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Tonights activity is a little different. Its really more of a brainstorming event than a

doing event. The doing will come out of the brainstorming. Below is a story for you to

read and discuss. Out of the discussion will come a brainstorming session in which you will

throw out ideas for how your family can reach out to those in need. As you will see by the

story, praying through your ideas and asking for Gods guidance is a huge part of

experiencing His all knowing wisdom and help.

Preparation:1. Pray for Gods guidance as you brainstorm. Be prepared with ideas for how your

family can meet the needs of someone around you.

2. A big pad of paper and markers.3. Prepare a snack.4. Print off the story.

GettingStarted:Settle down with some snacks and begin by reading this incredible true story about a little

girl in Africa and her prayer to her All Knowing God.

THEHOTWATERBOTTLEATrueStorybyHelenRoseveare,MissionarytoAfrica

OnadarknightinCentralAfrica,notsoverylongago,Dr.HelenRoseveare

workedhardtohelpamothergivebirthtoherprematurebaby. Thebabywas

finallyborn,butsadly,itsmotherdidntsurvivethenight. Sheleftbehindher

weakandtinybabyaswellasaninconsolable2yearolddaughter.

Dr.Helenknewthatthechancesofsurvivalforthelittlebabyweresmall. They

hadnoelectricity,noincubator,andnospecialfeedingfacilities. Althoughthe

equatoris

known

for

its

warm

temperatures,

many

are

surprised

to

learn

that

thenightscanbechillyandthedraftscanbedeadlyforprematurebabies.

Thenewlittleorphanwasplacedinaspecialboxandwrappedintheirwarmest

cottonwool. Thefirewasstokedtowarmtheroomaswellassomewaterfor

thehotwaterbottle. Carefullythestudentmidwifepouredthewarmwater

intothebottle. Buttheequatorisaharshenvironmentforrubberandalltoo

LENDINGAHELPINGHANDFamilyNightActivitiesJune15,2012Calendar:

GODKNOWSEVERYTHING!

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quicklyitfallsapartintheelements. Themidwifecriedoutinfrustrationasthe

lastofthehotwaterbottleburstinherhands.

Dr.HelensaysthatasintheWest,itisnogoodcryingoverspilledmilk;so,in

CentralAfricaitmightbeconsiderednogoodcryingoverburstwaterbottles.

Theydonotgrowontrees,andtherearenodrugstoresdownforestpathways.

Shetoldherinternstoputthebabyasclosetothefireaspossibleandtosleep

betweenthedoorandthebabyinordertoblockthecolddrafts.

Thenextmorningthebabywasstillalive,butnotoutofdanger. They

desperatelyneededahotwaterbottle.

Dr.Helenwouldoftenpraywithsomeofthechildrenwholivedatthe

orphanage.Thisdaywasnoexception. Atnoonshegatheredthechildrenand

sharedsomeoftheprayerneeds. TenyearoldRuthlistenedintentlyasDr.

Helentoldthemabouttheprematurebabyandthebattletokeepitaliveand

warmwithoutahotwaterbottle. Ruthshearthurtforthetwoyearoldsister

whohadbeencryingsincehermommydied. Whentheybowedtheirheadsto

pray,Ruthknewjustwhattoaskfor.

Dr.HelensaidthatRuthsprayerwasintheusualbluntconsciousnessofthe

Africanchildrenanditcaughthertotallyoffguard. Please,God,sheprayed,

sendusawaterbottle. Itlldonogoodtomorrow,God,thebabyllbedead;so,

pleasesenditthisafternoon. WhileDr.Helenwasstillrecoveringfromthe

audacityofRuthsprayer,theyounggirladded,AndwhileYouareaboutit,

wouldYoupleasesendadollyforthelittlegirlsoshellknowYoureallylove

her?

WhatwasDr.Helentodo? Ifshesaid,Amenwouldshebeahypocrite? She

trulydidnotbelievetheGodcouldanswerRuthsprayer. Shesaysthat,

althoughshe

knew

that

God

could

do

anything

(the

Bible

told

her

so)

she

admits

thatwhentherubbermeetstheroad(nopunintended!)therewere

limitswerentthere?

InordertoanswerRuthsprayer,Godwouldhavehadtohavesomeonesenda

packagefromthehomelandtoAfrica. DuringthefouryearsDr.Helenhadbeen

inAfrica,shedneverreceivedonepackagefromhomenotone. And,ifby

somemiraclesomeonedidsendapackage,whowouldthinktoputahotwater

bottleinit? Noonewoulddreamofsendingahotwaterbottletotheequator!

Haveyouguessedwhathappened? IfyoubelieveinanAllPowerfulandAll

KnowingGod

who

answers

prayers,

you

have!

In

the

middle

of

the

afternoon

Dr.

Helenreceivedamessagethatapackagehadarrivedatherhome. Gathering

thechildrenshewenttofindalarge,22poundboxonherveranda!

ItwaslikeChristmasmorningasthirtytofortypairsofeyeswatchedheropen

thelidandliftoutthecontents. Brightlycolored,knittedjerseyswerehanded

outtotheirdelight. Knittedbandagesforleprosypatientsandaboxofraisins

andsultanascamenext. Dr.Helenreachedintheboxagain. Shefeltitbefore

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shesawit. Herhandswrappedaroundtheunmistakabletextureofrubber!

Whenshepulleditfromtheboxshecried,Abrandnewrubber,hotwater

bottle!

Dr.Helenmaynothaveprayedforit,orbelievedthatGodwouldsendit,but

Ruthdid! Sherantothepackageandcriedout,IfGodhassentthebottle,He

musthavesentthedolly,too! Sureenough,atthebottomoftheboxRuth

foundasmall,beautifullydresseddolly. Herdarkeyessparkledwithexcitement.

CanIgo

over

with

you,

Mummy,

she

asked

Dr.

Helen,

and

give

this

dolly

to

thatlittlegirl,soshellknowthatJesusreallylovesher? Howcouldshesayno?

FivemonthsbeforeRuthprayedforahotwaterbottleandadolly,Dr.Helens

formerSundaySchoolleaderwaspromptedbyGodtohavetheclasssendhera

package. ThechildrenintheclassrespondedtoGodspromptingandthe

SundaySchoolleaderobeyedHisleadingandincludedahotwaterbottleanda

beautifuldolly. AsDr.Helensays,fivemonthsearlierinanswertothebelieving

prayerofatenyearoldtobringitthatafternoon!

Isaiah 65:24 says:Anditshallcometopass,thatbeforetheycall,Iwillanswer;andwhiletheyareyetspeaking,Iwillhear.

TalkAboutit:What did you think about the story?

What do you think is most amazing?

What part did the Sunday school leader and class play in meeting the needs of the African

children? (Theylistened

to

Gods

leading)

God knows the needs of everyone around the world. He often gives us the joy of helping to

meet the needs.

How can we meet needs of those around us? (Using the sheet of paper and markers,

brainstorm ideas you can do individually and as a family.)

Lets plan on doing something in the next 2 weeks to help someone in need.

Bringingittoaclose:Pray together. Ask God to show you what He wants you to do to help meet the needs ofsomeone around you (or even in another part of the world!). Thank Him for knowing your

needs and providing for them.