God is Always Awesome

It has been a trying week, filled with repairing a washing machine and a car, an emergency trip to the vet, early mornings and late nights. One morning I just woke up praying for grace and patience to see the day through. That was the day I finally got to talk to my friend Allyson, almost a month after she had delivered their new baby boy. Our conversation was so seasoned with God's amazing provisions that I asked her if I could share their story.

I met Todd and Allyson the summer of 2007 when I was checking out Kenya and deciding what would be a good fit for me and Africa. They were fresh off the boat at orientation, anxious to get to RVA and start their ministry as dorm parents. I so enjoyed their company, their sense of humor, our mutual friends back in the midwest, and was in awe of their ability to move overseas with ONLY the legal baggage limit! It was through them and others like them that I felt God calling me to pursue a ministry with AIM and RVA - God using regular people to His Glory. This is a picture of us back then that I feel I must share . . . because we all look ridiculous.

Hiking in conservative African villages is no small accomplishment.

Fast forward a year - and several informative emails - later, and I'm pulling up to RVA to be greeted by a very pregnant Allyson, expecting their first baby girl, Ava. That summer they let me watch tv with them every night and taught me to survive and thrive in Kijabe. It just got better from there, doing Caring Community together, training for the half and full marathon with Todd, and putting up my family in their house over Christmas. They were by far the most interested - and encouraging - in my relationship with Matt and the ones I woke up at 7am the morning after we got engaged, waving my ring in front of Allyson's shocked and tired face. They also drove from Ohio to South Carolina to be present at our rehearsal dinner and wedding . . .

So you get the picture: great friends, dear people. We were ecstatic when we found out they were expecting a little boy due in May. A few days after Tyler Joseph was born on May 4th, he was diagnosed with hepatic hemangioendothelioma. As Allyson talked to me about what life has been like for their family since then, again and again she pointed out God's hand at work. Now they see why God brought them out of Kenya when all they wanted was to stay there - Tyler's condition would have been much impossible to diagnose and treat. To think that a year ago, in the midst of their sorrow, God knew that what was causing them pain would later bring them such healing. Little things - the doctor said that if Allyson hadn't retained as much fluid, the umbilical cord being wrapped around Ty's neck would've been a serious issue. What if she hadn't been dipping (and eating) pretzels for a wedding the week before? Because he was bruised from the quick delivery, Ty was closely monitored for jaundice and under heat lamps, which helped the doctors recognize his symptoms and look for a diagnosis. They had switched insurance providers just before Tyler's birth, not knowing the scope of the bills they would've faced otherwise. The list goes on - care packages at the perfect times, gifts from friends and strangers that completely covered their financial loss from Todd not working. Even after raising support to go to Kenya, Allyson said they were floored by God's provision for their family. Not just financially, but things that spoke to her heart personally.

At one point I commented, "That's amazing." To which she replied, "God is always amazing. I'm just so privileged to be able to see it."

Tyler is doing so much better - his enlarged liver has shrunk 4 cm over the past month. We praise God for his work and continue to ask for complete healing.

So. Even though I don't always act like I know God is Awesome, he still is. Always. All the time.