20% chance of survival...

20% chance of survival...

Those are not good numbers.  That's an 80% chance of dieing within the next couple weeks.  Those are number that send shivers down spines and make grown men buckle over in tears. Espescially if it has to do with his wife.

Abelino and Mirellya have been a part of our lives for over 4 years. During that time we've walked with them through some  unimaginable difficulties and rejoiced with them amid astonishing miracles.  But this one is different. This one has both at the same time.

Not only should mirellya not be about to deliver twins, she should not even be alive right now. She has struggled with health issues for as long as we've known her- a 30-something mom with chronic heart troubles that I don't understand, and they cannot explain to me. She wasn't supposed to live out the year- and that was over 4 years ago. I've seen her look like she was at deaths door- and that was after 6 months of improving.

 I'm embarrassed and ashamed to say that my lack of Spanish and a real understanding of my ministry here kept me from being much of a help, or even an ear to talk to or a shoulder to lean on for the first 2 years of our relationship. Most of their deepest struggles happened without me. But now I'm all in. They are my brother and sister. I hurt when they hurt, cry when they cry and rejoice when they rejoice.

They are hurting, crying and rejoicing all at the same time. Mirellya is having twins-- the very thing that was impossible for her to do (get pregnant) happened. This is the 4th time after she was never supposed to get pregnant again! Only this time she has a chronic heart disease that was supposed to kill her 4 years ago at the same time.

Her original doctor gave her an ultimatum- abort the babies, or I will have nothing to do with you.  This is suicide he said. This pregnancy with kill you and the babies. you must abort the babies.

They refused and went months without a doctor. Waiting in line for hours at the emergency room to be seen for a check up regularly, seeing a different doctor every time, feeling rejected. Finally one day the doctor saw them waiting in the line. He immediately came over to her, took her out of line and brought her into his office. "I cannot stop thinking about you" He said. I dream about you, I think about you all day, I see you everywhere. I will be your doctor, I will help you. Mirellya told him that God was convicting him for not treating on of His children. The doctor, shaken, said  this is against my best judgement. If you and the babies survive, I will follow Jesus too. Only He can do this.

And the doctors have been amazed. Mirellya is healthier than she has been for years, the babies all appear to be great during their tests. And all of their needs have been provided for! They are doing 3 surgeries at the same time-- a C-Section for the twins and two other surgeries- one on her liver and the other on her gall bladder (I think- still can't understand that word in Spanish...). They have brought specialists in for the procedure and even the Baby Doctr is paying for some of the other Doctor's services.

Still with doctors donating some time, there were $1500 in bills to be paid. for a family that makes $250/ month and barely gets by, that is an astronimical amount. 

I was told about the first deadline for $500 on thursday- it needed to be in by Monday. Someone gave the money to us on Saturday. They had the money waiting to give somewhere and felt this is where it was to go--- and the rest just kept coming in and well before the final deadline, the bills were all paid in full.

"How" asked the doctor " can you manage that on your salary??

 "What is impossible with man is possible with God" they replied!! "He did it"!

So here we are, 2 weeks away from the due date and the odds are starting to sink in... 20% chance of living to see my babies... 20% chance of seeing the babies room completely constructed... 20% chance of making supper for my family again...

20% chance...

"But" Abelino says to me "The doctors can only do 20%-- the rest is impossible for them to accomplish! That leaves 80% for Christ to come in and do the rest! What is impossible with man , is possible with God!" "I like those odds!"

I know you folks are busy and your lives are filled with lots of stuff to do. I know how difficult it is to pray for someone you don't know- espescially with the abundance of prayer requests that come across our emails, Twitter and facebook each day...

But for those of you who regularly support us in prayer and lift us before our Fathers throne, can you please ask God to consider Abelino and Mirellyas request- to fill in the 80%. In my eyes and thoughts, it seems like a great time to bring honor and Glory to the King of Kings by watching Him do the impossible again in there lives! The fact that she lived this long and is giving this gift of 2 little babies to her husband and kids is already more than they thought they would get, but they are humbly asking God for more. For the improbable and the Impossible.  Would you please plead with God on their behalf? That He would glorify Himself in their family and colonia and amongst the many who know and are praying. Please feel free to share this to whomever you like. I actually ask you to please share it with other brothers and sisters who may be inclined to pray with us! send them to our blog,  FWD this email, like this on Facebook-- however you want!!

I'll be gone for a few days and I don't know what my internet connection will be like until after Easter Monday, but I will keep you updated with what I know as things change and as I can.

May God bless you too. I wish you could meet Abelino and Mirellya and their two new "daughters to be" Diane and Sharlene (named after my beautiful bride!- What an honour!!)

Your representatives amongst the long-suffering, humble followers of Jesus in Baja California,

Mike, Sharlene, Elijah Caleb and Jacob