An Update from the Dunhams

Well as the holiday quickly approaches I have one thing on my mind...we are moving in two weeks!

The Dunhams are returning to Southern Ohio this winter to live and work in the Portsmouth area. We are extremely excited about this and look forward to doing the work of missions and evangelism in Portsmouth, and serving at our new church Bigelow Church in Portsmouth. The family is doing well. Mia has developed quite the personality over these last two weeks and continues to grow and mature just fine. She is happy and we continue to pray for the Lord's watch over her health. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us.



By the way...if any one who reads this blog is going to be in Scioto County on December 14th in the early evening...why don't you come help us move into our new home?!

This Day One Year Ago

As I have been sitting and watching the Buckeyes beat up on the Wolverines today I was reminded of this day one year ago. This day one year ago my wife decided to throw me a Birthday party with some of our friends from church. Folks came over and we watched the same rivalry match-up between Ohio State and Michigan. And during half-time as I sat with Melony and Jeremy, Carrie and Josh, Jessica and Rich, and Carly and Sammy around me, my wife and I announced that we were having our first child!

It was an extremely exciting time. These dear friends, and countless others, had been praying with us for the Lord to bless us with a child. It was a wonderful feeling to share such good news with those who had partaken of our sorrow.

As I reflect on that day I sit now watching the Buckeyes win again, but this time I sit with my wife and our beautiful three and half month old girl: Maleigha. What a blessing it is that the Lord gives us the great delight of children. What a wonderful way to spend your Birthday!

Learning to Trust in New Ways

We received feedback from Mia's MRI already, she does have "Tethered Cord" and we are in the process now of scheduling a surgery date. It is discouraging news that we have recieved, yet, thankfully, the problem is not life-threatening or urgent. Thankfully it is correctable problem and one that was spotted early enough to not have any lasting side effects. That is a testimony to God's grace. And there is much to be made of God's grace in this situation.

We are beginning to see more and more what it means to truly trust God in all things. It is very easy to "talk" about trusting, and I see more clearly how difficult, in our own sinfulness, it is to trust Him in every instance. This is not a desirable situation and yet God is teaching me, already, about trusting Him fully. A bitter-sweet lesson to be sure. It is situations like this that make me want to yell at people who say theology is not important, and them I remember I believe in grace, patience, and forgiveness too.

As Krista and I learn how to put our theology in practice, learn what it means to trust God more fully, and wait for a surgery date we ask your continued prayers for us. Pray that Mia would have no trouble in the surgery, that the problem would be fixed without any complications, that the doctors would be skilled and wise. Pray as well that Krista and I would trust the Lord for her preservation and good health, pray that we would be a testimony to those in the medical field that care for Mia. Pray as well that we would be able to get an early surgery date, which may not happen and could complicate our situation here in moving (though this is a minor issue for us). Thank you everyone, your prayers are much appreciated, and a great encouragement.

Thinking at 4 in the Morning

I have just arrived home from work and finished my breakfast. It's early and I am tired, but there is something on my mind, I thought I'd share it. It won't be long before my wife and I are strapping our daughter into her car seat and driving her down to the hospital for an MRI. She is being checked out for a condition known as "Tethered Cord," (a term which means nothing to me), which is where some fibers are connecting the tail-bone to the spinal cord (that means something to me).

As I think about this situation, about the fact that my baby can't eat for four hours prior to the test, the fact that these doctors who don't know my baby will have to sedate her, and the thought of being apart from her through such a traumatic event, I have one pervading thought: I cannot help her!

It's shocking and terrifying to think it, even more so to say it out loud: I cannot help my beautiful, precious, baby girl. I can't make "tethered-cord" go away, I can't make MRI's less involved, I can't keep her safe through sedation. So what is a Father to do in this instance? He must flee to Christ.

I am so dependent upon grace, so needy of God's kind care of my family. I am always dependent upon grace, but it's moments like these where you can't help but feel it. God sometimes brings us to hopelessness to bring us to a place of ultimate hope, however. For what good would I be if I could help my little Mia? What good would I be in this situation if I could change it all? But what a great good is our God who sovereignly controls all things, even the minute details, and ordains an end that glorifies Him and is good for His people.

A few nights ago I prayed that God would give my daughter and especially happy following day. One throughout which she would simply be happy and a joy to her mommy. This prayer God graciously answered and it got me to thinking another thought, but one related to what was said above. I am not sure why God chose to answer that prayer or to answer on this occasion, but perhaps it was His way of telling me that He cares for my family's happiness. He loves us and He too loves His creation Mia. Perhaps in this valley that we may face ahead my wife and I can look out and see the sun shinning, however so dimly, above the hills and say, "We are dependent upon the grace of a Good God, who cares for our family!"

That is my thought at 4:50 a.m. Pray it will be my thought at 3:00 p.m. when I hand my daughter over to some doctors and attempt to trust the Lord with the outcome!

Pray for Maleigha

Dear friends and family,

Just a quick update on our family. Mia had an ultrasound done last week and the results seem to suggest that she has a condition known as Tethered Cord. This is where some fibers from the spinal cord attach to the tail bone. The condition can be painful for her later on in life if it is not dealt with now. In order to be sure that this is the condition she has, however, an MRI is needed. Please pray for us as we move forward with this process. Pray for Krista and I as we experience these new emotions of concern for our daughter, and pray for Maleigha's health and safety.

Thank you and God bless

A Poem of Dedication

Lord God, Take my daughter, though it may hurt my heart at first.
But when I see the love of Christ in her come forth with a burst
I know that then my heart will sing with the angels around your throne
And then rejoice to know that you have redeemed her for your own.

And call her out Lord, for your glory and your name,
To go into all the world and tell the lost of your fame.
Send her as your agent to be a means of grace,
To spread a passion for our Savior and to draw men from every earthly race.

Use her Lord, for your sovereign plan
And if she should perish in some foreign land
Comfort us, her parents, with this one glorious thought
We shall meet again when we worship with her, the one whom our salvation bought.

My Girls

Aren't they lovely?

Things My Daughter Loves

Krista posted on her blog some pictures with comments on things that Mia loves.

She's just the cutest little girl!

What I am Learning from My Daughter

She's only five days old and already I am learning a great deal from my little girl. My chief lesson so far has been a fresh reminder to trust the Lord, for He is the sovereing one.

I never knew that fatherhood would make me so nervous. I am usually a pretty laid back guy, but during the nights I find myself constantly having to check and double check on my baby girl to see if she is awake, alive, uncomfortable, and breathing. It makes me nervous for her to sleep without us in the room. But these occassions have pointed out to me my lack of faith in the sovereign God. He is good and trustworthy God and, furthermore, He loves His children and wants the best for them. I need to trust Him to take care of Mia and believe that He watches over Her, and that whatever happens to her is for my good. There's nothing like a five day old Theologian!

A New Addition

There has been a new addition to the Dunham family this week. I can hardly beleive it. The new addition, of course, is the addition of a father...me. Okay, well actually the addition is a baby girl (a beautiful one at that) and that has changed my role.

After 36 hours of labor my wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Wed. She was 7 pounds and 2 ounces. You can give us a call and learn more. In the meantime, please pray for us as we adjust to new life with a newborn.