He has carried me

January 5, 2011

Dear Friends,

Here is another update on my health, for all of you who have been keeping up with me in regards to all that has transpired this past year.

At the end of December, I had an appointment with my surgeon for a routine checkup on my healing process after surgery four months ago. It's hard to believe so much time has gone by already! God has been faithful to do His work in my body, and I am continuing to trust Him for complete healing.

Results from my blood work came back normal, where before the cancer marking levels were extremely elevated. My scar is healing well, and everything else seems to be doing great. My doctor said I should be able to do anything I want now, though I know I need to work on bringing my strength back to what it used to be before my operation.

Personally, I feel very healthy, though I know that some things in my body will still take a while to be restored to complete health. I am continuing to follow a high alkaline diet recommended by my personal health practitioner. Some people have asked me how long I will continue with such a strict diet. I can't say I know the time frame, but I am taking each day as it comes, and trusting the Lord to guide me. I feel comfortable following the advice of my natural doctor, and healing my body the way God intended.

Michail (a.k.a. Misha), my beloved, is continuing to heal from his bedsores. His recovery has been long and trying, but not unprofitable. At Misha's last checkup with his wound doctor, the report was good, and very soon he will be able to be up and around like before. Hopefully by February things will be able to pick up their normal pace. One sore has almost completely closed up, and the other will follow soon. We are praising the Lord for His healing in both of our lives.

Our relationship has been blossoming in spite of the circumstances that have threatened to create a lot of stress and hardship in our lives. God has taught us how to use our difficulties to return praise back to Him. Together we are learning how to trust. Our Father has been teaching us how to stand up under pressure, so that we can in turn help those who find themselves in similar circumstances. He has not taken away our sufferings, but enabled us to grow, to overcome and to learn through them. I am blessed by how closely the Lord has interwoven our hearts in 2010, and look forward to the future that the Father Himself has been preparing for us. Michail and I are continuing to trust the Lord to provide financially, as I am unemployed since my operation. Please pray with me about getting a job, or some way to help cover expenses. There are high costs associated with the vitamins I am taking to regain my health. In addition, there are outstanding hospital bills yet to be paid.

My Grandma passed away on December 30 after struggling for quite some time with Dementia. I am glad that she is now no longer in pain, and is in the presence of our Lord. My family an I are in Missouri presently, as her funeral service was held yesterday, January 4. My mom and her family have a lot of sorting to do pertaining to what my grandmother left behind.

Please continue to keep my mom and her family in your prayers. Grandma had 10 children, 26 grandkids, and 11 grandkids. We all miss her.

Once again, I want to thank all of you for your prayers. I can't describe how blessed I am to have such a wall of support around me!

Blessings,

Melanie Phillips

Step by step He leads me

November 4, 2010

Greetings from Wisconsin!

I have just recently returned home from Missouri as my grandma has been experiencing poor health of late. She was admitted into the hospital because she was dehydrated, had low blood pressure, as well as a couple different infections, one being a mild case of pneumonia. Grandma has been doing poorly for a while, suffering from Dimentia of late, as well as Glaucoma for many years. About a month ago when my mom was visiting, Grandma made a conscious decision for Christ. We are praying that she feels His love and presence near her during this time of a lot of confusion and pain in her body. Grandma will probably be staying in the hospital for a while so the doctors can run some tests. Please remember her in prayer, as well as her many children and their families.

Thank you all for praying, and for standing behind me in my decision-making. I have been learning so much about trusting God this year, and this is just one more step for me. I have made a decision this past week to not have chemotherapy treatment, but rather to pursue health by natural means, involving change in my diet, and herbal supplements to bring my body back to health. It was a big decision to make, and I struggled a lot to know which way was the best way for me. I believe I have chosen a path that is not very popular, and yet one I believe will be the best for the sake of my health.

I had an appointment with my Naturopath today, and she sees good progress in my health, though I still have to work at getting my body back to a stronger state because of the cancer. One of my greatest points I need to work on is sleep, as so much healing can occur while resting. I can sleep, but I need to get more sleep, by going to bed early.

Also, I want to express my gratitude for your prayer support for Michail during his long recovery period from his bed sores. He is still slowly but surely getting better, and has been able to begin to function a bit more normally this past week, as he has been able to spend even more time up in his wheel chair, and not in bed all the time. We both still covet your prayers for a total and complete recovery!

Again, I cannot say enough how thankful I am for you all. You have helped me to keep going during one of the hardest years of my life. Don't ever feel like you are not helping someone by praying for them. I can truly say that the peace that I have felt through my trial with cancer has been tremendous, and I know it is a result of you holding me up in prayer before the Lord, night and day.

This passage of scripture has been my testimony. God has allowed all that I have been facing to use it later in my life as a message to bring to others who may be experiencing the same suffering.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” 11 Corinthians 1:3-11

Thank you again for following me with these emails. I know I am apt to write a lot, so I appreciate those of you who take time to read these updates.

