we are getting married!

Think, think, think...sometimes it is hard to know what to write when I sit down to update here. As I ponder, I am sitting down in the kitchen that will be my own in a few short months. For those who have not heard the news, I am getting married!
In January, Michail asked me to marry him, and I accepted with all my heart. We have set our wedding date for August 2, which I have begun to realize is not very far off! Shortly after our wedding, I will move to Canada with my Beloved.

We will take up residence in the home that Michail has prepared for us in London, Ontario.

Now I am in the midst of a lot of wedding planning. I am struggling to keep myself stress-free in the middle of thoughts that want to run in all directions, even when I am sleeping!
As I mentioned, I am in Canada, and Michail and I are working on making the most of our two weeks of time together to get as much accomplished as possible in preparation for our betrothal and wedding. Betrothal is the Biblical form of engagement. However, it is as binding as marriage, and at the betrothal we will exchange the same vows that we will on our wedding day, only in a more intimate, family setting. Michail will officially ask me to marry him, and will give me a ring!

While here in Canada, I am also getting my wedding dress altered, which I was able to find in January, thanks to my awesome cousin, who kept her eyes open for me! The story gets better though - the dress was only $50.00! Now tell me who buys a wedding dress for that crazy price? The size was much too large, but Michail's mom is an excellent seamstress, and is working hard on it for me! God is so good to me, and I am so grateful for the ways He is showing me that He cares.As for a health update, Michail is still recovering from one final bedsore, and we are praising the Lord that soon he will be able to be back to normal again, as the remaining sore is very small now. In all actuality Michail's recovery time has been quite rapid in light of how long these type of sores have been known to last.

Once more, I have been to the doctor for a 3 month checkup, and have returned with more good news! God has been faithful to continue to bring healing to my body following the removal of a malignant tumor last August. The cancer marker in my blood has come back even more favorable towards my recovery this time. I am still strictly following a high alkaline diet, which requires a lot of my time and effort, as well as self control, as I am avoiding eating a lot of foods that I have been accustomed to in the past. For those who may ask, this diet is a change in my lifestyle as well, as in order to keep my body healthy, I need to be careful to take extra care of it from now on. I have been eating carefully since August - following my operation. Michail has committed to help me by changing his diet also to make it easier for me. It has proved beneficial for him as well.
I am looking forward to helping plant my garden here in Canada (as we know Spring is just around the corner), as we will be reaping the fruit of it shortly after we are married! Thinking ahead is hard sometimes, but as I do, I would ask that you would remember us in your prayers as we both are making dramatic changes in our lives. Here are a few things to pray for on my end:

-My move to Canada, and all that this may involve, known and unknown
-transporting my things across the border, especially myself
-change of drivers license, and other legal paperwork
-health coverage until I become a permanent resident (Canada has socialized medicine)
-making the right connections with a doctor in Canada for my periodic checkups

-Wisdom for choosing and purchasing a bed that will suit Michail's needs and fit two :)

-Adjusting to life in a new country

-Learning the Russian language -for easier communication with Michail's mom

I appreciate you all so much, and though I may not know who exactly reads this, I am glad to be able to update you and share the good news of what God is doing in my life.

Blessings and Shalom!

With the changing of seasons comes lots of new beginnings

Dear friends,

I don't have too much to say, as I am going to update very soon. I do have a lot to say...

I know I sound confused, but as I am having another checkup with the doctor in a couple weeks, I will update then.

Thank you all for following this blog, and for remembering me in your prayers. I appreciate you guys!

Melanie

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.