God Saved Devine’s Life:
Little Devine is a precious gift from God. When asked, “how ‘d’ day,” his sweet little voice sheepishly says, “I alright!” Two weeks ago, Devine was not alright. As a matter of fact, we nearly lost him. God had mercy on Devine and spared us great sorrow!
Sunday, June 12, Devine woke up and played as he normally played when he suddenly had a seizure and went unconscious. He remained unconscious for 11 hours. During that time, he had multiple seizures, some lasting up to 9 minutes.
After Devine’s initial seizure, our medical team tired to treat him in our small clinic. Devine’s condition quickly became critical so our team transferred him to the nearest hospital.
Third world hospitals often lack supplies and medicines and are often underfunded and understaffed. This is exactly what we found upon arrival. Devine was given oxygen from an oxygen concentrator while the nurses told us that they did not have rubber gloves to treat him. We went and bought gloves. Next, we were told that there no needles to establish an IV line. We bought the needles. The hospital’s medicine was critically low.
While nurses tried to establish an IV line, I asked for a doctor. I was told that the doctors were in Monrovia. I instantly began sending messages to our partnering doctor, Dr. Mikey, who was on furlough in his home country of Wales. Dr. Mikey was able to direct nurses and prescribe medicines while on the phone. While communicating with Dr. Mikey it became clear that we needed to transfer Devine to another hospital. As we considered this option, we learned that the ambulance’s oxygen bottles were depleted and that there were no doctors at the next nearest hospital. We frantically began to call around to all the hospitals and clinics in our county. We had to get Devine to Monrovia fast, but we knew that he would not survive the trip without oxygen. Believe it or not, we could not find any full oxygen bottles in our county! It quickly became clear, Devine would have to be stabilized before we could transfer him to a hospital in Monrovia (3 hours away).
As Devine’s life hung in the balance, our team prayed and asked God to have mercy! I have prayed this prayer many times for children and many times the Lord has answered my prayers with a painful “no.” Too many children die needlessly! This truly breaks my heart! This day was different! On this day, God’s answer was a resounding, “YES.” Shortly after praying, Devine’s oxygen levels and heart rate started to stabilize and his breathing became regular. After observing him briefly without oxygen, we loaded him into my land cruiser, and we made the risky journey to Monrovia. That evening, after checking into a hotel, I got a phone call from Susan, Devine’s mom. She said, “Devine wants to talk to you.” Next, I heard Devine’s innocent little voice, “Hello.” I asked Devine, “How ‘d’ day?” He said, “I alright.” I was shocked. How could Devine be so close to death one minuet and be completely alright the next? After getting off the phone, I called our team members and told them that if they wanted to do something fun, they should call Susan and ask to speak to Devine. Text messages quickly came back saying, “It is a miracle!”
I am beyond thankful that God spared Devine’s life! The doctors ran several test and found nothing abnormal other than Devine’s normal hydrocephalus. Thank You Jesus for making Devine “alright!”
I believe the Jesus Loves Me Children’s Clinic is God’s answer to countless prayers for help! Our clinic will be fully equipped and well staffed. Together, God’s Church will bring a desperately needed solution to this medical crisis!
CLICK HERE to view the video
Virtual Tour Through the Jesus Loves Me Children’s Clinic:
The Jesus Loves Me Children’s Clinic is nothing short of a miracle. About a year ago, our medical team began to pray that God would help us open a children’s clinic. Then, without our involvement, God orchestrated the following events. First, Dr. Mikey visited our special needs village and felt compelled to work with us to help meet the medical needs of children in our area. Second, Live2540 contacted us about raising money to build a children’s clinic. They raised over $500,000! Praise God! Third, Darryl Byle, visited us on a short term trip. I met Darryl for the first time while picking him up from the airport. As I got to know Darryl, I learned that he was an amazing structural science engineer. To make a long story short, Darryl designed our children’s clinic and temporarily moved to Liberia to supervise its construction! Lastly, Dr. Mikey and his wife Dr. Bethany have committed to overseeing the clinic.
As you view this virtual tour, please know that you are looking at a miracle of God! There is nothing but gratefulness in our staff’s hearts as thanksgivings overflow! As the walls of this clinic go up, we know that God is doing something for us that we could never do on our own! Thank You Jesus for giving us this wonderful gift! Thank You for allowing us to participate with You as You love on Liberia’s children! May thousands of children come to know Jesus and find their healing inside these walls! God is good and His great love endures forever!
Ways to Partner:
Recently, I was asked the question, “How can I help?” Ministry is all about partnership. It takes a team of committed partners for a ministry to be strong. Here are practical ways you can partner with us:
1. You can partner with us through prayer! You can stay up-to-date with all that is going on in our ministry by joining any of our following newsletters: His Safe Haven’s village for special needs children, Fairview Missionary School, the Jesus Loves Me Children’s Clinic, M1014 (Mark 10:14) formula program for orphan babies, Suzie McLay (missionary from New Zealand) and Don Riley (missionary from USA) send out regular updates. You can join any of these newsletters by sending a request to susan@hopeforhome.org.
2. You can become a full time missionary! We are praying that God would call many missionaries to join us in Liberia! We need educators, doctors, nurses, pastors, farmers, and people who just want to love on children. We are praying for humble servants of God who are committed to working together for His glory! The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. Please pray that God would send more workers into Liberia.
3. You can visit us on short term trips! We love short term mission teams! These teams have repeatedly strengthened our ministry and refreshed our staff members and missionaries. Thank you for visiting us!
4. You can become a financial partner! Here are practical ways you can financially support our various ministries.
Jesus Loves Me Children’s Clinic:
- You can help buy medicine: One of our greatest needs is more funding for medicine! Last month, we were able to treat 1,391 patients with $2,800 worth of medicine. That averages out to about $2 per person! A little money goes a long way in Liberia!
- You can sponsor a medical staff position: Physician assistants make $400 monthly, registered nurses make $300 monthly and nurse aids make $200 monthly. When the new clinic opens, we will need to hire several additional team members.
- You can help us build missionary houses for medical missionaries: It costs approximately $35,000 to build a house equipped with a small solar system.
Fairview Missionary School:
- You can sponsor a child: Child sponsorship costs $40 monthly. We use this money to disciple, feed, educate and medically treat each sponsored child.
- You can sponsor a staff position in our schools: Here are their monthly salaries. Currently, our education director makes $250, principals make $200, teachers make $150 and teacher assistants make $125. We pray that in the future, our education director will make $400, principals will make $300, teachers will make $200 and teachers assistants will make $150.
His Safe Haven Village for Special Needs Children:
- You can sponsor or help sponsor a child with special needs for $100 a month.
- You can sponsor a staff position. Here are their monthly salaries: Our village director makes $400, moms make $200, substitute moms make $150, cooks make $150 and security make $110.
- You can build a special need’s group home for $15,000. We believe God designed for children to be raised by families and not by institutions. Therefore, His Safe Haven Village creates families. We hire widows to care for up to 4 special needs orphans. Widows are permitted to have their children and adopted children live with them in the village.
Agriculture:
- You can sponsor an agriculture staff position: Our agriculture director makes $400 monthly, team members make $110 monthly.
For all the various ways you partner with us, THANK YOU! Your partnership is very precious to us! May the Lord richly bless you all!
For more information, contact Don Riley at don@hopeforhome.org.
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