It’s easier to be killed by a terrorist than it is to find a husband over the age of 40!  Sleepless in Seattle

While at a medical missions conference I was struck by the imbalance of single men to single women.  I have never understood why it is that on the mission field, for every single male there are approximately 10,000 single females.  That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but…  Why is it that the women will listen to God’s calling and go single, but the men will either not go or will find a wife first?  I thought we lived in a culture where men are strong and fear little.  Is it fear?  Are men not made to go to the mission field single, yet women are?

Today, we had an afternoon outing.  Along the road we came across some shops that sold sheep skin hats, much like what you would think of the classic Russian winter hat.  Since it gets so cold in Ethiopia, I thought it would be appropriate to buy a hat.  For those of you that don’t know me… I am a very serious person.  When I entered the bus, I asked everyone what they thought of my hat and told them it functioned as my husband magnet.  One married man suggested I move on to plan B.  Another, said it was more like a husband repellant.  A married woman suggested that I stop trying so hard and simply place it in God’s hands.  Another commented on the lovely Eau-de-Mutton scent.  I just don’t see how anyone could resist me with said hat.  So, I wore it on a walking safari.  While on the safari, I realized that there weren’t any single men and I didn’t want to endanger the marriages of those on the trip, so I took off the hat.

THE Husband Magnet!?!

Today, was a day that I could joke and laugh about being single in the mission field.  It really was fun and the hat was passed around for many people to wear.  For many singles, there are just as many tough days where we question what we are doing on the mission field without a husband and when will God provide.  Some are better than others at placing their faith in Christ.  If He plans for us to get married, he will provide, no matter where we may be.  I thought it was due time someone wrote a letter to all the single men that want to go into missions.

Dear single man,

God has called you.  Go!  If you are looking for a mate, you will find one on the mission field.  You may liken single female missionaries to a pack of wolves, if you get too many of us together.  Individually though, we are all quite nice.  It is time for you to pull up your big boy pants and Go!

Waiting impatiently, I mean patiently,

Single female

If you would like to more know more about the validity of the quote from Sleepless in Seattle you can check it out at  http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/terrorist.asp

I also wanted to let you know that Soddo now consistently has electricity, but it isn’t strong enough for bigger items like the water pumps, so still no running water.

Parts of the town now have electricity!!! A huge generator was brought in to run the government buildings, like Otona Hospital and Soddo University. I believe that those on the same electrical line are getting it as well. None of the water pumps are running, so there still is not clean water for the town. Many families have shallow wells, about 10-15 meters deep, so they have water to bathe, but it is not safe for drinking. There is one gas station in town that has a generator and will turn on its pumps when the line is long enough.

The Christian Hospital is still running on the generator. Again, thank you to all who have donated! It has made and will make such a difference! We have also increased the cost of care slightly to help fill the gap.

The equipment to fix the substation is in the country! It is at a dam along the Omo River and will be transported here. Not sure if the dam is being built so the pieces are available or it they are just prioritizing resources. Most people have estimated that the electricity will be up and going in 1-2 weeks. There is also excitement about getting the new substation because there is hope for even more consistent electricity.

I drive past the substation everyday on my way to work and they are working fervently to get everything fixed.

I still cannot say that we are completely out the woods, but things are looking much brighter than I thought. I will keep you updated on the situation.

God Bless!

The response of the people to me is simply beautiful.  First, they all ran to help.  Then, when the fire was out there was all sorts of cheering.  You could hear the cheers from my home about 2 miles away.  Then they sang for about 45 minutes praising God.  How beautiful!

So what does this mean?  No power.  No light.  Without electricity you can’t turn on the lights, charge your cell phone, cook in the oven/stove (unless gas or open fire), charge your computer, use the fridge or freezer, use blow dryers, use water heaters, use washing machines, kettles, microwaves, coffee grinders, watch TV, listen to the radio, no street lights…  Now that is the simple stuff.

