 
“Suddenly
a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:13-14
March
2010
This is the story of an obscure little African Girl named Leah Alzuma. She was
born on December 31, 2006. Our family was present at her
birth. Her parents wanted Ben and I to name her, however,
we declined because that would mean we were assuming all
financial responsibility for her, for the rest of her life.
We were in the National Hospital every day for 5 weeks
when she had hernia surgery. Our girls loved playing
with her
and her sister and brother. She now has a new baby brother
named Ibrahim, born December 20, 2009.
Our family went stateside in September 2008-August 2009,
while in the states the girls were constantly wondering
if Leah would remember them when they returned to Niger.
February of 2010 was a busy time. Ami, Leah’s mom, was
helping with kid’s club that meets at her house every
Saturday morning,
Leah had a cold and her little brother had hernia surgery
in the National Hospital. Leah’s cold continued to get
worse so Cindy and Ami made daily trips to the National
Hospital
for check-ups. After two rounds of antibiotics she was
finally admitted to the hospital on Feb. 24. An IV was
started and
she was put on oxygen. Thursday night she began to throw-up
blood and lapsed into a coma at 2:00am. We continued
to pray over her, asking God to heal her. All day
Friday she
had
a high fever and remained unresponsive. At 7:00 p.m.
Leah stopped breathing. Cindy and Hassi ran to the
ER to get
the American doctor that was consulting on the case.
She examined
Leah, but it was too late.
It broke my heart. I began to cry and the other Mus.
women at the hospital told me to be quiet since showing
emotions
isn’t allowed in this culture. I told them Jesus wept
so it was fine to show emotions.
Leah’s father and Pastor Amadou wrapped Leah’s body
in a sheet and carried her to the morgue. We gathered
our
things
and went to Ami’s house where we cried and prayed
together.
Saturday morning the women sat at Ami’s house with
her while the men went to bury Leah. We had a sweet
time
of worship
and scripture reading. It was during this time
that Ami shared with us that when Leah stopped breathing
,Jesus
said to her,
“I have her in my hands.” This was the comfort
Ami
and her husband needed. God always has the right
words at
the right
time. I shared with her that it did not matter
that Leah was buried in the Mus. Cemetery, her spirit
was with
God.
It has now been three weeks since her death. The
emotions run high at times when Ami is home alone
and thinking
about Leah or having dreams about her. Through
all of this God
has opened the door for Ami to share the Gospel
with her neighbors that come to give their condolences.
The best
of all Leah’s dad has chosen to follow Jesus.
He has talked with Pastor Amadou and Ben about baptism.
It
appears that
will happen Easter Weekend. The same weekend
4
years
ago Ami was baptized.
Ami and Cindy continue to seek out medical assistance
for baby Ibrahim. He’s having complications
from his hernia
surgery and will enter the hospital this Friday
for another surgery
to correct the problem. Thank you for lifting
this dear family before God. He is our sustainer
and
giver of grace.
and comfort!
The Sustars
sustar@braveheart.com
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