Announcing Lael

(Posted by Kelly)

Several months before Lael was born, Ega and Lokadi asked us to name their fourth child. Throughout Lokadi’s pregnancy we had the opportunity to pray with her. Just 2 weeks before the baby was born I prayed over her at an all church gathering. As I prayed for her I sensed that should the baby be a girl, we should name her Lael. It is Tori’s middle name and is mentioned in the Bible (Numbers 3:24). Its Hebrew meaning is “belonging to God.” Before Ega’s little girl was born it seemed a perfect name. After the obvious miraculous intervention of God’s mighty hand in her birth it seemed a perfect name. One week later as her mother passed away, it was the perfect comfort to remember that this sweet baby girl “belongs to God.” It is God who spoke her into being. She belongs to him and He will make a way for her.

Tonight Ega asked us to come for a private naming ceremony at Sossa’s house. This is where the baby has been staying since she arrived from the hospital. Ega’s mother has been her primary caregiver there. We offer baby formula that is given to her in a bottle.

The last time we gave the name for his child we had a special evening at his home with just he and his wife and children. He thought it would be too sad to be again in his home, naming the baby without his wife.

Ega asked us to come and give him counsel as well as the name. When we arrived we talked for awhile, held the baby, took pictures, and Randy even was able to feed her a bottle. Randy began his counsel with Proverbs 22:6, “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” He also referred to 1 Peter 5:8 which says to “be alert because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He talked about how important it is to be intentional in guarding the influences on your child. The pagans that are around us desire to have their influence on the training of our children and it is our responsibility as parents to protect them and to be alert to what they hear and see.

Randy then transitioned to the scriptures that accompany the meaning of her name. John 8:47 says that “he who belongs to God, hears what he says.” 1 Peter 2:9, 10 say that “you are a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Randy then told Ega how I prayed for the name and we believed that her name should be Lael. Through God’s power Lael was born and given life. Because he breathed life into her and spoke her into being, she belongs to him. If she belongs to him then she will hear the words of God!
We are saddened that Lokadi is not here. Yet it is through her suffering that Lael is alive and we see a testimony of how God brings light from the darkness.

After sharing the name, we prayed for Lael and then shared gifts with Ega for Lael. We then shared a meal together. It was a very sweet time with our dear friend. Our dear friend who is forever changed. Joy and laughter have characterized this man and his family from the first day that we met them nearly 6 years ago. We are deeply saddened by what has taken place and at the same time eagerly. anticipating the plan of the Lord unfolding. We are confident the Lord is here and we see the glory of the Lord in the life of this dear man.

Thank you for every prayer that you lift on behalf of this family.

-Kelly