Boy or Girl? Boy or Girl?

Julia and I have been attempting to figure out whether or not we will be having a boy or a girl. We have taken to the internet in order to learn the sex of our baby. Below are twelve wives tales which have “scientifically” proven the sex of our baby.

If Julia is craving ice cream every single day than it’s a girl. If she is craving salty or sour stuff, it’s a boy.

a.      Julia has been craving salty or sour stuff: It’s a boy

If Julia eats the ends of bread, it’s a boy. If she eats the middle of the loaf it’s a girl.

b.      Julia likes the middle of the loaf: It’s a girl

If Julia is carrying high, it’s a girl. If she is carrying low, it’s a boy.

c.       Julia is carrying low: It’s a boy

If the spouse is really moody, it’s a girl. If Julia is moody, it’s a boy.

d.      Julia claims I’m moody: It’s a girl

If Julia is graceful throughout her pregnancy, it’s a girl. If she’s clumsy, it’s a boy.

e.      Julia is clumsy: It’s a boy

If Julia prefers to lie on her left side, it’s a boy. If she prefers her right side, it’s a girl.

f.        Julia prefers her right side: It’s a girl.

If the dad-to-be gains weight while wife is pregnant, it’s a girl. If not, it’s a boy.

g.      I’m gaining weight: It’s a girl.

If Julia has no morning sickness, it’s a boy. If she is sick or feels really nauseous, it’s a girl.

h.      Julia is really nauseous: It’s a girl.

If Julia is having headaches, it’s a boy. If not, it’s a girl.

i.        Julia is having headaches: It’s a boy.

It is said that when you can only think of specific names for a boy or a girl, you will have that particular baby.

j.        I already know what I’m naming our child: It’s a girl.

If you pick up a key at the top (the roundest part), you are going to have a boy. If you pick up the key at the bottom (smallest part), you are going to have a girl. If you happen to grab the key in the middle, it’s twins.

k.       Julia grabbed the key in the middle: It’s twins!

If you have acne while pregnant, it’s a girl. If not, it’s a boy.

l.        Julia won’t let me answer this one

If these scientifically proven old wives tales are any indication it looks like everyone is going to be buying us pink baby clothes because, IT’S A GIRL!!!

Help, my wife is pregnant in Africa!

Help, my wife is pregnant in Africa! I was warned from fathers to be that if my wife ever became pregnant she would have weird, random food cravings which I would have to drive around town in order to satisfy. I always pictured my wife waking me up in the middle of the night to make a late night run to Burger King to order a Whopper, McDonalds to order a McRib sandwich, or Wal-Mart to pick up pickles and mayo. Unfortunately, nothing prepared me for having a pregnant wife in Africa.

Julia, like every pregnant woman will be overcome with hunger, she will look deep into my eyes and ask me to drive out to Hardees and pick  up a burger, fries, and a Cherry Coke. The ONLY problem with this scenario is the fact that we live in Nalerigu, Ghana and we are far removed from any fast food restaurants. When Julia has a food craving I run to our pantry and begin calling out options. We go through the options in our pantry multiple times. After calling out everything Julia looks at me and says but I really want a Hardees burger, fries and a Cheery Coke. Eventually, she will settle for pretzels or crackers (I know what a compromise). The other night I made Julia a pizza from scratch topped with pepperonis (very hard to find in Ghana). She took one glance at the pizza, smelled the pepperonis and couldn't eat it. She ate pretzels while I ate the pizza in the other room so that she couldn't smell it. Once I thought maybe our baby would like Ghanaian food so I drove to a local stand where they sell Buku (fermented corn mashed into a ball and topped with ground nut stew). I felt good about myself for thinking up a solution to our food problem; however, Julia took one look and smell of the food and nearly threw up. Last week I went to the city and was able to return with chocolate ice cream. Julia loves it! However, one day while she was at school I wanted something cold to eat, so I went into our freezer and made myself a bowl of ice cream. When Julia came home and saw the dirty bowl in the sink and realized I had eaten her ice cream she was mad, angry, livid, sad, happy, upset and at the point of tears all at the same time. I’m never touching the ice cream without her permission again.

