A moving day!

Derek usually calls us via Skype in the morning (around 9:45 p.m. his time) and in the evening (around 6:00 a.m. his time). But, today was extra special. Before becoming grimy from work, Derek spent two hours with the children at MBHOH. He was so moved from his time with the children that he had to call me to tell me so many amazing things. He was reduced to tears. I joined him.

To see him so moved by tremendously ill children and being ready "right now to bring home four of them", just melts my heart!

For the sake of the children and their dignity, there will be no pictures posted, but what a moving time for Derek. He is so moved by the great need of the children and the love and attention they crave and so desperately need. It was a day of seeing beyond all the medical devices and seeing the children. Really seeing the children.

Reduced to tears. How precious!

New Hope and Maria's Big House of Hope get medical visas for some of the children to travel to any country that is willing to give life-saving surgeries for some of their sickest children. Derek told me there is a 74-year-old lady who travels with these children to any country they can get to and stays with them the whole time they are in recovery. Recently, she was with a child in the hospital for three months as the child recovered.

Can any of us really imagine what it would be like to be DESERTED, SO ALONE, and SO LONELY you feel your life is being sucked out from you? But, then a grandmotherly lady walks into your life and allows herself to be consumed with your life! She comes into your desperately empty life and begins to love you, cradle you, comfort you, talk to you, feed you, bathe you, caress you, hug you, and snuggle with you. To fill you up with all things good when you have reached your lowest point in life.

With tears Derek asked me: "How can anyone ever retire?! There are so many needs and so many jobs for anyone who is willing. We have to do this the rest of our lives!"

Use us LORD.
for life.
We want to live poured out.
until our final breaths.