CONGRATULATIONS TO NATALIE & THE MEISELWITZ FAMILY!
Taken from "The Visitor"; August 2009

The name “Meiselwitz” may sound familiar to those of us at Ebenezer. Christian Meiselwitz was confirmed at Ebenezer in April and was one of 5 youth who participated in the General Synod mission trip this summer. The Meiselwitz family has been in attendance at Ebenezer and participated in the Sunday School on a number of occasions in the past year.

Natalie (going into 5th grade in the fall) won an essay contest this past spring. This was the 13th year of the “Breaking the Barriers” national essay contest (essays submitted from U.S. Puerto Rico and Canada). Natalie, though young, had some pretty “heavy” experiences to draw on in preparation for this essay. Natalie discovered last fall (2008) that she needed to have heart surgery and, in December (2008), she very successfully came through that surgery and recovered in what seemed (even to the Dr.s!) to be record time.

Natalie then entered Major League Baseball’s “Breaking the Barriers” essay contest and was completely shocked when Sharon Robinson, the daughter of the late, baseball great, Jackie Robinson, called her at school in April to let her know she won! Out of the over 8,000 essays submitted, Natalie WON! Sharon Robinson came to Cleveland Elementary School to present Natalie with a number of different prizes associated with her accomplishment including a trip for Natalie and one adult to attend the All-Star Game in St. Louis in July, 2009. The famous Milwaukee Brewer “racing sausages” were also present at Cleveland Elementary that day to make the celebration extra special.

But the day wasn’t over! Natalie and her family then went with Sharon Robinson to meet Baseball Commissioner, Bud Selig, and Natalie had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at the game that night! The commissioner was so impressed with the whole Meiselwitz family that he invited the WHOLE FAMILY (Reid (dad), Donna (mom), Christian (oldest), Natalie and Emma (youngest)) to attend the All-Star game in St. Louis in July!! The family had an amazing time! And, in addition to meeting all the baseball players and receiving an All-Star jersey made just for her, Natalie had the opportunity to meet President Obama!

Learning that you need heart surgery and going through the whole emotional roller-coaster is a lot for an adult. Can you imagine what it is like for a child and their family? Yet, Natalie and her family are “living proof” that courage, faith, love and determination go a LONG way. And, when you consider their story, you recognize that God has the power to transform even the most awful and tragic things in our lives into blessings we could never have imagined!

Natalie is an incredible writer and copies of her award-winning essay are available at Ebenezer for anyone who would like the read the story of this amazing little girl. (Copies are on the table under the bulletin board in the Sunday School Hallway). I encourage you to read her story (make sure you have tissues!) and to think about the ways God has transformed the “bad” experiences in your lives into blessings you would never have imagined possible.