Shelbyville, TN
Our prayers are with Jen’s mother, Barb, right now.
They have discovered a turmor and have diagnosed her with colon cancer. However, the preliminary results are that they believe that all is under control.
In the meantime, Barb received a report that a lump was discovered that they believed to be a problem. Prayer was offered up, and the diagnosis is that it is just a cyst and there is nothing to worry about.
Continue to pray.
Weekly report:
One of our men saw an opportunity to share his story of how God was working in his life this week. The opportunity was found in a grass seed store!
We’re told to go. The fact is… we’re already there.
There are 9990 minutes outside of the 90 on Sunday.
Gateway people are impacted their world not through programs, but through the ministry of presence. While they are there (wherever there is) the Kingdom of God is with them, and they are using simple things to tell share the love of Christ through:
Watch for updates.
This Week:
One man used his story to encourage a co-worker to stay in his church.
This same man was able to share comfort with another who was experiencing a bad week.
…on earth as it is in heaven…
Being faithful in the little things will bring about bigger things.
Gateway Church has been using an old van to pick up kids for a Wednesday Night Kids Church outreach. We could pick up more, but are already packing out the van.
Yesterday, we received a bus… for free
Man is God awesome!
Eddy is a 1st grader in the city of Shelbyville. A short time ago he was having a normal day when he began complaining because his head hurt. He got sicker and sicker, and the family took him to the hospital where they airlifted him to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, TN. He had a brain aneurysm, and the outlook was bleak.
After surgeries, the doctors had no hope. There was talk of moving him to another hospital (Atlanta), but the problem was the surgery he needed was now no longer an option. The doctors had clipped an important vein that was the only option for the life saving surgery to come.
We prayed. Others did as well. Our specific prayer was that the vein/part that was destroyed would grow back and that the doctors would see it so the surgery could be an option. We prayed that swelling would diminish and he would begin recovery.
The latest email (Today, March 24) from Mrs. Benita Spain… Eddy’s teacher:
From: Benita Spain
Sent: Tue 3/24/2009 4:28 AM
To:
Subject: Eddy
Eddy is now at Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehab Hospital.He is undergoing therapeutic/physical therapy as well as speech therapy. The left side of his body is the main focus as well as having him able to look and move his head and eyes to the left(he has written the letters in his name, “though not all on one line” his Mother says.) The therapists is also (with help) teaching him to stand and attempt to walk. Because of this Eddy got his new shoes on Sunday to give him more traction. He was very happy. Atlanta hasn’t been mentioned again.
As scheduled now on April 9th Dr.s will attempt another arterial cardiogram to(as Mercedes explains)check the arteries and swelling in the brain. This is the same procedure that was halted after 5-6 hours of attempting to reach the brain at no success.
Dr.s then hope/want to perform the bypass surgery and replace the cranial bone 2 weeks later.
He now has only one very small tube (in his nose) that is used to feed him liquids/vitamins/food supplements three times a day. It is capped and dangles to the side when not being used. Though Eddy is feed through this tube every attempt is being made to have him eat. Soft foods (not liquids yet) are what he can tolerate at the moment.He ate 12 bites of vanilla pudding on Sunday…”most ever” as his sister Maria said.
All staples on his head have been removed. He still itches the slightly bulging scar and wants/tries to pull the nose tube out (who wouldn’t).
When we arrived on Sunday, Eddy (who was strapped in a wheelchair) and his family were in the hallway of the 1st floor heading toward the garden (his first visit outside since Feb. 19th). When Mercedes told Eddy to “look up your teacher is here” we received the most beautiful, wide, one-sided smile.
While we were all in the garden, I had brought all of the cards that he had received from East Side Students and friends. He smiled,pointed and touched the cards. He tried to talk about some of them. He whispers ever so slightly and is hard to understand. When he was read one of the cards from his classmate, Keon, he grinned very widely and leaned over to say Keon’s name. Keon had drawn Eddy and himself shooting basketball – one of Eddy’s favorite things to do.
Later, when he was read No, David! (which is one of his favorites) I was doing lots of talking as to what was happening on each page, etc. Very slowly Eddy (with one finger outstretched) reached up to the corner and flipped the page…he was ready for me to stop talking and move on with the story 
. Later after telling him how strong he looked Eddy lifted his right arm up high, bent his arm and showed us all his muscle.
Dr.s are still amazed at Eddy’s progress. God is mighty.
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That’s the power of prayer!
At the first of April, there was an offering taken of just over $500 from the church to aid a school in Aboud. Aboud is the land of the prophet Obadiah, and the area where Joshua is buried. Joshua declared, “… as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” Because of this, there is a remnant of believers in this area who are still ministering the Name of Christ in the village.
The school was in need of a “tarp” to cover a playground area. It was important because of the weather in the area; and if they did not have the tarp in place they were in danger of losing their license. Our offering was a part of other offerings that were sent to the area. I wanted to give the before and after shots.
Three people were baptized Sunday.
Christopher is a young boy, and it is great to know that He is making a decision to follow Christ at an early age.
Melanie declared that even though she had not be the perfect example as a woman, a mother and a wife, that would end because of the public demonstration of baptism.
Tim wanted to thank the church for accepting him, and he was thankful for finding a place to grow.
Kevin and Julie Young received a great report on their baby.
Kevin is the lead singer of the band Disciple; and he and is wife have been in the early weeks of the pregancy of their first child. There had been some blood work done that came back with indications of down syndrome. Then there was an issue with something spotted on the ultrasound.
Now, at 21 weeks, it has been declared that ALL IS WELL with their baby and they are moving foward in faith that she will continue to grow healthy, perfect and normal.
