Words From Melissa

Overall, I am feeling much stronger than I did a month ago.  I haven’t vomited in days and I am reminded of the days when I would pray and fast and only drink fluids back in Pittsburgh. I am drinking carrot, apple, and celery juice as well as beets and kale.

Wondering how to pray?

Praise the lord for answered prayer
Daily hydration goals are now easily met/exceeded.
I am continuing to tolerate juicing well, working on increasing nutritional content of the liquid, and recently added coconut oil for increased fat/caloric intake.  This will hopefully help lessen the weight loss I’ve experienced over the last four months.

[We are learning to embrace each step of this journey.  There are good days and there are more challenging days.  There are praise-filled rejoicing days when goals are easily met.  There are also seemingly “set-back” days when there are digestive issues and/or emotional difficulties that take us by surprise.  This causes us to run and cling in dependence upon God for our intercessors to petition the Lord.  As we have done so we have discovered that God is faithful, that He meets us in our time of need, that His strength is perfect when our strength is gone.]

Continue to pray for healing, for the family, and good management of energy

Be encouraged. God is on the move. I have witnessed miracles – Hannah can still attend BSF without her mother in attendance.  [Also, the little girls are now included to be able to continue attending.]  Anyone that knows how enforced the rules are at BSF (bible study fellowship) will understand that that’s a miracle.  Also many relational healings have occurred as a result of the journey my family is on. To God be the Glory.


29 Responses to “Words From Melissa”

  1. December 14, 2009 at 3:52pm
    FROM MELISSA: updates and prayer requests
    To members of Praying for Melissa Espiritu and the Espiritu Family

    I am feeling much stronger. I haven’t vomitted in days and I am reminded of the days when I would pray and fast and only drink fluids back in Pittsburgh. I am drinking carrot, apple, and celery juice.

    Wondering how to pray?

    Praise the lord for answered prayer
    Daily hydration goals are easily met now
    I am now tolerating juicing well, working on increasing nutritional content of the liquid
    My strength is improving every day
    Continue to pray for healing, for the family, and good management of energy
    Pray that the weather to be not brutal on Tuesday so that I can attend Tabitha’s middle school band Christmas concert
    Pray for traveling mercies for my extended family traveling to Indiana, beginning Friday the 18th with two of my beloved nephews, Uriah and Aaron, as well as my sister-in-Christ, Chris Mandracchia.
    Thanks for safe arrival of my father Hiram on Saturday who will be remaining with me in Indiana during this time
    This means the guest rooms that we have will be filled and that sleeping arrangements for visitors will be tight, especially since my mother-in-law’s sister and my daughter Christina will both be home over christmas break.
    Pray that we can easily house and welcome all the people coming to visit me and share their love, company and comfort with me during this time
    ALSO Any air-beds, sleeping bags or even pillows(we never have enough pillows in the Espiritu house) that can be loaned or donated would be much appreciated

    Pray for my older girls to finish the semester strong, with finals and final projects and such

    Be encouraged. God is on the move. I have witnessed one miracle – Hannah can still attend BSF without her mother in attendance. Anyone that knows how enforced the rules are at BSF (bible study fellowship) will understand that that’s a miracle. Also many relational healings have occurred as a result of thejourney my family is on. To God be the Glory.

    Like

    Melissa Espiritu said this on December 14, 2009 at 3:52 pm | Reply

  2. Thinking of you and your family every day. Wishing you continued strength in your body as well as your soul. If I can ANYTHING for you and the girls, please let me know. I’ll check your ‘needs’ list.

    Like

    dawn cory said this on December 21, 2009 at 8:57 pm | Reply

  3. HI! While I have been filled with tears for you and the ordeal you and your family face, I also can smile knowing that you will bring God glory with your faith. I have never been able to do that for any other friend/family with cancer diagnosis. I know that you are special in looking for God’s grace and mercy, in praising God whenever you can, and that will certainly give you strength.

