A Jon Post
Thanks to so many of you, Casa Ahavá has been serving hurting people for two years. Below is a brief video celebrating that and celebrating all the patients who have come to be a part of Casa Ahavá.
We are trying to make Casa Ahavá a bit more visible. Please help by sharing our new site www.casaahava.org and (if you are a twitter user) following us on twitter @casaahava.
Thanks for all your support for us and for Casa Ahavá.
A Jon Post
This has been on our hearts for some time now. We’ve been praying and fasting and seeking the Lord’s heart and we want those who read this, especially those who consider themselves part of our team to know what God is doing and how He’s leading in us the ministry that He’s called us to.
There is a link to a pdf document here that I hope you have time to open and read. It explains more about how God whispered to our hearts and pushed us to arrive where we have but to put it plainly, we want Casa Ahavá to grow. We have room now for 4, we need room for more. As team members we feel it’s important that you know that, that you pray with us, that you are on the same page as we.
Here’s the link to where you can find that pdf document
Please, please, please, pray with us about this and about how we can be faithful in what God has called us to NOW and how we can be faithful to what God is calling us to in the future.
Thanks!
Obrigado!
Canimambo!
Tinabonga!
Sibongili!
A Jon Post
I’m on a couch, thinking about this year, this Christmas, my home and my family. My daughter had been crying in her bed for 15 minutes, hoping that her voice would outlast the time I could resist my compassion getting the better of my parenting technique. It did and I spent the following 15 minutes snuggling with her in my bed, calming her breathing, rubbing her back and kissing her head.
Meh… it’s Christmas. She can have this one.
So I held her and put off writing this because I’d rather she know her daddy loves her than know that she needs to go to bed on time.
She cried, I whispered.
She whimpered, I kissed.
She squirmed, I hugged.
And so we found ourselves lying next to each other. She curled up into my arms and rested her head against my chest. I laid my hand on her back and breathed deep and slow, encouraging her to do the same.
She fell asleep.
My daughter lay there asleep in my arms and I couldn’t think of a better Christmas present.
To those who read this blog and have children, hug and kiss your kids to bed tonight. To those who don’t, remember your daddy loves you.
Sleep well tonight.
My Christmas Presents
A Layne Post
I want to apologize for not posting last weekend. We have been experiencing some difficulties with our internet service provider and we were without for much of the weekend. When we did have it, it was incredibly slow. I chose to wait to post.
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I can still see her bow legged waddle.
I can still hear her “o-bi-ga-da”. (Obrigada is ‘thank you’ in Portuguese)
I can still see her grin and hide behind her Mama in shyness as I made funny faces at her.
I can still see her limp 2-year-old little body as her Mama tried to feed her soup.
I can still hear her Mama’s cry as she mourned the loss of her daughter, gone forever from this world.
Last week I had to practice the ministry of just standing there. There were no words. A hug. A back rub. Sitting.
Silénçia will be missed. We won’t forget her.
Pray for her Mama.
A Layne Post
Meet Lucia
Lucia
Yes, she is gorgeous. This thirteen year old girl arrived at the hospital months ago, accompanied by her father. I remember the first day I met her; she was shy, yet captured my attention. She had a bulging tummy, and honestly, I thought she could be pregnant. After a few visits, it became clear it was cancer… a HUGE tumor. Hope for recovery was small in our minds.
With time, she opened up. Her real mother had died, and currently her “second mother” took care of them, who I think might have been an Aunt. She had four sisters she missed a lot. She told me she liked to play at home. Innocent. Thankfully she was able to call home frequently.
Like any teen girl, she liked her nails painted, her earrings, her cute skirt. I remember one day realizing a skirt she was wearing was nearly identical to one I had, just shorter. I promised her I’d wear mine soon. When I did, she’d giggle as I told people we were twins.
Meet Longo
Longo
This is Lucia’s father. We called him “Pai de Lucia” for so long before we found out his name. Longo quickly joined Jon’s Bible study, and thoroughly enjoyed his time with the men. I remember his eagerness to pray and the way he would hold his hands up to the Lord while doing so.
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Lucia struggled with Chemo. She would have five days at a time. It seems like some bodies just handle the strong medicine better. Lucia was not so fortunate, as she was unable to keep any food down, still vomiting whatever was left in her stomach. She would become so weak.
Her father was amazing. He would hold a bucket for her, fill her water, and just sit near her, cradling her head or wiping her sweat. He did more than many mothers I see. The worry and concern was evident on his face.
To our surprise, it always seemed like Lucia would bounce back in a matter of a day or two, and resume her playing outside and bright smile. How strong she was! She would always be anxious to see Anaya’s new photos and would ask how she was doing every time I visited.
Feeling Anaya move
But as we have seen frequently, it only takes one treatment and a turn for the worse. That time came for Lucia a couple weeks ago. She didn’t bounce back; the smile did not return. She could not eat, therefore, she became more and more weak. Together with her father, they decided they wanted to try and make it home, to the north of Mozambique.
We thought they had a plane arranged, but we found out Lucia did not have the identity card she would need to travel. This was devastating news. In desperation, they decided to attempt to ride bus 20 or so hours. Upon arriving at the bus station the next morning, the driver refused to allow them to make the trip. Lucia was in bad shape, already crying before the bus was moving, so they had to get off. Another devastating blow.
Our friend Alice quickly made some calls, and miraculously the Lord opened doors and provided a way for for Lucia to obtain a new ID card, which would allow her to ride the airplane. The next afternoon Jon received a phone call from Longo. He was giggling as he reported he and Lucia were sitting on the plane. Even Lucia was feeling better for the journey.
Currently they are at the hospital in the north, a 10 hour train ride from home, resting and getting final documents. They sound full of hope, as they should arrive home tomorrow. Not hope for life necessarily, but hope to be together as a family one more time.
God is good. He cares for Lucia and Longo.
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Please pray for them in the week(s) to come. Lucia’s life will likely not be long, and the last days painful away from the hospital and morphine. Pray for the presence of the Lord and His grace.
We miss them already.
If you have time you can go over to the “About Us” tab at the top of this page and see a new video we’ve posted about our lives here. We’ve a few pictures of Lucia there as well.