Gabby Support Fund

[Jao Thaun]

As most of you know, one of our Councilors, Gabriel Theodoulos is in the hospital right now recovering from a serious bone infection in his foot. The doctors amputated the lower half of his leg to remove the infection and to keep it from spreading.

Gabby has been a tremendous blessing to our guild, he heads up our Recruitment Division, leads Bible studies, and has been instrumental in leading our LOTRO guild.

I am starting the Gabby Support Fund to help Gabby financially while he is in the hospital and recovering. He is on a fixed (low-income) but will be out of work for who knows how many weeks while he is recovering.

If you would like to donate to the Gabby Support Fund simply click the "Donate" button on the left side of our website to donate. After you donate, please send me a PM to designate your donation to the Gabby Support Fund so I don't mix it up with regular guild donations.

Let's prayerfully consider doing what we can for one of our own.

[-Elusiv-]

Gabe, if your reading this. Brother. I am praying for you. My grandfather had something similar happen to him and I know that there can be a lot of fear, sadness, anger, etc. that is all balled up in one big mess. But I also know that despite our circumstances...through it all...God is with us. And He is with YOU brother. I pray that the peace that surpasses all comprehension shall guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. That you will know the blessing of His presence. That you will know Him as your sustainer, your keeper, your strong bulwark, your high tower and your friend. Be strong in the Lord and rejoice! because even though you may one day go to heaven incomplete from this life...He will make you whole and you will one day bask in His glory and love. In the newness of life and in the power of the resurrected beautiful name of Christ...I pray blessings into your life.

[Spectus]

I can give nothing but prayer and spiritual support to the cause, but what I have, I'll gladly share.

Gabe, you are in my prayers. It's shocking to see something like this come up so suddenly on a brother in Christ, but I will urge you to keep your mind stayed on Him. Remember that all the infirmities we deal with in this fallen world are temporary things, and that we have more -- much more -- to look forward to, one day. I wouldn't say this to just anyone, but I know you're equipped to hear this: As the Apostle Paul wrote in Phillippians, press on. You've endured a grievous loss, and it's appropriate to grieve such things because fallenness is not a natural state of affairs for God's creatures -- but it will pale one day in comparison to the surpassing glory of knowing Christ, and standing in His presence one day with glorified body.

I even was reflecting on the passage from Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, where Sam is holding an internal debate with himself at the foot of Mt. Doom, and resolves, "I'll get there, even if I have to leave everything but my bones behind!"

Draw near to Christ, my friend, for while my own words fall far short of what will help you at this time, we can take comfort that even in times of overwhelming loss, He can give us the divine assurance that what awaits us dwarfs even these events. And He knows how to comfort and sustain each of us, far more than I.

[Vly-Nor Takk]

Praying for you Gabe. I will try to get some money saved up for ya.

[Zei-Duum]

Gabriel,

Dear sweet Gabriel, the trying times hit us in our most reckoning of times mate. The Prayers are helping during these times, people helping you financially can be somewhat encouraging, yet the most important thing mate, is the Faith in GOD, Our FATHER, the only ONE who knows what HE is doing in Your Life mate.

GOD in this instant is making you more pure; "wait, what...??" I am sure that is what you are asking, so, sometimes in order for GOD to make us more Pure in HIS Eyes, not our own mate, GOD will often take things from us.

In one instance a man had such a terrible habit of porn that he could not even work up the courage to rid himself of the internet, which is where he got most of it, so GOD stepped in and not only did the mans computer shut down, it literaly exploded.

A girl that was unbelievably excited all the time could not contain herself from stopping to have sexual relations and she didnt want to be a mother and didnt like how easily she was excited. Not being able to stop herself, for we cannot do anything alone, GOD jumped in, infected her ovaries and they had to be removed, along with her being able to bare a child and also she could better control herself and now has found the 2nd love of her life, for GOD comes 1st, and she saves all she has sexually for him.