The biggest issue is that getting water to the town requires electricity.  The pumps for the wells require electricity.  So if you don’t have electricity what are your options?  Generators.  Sounds like a simple plan, but it is an extremely expensive plan.  It takes about 200-300 liters of gas PER DAY to run the government hospital or the Christian hospital for 24 hour period.  So that comes out to about $235-$350 a day just for electricity.  The good news is that the Christian hospital has a well, so there is water.

The government hospital doesn’t have a well, so this is the biggest issue.  There is just no water.  They get their water from the city and the city can’t deliver it.  So how do you run a hospital without water?  I have written about this before and we go without water at times, but never for more than 5 days.  I have no idea how the hospital will function or if it will be able to.  We will only do emergency cases and then we will only do them if we have gowns and instruments that are clean.  I have no clue how this will work or what options are available.  I know they are working on how to remedy this, but I don’t know what the solution will be.  Until there is power, the Christian hospital could potentially be the only functioning hospital in the region.

I don’t know how long it will take to rebuild the plant.  I have heard estimates from weeks to months.  There has even been question about if the materials to rebuild the plant are available in the country or if they will have to be shipped in.  I am sure I will be learning more about electricity and alternative power sources in the next few weeks than I ever dreamed to know.  I cannot pretend to be an expert in any of this.  I am only telling you the things I have heard throughout the day.  What I know for sure is that this is huge.

How can a community survive without water?  My first thought was that we see donkeys bringing in water all the time in jugs, but I learned that most of that water comes from the city water.  Then, I thought the donkeys will just have to go to the rivers.  Problem: it is that it is the dry season and the river beds are dry.  I have no idea what will happen.

So for me, what does this mean?  I live at the Christian hospital, so we are going to have water and we will have electricity from the generator.  The generator will be rationed to cut the cost, so we will probably have electricity for about 4 hours a day.  I cannot tell you how excited I am to have electricity for that time!  I almost feel guilty about having water.  I don’t know how much of the town relies on the city for water, but my guess is almost everyone.

That isn’t the end of the problem.  The town often goes without gas.  Right now there is gas, but how long will the gas last?  Will the prices of the gas sky rocket?  I am sure you are beginning to see the enormity of the problem.

All day I have been hearing “Mebrat Yellum”.   Mebrat means electricity, light or power.  Yellum means there is none.  And all day I have been thinking about all the Bible verses that talk about light…. Let there be light and there was light….The LORD turns the darkness into light… The LORD is my light and my salvation… a light unto my path…let your light shine before men…I am the light of the world… his light shines in our hearts…God is light.  Pray with me that during this dark time His light will shine.

Here is how you can help.  I want to focus on putting funds towards Soddo Christian Hospital because of the water access.  With rationing, it will be about $10 per hour to run the hospital.  Consider sponsoring the hospital for an hour or more.

Checks should be written out to St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation and sent to:

St Luke’s Health Care Foundation

In care of Ken Amstatz

1700 Park Street

Suite 106

Naperville, IL 60563

Or you can give online through the website:

http://www.soddo.org/giving.asp

Please spread the word to your friends and families.  My blog is private, but you may send out emails or post it yourself.

Tonight, we waited until all the kids would be trying to get to sleep.  Around 11 pm, Bereket, Abiti, Allison Karnes, Kebede (friend and huge helper with the boys), Aschalo (driver) and I went out to the streets.  The boys brought us to a street corner.  We could see them laying on pieces of cardboard boxes, with remains of plastic sacks over them.  At first, I thought there were maybe 15 kids, but there were closer to 50 kids.  We counted the blankets before we went but I forget exactly how many there were… I think 48.  They were gone within minutes.

Some of the boys with their new blankets. Notice even the box that they were sent in is now being used to keep them warm.

Allison gathered all the kids around to ask them if they knew why we were giving them blankets.  One little boy responded that it was because they were cold.  Yes, very true.  We were giving them blankets because they were cold, but we also wanted to remind them that Jesus loves them.

Allison talking to the boys

In Matthew the Bible tells us “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”  Matthew 6:25-26

There are millions around the world that I can only imagine feel abandoned by everyone, including or even especially God.  How could these kids be without homes?  Are the birds better cared for?  If these children are so valuable, why are they struggling daily just to get food?

