What was it like to have a baby in Africa? Part Three

I am not completely sure whether Paul was born at 37 weeks or 40 weeks. Before we left for Africa, I had an ultrasound in America. We found out that Paul was a boy (yay!) and that based on his size, his due date should be December 27. When I got to Africa, the doctor told me that they didn't base due dates on the size of the baby according to ultrasound, but on the menstrual cycle alone. That put my due date at December 9. We had an ultrasound in Africa, and the doctor said that his size, although not very big, was perfectly fine for a healthy birth. The doctor even told me that if I didn't go into labor by December 9, he was going to induce. It made me a little nervous, wondering if it was really too early to be inducing, since the American doctor had given me a different due date. That last week the doctor also gave me a prescription for a pill that was supposed to help me have contractions, which I obediently took without thinking too much about whether or not that was a good idea.

What was it like to have a baby in Africa? Part Two

July, 2007. Five months pregnant. Getting on the plane to the tiny country of Togo, West Africa--not for a visit, but to spend years, perhaps a lifetime, building a life there. I was excited, nervous, afraid; not sure what to expect. I felt like I was jumping off a high dive (not something I normally like to do.) I had an idea of what difficult struggles I would face when I got to Africa: things like dangerous snakes and spiders, demonic activity, angry thieves with machetes, etc. I was wrong.

Why should we discourage people from gaining or losing assurance of salvation, based on how they live?

I do not EVER question my salvation. I say that boldly, with assurance, and with absolutely no pride attached. I do not look at my works to determine whether or not I am saved. I am 100% confident that when I die, I will go to heaven. No question. Why?

James 2:8-26: Part Two

Verses 2:17, 20 and 2:26 all tell us that faith without works is dead. Many people assume that this means that if a person does not do good works, he doesn’t really believe in God. They say he isn’t really a Christian, because he must not truly believe. His faith must not be real. I would like to show you another usage of the word “dead” in Scripture.

James 2:8-26: Part One

A true believer in Christ knows that in order to be saved from hell, from the penalty of our sins, one must believe in Jesus Christ, whose death paid for our sins and made salvation possible for us. There are no good works that we can do to earn salvation; it is a free gift to those who believe. Jesus promised that those who believe in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. Faith alone is all it takes for us to receive salvation from hell, and eternal life in heaven! What is faith?

What Was it Like to Have a Baby in Africa? Part One

I get asked this question a lot. Frankly, I have no idea how to respond, at least in oral conversation. How do I explain what it was like, in a five minute conversation with someone? How much do you want to know? What details should I share? I don't blame people for asking; I'm glad that they're interested in my life. But I usually don't know what to say, so I respond, "Fine."

Part One: Why would you do that?

How Big is Africa?