Mid-Western States Devastation  
The news media have been keeping the public informed about the enormous devastation experienced in the mid-western United States.  The magnitude of the damage inflicted by the vast scope and numbers of tornadoes, severe rain storms and resulting flooding tends to numb and overwhelm us.  Behind the news clips, however, are real people struggling with flooded or destroyed homes, lost crops and livestock, personal injury and even fatatlities, and totally devastated communities.  We invite you to remember the people and communities affected.  Pray for MAX staff and adjusters who are dealing with approximately nine hundred storm related losses since early March, thirteen of them being large losses.  What a wonderful opportunity for MAX to live out its mission of restoring wholeness hand in hand with many other helping agencies.  Remember, as a MAX member your premium, combined with your prayers, is allowing the restoration and wholeness to be implemented in the lives of fellow MAX members impacted by these catastrophic events.  The two stories below are representative and illustrative of the thousands of individual stories that could be shared.   
 
Please pray for Kent Dyck, Resa Price and their 12 year and 7 year old children as they adjust to the tornado damage inflicted on their house and property June 11, 2008.  They are members of Manhattan Mennonite Church, Manhattan, KS.  The family huddled in their basement while the tornado blew overhead, devastating their home and the community.  Pray for them as they experience the displacement of being out of their home while it is being repaired.  Pray especially that the children will not allow fear to permeate their spirits.
 
The storms have also impacted MAX Staff in very personal ways.  For example, the main center of the town of Chapman, KS was almost totally destroyed by tornadoes.  For 25 years Chapman was the hometown of David and Sharon Wine, CEO and Director of Administration for MAX. Their children grew up and attended the schools in Chapman - which are now mostly rubble.  Sharon's parents live in Chapman.  They were fortunately part of the ten percent of the town estimated not to have incurred major damage.  All of the homes and businesses close by were destroyed or severely damaged.  Sharon and Dave feel blessed that her parents were spared.  They personally know many of the people who were injured as well as one of the fatalities.  Sharon's parents have been evacuated and are temporarily living with her brother outside of town.  With  strong emotional ties to the area, this became a very personal and emotional experience.  Dave and Sharon are still adjusting to the reality that this town they loved and know so well is "gone".  Let's remember them and other staff whose families have been directly impacted.
 
 
The Burden of Ill Health
Please pray for the continued recovery of Owen Wilfong after a severe heart attack he experienced on June 4th.  Owen and his wife Dee are long time members of Mt. Pleasant Church of the Brethren in Harrisonburg, Virginia where Owen has served in many leadership capacities over the years.  Pray that they experience an extra measure of strength and peace as they deal with the added stress of  Dee's sister just having back surgery the day before Owen's heart attack and Owen having two other surgeries in the last several months. 
 
Remember also Emily Bender, aged thirty, and her husband Nick Belik as Emily awaits the results of biopsy surgery related to a recently diagnosed brain tumour.  Emily, an architect, and Nick were just married a year ago and participate in the life of Breslau Mennonite Church.  Emily's father, Ken, served as a director for the Mennonite Aid Union and is a retired MAX Canada agent.  During this anxious time of waiting and uncertainty, pray for patience and serenity for Emily & Nick and her parents Ken and Linda.
 
A Restored Home
We give thanks for a restored home for Frank and Helena Friesen and their four children.   In October of 2007 their home near Blenheim, Ontario, was severely damaged by fire.  (See the October 16 issue of the MAX Support Network email.)  Recently, after eight months in an apartment, they were able to move back into their restored and repaired home.  Pray for the Friesens as they continue to replace furnishings and other household goods lost in the fire.  We thank all MAX members for supporting fellow members through a difficult time of loss and restoration.  Your premium dollars have done a great work.
 
Insurance (Mutual Aid) is a method of sharing the losses of the few  individuals in a group who suffer them, among the many members of the group who do not.

• Insuring with MAX.  Remember, Mutual Aid Ministries is supported by an annual tithe from the insurance operations.
• Encourage others of like mind to place their insurance (home, farm, church and business) with MAX.  Remember, the more successful MAX insurance operations become, the more effective Mutual Aid Ministries can be.
• Share a story or prayer request with the MAX Support Network Ministries for consideration in an upcoming email.  Remember, we must have people's permission to use their stories.  Send stories or prayer requests to supportnetwork@maxwholeness.com.
• Make a contribution to the MAX Canada Share Fund, Inc. or the MAX Share Fund, Inc.  Call 877-770-7729, ext. 202 (Canada) or 877-971-6300 (U.S.) for more details.