It's a "NEW DAY" for the Cooks: Precious

A Tribute to our sweet girl, Precious

February 2013 - Her first day at New Day

Precious was born October 21, 2008 in Lusaka, Zambia. Her mother became unable to care for her in 2012 due to mental illness, and her father abandoned the family. Her mother and uncle released her into the care of Zambia Social Welfare, and Precious and her big sister, Glory, soon came to New Day in February of 2013.

Precious with Cambree

Precious and Axer wearing dresses that Laurie wore as a child

School and routine was a big adjustment for her, but she did great and could count to ten after just one week at New Day! She loved to cuddle, be held, and give hugs.

She loved getting to hold the calf

Fun times with balloons

Precious giving cuddles to Darbi

Precious with Mama Lala

Axer and Precious at the Wilcoxes watching TV

March 2013 - Her first face painting

Niki holding Precious

Playing on the playground with her siblings

Such a "little cheese" for the camera

Shaking hands after church

March 2013 - Easter Sunday - all the girls in their new dresses

Darbi getting some love (August 2013)

September 20, 2013 - the last time I (Niki) saw her

Shortly after her 5th birthday in October 2013, Precious became very ill. She was under the care of two different Zambian hospitals, and being treated by Indian, Zambian, and American doctors. They ran many tests and speculated on everything from tuberculosis to congestive heart failure. One trusted American doctor believed Precious could be suffering from Cystic Fibrosis, but another doctor believed her condition was similar to Muscular Dystrophy. We were told that she had a genetic condition which could be fatal, and her lungs and heart were aggressively affected.

Her 5th birthday - and first birthday party ever

Traditional pouring water on her birthday

Precious and Kefbert

Field trip October 2013 - just before she went to the hospital

On the morning of Wednesday, December 4, 2013, our sweet Precious went to be with Jesus. Our fellow missionary, Laurie Wilcox, recalls her quiet time with the Lord on that particular morning in which the Lord was saying it was the day that He was calling her home. The scripture Laurie was reading was Isaiah 57:1-2. A song kept coming to Laurie's mind, "Come home, come home, my sweet little Precious, come home. I am waiting here for you and the angels are waiting too. Come home, little Precious, come home. My arms are open wide as I wait on the other side. Come home, little Precious, come home."

Hospital visit

Getting a dollie from Papa Wes

Uncle Ricky reading her a story from the Bible

The last time Ricky saw Precious in the hospital

Hospital visit from the Langston family

In Lusaka hospital ICU

A testimony from Darbi Tidwell: "God did heal Precious, just not in the way we had selfishly hoped. Instead of deciding what to get her for Christmas, we are deciding where to bury her. Instead of seeing her first Christmas tree, she is seeing the face of Jesus. In the nine months we were privileged to have Precious in our family, she experienced so much at New Day. She gained 21 brothers and sisters, learned how to count, had her first ever birthday party, ate a s'more, wore her first brand new dress, opened her first book, was potty-trained, and experienced SO MUCH LOVE. As amazing as all of those things are, none of it compares to what she is experiencing now."

2 Samuel 12:22-23 says, "And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

The funeral was held on Friday, December 6, 2013. It was a sweet and, of course, sad good-bye. It is never easy to put someone in the ground, but remembering that that is just the tent that she was housed helps to bring comfort. The real Precious is with Jesus now. To finish Laurie's song that the Lord gave her the day she died - this is what Precious could be saying right now:

"I'm sitting on Jesus' lap and looking on His face. I'm home, dear family, I am home. Do not shed those tears and put away those fears. I'm home, dear family, I'm home."