God’s Intervention

[Flora Preston]

Dear friends, would you join me in praying for a guy (M.K.) living in California, that I have been reaching out to since November.

M.K. is disabled with Chemical Injury. He is about 65 years old and he is wheelchair ridden. Although his legs can bear his weight, when he transfers from his wheelchair to his bed or to the toilet, he has to be extremely cautious. Putting his weight on his legs can cause him to go into full body spasms, which can make him fall.

He has no living family or relatives; and he lives alone. He has one woman come in one day a week to buy his groceries, and do some cooking and cleaning for him. This woman is also chemically sensitive, and therefore can’t help him on the days when she is also ill.

M.K.’s situation is becoming increasingly desperate. Unless God intervenes in his situation, he is about to become homeless. M.K.’s chemical sensitivity is so severe, that becoming homeless will be a death sentence for him. I greatly doubt that he will even live a week after he becomes homeless.

In a nutshell, M.K.’s expenses far exceed his income. His monthly expenses are approximately $1,500, and his monthly pension is $494. Right now it is doubtful whether he will be able to pay his August rent, at which point in time, he will become homeless.

When I first talked to M.K. in November, I told him that I am a Christian and that I believe that God hears and answers prayer. M.K. told me that he is Jewish, and that he was raised to believe that God hears and answers prayer; but that he has stopped believing it because his situation is so desperate and God doesn’t appear to be listening. We talked for over an hour. I reminded him that God is a God of hope, and we need hope in order to fight for survival. I told him that I refused to give up hope and that my husband and I would pray for him daily. This brought him great comfort, and he told me that if God answered our prayers, by delivering him from becoming homeless, and saving his life, he would begin to believe in God again.

I have been in contact with M.K. 1-3 times a month since then. I have tried to encourage him in his endeavour to find work that he can do from his home in his wheelchair to increase his income; and in his endeavour to access different programs designed to assist the disabled. So far M.K. has met brick walls. However, he consistently derived comfort from the fact that we were praying for him.

Yesterday, I phoned him and he was so incredibly discouraged. A woman had phoned regarding his application for “independent living housing for the disabled” and she had told him that there were no vacancies at this time and then added: “Good Luck” stated with blatant sarcasm.

He had completely given up hope. I had a much harder time talking to him about God. Apparently someone from a Christian organization that helped the disabled had informed him that his parents were in hell, and unless he accepted Jesus into his life he was going to hell as well. Those definitely were not words in season as this made him hate all Christians, and the Christian message.

With difficulty I was able to turn things by reminding him that although he is Jewish and I am Christian, we believe in the same God. This God hears prayer, when we pray to Him with an open and honest heart. I encouraged him to look up at the sky and pray to God with an open and honest heart.

Then, I reiterated that I refused to give up hope for him. Also, I informed him that I would walk through the month of July with him by phoning him very regularly; and that I would support him in any way I can.

By the end of the conversation, we were actually laughing together. He said to me: “Flora, I’m going to make a request of you and Eric. No, I’m changing the request to an order, to a command. I command you and Eric to never, ever die. You are not allowed to ever die. Too many people need you.” I laughed in return stating that “that is a tall order to follow, since everyone dies sometime; but we’ll do our best to stay alive.”

Folks, unless God intervenes in M.K.’s situation, he will be homeless and facing certain death in approximately a month. Please join with me in praying:

for God’s provision for M.K.’s practical needs;
for faith to be born in M.K.’s heart, that will lead to his salvation; and
for God to help me be a support to M.K. in his time of great duress.

Thanks,

Flora

[jpurssey]

I pray that some servant of the Lord God near MK will be reminded of Jesus' message to us to be righteous and that we should serve Him in this way and be a neighbour to MK.

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

[Elizabeth]

Dear Flora,

I have been praying for MK. He is in a terrible situation. I pray that the Lord will move someone in MK's area to assist you, Flora, in resolving some of his problems.

E

[anne]

I to am praying for MK and his situation.

[Flora Preston]

Thanks, John, Elizabeth and Anne for your prayers. I talked with MK yesterday and he was riding above the situation surprisingly well.

A few months ago, I had e-mailed "Joni and Friends International Disability Center", http://www.joniandfriends.org which is a disability ministry founded by Joni Eareckson Tada. I informed them of MK's situation and asked if they could help him in any way. They had phoned him, encouraged him, and mailed him a package of information of places for him to apply for help. MK is working his way through these different agencies and organizations, but so far he has only met with closed doors - no vacancies on the programs.

MK has no computer. So he mails in a written application and arranges to be interviewed over the telephone. However, when he is in a chemical reaction, it can affect his speech. His speech becomes stuttery and very slow. If he is not in a reaction, his speech is fine. I'm beginning to wonder if the people interviewing him aren't sensitive to disability issues and become impatient with his speech problems.

