Our Story Continues

But Moses said to the Lord,"Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue."  Exodus 4:10

I start this post not really knowing what to say.  I feel very much like Moses expressed, I am not eloquent, not now or ever.  I pray that I will be able to communicate with you exactly what the Lord wills and nothing more, nothing less.

It's been some time since I've posted on Iliana's blog.  From the start of this blog until now, God has moved in amazing ways in her life.  What God has done in her life is nothing short of a miracle.  This post, however,  is to let you know not only about her, but the entire Wilkins family.

For the about the past 2 years, we have been facing some serious financial situations.  We had chosen to not share them, but prayed about them instead.  Our family lost 1/3 of our household income some time ago.  Although Dwight has worked tirelessly to provide for us, it seems that the harder he worked, the more we lost.  As a result, we fell behind on our mortgage payments and had a hard time catching up.  Eventually, our home went into a foreclosure status.  We contacted our mortgage company and felt that the Lord was going to work it out.  As of several weeks ago, the status of our mortgage was that our request for homeowner's assistance was still being processed.

Fast forward to two weeks ago.  I received no communication from the mortgage company, but received a letter from a lawyer that stated we had to pay $96,437.55 before November 7, plus any additional fees since the letter, if we wanted to keep our home.  Otherwise, it goes to the highest bidder on the 7th.

Immediately, we started asking the Lord to show us what to do.  We were convicted to walk around our property every day for 7 days, praying.  We walked around the property 7 times on the last day.  Personally, on the 7th day, I felt like I had already prayed for this situation so much that no words had been left unsaid.  Romans 8:26 came to mind:  "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."  I decided that on the 7th day I would simply thank God for all the good that he has poured into our lives.   As I walked around, he reminded me of so many times when He has done the impossible.  As I thanked him I would say it aloud, "with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)     I thanked him that when it seemed I might never be a mom, he had different plans.  "With God all things are possible."  I thanked him that although Iliana faced obstacles that threatened her life even before she was born, his plan was that she live.  "With God all things are possible."  I thanked him that when I prayed for him to show me he had not forgotten her, or myself and the difficulties of having a differently abled child, she learned to hold a bottle that very minute.  "With God all things are possible."  I thanked him that although there was a time when a doctor said to me that Iliana's disease was starting to  shut her body down and we, her parents, needed to decide how long/far we were willing to intervene to keep her alive, his will was that she live.  "With God all things are possible."  I thanked him that when we needed a car for our family, he has provided for that need.  FOUR TIMES.  "With God, all things are possible."  Over and over, he was reminding me of how he had been not only gracious to answer our prayers, but was walking with us in every difficult circumstance.  I finished that day realizing how much the Lord has done for our family and believing that nothing can interfere with the will of God.  Win or lose, keep the house or not, we would give him glory.

Dwight decided to tell Reece and Marisa what was happening.  He didn't want them to be in the dark about the situation and wanted them to have the opportunity to see God at work.  They were devastated.  As much as we have griped and complained about living in our small house, all four of us were now begging and pleading with God to allow us to keep it.  We have used their moments of fear to point them to God's word and remind them of how good God is.  We want them to look back on this time for the rest of their lives and be reminded that God is very real and we can trust Him with our lives.

So, why am I saying all of this now?  Well, win or lose, how can God receive glory if you don't know about it?  We are asking that you pray with us from now until November 6.  We will be praying at 7am and 7pm each day.  We strongly believe in the power of prayer.  Please pray with us that we will understand clearly what God wants us to do.  If you are led to help financially, there is a link to a Paypal account.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you in advance for the prayers for our family.  A verse that God has given me and I say daily is "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12

With God ALL things are possible,
Dwight and Litka
Reece, Marisa, Iliana, Mia, Sofia, and Bryce

What a milestone week for Iliana.  She started Kindergarten on Monday.  She is in a new school and I am very excited to see how she does this coming year.  She seems to be enjoying it so far.  I am praying the therapies she will receive while at school will help to teach her how to begin communicating with the world around her.  Praying and believing God for big things!

Surgery Update

I received a call today with the final details of Iliana's surgery.  We will be leaving Thursday, August 26, in order to make her pre-op appointment that afternoon.  Her surgery is scheduled for 8am on Friday, August 27.  The surgery should take about 45 minutes.  Once she is awake and released from the surgical center we will be coming home.  We will then have to go back to Dothan on Wednesday, September 1, for a post-op appointment.

The countdown is on.  We leave in 10 days.  The closer we get to that day, the more the enemy likes to fill my mind with thoughts that are not pleasant.  I am fighting this battle daily and am reminded of scripture and worship songs that help me get my thoughts back in line.

Thank you all for your faithful prayers. 

It has been some time since I posted anything on this blog. There are a couple of reasons. The main one being that since last August, I feel that Iliana has been in the same place developmentally. I would like to share with you what has happened recently.

