Update April 23, 2007--Grandma's Letter.

Dear Friends,

The reason for my writing this letter was to share with you how our wonderful Lord worked in our lives. I wanted to tell you of only a few instances in which we saw His Mighty Hand at work. There were many others, but it would take too long to tell about all of them.

On April 2nd, R, Sierra, D (occasionally), and I finished our 2 month and half a week commute and overnight stays to San Antonio. These were done during week days to take Sierra to the hyperbaric treatments. We would stay Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays overnight. We would drive on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Backtracking a little, in January, we received the heartbreaking news that our little Sierra Rose's brain would not develop any more than what it already was at that time. We knew she didn't have vision, but we were also told that she wouldn't be able to walk or talk. That was almost too much for us to bear. Yet, we decided that we were not going to give up on our baby!

This prompted R to do research on brain injuries. She learned that some people had been helped through hyperbaric treatments, which give oxygen to the brain. She and J thought that their baby might benefit from these treatments. There was much prayer entreating the Lord for wisdom. Finally, they decided that this was what the Lord wanted them to do for Sierra.

There was only one problem--the treatments were costly! Although J had a good job which he had started a few days before Sierra was born, he did not have all the money on hand to pay for the treatments. The money was needed soon because they wanted to start the treatments right away. R and I came up with the idea of a raffle fund raiser; but, when we prayed about it, the Lord said, "No!" J submitted to the Lord's saying no but was wondering where a couple of thousand dollars were going to come from in just a week. I must admit, I was a little doubtful also and was thinking of different ways to obtain the money. There were also other expenses to consider such as gasoline, food, and hotel stays. Well, there was only one thing left to do--trust that the Lord would provide!

The next week was amazing! Within a few days we had all the money to cover the cost of the treatments alone. If the first week was amazing, I'm not sure how to describe the following weeks. Money kept coming from all different directions--in small amounts and in large amounts. There was some that came from many unexpected sources. We were overwhelmed with gratefulness. The Lord was moving so many hearts to give to our little Sierra Rose.

Our Lord did not forget we had need for lodging. Some kind people that we did not know offered us a place to stay for free, but we were not able to accept it because of the distance and great traffic to the treatment center. We stayed only one night and were truly touched by their generosity. We had to stay at a hotel. The director of the hyperbarics center had made an agreement with the manager of a nearby hotel. The hotel offered a substantial discount for patients going to the center. The hotel room was more like an efficiency apartment with a tiny kitchen and living area combined plus the bedroom. It was just right for us because we were able to cook our meals there. It was close to the center and to an H.E.B. so we saved on gasoline, food, and time.

We had the Lord's protection also. Once, after driving from San Antonio, R dropped me off at home. When she was ready to leave for her home, she noticed that her vehicle had a flat tire. It wasn't an ordinary flat tire. Wires were sticking out from it. It was completely ruined! We thanked the Lord for giving us that flat tire at home and not on the highway. Because they have an all wheel drive vehicle, R realized that she would not only have to buy one new tire but four. With all the driving we had to do, it would be wise to buy good tires. The tires were costly. The next day, a check arrived in the mail for almost the exact amount that R had spent on the tires. That was incredible in itself, but the most incredible part was that it was from someone we didn't even know!

Our hearts are full of thankfulness to the Lord and to all of you for your support and your wonderful prayers. We know that some of you gave sacrificially, but all of you gave out of love. That is the reason that we were very careful on how we spent the money. The Lord, through you, provided for all of our needs. What a Mighty God we serve!!!

Thank you again and again for your generosity. May the Lord bless all of you.

Love in Christ,
Marta K.