So last week, I phoned Joni and Friends and asked if they had anyone who did advocacy work. I explained that I felt MK needed someone to fight for his needs with the various agencies. Joni and Friends acknowledged that this is a great need for many disabled people, but at this point in time, their organization does not offer that service. They did tell me that MK is on their prayer list, and want me to keep them informed of his situation.

Yesterday, MK expressed puzzlement as to why I was helping him to this degree. I just simply told him that 19 years ago, I had been in a very similar situation, and I knew experientially what he was going through, and that I refused to let him go through it alone. This really touched his heart.

Please continue to pray that God would meet MK's needs in such a way that MK will know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God cares for him. Please pray that his heart would be open to receive the gospel message, and that faith will be born in his heart, leading to his salvation.

Thanks. Lord bless,

Flora

[Elizabeth]

Please continue to pray that God would meet MK's needs in such a way that MK will know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God cares for him. Please pray that his heart would be open to receive the gospel message, and that faith will be born in his heart, leading to his salvation.

Thank you, Flora, for that update. There are different ways of presenting the gospel. Preaching is one of them - how shall they hear without a preacher?

I am always reminded of the "Depart from me's" because you did not feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, visit those in prison, etc."

MK is in somewhat of a prison due to his speech which at times is a problem. If someone could accompany him on his trips to these bureaucrats, I think it would help. Perhaps the people he is dealing with need to re-sensitize themselves to the position and condition of those seeking help.

I will pray for one to come alongside M.K. to his appointments.

Only by grace,

E

[jpurssey]

Continuing to pray for MK.

[Flora Preston]

Since my last posting, I have spoken with MK three times. At this time, it appears that he will be able to pay his August rent, but he says: "definately not September's rent". No vacancy has opened yet for any of the programs that he has so far applied for; but God is able.

At one point, MK thanked me for my friendship and my concern. I responded by telling him that "this was only a small fraction and a tiny expression of the love God had for him." He replied by saying, "If this is God's love, then I accept it."

MK only gets his mail on Thursdays, when a friend picks it up and brings it to him. I mailed him a copy of by book on Chemical Injury last week. So he should get it in his mail today. Two chapters are autobiographical, and I was hoping that maybe my own story might encourage him. Also, in the book, the gospel is clearly presented. I'm praying that as he reads this in the privacy of his own home, that his heart would be opened to respond to the love of Calvary.

Please continue to join me in prayer for MK.

Lord bless,

Flora

[anne]

Your report sounds promising Flora, continuing to pray
Anne

[Elizabeth]

Dear Flora,

I am continuing in prayer for both you and MK. How is your health these days? I have been praying that your immune system will become stronger so that you will have more freedom from pain and freedom to live and do the things you want to do.

Only by grace,

E

[Flora Preston]

On Saturday, I talked to MK. He has two upcoming appointments that we really need to pray about. On Thursday, July 29, he has an appointment regarding government assistance for medical expenses; and on Friday, August 13, he has an appointment regarding government assistance for income support, as well as food and shelter support. He is hoping to succeed in lowering his monthly expenses and increasing his monthly income, to a place where his needs are being met. If this succeeds, our prayers will be answered - MK will not become homeless, and his life will have been saved.

Last Thursday, MK received my book in the mail. He had read bits and pieces of it by the time I had phoned him on Saturday. Well, I had an odd experience as a result. You see, MK had come to the conclusion that Eric and I were angels sent by God to assist him. MK is Jewish and believes that God does send angels, as His messengers to bring assistance to humans in their time of need.

It took me approximately 15 minutes to persuade MK that we were human and not angels. Finally, he said to me: "Well, I don't know if you are an angel or a human; but I now believe that God sent you and Eric to me, as His messengers to help me in my place of need."

Later, when I shared this with Eric, Eric pointed out to me that this is an amazing breakthrough in MK's heart. In this statement, MK is acknowledging that God is using Christians as His messengers to assist him in his place of need. Please pray for his heart to be open to God's love expressed at Calvary. Over the 10 years that he has been disabled, many Christians have "shoved their message down his throat", to the point that he "hates the Christian message". So instead, I am praying about challenging him to read Isaiah 53.

Thanks for your prayers.

How is your health these days? I have been praying that your immune system will become stronger so that you will have more freedom from pain and freedom to live and do the things you want to do.

Thanks, Elizabeth. My own health is building. This is a good summer for me, and there are a number of indications of stronger health. Very encouraging!

However, Mk is not the only person I am seeking to help. I find this line of labour very draining; because we all face very hopeless situations. One family phones me specifically looking for some glimmer of hope that I can give them. The only hope that I have is the hope I find in the Lord. My greatest challenge is to keep looking to the Lord for hope and keep up my own perspective of hope. I can't communicate hope to others, if I lack hope myself. People don't fight to live, if there they have lost hope. Holding onto hope is crucial for being able to keep fighting to live. Please pray that I can maintain my hope in the Lord, who cares for the needy.