I’m beginning to realize it’s going to be a long six months and I am going to need help because my wife is pregnant in Africa.

Don't Worry

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God.- Philippians 4:6

One of the verses I choose to memorize before coming to Africa was Philippians 4:6. God knew exactly what He was doing when He laid this verse on my heart. God knew that after six months on the field we would find out that Julia was pregnant and we would have to learn not to worry, but rather to rest in our Heavenly Father’s arms.

There is a lot to worry about when it comes to Julia being pregnant in Africa. I worry about mosquitoes from dawn-dusk. I wonder which one of the little monster mosquitoes is carrying malaria. I worry about the heat. I worry about lack of the right nutritional foods. I worry about whether or not I will bring a disease home from the hospital which will hurt the baby. I worry about driving my moped around town; will a goat run in front of me causing me to have an accident? I worry about the chemicals I use to mop the floor. I worry about whether or not our baby will have ten fingers and ten toes. I worry about whether or not I will make a good father or whether or not I find a job in the States. The list goes on and on.

God reminds me every day, sometimes multiple times a day NOT to worry but to surrender all of my worries and concerns over to Him. I am learning to trust God. I am learning to trust God in the big areas of my life but also in the little every day activities. If God is able to place the stars in the sky, create the world in six days, sustain the world by His word, and sustain us in Africa for eight months than He can be trusted with our pregnancy. God brought us to Africa, opened Julia’s womb in part to teach us not to worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving to let our requests be made know to God.

June Newsletter

The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, so are the children of ones youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.- Psalm 127:3-5

STORY:

The Welch's have something to say

That can't wait another day

Lately T's been bouncing around like Tigger

And soon Julia's belly will start to get bigger

Now you think you have a hunch

And your right we we're expanding the Welch bunch

And when it the big day

It's only six month away

PICTURES:

Our baby at 5 weeks (about the size of a blueberry). Julia is now thirteen weeks and the baby is the size of a peach. 

Julia came home from work one day, walked in the house, smelled lunch and ran straight to the bathroom. We knew something was up. I went to the hospital to get a pregnancy test, got home and she tested positive. Julia sent me back to the hospital to get three more to see if it was accurate. The nurses were smiling from ear to ear!

Julia at 7 weeks!

We are thankful for the Reese family and Miss Sabo for  sending us a care package. The baby loves Cheez-Its!

DEVOTIONS:

JESUS FILM: To show or Not to show

Chronological Bible Storying: the reproducible method

PRAYER REQUESTS:
1) Julia is pregnant in Africa! Please pray for Julia and the baby. Pray that they will remain healthy and able to obtain all of the right nutrients. Pray that Julia will remain malaria free throughout her pregnancy. Pray that I would have patience since I appear to be the one in the pregnancy who is the most moody (sometimes we joke that I might actually be the one who is pregnant). Pray that God will prepare Julia and I to be Godly parents.

2) Julia and I will be leaving for a conference and vacation in Kenya on June 21st. Please pray for safe travels. Pray for the Ghanaians remaining at the hospital that they would step up and fill the slots left vacant for two weeks. Pray for a recharging, relaxing, and refreshing time in Kenya.

3) Please continue to pray for the various ministries we are involved with. Pray for the women of the outcast camp, and Naomi Fund. Pray for the children of Alafiafungo and feeding center. Finally, pray for the men I have tea with. Pray that all of the individuals we work with would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray that those who are believers would mature and grow more into the image of Christ. 

4) A Dr. and his family who have been serving in Nalerigu for twenty five years are returning to the States this month. Our hearts are heavy to say goodbye. Please pray for us as we say good-bye and transition into new roles and responsibilities. Pray God raises up another Godly doctor and evangelist to fill the spot left vacant.

5) Please continue to pray for our language learning and cultural acquisition. Pray we would have ears to hear and tongues to speak Mamprulli. Pray we would be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves when navigating culture.

We love you guys.

The Welchs