    While I am not in frequent contact, please know that I care so much for you. Those years we shared in Mt Vernon were not always the easiest, but I am grateful for what I learned from you and that I had a lovely roommate that I could trust. I remember the way you talked about your faith heritage, your grandma,the book you showed me, etc. That stuck with me. I also have a strong faith heritage, thanks to my lovely family, but I often didn’t think of it, perhaps took it for granted. You were the first person to introduce me to phone prayer–truly a powerful prayer tool that I now use frequently. (Remember those 6am phone calls/prayer calls with Rex every morning and later in the day?)
    So here’s some extra love and many prayers for perseverance and healing. Love, Heidi

    Like

    Heidi K. Haring said this on December 23, 2009 at 12:45 am | Reply

  4. Melissa,
    So often you have come to mind during these years we have been apart. Now you are always in my thoughts. I pray for healing and comfort for you. I am at a loss for words, my friend. May you feel God’s presence every moment. With Love, Sharon

    Like

    Sharon Sams said this on December 23, 2009 at 6:10 pm | Reply

  5. Melissa,
    May God give you the strength you need during this time of you life. May he give you the comfort and the peace and wisdom you need. we are praying for you. God bless the Richardson family

    Like

    Donna Richardson said this on December 24, 2009 at 10:27 pm | Reply

    • Thanks and Blessings in this Comfort-filled season of Christmas! Grace, Peace and Joy to you and yours… in the Lord’s wisdom and strength for the faith-filled journey ahead, together, we continue….

      Like

      rexespiritu said this on December 26, 2009 at 1:10 pm | Reply

  6. Christina Espiritu December 27 at 2:19pm Reply
    Please Pray for:
    Traveling mercies for Melissa’s sister Marcia Snoberger and her children. They are traveling from West Virginia to arrive tonight in Indiana around 10PM
    A busy week of memory making
    – On Monday we are making Gingerbread Houses at 10AM
    – On Tuesday we are having a photo shoot done by Nantz Photography at 10AM
    – On Wednesday we are having a soaking in prayer at the Espiritu House at 7:30
    – On Thursday we are having a New Years Eve Celebration at Home with Melissa’s family
    – On Friday, New Years Day we are having a family gift exchange

    Please pray also for:
    Melissa’s stomach to tolerate upped nutritional content (pureed food, different foods) well. All systems go!

    Like

    Melissa Espiritu said this on December 28, 2009 at 4:46 am | Reply

  7. Dearest Melissa,
    After days of keeping up with your website, something kept tugging at me to respond to you directly. I know that “something” is God.
    My connection to you is through your sister-in-law, Marina. We are members of the Newark United Methodist Church in Newark, DE. Marina has been a shining example of God’s love and I am blessed to know her on a deeper level as we are part of a wonderful group of Stephen Ministers.
    So, the uplifting of prayers continues, from those close to you, and from those connected by God to share your journey. It is an honor to be a part of this circle. May the days ahead be full of courage, strength, and peace. You are an inspiration and we thank you for allowing us to walk this path together.

    Praying for you and your entire family,
    Carol

    Like

    Carol Thompson said this on December 30, 2009 at 2:13 pm | Reply

    • Thank you, Carol, for responding to the Lord’s prompting and leading… I’m relaying your comment(s) to Melissa…. As a Leader in Stephen Ministries, I appreciate your sensibilities and am grateful for your sharing in ministry and fellowship with my sister, Marina. Thank you again for your encouraging words. In Christ’s care, we remain and continue

      Prayerfully yours, and His,
      Rex (and Melissa) & family

      Like

      rexespiritu said this on December 31, 2009 at 4:39 am | Reply

  8. Today is the first day of 2010 – a time to reflect and also a time to look ahead. Our prayers continue for Melissa and family. Our prayer partners at Hope Church in Manitowoc are praying for Melissa and your family. God is good, God is merciful, He heals and comforts us in our time of need. He is listening… God bless.

    Our love to your family from our family.

    Jane & Bob McMeans

    Like

    Jane McMeans said this on January 1, 2010 at 3:15 pm | Reply

  9. Hi – I’m Andrew Budek-Schmeisser (Greg Schmeisser’s brother-in-law), and I just left a reply on Rex’s page. (With the wrong email…this one’s right….sigh)

    Melissa, I know where you’re coming from. I’ve just gotten the ‘there is nothing we can do for you’ from my doctor. He wants me to go the Mayo clinic – but I’ve been there already and they don’t have any more options. Don’t know the exact prognosis but it’s not good (translates, you’re going to die but we’re not quite sure when).

    I don’t know if sometimes you wake up at 3 am and everything’s way too quiet, and there aren’t any answers, anywhere. The easy thing is to say, turn to God, but sometimes I just get his voicemail. Do you?

