Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am requesting continued prayers for Maya Gebala (age 12), a victim in the Tumbler Ridge tragedy in British Columbia. She is a true hero who risked her life to protect her classmates by trying to lock the library door. Tragically, she was shot in the head and neck. I continue to pray this verse for her:

John 15:13 – Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

This week, there have been some hopeful signs. Maya’s neurosurgical team is very happy with her progress, after closely monitoring fluid levels in her brain. Hydrocephalus is a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain and causes swelling and many other complications. Thank God, there has been virtually no CSF draining. This is a true miracle. Praise the Lord!!! Doctors have given her a “brain holiday”, allowing her brain some time to rest while also reducing the risk of infection. They are now preparing Maya for an upcoming surgery to replace part of her skull with a synthetic prosthetic. It is possible that they will not need to put the external ventricular drain back, which helps relieve pressure caused by fluid buildup. Please continue to pray for this, and for success in her surgeries, treatments, and recovery, that her surgeons and doctors are guided by the Hand of God in all of this. Please pray for a miracle healing and full recovery for this beautiful and incredible little girl, that she can return healthy and stronger than ever, a true testament of God’s incredible Love and Healing Power. Pray that Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, is holding her continually at His Heart and embracing the entire family as they go through this. I continue to pray this verse for her as well:

Mark 5:34 – And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Please continue praying for Maya’s parents (Cia Edmonds and David Gebala), her sister, Dahlia, her closest cousin, Krysta, and all their loved ones. Please continue to pray for all victims, families, loved ones, anyone affected (traumatized) by the tragedy, the individual responsible (our Loving, Merciful, and Forgiving God will judge them righteously), and their family. Let us continue to pray that mass shootings like this, which happen far too often, come to an end worldwide. Finally, please pray for all those in my prayer book.

We pray this in the PRECIOUS and MIGHTY NAME of JESUS CHRIST. AMEN and AMEN. Thank you.

Love your brother in Christ, Christopher