C1 Dubbs withdrawal

In going through my movies, I came across one entitled "C1W".  Curious of what I'd put on it, I naturally watched it and was pleasently surprised with these beauties (and with our Dancing with the Sections video, which sadly is deciding not to upload).  And now I'm experiencing C1 Dubbs withdrawals.  I miss my lemur ladies!

Our God's frickin amazing!

Isaac update from Amber.  Please keep praying for this little one!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for the many prayers that have gone out on behalf of precious baby Isaac and Praise be to God for His grace and healing hand that has sustained Isaac this far.  We are happy to report that he is doing MUCH better now and looked like a completely different baby when we saw him on Sunday.  He had noticeably filled out with his skin more elastic and supple and was even awake and quite active when we were there.  The word we got then was that he would most likely be released to go home on Monday but today we heard that they are wanting to hold him just a bit longer.  We don't mind as all that we want is for him to be well and healthy by the time he is released so the longer they are able to monitor and help him at the hospital the better.  We are full of joy because he is doing so much better, full of gratitude for all of your prayers, and stand in awe and wonder once again of God's goodness, love and power to save, protect, and heal.  Thank you for your continued prayers as Isaac is still very small and fragile.  We will let you know when he is home at the orphanage and how he does after his arrival.  We are sending with a picture so you can see how much better little Isaac is looking.  We hope it does your heart as good as it did ours.
With much appreciation for all of your prayers and for God's wonderful watch care and healing,
Jako and Amber Joubert
Mission of Love Community Orphanage
Mukamba, Zambia

Passing along a prayer request

From Jako and Amber, one of the couples that I stayed with in Zambia last summer.  Please join me in praying for this precious little one!

This Sunday we received our newest addition into the orphanage- a one month old baby that was born to a 19 year old mother who got pregnant while going to school.  While she was pregnant she ended up getting an infection and gave birth a month early, only to die a few weeks later.  When we received the baby the mother had passed away 3 days earlier and the baby had survived until then on a bit of goats milk.  While he was obviously small and very thin (2.5kgs/5.7 lbs) we didn't think he looked too bad and figured that his health should improve pretty quickly with access to formula and good care from the mothers. 

 

However, that never happened and despite frequent feedings where he drank well, his little body did not seem to improve and the slight cough turned a bit worse.  He even looked like he was loosing weight but we took him to the clinic on Thursday where he was prescribed some medicine and we hoped that that would do the trick.

 

This morning however we were woken up very early by the mothers saying that Isaac was very sick and that he had been up the whole night vomiting, with diarrhea, and was too weak to drink.  As soon as we heard this we made quick plans for Alyssa and Gretchen to get him to the nearest "good" hospital, a 3 hour drive away, all the while praying that he would at least make it there.  Upon arrival he was admitted almost immediately, given an IV, and they say that he will be there until at least Monday. 

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS LITTLE BOY WHO IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE.  When we received him and before the family left, we publicly dedicated the child to God and broke any bonds or dedications that might have been made for him at birth and so we are asking for immediate prayers for healing for Isaac in a way that would bring God glory and honor and show those around, in this community, and further - once again, the power, love and grace of God our Father. 

 

Thank you for taking a moment to life this little life up in prayer, to the care of the best Father there is, and for asking for wisdom for us, the mothers, and the doctors in how best to provide for his needs. 

 

The pictures below are one of Isaac taken Wednesday afternoon and the other as he was admitted into the hospital around noon today (Friday).

 

With much appreciation and gratitude,

Amber, Jako and Jakob John Joubert

Mission of Love Community Orphanage

Mukamba, Zambia

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”

Jeremiah 29:12

Justice

For whatever reason, lately God has torn my heart has been opening my heart to the injustices in my own neighborhood: the prostitutes a few streets over,the homeless man on the corner, the impoverished little girls who have lost their innocence too soon, both abortion clinics within a block where I live, the domestic violence shelter right across the road, the broken life that sits beside me in class. It's everywhere!

As God opens my eyes to all of these, I am overwhelmed. It's simply too much, so I cry out, "LORD, put an end to it!" Bring Your justice now! Bind up the brokenhearted; bring justice to their persecutors."

And as I pray, God gently convicts me: "My child, be careful what you ask, for your hands are not innocent."

Truth. For how often have I looked the other way? How often have I judged those living in lifestyles that I don't agree with? How often do I forget that they too have a story, that there's a reason that they are where they are today, and usually it isn't because they want to be there? How often do I treat them as part of the scenery rather than people with stories and hearts and hurts? How often do I forget that these to are image bearers of God? These too are His precious children.

Papa, begin with me. LORD, forgive me for the unjust ways that I treat the people around me. Forgive me for my judgments. LORD, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Open my eyes to the injustices that surround me, and open my eyes to the role that I play in furthering that injustice. Forgive me for my complacency and cowardliness, LORD. You are God of all; nothing is impossible with You. No one is too far gone for You to reach. No one is too unlovable for You to love. Teach me to love like You do, Papa. Begin with me. Use me to spread Your love, truth, and justice in this world. Use me to show Your compassion to the marginalized. Open my eyes and my heart, Papa. Where You lead.


And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: 9 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’
Zechariah 7:8-10

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Matthew 23:23-24

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!
Isaiah 30:18

But you must return to your God;
maintain love and justice,
and wait for your God always.
Hosea 12:6

The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 33:5

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:6-8

I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
Psalm 101:1

Blessed are they who maintain justice,
who constantly do what is right.
Psalm 106:3

I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor
and upholds the cause of the needy.
Psalm 140:12

It is not good to be partial to the wicked
or to deprive the innocent of justice.
Proverbs 18:5

When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.
Proverbs 21:15

Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
Proverbs 28:5

learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed.[a]
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.
Isaiah 1:17