Now mate, if you are still reading you may be saying to yourself, "is he seriously trying to tell me that i have done something so bad with my foot that GOD took it?" The answer is no, I am not, your sinful acts are between you and GOD, just as my sinful acts are between me and GOD.
However, GOD could be purifying your whole body by taking a small piece of it, so you may serve HIM better, and one day you shall be able to say, look, i have been tested, and I overcome daily, because i know MY GOD does not randomly do things, HE does them for our benefit. GOD says if you sin with your right eye, poke it out, if you sin with your left hand, cut it off, for it is better to have a piece of your body cast into hell than your whole body.
Remember, we are stubborn as humans, we are sinful wretched creatures, however my dear friend Gabriel, we as Followers of Jesus Christ must remember why we do follow Him and HIS FATHER, Our FATHER. We have a reason to be Strong and Faithful, for although our earthly bodies rot away, our souls shall forever live and remain in GODs' Care.

The end is near my brother, and you are needed to help the lost come to Christ, so please stand strong and remember, "We are not fighting a battle of Flesh and Blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12.

Stand Strong my brother, we all, as persecuted christians, are with you, we understand your suffering, however GOD understands it more, for HE gave HIs only Son for us sinful and stubborn humans so we may live forever, although we did not deserve to be saved. My Healing Hands of GOD are traveling to where you are and in Jesus Name, your hurts, sorrows, and fears are healed, Amen! Jesus Bless, GODs' Strength to You!

[PappaHermit]

You are in my prayers daily. God will get you through, just keep looking at him.

[Onesto]

Dear brother, I am new to the guild and have yet to meet you, but your trial reminds me of an elder in my church about your age who is being physically afflicted and is constantly in pain. He has a hard time getting around, yet he faithfully continues to lead the bible class the Lord has entrusted him with, until recently as he's been in the hospital. It seems he also is having an issue with the bones in his legs.

We are under constant spiritual and even physical attack by the demonic forces in this world, and so it has been for all since the beginning. However, there are countless stories in the bible where God gave strength and greatly blessed those who were faithful to Him. I pray you draw courage and hope from these stories. You seem to know your bible well.

I will be praying for your quick recovery, and that the Lord would provide an amazing prosthetic for you without concern for cost. Always remember, this world is NOT our home. It's certainly a traumatic experience to lose an extremity, or any part of our body, but we ought to have the attitude of Paul who sought after the greatest prize, our crown in glory. Let's run the race and finish well dear brother, I speak to myself as well.

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." Php 3:20-21 (KJV).

Blessings and strength upon you sir.

[teh_jay]

Praying for you brother Gabby! You are an inspiration and massive support to the Saints. I too share a daily struggle with Diabetes and that especially touches me on a closer level. Praying for comfort and healing throughout this time.

[jaytrust]

I will have you in my prayers and pray that the God of all comfort will comfort you during this trial and challenge.

These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed- 1 Pet 1:7

I know its hard to see it now, but God's word is eternal and God will not lie.

When He comes back, and He will, these sufferings will result in praise, glory and honor.

May the Lord strengthen you brother, I can't begin to imagine what you going through but know that we love you and will continue to pray.

[Lawisendro]

I will pray. I will pray, Gabby. I'm so sorry to hear what has happened. Truly, I am.

[darb77]

Prayers for Gab and his Family!

[Robin Sage]

Absolutely praying and helping to provide a financial cushion for Gabe. Thanks for the opportunity Jao.

In God we trust all things.

[Gabriel Theodoulos]

Hi Guys!

Wanted to stop by, now that I can, and thank you for all the prayers you have blessed me with. Though this has been the roughest times in my life, I can boldly say that God has brought me through it with a positive attitude, and a grateful heart!

On Aug 17th, I wandered into the doctor's office, with the support of a friend. The doctor took one look at me, and immediately reached for a Hospital Admittance Form. I had battled infections before, but this had been the worst.

When I arrived at the Emergency Room, they checked me out, took x-rays of the foot, and started an IV because I had become severely dehydrated. I had avoided hospitals before, because I hadn't had any insurance since 1999. Yet recently, I qualified for Medicare, and it's Basic level (Plan A), covers hospital stays.