Iliana's vision has always been a concern of mine. However, every time we would see the ophthalmologist at Nemours they would say that her vision is fine and there was nothing they could do for her. Iliana, for years now, has had to tilt her head back in order to center both eyes at the same time and see clearly. When you see her walking, she will tilt her head back to see where she is going, unless she is familiar with the surroundings. For the last couple of years, we have been trying to find a doctor that specializes in children that do this without success. However, almost 2 months ago I was talking to a friend about Iliana. I was explaining all of the above and she said she would ask and see if she knew anyone that knew of a doctor. It wasn't long after that that I received an e-mail from her with a link to a pediatric doctor. I immediately contacted them through e-mail and received a phone call within 30 min. I had to get a referral for her, and knowing how long this could take, I just prayed that this would all be resolved before November since we will have a newborn then. The very next day, I got a call from Iliana's pediatrician with the date and time of our appointment. Just an additional note, this doctor is not from the area and travels to certain locations one day a month. We were still able to be seen in July.

Can you already see how God has orchestrated this whole thing? The bible says "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him" Romans 8:28 . It also says "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" Jeremiah 33:3. I have been praying for this for some time. It wasn't until this very moment that the Lord decided to answer. God hears each of our prayers, how and when he responds to them is up to God.

We went to our appointment in Destin and met with the doctor. She determined that Iliana could benefit from surgery. She used a lot of medical terminology. Some I don't know how to say and others I can't even remember. Basically they will perform surgery on the muscle on the top of her eyes. She said those muscles were a bit tight which is common with neurological issues. She also noted that the inside muscle of her left eye needed to be moved in order to bring her eyes to center with her head held straight. Iliana did not enjoy having her eyes dilated and then a bright light shined on them. It was difficult to keep her looking at a certain spot in order to get a perfect measurement to know how much to move that inside muscle. We were then scheduled for surgery in Dothan, Al, which is where their surgical center is located, on Friday, August 27. She will have a pre-op appointment the day before to try and get a better measurement of the left eye and then a post-op appointment the next day. The results of the surgery should be noticable immediately. Basically, she will be able to tell if Iliana needs to have more surgery or if the one was enough. We will then schedule a follow up appointment for a month after her surgery.

I am updating her blog because I am asking you to pray for her. You have been so faithful in offering prayers for her since before her birth and I am asking that you pray for her without ceasing. Please pray that all of the details with the trip and surgery will fall into place. That a perfect measurement may be taken the day before in order to avoid further surgeries. Wisdom for the doctor and everyone that will be involved in the surgery. That God would protect her, give us a safe journey there and back, and that Christ will be glorified in all things.

Thank you so much for loving her enough to pray,
Litka

Iliana Grace has taken her first steps!!! She is walking a little more every day. I will try to post the video soon if I can. We are praying that God will now work in her to allow her to begin communicating with us.

This is from my sister Abdi. I pray that you will consider the following and pray for those who will be seeking God in prayer on behalf of Iliana.

My small minds is fascinated at times on how God works.

Take for example this week: I have been attending a church here in Nashville and have enjoyed the service. This past sunday the message was on fasting. The pastor spoke on the questions and answer. Such as what it is, the purpose, should I, ect... Two things that stayed with me was when he said, 1- "Fasting is a time to temporarily deny the natural part of you in order to grow the spiritual side of you" and 2 - "Fasting ask the question, how bad do I want God to hear me and breakthrough on my behalf?" The church was asked to fast as a whole for the church body and for what ever personal need from Feb 15 and breaking the fast on Feb 22.

I was inspired but unsure. What do I want to hear God in and breakthrough on my behalf?

On Thursday, I knew. As many know, my niece, Iliana Grace, has had many struggles since birth. The doctors have stated that she is developmentally delayed because they have no other terms for her condition. We had hope to have some answers and medication for her this week, but again nothing. From a neurological point, she is fine. But for a 4 year old she is unable to walk or talk. She is what I want to hear God in and she is the breakthrough.

One of the questions was "Is fasting always a private matter?". The answer: "No, there are times in the scriptures when people of a common bond and with a common challenge fasted together corporately. See Daniel 1; Joel 2:15; John 3:5-10; Ester 4; Ezra 8:25-33; Acts 13:2-3.

The Bible makes reference to different people who fasted as well as different ways of fasting. In others words, it is abstaining from a physical gratification for a period of time, in order to achieve a spiritual growth. The way I have decided is how Daniel fasted: no meat or wine (see www.danielsfastcookbook.com for help).

Please join me in lifting Iliana up so that we can hear how we are to help her, what doctor to go to who will not rest until he knows how to help and have ABBA Father Jehovah Rophe breakthrough.

Thanks

(ilianagrace,blogspot.com)