Guardian Angels

My name is Cheryl Lundeen, a fairly new member of Mt. Hope Church. I want to share my testimony of this miracle from God, Glorify and praise His Holy Name! Let me begin by stating that, as part of my daily prayers, I command protective, guardian angels of the Lord be loosed from heaven and surround my family and loved ones, in Jesus name. I also plead the protective blood of Jesus Christ over each of them. Throughout the years, my now grown daughters have often called me to say thanks for loosing the angels . . . because this or that happened and they knew the angels were protecting them.

On Wednesday night, June 9^th at about 11:15 p.m., I received a phone call from my youngest daughter, the mother of my two small grandsons; one 4 years old and one 2 years old. She was calling from a Lansing hospital emergency room, where my 4 year-old grandson had been transported by ambulance. He had been hit by a truck on Jolly Road a short time earlier. He was bleeding from the mouth and nose, his face was covered with blood and it appeared he had possible head injuries and trauma. He remained concious after the accident, never losing conciousness and was crying. ER doctors were performing a CAT scan on his head and exrays on his neck and spine when she called me.

I immediately drove to the hospital from the west side of Lansing . . . trying to maintain the legal speed limit on I 496 . . . . praying and thanking the Lord for protecting my grandson . . . thanking Him for keeping my grandson safe . . . believing and confessing that the angels had indeed performed the jobs commanded them to do, in Jesus Name . . . praising the Name of the Lord . . . . regardless of how the situation appeared!

Upon arrival at the hospital, I found my grandson lying on a gurney in an emergency room, wearing a neck brace. His little face was scratched raw and he had several lumps on his head. He had his eyes partly closed, but when I asked him if he was hurting, he told me he wasn’t. The result of the CAT scan on his head showed no injuries, except a mild concussion. The result of the exray of his spine and neck showed no injuries. He had bitten his tongue (not seriously), which caused the bleeding from his mouth.

The pick-up hit him going 35 MPH, never slowing down since the driver never saw him run in front of her. The truck impacted him near the right front bumper and sent him airborne about 10-12 feet straight in front of the truck. He landed on the road, head first, scraping off skin and hair from above his forehead . . . all the way down his forehead, nose, right eye and chin. There were cuts and scrapes above both knees and on his upper arms. His left elbow was bruised.

The doctors and nurses in the ER were amazed that this little guy survived . . .let alone with such minor injuries. I told them that the angels of the Lord were round about him and protected him. They agreed it was a miracle. He was sent home with instructions to be watched for the next several days, for any symptoms of head injuries. It’s been over a week and there have been no symptoms. He’s perfectly fine, other than a few scratches and bruises on his face, arms and legs. He looks like a typical little 4 year old boy with the usual summertime bumps and bruises from running, climbing or riding his bike . . . not like a child who literally had a “run in” with a pick-up truck only a week before! Bless God!

It’s my understanding, the lady driving the pick-up was on her way back from Wednesday night prayer meeting at her church. Although she never saw my grandson run in front of her, immediately upon impact she stopped the truck. Had the truck kept moving forward, even another 10-12 feet, it would have run over him. My daughter tells me that the truck stopped on a dime, that there was no skidding or skid marks and no squeeling of brakes! There should have been at 35 MPH. The angels of the Lord stopped that vehicle in it’s tracks. The lady jumped out of her vehicle and was praying out loud to Jesus that this little boy would be all right.

We know the angels of the Lord were surrounding my grandson as well as that S-10 pick-up truck! Although the enemy tried to steal his life . . . God turned that attempt into a miraculous blessing, into a witness of His love and goodness and power and mercy and glory. Many people have already been blessed by this miracle. My family’s faith in the power and truth of God’s promises has increased and we give God all the glory and praises for sparing little Dalton’s life.

I saw him yesterday. He was wearing a big smile and riding his bicycle on the sidewalk. As he went peddling that bike past me, he hollered “Jesus saved my life, Nanta”! Thank you Jesus!

In Christ Always,

Cheryl Lundeen

"ANGELS INTERVENED"

Outdoorsman says brush with death altered life

Associated Press

Outdoorsman, Bill McClain, long has known how to survive. But after nearly dying along the White River last month, he also knows he’s a better person now.

McClain, 47 (at the time of the incident) of Bloomington, a sergeant with the Indiana University Police Department survived a brush with hypothermia last month with the aid of two hunters.

“I know how close I was to death,” McClain said. “Had it not been for them, or somebody on upriver like them, I am now convinced I would not have made it back to my car.”

He considers the two hunters, John Schott of Dubois and Hilliard Engiert of Fendinand to have been his angels and he’s convinced he met them for a reason.

“I have been a better person for this experience,” McClain said, “I have helped more people.

“I am indebted for the rest of my life. There is nothing I won’t do for those guys or anybody for that matter.”

