Earland Welch

It's been a tough week for our family. Mary's step-father, Earland was diagnosed with cancer last week and was suffering from pneumonia. He was transported on Tuesday night to Maine Medical Center ICU in Portland and is in very rough shape. His cancer has spread quickly and he is having a very difficult time breathing... They are working on his pneumonia first and then will decide what, if anything, can be done with his other issues. Please pray for my mother-in-law, Loni Welch, Earland's daughter Holly and all that know and love Earland.

Earland has been one of my closest friends for nearly 20 years now and it is difficult to imagine what life would be like without him in it. He loves the Lord and knows where he is going, so we can cling to the reality of his future. Earland was called to the ministry in his 50's and pastored two different churches in the Gardiner area. He lost his wife of over 40 years, Irene, to cancer and ended up falling in love with Loni and marrying 17 years ago. They have enjoyed a beautiful marriage and were such a perfect match. Mary does not remember a time without Earland. He and Irene were her parent's close friends, he was her godfather, her pastor (Earland baptized Mary many years ago!) and then through a twist-of-fate, her step-father.
Even now in his suffering, Earland is full of humor and concern for eveyone around him. We love him so much and are praying for God's will to be accomplished.