Hello Dear Friends and Family,                                                     August 24th, 2007

Just wanted to get some quick news out to everyone:

We praise God that Daniel & Hannah Winter & Chloe Maddux returned safely from California after Daniel being held at gunpoint and their car being stolen. For those of you who want to read the rest of the story by Chloe, see the part at the end after the ============...

We praise God that our home church determined to give $2000 monthly!  That puts the total monthly support to 80% of what's needed to go.

We ask for much prayer.  As you may remember, our daughter Hannah that recently married was diagnosed with Lyme's disease.  This takes 12 to 24 months of aggressive treatment with antibiotics and other supplements to get rid of Lyme's and co-infections.  Recently, the rest of the family (except me - Daniel) had a Lyme's test (CD-57 NK) which showed a very heavy Lyme's load on everyone.  We will each be taking another test to get more diagnosis.  James 5:16 says that "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."  Please pray for our healing from Lyme's disease.  If He chooses not to do that then we'll have to weigh the advice from our doctors & advisors and re-evaluate our plans for Mozambique.  Obviously this is a difficult & sobering test for us.  So we really do appreciate your prayers that we would be honoring to Christ.

In His Covenant,

Daniel & Melissa Maddux

with Chloe, Elijah, and Esther

913-385-9831

Forwarding Agent:

B.E.A. (Daniel Maddux)

c/o Tom & Linda Ledford

31625 Summit Ridge Dr

Crystal Lakes, MO 64024

816-630-0918

================================================================

(Chloe writes...)

Hello everyone!

The short version: After being hijacked in Colorado, Daniel, Hannah and I got back safely last night, praise the Lord!

The long version, for those of you who don't mind skimming, I wrote this to some friends last night explaining the whole thing...

...

Many of you know about this, but some don t, so here s the story.

 

Daniel and Hannah have been out in California for a three-month "honeymoon", and had decided to come back to Kansas this week (by car). So I went out to visit them last Monday, and planned on coming back with them to Kansas .

 

We left California on Monday. The car was absolutely loaded down with all of Daniel and Hannah s things.

Were having a lovely trip.

On Tuesday, I kept asking the Father, "Make me a better soldier for You I m such a wimp." Smile.

 

On Wednesday at about 3:00, we were in Colorado Springs , and stopped at a friendly neighborhood Taco Bell. Hannah and I went straight in to the bathrooms, while Daniel was still in the car, getting his wallet and cell phone.

While we girls were inside, three younger Hispanics (2 guys, and a girl) went over to our car, where Daniel was just getting out. One of the guys pulled out a gun, cocked it, and told Daniel to drop the cell phone, hand over the keys, and his wallet. Of course, Daniel, being the level-headed guy that he is, argued his way out of giving up his wallet (just gave the guy some money), and tried to talk the guy out of taking the car. Didn t work, though. All three got in and drove off. Daniel ran inside, grabbed somebody s cell, called the police (this is when we girls came out of the bathroom).

Don t panic. Police come. We talk with them for a long time. Even laugh.

 

& When I had first gone into Taco Bell I was saying to myself, "You are a warrior bride. His. You can walk around as though you are fifty feet tall. You have all Power, Authority, Love, Grace, Peace, and Joy behind you. You are a warrior bride." ...

 

The reality started hitting us: stuck in Colorado Springs , no car, all of our belongings, gone. And I kept reminding Hannah that these things can t shake us, because we are His warrior brides.

 

Police left. Were shown amazing kindness from everyone who worked at Taco Bell. Needed a place to go, so I called Summit Ministries (a Christian worldview "camp" in Co. Springs that I had gone to a few years ago), knowing that we d have friends there. They sent someone to get us, and provided us with a cabin to stay in, a phone, and food. Thank you, Father.

 

It was rather stressful to say the least. Mainly because Hannah was taking it very hard. And it s no wonder. Almost all of her wedding presents (including family keepsakes and more than 400$ worth of gift certificates), clothes, journals (that she had written for Daniel, and that they had both written during their courtship), photo albums, recipe box (she had spent a lot of time on this), memories from their courtship, medicine (expensive) for Lyme s disease, etc. etc. etc: gone. Of course, she knew the truth, and we kept reminding her, the Father knew, would provide for all our needs as we put our trust in Him. But she was sad (understandably so) thinking of all the sentimental things that couldn t be replaced. She cried all through the night. All the while, Daniel being an amazing husband, support and comfort to her.

 

We couldn t stop thanking the Father, as we realized that Daniel could have been killed, and Hannah a widow.

 

My Mom came to the rescue, and drove all through the night up to Colorado , and got us this morning. We ve been driving back all day. Hannah still in tears, and lots of turmoil. She had been very excited about coming back and starting their new little home together, but now a cloud hangs over that, as they will have to start over in many ways. We are grateful, though, because they did have some (a very few) wedding gifts, keepsakes, and clothes at their house here in Kansas . So they do not go to a completely empty house. Not completely.

 

It has been very strange coming home with absolutely nothing. I have been reminding Hannah of the apostles who took nothing with them but the clothes on their backs. This world is not our home. Again, we thank You, Father.

 

They are now at their house, and we plan on going out tomorrow to re-stock our "must haves" that were stolen (i.e. toiletries and clothes).

 

Two of my most prized possessions were in that car and are now gone: my Bible (of 7 years) and& my journal :whimper:. But all the things that I lost are small compared to all the things Daniel and Hannah are now without.

 

And I find, because of the grace of Yaweh, and your prayers, that I cannot help but rejoice. I cannot help but smile when I think of all the blessings that He will pour out on us as we lift our aching hearts to Him in trust. Does He not own the farthest corners of the universe? Is this too big for Him beyond His reach???

 

Please. Pray mainly for my sister Hannah, and my brother (in-law) Daniel. I know that our King will supply their every need (physical and emotional). And I know that this is a part of His plan. He is using this to test, mature, and draw them closer to Him in this early part of their marriage. The enemy wants to use this to sow seeds of bitterness, misery, and division in their hearts. But this will not happen. The Father will work all this for their good.

 

Please pray for peace, comfort, and joy. And that they will be protected from the enemies lies, and the world s mindsets.

 

We praise Him for His protection and tender mercies all throughout this time.

 

And I thank you for your prayers.

 

In eternity, these trials will not matter. But our response to them will.

 

May He be praised and glorified.

 

(I apologize for how every sloppy or muddled this note may be. Things have been just a little rough, and so don t have time to put a lot of time into this. Just wanted to let you know and ask for your prayers, which we treasure.)

 

PS: I just remembered another major prayer request, and thought I d better mention it. As many of you know, Hannah has had Lyme s Disease for a few years, and has just lately begun taking medicine to fight it off. Well, a week ago, we found that every other person in our family (including myself) has Lyme s Disease also. :looks to Heaven and smiles:. To say the least, this could complicate our plans to leave in November for Brazil and then Mozambique , because of the medicine regiment. And, of course, this is a lot of money (which we don t have). But. We know that this, too, is in the Father s hands. Is a test. A chance to rejoice. Please pray for guidance and healing, according to His will.

 

Much much much love in Yashua.