New Arrivals bring New Joy

Earlier this year, Ruth’s sister sent her an SOS asking for prayer for her son and his wife who were expecting their 3^rd child but the pregnancy had become one of high risk. When the critical date passed after which premature baby could live, we thanked God and continued to pray. About a month ago, things turned around and mother and child were doing well. The due date came and went, and finally the doctors decided to induce labor. Within a fairly short time, a healthy baby girl entered this world! She joins her two older brothers to make a very happy and thankful family!

Last week, an email arrived from our Ugandan colleague asking us to pray for Esther, one of our VOICE Africa workers who was very close to delivering her first child. Within the past month, a newborn baby of another Scripture Union staff member died at birth plus the wife of the best man at Esther’s wedding last December passed away while giving birth to their first child. Although the maternal death rate in Uganda has improved slightly in recent years, it still stands at 53 deaths for every 1,000 live births. For obvious reasons, Esther was quite shaken by these tragedies within her circle of friends. We prayed. Two days ago we heard the wonderful news that she had safely delivered a healthy baby—we haven’t heard the sex, but in reality that isn’t important compared to the news that all went well.

Joy is the natural outflow when a new little one safely arrives which also reminds us of the joy, even among the angels in heaven, which overflows when a person is born again by the Spirit of God. We pray that both of these little ones will grow to know and love the Savior and trust Him for salvation.

Sort as a side comment, recently I came across a quote from Charles Dickens that made me chuckle - Every baby born into the world is a finer one than the last.