BIRTH CERTIFICATE

We went on Tuesday to get the official paper work started for little Lucy Mae.

First stop...the Arua government hospital where we got her "short" birth certificate. We don't know exactly why it's called that, but we have to go to Kampala in the next few weeks and get her proper birth certificate as well as take her to the US Embassy to get started on her SS# and Passport.

Jessica Stevens has been a TREMENDOUS blessing these days caring for both of our girls and us! She was Joanna's roommate at Asbury College and a great friend to both of us over the last ten years. She is a nurse practitioner and was present at Lucy Mae's birth and has been monitoring her this week as she has jaundice. She is also our official photographer this first week of Lucy's life!

To celebrate success as we began the paper trail, we enjoyed lunch at a local Indian restraunt. This was Elsie Jayne's first time to eat there...she was so excited. She loves her status as big sister and enjoyed showing off little Lucy.

VISITORS

Jesus has blessed us with so many great neighbors and friends.

We have had such a great time celebrating Lucy Mae's birthday with everyone.

Simon was so thankful to Jesus for this new life God has blessed our family with!
As he held her on her birthday, he commented that
Lucy Mae looked as if she was two weeks old!

The team of midwives Jesus provided us with!
We thank Jesus for Kristina, Geesja and Laura!!!

Our neighbor and Joanna's friend, Gertrude with her five girls and our two!

Faith (holding Lucy), Gloria, Sandra, Elsie Jayne, Gertrude (holding Emmanuella), and Cathy

Harmony, the daughter of our American midwife, Kristina have been serving the Arua community as a mid-wife for six years now.
What a blessing her knowledge and expertise have been to us through this whole experience.
We praise Jesus for their family!

Sharon is a precious neighbor girl who loves to come see Elsie Jayne and was thrilled to hold Lucy Mae yesterday!

Jessica Stevens (Joanna's Asbury College roommate) and Sarah Casson (holding Lucy Mae) just moments after her birth. Jessica and her fiance, John David Williamson came to Arua on Monday from the states to be with us for the birth! Jesus' timing is so good! Sarah is a dear friend who is serving with SIL now in Congo, but was visiting Arua and "just stopped by" at the exact time Lucy was hoping to meet her auntie!

Pam and Joanna Wafler (missionary friends and neighbors) had a happy morning with Elsie Jayne while Baby Lucy entered the world! Praise Jesus for "missionary family!"

Joanna with Beatrice and Susan and the girls!

Beatrice is a dear friend who has been praying for Lucy Mae daily these 9 months and Susan has been such a blessing helping with Elsie Jayne as the last few weeks have gotten so long! Both of these women are precious gifts from Jesus to our family.

LUCY MAE COPPEDGE

8lbs. 6oz. 20inches MAY 20, 2009

Due Date - May 20...

Lucy Mae Coppedge arrived at 9:55 a.m. on her due date! Hallelujah! Praise God Forever! She weighed 8lbs. 6 ounces and was 20 inches long. She has a pile of long dark hair just like her older sister did.

Elsie Jayne has been very sweet to welcome her baby sister. Elsie Jayne is still trying to figure out all that is going on but she is excited about the new "babies."

Joanna is exhausted but well. She delivered in our home and was amazing. The medical team Jesus had arranged did a great job as well.

We want you to know how much we appreciate so many of you praying for us. We are so grateful. Jesus' goodness was evident throughout the entire experience and we thank Him for His Presence.

Nesting in my Neighborhood

My friend Eva came to see how things were progressing today...still no baby...but I was up in the night with consistent 10 minute contractions for a couple of hours!!! There is hope!...soon!!!

So, with Elsie Jayne, I thought I was nesting and getting ready for her here, only to find myself whisked away to America at the last possible moment. Praise Jesus for His faithfulness in that traumatic situation. Jesus continues to keep His faithful hand on Billy's daddy! We praise Him!!!