McClain had picked the first weekend of deer season to take his new kayak on a solo camping trip on the White River south of Loogootee. He decided to go from Hindostan Falls State Fishing Area to the mouth of the Lost River, camp overnight on a sand bar and return the next day.

“I do a lot of camping,” McClain said, “It’s very spiritual for me to be on the water. I wanted to do it alone, because I enjoy the solitude.”

It was a misty day Nov. 19 with temperatures barely above freezing when he set out.

“The next thing I knew I’m upside down for no explanation,” he said. “I yelled, Oh no, and I lost all of the air in my lungs.”

McClain camly removed the skirt holding him in the kayak, pushed out and, gasping fresh air, dragged the craft 100 yards through chest-deep water to a muddy, steep riverbank. He climed into a sinkhold to shield himself from the wind.

“I’m an old Boy Scout, so I’m a survivor,” he said.

He tried to make a fire, but his disposable lighter was wet and wouldn’t light. With hypothermia setting in, he paddled upriver in his kayak toward his car three miles away.

“I knew I was in trouble, but I thought I could make it,” he said. “Then my mind tells me, ‘Danger, you’re too far gone. You’re feeling warm now, which is one of the danger signs of hypothermia..”

Schott and Englert, owners of neighboring cabins on the river were drifting downriver in a boat in search for squirrels. When the two watercrafts passed, McClain explained his situation and asked how far it was to Hindostan Falls.

“I guess my lips were purple because they kept looking at me like I was an alien,” McClain said.

Schott, 60, and Englert, 69, made McClain stop. Scott knew the dangers of a boat capsizing on the river’s frigid waters.

“I had a brother-in-law drown like that,” he said. “It was the spring of the year and we went out looking for places to set nets. At that time of the year, nobody had any boats on the river to get us out. You can get messed up in a hurry.”

The hunters bundled up McClain, loaded his kayak onto their boat, and rushed to Scott’s cabin. They gave him dry clothes, sat him in front of a fireplace and cranked up the furnace. They fed him wine and coffee.

After an hour and a half, the hunters took McClain and his Kayak to his car. He drove home and rested by a wood stove for two hours until his body temperature was restored.

“I felt sorry for the poor fella, Englert said. “I’ll help anybody when ever they need it. It doesn’t make a difference who it is or where it is. You just never think something like that can happen until it’s too late.”

NOTE: Bill McClain is now an active member of The Country Gospel Music Church, Nashville, IN.

JOY COMES IN THE MORNING

His life began on March 27, 1979 and I thought mine ended on August 20, 2002. That was the day our youngest son, Greg, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As I sat there listening to the doctor and noticing the pale, shocked looks on the two resident doctors’ faces, I realized something terrible was happening to us. I couldn’t get the two residents to give me any eye contact and I knew their reactions were telling me it was very serious. Luckily I had decided to take a tape recorder to the appointment so I could remember anything and everything the neurologist told us. Never expecting the news to be so devastating, I am glad I had the recording to listen to later because many things he told me were lost in the recesses of my mind.

Stunned, I listened to Greg ask the most telling questions. “Is it something that can be taken care of? Can people die from this?” The doctor was sensitive but honest. “Even if it is malignant, it is something that can get better with treatment. You can survive for many, many years to come with the most benign tumors, but of course people can die. Remember this is no final diagnosis. I am reading the worst case scenario.”

Greg’s comment was heart wrenching. “I just hope that it is something that can be taken care of so I can live a long life.”

It took all my courage to leave that office without crying or showing any pain. I knew in my heart that I had to be strong for him.

Just a few months before this traumatic day, Bob and I had started to attend a small church in Nashville, Indiana. I had read in the Brown County Democrat about the Country Gospel Music Church and mentioned to him that I would like to attend. After the first church service, we left feeling so comfortable and welcomed. We knew that we had found our church family.

A few years before we moved to Brown County, both of us had felt a sense of unfulfilling disappointment in our Catholic Church affiliation. We had attended a small, non-denominational church in Indianapolis where we were both saved, and felt saddened when we moved and had to give up our membership in the church. We had hoped to find another church that would help us continue our salvation and devotion to God, our Creator, and Jesus, our Savior. After the first visit to the Country Gospel Music Church, we realized that we had found what we were looking for. Everyone welcomed us with open arms…and howdy hugs!

Now, we were facing the biggest challenge of our lives and we didn’t know how to tell our friends and family. When we left the doctor’s office that day, we asked Greg what he wanted us to do and he said that he wanted us to call his friends and tell them. He just couldn’t bring himself to do it. I could see the agonized look on his face and knew he was struggling so deeply with this blow to his survival. Of course, I did what he asked and went through many tortured, painful telephone conversations before the end of the day.

But, the agony was not over. I wanted to tell our church friends that next Sunday. It was so much more difficult in person than over the phone. But when I looked around and saw all the tears, I knew that we had a support system that was suffering right along with us. They reached out to us that day and never turned back.

