This past week I've been challenged like never before. I run the Preschool & Education Center at our YWAM SDBaja Tijuana (San Antonio Del Mar) Campus and I staffed a DTS (Discipleship Training School) this last fall. This week is debrief week and with 45+ students you can imagine the schedule is FULL. So debrief week plus teaching preschool everyday (by myself because our other sweet teachers have sick kiddos themselves) plus did I mention that I'm still SICK (like since October, not the same thing but I can't seem to catch a break). Ok, I know what you're thinking, poor pitiful Sheril, get over yourself!!!! Well, trust me, that is what I'm telling myself.
The last few weeks we've been praying for some good friends of mine, Nick & Aubrey Rodrigues (daughter was diagnosed with anencephaly at 20w gestation and her due date was Monday). For a little background, Aubrey was one of the awesome staff for my DTS in Ensenada in the fall of 2006. After graduation, she and I roomed with another good friend for almost 1.5 years before she moved to Australia to complete a healthcare school with YWAM. During that time, I was able to make way for introductions to her future husband, Nick. I was able to watch their love blossom and I was very fortunate enough to be at their wedding a few years later.
We've been praying for healing and for God to move mightily. And He has, just not the way I had hoped. Leilah Jubilee Rodrigues was born on Tuesday night with anencephaly (unless you want your heart broken and to cry the night away, do not google pics of this fatal neural tube defect). But here's the amazing thing - 75% of babies with this are stillborn, most that aren't only live for minutes.
As of my last update from the family, little Leilah was 15 HOURS old! Genuinely, every breath is a miracle from God. To top that off, the little Facebook page I created (Prayers for Leilah Jubilee Rodrigues) to help get the word out & keep people in the know during the prayer & fasting times as well as the birth, has now reached over 1000 LIKES and over 15,000 reaches (meaning people in the Facebook world who have seen one of the pictures/stories/posts, etc). Most of these people have never heard of Aubrey or Nick before this and for sure don't know them personally. But still, little Leilah's life has touched so many!!!
The faith, courage and endurance that her parents have shown in this difficult time has been life-giving and transformational for so many around the world! (Seriously, read Aubrey's blog about her struggles & how she has overcome so much just for this day). So, in the grand scheme of things, my little problems are definitely not too much for such a BIG God. I mean look at what He's done everywhere else. I am challenged to have faith that God will be with us in whatever we have to handle, in wherever He is leading us and asking us to endure. What has God been challenging you with lately? I'd love to hear about it.
Below are a few pics of me with Nick & Aubrey and our roommate, Adrienne.
As of my last update from the family, little Leilah was 15 HOURS old! Genuinely, every breath is a miracle from God. To top that off, the little Facebook page I created (Prayers for Leilah Jubilee Rodrigues) to help get the word out & keep people in the know during the prayer & fasting times as well as the birth, has now reached over 1000 LIKES and over 15,000 reaches (meaning people in the Facebook world who have seen one of the pictures/stories/posts, etc). Most of these people have never heard of Aubrey or Nick before this and for sure don't know them personally. But still, little Leilah's life has touched so many!!!
The faith, courage and endurance that her parents have shown in this difficult time has been life-giving and transformational for so many around the world! (Seriously, read Aubrey's blog about her struggles & how she has overcome so much just for this day). So, in the grand scheme of things, my little problems are definitely not too much for such a BIG God. I mean look at what He's done everywhere else. I am challenged to have faith that God will be with us in whatever we have to handle, in wherever He is leading us and asking us to endure. What has God been challenging you with lately? I'd love to hear about it.
Below are a few pics of me with Nick & Aubrey and our roommate, Adrienne.
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