Trying to wake up

I cannot claim to understand the injustices of poverty or how it all fits into God’s plan.  I can only trust that He loves us all and wants what is best for us.  God has called us all to care for those around us in need.  Tonight, these women from Garden were the hands of God that are providing warmth for a bunch of street kids.

BLANKETS!!!

I came to Addis a few days early to get some paper work done to exit the country.  While waiting for the paper work, I had some time.  Thanks to your generous and faithful giving, I also had some money.  I hope that you all find this a worthy cause!  With your money I bought 300 kilos, 660 pounds, of oranges for Mother Teresa’s Orphanage in Addis.

The Van full of Oranges

The Orphanage is a home for children that are HIV positive.  It was started by Missionaries of Charity Sisters, which first came to Ethiopia in 1973.  At that time it was a home for the dying and destitute.  Later, they opened an orphanage that was specific to HIV.  In 2005, treatment for HIV was introduced to the orphanage.  Suddenly, they had a new “problem”, the children were now surviving and doing well.  Over the years with advancement in treatment (ARVs), the focus has turned to keeping the kids with their families and trying to decrease the stigma of HIV/AIDS.  The orphanage had about 450 kids.  Now, there are just over 200 kids.  They have stopped taking new kids because of the change in focus.  The decrease in the number of kids is because they have graduated from the orphanage and are out living in the community (>18 years old) or have been transferred to other orphanages.   They have built a school that is for the children in the community and the orphanage.  The school is trying to bridge the gap between those with and without HIV.  This home of destitute and dying has turned into a home of thriving children.    

This Saturday they will be celebrating Christmas and the kids will all have oranges.  Thank you for being Saint Nicholas!

I am waiting for an estimate, so I have no idea on the cost, but here is my plan…  BIG tanks.  So that isn’t my only plan, but it is a start.  First, I am going to see if a well can be dug so we have a clean water source.  Second, big tanks.  The tanks would serve as reserves for when there isn’t water.  The order of tanks being placed will be… operating room, obstetric ward, surgical ward, pediatric ward then medical ward.  The number of tanks I put in will depend on how much money is given.  I am also considering putting in water heaters so that, well, people can have warm showers.  I do not have a solution for the clean water yet.  At this point we boil all the water that is going to be consumed.

I was going to wait for the estimate, but I don’t know when I will get it.  With Christmas and the end of the year quickly approaching, I wanted you all to know about another opportunity… to give water for Christmas.

Ethiopia water facts…

Less than 1/3 (about 31%) of the population has access to clean water.

According to UNICEF, 75% of diseases in children in Ethiopia originate from the environment… water contamination (dysentery), water born diseases (schisto), diseases from lack of water (scabies, body lice) and water related insect vectors (malaria).

90-96% of the water that reaches the Nile in Egypt comes from Ethiopia.

Women and children are usually the water fetchers.  It is estimated that some may walk up to 6 hours a day for water for their family.

A boy and his donkey collecting water

You can give by clicking on the link to the right (online donations) or sending a check to the address on the right (snail mail donations)…

I am so excited to tell you that, finally, the OB facelift is completed!  The walls are painted a beautiful green.  The mattresses have been replaced.  All the patients have sheets and blankets.  Heaters have been purchased to keep the sick or little babies warm.  In fact, the administration of the hospital has been painting the rest of the hospital and has bought many more sheets for all the wards.

Before

After

Beanies for Ethiopian Babies.  Super catchy name that the Belcher boys came up with to get the heads of the Soddo babies covered.  They were able to collect 1,307 hats!!!  They got their church, local retirement communities and friends involved.  Little messages were tucked into most of the hats.  Some of the families kept them others left them for the other patients to enjoy.  The nurses her have been taping the messages and Bible verses to the walls or the beds.

