Prayer for Relay Walk for Appalachia

Prayer for Relay Walk for Appalachia

Lynn has been walking and resting now as part of her relay team from Portland to the Coast since 4:30 AM before many of us were even up!  She has until tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM when the team should be arriving at Seaside, Oregon. 

Remember to pray for her this evening, night, and morning as well as after the race for stamina, strength and safety. 

Also pray that donations will keep coming in for the Appalachia Project as a result of her participation in the relay.

Let's join with Lynn in prayer as she states below:

1. Leg 18 - classified "Hard" - 4.15 miles, all a gradual uphill: I will pray for Morgantown, WV

2. Leg 26 - classified "Hard" - 5.77 miles, with a 2-mile uphill at the end: I will pray for Philippi, WV
3. Leg 34 - classified "Moderate" - 4.13 miles - yes - a short leg with gently rolling hills! I will pray for our staff conducting massive work being facilitated out of World Vision's global distribution center in Pittsburgh, PA.

Thank you for your prayers for this wonderful endeavor.  Get the full story here.  Go Lynn!

Prayer For Relay Walk for Appalachia

Lynn's Prayer Walk Relay

Appalachia Project

Please remember to pray for Lynn as she is preparing for her relay walk in the Portland to Coast Relay.  Pray that she will be strong and courageous as she participates in this strenuous relay in faith believing that God will use her to raise funds and pray for our Appalachia Project. 

Pray that God will move on peoples' hearts and give them a compassion for this poverty stricken area of our country where children and women live marginalized lives and that many will respond to the opportunity to give generously to make a difference.

Remember to pray specifically for the 4:30 a.m. start time tomorrow, Friday, August 27, 2010 that the team will be ready and that they will all able to all participate as planned.  Pray that Lynn and her team will be healthy and injury free. 

Pray for Lynn that she will maintain stamina as she walks in legs 18, 26 and 34.  Pray that the Lord will take her fears away about" the middle of the night, middle of nowhere" leg .

Ask God to bless Lynn for going for it for the kingdom of God! 

Update 4 Baby Sage

Big Sister Maya and Baby Sage

Prayer of Praise!
Holly writes, "Precious baby Sage is...HOME!! We are thrilled!! We not only celebrate our answered prayer that Sage is healthy, but we celebrate each of you who helped us through this past week. Whether you were right by our side at the hospital, calling/texting/fbing, praying for her from near or far, you mattered. We are so grateful for your support - you all got us through this!

Three things got me through this week - faith, family and friends. I could not have done it without these. 

This song helped get me through the week, so I will sign off with this:

          I cast all my cares upon You,
          I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet.
          And anytime that I don't know what to do,
          I will cast all my cares upon You."

Update 3 Baby Sage

Big Sister Maya and Baby Sage

Prayer Highlights:
Our Leadership Team member, Holly's three week old baby Sage remains in the hospital after one week with a serious infection.  On Friday they did an aspiration to Sage's chest to drain it and Holly reports that she looks much better. They are waiting for the swelling to go down more before they can switch to oral antibiotics. They are also waiting for the culture from the aspiration to determine the nature of the infection.

Please continue to pray for Sage's full recovery, strength and comfort for Holly and her husband, Drew and peace for Maya who tries to understand. 

Praise:
We praise the Lord for the many prayers that have been said on behalf of this family during this difficult time.  We praise him for loving grandparents who have been able to come from another state to stay and help.  We thank the Lord that there has been gradual inmprovement and we thank Him in advance for the release from the hospital which hopefully will be very soon.

World Vision August Prayer Chain

Hope Prayer Chain

HOPEful News-August 2010

• In June, the World Cup opened in South Africa, flooding the country with thousands of fans from around the world. Millions more have watched through telecasts of games.
• The influx of spectators raised concerns with health officials.
• South Africa has the highest number of HIV-infected people in the world.
• Officials feared the number would rise. And it could. However, soccer stars are helping to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
• Team captains joined forces to support a global campaign to prevent mothers from dying and babies from becoming infected with HIV.  
• Sony organized "Public Viewing in Africa," setting up screens in villages and schools, allowing people to watch the games and providing HIV education, counseling and testing at the same time.

