Fatao's Surgery Went Well

Fatao is out of heart surgery now! Everything went well and Compassion will have more information soon. Praise the Lord! Please pray for him as he had to travel to India without his parents and must stay through his recovery.

Here is the link for updates, which are placed at the bottom of the post.
http://blog.compassion.com/ventricular-septal-defect-in-children-six-year-old-fatao-needs-heart-surgery/

Updates on Fatao's Heart Surgery

Compassion International wrote a blog post on March 6, asking for donations to cover Fatao's heart surgery. That money was actually to replenish funds, because the surgery was already scheduled for tonight, March 9, 8:00 PM, MT. As of March 9 at 2:38 PM, $19,281 had been donated. Praise God! 


The $23,000 needed for surgery, travel, and recovery is nothing compared to what it would have cost in the west. Just the surgery itself in the west would have cost $144,000.


Please pray that everything goes well. See updates on the surgery at the bottom of the post, linked below.

Courtesy of Compassion International: http://blog.compassion.com/ventricular-septal-defect-in-children-six-year-old-fatao-needs-heart-surgery/#ixzz1og2GNOJy

Good Gifts

MATTHEW 7:11
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!


Paul:  "Mommy, can you make some cookies? We don't have anything sweet."


Mommy:  Sorry, Paul. I'll make them this weekend maybe, if I'm feeling better. Why don't you call Daddy and ask him to bring you something sweet?"


Paul:  "But Daddy won't want me to bother him."


Mommy:  "Believe me, Paul. He won't mind. He's coming home an hour early to make dinner for us since Mommy is sick."


Paul:  "Well, I don't think he likes going to the store." (True. That man of mine hates grocery shopping.)


Mommy:  "Honey, he won't mind."


Paul gets the cell phone and calls Daddy, who is on his way home. 


Paul:  "Hi Daddy. It's me, Paul. I'm depressed because everyone is sick and I'm sick too. Can you bring me something sweet?"


Daddy:  "Yes, Paul. I'll bring you some donuts. Would that be okay?"


Paul:  "Thank you, Daddy. I love you. Thank you."


Paul gets off the phone, happy, relieved, grateful. Smiling.


Paul:  "Mommy, I love Daddy so much. He's just so nice, isn't he?"


Mommy:  "He is so nice. We are blessed to have him. I knew he wouldn't mind. That Daddy of yours understands comfort food."


Later, as husband labors over a taco dinner at the stove, I tell him what Paul said. From his big smile, I could tell. A daddy loves giving his children good gifts, just like Our Heavenly Father does.


What do you need to ask Him for today?





photo credit

Valleys

Psalm 27:1,3
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.

For two years we experienced few illnesses--rare for a four-child family. Why such a reprieve? Only God knows. 


The last seven weeks we've had one horrific stomach virus, a cold virus followed by pink-eye, followed by another cold virus which morphed into bronchitis. 


My chest hurts, I'm weak, my throat is sore from all the coughing, and I wonder if husband--who is sick too but mildly in comparison--should call out from his afternoon job so he can take care of the children. Beth has it too.


Paul, whose post-nasal drip makes it hard for him to talk, whined yesterday, "Oh, Mommy. Will we ever be well again?"


Many people I know and love, including extended family members, walk in valleys right now. Their sorrows weighed on my heart last night, until I remembered the 23rd Psalm, my refuge words in times of stress.


The Lord has us walk through so many different valleys, doesn't He? While I don't like valleys, I'm grateful for them...for they give us an accurate picture of how BIG God is.


What is faith beyond just a belief in God? 


Faith is an intimate understanding of...


...how much God loves us.


...the heart miracles God performs.


...the lengths to which God goes to redeem brokenness.


...the joy and peace God plants in our hearts.


...the way God loves others through us.


...the way God empties us of self and replaces self with surrender...giving us oneness with Him.


...the way God supplies grace on time, every time.


Whatever valley you're in, give thanks for it. Valleys always reap more blessing than peaks. 


Indeed, valleys help us rejoice fully in our peaks, for we recognize a peak only after we've been through a valley.


How can I pray for you today, friend? It would be a privilege. Comments are on delay, not shown to the public until I okay them.


Psalm 23:1-4
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

Deuteronomy 31:8

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. 

Deuteronomy 33:27

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. 

Psalm 16:8
I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 

Help Save Fatao

http://blog.compassion.com/ventricular-septal-defect-in-children-six-year-old-fatao-needs-heart-surgery/

Please click the Compassion link above and consider donating to a fund for six-year-old Fatao's heart surgery? He lives in southwest Burkina Faso. They've known about the heart defect since he was a one year old, but the family of twelve could never afford to take care of it. His father is a security guard and his mother sells fritters in the market. They struggle to make ends meet. Now that Fatao is a sponsored child, his Compassion Child Development Center is arranging for him to have a life-saving heart surgery in India.



Only $5000 dollars is available for special medical care through the child development center's church partnership. When money beyond that is needed, the development center has to find it within other funds. Since Fatao's surgery and travel to an India hospital will cost $23,000, Compassion has written a blog post to request our help with Fatao's need. His heart works two to three times harder than a normal heart, to keep up with his body's needs. It will eventually stop, unable to keep up with his growth.

If you already have a Compassion account, this will take you about 4 minutes, and without an account, maybe 7 minutes. Giving any amount will help. Click on the post link above. There is a donate button within the post. You can also write a note to Fatao, which will be read to him by Compassion workers before or after his surgery. Thank you!