Blessings in the name of Yeshua,

Melanie

Blessed is he who believes when he cannot see

October 26, 2010

Greetings Dear Friends,

Thank you for remembering Michail and I in prayer. I have returned home to the United States, following a two week visit in Canada. I left Michail in a much improved condition, praise God!

Michail saw a wound care specialist doctor (Oct.18), and he received good news, just as I had specifically prayed. The doctor was able to debride(remove effected tissues) of one sore, and he gave Michail permission to spend 1-2 hours a day in his wheelchair! This was awesome news for both of us. I was so glad to see God answer prayer.

The difficulty is not yet over, as Michail's recovery time will still be about at least four weeks. His first time up in his chair was great! We went for a walk in the beautiful Autumn weather. It was so good to see Michail up and getting around again, though it was tiring for him after a short time. Can't you just see the delight on both of our faces?

We realized how grateful we are for his wheelchair, after him being in bed for three weeks. Isn't it amazing how often we take things in life for granted?

Please continue to pray for my sweetie, as he is still slowly healing.

Pray that the sores will recover in a way that he can soon be back to normal. The latest news is that Michail is being treated with a laser light for his bed sores, and seems to have been experiencing much improvement because of it! We are truly grateful for all those who have helped to make Michail more comfortable, and all the ideas and helpful hints that you have shared with us.

In spite of the discomfort and inconvenience of being in bed all day long, the time Michail has spent down has not been worthless. He said that the Lord has been teaching him so much about surrender to the sovereignty of God and having patience to wait on the Lord.

The Lord has taught us both so much spiritually through all these trials and challenges. He has given us the opportunity to get to know each other more. We have enjoyed many times of prayer together and with other believers, as they have rallied around Michail at this time period. It is wonderful to see how the body of Christ comes together when one member of the body is weak.

Many friends from his church, and Messianic Fellowship have been coming on a regular basis, many of them bringing gifts of fresh fruit, vegetables and healthy snacks for both of us to enjoy. They have been very considerate of my current diet restrictions, and Michail has been very good about supporting me by joining me in my healthy alkaline diet.

Other friends have come from out of town, traveling a long way to both visit Michail, and to get to know me. It has been a blessing to get to know many of Michail's friends that have been supporting me in prayer since I received news about my health condition. Some of them have even contributed financially to help cover my Canadian hospital expenses before they even met me in person! The body of Christ is amazing!

We have also shared many mealtimes with some of Michail's unsaved friends as we believe for their salvation.

I am continuing to believe God for his provision. There is still a large outstanding amount owing for the Canadian hospital bill, and I currently do not have any income. However, I have personally witnessed how the Lord has been providing, and continues to provide in answer to prayer. One of the ways God has miraculously provided for me was the approval from the state of Wisconsin for full medical coverage of the expenses for my surgery in August and the hospital stay that followed. Thank you Yahweh-Jireh – my Provider! His grace continues to amaze me every new day.

Thank you to all of you for your prayers, love, and letters of encouragement. You have blessed me beyond words. Please continue to believe with me for my total healing, and Michail's recovery from bedsores, and also his total healing from paralysis.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

Melanie

Please pray for us!

Dear Friends,

I am writing with an urgent prayer request for my dear Michail. Three weeks ago, he develoved 2 bed sores, and has since then been confined to his bed, only able to lay on his right or left side, and sitting up is impossible.

He has been having some care, but, it seems, not the best, as the condition of the sore seems to just worsen.

Please pray for him, emotionally, as this is very tough on him. He has been learning a lot spiritually, as he has had so much time to be down. The Lord has been speaking to him about surrender and patience, but I know, personally, as I have been able to be with him for the past 2 weeks, that it is very hard on him. Already being limited to a wheelchair, it is extra tough to have to now be limited to his bed.

We would both appreciate your prayers, as this is very tough on me as well. I want to help him so much, and do all that I can, and I feel so helpless. I can't give him the help he needs, and yet I know it has been a blessing for both of us to have had this time to spend with eachother in spite of the circumstances. It is almost comical how we have run into this kind of situation so often since we have known each other. Either I am down and he is lifting me up, or he is weak, and I am trying to be encouraging to him.

Personally, I am doing well, in spite of getting over a cold that I have picked up in Canada, during my stay here. Otherwise, I am feeling great. I am recovering very well following my operation, and am currently following a very strict raw foods diet given by a Naturopath that I am seeing. I am still trusting the Lord to show me what steps to take to best care for my body. Right now I am honestly not thinking much about myself, since Michail is suffering so much. I hurt for him. I wish I could help to make it all better, but at this point I have to simply, and again, trust God. That is what I keep being brought back to. Why there has been so much of this in my life right now, only He knows. I want to accept what comes my way with understanding that He knows why.

