Volume 1 Letter 3                  December 2003 & January 2004                                                                       

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Jesus Our Healer: He Wants to Make His Children Whole

A special Christmas time blessing interrupted the completion of this letter during the month of December.  I wish to share some details of this experience as it demonstrates a wonderful part of our God’s awesome and infinite character.

  A Christmas Time Blessing

This fall I was checking into the possibility of offering a Christian version of the Christmas Tour Program done at the W. W. Mayo House. I wanted to offer the program to families and youth groups of local churches. I knew I needed to run this by the southern district manager of the Minnesota Historical Society.  I made two unsuccessful attempts to gain approval. It became too late to pursue the possibility further for 2003.  So, I considered other alternatives and decided to revise the content and format of the program and offer the Christmas program in the Mayoview Center.

I prayed concerning when to offer the program, before or after Christmas.  It could not be offered until the regular Christmas tours of the Mayo House and Center concluded. At Bible Study Fellowship, as a prayer request, I asked the women in my small group to pray concerning when to offer the program.

In early December, as I was thinking about the program and when to offer it, the Holy Spirit spoke these words to me in His quiet whisper,
                                             “Spend time with family.”
With these words I felt both a sense of surprise and delight.  I clearly knew this was God’s directive. This was God’s response to the prayers concerning the timing of this program. 

I have been so heavily focused on my relationship with Jesus Christ; seeking to know Him more and more and learning to walk in His ways plus being taught intensely by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word along with putting considerable effort into preparing for the assignment and mission Jesus is calling me to accomplish through the mighty work of the Holy Spirit.

This clear directive from God touched me very deeply.  The word that came into my mind over and over is gracious. God demonstrated His gracious nature as well as love and His caring attitude toward each of His children and their family’s needs.

I was so deeply touched, but I did not know exactly why God was directing me to spend time with family.  It wasn’t long before His purpose became clear.

During the second week in December while talking with my daughter, Angie, I sensed the extreme loneliness she was experiencing.  Angie was about eight months pregnant and all alone.  Her loneliness was becoming too much for her to bear. I was certain God was graciously encouraging me to spend time with her, but I did not know yet how this would be accomplished.

On Thursday, December 18, at 5:30 p.m., Angie called me at my other daughter’s home where I was caring for my granddaughter, Ashley.  Angie told me about her visit to the doctor that day.  She said he had put her on bed rest, told her she was not ready to deliver and that the baby would most likely go full term.  It was exactly three weeks until her due date, which was Thursday, January 8th.  At 7 p.m., Angie called back and said, “my water broke, should I go to the hospital?” 

This turn of events concerned me. Her pregnancy was considered high risk.  Angie has severe rheumatoid arthritis and when she became pregnant, she was taking medication that can endanger a fetus’ health. She has already had a full hip replacement because of arthritis.  Her body was excessively swollen.  She was a full three weeks early. The baby had not dropped.

My 7-year-old granddaughter and I drove immediately to Abbott Northwestern Hospital.  On the way, I told Ashley of our need to pray for Angie and the baby. 

Testimony of Dorothy von Lehe

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