    When that happens I try to think about people like Father Maximillian Kolbe, a Catholic priest who wound up in Auschwitz. He volunteered to take the place of a Jewish guy who was going to be executed. Fr. Kolbe went through horrendous torture before being killed (I mean, REALLY bad), but served the spiritual needs of his fellow condemned men along the way.

    On the way to the execution ‘block’ he still drug up the strength from inside him to support a fellow prisoner who couldn’t walk.

    We pray for deliverance, for you (and me!). But maybe, Melissa – maybe we are the deliverance. Maybe your example to your family, your friends, and your community is the mission that God’s given you.

    You sure inspire me. If you go down – and I may not be long in following – I hope people will say that the way I faced it reminded them of you.

    I’ll close this with a prayer or two.

    For you – for healing.

    For me – for the kind of courage you have.

    Andrew

    Like

    Andrew Budek-Schmeisser said this on January 2, 2010 at 4:59 pm | Reply

  10. Dear Melissa, child of God, you are most beloved. I pray for you and all your family, that you will feel God’s embrace at every moment. With love,
    Barbara

    Like

    Barbara Sawyer said this on January 4, 2010 at 1:57 pm | Reply

  11. Overall, I am feeling much stronger than I did a month ago. I haven’t vomited in days and I am reminded of the days when I would pray and fast and only drink fluids back in Pittsburgh. I am drinking carrot, apple, and celery juice as well as beets and kale.

    Wondering how to pray?

    Praise the lord for answered prayer
    Daily hydration goals are now easily met/exceeded.
    I am continuing to tolerate juicing well, working on increasing nutritional content of the liquid, and recently added coconut oil for increased fat/caloric intake. This will hopefully help lessen the weight loss I’ve experienced over the last four months.

    [We are learning to embrace each step of this journey. There are good days and there are more challenging days. There are praise-filled rejoicing days when goals are easily met. There are also seemingly “set-back” days when there are digestive issues and/or emotional difficulties that take us by surprise. This causes us to run and cling in dependence upon God for our intercessors to petition the Lord. As we have done so we have discovered that God is faithful, that He meets us in our time of need, that His strength is perfect when our strength is gone.]

    Continue to pray for healing, for the family, and good management of energy

    Be encouraged. God is on the move. I have witnessed miracles – Hannah can still attend BSF without her mother in attendance. [Also, the little girls are now included to be able to continue attending.] Anyone that knows how enforced the rules are at BSF (bible study fellowship) will understand that that’s a miracle. Also many relational healings have occurred as a result of the journey my family is on. To God be the Glory.

    Like

    prayersForMelissa said this on January 26, 2010 at 10:07 pm | Reply

  12. We are learning to embrace each step of this journey. There are good days and there are more challenging days. There are praise-filled rejoicing days when goals are easily met. There are also seemingly “set-back” days when there are digestive issues and/or emotional difficulties that take us by surprise. This causes us to run and cling in dependence upon God for our intercessors to petition the Lord. As we have done so we have discovered that God is faithful, that He meets us in our time of need, that His strength is perfect when our strength is gone.

    Like

    Melissa Espiritu said this on January 26, 2010 at 10:07 pm | Reply

  13. Just wanted to let you know we are still keeping you in our prayers, and May God continue to give you the strenght you all need during this time of your lives. we love you God bless The Richardson family

    Like

    Donna Richardson said this on January 29, 2010 at 8:28 pm | Reply

  14. Melissa, Ron and I want you to know that you and your family are in our prayers!!

    Like

    Ron and Leslie Cooper WCO UME said this on February 4, 2010 at 8:27 pm | Reply

  15. Dear Sweet Melissa and Rex, Our prayers are with you. May the Lord strengthen you all as you walk this difficult road. You are on our churches prayer list, one here in Ohio and one in Chicago.

    Like

    Peg and Andy Gerhart said this on February 6, 2010 at 9:27 pm | Reply

  16. HI Melissa,
    I will be praying. I just got an email from HSN regarding your situation. I am so glad that your energy is returning. I have been reading about the Gerson Therapy. I asked for a book on it for Christmas. It is very exciting.
    Pat

    Like

    Pat said this on February 25, 2010 at 8:38 pm | Reply

Leave a comment