Since we received “Lessons for Living” from our great friend and mum, Helen Redman, in May 2007, this book has had a great impact on our lives. It has built our courage and confidence in facing difficult times and accelerated our faith in God. The book has become one of the key references in our ministry to the hurting souls and those experiencing loss for emotional healing and guidance.

On the 16th of October, 2008 we experienced a sudden storm in our family which took us by surprise. We were at the center of final arrangements to celebrate James’ Seminary graduation which was to take place on the 17th. After a busy day of preparations we decided to drive to the hospital to take Lilian for her normal routine antenatal check ups. Lilian was seven months pregnant and we were so excited and looking forward to having our third born child join our family. To our surprise during the scan in the hospital, the baby was not responding and the doctor disclosed that the baby could have died 48 hours back. Until today we don’t know the cause of her death. Lilian was in perfect health and she never had complications in pregnancy.

We were shocked and filled with grief and skepticism until 11 pm when we decided to change to another hospital for a rescan which reconfirmed the earlier results. This was the time we had to learn to accept the truth that we lost our baby and figure out the next move in ensuring that Lilian’s health was safe. She was carrying a dead child in her womb which had to be safely induced out and James’ graduation ceremony which we took months organizing was just hours away. What a coincidence!

By 3 am on the 17th, we realized we were going through a test and a storm which simply needed our courage and trust in God. At this level of our battle on that early morning, chapters 12, 24, 25 and 29 of “Lessons for Living” helped us understand where we were and what we needed to do to walk and rejoice into victory. By 6 am our decisions were joint and so clear and sharp. We agreed we couldn’t lose both baby and the graduation. So, Lilian asked me to go on to the graduation as I dropped her off at the hospital. The doctor wanted us at the hospital by 7 am to begin the process of inducing the dead body of the child. We were very punctual and Lilian was admitted. I drove on to my graduation 50kms away from Kampala to attend my graduation ceremony in Ndejje University main campus.

Lilian was very strong and confident as she kept in touch with me until the close of the graduation ceremony at 4 pm when I was able to return to the hospital to be with her. God was with us and she had the best medical attention. The doctors kept administering medicine to her to induce out the dead baby until 5:30 am on the 18th when finally, successfully and normally the body came out. By 9 am the same day, Lilian was discharged. Amen! We sang, rejoiced and praised the Lord.

What is so incredible, pleasing and satisfying in this experience is that things happened just as we prayed and asked God to support and help us. Today as we look and focus back into the storm, we see His hand in every step of a ladder we had to climb to be out into victory. We are celebrating today and forever. God is good and powerful above every situation. We rejoice and give glory and honor to Him.

To us “Lessons for Living” is a must have. Helen, you spoke your experience in us through this book and made solid our faith in God in dealing with situations. Today we take challenges simply as lessons to learn from with the understanding that they simply come and go but underlying in this understanding is having God on board first to lead the way! We value your ministry and love the purpose of God in you.

James & Lilan Oonyu
The Life Resource Gift Union (LIREGU-Uganda)
Uganda
East Africa