Surgay is now in a nursing home in Minot, North Dakota. Though he still can’t move his legs or sit up, he is alert and trying to eat more solid food. They are giving him more physical therapy, although it is difficult for Surgay to sit and stand.
Understandably, Surgay’s wife Jan is quite concerned about Surgay and about their farm. Their son Surgay, Jr., is doing his best to sell their farm products so that expenses can be covered.
Please continue to pray for Surgay’s healing, for Jan and for the farm.
We are saddened to learn from Canadian National Board member Gerry Sinkler that his wife Maria passed away on September 30. Here is Gerry’s note (and click here for his earlier report).
Maria with her oldest brother Gerry Kosior
It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Maria passed away peacefully at 1:20 this morning. I was staying with her overnight so she was not alone.
Maria’s condition had deteriorated, and she was unresponsive for most of the last two days. Throughout the previous day, almost all of her close friends were able to stop by and see her.
Maria was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2010. Since then the cancer spread to her bones and liver. She was admitted to the Cross Cancer Institute on September 20th for treatment of her high calcium levels. Her condition gradually deteriorated while in hospital.
Though she suffered great pain at times, she still tried to do as much as possible, and enjoy life. She was still able to get around with the aid of her cane, a walker, and Brianna and me.
Two weeks ago, we attended a performance of the Edmonton Symphony together, and for a brief moment it was like old times; we were out on a date together, enjoying the show, with no pain and no worries.
Maria and I were married just over 25 years—our 25th anniversary was on September 27th.
Thank you all for your support and prayers during this time,
Gerry Sinkler
Maria was 51 years old at the time of death. In addition to her husband Gerry Sinkler, she is survived by her daughter Brianna Sinkler; brothers: Gerry (Karen) Kosior, Chris Kosior, and Daniel Kosior; sister Rita (Mike) Barnes, nephews: Jovon, Jeremy and Jack; nieces: Simone and Lindsey, as well as numerous other family and friends. She was predeceased by her parents John and Olive Kosior (Mikulin), and brother James Kosior. Maria’s memorial service will be held on October 5. Cards may be sent to:
Gerry Sinkler 13 Emery Ct St Albert, AB T8N 5T3 CANADA
This update from GCI Pastor Pedro Rufian in Spain, is a follow-up to the previous prayer request for his wife Brigida.
Thanks to God, we have good news! Brigida and I recently visited her doctor to receive the results of the biopsy of Brigida’s myoma. Her doctor said that the results were OK, and that there was not anything to worry about. She will continue taking iron tablets for her anemia and her doctor has set an appointment for a follow-up ultrasound.
Thank you for your prayers and concern for Brigida’s health. It is encouraging and reassuring to know that we are not alone in our needs but that many brothers and sisters are bringing them along with us in prayer before our loving and caring Father and Lord.
This update is from Canadian National Board member Gerry Sinkler concerning his wife Maria. It updates a prayer request in the March 16, 2011 Weekly Update.
It’s been a while since I gave an update on how my wife is doing and I want to request prayer for Maria, for our daughter Brianna and for myself.
In June 2010, Maria was diagnosed with breast cancer. It then spread to her bones and later to her liver. In April of this year, we went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for a review of her case and a second opinion regarding treatment options. Despite more aggressive treaments, Maria’s cancer continued to spread and now she may have only a couple of days left, maybe less. She isn’t in any distress, her face is clear and calm. Her breathing is quite shallow and she sleeps much of the time.
Briana and Maria
A couple of days ago, 21 people came to visit Maria, including 8 people from her office. Despite her condition, she insisted on having pictures taken with all of them. At one point she was sitting in her wheelchair and our daughter Brianna knelt down beside her so we could take their picture. Maria stopped and very slowly lifted her arm to put it around Brianna. It was heartbreaking.
We have done all we can for Maria physically, and before we left the other night, Brianna and I said a short prayer by her bedside leaving her in God’s merciful hands.
Thanks for your prayers.
Cards may be sent to:
Gerry Sinkler 13 Emery Ct St Albert, AB T8N 5T3 CANADA
Surgay is now in a rehabilitation hospital in Mandan, North Dakota. Though he sleeps a lot, he is able to talk some. Although he is able to drink some water, he is still being nourished intravenously. They have not yet begun his physical rehabilitation, so he is still bedridden. He may have to learn to walk all over again. They are working to determine the source of his internal bleeding. The blood loss was so significant that he was given a unit or two of blood to bring his hemoglobin count back up.