At the hospital on October 15, 2002, we arrived before 6:00 a.m., as per the doctor’s instructions, and Pastor Paul Wenning was sitting there already, waiting for us. He had driven from Greensburg, Indiana to be with us. What a wonderful, Christian gesture! I was so touched and gratified to see him there!

As the morning proceeded, more and more people from the church showed up to lend us their support in the waiting room. The wait was long and strained, but our church friends stayed with us the entire time. Phyllis and Don Chadd brought food. Dale Lashbrook came from Salem, Indiana. How privileged we felt to have such wonderful friends in Christ!

After eight hours of waiting, my patience and courage was waning. One of my friends asked Pastor Paul to have us all join hands and pray. As soon as we had finished, the neurosurgeons came out, and most of our group was still there to hear the exciting news. Greg’s tumor was out; it was benign; and they considered the surgery a cure! If there was any doubt in anyone’s mind about the power of prayer, it was quickly erased after this stunning series of events. Lots more hugs were exchanged that afternoon before everyone left…except Pastor Paul. He stayed with us until Greg was out of surgery and in ICU. The three of us went in to see Greg and he asked Pastor Paul to say a prayer for him. Greg was so grateful to have the surgery over and the relief just spilled from his body. He thanked Pastor Paul for caring for him and praying. He knew that prayer had gotten him through one of the worst days of his life. I silently joined in on this expression of gratitude.

Several setbacks have occurred over the years since that surgery, but I have a strong family and any test of our faith has been met successfully in the knowledge that we are saved and God is with us.

Greg underwent another surgery in December, 2004, for the removal of a growth hormone tumor on his pituitary gland. Unfortunately the doctors were unable to remove the entire tumor, and he has been left with a condition called Acromegaly. He must go in for a shot every month. Acromegaly is also known as Giantism, and it can be harmful to a person’s organs unless treated with the monthly shot. Heart disease, diabetes, and other medical problems can result. We continue to monitor the residual tumor and look to future options if needed. The tumor is very close to the cavernous sinus and it cannot be removed if it has grown into that area. Bleeding is a concern that makes it too dangerous. So we are looking at gamma knife treatment if and when it becomes necessary.

But I am eternally grateful to have Greg with us. He was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea and will be going in for fitting with a CPAP machine. This is more than likely another complication of the Acromegaly. We have also learned that Greg has a cyst where the other tumor was removed. The cyst will fill up with fluid over time and we will have to watch for any signs of increased pressure on the brain. And, the type of tumor that Greg had removed at the first site has a tendency to re-grow, and even become malignant over time.

But, I have been blessed with so many positive events since the surgeries. Our middle son, Jeff, recently joined the Country Gospel Music Church, and Greg has indicated that he plans to join soon. My faith in our heavenly Father has strengthened and I know that He will help me through any crises that come my way.

Our family is a living testament to the power of prayer. Through it all we have stuck together and looked to our Lord for help. Joy does come in the morning!

Jennifer Seet

A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE

by Gary Britt

I accepted Jesus when I was nineteen years old. God has blessed me with a loving wife and two sons, James David and Mark Lee.

Over nine and a half years ago I was rescued from death by a miracle. I had joined a group of five hundred for a long biking vacation. The group rode from Bloomington, Indiana to Spring Mill State Park on the first day. On the way I hit a dog and the fall broke my helmet which stuck in my head and knocked me unconscious. My friends who were present told me that I lost so much blood that a fire truck had to be called to wash the blood from the highway.

Four nurses were following me and quickly performed a tracheotomy because my mouth was locked shut. I am certain this was God’s way of seeing me through the accident.

I was unconscious for eighteen days. I was told that I had no face because my face was so badly swollen. My son, Mark, said I progressed every day to the amazement of everyone. This is just more evidence of God’s work.

I was off from work for nine months because the doctors said my brain would not stand the pressure. During that time I went back to school and became a massage therapist. There I met my wife, Barbara. God has extremely blessed me with her.

David had a disease when he was two years old that caused his spleen to capture all of his white blood cells and caused him to bleed internally when he was picked up. There is still no cure for this disease according to doctors. At the hospital he was given so much Cortisone that he looked like a Pillsbury dough boy. That was thirty-two years ago. We were fortunate to be in a prayer revival at the Pentecostal Church in Bedford Indiana. He was healed instantly. He is now a Chiropractor in New Zeeland, Michigan with four children of his own. They attend the Catholic Church.

My son, Mark, majored in piano in college but changed his major to voice. He received his Masters Degree in Piano Pedagogy which means that he accompanied singers. He had a job at the Grand Hotel in Mackinaw, Michigan where he played the piano three hours a day seven days a week. While there he became afflicted with MS and lost some dexterity in his hands and had to quit the job. He went back to college and became a piano tuner. I told him not to accept this disease from Satan and he hasn’t. He is now fine tuning pianos for Steinway in New York.