The Blessing of a Birthday Girl

Today, I am reminded of the goodness of God and how He unites strangers as friends for our good and His glory.

An autumn chill was in the air on that mid November Sunday morning as I prepared to address the congregation of a church in a nearby community. With my notes clutched tightly in my grasp I made my way to the front of the church. Looking out into congregation I recognized many familiar faces as those who had played significant roles in my life as a child. Now, years later to the astonishment of many, I was standing before them passionately sharing my heart and my experiences with the forgotten Children of Romania.

One story after another I shared the accounts of children who have been left alone in hospitals and children’s homes; little ones, who though they are an oceans length away, hold my heart in their fragile hands.

As I concluded my remarks and the service was brought to a close many people gathered around to share their thoughts with me. As the crowd thinned, I noticed a woman standing off to the side. Her smile was radiant and I could tell that she wanted to share something important with me. With a very warm and energetic greeting she approached me. Asking if I had some time to talk she invited me to sit down. Pulling a small photo album from her purse she began to tell me how my testimony had touched her. Humbled by her kind words, I listened intently as she shared the story of how she and her husband had been called by God to step out in faith on the journey of adoption.

Opening the photo album she introduced me to their precious little girl. A tiny child from South Korea who like me, had been born with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Our conversation lasted several minutes as I shared more of my personal story with her and answered some of her questions. Amazed and overjoyed at how God had brought us together we exchanged contact information and she promised to keep me updated on their adoption.

Over the next several months we exchanged many emails and I joined them in prayer for their daughter. Finally, in August of 2005 they traveled to bring their precious Ellie home. Today, Ellie is celebrating her ninth birthday. She is truly a light and a blessing to all those who know her. I am so thankful for the gift of her life and the opportunity that I have been given to be a part of it.

Happy Birthday Precious girl, I Love you!

Ellie

Born with Spastic Cerebral Palsy, five years ago this beautiful little girl was without hope; a special needs orphan in Korea. Today, through the love of her adoptive family, Ellie Barth is an intellegent, thriving, and very vibrant 8 year old who captures the hearts of all who know her.

Though physically she is largely confined to a wheelchair, and she struggles with limited speech, her spirit soars and her determination is strong. Her courage in the face of her limitations, multiple surgeries, and pain is something to be admired. (This child's strength puts me to shame, and I am more than 3 times her age.)

Tomorrow morning, Ellie will again put her courage proudly on display. Instead of joining her class and playing the Sugarplum Fairy in her school’s Christmas program, she with be undergoing yet another surgery.  A surgery to have a medical pump implanted in her side that will deliver a constant stream of medicine into her spine in hopes of reducing the spasticity throughout her body and bringing greater ease to her mobility and speech.

Last night she beamed with delight as I sat across the table from her, and over a game of Candy Land, we discussed the surgery, the recovery, and what we pray will  be improved quality of life following. She is thrilled with the idea that when all of this is said and done she will most likely have better balance and be able to walk with her walker on a more constant basis.

Will you please join me in praying over Ellie and her medical team though out the next few days? This operation should be quick and it  has great potential of improving so many areas of Ellie’s life. As one who has been through this myself, I also know that there can be complications.

Please pray For:

• Wisdom for the attending physician
• A successful surgery
• That Ellie’s body would remain healthy and not reject the implant

• That her body will adjust quickly to the medicine so that she can return home
• An overall Smooth recovery with no complications- spinal headaches are very common after this procedure and they can pose many difficult and painful challenges.

Thank you for bringing Ellie before the Lord  who holds her in His tender care.

God Bless you,

Meissa