The First Class

By Guest Blogger: BJ Nicholson

We held a special class today at the mission for expecting mothers and will continue to do so for the next three Mondays. When setting up for the class, the song “Little is Much if God is in It” was repeating in my mind. I asked the Lord if he was preparing me for a low turnout, but that was not the case. We had 19 women show up, 6 of which are having their first child. The “little” is what we can do; the “much” is what God can do. Tiffani, Kari, and I took blood pressure, pulse, weight, and blood sugar checks on each participant so we can monitor them over the four week period. The mission has been blessed with portable ultrasound equipment; Adam learned as much as he could from the last mission team regarding ultrasound. He did ultrasounds for five of the ladies today and was able to check the babies’ heart rate, measure to see how far along they are, and (the most exciting part) let the mother-to-be see her little one. He will try to get one done for each of the mothers before the classes are over. Tiffani opened the class with a devotion focusing on how the women and their babies are created in the image of God and that He has a plan for each of their lives, even as they are developing right now. Amber segued the devotion into the lesson by stating how good nutrition is necessary to raise up strong children so that they can be all they can be for God. Amber taught the nutrition class with our assistance. The focal point was when you have to make a choice of junk food or healthy foods, always choose healthy because what you eat, your baby eats. Examples of healthy foods and junk foods were available to show the differences. The different food groups were explained as well as the importance of eating from each of them. Many had never heard any of this! At the end of the class, we were able to give enough vitamins and powdered milk to each lady to last until she comes back next week, at which time she will be given more. One of the ladies (age 39) seemed to not be feeling too good, the results of her blood sugar being too low. That was our “God moment” for the day because she was someone who needed our help right then. We monitored her and gave her a banana to eat before leaving as well as the healthy choices we had used for examples.
Many of the mothers seemed very receptive of the information and thankful that the class was held. Hopefully God will use the class to reach the mothers spiritually and prepare them to have healthy babies!