The Bowers Blog

It comes in different forms:  a burnt child who fell in the fire, left there while his sibling looked for help, a depressed and anxious, overwhelmed mother who is looking at ways to let go of her child, devastation when a father deserts his family, a missionary without water (how ironic to include this into the list), …..but, not one pain as heart clenching as the death of a child! After months of holding her close, praying and pleading for her life, long nights and days of hospital visits, fighting fevers, the Lord released her from her suffering and took her home yesterday.  Her twin brother continues what once was a legacy of two, now the surviving sibling to know about a beloved sister he shared life with for a short period of time. Our hearts ache for this loss, but rejoice in the Father’s mercy to so many who should have/could have had early childhood deaths here in Ethiopia, but due to the love and care of pockets of loving hearts and hands who bring newborns and young children from a place of hopelessness into a moment of love and grace, the Lord Himself restore and revive so many in the palm of this temporary space of grace! It is so difficult to stay within a place of perspective, as life and death breaths loud next to each other!  We cannot ’save them all’ - as our daughter just reminded me:  “Mamma, Jesus must have loved her just too much to let her be here for now - He needed her more!”   And it is in this childlike expression, that I find my peace today!  “Hold them close - with OPEN HANDS”, I hear Him say - “they are Mine!”  There is such release from the pressure in this reminder and I breathe calmer, with ease and enter a place of rest in knowing that this journey is one of grace - in all directions, but mostly to me, as His servant for today!   It has been a few ‘heavy’ days - filled with discouragement and sadness, I find my cry shallow and tears flow over the edge so easily - only Jesus’ return will truly release us! Thank you for your continuous prayer and support - for investing with us into His Kingdom! With His love, Stephne

It is the third night after bringing 12-day old Tedalech into much needed love and acceptance, after she has been abandoned and the district police brought her to us here in Soddo.  We know so very little about her - no history, no anticipation of her birth, no excitement - just another little person who was born without fanfare……  Unfortunately, this story is the testimony of so many children’s lives here in Ethiopia, BUT then the Lord, Creator of every child, chooses them:  ONE BY ONE to be brought into HOPE - into a new place of anticipation and just as HE adopted us back into His Kingdom, these babies then have an opportunity to be adopted into the waiting and anticipating arms of families who can hardly contain their joy and excitement!  During this night, I was up with her most of the hours, just holding her, loving her, feeding her, burbing her, snuggling her, praying over her, releasing her into ALL that the Father created her for!   Little do we know about His perfect plans for her!   My eyes blurr through tears, a mix of anticipated hope, overwhelming joy and exhaustion……..The words that swim through my mind:  “……. despised, rejected……” as a referral to the lyrics of HANDEL’s MESSIAH, has been my encouragement and constant awareness!   Just as Jesus has been despised and rejected, these ‘throw away children’ are rescued into moments of abiding joy and the Lord’s grace allow us to bring them back to His Throne - into their rightful place of destiny inside His Kingdom!   This is our reward already!! Tadelech’s color was grey and her sparkle was missing - so, Karmyn and I brought her home to see what the Lord would want for her.   After a few hours, I asked our fellow mission doctor to have a look at her and within minutes, we had her on a 5-day antibiotic course ……. had to weigh her first, so the kitchen scale had to do……   Just 2 doses and her color has changed, she is settling down, the possible trauma of a rejected experience, is subsiding and the Lord’s promises of His restoring grace, is evident in her already!   I constantly stand amazed at how little it takes for these little ones to heal, recover, restore their security and hope - I find myself in this constant state of awe over His perfect plans and results when we allow Him to use us……. to witness His Hand in all He called us to, is simply an overwhelming journey closer to the Throne! She is now sound asleep in my arms as I write about her, her raspy breathing (still congested), is music to my ears, because I know she is ALIVE!!!  Not that she is at risk right now, but this too could happen tomorrow…… there are just no guarantees to the reality of survival here!   The dawn is breaking and with that, I may still get an hour’s sleep before our early morning walk, so while this little one rests in the warmth of her blanket, in Karmyn’s dolls’ bed, I am snuggling in behind my husband’s back for a few extra moments of sleep! THANK YOU for your constant prayers, interest and support! Stephne

