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June / July 2007
Dearly Beloved,
“But I would that ye should
understand, Brethren, that the things which happened unto me
have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel”
(Philippians 1:12)
Many times we go through hard
and difficult trials, which we cannot understand. But some day
we will look back and know that God had a plan for us that was,
not only for our best, but also for God’s best; and that is
really what we want.
“THE IRON GATES TO KIEV ARE OPEN!”
During our
Visitation of the Holy Spirit in the Glory Tabernacle, which
began the day of Jim’s Memorial Service, and lasted thirty days,
I decided against going to Ukraine for ministry, as I had
planned. When I phoned to cancel my trip, the leader, Pastor
Russ Porcella of the New Covenant Fellowship in Knoxville, TN,
encouraged me to wait one more week, and they would pray for God
to give me a sign. That night Phil Vaughn, a young prophet who
was our speaker, began with the prophetic words, “The Iron
Gates to Kiev are open, and a great harvest is waiting to be
gathered in.” I took this as a Word from God, because he had
known nothing about my plans. The next day I phoned the ministry
and told them I was going to Ukraine. I still believe I was in
God’s will. There were 41 members on the team. We split up into
eight smaller teams and went to eight different parts of
Ukraine. There were four of us from Engeltal; Larry Groves,
Linda Hartzell, Doreen Shurley and myself.
I
felt I owed a debt to Ukraine because it was that part of Russia
that took in my forefathers during their days of wandering after
they were banished from their homes in Switzerland and Austria
for the Gospel’s sake in the 1700’s. My team ministered in the
area where they had lived for one hundred years. They came to
America from there. I ministered with tears and gratitude to the
descendants of these good people who had welcomed my people and
given them land to farm where they had lived in peace.
The strange thing is that it was
close to Chernobyl where the terrible explosion took place at
the atomic energy plant 21 years ago. Much of that part of
Ukraine was ruined by that disaster. It will be years before it
will be habitable again! We visited a city that had been
evacuated by all the people, but some are now returning to live
there. We were told of a town, which had been deserted, except
for one woman, so we drove out there to see her. She told us
that all her family was in the graveyard, and she alone was
alive. She had no electricity, running water, nor any of the
usual modern conveniences; her only living companions were her
three dogs, a milk cow and a calf. We spent some time talking
with her and prayed with her. I will never forget that haunting
scene of a town in ruins, and one brave woman!
IRON GATES OPEN:
The following day, Wednesday,
April 18, we returned to Kiev, the capital. It was while
visiting the Iron Lady, the symbol of the former Soviet Union’s
great military strength, that my accident happened, which
changed my future for the next few months. I was getting out of
the tourist bus, not realizing that it was high up from the
ground, my legs gave way under me and I fell, breaking my right
ankle, my left femur just above the knee, and my left shoulder.
The team picked me up and put me on a wheelchair; and a man who
worked there came with a big key and OPENED THE IRON GATES TO
LET US INSIDE THE AREA: Thus prophecy was fulfilled!
EMERGENCY MEDICAL AIRLIFT TO GERMANY:
I was hoping that it was
not serious in spite of the fact that I heard my bones crack and
break. I spent the night in the hotel, praying and waiting; but
when morning came and I was still in much pain I was willing to
let them take me to the hospital in an ambulance. That is when
the local orthopedic doctor, a young Palestinian from Gaza,
after taking X-rays told me how seriously I was injured. He
offered to perform surgery the next day, but I felt I wanted to
return to USA if possible. After waiting a couple days I was
flown by air ambulance with a doctor and attendants on a
Luxemburg medical airlift to the American Military Hospital in
Germany, landing at Landstuhl Airbase at about 1:00 A.M.
Saturday, April 21. I had this privilege only because Jim was a
retired U.S. Air Force Officer.
CASUALTIES FROM THE WAR IN IRAQ:
I will never forget this
God-given experience of seeing our boys and girls being
airlifted in from Iraq and the Middle East. It is heart breaking
to come face-to-face with the facts and hear their cries of pain
in the darkness of the night.
