Charis Around The World

Tidbits From Ebony

Dear Charis Family,

What a full month this has been. Thank you for your lovely comments about the birth story from last month, and for your prayers for Ohmay! On October 1, she and the nearly 2 billion Cousin followers around the world will be celebrating the end of their month of fasting. At the birth center here, we've seen three women give birth during this month. They believed that, although they are technically "allowed" to eat during delivery, they will receive a special blessing and quicker access to heaven if they abstain. It is heart breaking to know the free gift of LIFE in Christ and watch another strive in vain to earn their salvation. Please continue to pray for the Cousin women, children and men of the Philippines to know the Jesus Christ is Lord!

I ended my internship at the six week mark this month. I learned so many valuable things, but it was time to get back to my team and the goals and vision we have for this time away from Candybar. Please continue to pray for us as we seek the Lord's will and guidance in re-engaging our work among the Pushpin people! Our hearts break as we hear of more and more of them
who are forced to meet their Creator without ever having the chance to hear the gospel.

Even though I left my internship a bit early, last week I was able to return to the island where I had served. All of my new found Filipino friends gathered with me for a huge birthday dinner on the beach!! It was SUCH a special blessing.

A banana boat ride leaving from the local beach.

I'm currently living in another Philippine town with my team mates--"The Ruff Tribe." They are a Filipino family of four who have served in Candybar for five years or more. They are EXPERTS in the area of community development and invaluable members of our team. Their small children have only ever known Candybar as their home, so their adjustment to life in the
Philippines has been slow, but sure. I am thankful to be near them, to pray with them and seek to serve with them. In recent weeks, I feel that they have been able to see me and my gifts in ways they still had not had opportunity for in Candybar. The Lord is knitting us together with a vision for His work. He is so good.

Through my relationship with The Ruff Tribe, I have come to know a very special family. "Auntie Fran" (as I will call her) is actually the godmother of Mrs. Ruff. And, recently, she asked ME to be the godmother of her first grandchild!!!! What an exciting opportunity. In the Philippines, being a godparent is a great honor. Every child has godparents.  When even a grown man runs into a godparent on the street, he will take their hand and bend down until the top of the hand touches his forehead. It is a sign of honor and respect. The responsibilities of a godparent include remembering the child on Christmas and Birthdays!!! :-) Of course, I am seeking the Lord's blessing on this child and committing to pray for her throughout her life.

So, let me tell you about how all of this came to be. Auntie Fran took the time to tell me her story recently and I was so blessed that I wanted to share it with you all immediately!

Auntie Fran spent more than fifteen years of her marriage trying to conceive a child. She longed for it. She continually strived in her walk with God not to make an idol out of this desire, but she also could not help feeling that it was a desire that God Himself had given to her...and one He was calling her to seek Him for. After her first eight years without conceiving, Auntie Fran had a deep and powerful moment with Jesus. She had spent an evening pouring over the treasures in His Word and crying out to Him the desires of her heart. When He spoke to her about the need to see HIM for HIM and not just for His power or gifts, she repented and aligned herself completely to Him. Still, she remained honest and transparent before Him, persevering in asking for His blessing. Without receiving an answer, she got up the next morning and left the house. Along the way, although there had been no rain, she saw a huge, bright rainbow in the sky! The Lord said to her, "Franny, my promises are sure. And, you will bear a child." She was overjoyed.

But, the Lord did not fulfill His promise right away. After a few years, some of Auntie Fran's mentors and co-laborers tried to insist that His promise meant that she would bear "spiritual" children. She certainly didn't want to despise the gift of being a spiritual mother, yet she was confident of what He spoke to her spirit. She persevered in prayer and petition to Him, and tried to maintain joyful submission to His timing and His ways.

Years later, Auntie Fran went to the doctor for severe abdominal pain. She was informed that she needed a complete hysterectomy as soon as possible. She had a huge cyst on one ovary in addition to some other complications. She was mortified. She went home and grieved the news. The elders of the church gathered together to pray over her, and she prayed through the night again. She had the surgery.

When the doctor went to the remove the cyst and the ovary, the cyst was gone!!! She was healed!!! So, he chose not to remove her organs. What he DID see, however, was a problem that he easily corrected, thereby greatly increasing her chances of conceiving. What great news!

Yet, Auntie Fran still did not conceive a child. Another couple of years later, her severe abdominal pain returned. This time, for another reason, the doctor insisted again on a complete hysterectomy. The church prayed for Auntie Fran again, but her confidence remained steadfast.   She was sure that the Lord wanted her to  carry a child in the womb  He  had given her.   She
returned to the doctor's office and, after some tests done in preparation for her surgery, they discovered that Auntie Fran was pregnant!!!!!!!!

Auntie Fran named her daughter Stephanie, with the nickname "Teeny." Teeny is not so teeny these days, as an eighteen year old about to give birth to Auntie Fran's first grandchild!

After delivering Teeny, Auntie Fran was driven to her sister's house to recover. On the way, she looked up at the sky. There, across the blue, was another huge rainbow!!! The Lord is so good, isn't He???

Now, eighteen plus years later, her daughter is looking forward to the birth of a little girl.

Teeny has had her share of ups and downs as well. Growing up as a pastor's daughter wasn't always easy. Teeny longs to serve the Lord and has actually worked quite a bit with Youth With A Mission in the Philippines. But, she found herself in a crisis pregnancy situation before she knew it. She and the baby's father got married and are living in an apartment above Auntie Fran and her husband. They are receiving discipleship and growing so much in their love for the Lord and each other!

But, the way her pregnancy began left Teeny feeling unsure of herself as a woman of God and as a mother. The tears streamed down her face as I shared with her my own beginnings in the womb of a 17 year old girl who didn't know which way was up. :-) I assured her that God has CHOSEN her, APPOINTED her and CALLED her as the mother to this child, and that He will ANOINT and GIFT her to be just the mother He wants her to be as she abides in His love each day! Who knows?? She might be giving birth to my future partner for the work in Ebony!! :-)

What an honor and a gift to be available to serve Teeny as her doula. Can you imagine how humble I feel to be a part of this family's amazing story of love and redemption?? Wow!

Teeny and her husband are like SPONGES, soaking up every childbirth class and all the information I have. Teeny's mother will have to be out of town for the birth, unfortunately. So, when she left, she hugged me and said, "I am entrusting my daughter into your hands." Whoa. I know she has placed Teeny in the Lord's hands first, but she wants me to love and serve Teeny in her place while she is gone. It is a privilege to do so.

Please pray for me to have wisdom, energy and effective doula skills as I serve Teeny.
Pray for her to have a normal, healthy delivery.
Please pray she will not receive a routine episiotomy--or anything else she and the baby don't need!
Please pray also that the hospital will grant me permission to stay with her for the whole birth. Usually, when women reach 10 cm, they make them labor alone with just the doctor in the room!
Pray for this newly formed family to know all the riches of God's grace as they begin their lives together!

I can't wait to tell you the rest of the story next month.... :-)

Love,
Elizabeth Carmichael

** This story has been told with the permission of all parties.
 

Much love,
Elizabeth Carmichael

Inside a local church

A Father and son during one of Elizabeth's postpartum visits.

A beautiful, new, Filipina baby!