Bekkers' Bulletin - May 2007

RE-BIRTH

We received the phone call on Thursday evening: Nick’s blood was needed. Noina, a friend of a friend, suffering from a blood disorder called Thalessemia had had complications after a spleen operation and needed to go in for another op. Nick was asked to donate blood for the operation, which could possibly save his life. He couldn’t say no, so the next morning at 9 a.m. he was at the hospital to give his blood.

Noina’s bed was in the far corner of the overcrowded hospital ward. Nick was shocked when he saw him. He knew that Noina was very ill, but was not prepared for the sight that met him. Noina was painfully thin and as a result of liver trouble he had an unhealthy sallow complexion and the whites of his eyes were yellow. The chirpy greeting that Nick had been rehearsing on the way over died on his lips.

They spent a while talking. Noina told Nick about his home on an idyllic island off the coast of Thailand near Cambodia. He said that when he got out of hospital he was going home and that we were welcome to visit him there. Then, using the illustration of his own blood which Nick was ready to freely give to help save Noina’s physical life, Nick told Noina about the blood of Jesus which had been freely shed to save his spiritual life. After praying for him, Nick went to another part of the hospital where a friendly nurse cheerfully drained half a litre of his blood.

Later on, our friends told us that they had had an opportunity to share the gospel with Noina and he had, though with limited understanding, accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.

Nick’s blood never was used by Noina because he died that Friday evening, before they could operate on him. But we know that the blood of Jesus was sufficient to cleanse him from sin and give him eternal life. Noina never got to go home before he died and yet in dying as a child of God, he did go home - to a place more idyllic and beautiful than he ever could have imagined.

NEW BIRTH

The 2^nd of May was THE day. We had marked that day off in our calendars and cleared all appointments a few days before and after that day. It was the day that our 3^rd baby was due. Well, 2 May came and went. So did the 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th … Finally the doctor convinced us to make an appointment for an induction on the 12^th.

6 a.m. and still half asleep, we were at the hospital. We both thought it would be quick – if not easy - and kind of expected it all to be over by lunchtime. But this baby had kept us waiting 10 days past her due date, and she was not about to start rushing things now! Finally at 6:26 p.m after a long, tiring and boring (not to mention painful) day in the labour waiting room, Nina Grace Bekker made her grand appearance. Trish (and Nick) have recovered well, and Nina is fitting into life back home, learning to cope with her big brother and sister.

Nina means “grace” and we thank God for his gracious gift of three miracle children - praise God for His gift of new life.