Before Even Asking

 

Helen Roseveare, from Hertfordshire, England, attended medical school at Newham College at the University of Cambridge.  During those years she became a Christian and was involved with Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, attending Bible studies, events, and prayer meetings. 

After completing medical school, Dr. Roseveare served as a medical missionary in the Congo in Africa.  In the 1950’s, she built a hospital/training center in Ibambi.  In her book, Living Faith, she wrote about a night she was working in the labor ward.  A mother came in with a two-year-old daughter and gave birth to a baby prematurely.  In spite of doing all they could, the mother died and the baby was barely surviving.  Although the city was on the equator, it was still a chilly night.  Since there was not an incubator or electricity, a midwife nurse went for a box and wrapped the tiny baby in cotton wool to keep it warm.  Another nurse filled the hot water bottle to place near the baby, but it burst in the process.  The nurses were instructed to move the baby as close to the fire as was safely possible and sleep between the door and fireplace to keep drafts off of the baby.

 

As she usually did, the next day at noon, Dr. Roseveare went to spend time with the children at the orphanage.  She told the children about the burst water bottle, the difficulty of keeping the baby warm, and the sad little two-year-old.  During prayer time, ten-year-old Ruth prayed, “Please God send us a hot water bottle today.  It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon.  And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she’ll know You really love her?  Amen.”  Dr. Roseveare knew God could do anything, but there were no stores or supply places anywhere close.  She felt it would be difficult for the prayer to be answered unless a box arrived from the homeland.  In the four years she had lived in the Congo, there had not been one package sent.  Even if a parcel arrived, who would send a hot water bottle to someone who lived on the equator?

Later that afternoon, while the doctor was teaching, a message was sent that a car was in front of her house.  By the time she arrived at home, a 22-pound box had been left by the front door.  Dr. Roseveare knew she needed to include the children in the excitement.  As the box was opened, the kids carefully refolded each piece of packing paper.  The box contained knitted jerseys and there was much excitement as she gave one to each child.  Next were knitted bandages for the leprosy patients.  There were also raisins and ingredients to make buns.  As she reached in further, the next item to come out was a new rubber hot water bottle!  Dr. Roseveare cried.  She hadn’t even asked for God to send it or believed he would.  At that moment Ruth rushed forward saying, “If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!”  As they reached to the bottom of the box, there was a beautiful little doll.  Ruth asked to go with the doctor to give the doll to the little girl “so she’ll know Jesus really loves her!”

The box of treasured items had been sent by the doctor’s former Sunday school class and it had taken five months to arrive, in perfect time to answer a ten-year-old little girl’s fervent prayer for a hot water bottle and doll.

Especially during these days, I, too, want to pray with the faith of a child and marvel at the ways God begins the process of answering before I even ask.  What a good, good Father!

 

 

Before they call I will answer;

     while they are still speaking I will hear.

Isaiah 65:24

 

The LORD has done great things for us,

     and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126:3