DEVASTATING BARN FIRE -TOUGH CLEANUP
Calvin and Dora Hiebert of Caldora Farms near New Bothwell, Manitoba request our prayers as they struggle with a major fire loss of a chicken barn containing 25,000 chickens. The loss happened early on the morning of July 6 when a neigbour reported the fire. The caged chickens, owned by a third party but raised by the Hieberts, were laying hens almost ready to ship. Adding to the stress of this loss is the very wet weather in southern Manitoba which has created major challenges in the cleanup of the barn debris and dead chickens. Equipment is getting stuck in the mud. It is easy to imagine the flies and the smell caused by this scene only several hundred feet from their home. Cal and Dora are members of the New Bothwell Sommerfeld Congregation where Cal also serves as a deacon.
- Pray for Cal and Dora as they emotionally deal with this loss of barn and birds and the protracted cleanup under very difficult weather circumstances.
- Pray for the contractor, desperately trying to clean up the debris and dead birds under almost impossible environmental conditions.
- Pray for the Hieberts' church community, neighbours and adjusters as they support and nurture Cal and Dora back to wholeness during this time of cleanup and rebuilding.
A DIFFICULT DECISION
Joe Snavely, a MAX sales representative from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, requests prayer for his family and particularly his mother, Arlene. Father and husband, Raymond Snavely, aged 85, made the decision with the support of his family, to discontinue his life-supporting renal dialysis treatments he has been undergoing for four years. As a result of this decision, Raymond passed away on Friday, June 28. The family celebrated his transition to his new home at his funeral on July 1 with the faith community at Hernley Mennonite Church, Mannheim, PA. Let's remember the Snavely family as they grieve the loss of a dear father and husband but celebrate his new wholeness, assured by his faith.
AN UNUSUAL DIAGNOSIS
Guy and Verna Rocker from Port Leyden, NY, request the prayers of the MAX Community for Guy who was just recently diagnosed with Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia. Guy has had breathing difficulties since the beginning of the year. In spite of many tests and two lung biopsies, doctors were having difficulty diagnosing the ailment. Thankfully the recent diagnosis of Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia, a condition of unknown cause but possibly caused by environmental factors, is treatable over the long term. For this, Guy and Verna offer great thanks. Guy is a retired "tent-making" pastor who from 1990 to 1994 served the Locust Grove Mennonite Church in Belleville, Pennsylvania. Currently Guy and Verna are congregants of the Boonville Methodist Church. Let us remember Guy and Verna as Guy moves into a lengthy treatment and healing process.
CELEBRATING AND LIVING OUT THE MUTUAL AID VISION
The health crisis of a church member brought Angela Nze into contact with the MAX Mutual Aid Ministries program and the exciting vision of mutual aid. Nze pastors Christlife Chapel in the Phoenix, Arizona area with her husband, Harry. The Nzes came to the United States from Nigeria about nine years ago. They connected with Los Angeles Faith Chapel, a member church of Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference. Growing relationships drew the Nzes to Phoenix to plant a church in 2006. They now have 30-40 people attending, many being recent immigrants from African countries, struggling to get documentation. One woman developed health problems shortly after leaving an abusive marriage. She moved in with the Nzes in 2007. Her pain and bleeding due to fibroids worsened. A doctor recommended surgery, but the church couldn't raise enough money. When the woman's pain became intolerable, she was admitted to the hospital. Then the congregation faced the hospital bill in addition to not being able to afford the surgery.
Through a conference leader, they were put in contact with Lloyd Miller, Mutual Aid Minister at MAX. A matching MAX Mutual Aid Ministries Share Fund Grant helped start a payment plan after the woman's successful surgery last October. Capturing the true spirit and vision of mutual aid, the congregation is now giving a monthly gift back to the MAX Share Fund. "It's almost like the widow's mite story," commented Lloyd Miller. "The church hopes to help others and save other lives", says Nze , "As we grow and God blesses us, we will contribute more."
(Adapted with permission from a Mennonite Weekly Review story of May 11, 2009. www.mennoweekly.org )
UPDATES - See the June 18 Support Network Email
Tina Dyck. Pray for Tina, aged 30, the mother of three children under ten, who has struggled with a terminal malignant brain tumour since 2006 and is facing another surgery on July 27 at the Hamilton (Ontario) General Hospital. Since May the tumour has grown very fast and is again the size of a golf ball. "A few weeks ago she started to have more problems including balance, hand/eye coordination ,vision, sense of touch, etc. on the left side of her body," reports husband Peter. On the 27th, the surgeon will remove as much of the tumour as possible and Tina will remain hospitalized for three to four days before returning home. Subsequently she will face more chemotherapy but probably of a different kind. In a recent email, Peter and Tina close with this request: "...We ask that you continue to pray for us, both for Tina's physical healing as well as for spiritual strength for both of us. We trust that the hand of God is in this, even if we cannot see it at all times." We know the MAX family will continue to pray for spiritual and emotional wholeness as well as possible physical healing for Tina and the Dyck family during this time of great uncertainty.
Carl Litwiller celebrates his successful spinal surgery on his L4 - L5 vertebrae on July 1. Carl, Executive Vice President of MAX Mutual Aid Ministries, suffered debilitating back pain for several months prior to his surgery. While still restricted in terms of activity, and using a cane for support in walking, Carl reports that the healing process is on schedule. Carl is anticipating returning to a normal and active lifestyle as promised by the surgeons. He will be meeting with the Neurosurgeon on August 6 for a follow up. "There has never been a time in my life when I have felt God's peace more than in the last few weeks", says Carl. He is confident this serenity has been impacted by the support and prayers of so many people. Carl & wife Nancy express their thanks for your prayers and support. |
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How can you assist the MAX Support Network Ministries?
- 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.
- Be informed about MAX. Click on the following link to view "Barnraising is Back": http://www.maxwholeness.com/barnraising You can also access and share this information by visiting our website www.maxwholeness.com or www.maxcanada.org. We welcome your feedback.
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We thank you for your support and commitment to the MAX Support Network Ministry and the other Mutual Aid Ministries programs. Please let us know of others who would like to join the Support Network Ministry email distribution list by sending their email address, with their permission of course, to supportnetwork@maxwholeness.com.
Sincerely, |
The MAX Mutual Aid Ministries Team
Carl Litwiller, Nelson Scheifele, Lloyd Miller |
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Creating and Sustaining