Entertaining Angels

To all of you who saw Mom's post on Facebook and have responded and sent messages to us, thank you so much for all the prayers you have offered up on our behalf the last several days!
 
I go up and down these stairs at least 15 times a day but Saturday I didn't do it so gracefully...

I wasn't going that fast but with coffee in hand, I hit a slick spot on the 5th step and bounced down the next 4 or 5.

I am still totally amazed that I didn't break anything.  When my back hit and I kept falling I was scared like crazy that I wasn't going to be able to move afterwards.  Drenched in coffee and broken ceramic, I just sat there...  I didn't know whether to scream, cry or just breathe so I sat as still as I could, afraid to move. Within seconds John appeared and then came Loude and then the kids.  I sat there for a minute and started talking to John and then I got really dizzy.  He carried me upstairs and I laid flat on my back and just prayed I was going to be ok.  I didn't even want to think about having broken bones in Haiti!

A million thoughts went through my head but all I could say was, 'Jesus... thank you, Jesus... help me, Jesus... Jesus...'  and then I teared up... I could hear the kids and I knew they, too, were scared so I shared with them what I read last week regarding God's angels and I assured them that angels were with me and kept me from being hurt any worse!

I totally believe Psalm 91:11 that says, "God has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you wherever you go" and Psalm 34:7 that says, "The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them"... even on the stairs!  J  Max Lucado said it this way, 'He doesn't just wave as he flies past; he encamps, he lingers, he keeps vigilance over you.  You traffic beneath the care of celestial beings.  Let that truth lower your anxiety level! The wealthiest of the world don't have the protection God's servants give you.'  It was just as much a comfort to me as it was to them as I shared.

I'm so grateful that God is always with us, that His angels helped cushion my fall and that it wasn't any worse than it was.  As I laid there in deep thought, John asked me again if I could move my elbows and then he told me that he had seen a cast here in Haiti and that I DIDN'T want one!  J  Such a funny man, he is!

He took this photo after I iced my left elbow and though the swelling had gone down considerably, he was fascinated.

I'm just fascinated that it isn't that swollen anymore!  Purple, but not as swollen!

By Saturday night I was able to sit up but I wasn't able to go to church Sunday. I received the greatest gift after church, though.  Downstairs a group of our Haitian family/friends gathered to pray for me.  Ladies filled the living room and after asking how I was doing they started singing and praying over me.  When the ladies finished praying I looked up and the number of people in the room had doubled...  men, women, and children were all over the entry and living room.  Pastor Josue walked in and said some things I didn't understand and then he told me they were going to pray some more.  I sat and as 25-30 voices all prayed at the same time for my healing, tears streamed down my face.  For a moment I froze but felt completely safe and overwhelmed with comfort.  What an incredible feeling!  Voices sang, voices praised and voices prayed!  Loud voices, soft voices, sweet voices, stern voices, confident voices, reassuring voices...  all as one voice!  (Kinley said it hurt her ears but it was absolutely beautiful to me!!!)  What an honor to receive such a gift!

Later that afternoon, a friend of ours brought us some leaves that are used here in Haiti for making tea and for bathing after injuries.  Cabila made the tea for me that night and then Monday I bathed a whole new way...  ha!  

    

I am much, much better and am grateful that in hard times God proves He's faithful to provide through our family that supports us both here and there!  I know several of you have been praying for us from home (a little bit more than usual) and I am so grateful for you!  I've said it a hundred times before and I still mean it..... the gift of prayer is monumental.

"Mighty prayer - this is the one great spiritual force that will enable the 

Lord Jesus Christ to enter into full possession of His kingdom, 

and secure for Him... the uttermost part of the earth for His possession... 

A person who can pray is the mightiest instrument Christ 

has in this world." --E. M. Bounds