As newlyweds we decided to wait five years before having a child. We thought it was good wisdom as it would allow us to have time to financially prepare for children.
A few months into our marriage, we met the mother of a friend from Congo, Africa. She was an older woman who had birthed and raised 10 children. They were all grown and she had grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her children lived in different continents and countries. They would fight over her visiting them. So, she would spend one month a year at each of her children’s homes and then two months in her home in Congo. She was a widow, but her life was so full of goodness.
As she shared her adventures and joys of having all these children, we were amazed. She then rebuked us for not having children. In our defense we told her our reasons which were mainly financial. She explained to us that God always provided with each child. After a long talk, we walked home in silence as the Holy Spirit convicted us. Our flesh screamed for fear. Nevertheless, we surrendered to God.
Shortly after, we conceived our first born. My husband ended up switching jobs while I was pregnant to allow a schedule that was best for a family. With that, he took a cut in pay. We were so short on finances that I didn't even have money to buy maternity clothes as my belly got bigger.
One day I cried to the Lord about it as it was now embarrassing. Shortly after, I met a lady who ran a pregnancy center in our area. She invited me to stop by and see their work. The morning I went to see her, they got a shipment from Motherhood (a maternity store) with brand new clothes and they decided to donate clothes which they hadn't done before. The lady took me in one of the rooms and invited me to help myself to any clothes that I wanted.
"Take all you need," she instructed. Wow! I unwrapped the brand new clothes from their packages and got enough outfits to last me the whole pregnancy and nursing season! God wiped away my tears that day.
Friends planned two baby showers and all clothing and needs were gifted us! After our son was born, gifts from friends, family, and neighbors kept coming. We had diapers and clothes to last us months! My husband also got a 75% RAISE AT HIS WORK! Praise God!
One of our concerns in having a baby was that we didn't have family around. They were in Africa or other cities far away. How would we do this without help? I had an emergency c-section which added to the challenge. But from the day our son was born, friends stopped by. They brought meals, cleaned our home for us, or just held baby while I took a much-needed nap! God truly met ALL our needs and even granted our desires.
From that birth, God blessed us with tremendous and beautiful relationships enabling us to raise our child in a community the way we had grown up back in Africa. God is so good!
NADIA MUTANA
Collinwood, Tennessee, USA
Formally from Rwanda, now Canadian citizens, but currently living in USA.
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www.mutanafamily.com
Pitana and Nadia are now blessed with seven children: Jeremiah (13), Samuel (10), Wonder (8), Elizah (6), Jairus (4), Cyrus (2), and Grace (5 months).
Putana and Nadia also wrote in the previous Above Rubies, # 94, about naming their children, page 27.
YOU CAN HEAR PITANA MUTANA ON RADIO AND TV IF YOU LIVE IN THE NORTH ALABAMA/NORTH MISSISSIPPI AREAS
Nadia writes: Please check our website in upcoming weeks for our new Radio and TV programs. We are already airing on 1410 AM every Sunday at 3:15 pm for those living in North Alabama and North East MIssissipi (Tishomingo area).
Production for our TV program on CTN ( Christian Television Network ) will begin in August and our first program should air the end of August, early September. It will air every Wednesday at 7:30 pm with replay every Friday at 5 pm. It will reach North Mississipi and North Western Alabama. So check back on our site to watch online and on YouTube!