A Jon Post

Layne and I are in Maun, Botswana visiting good, good friends whom we used to minister with as missionaries from 2005 to 2007. Layne’s medical condition is still undiagnosed and when we spoke to the doctor in Windhoek, Namibia he said we are waiting for test results and biopsies results of some spots in her stomach found during her recent gastroscopy. Because Maun is about a day’s drive away we decided to spend the weekend here with friends. Maun is situated just south of the Okavango Delta, the largest inland delta in the world. It is a haven of African wildlife and has been a favorite camping spot of ours for years. We decided to spend two nights camping on our way to visit our friends here.

I was going to post the rest of this about our safari trip and about Mother’s Day. But we went to our old church here in Maun today and saw friends we’ve not seen in a long time. Today was going so well, we had an incredible camping experience, and God seemed to be smiling on everything I looked at.

Then I spoke with a friend that I’ve known here in Botswana for many years. I’ve kept in touch with him since I left, and he loves the Lord so much. He is an incredible doctor, husband, father. His wife just had a newborn baby girl.

And she isn’t well.

I wish you could see and share in the tears I have while writing this dear friends. My friend’s name is Enok and I could see the pain in his eyes as he spoke of seeing his little girl through the eyes of a doctor and knowing the gravity of her illness. I could hear the agony in his voice as he spoke of his wife’s wavering voice telling him to stop giving a doctor’s diagnosis and simply hope the hope of a father.

Sometimes my theology is of no comfort to me.

I know that God promises that He works for the good. I know that.

It doesn’t lessen the pain.

This little girl is suffering and her lungs are in danger of collapse. Please pray with us for her. Please join with us as we pray for little Tefile (pronounced Tehfeelay). Pray for Enok and his incredible wife Patience. They are an amazing family.

Sometimes, when life seems so good, when joy is found in every little thing, the gravity of this fallen world hits like a hammer.

I can wrap my arms and heart around my Savior, because I know he sits with me… with us and He cries too. He knows what it means to see the innocent suffer. He knows. And he cries with us.

Please pray for Enok, Patience, and especially Tefile.

We love you all.

You can read about our safari trip here.