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A THANKSGIVING MIRACLE
Peter and Susan Fehr of Sublette, Kansas had a frightening but memorable US Thanksgiving Day this year. Peter and his brother-in-law have a custom farming operation. Wednesday, November 25th they were harvesting cotton in Texas when Peter's coat was caught in a cotton stripper machine, pulling his left arm and hand into the machine. His left hand was nearly severed and initially it was assumed he would lose his left arm. "Doctors in Amarillo, Texas performed a miracle," says Peter. Not only were they able to save his arm, which had two fractures between the elbow and wrist, but they were able to reattach and reconstruct his hand. By Saturday (November 28) Peter was released from the hospital and traveled home to Kansas. Peter has regained feeling in his left hand and is able to wiggle his fingers. Although he is unsure whether he will regain full use of his hand, he is truly thankful for the miracle that was performed. "They really took good care of me," says Peter of the medical staff at the hospital. Peter and wife Susan have five children aged three to eighteen and are members of the Reinland Mennonite Church in Sublette, Kansas. Future Thanksgivings will always bring back memories of the miracle of 2009.
ATV ACCIDENT LEAVES MOTHER SEVERELY INJURED
During the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in mid-October, Rachel Medernach from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, experienced serious head injuries in an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) accident. Rachel had major surgery on her skull and is expected to be in the hospital and rehab for an extended period of time. Rachel's spouse, Wesley, initially took leave from his work at the local Potash mines and his part time business as a limousine driver to be with Rachel and care for their two daughters aged two and four. Unable to speak, Rachel responds with hand signals. She has been able to write her daughters' names recently and recognizes family and friends. Rachel is now at the Rehab centre at City Hospital in Saskatoon where her parents, Larry and Joanna Schwam, faithfully visit her on a daily basis. Wesley has recently returned to work part-time. Family and friends have had fundraising events to assist with the financial stress this accident has created for the Medernach family.
Pray for continued healing for Rachel and a full recovery and wholeness.
Pray also for Wesley and their two daughters as they deal with the stress and worry this accident has created for the family.
Pray for Rachel's parents, Larry and Joanna. Joanna has quit her job to spend time with Rachel while Larry is currently on medical leave.
Pray for pastor Curtis Zoerb of Massey Place Community Church as he provides spiritual care to Rachel and the family.
FIRE DESTROYS PLACE OF WORSHIP
On October 8, the building of the Reserve Fellowship Chapel at Sioux Valley, Manitoba, (near Brandon) was totally destroyed by fire. The chapel is part of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference and dates back to 1956. The Reserve Fellowship congregation is arranging for alternate space for worship services at another building in the community for the short term. The cause of the fire has not been officially released. Thankfully, the building was insured. The congregation is interested in rebuilding or replacing the facility, probably next spring, and is requesting information about any available church building that could be moved. Leadership has also made an appeal for work crews that might be available to assist with construction. Pray for the members and leadership of Reserve Fellowship Chapel as they grieve the loss of their place of worship and face the daunting task of rebuilding.
(Information provided with permission from The EMC Messenger, November 18, 2009. Thank you.)
URGENT PRAYER REQUESTED AFTER TUMOR REMOVAL
Pray for Marilyn and her husband Lloyd who live in Montana. After being diagnosed with a form of lung cancer, tests revealed that Marilyn had a tumor the size of a grapefruit growing outside a lung but which was "eating into the lung". In early December, surgery removed the tumor but Marilyn remains gravely ill, although at last report doctors were amazed that her lung was functioning on its own. She returned home to convalesce on December 7. Marilyn and Lloyd have three young adult and late-teen children. "Thanks for your prayers and words of encouragement. It means so much. We continue to pray for her healing, but most of all; that whatever happens God will be glorified," write Duane and Kathy, her brother and sister-in-law.
Please pray that Marilyn can rest in her strong faith and that her family will be comforted and surrounded as they face the next critical weeks.
Pray for Marilyn's parents, who are staying with Lloyd and Marilyn through Christmas.
Give thanks that Marilyn's family members from Indiana and Michigan were able to visit her and surround her with love and care.
POTENTIAL LYME DISEASE INFECTION
Please remember Fena and Arthur Wiebe of Vanderhoof, British Columbia. Fena is struggling with multiple health concerns related to having contracted what is believed to be Lyme disease. Although Fena already began experiencing health complications five years ago, a diagnosis of Lyme disease has not yet been confirmed. Currently they are anxiously waiting for the results of some blood work. The wait for a clear diagnosis, given Fena's increasingly complex health challenges, is creating a great deal of stress for Fena and Arthur. Lyme disease is a bacterial illness carried and spread by ticks when they bite the skin, which permits the bacterium to infect the body. Arthur and Fena are part of the Vanderhoof Christian Fellowship, a congregation which is part of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference. Pray that the current blood test results will allow a clear diagnosis. Pray also that Fena can then quickly undergo treatment to return her to wholeness of health.
THANKSGIVING FOR A GENEROUS COMMUNITY
 Three years ago, Amy Unruh, a university student at the time, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, requiring multiple daily insulin injections. After graduation and becoming an office manager at a large roofing company in Winnipeg, she was medically advised to use an insulin pump to assist in managing her condition and greatly improve her quality of life. The high cost of the pump, not covered by insurance, created a financial impasse for Amy. In faith, she sent out eighty letters to family, friends and church members inviting them to assist her. The response was overwhelming. Within a few weeks she received 38 contributions. In addition, an astute MAX Canada insurance broker and fellow church member explored assistance on her behalf through MAX Canada Mutual Aid Ministries. With the generosity of her community, combined with a MAX Canada Share Fund grant, Amy was able to acquire and be trained to use an insulin pump, greatly enhancing her ability for work and active participation in ministry in her congregation. "One person thanked me for asking for assistance," says Amy, "suggesting that the church is the place to support each other in hard times, but unless someone asks, we often do not know where the need is." Amy currently overseas approximately 60 volunteers in the Early Childhood department of her congregation, the Meeting Place, in downtown Winnipeg. We give thanks for the remarkable generosity of the many people who make up Amy's support community. We recognize that such generosity is repeated many times over in many communities as people of love and good will share generously. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works". Ephesians 2: 10a |
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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 & "The MAX Financial Cycle" http://www.maxwholeness.com/fin_cycle/MAX_cycle.html. 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