Stories of Wholeness

The Cost of Travel

Twenty-three year old Bill had acute Lymphatic Leukemia which required extensive treatment for six to eight weeks at a location eight hours away from his family home. The cost of travel and accommodation so a family member could be with him created a major financial challenge for the family. A MAX Canada Share Fund grant (more than matched by the generosity of the family’s Mennonite Church) allowed the family to be with Bill during treatments and greatly reduced the financial stress for the family.

Help During Displacement

Thankfully no one was harmed when one family of six lost their home to a fire. A second note of thanks was that they were insured properly. However—being displaced and needing to find alternate accommodation for several months was traumatic. The claims department response was quick and thorough. Their local Evangelical Mennonite Mission congregation, neighbours, and the Red Cross provided wonderful emotional and spiritual support. The family agreed to allow MAM share their story as a prayer concern on the MAX Support Network Ministry. This family has been so thankful for all the support they have received.

Weather Causes Unexpected Losses

A farm family in rural Manitoba lost 700 breeder chickens due to heat prostration during the summer of 2007—a summer which recorded record levels of heat and humidity. This risk was not covered by their farm insurance policy since such coverage was not felt necessary in their area. The direct loss to the farming operation was estimated at $21,000, doubling when indirect costs were factored in. MAM was invited to assist by the broker serving this member and agreed to aid with a special grant.

Listening and Learning

The MAX team was recently working with a member regarding a necessary electrical inspection. In the process, they also learned this family was having more than an insurance issue.

The husband had suffered a stroke, was bed fast and unable to care for himself - leaving his wife responsible for his care and therefore unable to work. With the only source of income being the husband's disability check, it made it difficult to take care of this insurance need even though the wholeness of their safety and well-being was at risk due to the electrical system.

The MAX team sought the involvement of Mutual Aid Ministries to help with the cost of the inspection and possible repairs. Any time MAM becomes involved with situations like this, they meet first with the member's congregational leadership. This meeting uncovered another need in addition to the electrical inspection. The family was raising money for a lift for the husband because it was becoming increasingly difficult to move him. They were short $500 and MAM provided a financial grant to cover the cost.

The wife of a couple co-pastoring half-time at a Mennonite church required surgery requiring her to be off work for 6-8 weeks. Some very costly medication required was beyond their means. Furthermore the surgery meant lost wages for her and also lost earnings for her spouse since he had to assume more pastoral duties. Their congregation was most generous in its support, assisted with a MAX Canada Share Fund grant.

Obtaining Proper Protection

A widow living by herself had wood heat as her only heat source. MAX Canada underwriting rules determined she could not obtain insurance until some secondary heat source was installed. Not having the financial resources to meet the requirement, Mutual Aid Ministries contacted two local Mennonite Congregations who agreed to assist. Combining the assistance from the congregations with a MAX Canada Share Fund grant and some resources she could manage herself, provided sufficient funds to install electric baseboard backup heating for the home. With this accomplished, she was able to obtain the protection of an insurance policy.

Working Together to Make the Repair

One member of a local congregation needed significant assistance in replacing a hot water tank which was a part of the heating and cooling system of the house. In partnership with the local congregation and a state organization which serves disabled persons, the MAX Share Fund enabled this repair to be made.

One Grant = Great Help

Jacob and Katharina already struggling financially, live in a home that has serious water problems in the unfinished basement. Heavy rains in early spring caused unusual amounts of water to enter the basement and knocked out their hot water heater and the electrical controls to their well pump. The items were repaired but they were unable to pay for the repairs. With a grant from the MAX Canada Share Fund and assistance from their church community, the repairs were paid for.

One Problem Leading to Another

A broken water softener hose created a flood in the finished basement of a couple in their early sixties. While checking out the motors and equipment in their basement to ensure no further damage had been done by the water, a furnace technician discovered a cracked heat exchanger and was forced to condemn the furnace immediately. The husband is suffering from terminal bone cancer and the family has a limited income since he has been on disability for several years. Through the claims process, MAM became aware of this situation and in working with their congregation were able to provide them with a grant to assist with the cost of replacing their furnace.

Generous Support

The wife of a couple co-pastoring half-time at a Mennonite church required surgery requiring her to be off work for 6-8 weeks. Some very costly medication required was beyond their means. Furthermore the surgery meant lost wages for her and also lost earnings for her spouse since he had to assume more pastoral duties. Their congregation was most generous in its support, assisted with a MAX Canada Share Fund grant.

A Young Man Seriously Injured

A young man was seriously injured in a car accident in 2006 and has undergone a number of surgeries since. The accident also impacted him psychologically with the result that some unfortunate financial decisions were made. No longer able to afford to maintain their home, he and his spouse put it up for sale and moved in with family. Unfortunately the furnace malfunctioned and some pipes froze resulting in damage to some walls and ceilings, impacting the potential home sale. There was no insurance coverage for this loss in a vacant home. They did not have the funds to do the cleanup and repair. Poor health prevented the homeowner from doing any of the work. With the help of the congregation’s Mennonite Disaster Service contact and a group of willing congregational volunteers, the damage was cleaned up. A MAX Canada Share Fund grant assisted in making the home saleable at a fair market value.

Assisting in a Grandson's Education

The sudden death of an eleven year old boy’s single mother due to a virulent virus, meant his grandparents now needed to look after their grandchild. An Education Trust Fund established at a local credit union was set up by church and friends to assist in supporting Jonathan and hopefully ensuring that he can continue to be educated in Christian schools, something very important to his mother and grandparents. A MAX Canada Share Fund grant assisted in the development of the trust fund.

Establishing a Family Farm

Establishing a family farm in today’s environment is difficult. Establishing a hog farm is almost impossible when experienced in the context of the crash of the Canadian hog market as has occurred in the last few years. This was what happened to a prairie family. They lost their hog business and due to farm bankruptcy was advised. However, this family was courageously determined to avoid this route and pay their creditors in full. To remain true to their ideals they re-mortgaged their future and struggled and pay off their mostly patient creditors. MAX Canada was pleased to provide a Share Fund grant to assist the congregation as it walked with and assisted this young family.

Help with Water Damage

A family was experiencing persistent water damage to their basement. Heavy spring rains in April created more damage. On inspection it was determined that their sump pump was pumping water from the basement outside against the foundation of the house where it reentered the home through a crack in the foundation wall. Mutual Aid Ministries contacted the local congregation’s mutual aid representative who interceded with the homeowner to have the foundation wall repaired by a reputable contractor, have the sump pump drain hooked into the city storm sewer and install a backup system for the sump pump in case of power failure. MAX Canada’s Share Fund was pleased to split the cost of repairs and materials with the congregation’s mutual aid fund.