What 1307 hats look like

Messages for the babies and moms

Cara (Viner) Dumaplin wanted to raise money to help with the pediatric ward.  Her children all go to a private school, Scottsdale Christian Academy, where they are allowed to wear jeans once a month if they pay $3.  This money goes towards an organization each month.  In September, they sponsored the pediatric ward.  A presentation was given a week prior about what the money would be going towards.  Benjamin Moyle, a third grader, with a huge heart brought his entire piggy bank.  It was $21 and all he had.  They raised over $700!!!

The Peds Ward... Thank you SCA!!!

My home church in Muskegon, Olivet Evangelical Free, raised enough money for me to bring about 15 eggs a day for the entire year to patients at the hospital!  They also paid for the next session of photos at one of the orphanages, many births, bought a surgical pelvic atlas (HUGE in teaching and learning!) and more.

Another pelvic atlas was sent (PERFECT!  One for each hospital.), breast pumps, gauze, spices (for me ), gloves, baby blankets, baby hats, thermometers, BP cuffs, formula, stuffed animals…  SO many wonderful things.  A huge thank you to you all!

Last week, I went and visited Tamirat, Miracle.  For those of you who don’t remember, he was 2 pounds when he

Tamirat playing with his coffee cup

was born ten months ago.  He was seizing, would forget to breath and was admitted to the hospital, I think, four different times when he was near death. I was almost afraid to go visit.  Would he be sitting, smiling, crawling?  Seizing?  Would he even be alive?  We got to his home and were welcomed by all the neighbors.  There was Tamirat.  He was all rolls and smiles.  He can sit.  Mom says he can crawl.  And after he drank two cups of coffee he peed all over me.

Abiti and Bereket are now living with Ethiopian families.  Abiti lives with his cousin, who happens to be my house helper.  He will be with her until the end of the school semester and then move home with his mom.  If he leaves now, he will not be able to be in school for the semester, so his mom wanted him to stay until the semester was over.  Abiti’s “brother” was in the hospital and is now home doing wonderful!  I have given Abiti’s mother a loan so that she can start her own business selling injera.

Abiti before his trip to Hawassa

When I look at this incomplete list of things to be thankful for, I almost feel bad writing any more.  But the second half of this post has been my heart.  I have forgotten all of the things to be thankful for.  I have felt like me being here has no purpose.  I have counted the days until I can leave.

My glass is half empty.

It has taken over 4 months to do the simple task of redoing the obstetrics and gynaecology ward.  I don’t know who I can and can’t trust.  If I ask someone to buy something for me, the price will most likely go up so they get a cut of the sale.  If I do it myself, I may not get a fair price.  But then what is a fair price?  So, I made trips to two different towns trying to find the supplies to redo the ward.  I was able to buy 33 sets of sheets.  After I brought them back to the hospital 9 sets were stolen.  I am not sure if they were stolen by staff, patients or the patients‘ families.  But they are gone.  After two months the sheets were still not on the beds.  Finally, I threaten to take the sheets back.  If they weren’t on the beds the next day, I would bring them to another hospital that would use them.  The next day, they were on the beds.

I bought paint, but the mixing of paint here is a guessing game, at best.  I had gallons of the “same color” of paint

First paint job. New sheets and old blanket.

that were all different shades of green.  The painter just painted.  Rooms would be in patches of shades of green.  I think the walls had to be painted at least 3 times before the colors were the same.  And I am not talking all the same from room to room.  I am simply saying one room, one color.  For the next month the painter found me at least once a day to ask for more money.  We had agreed on a price before he began, but afterwards he wanted more.  Very typical.  At one point, I was even accused of stealing some paint.  Seriously!?!?!?

It took four weeks for the taylor to show up to sew the bedspreads.  Each time I asked if he had appeared, the answer was he was supposed to be here ____, but never came.  Maybe tomorrow.

There is more, but I think you get the picture.

