“… he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…”

I love this verse from the 91st Psalm.  When I was a little girl, my parents would pray for my sister and me every night, and the prayer would go something like, “Keep all bad dreams and all bad and evil far, far away.  Put your angels around her to guard her and guide her.”  This became somewhat of a mantra for Laura and me.  We loved those quiet times with Mom and Dad, and we refused to go to sleep unless they came in to pray the special prayer.

These days, I find myself doing the same thing with Sam, and I imagine I will very soon with Nathaniel as well.  I pray the Lord’s protection over the lives of my children especially in the moments when I’m not there to protect them myself.  I comfort myself in knowing that their heavenly Father loves them more than I ever could and wants (even promises) to protect them.

Why am I telling you about this?  Because of the week we’ve had, of course.

Last weekend Sam was sick with a pretty violent stomach virus.  Many of the other expat children were in the hospital including our good friend Amber T.  Sam spent many hours hovered over a bowl.  Last Sunday we visited Geladio again to hand out Plumpynut to malnourished children there.  I realized that if any of these starving village children were as sick as Sam, they wouldn’t survive.

Then, a few days ago, I put Nathaniel down in the kids’ room to play.  I was in another part of the house and came running when I heard him start to cry.  I found him in the bathroom with an opened bottle of toilet bowl cleaner spilled on the floor.  I cannot explain to you my feeling of helplessness.  I immediately grabbed him and tried to determine if he had swallowed any of the poison.  His mouth smelled and tasted like the cleaner.  I immediately took him to the sink.  Normally, we do not drink water from the tap here, but I didn’t worry about that, knowing that these chemicals could be way worse than a little bacteria in his digestive tract.  After this I began to nurse him (praise the Lord it was just about time for him to eat anyway).  Then I called Dave.  He came home with Krystal and Brent.  Krystal had the excellent idea of calling poison control in America using skype.  Praise the Lord again for technology.

Long story short, Nathaniel was totally fine.  It seems he didn’t really swallow very much of the cleaner, but probably only tasted it. Also, the cleaner seems not to have been very harmful.

I think this story is important to tell because, for me, there were so many details of God’s provision and protection of my 7 1/2 month old son.  First of all, he didn’t drink very much of the chemical.  Also, God gave me the exactally the right insticts.  I didn’t know for sure that diluting the chemical was the right thing to do.  Should I just try and make him throw up?  Did I need to rush to the emergency clinic or try and immediately feed him?  It was God that guided my actions.

It’s amazing to think about all the things that could have harmed us, all of the accidents that were prevented because “[angels] lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

I’m glad to report that we are all happy and healthy.  Sometimes I forget that this is a huge miracle in itself.  Thank you for praying for us.  We know that we are in his hands.

medical mission

The last two weeks have been so busy.  Dave has been gone every day from sun up to sun down working with the Medical Team.  They saw thousands of patients, perfomed many surguries, and de-wormed an entire village.  It was awesome!  Here are some of the photo highlights for our family…

Dave assisting Dr. Denny

Dinner at the bible school with the team.

Nathaniel enjoying lunch out with the team

Sam getting ready to swim in his new suit.

Hope, Sam, and Nathaniel with Pastor Issifou and his family.

women waiting in line to see the medical team.

busy around the house

This last week has been one of preparation around Chez Johansson.  Thursday afternoon we picked up 16 Americans from the airport.  They are here to see what’s happening here in Niger.  We will take them to villages, schools, small businesses, giraffes, hippos, and many other things in hopes that they will gain an understanding of life here and things we (the mission) are trying to accomplish.

Wednesday morning.  Rodrigo and Juanita Rivas arrived.  They have come back from 14 months spent in their home country (El Salvador), and we are very glad to have them back with us on the field.  It has been great having them around.

Now that the team is here, things are busy.  Krystal, Amina, Halima and I have prepared three meals for the team in the last twenty four hours.  Sam has been running around the house playing with the new toys sent with the team.  We’re all having fun.

These pictures are some that Krystal took as we prepared for the team’s arrival this last week. The kitty pictures were taken at the orphanage.  Krystal and I went there on Tuesday to get an update to send back with the team.  We are sure to take a lot of pictures this week as we travel around with the team.  I’ll make sure and post them as soon as possible.  Thank you for your prayers!  The Johanssons