Thanks to the help of Farm Rescue and generous neighbors, Surgay’s farm work is caught up–nearly all of his wheat and flax have been harvested.
Surgay is not out of the woods, so please continue prayer on his behalf.
Aaron Armstrong, co-pastor of GCI’s Ground Zero Church in Englewood, Colorado tells us that he and his wife Sasha gave birth on September 6 to their first child, Brynn Helen Armstrong. She is a beautiful girl, weighing 7 lbs. and 20 inches long. However, amidst this joy there are some challenges. Sasha will be having surgery this week due to complications from the birth. Brynn has jaundice, and though she seems to be improving, test results are pending.
Please pray for Brynn, Sasha and Aaron.
Cards may be sent to:
Aaron & Sasha Armstrong 6750 S Riviera Ct, Suite 1028 Aurora, CO 80016-6062
Here is an update from Michael Wyatt-Paige concerning his wife LaVerne (click here for the last update).
Thank you for praying for my wife and family. Knowing that so many brothers and sisters in Christ are doing so is encouraging.
LaVerne has begun chemotherapy. So far, she is tolerating the process well. She attended church services this past Sunday, for the first time in two months. Praise God.
Surgay’s wife Jan tells us that he is being moved to a smaller facility in Mandan, North Dakota that is equipped to do the rehab he needs. He’s somewhat improved but has lost lots of weight.
As to long term, the current thinking is that Surgay will need most of the winter to recover but may be able to resume farm work by spring.
Please continue to remember the Kalamaha family in your prayers.
As we post this issue of GCI Weekly Update, hurricane Isaac has made landfall in southeastern Louisiana. The cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge, where GCI has congregations, and in the path of Isaac. Fortunately, its severity is less than predicted. However, Isaac is still quite powerful and many people are in harm’s way, with flooding a major concern.
Please pray for all those being impacted by Isaac, including GCI pastors Mike Horchak (Hammond, LA); Anthony Rice (Baton Rouge, LA); Richard Young (Lake Charles, LA); John Novick (Hattiesburg, MS); Leonard Tillotson (Natchez, MS); Andrew Britton (Mobile, AL); Phil Nichols (Monroeville, AL); and GCI ministry developer Ted Johnston (Foley, AL).
Despite these concerns, there is some good news. Over the next several days, it appears that as Isaac travels north, it will bring badly needed rain to the drought-stricken areas in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys (see the map above). Please pray about this situation as well.
This update is from Eugene Guzon, GCI national director in the Philippines.
Pastor Jessup Bahinting
We are saddened to report that GCI Philippines Pastor Jessup Bahinting died last Saturday in a plane crash.
In addition to serving as an Area Superintendent for GCI in the Philippines, Jessup owned a charter flight and flying school business. At the time of the crash he was piloting a flight transporting Secretary Jesse Robredo to Naga City in the Philippines. Jesse, who also died in the crash, was a top ranking member of the cabinet of the Philippine president, serving as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government. Kshitiz Chand, the Nepalese co-pilot and one of Jessup’s flying school students, also died in the crash.
About 30 minutes after takeoff, the plane’s right engine and propeller went dead, so it was decided to divert to the nearest airport which was in Masbate. However, the plane didn’t make it and dropped into the sea only 100 meters from the Masbate airport runway.
Jessup was working as a commercial pilot when he entered the GCI pastorate. In the mid-1990s, when the church was going through financial stress due to its doctrinal changes, he volunteered to leave the employ of the church so that others could keep their jobs. He returned to his former employment as a commercial pilot and later started his flight business. It grew to become one of the largest in the Philippines with about 100 employees and students from about 20 countries.
While running the business, Jessup continued serving in GCI ministry—most recently as Area Superintendent for the Visayas Region. In this ministry, he often traveled to remote areas in the Philippines to deliver relief goods following disasters. In Cebu, he is considered a hero for his willingness to use his planes and other resources to airlift poor patients from small islands to major city hospitals.
Jessup and Margie
Please pray for Pastor Bahinting’s widow Margie and their children Jemar (who lives in Plano, Texas), Dan and Sarah. Also pray for the families of Secretary Robredo and co-pilot Kshitiz Chandand. Please ask God to give them strength, comfort and peace in this time of grief.