After Abiti returned from his trip to see his sister, I went with him to his mother’s home.  I learned how Abiti ended up on the streets…. His family lives in housing that is subsidized.  They pay just over $1 a month for housing.  This housing is reserved for the poor in the community.   It is made of mud and has a tin roof.  The floors are dirt.  There is no running water and no electricity.  Both of his parents do day labor.  As in, if there is work, they do it.  One of his sister’s had died just after child-birth two years ago.  His mom took her grandson in, Abiti’s brother.  A few months ago, he became sick.  He constantly had diarrhea.  Abiti’s mom had to stay home from work to take care of him.  Suddenly, they didn’t have enough food for everyone, so Abiti was put out on the streets to survive.  I came into the picture about 3 weeks or a month after Abiti was on the streets.  About a month later, he moved in with me.  Then we went to his house.  His brother had kwashiorkor, protein malnourishment.  He was SICK.  His body was swollen up like a balloon.  He could no longer walk or sit.  He had bed ulcers from laying down in his diarrhea for so long.  His main nourishment was grandma’s milk supply, which had mostly dried up.

I love these boys!

One of the other street boys was also brought to his home.  On the way to his house, he saw his older brother, who is also living on the streets.  Their house was falling down.  The roof had as many holes as not.  Only his grandmother was there.  She begged that he be returned to the city were he would be able to live.  She said they had no food.  The neighbors said it wasn’t safe because his father drinks heavily and beats them when he is home.  He isn’t a candidate for an orphanage or for adoption because both of his parents are living.  I am still trying to figure out what is best for him.  He is living with a family here in Soddo for now.

It is a constant struggle to get the family members of patients to donate blood.  We don’t have a blood bank, so it can mean the difference between life and death.  I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating it is!  The excuses range from, “I am just a friend” and “I had malaria this year” to “If I give, it will kill me.”  I have tried educating patients families and talking to them until I am blue in the face, but somehow it just doesn’t work.  So one day, I asked a mother, “Why are you so selfish?  You would rather let your daughter die than give a unit of blood?”  The mother agreed to give blood and left for the blood bank.  She came back some time later wailing because she had the wrong blood type and now her daughter was going to die.  All I could think was there goes my mouth again!  We were able to find blood for her.  What I find even sadder than the families not being willing to give, is the fear of those in the medical field to give.  Two weeks ago, I had a mother who was in heart failure from her anemia (Hg 2.4).  No one would give.  I asked about 20 students to give and they all refused.  The next day she died.

Only 5 of the 12 street boys are still in school.  Their teachers have all asked for money and threatened to kick them out of school if they don’t pay.  The school is a government school, so it is free, but since there is a white face behind these boys being in school it is one more opportunity for them to get money.  I went to the school to ask about the fees and suddenly there were none.  The kids still are asked for money.  Six have been arrested for stealing.  I still have lunches on Tuesdays for all of them.  They get to shower and get clean clothes.  Things in my house, small things, but still things, have gone missing.  I wish I knew how to be a better influence on them.   How can they learn that lying and stealing is wrong when that is all that goes on around them?

The oppression here is overwhelming.  Nine times out of ten I am dealing with a half empty glass or at least it feels that way.  I know that God has placed me here for a purpose, I just don’t know how long He wants me to be here.  So many days I feel blinded by the half empty glass.  I don’t even see that the glass is half full.  I just see the emptiness.  I do not tell you this for pity.  This is just life here.  I know I can’t change it, but I can make small differences in some peoples’ lives.  I knew when I signed up for this job it would be difficult.  I just didn’t realize what the difficulties would be.  Please keep my patients, the street boys and all whose paths I cross in your prayers.  I will be going back to the states for 3 weeks in January.  I pray this will be a time of rejuvenation for me and adjustment to my glasses.

These boys may have a glass half empty life, but they look like they are living a glass half full life

He made it to Hawassa and went to his “sister’s house”. She no longer lived there so he didn’t know what to do. He went back to the bus station and was crying. He had 2 birr, so he used that to call me. A man from his home town saw him and helped him find a place to sleep, got him food and a bus ride back to Soddo. A friend had sent his friends in Hawassa on a search for him too. They couldn’t find him.

This morning he got on the bus back to Soddo. On the bus ride back, his bus rolled. I am not sure exactly what happened. This is what I know: He crawled out a window and no one died. They waited on the road for the next bus and then he was back in Soddo.