With this pregnancy, I have waited and waited to set up things for the new baby, not really knowing how to prepare. Deep inside maybe fearing that whatever I prepared for would be torn away somehow.

Now that we are four days from the due date, I believe it is safe to say that we are most likely going to birth this child in our own home here in Arua with a precious team of midwives who love Jesus and love us. There is the possibility that with complications we will go the local hospital, but it's much too late for any airline to let me fly, so...the nesting is kicking in strong.

It was nearly a month ago now that we started looking for a "basket" to be a bed for the new baby. We had a GREAT "Moses Basket" (thank you Will and Suzanne!) that Elsie Jayne used while we lived in America...up until she was three months old, but it was quite cumbersome to fly with and she was growing out of it, so we did not bring it home with us. I really liked it though and thought we should try and create one...

So, this is what nesting looks like in my neighborhood...

Basket that people living near the Nile and Lake Victoria carry fish in, and local people here carry chickens in!

"Arua Foam" is a mattress factory in town that cut this piece for me to fit the basket.

I went to the local cloth market and found this fabric to line the basket and make a sheet with so the new baby's bed is complete!

With every step I had to answer so many questions...why would I want this basket!? You don't sleep with your baby!? How could you put your baby in a chicken basket?! But now the process is complete.

Now we just continue to wait for her appearance!

Nebbi with Nick

Nicholas Strong is in the midst of leading a week long sports/discipleship camp in our front yard! You may remember a few months back he did the same thing. It is the same kids and we are trusting Jesus that time and investment during their school holidays will prove to make a difference in their hearts and lives. Nick is doing a great job with them...teaching them soccer skills and also Bible stories that they can carry with them. Elsie Jayne has had the best time standing starring out the front door shouting "NICK" all week as he attempts to instruct his students!
A little worship beat while we wait for the trainees in Nebbi.

On Saturday we made a spontaneous family journey to Nebbi. Nick and Billy were planning to go and lead a one day sports ministry training. Nick was teaching volunteers from each of our eight churches how to incorporate sports and story-telling to share the gospel with youth. Waking up Saturday morning Joanna realized that with the new baby coming at any moment, she and Elsie Jayne might not make it to Nebbi again any time soon and with Billy not teaching, this might be a great time to go and have help keeping up with Elsie Jayne. We all went and had a great day of teaching, playing, and learning together.

The futbol pitch (soccer field) in Nebbi near one of the AGC churches we work along side of.
If you look closely you can see Nick in a black shirt and khaki hat giving beginning instructions.

Elsie Jayne so pleased with many new friends!


Later, she got overwhelmed with so many new friends and found security in her daddy's arms...above the crowd that kept pressing in to see her.


We may have a futbol fan on our hands!
Elsie Jayne enjoying the game between our pastors and the trainees! She could barely find a seat, but decided to share with her sister what is left of her mama's lap.


Pastor Cosmas was hopeful that these clouds would bring the rain so desperately needed in the Nebbi area...as well as here in Arua. It did sprinkle, but no real rain. People are getting hungry and crops are not growing...pray with us for the real rainy season to begin.

***Yesterday (Mother's Day) we thought the new baby might be coming!!!
So begin the days of false alarms...pray with us for Jesus' best timing for her arrival.
We are trusting Him to bring her in His best time and safely. We feel READY though!***

A favorite Psalm we have enjoyed today!

Psalm 30

1 I will exalt you, LORD, for you rescued me.
You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
and you restored my health.
3 You brought me up from the grave,* O LORD.
You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

4 Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.

6 When I was prosperous, I said,
"Nothing can stop me now!"
7 Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

8 I cried out to you, O LORD.
I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
9 "What will you gain if I die,
if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
Can it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me.
Help me, O LORD."

11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Elsie Jayne has been giving thanks a lot lately for her Uncle Nick! SHE LOVES HIM!!! He has only a short month left with us in Arua...we have not broken that news to Elsie Jayne yet. Pray with us for Jesus' best in these last days and His leading about the next days both for Nick and for us as we remain.