Suggested Prayer Points:

• When the World Cup is all over, that those infected with HIV in South Africa and elsewhere will not be forgotten.
• That public role models will continue to step forward and support efforts to combat HIV and AIDS.
• For those infected and affected, that they find peace and comfort in God's love.

Learn More:

• raised concerns
• Team captains
• Public Viewing in Africa

Update 2 Baby Sage

Big sister, Maya, and Baby Sage

Prayer Highlights:
Today was a better day, with a successful though difficult blood draw.  The family has decided to keep Sage at her current hospital.  Please pray that the swelling continues to go down and that they get to go home Saturday.

"This beautiful, sunny day has been a bit better. Sage's chest looks less red and a bit smaller - baby steps. Her blood work is good with lower levels of white blood cells and everything else looking better than yesterday. The blood draw was horrible - it took over an hour and 4 different people to get the blood, which meant a ton of needle pricking in poor Sage's arms and legs. But, they got what they needed and we did not need to increase the antibiotic dose after all. I see this as a good thing: although progress is so slow, I really don't want her to have more antibiotics than absolutely necessary. She has had so much already.

She was worn out all day from the blood draw and slept most of the day. She is awake now and looking at us with her daddy's beautiful blue eyes while she kicks her legs and waves her arms around. She's a strong little one despite all of this - we thank God she has been such a good eater.

Because she is making progress and the treatment she is getting is pretty standard (just IV antibiotics), we are staying here at Good Sam for now. The nurse said the average stay in this wing is 2 days, so we are considering Sage above average already :) :)

I can't wait to hold her without having to finagle all of the cords attached to her body, to carry her in the Baby Bjorn, take her on a walk in her stroller...all of the normal things are what I look forward to most about going home. Even cooking and cleaning the house sound good right now!

Praise:
Thank you for your continued prayers and words of encouragement. We pray now that the swelling continues to go down and that we will be able to celebrate Sage's 3 week birthday on Saturday by going home!

Blessings,
Holly"

Update 1 Baby Sage

Big sister, Maya and baby Sage


Prayer Request Highlights:
Here is the latest update from Holly sent just minutes ago. Please note her rquest for prayer at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow for a good blood draw. Please remember to stop and take a moment to pray at that time. Also notice the second request about the best hospital.

"We noticed minimal improvement in the swelling this morning and the bloodwork was better today than yesterday. She has been the same throughout the day today. The doctor was positive and says it just takes a long time for things like this to go away because she is so young and has no immune system built up. The doctor says we are here until at least the weekend.

They are trying to increase the dosage of the antibiotics but have run into problems with the blood draws because her veins are so small and the blood has to be drawn at a specific time to get an accurate reading of the amount of antibiotic in her blood. Confusing, but prayers for a good blood draw at 10:30 tomorrow morning would be appreciated so that we don't lose another day of a stronger dose if that is what is needed.

We are also questioning whether we should transfer to Mary Bridge in Tacoma b/c right now we are at Good Sam and it obviously is not a children's hospital. We love the nurses and our doctor. here and feel like we are getting good care (it's a Mary Bridge wing at Good Sam b/c they are affiliated) and it is way more convenient w/going back and forth with Maya, etc. Our doctor does not think we need to transfer at this point. Of course we want to be where Sage will be best taken care of. Please pray that the best place for her will be made clear to us.

Praise:
We are blessed in so many ways. And we know God is in control of all of this. She will be healed on His timing, not ours. We are waiting faithfully.

Thank you for your prayers.

Blessings,
Holly "

Prayer for Baby Sage

Big Sister Maya and baby Sage


Prayer Highlight:
We are asking all to pray for Sage, the precious two week old daughter of Holly, a member of our Leadership.

Sage was taken to the hospital three days ago and she is still getting IV antibiotics. They don't know exactly what the infection is yet, and may not ever know, but she has a red mass around her left breast area and another smaller one under her arm that was noticed on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, neither have changed since arriving at the hospital and starting treatment.

The good news is that she is eating really well (still nursing!), has not had a fever in 24 hours, blood tests look good (no systemic infection) and there is no sign of the infection spreading. Holly and her husband and family members will remain at the hospital until Sage makes "significant improvement" so they need our prayers for strength, comfort and peace. 

Please pray that Sage will start responding to the antibiotics quickly, continue to eat well and that her blood tests will continue to look good.  Pray for wisdom for the doctors and nursing staff.

Updates to follow.