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Last month we reflected on Mother’s Day. This week, one of the mothers lost her toddler son. This young African woman came to us a couple of years ago, pregnant. She gave birth while at our shelter. We saw God saving this child, and we loved this baby boy, enjoying watching him learn and grow for the year he was with us. His mother boldly testified in court against the trafficker who had beaten her, done witchcraft against her, and forced her into prostitution. She went home with her beautiful baby boy, hopeful for their future.
This week, the little boy was hit by a car and died. We are shocked, and it is hard to process and understand. His name means light, and his light here on earth was snuffed out prematurely. The mother comes from a Muslim family, but she was open to the teachings and enjoyed the worship. She never hesitated to ask us to pray for her baby, even though she knew we would pray in Jesus’ name.
The trafficker pleaded guilty in court a day or two before the accident. Is it coincidental? I will never know. The mother has experienced a devastating loss. We have no words that feel adequate in a situation like this except to say, “Pole sana.” I am so sorry.
We prayed a lot over this precious little boy while he was with us. He was dedicated to Jesus, and we are confident he is with Jesus now. What the enemy did to steal, kill, and destroy, we pray will be something that God uses to bring life to the family. We pray the mother finds hope and comfort in Jesus. We don’t understand, but we remember this precious boy and are grateful for the year he was with us. His life changed the mom’s life, and we pray that even with his passing, the gift of this son will point to the gift of God’s son.
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- Praise God, Jehovah Rapha, for His divine intervention in rescuing an East African woman from a life-threatening medical situation. After many tests and days in the ICU, she has improved enough to come to our shelter this coming week. Our staff went through a very complicated process to obtain a medical visa for her so we can ensure her stability and health before repatriation.
- Thank Jehovah Jireh for the generosity of those who gave financially to support the very high costs incurred with the medical emergency.
- Praise God, El Moshaah, God who Saves, that three more women were repatriated to Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia in the past few weeks.
- Thank God, Jehovah Tsuri, the Lord is my Rock, that the survivor of forced criminality was finally able to return home. She shared her strong faith with others in the detention center before leaving.
- Thank God, Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there, in the breakthrough we see happening with the complicated process of obtaining travel documents for Tanzanians whose passports were confiscated.
- Thank El Roi, the God who sees, for visits to six women in the immigration detention center and opportunities to provide Bibles, coloring books, clothes, and needed medication. Visits help them feel seen and remembered.
- Thank God, Jehovah Gibbor, the Lord is a strong and mighty warrior, that one of the traffickers pleaded guilty in court and we are no longer required to give witness testimony.
- Praise God, Jehovah Rohi, the Lord is my Shepherd, that Sweetie returned to us after being gone for several years. She overcame addictions and is ready to start over. She also brought another woman, and the two started working with us in August.
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- Pray for the mother and family of the two-year-old boy who died this week. Pray for God’s comfort and peace. Pray also that they will come to know Jesus and the assurance of eternal life through Him. Pray for revelation of truth. Pray for the mom’s stability as she grieves an unexplainable and devastating loss.
- Pray for the woman in the hospital to continue to heal. Pray her immune system is strong enough to resist any disease. Pray the swelling in her brain continues to go down and the pressure is released from the optic nerve so she can see clearly.
- Pray for the staff to have wisdom as we begin to care for her in the shelter this coming week. Pray for acceptance in community with other women.
- Pray for five women in the detention center waiting for tickets to go home. Most of them are sick and unable to get the medical care they need. One "M" is so thin and sick. We think she needs to be admitted to a hospital and on IVs. Pray for healing and protection from this life-threatening condition. If she needs hospitalization, pray that officials will intervene before it becomes an emergency.
- Pray for "J” one of the women who is experiencing hallucinations and hearing voices that are threatening and pushing her to violence. She needs psychiatric care, but the only way to get that would be if we posted bail of $1500 and paid for the psych hospital. We need wisdom and funding.
- Pray for provision for tickets and overstay fees. We have nine women and one child who are waiting for tickets. Pray that the resources come in and for wisdom.
- Pray for three of the women who do not have their passports and need travel documents, which are very complicated to obtain.
- Continue to pray for the government leaders to have a heart for victims of trafficking and exploitation. Pray they would have a true victim-centered approach and make assisting victims of adult trafficking and exploitation a priority.
- Pray for NightLight’s alternative employment program. Pray for increased sales with existing retailers and wholesale partners, for expanded sales opportunities, for the new Storefront in Missouri, and for the provision to sustain the business.
- Pray for “E” to remain strong and sober.
- Pray for Sweetie, who returned to us after being gone for several years to overcome an addiction. Pray she stays sober, stable, and grows in the Lord.
- Pray for the women we are reaching out to through outreach to have the courage to ask for help and be willing to walk the road to freedom and healing.
- Pray for Pon, the Foundation Director, and her family as they mourn the loss of Pon’s older brother.
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We have seen God at work through many challenging circumstances. He is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals; He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides; He is Jehovah Nehkumah, the God of all comfort; He is Jehovah Shalom, the Lord is our peace. Even in death, we celebrate eternal life through Christ. “No, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 8:37-39 ESV) Our hope is in Jesus!
Thank you for your prayers!
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