Lord bless,

Flora

[jpurssey]

Continuing to pray for MK.

[Flora Preston]

Thanks for your prayers. God is answering, but MK doesn't see it at this point.

When I talked with MK on Wednesday, the day before a very important appointment regarding government assistance for medical coverage, MK was full of fear, which manifested itself in anger. I found this 45 minute conversation very difficult and very exhausting, as I felt like a verbal punching bag. Finally, I firmly, but gently, stood my ground with him, and spoke some truths that he did not want to hear.

He was saying that prayer and hoping in God were just a bunch of nice words intended to make a person feel good, but didn't provide any real help. He likened it to the power of positive thinking, and insinuated that I had just been trying to give him a bunch of false hope. I firmly argued back that I never once denied the facts that he might become homeless, that he might die, and that if he dies as a result of becoming homeless, his death will be a horrible, painful death. I reminded him of the conversations we've had where we discussed ideas and ways to make his death less painful.

His anger subsided as he acknowledged the validity of my statements, then he turned his anger full force against God. He accused God of picking and choosing who He helps and who He doesn't help and of having "pet" people that He gave help to, and ignoring the cries and prayers of everyone else. He stated very aggressively: "If God really cares about me, then He had better hurry up and prove it and provide me with some help." Once again, I felt a strong need to correct his thinking. I reminded him that he was not God, that he was human, and therefore he cannot give God orders to be followed. I encouraged MK to humble his heart before God and ask God for mercy.

Then I encouraged him to get out his Jewish "Bible" and read the Psalms, which have some of the prayers of King David, to help give him some hope in God. I also encouraged him to read Isaiah. At this point, I learned that he doesn't own any Jewish "Bible" or holy writings. At least, he did agree to reread the Bible verses that I have in my book.

So, I phoned yesterday to find out how his appointment went on Thursday. I discovered a very different man. All anger and aggression was gone. He has been granted medical coverage. It normally takes 30 days to process all the paper work; but she will rush it through, and he'll have coverage in less than a week. Also, there are two different people living in other areas of California who are starting to aggressively fight on his behalf.

Although these are clear indications that God does care for MK and that He is answering prayer, MK still won't acknowledge it. He still has the doomsday attitude. He can pay his August rent, and is OK till the third week of August. Then, his money runs out, and he becomes homeless in the last week of August. When I remind him of his appointment on August 13, for Government financial assistance and food and shelter assistance, he discounts it, refusing to believe the help will come through for him. (May I scream?)

Only the Lord knows how to win MK's heart. Please continue to pray for MK and for myself, that I would know and follow the Lord's leading.

Thank you. Lord bless,

Flora

[Elizabeth]

Although these are clear indications that God does care for MK and that He is answering prayer, MK still won't acknowledge it. He still has the doomsday attitude. He can pay his August rent, and is OK till the third week of August. Then, his money runs out, and he becomes homeless in the last week of August. When I remind him of his appointment on August 13, for Government financial assistance and food and shelter assistance, he discounts it, refusing to believe the help will come through for him. (May I scream?)

Dear Sister Flora,

Yes, screaming is allowed. MK is not going to become homeless, he just has to go through government channels, frustrating though it may be when you are in a precarious, emergency situation. God does come to us when we are at the end of our resources. (Secret: He does it on purpose so that we give Him all the glory and praise which belongs to His great name. MK doesn't know this yet.)

This hymn comes to mind to encourage and help you, Flora.

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

More prayer,

Elizabeth

[Flora Preston]

Thanks, Elizabeth. That hymn is a word in season to my heart.

MK is not going to become homeless, he just has to go through government channels, frustrating though it may be when you are in a precarious, emergency situation.

Elizabeth, we need to remember this is the US and not Canada. Their gov't programs have different rules than ours. I feel like I am watching the documentary "Sicko" being lived out in front of me.

Also, I'm afraid I don't have as much confidence in the outcome as you do. My confidence is in God, who cares for the needy and afflicted, and who hears and answers prayer, when we come to Him with a humble and a sincere heart. I have learned about too many chemically injured individuals, in many different countries, falling through the cracks of government systems, myself included. Therefore my faith in the chemically injured being helped by government programs is not strong; but gov'ts are slowly starting to accommodate the unique needs of the chemically injured, so there is room for hope.

Many homeless chemically injured individuals live in the desert in Arizona and California. Some live in an old vehicle that has outgassed most of its toxins. These ones often live as nomads moving from place to place trying to avoid pesticide exposure or industrial pollution exposure. One woman, living in her car as a nomad, contacted me one time wanting to do her laundry at my place. None of these options are open to MK as he is too ill and too disabled to survive a homeless, nomadic lifestyle.

However, God is able to cause MK to find favour during his appointment on August 13, so that his needs can be met.

Trusting in God's goodness,

Flora