Growing Christ Church in an Oppressive Environment
Over the next 7 years the young family helped in a small church (40 members) in the island’s capital, and lived in a village with about 250 locals. They had two more kids on the island and had some amazing adventures, but it wasn’t easy as they struggled with some hard environments and sickness. “There was just so much oppression there, a dark heaviness you could feel, “Andrea said.
Their faith was truly tested after their youngest, Kirstin (under one at the time) became seriously ill. With four hospital visits and countless hours of waiting, they still had no results. After Kirstin became deathly ill and lifeless, (her head was swollen and her eyes rolled up into her skull) the hospital took them seriously. At that point Kirstin’s blood was so poisoned that they could not even get IV’s in her, her blood vessels would just burst. It became a life and death battle as she was finally diagnosed with Pneumococcal Meningitis Sepsis. “We prayed and fasted while spending day and night in the ICU.” said Andrea. “The Holy Spirit gave us confidence to come before the Father with our petitions for healing.”
Dark Nights as Parents and Petitions of Healing
The couple struggled in their spirit watching their daughter almost die. By now Kirstin was on oxygen and antibiotics that were so strong she lost total hearing in one ear and possibly the other as well. “Her immune system was completely shot, and she was still ill,” said Andrea. “We definitely went through dark nights of the soul in this period, but sitting around regretting wasn’t an option,” said Kristjan. “We had to stay on top of the doctors making sure she got the tests and care she needed. God was with us and we sensed His protection and goodness.”
“I took the days to watch over Kirstin, Kristjan was praying and fasting, spending the nights with Kirstin,” said Andrea. “The Holy Spirit gave us absolute confidence that we could come to the Father with our petitions for healing.” They felt the body of Christ around the world came around them through prayer and coming before the throne of grace for them.
Miracles in Recovery from Love and Faith
Kirstin survived and at first had many side effects (secondary infections, not being able to walk, hearing loss and facial paralysis). Despite having partial hearing loss, Kirstin, now 6, made a remarkable recovery. According to Stanford doctors, it was a total miracle, and her illness is still being used as a case study. “The Lord kept her alive,” said Andrea. “She is a fighter, a brutally positive little girl who has overcome so many obstacles.”
Andrea’s parents have also stepped into their roles and are leaving early next year to support the church and community that the family worked so hard to build up on Madeira. “The community and church was so devastated when we left permanently,” said Andrea. “But this experience has made our whole family stronger.”
After the family returned to the states, they joined Mariner’s after a brief search. Andrea knew some folks at Mariner’s and with a large family, she was attracted to the youth and children’s ministry. “It has been a wonderful fit for our family. We are so thankful for this community and church,” said Andrea.
Andrea shares these scriptures that brought comfort to the family during their crisis:
Genesis 50:20, You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
2 Cor 12:10, That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Excerpts of Grace from a Letter to loved ones
“Kristjan was praying and fasting while spending the nights with Kirstin in the hospital, and the Holy Spirit was giving him absolute confidence that we could come to the Father with our petitions for healing. We have sensed more than ever how great, how awesome, how loving, how involved our God is. Scripture ministered to us deeply as we knew that angels are constantly looking at the face of God to receive instructions for ministering to His little ones. God is so awesome, when we did not know what to do, when we were torn between staying home as we were told by doctors or going to the hospital yet again, God was making sure Kirstin was not taken from us. He has a great purpose in all this and for her life, and we are privileged to be entrusted with caring for her. We are SO THANKFUL for His powerful love! He has brought us to a deeper fellowship of His sufferings as we sense how much He must suffer when His little ones suffer.”
By Marina Scofield, Volunteer Storyteller
