"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea...." Psalm 46:1
We were having a chat with another missionary Tuesday morning while my children sat nearby doing math. Ella had a fever and was fussy so I was carrying her around with me. Suddenly she jerked her body and then her arm started twitching rythmically and her eyes took on a glazed look. I realized she was having a seizure so I quickly gave her ibuprofen, took her temp and asked Scott to pray for her. She continued seizing so we gathered the children, ushered our guest out and jumped into the truck for a fifth trip to the E.R. in a years time. Bumping up to our gate, which the guest locked for us, and down two miles of a dirt road praying fervently for the life of our child, while she continued to jerk in my arms.
Finally we got to the paved road and around the same time Ella stopped seizing. We changed our course for the U.S and after a mix-up at the border got her to the hospital where we spent the next 30 hours, thankful for a pastor friend and my mother-in-law who came to our rescue and cared for the other children.
Leaving my house, I thought I could never go back there again, it was just one more crazy, scary incident and I didn't feel that I could handle more. Meanwhile we heard about the judgement in California against homeschooling. Where could we turn? California represented difficulty with homeschooling, our home in Tijuana represented many other scary situations. Where would my family be safe?
Praise God for His beautiful word! He is our refuge, and strength, though trials may come, He is a strong tower and to Him we run.
We are back at home in Tijuana now, signing petitions to protect homeschooling in California, and administering fever reducers to prevent another febrile seizure in my daughter. Although we take earthly measures for protection, we realize that our help is in the Lord, and it is in Him that we place our trust.
Jennifer Pepito-Chapel Editor