BY LUFTHANSA TO CHICAGO AND ARKANSAS:
I had hoped they would perform the surgery in Germany, but they
said that they were not willing to, and that I must be flown to
the USA. They were too busy with REAL casualties. But they
treated me with much kindness, and I met many wonderful
Christians. Finally, the decision was made to fly me by
Lufthansa to Chicago on Thursday, April 26. I was given a first
class seat because I had to lie down all the way. It was a long
flight, but finally we arrived. I was carried by stretcher
through customs, etc. and placed in an ambulance, which drove me
from O’Hare to Midway Airport, where another air ambulance was
waiting to fly me to Fayetteville, AR. I arrived at Washington
Regional Medical Center after midnight, tired, and in pain.
PROGNOSIS AND SURGERY: The next day, Dr.
Chris Hanby, my doctor who had cared for me when I had my last
accident, came to visit me, ordered X-rays, and gave me the
prognosis. They have 12 operating rooms but all were booked
until Wednesday, May 2. You all prayed, and on Monday morning,
(April 30) I was operated on. God had done two miracles by this
time — my right ankle was almost healed, and my left shoulder
showed no sign of a fracture. Praise the Lord! The surgery took
over two and a half hours because the part of the bone that had
broken off had to be restored to where it belonged and a plate
with eight screws secured it in place. The surgery took place 12
days AFTER the accident! On Wednesday, May 2, I was taken to the
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, where I remained until
Tuesday, May 22, one day less than six weeks after my accident.
COMING HOME!
Little did I dream, when I left home on April 12 that so many
weeks would pass before I would be able to return. Everywhere I
went the Lord gave me wonderful opportunities to witness for
Him. I met many kind and good people who work hard, long hours
to bring healing and comfort to the sick and the dying. But now
I was home, at last! My wonderful staff, who had prayed so hard
for me and stood by faithfully, had prepared everything for my
homecoming, and they moved me into the newly constructed one
level part of our house. I came home with mixed feelings, Larry
was driving me home, and as we turned to come down the hill to
Engeltal, he said, “It’s a new beginning.” Immediately
tears came to my eyes, as I answered, “Yes, and it’s a hard
beginning, for this is the first time Jim won’t be here to
welcome me home!” Yesterday was his birthday. The Michigan
Branch sent me beautiful flowers in remembrance of Jim’s
birthday. It was a wonderful and kind gesture of love. Thank
you, my dear friends!
“WHO IS THAT WOMAN?”
That was the question the
staff of the hospital were asking when my room was filling up
with beautiful bouquets of flowers, gifts, e-mails, cards and
letters etc. from you precious friends who were so quick to send
your demonstrations of love and concern. There were also many,
many phone calls. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I could feel
your prayers and your love.
I have had to cancel many meetings, but the
2ND OZARK
GLORY TABERNACLE CAMP MEETING in Engeltal (July 16-21) is
still ON inside our air-conditioned Tabernacle. So is the
INTERNATIONAL ALL-NATIONS CONVENTION (August 20-24) in
Winnipeg. One hotel is already fully booked. Something is
happening in Canada. Don’t miss it! (See ad and registration
forms.)
Sharon and Phil did a wonderful
job at filling in for me in Niagara Falls, Blue Mountain Retreat
and Ohio End-Time Handmaidens and Servants Convention. The Lord
sent special guest speakers, such as our dear friend, Rev. Doris
Swartz and others.
I am taking home-therapy now, in
this new part of the house, trying to catch up on
correspondence, and slowly getting my strength back. My
Handmaidens and Servants are taking
good care of me. Their love is like a part of heaven.
Your prayers and gifts and love offerings are very important at
this time. The work is growing every day. Today a new End-Time
Handmaiden arrived from Spain, Cecelia. I know she will be a
blessing to the staff.
I hope to see many of you at the
Summer Camp Meeting in July. Please don’t disappoint me! I am
praying for you all!
Sister Gwen
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