The 100th post; Hebrews 12:2

This is a bit of an unusual post for me, but I felt lead to share something that the Lord has been working with me on. In 2003 when the 98 orphans were brought to Good Samaritan, 4 of them tested positive for HIV/AIDS. In September 2006, Ivy, one of the orphans began battling one illness after another. At that time I asked over and over again for her CD4 count. The CD4 count measures the T-Cells (fighter cells) in the blood. The more you have the better. No matter how many times I asked, I couldn't get any of the Malawians to ask the doctors what Ivy's CD4 count was. In November 2006 Thandie, the orphanage director came to America for four months to raise funds for the orphanage. On January 5, 2007, Ivy died. To this day I have no idea what her CD4 counts were. I eventually dropped the issue, until last week when I heard from the Gentry's that the little boy in the orphanage who is HIV+ was looking week and sickly. When I asked Thandie about him, I learned he was not taking the ARVs (AIDS medication). I was frustrated and confused. I asked Thandie to find out what his CD4 count was. I didn't think I would find out, but it didn't hurt to ask.

Yesterday I was given the CD4 count for him and for the two older girls in the children's home with HIV. I was very surprised by the results. Anything under 200 is considered "full blown" AIDS, above 200 is considered just HIV+. The oldest girl, who I was 100% sure was the sickest, had the highest count. Not only is it the highest, it is within the normal range and more than three times higher than what would qualify her as full blown AIDS. The little boy I was concerned about also had a high count. It is lower than someone without HIV, but still double what it needs to be to be considered full blown AIDS. The third child who by all outward appearances appears the strongest and the healthiest, had a critically low count. So low you would think the end of her life was near. After praying and meditating on this situation it became very clear to me why I never knew Ivy's counts. While the numbers serve their purpose in determining treatment and providing a guideline for doctors, they can't be used to determine lifespan. Only God knows the day we will die. If Ivy's counts were low, Thandie may not have come to the US and would have missed the opportunity God had for her to be used in a mighty way.

Many of us have had a medical issue or know someone who has, where blood counts and numbers were involved. Whether it is diabetes, cholesterol, cancer, anemia, AIDS, etc. ...we look to the numbers for answers. Hoping for them to go up or down depending on the illness. We turn our face away from God and look for answers in the numbers. God has shown this to me so clearly with this situation. It doesn't matter to God what the numbers are, when it is time for us to go home, that is when we will go. The numbers serve their purpose as a treatment guide, but they don't hold the hope or the answers.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (kjv)