As I was thinking about doing a Memorial Box Monday story today, it dawned on me.  Our stories, your stories, any stories we hear of His faithfulness, God uses to boost our faith.  The power of God in each story is what He uses to encourage us each time we have a need.

I have been working on the “He’s Not a Deadbeat Dad” series and it’s all about faith and trusting Him.  He is always completely trustworthy.  

So for those who need to see God provide, don’t skip Memorial Box Monday’s.

They are the very stories that God will use to remind you that He WILL provide.  He WILL protect.  He WILL move.  Read other’s stories as well.  You probably can’t find much better reading other than your Bible anyway!

While praying about what to post today for Memorial Box Monday the Lord reminded me of what day today was.  I think it was a year ago today {give or take a day} that Ruby had her first brain surgery in a little missionary hospital in Eastern Uganda.

When Emmy and I went to Africa to bring Ruby home, we didn’t know what the days would hold.   And although I have gone into much greater detail in the book I am writing about bringing Ruby home, Ruby’s surgery is definitely the Memorial Box Monday story for today!

The drive to the missionary hospital was about 6 hours from Kampala…along the way we passed village after village of rounded huts made of mud donned with a straw/thatch roof.  I was in awe.   I had only seen such beauty in National Geographic years before.

The hospital had a spectacularly beautiful campus and there were beautiful tropical flowers everywhere…and Dr. John was an amazing man.  He was a Ugandan national who had been trained by a missionary from the United States.  Dr. John wanted desperately to help Ruby and when we arrived he found her fontanel bulging.

He felt the only thing he could do was to fenestrate some of the brain walls to allow the fluid to move freely between each cyst.  He said he would do the best he could.

I confess to wanting to throw up at the thought of our precious Ruby Grace going into surgery in rural Africa.  {Silly me.}

The day of surgery, I read the Psalms aloud as we waited for her turn in the surgical ward.  Someone from the hospital staff came in and prayed with us as we waited.  We were so thankful for their heart for the treasures that are brought to them with hydrocephalus.  The surgical team brings such hope to so many families.

When it was Ruby’s turn I carried her over to the OR.
Dr. John appeared and took her from my arms and walked about 15 steps into the Operating Room.

As we waited, praying, fasting, we knew many, many of you were praying around the world.
Thank you!
It was so comforting to know that people were praying everywhere.

Sitting outdoors on plastic chairs next to a beautiful garden, we waited.

Flowers always remind me that God is an intricate God.  
He is in the itsy-bitsy details…

 I get teary thinking of how difficult that wait was, or any of her 5 brain surgery waits are.

 Ruby’s a courageous little treasure, who has endured far more than most anyone could possibly imagine {which I will share in the book, which is needing to be finished. You will be shocked at what she has been through.  Prayers appreciated, if you think of us, as I attempt to finish it in the next couple of weeks.}

Faithful God used Dr. John’s skillful hands as he fenestrated many of Ruby’s 12+ places of water in her brain.  There was an immediate change in her fontanel and we are so grateful, as I am convinced it “bought” us more time since it would take 5 more weeks to get her home.  Her fontanel had been so bulgy before Dr. John’s surgery.

The hours and days after the surgery were definitely scary.
But the Lord faithfully brought her through.

After a rough night in recovery, Ruby was moved to this ward.