The funeral for Mbamie's baby was today. A few friends, family and the father attended. Mbamie didn't go. I was a little disappointed since I thought it would help her, but everyone mourns differently. She has not been sleeping and just got out of the hospital yesterday and is still on a lot of pain medication for the c-section she had Tues. so there is a lot going on in her mind/body and soul. We all stopped by at her place to see her after and I had a hard time recognizing her. She has lost a lot of weight in the face and her eyes were baggy which made her look more like her niece than herself. I have been encouraged by her husband's involvement. He seemed so aloof about the pregnancy, but it is obvious that his heart was really linked to this baby.

Before we went in to see Mbamie after her surgery and prior to seeing the baby, I was telling him about losing my nephew. He may have passed the night of halloween when I had AO#2 dressed up as a butterfly. After he passed, the Lord showed me a lot about butterflies, life and death, how the unborn child was like that worm in a cocoon and that now the baby was in his/her glorified state, so much more beautiful and free. Like the butterfly, the baby's presence would grace our lives by moments. The butterfly may flutter by, or even come to rest on our finger for just a brief, precious moment. Likewise, it's like that with those who have gone before us. They cheer us on and are a part of us forever. We think about them and it brings us closer to them and to the understanding of eternity. After we had spent some time with the baby, I noticed that the African cloth the photographer had given to the baby and wrapped her in had butterflies all over it (see picture above). I just knew it was the Lord echoing what we had talked about.

May the Holy Spirit meet Mbamie and her husband in their darkest time, give them rest and peace.
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Meanwhile, Mbamie's brother pulled me asside and told me their brother is sick, that nobody knows and that he may have cancer. His doctor recommended amputating his foot, but he wants another opinion. Meanwhile he has no insurance and is having troubles knowing where to turn to.

It's like this family escaped all the horrors of war in Ivory Coast and now they are still having to fight for survival.