I appreciate all your prayers. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

God bless you, dear ones,

Melanie

God is stronger

updates coming soon.

i appreciate your prayers and your patience.

my God is so strong-ya know that?

you know what else?

you have to be weak

to really be able to feel

His strength in your life...oh yeah.

Surgery

Tomorrow(Tuesday) morning I will be going into surgery at 7:30am to remove a football size mass on my left ovary. It is uncertain what type of tumor/cyst I have until after the operation when it is sent for testing.

I have been in a lot of pain the past few days, because I have had a change in my pain medication to prepare for the operation. The medication I am currently on has not helped with the pain as much.

The surgery is scheduled to last for about 2-3 hours, depending on what they find after testing the tumor after removal. If the tumor is found to be malignant, then they will have to go back in and do a biopsy of other things. We are praying that this is unnecessary, and that the surgery will remove the mass intact and leave nothing behind. It will be major surgery for this reason. They want to remove it in one piece. Following the surgery, I will have a few days to recover in the hospital before returning home to my family's house in Milwaukee.

I want to extend many thanks to all that have helped out with my brothers and sisters while my parents were in Canada, and all those who have unceasingly prayed for me. Thank you so much! The way you have expressed your love and devotion has touched my heart in ways that I could never have imagined!

Please continue to keep my family in your prayers. This has been a hard trial for them. They have been real troupers, but have been through so much already to try and do the best for me, and keep me comfortable.

We will definitely try to keep everyone updated, but please be patient with us if there is no response for a while. Phone calls will probably be the best way to get a hold of my family, if not on facebook.

Emotionally, I have been doing well, for the most part. At times, I have definitely struggled a lot. But God has really encouraged me to see that He has a bigger plan in mind. I am excited to see what testimony He is going to bring out of this! The Lord has been my strength. I would not be able to go on without Him.

Michail is currently on his way from Canada to be near me during my surgery and recovery. I am blessed to have such an awesome man in my life who loves me and cares about me before himself.

I love you! Hugs to you all.

melanie

He is my Defense. I shall not be moved!

Dear Friends,
I don't know how many of you have been following the details of my present condition on facebook, but here I will attempt to give a more detailed update.

I am still in Canada, and will be remaining here for a while I suspect, as the health procedures necessary for my condition are more affordable here than in the states, as I have no health coverage there, nor here, for that matter. Yet, even in this, there will still be a considerable amount of hospital bills, and in spite of my current low income situation, I know that somehow the Lord is going to provide all the finances needed.

God has graciously allowed me to be here with dear friends for this time- Michail's family-and I really believe God has His hand on this whole situation. The support I have been receiving has so encouraged me to keep on, and keep my eyes on my Father. I have been fearful, and have struggled a lot, but the Lord has been my help.

I returned to the hospital for an MRI following an ultrasound, which confirmed what the doctors suspected. I have a very large growth on my left ovary, the size of a football. Shocking, yes. I am not quite sure what to make of it, but God knows.

I saw a gynecologist the day after the MRI, and she confirmed that I needed surgery to have it removed as soon as possible. We are waiting for he hospital to call us back regarding the date of the surgery, as I have been placed on an emergency cancellation list. The doctor said that [unless God intervenes] I will definitely lose my left ovary, and they are not sure about the right ovary, as the size of the mass keeps them from being able to see very clearly before operating. We are praying the surgery can begin tomorrow.

For a woman, obviously this is a very serious thing, especially at my age, and being single. We are praying for a miracle, and even the preservation of the left ovary, should the Lord be so gracious.
Also, though this condition is not uncommon for a woman of my age, it is not very common for it to be this size. They will not know the type of tumor/cyst it is until they have removed it and can send it for testing. Of course it will be tested for cancer, etc.

My parents were able to get their passports expedited very quickly and make it to Canada, after quite a procedure, and many, many praying friends and family interceding on their behalf.

They drove to the passport office in Detroit, MI, and walked out with their passports in one hour! Praise the Lord. I am so glad they can be here to support me, and they are glad to be near me, of course, during this tough time.

Of course, because I do not know the outcome of this surgery, or what will follow, I am very unsure about the future in regards to my upcoming missions trip to Moldova.
As you can imagine, all of my attempt at beginning to raise support for my trip has been put on hold, as I have been in an intense amount of pain, have been in and out of the emergency room and hospital, and have been on pain medication round the clock-which only seems to take a small edge off the discomfort I am feeling.

Only God knows, of course. All I can say is, I can do no preparation ahead of time at this point. I am away from home, and may be for an extended period of time, depending on the results of my surgery.

Please freely tell anyone you can about me. I can use all the prayer I can get.
Thank you so much for all your prayer support and encouraging words. I will try to keep you updated as much as possible. If I am unable, I am sure my family will try to post news on facebook.
I am blessed beyond words because of all the awesome support I have been getting from home, in Canada, and around the world. The Body of Christ is so indescribable!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!