Asa Wright, a 9 ½ year old boy from West Virginia, has suffered from multiple health challenges all his life, including severe asthma, seizures, and severe obstructive sleep apnea.  In August, Asa contracted whooping cough, a life threatening condition when combined with his severely compromised immune system and his other health issues.  In an email, parents Lourie and James Wright II share, "We are in and out of the hospital and doctors offices a lot.  Asa is having a hard time with this illness.  We are strong believers in the power of prayer and asking for prayer for Asa."  Unable to join his eleven year old sister at school this term, Asa will likely remain out of school until later in November.  Lourie is home schooling Asa during this time, as best she can.  The Wright family is part of the Clifton Mills Meeting House, Sandy Creek Church of the Brethren near Bruceton Mills, West Virginia.  When asked how their MAX family could best pray for Asa, mother Lourie quickly responded. "Pray that Asa's breathing might be eased and pray that he will get through the current situation without losing his life."  Pray also for strength for the whole family as they carry the stress of Asa's condition and discomfort.  May wholeness of health become a part of Asa's future.

CANCER POSES UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR PAST ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE

Recently, Carl Litwiller of MAX Mutual Aid Ministries was in conversation with an old friend, Clare Novak, a long time account representative with Balis & Company, a reinsurance intermediary for Mennonite Indemnity during the 90's.  Now in her mid to upper seventies, Clare has struggled with degenerative disk disease in her back, which surgery in January of 2008 failed to correct, leaving her with constant back pain and challenges with her balance.  Added to this, cancer is now threatening her life.  Surgery in September, 2009, removed a cancerous tumor on her pancreas which had already metastasized to her liver.  An MRI this past January showed two new lesions on her liver.  In early September she was considered for an optimistic new non-invasive treatment called "Cyber Knife" to remove the lesions.  Sadly, she was informed that the cancer has now spread to her lymph glands, removing her as a candidate for this treatment.  Writes Carl in an email, "Clare's future is very uncertain right now and when I invited her to consider a request on the MAX Prayer Support Network, she agreed without hesitation."  In terms of the prayer request, Carl assured Clare that "We will ask for God's healing touch on your behalf and pray that God will give you much grace, strength and wisdom to deal with the uncertainties that lie ahead."  We know the MAX family will honour Carl's commitment to Clare.

CELEBRATING REOPENING OF MINISTRY TO LOW GERMAN MENNONITES

Vauxhall Gospel Mennonite Church

Vauxhall, the "Potato Capital of the West", a rural community of approximately 1,100 people in South Eastern Alberta, has  a large number of low German Mennonite people in the area urgently needing spiritual care and ministry.  An earlier ministry to this group through the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Conference (EMMC) closed a few years ago and the church building stood unused.  During this past spring, just as new energy and plans were underway to renew the ministry, the very heavy rains experienced in parts of western Canada caused significant damage from water seepage.  With support from a MAX Share Fund grant, volunteer labour and supervisory coordination and assistance from a Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren church couple, the building repairs were completed by the end of the summer. 

Ben & Tina Froese

Meanwhile, the EMMC, in partnership with the Evangelical Mennonite Churches of southern Alberta, hired a new pastoral couple, to minister.  Ben & Tina Froese, a low German speaking couple from Mexico, have been called to provide leadership at the Vauxhall Gospel Mennonite Church, resuming a vital ministry to the low German speaking population in the area.  Allen and Anita Kehler, joint EMMC conference pastors wrote in a recent email, "Services began September 12, with the church being completely full, and good attendance again on the 19^th.  There is a lot of enthusiasm and the Froeses are getting to know many new people."  Currently the congregation meets at 9:00 AM and the local Evangelical Free Church congregation, whose facilities were also damaged by the spring rains, uses the church at 10:45 while their building is undergoing repairs.  We celebrate the cooperative efforts of area churches to implement repairs and the renewed opportunities for a spiritual ministry to the many low German speaking people of the Vauxhall area.  MAX is honoured to be part of this ministry development through a Mutual Aid Ministry Share Fund grant.  Please pray that the ministry will spiritually bless many people.

Celebrate with 70 year old John Himmelreich (Feb. 2010, April 2010).  John wishes to celebrate God's goodness and thank Support Network readers for their prayers.  In early January (2010) an Endoscopy showed a large stage two cancerous tumour in John's esophagus.  Six weeks of intense Chemo and radiation was followed by delicate, high risk surgery on May 4.  John was told that he had a 15% chance of survival.  Amazingly, recent tests have provided John with a clean bill of health, finding no trace of any cancer in his body.  Restored to wholeness of health, he has also been restored to an unlimited diet.  As John faced a high probability of death, he focused on Psalm 23 and the reference to walking through the "valley of the shadow of death."  John's testimony is that he felt no fear because "The shadow of death could not harm my presence with the Lord, whether absent from the body or not."  In thanking our readers, John further confidently shares that, "The prayers of God's people gave me courage and confidence throughout this time."    

CONDOLENCES

Our thoughts and prayers are with MAX senior staff members, Sharon and David Wine and family as they mourn the death of Sharon's father, eighty-four year old Robert (Bob) Avery on September 22, in Chapman, Kansas.  Funeral services to celebrate his life and passing were held today, September 28.  In a recent email, anticipating his release, Sharon wrote, "It has been a long journey for him and his quality of life is gone."  Pray for Sharon's mother and the larger family as they celebrate Robert's life and his transition to eternal wholeness.