Yesterday, was tough. So much was going on in my head. How could I have done this? And not only was I dealing with not knowing what was going on with Abiti, but I had his best friend, Berket, mourning his absence. He was constantly asking me all the questions that you don’t want to hear, but are the truth. Do you think Abiti found food? Where will he sleep? Will Abiti be able to come back? Can we try to go find him? What if he isn’t ok? And all the tears that come with the fear in these questions. Berket and I spent much time in prayer.

Thank you for your prayers. Abiti was not only safe, but he was taken care of by a family friend. He and all the passengers on the bus survived the accident. Tonight we will be going out to celebrate his safe return!!!

Bereket and Abiti had been waiting at the gate for me every day.  As soon as I opened the door to my house, Abiti would try to find something to do.  Bereket needs a bit of encouragement to help.  They have been cleaning the counters, sweeping, doing the dishes, working in the garden…  breaking things.  They would ask to sleep on the porch, so they could have a blanket and not have their things stolen during the night.  I had given Bereket a pair of shoes and they were stolen a few nights later as he slept on the streets.  I finally let them sleep on the porch and then they moved into the living room.  They have been living with me about 2 weeks.

We clean the house, watch movies, draw, play card games, run errands…  They have been through all the drawers in my house.  They know what works and what doesn’t work.  They have been begging to be circumcised.  Last night we were doing math problems.  It is not all roses, though.  Two days ago, I found out they were lying to me.  My heart was broken.  They had completely lied about their families.  They had both made up stories that they thought sounded worse.  If their story was “sadder”, maybe I would help.  I decided to send them back to the streets.  I felt horrid.  How could I send them back to the streets?  How can I teach them to do what is right?  Do they not see the importance of honesty?  Am I a horrible person?  What should I do that will help them the most?  What is best for them?  We had a long talk and shed many tears.  It started raining when I was walking them to the gate of the compound.  Neither had jackets, so we went back to the house to get jackets.  I told them to wait until the rain stopped.  They kept apologizing and promised to never lie again.  They stayed the night.

In this whole process, I found out their real stories.  Abiti has a sister that lives in a town about 4 hours away.  She owns two shops and is wealthy enough to own a car.  Today, I brought Abiti to the bus station to go to his sister’s house.  I have been in tears all day.  I can’t tell you exactly why I am crying.  Is it because I may never see him again?  Will he be ok?  Will he find his sister?  Will he just end up on the streets in another town?  Is it the realization of how hard life is here, yet again?  Is it that when he left all he has is the clothes on his back that I had bought him and a tooth brush?

As I was writing this, I got a call from a man at the bus station in Hawassa, the town Abiti was went to.  He said he

Abiti and I this morning before going to the bus station

found Abiti and he was at the bus station crying.  Abiti had my phone number so he called.  An Ethiopian friend called a friend that lives there to look for him.  He couldn’t find him.  I don’t know where he is or if he is ok.  He has my number to call, a few snacks, clean water, 2 birr and a tooth brush.  Please pray with me that Abiti is safe and can find his sister.  And that she will take him in when he arrives.

To give you an update on the rest of the boys.  Daniel, the Peace Corp worker, has enrolled the boys in school.  So far 12 are in school.  They go to his house before school and get lunch.   They come to my house on Tuesday for lunches.  This week we had 17 show up.  I don’t know what the costs of everything is right now.  We buy notebooks, pens, pencils, clothes and food.  Notebooks for school are about $4 per child.  Lunch, laundry and a shower at my house

Tuesday lunch time

are less than $2 per kid each week.  I make sure and feed them a good meal (meat, lentils, beans, veggies).  A meal (PB&J sandwiches, eggs and bananas) a day for the kids in school is about $5 per week per child.  If any of you would like to help Daniel and I that would be wonderful.  He is doing a lot of the foot work and I am fronting the bill.  All information about donating is on the right side of my blog.  Thank you!

Please keep us all in your prayers.

Max Lucado asked, “If God were to write us a letter, what would it say?”  This is what he came up with.  This letter is written to me, to Abiti, to you… well, to everyone.

