our family is growing :)

We've announced it already on Facebook and in our recent family newsletter, but let me officially announce here on this blog that we are expecting our 3rd child! 

Some of you may have seen a photo posted on Facebook a few weeks ago, of me standing in our kitchen, and David captioning it, '______, barefoot, in the kitchen.'  If you were bewildered, wondering what on earth David was trying to say, or just plain missed the joke because it was too obscure -- that's okay.  I told David he would be likely to lose some folks in translation, but he insisted on announcing it that way.  So, if you were wondering, now you know.  :)  David was playing on a joke we have in America about a 'pregnant, barefoot wife in the kitchen.'

Yes, so our family is growing and the newest addition is expected sometime around the first week of October.  :)  I will admit that the timing is bit awkward, because we have tickets booked to travel to the UK on the 22nd of October, and that is too soon to travel after the expected arrival of a baby... and our tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable.  But we are trusting that the Lord, in His providence, knew all about details like this when He allowed this baby to be given to us at this time, and we are praying for Him to give us wisdom to know what to do and how to plan the end of our year. 

A few of you have asked me what our plans are for this baby.  The answer is -- we don't know yet. (And we appreciate your prayers for us as we wrestle with decisions and plans.)  Our initial plan, which really was quite settled in our own minds, was to stay here in Zambia and have the baby in a hospital in Lusaka.  In one sense this would be the simplest option.  We had already informed our Missions Committee that we would not be able to change our tickets and thus would not be able to come back to the UK as planned this year, and they were very understanding.

However, as we have done more and more research, the decision to give birth in Lusaka has been HEAVILY negated by ex-pats whose advice we have asked.  It has been really discouraging, but also really confusing because you get so many different opinions and stories.  But to sum up, in my search to find if there are any hospitals which are recommended by those who've had babies here, I've instead found mostly horror stories... and most people telling us to please just leave the country to have a baby, and not risk it here.  There have been only a couple of exceptions.  And even the women who had babies in this country, and whose births went smoothly, don't recommend it.  Essentially what I am hearing is, 'Well, if you have a healthy birth with no complications, then you're fine, but if there are any life-threatening situations, you're sunk,' because hospitals in Lusaka are just not equipped (and/or do not have staff trained adequately) to handle big problems.

So we are very unsure what to do. We want to be wise, and we are crying out to the Lord for wisdom in making our decisions.  We want to be confident in whatever we choose. 

Now what we are looking into is the cost of getting tickets at the beginning of September, to fly back to the UK and have the baby there.  We may get to see our dear friends in Scotland this year after all.  :)  This decision would require a lot of logistical arrangements including a place to live in Scotland, and finding out whether or not I am eligible for free NHS care... as well as the approval of our Missions Committee on our plans.

As you can tell, there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the details of this baby's forecasted arrival into the world.  We hope to know more in a few weeks when I have my first antenatal appointment in Lusaka in mid-April.  This will give us a chance to visit a few hospitals and see what our options are. 

We as a family greatly value your prayers for us as we wrestle with these difficult decisions.  And I personally beg you to be praying for me, because I am finding the uncertainty very stressful, and the weight of decision very wearing.  Please also pray that the Lord will sustain all of us with good health, but particularly myself and our unborn child, because any complications could seriously affect ANY plans we make, and even my ability to fly out of the country to get better medical care.

In the midst of uncertainties, it is so good to know that we serve a gracious God -- who has first of all chosen to give us this child, but also chosen the time and all the surrounding circumstances.  We know that He does everything right, and what blessings He showers upon us!

'I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; that my soul knoweth right well.  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.  How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!  how great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.'
Psalm 139:14-18