Yoder Family Accident Recovery Update

19 Jan 2011

by Liz Cutler Gates

Mike Yoder (Grace Brethren International Missions) and his family were involved in a serious auto accident the week of Christmas. Here is an edited recent update from Mike.We hope this finds you well. Our hearts are deeply grateful for God’s goodness and healing power in the first days of 2011. So many of you have encouraged us with cards, calls, gifts, meals, and kind words. THANK YOU!

Over two weeks have passed since we last updated you on our recovery. Hannah and Cedric are back in school with seemingly no ill-effects from the accident. The pediatrician gave a positive report. Renewed recess and PE class beckon at the end of January. The oral surgeon thinks that Alecia‘s gums are healing and there are decent chances of “saving” a couple baby teeth. She radiates joy and has been a model patient during her check-ups.Joshua has been healing beyond our best hopes. We’ve taken multiple trips each week to the University of Chicago clinics to see the ophthalmologist and plastic surgeon. (Thankfully, those hour-long trips will be decreasing in frequency.) His skull and facial fractures are healing well.As for his eye, they had originally concluded that one of the two tear ducts in the right eye was damaged beyond repair. However, there are signs that it may be partially reconstituting itself. This, of course, is God’s power. Pray for further healing. Facial scars are the other remaining long-term issue, but Joshua doesn’t seem overly concerned with this. We also saw the neurosurgeon this week, and he gave his approval for Joshua to return to school on Wednesday. We praise God that Joshua’s brain sustained no permanent injury.

All of doctors have been outstanding. Of the surgeons, we were amazed that all

Thanks for your prayers for a car. Our previous auto was completely totaled. Because of the year-end timeframe, we were able to get a good deal on another Odyssey. Speaking of the car, we remain in awe that neither Letitia nor I was injured, thus allowing for us to care for our kids immediately after the accident.

Our two sets of parents have been a help beyond words in recent weeks. We thank God that they could each spend well over a week with us, caring for various home, car, medical, and family needs. Our children are very blessed to have such grandparents.

Many of you were aware that I was scheduled to be in Chad (Africa) for three weeks beginning January 17. The development of a training school for African evangelists and church planters is the centerpiece of our time there. Unfortunately, because of the accident and subsequent family responsibilities, I am unable to make this trip.

I would ask you to pray especially for Larry DeArmey and Keith Shearer (veteran Grace Brethren missionary and pastor, respectively) in my absence. Both of them have much experience in central Africa. The opportunities which they will be assessing are many, so pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray for my involvement from afar in several projects for African leaders.

Life is otherwise slowly returning to our “new normal”. We are swimming in insurance and medical paperwork, but we are grateful for people who have been courteous and helpful in getting things processed.

People like us, involved in ministry leadership and cross-cultural endeavors, have a penchant for grand strategies and future plans. But recent weeks have reminded us that God can accelerate, brake, and steer our lives as He decides.

The end of 2010 was a big brake – forcing us to await His timing, depend on His healing, and allow others to care for us when we could give little in return. We realize anew how precious life, health, friends, and faith really are. While we would not wish our experience on anyone, we are grateful that the Lord is good and has our best interests in mind. Pray that we would have eyes and ears to perceive what He wants to teach us.

We wish each of you God’s best in 2011 and look forward to seeing many of you this year. Thanks for your prayers for us.

In Christ,

Mike and Letitia

Hannah, Joshua, Cedric, Alecia