Monthly Archives: July 2009

Dear friends and family,
  Forgive this form letter, but we do want each one to know that your expressions of love and regrets are being taken directly into our hearts.  We as a family praise God for the wonderful time that we could have Dawn here on earth with us.  We are sorrowful, but not forsaken, and it is because of people like you who care, and are lifting us up to the throne of God.  Gloriously, we sorrow not as though who have no hope, because we know where Dawn is right now, enjoying fellowship with the One who created her and worshipping at His feet, the same way she lived her life.  She was the best example of someone  who walked with God, and I was privileged to be her husband!   Although we may not sleep, we are securely safe in God’s perfect love, and his perfect timing.  God bless you for your prayers and support during this time.
 
Jon Yoder and family

 
The funeral will be 2:00 pm Saturday, July 11 at First Assembly of God Church on Main Street in Atmore.  There will be a viewing from 4-9 pm Friday July 10 at Mennonite Christian Fellowship, 245 Tennant Drive, Atmore, AL 36502, and also prior to the service on Saturday.  We treasure your prayers during this time.

Dawn, our amazing mother, wife, daughter has been declared brain dead by 2 doctors, with her EEG showing no activity.  We believe that she entered heaven instantaneously 2 days ago, but we are now as a family turning her body over to the organ donation center of Alabama, so that she may share her life with others.  That is typical of the life she lived, and it is so much like her.  We will miss her, but we know she is in God’s protective care, and we want to praise Him for his faithfulness.  I write with this tears in my eyes, but with joy in my heart as Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints.  And she definitely received “Well done, thou faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.  She is free at last!   Jon, Robert, Kristin, Amber, and Stephen and all the family

Update:

There is not much to say except that things are really, really uncertain right now.  The damage to Dawn’s brain is extensive, and there really is not much hope.  We know that our God is a God of miracles, and we know that He can change things even now, but if not — Does that mean He isn’t God?

I’ve been thinking so much about Dawn and wondering so many things —

What was on your mind, as you stepped into that ordinary morning?
Trash to be taken out, blueberries to pick.
So conscious of your Heavenly Father,
Such an incredible wife,
So very nurturing as a Mom.
So alert to the needs around you,
So faithful as a friend.

Ah, Dawn, what have you already seen?
Can you see your family keep their loving vigil?
Do you see us praying desperate prayers?
Do you know how much we want you back?
Do you hear the angels singing and your Father’s voice?
Do you feel the pull of Heaven and light and perfect health?

We want to ask “why” (and we do, we do!!!)
Somewhere in these desperate hours
We wait and wish for an august explanation,
And bang our prayers like bloodied hands against
The wall that stands between the known and where you are.
And wait.  Our tears an offering of our love.

Please Pray for my cousin and his family:

We got word this morning that Dr. Jonathan Yoder’s wife, Dawn (Good) Yoder, of Atmore Alabama was struck by lightening while taking out the trash.  Details are sketchy — initially they didn’t hold much hope for her survival.  However, they did find a pulse, and she is on her way to Mobile.  She is breathing at least some on her own, but things are really “iffy.” 

We have seen God do mavelous things over and over again.  May He be pleased to intervene on behalf of this family NOW!!!

 This update from Jon–

Thanks for the prayers–Dawn is at Springhill Memorial Hospital in Mobile, and just had a heart cath which was normal.  She is stable from the standpoint of blood pressure and heart, but the main concern is her brain and its function after being without oxygen for as long as 10-15 minutes.  Please pray that the damage there will be minimal; We should know something in 24-48 hours.
  What happened was that Dawn was taking the trash out this morning, and was struck by lightning around 8:45 am.  Stephen was at home and saw the lightning, but Dawn had a note that she was going to be picking blueberries at the neighbors, so he didn’t look for her.  A friend from church found Dawn in the front yard unconscious and not breathing, and we are not sure how long that was.  She was in V-fib when she got to the hospital, but they were able to get all of that back.  She is an amazing lady, and if anyone can recover, it will be her…with God’s help—Jon and family

Another update:

Hello to all!  This is an update on Mom.  We really don’t have a lot of new information.  She is still comatose but her vital signs are stable.  The CT scan of her head showed bilateral subarachnoid hemorrhage, but her main problem continues to be anoxic brain injury.  In other words, she has bleeding on the brain and probably had an extensive period without oxygen to the brain.  So at this point, we just have to wait and see and see what the extent of the brain injury is going to be.  She still has not responded in any way.  The neurosurgeon just went in to see her. Thanks so much for all the calls, prayers, and encouragement.  We can really feel the support of the body of Christ.  We will try to send updates as we find out more.  Keep praying for God’s will, peace, strength, and wisdom for the decisions ahead. 
Kristin for the Yoders

Please, please, please keep praying!!!

THE PICNIC

Some of you are regulars at the fourth of July picnic at our house, but I did want to post a reminder in case anyone needed added impetus to make it here.

When Certain Man and I moved to Delaware from Ohio, one of the things we missed was the Labor Day Picnic that was held at United Bethel.  It was something people looked forward to year after year, and it was a great time to  get together, visit, have fun, play games, and enjoy some good food. 

One year, shortly after we moved to Milford from Greenwood, the church from Brooklyn, New York, came down over the fourth of July.  It seemed like a fun thing to make a picnic that day.  There were lots of inner city people who had very little exposure to country life. We were newly settled in at Shady Acres, but Certain Man thought that our little corner of God’s earth would be the perfect place to have it.  And that is where it all began.

There will be relays

And Food

Hopefully, a train ride

This was certainly a while ago!!!

Fellowship

(Are two “fellows in the same boat” the same as “Two fellows in the same ship”????)

Just lots of good fun1

When:  3:00 Today, July 4, 2009

Where:  Here at Shady Acres

Who:  Anybody who wants to come

Bring your favorite picnic food, lawn chairs, blankets, etc.
We have some riding toys, but often the small fry like to bring their own bikes, trikes, etc.
Hotdogs, hamburgers will be provided (bring your own rolls– and take home what doesn’t get eaten, please!)
We plan to churn several tubs of homemade ice cream after supper.
Bring on the strong arms and co-operative spirits.

Hope to see you there!!!

Remember these???

I have a very big problem.

Someone borrowed these sacks for some kind of a party, and I don’t remember who did.

We have our annual fourth of July picnic on Saturday, and we NEED them for our annual sack races.

I attempted to buy some new ones and they aren’t available.

I could get Halloween ones, but I am not impressed!

If you know where these are, PLEASE call me ASAP!!!

If you have a dozen sacks that we could borrow if these don’t show up,

PLEASE call me ASAP!!!

THANKS!!!

302-422-5952