Yahoo! Now that I am in the hospital, everything they do is covered. Big Praise!

They took me up to my first room, and started pumping me full of antibiotics via the IV. They wanted to fight this infection with a full force, because it had spread farther than my leg. The amount of meds they were filling me with was so much, I was becoming nauseous and was throwing up! Those nights were not fun at all, but God's grace was being poured all over me. I knew how much work the nurses and doctors were doing, and I had committed myself to keep a positive and grateful spirit, though I was terribly ill.

On the 21st, the doctors came in and showed me what they found. As most of you know, I had one bad foot. Due to loss of tendons, my foot was severely deformed and had an ulcer (aka hole) on the bottom of the foot where I was walking. I had this for four years and always made sure it was clean and well bandaged. Yet, the problem was no longer the hole. After doing x-rays and scans on the foot, the doctors discovered that the infections had spread to the bones itself. This meant that the foot itself needed to be removed.

I had done everything I could to be responsible for my wound care, and for my finances, but the Lord allowed me to get to the point where I had to trust Him for matters that appeared to be overwhelming. I decided to rest in Philippians 4:6. I thanked our Lord for all of His blessings, and shared with Him my fears of meeting the bills that would begin with such an endeavor. I then asked Him if He would guide us and allow me the wisdom to know His will, and to follow it.

On the 24th, the doctors performed the first of two surgeries. They removed the foot, and bound my leg in what is called a wound vacuum. This allowed them to save more of the leg than if they only performed a single surgery, and pulling the last of the infection out of the leg.

I woke up to find my bad foot finally gone. At first, I was impressed that I wasn't in pain, as I first thought I would be. My ignorance was that I was heavily drugged! Reality set in when the drugs started to dissipate and the muscle spasms began. Have you ever had a Charlie Horse? If you have, you've been taught to point your heel in order to stop the excruciating pain. When this muscle spasm hit me, my response was to "point my heel". The problem: I no longer had a heel! The result: pain beyond my wildest dreams!!! Any worse, and I am sure I would have lost consciousness.

Praise God for pain meds! The nurses knew exactly what to do and in a short time, I was coherent again.

The following Monday, they closed up the end of the stump. And the healing has begun in earnest. If you want to see my stump, go ahead and "friend" me on Facebook (name is John Calvin Hall). Compared to the ugly foot I had, the stump looks gorgeous!

Now, I am Rehab. This in and of itself is a major answer to prayer, of which I will save for another time. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your prayers. I am absolutely convinced that Satan had major plans to use this event to cause pain and destruction, but because of your faithful prayers, God has thwarted the devil and has allowed events to turn to His glory. I have had the opportunity to encourage many in the hospital, showing that though we do go through tough times, Jesus Christ never abandons us, nor forsakes us. I have my Christian radio station (WVGV Radio) going all the time on my iPad, and many nurses and CNAs have found encouragement at the right time in the music and preaching. And God has allowed me to encourage some of my fellow patients as they go through tough times in their lives.

Prayer requests? I have a lot!

1. Please pray that God will give me windows of opportunity to share the gospel of salvation with others here in the hospital. I know what to say, my problem is that I don't know how to "break the ice".

2. Please pray that I can recover quickly and go home as soon as possible.

3. The Physical Therapists want to review my house and make suggestions on how to make my home user-friendly. I don't know how much this will cost, but please pray that God provides.

4. I don't qualify for Plan B of Medicare (which will pay for my prosthetic) until January. Please pray that I can maneuver well and be strong enough to move around when and where I need to.

Once again, thank you so much much for your prayers. It's because of your faithfulness that things are going well.

Keep up the good work, and God will reward your faithfulness.

Gabe

[Rahvin3]

Gabe,

It is clear that the Lord has been watching over you through this time. And the way in which you have persevered and even been able to encourage others around you is inspirational.

We will continue to be praying for you and for a smooth recovery.

[Coara Naandi]

Luv ya and miss you, Gabe. I'm so proud of your testimony. Ever praying for you and Onessimus.