story, I’m quick to note, however, that those early prayers might have been only two to three words. Eventually, I graduated to extended time with the Lord. I also maybe only read a verse or two each day, as I adjusted to my “new normal”, but soon that turned into true study of His Word again. Even in the shock…even in depths of grief…I could not forget my God. He would be the only one that could turn ugly into beautiful again.

Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. ~Proverbs 4:5 ESV

If you told me then, I wouldn’t have believed it. God allowed me to find true love again. He promised me time and time again during my Grief Journey…

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. ~Joel 2:25 ESV

Little did I realize that those very words from the book of Joel would be made manifest in a man named Joel…the man that is now my husband. Going on nine months of marriage this month, I can see the fingerprints of a restoring God all over my life and in my marriage. However, even though healed and restored, I still can’t forget the May 3 and 4 that changed my life forever. In the same way, I can’t forget the God who

lifted me out of the pit of despair
held me up when I was too heartbroken to stand
delivered me from the grip of grief
protected me while widowed
guided me as a single parent
caught each tear I shed
heard each prayer I prayed
rescued me from deep waters
HEALED me

In the same way that my mind remembers those painful days, I also remember the loving God that cherishes me. I can’t forget Him.

When I traveled to Liberia, Africa in June of 2010, I had no idea what I was about to encounter. I thought I was going on my first overseas mission trip that encompassed leading 5 days of women’s conferences. While that did happen, something so much larger also took place.

Cecelia, a precious Liberian woman (30-ish) drove 8 hours on a borrowed moped with her 7-month-old infant girl strapped to her back. Baby Grace, as she affectionately became known, was born with an omphalocele (the medical term for being born with her abdominal organs on the outside of her body). Grace had a surgery, only a couple months prior, performed by a Chinese doctor, who “happened” to be traveling through the area. He gave her a thin layer of skin to protect her organs while her abdominal cavity grew large enough to be able to hold them. However, this doctor made sure Grace’s family knew that if she didn’t have a follow up surgery by the time she was a year old, she would not survive.

Grace’s mother heard that three American ladies where traveling to Monrovia, and she took a leap a faith and traveled to see them. She needed help. When she introduced us to Grace, and we saw her problem with our very own eyes, our hearts melted. Cecelia simply asked us to help sell the Christmas ornaments that she and her sister were making to help raise money for Grace to go to Ghana for surgery (the closest country with a surgeon skilled enough to do the surgery). However, when doing the math, there was no way they could make them fast enough even if we sold every single one they gave us.

At the end of the week, we were beyond tired but in a rewarding sort of way. We attended the “sending service” they had for us on Sunday morning, and towards the end of the service, one of the worship leaders addressed us and declared, “I don’t think God brought you here just to lead women’s conferences. He brought you here to help Baby Grace.” I looked at my speaking partner, and she looked back at me, we politely smiled and said, “We’ll do whatever we can.”

I can honestly tell you, I didn’t have the faith that Cecelia did. I thought we’d end up coming home and never see a happy ending to this story. But God is so much bigger than my little mind can understand. Through a series of events and amazing financial miracles…Grace traveled to the United States with her parents and a traveling companion (all compliments of Delta Airlines). She had her surgery FREE at Vanderbilt Hospital, was able to stay in the Ronald McDonald House, and spent two months in the United States visiting between Nashville, TN and Asheville, NC. Only God could orchestrate all of this! And, I thought I was just going on a mission trip to lead women’s conferences.

My daughter, Anna, has been invited to Uganda, Africa this summer…for FOUR weeks! She’ll be traveling with a team from Adventures in Missions, a mission organization based out of Atlanta, GA. She needs to raise $4,595 to cover the costs of this trip, and she’s already raised slightly more than $2,500 by selling bracelets through Trades of Hope, selling t-shirts, hosting a Thirty-One fundraiser, conducting a Pampered Chef basket raffle, babysitting, and of course through the generous donations of friends, family, and several people that have never even met Anna (or me, for that matter). The deadline is looming, and Anna will not be able to travel with this team unless she’s able to raise the full $4595. I can’t help but wonder how many other “Baby Grace-type miracles” God’s waiting to unleash through Anna’s faithfulness to go on this life-altering journey. I’m asking you to prayerfully consider helping with a financial donation to help reach the monetary goal, thereby helping to advance the Gospel.

If you feel led to give, please go to www.adventures.org, scroll over donate and select mission trip participants. In the program drop down box, select Ambassador and then enter Anna Combs’ name on the “Participant Full Name” line. All donations need to be in by June 10. I have full faith that you can help us get Anna to Uganda this July.

If you are unable to support Anna financially, please commit to praying for her. Prayer is THE vehicle by which all of this will come together. We don’t take that lightly and sincerely thank you for every prayer offered up to Heaven on her behalf and on behalf of the “least of these” in Uganda.

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. ~Matthew 25:40

I Can’t Forget

An African Miracle