A certain September

I have to smile looking back at what I wrote last month; feels like looking back at a childhood fear of a two wheeled bike or an elementary school crush. “Our limits teach us the fear of the Lord.” (Wilkin, None Like Him, 25) Oh, little did we know. 

First, he’s here! Our baby boy, our village child - safely carried by an endless stream of prayers, meals, child care and support - arrived one month early on the morning of September 5. He was born at our local hospital, but was transferred (in a massive, terrifying and amazing baby ambulance) soon after birth to the larger hospital. He stayed in the neonatal care unit for a little over two weeks, and came home three days ago. 

We named him Jude Aizen 愛善 (eye-zen). For the doxology at the end of the book of Jude: “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Aizen because it connects to the Japanese name of our oldest, and the two kanji together mean agape love. (Plus, one of his uncles pointed out that eizen are crampons for ice climbing - see below for the whole new layer of meaning)

We knew this pregnancy was different from the start, and - although we were not prepared for how different he would be - we have begun to process what it will all mean. For reasons we do not yet (and may never) know, Jude was born without fully formed hands or feet. The rest of him (brain and core organs) seems ok, after a first round of testing. It looks something like the effects of amniotic band syndrome, although doctors do not think that is what he has. Doctors also don’t seem to think it had anything to do with the hematoma that I had for most of this pregnancy, although there may be a correlation. 

Although this is all about our new baby, there is lots more going on in our lives and community; students heading out all over Japan for a week of leadership training, Kids Club outreach is reaching a growing number of neighborhood friends, new moms attending moms and kids play time at another neighborhood church. 

Thank you to each of you who have celebrated, grieved and brought food (physical, psychological, metaphorical) to us throughout this entire season. We rest in agape love, and remain confident that our God is able to keep even this boy from falling. Your presence mean so much to us. I will do my best to reply to each of you!