She went into labor around nine p.m.  A phone call to the doctor sent them off to the hospital to be checked out.  It was decided they would admit her in order to monitor things.  Our cook Francis came to work the following morning, and we joined him in prayer for a safe delivery of baby number three.  

Just five brief months ago a local pastor lost both his young wife and their baby during delivery.  This grief stricken young many is learning how to go on without the love of his life.  It's not easy.

And then last year there was another case where a woman was giving birth to their fourth child.  The baby arrived safely, but the mother died in childbirth.  And the father is left trying to figure out how to raise his newborn and the three other little kids all by himself.  It's not easy.

True stories all, it happens every day out here in Cameroon.  We never take life and health for granted.  

And so we prayed for a safe delivery with a healthy baby at the other end, along with a mother who  would survive the rigors of childbirth.  The hours dragged on.  He was in constant communication with his wife and his mother-in-law who was with her.  He also spent the day checking up on his five year old daughter and his turning three year old son back at the house.  An older cousin was looking after them.  And somehow he managed to get all his work done in a timely way here at Shiloh.  

By early afternoon there was no longer a response to his phone calls.  Not his wife's phone.  Not his mother-in-law's phone.  An hour later he tried phoning again to no avail.  This time he quietly told me what was happening. All we could do was lean on the Great I Am.  "Let her live.  Let the baby life." was the cry of my heart. 

He no sooner arrived back home at day's end than his phone rang.  It was the hospital.   "Come quick!" they said.  There were complications.  They were going to have to take the baby by cesarean section. The next hour passed in a blur.  He remembers being directed to a small waiting room outside a delivery room and being told that his wife was inside.  In agony of soul he kept crying out to God.  After what seemed like the better part of forever, the door opened and a nurse came rushing out.  She was sweaty and disheveled.  He  tried to ask her about his wife, but the nurse just rushed on past him.  Soon another nurse left the room.  She was very somber looking, and she too just ignored his questions.  Finally a third nurse opened the door with a big smile on her face.  He quickly accosted her, determined to get some information.  To his overwhelming relief, he learned that he was the proud father of another baby girl.  The crisis was past.  Baby and mother were both doing fine.

When he was finally reunited with his wife, he learned her side of the story.  After twenty long hours of labor, the doctor determined that this baby was simply too big. They began prepping for surgery.  And that is when they phoned the father, telling him to come quick.  But the baby had other plans.  She decided to come naturally before the operation could get underway.  And everyone lived happily ever after. 

Beyond all doubt the happiest of all is the baby's maternal grandmother.  The following morning, while looking after her daughter and newborn granddaughter in the hospital here in Yaounde, she received a call from her son in Daoula.  His wife had just delivered a healthy baby boy!  This is their third, also.  And Grandma now  has bragging rights about her eight grandchildren!  To say the least, she is one happy lady.