The heat is on in Soddo…….! Sunny, warm, but oh, so dry!  The farmers pray, we plead with the Father to gather the clouds and release His life giving rain to this thirsty land! While waiting, Soddo Christian Hospital staff continue to minister, living out what He places in front of us - building relationship on and off the Volley-Ball-Field!   Every afternoon, the day’s stress is released through a good game of fun - short- and long term missionaries join in the fun! The promise of rain, is real - the clouds have been gathering, thick and full of possibilities - just to open up in powerful storms now more frequently at night - may it continue - THANK YOU, Lord!!!

Dear All, Well we made it.  Tomorrow is Friday and we can look forward to a bit of relaxing, maybe a movie night with popcorn which would be a treat.  I would encourage each of you that reads this to count your blessings and enjoy the time with each other while you can.  We are blessed with many faithful, dear friends and we count each of you a blessing in our lives. Blessings to all Harry

STRADDLING THE CONTINENTS…….

The past two weeks, I spent time in Ohio, Florida and the Carolinas, where it has been a high of activity - a small part of a network that ONLY our Heavenly Father could have orchestrated! 

There is much going on in the US-economy, BUT even MORE in the Kingdom and THIS is where I choose to focus this trip!

It has been intense, gorgeous moments of meeting with adoptive families, little ones that I cared for in Ethiopia, hugged here on US-soil as they run around in their new found pleasures of loving families!   Holy ground, I call it!   To be able to find little ones snuggled into their adoptive parents arms, are almost as overwhelming as their initial rescue from the hopeless environment that they all came from in Ethiopia.

I did many presentations.  Flew to Florida, the Carolinas and back to Ohio where I had the honor of sharing the passions of His and my heart with many.    I was surprised at the interest, the depth of care and compassion that flowed over so many faces as I got to share how the Lord minister to so many around us!

HIGHLIGHTS:
-Presentations & Interviews in adoptive families homes – seeing children who we cared for here in Soddo, now in loving families!!

-Presentations & Sharing what the Lord has been allowing us to live through and in -  in small groups, churches, schools & believer’s homes!

-Telephone conversations with passionate people who desire to invest with us in the Kingdom!

-Sharing with CWA-staff and learning from them;

-Driving from state to state, not always knowing where we are, but so ready to walk through the next door!

To minister without Harry and our children by my side, has been more difficult than I expected, but HIS grace is sufficient here as well and now, I get to return to Soddo to continue with new found encouragement!

Part of the focus for this trip, has been the fundraising for:

ACACIA VILLAGE (more to see at www.cwa.org)

MITTIN FACTORY (more to read about on our blog)

I was reminded of the purpose in the call from the Lord and I needed to be refreshed in this way:  That we are all investors in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ – that this is what unites our hearts into one as His Church and when I had the honor to share with so many people in different worship environments, it suddenly opened up to me that we need to be much, much more KINGDOM minded and less CHURCH minded.  

THANK YOU to each one of you who so warmly hosted me, drove me from and to the airports, gatherings, appointments and pointed me in the right direction!

Now, I am on my way home – excited and anticipating meeting with my family and Selah!

In His grace,
Stephne

 

 

We are so excited that Steph is on her way back.

From what I hear it has been a trip filled with ministry opportunities, and she loved every minute of it.  Her family, myself, Karmyn and Benjamin head to Addis tomorrow to pick her up tomorrow night.  Thank you to ALL who helped this trip mean to much to so many people.



Blessings

Harry

Dear All, Please pray for Steph as she is back in the US preparing for a round of talks about the work we are doing here and what exciting possibilities lie ahead.  Please hug her and perhaps, if you can, give her a flower from her family back in Ethiopia, who miss her dearly.  This Mr. Mom role is not for me Thank to all whoa re looking after her. Blessings Harry, Karmyn and Benjamin

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