 Dear Child of Mine,

I am one who comforts you. I bought you and complete you. I delight in you and claim you as my own. I will never fail you or forsake you.

¹RECEIVE MY LOVE

I throw my arms around you, lavish attention on you and guard you like the apple of my eye. I rejoice over you with great gladness. My thoughts of you cannot be counted, they outnumber the grains of sand! Nothing can ever separate you from my love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Your fears for today, your worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep my love away.

²You sometimes say, The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.? But, can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! I paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, my sinless, spotless Lamb. No one will snatch you away from me. See, I have written your name on my hand. I call you my friend. Why, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are valuable to me.

³Give me your burdens, I will take care of you. I know how weak you are; that you are made of dust. Give all your worries and cares to me, for I care about what happens to you.

⁴TRUST MY OVERSIGHT

Trust in me always, I am the eternal Rock, your Shepherd, the Guardian of your soul. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

⁵So, don’t worry. I never tire or sleep. I stand beside you. My angels encamp around you. I hide you in the shelter of my presence. I will go ahead of you directing your steps and delighting in every detail of your life. If you stumble, you will not fall, for I hold you by the hand. I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.

⁶Wars will break out near and far, but don’t panic I have overcome the world. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. I surround you with a shield of love.

⁷I will make you fruitful in the land of suffering, trading beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, praise for despair. I live with the low-spirited and spirit crushed. I put new spirit in you and get you on your feet again. Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning. If I am for you, who can ever be against you?

⁸ACCEPT MY VICTORY

I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins, yet, my grace is sufficient for you. I have cast all your sins behind my back, trampled your sins under my feet and thrown them into the depths of the ocean! Your sins have been washed away, swept away like the morning mists, scattered like the clouds. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.

⁹Your death is swallowed up in victory. I disarmed the evil rulers and authorities and broke the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. Blessed are those who die in the Lord. Your citizenship is in heaven. Come, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you where I will remove all of your sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.

¹⁰RELY ON MY ENERGY

You are worried and troubled about many things; trust me with all your heart. I know how to rescue godly people from their trials. My Spirit helps you in your distress. Let me strengthen you with my glorious power. I did not spare my Son but gave him up for you. Won’t I give you everything else? March on, dear soul, with courage! Never give up. I will help you. I will uphold you.¹¹

Remember, I am at hand. Come to me when you are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. I delight in you; and I can be trusted to keep my promise. Come and drink the water of life.¹²

Your Maker, Your Father,

God

¹Isaiah 55:1, Isaiah 51:12, 1 Cor. 6:20, Col. 2:10, Isaiah 62:4-5, Hebrews 13:52Deut. 32:10 MSG, Zeph. 3:17, Psalm 139:17-18, Romans 8:353Isaiah 49:14-15, 1 Peter 1:19, John 10:28, Isaiah 49:16, Jn. 15:15, Matt. 10:29-314Psalm 55:22, Psalm 103:13-14, 1 Peter 5:7 ⁵Isaiah 26:3-4, 1 Peter 2:25, Isaiah 43:26Matt. 6:34, Psalm 121:3, Psalm 34:7, Psalm 31:20, Deut. 31:6, Psalm 37:23-24, Psalm 32:87Matt. 24:6, John 16:33, Phil. 4:6, Psalm 5:128Gen. 41:52, Isa. 61:1-3, Isa. 57:15, Psalm 30:5, Romans 8:319Amos 5:12, 2 Cor. 12:9, Isa. 38:17, Micah 7:19, 1 Cor. 6:11, Isa. 44:22101 Cor. 15:54, Col. 2:15, Heb. 2:14, Rev. 14:13, Phil. 3:20, Matt. 25:34, Rev. 21:4 ¹¹Luke 10:41, Prov. 3:5, 2 Pet. 2:9, Rom. 8:26, Col. 1:11, Rom. 8:32, Judges 5:21, 2 Cor. 4:1, Isa. 41:1012Phi. 4:5, Matt. 11:28, Psalm 149:4, Heb. 10:23, Rev. 22:17