An Update on David Vogel

About a month ago David Vogel, a good friend and a local to Steubenville, lost his home to a house fire. When he lost everything, we reached out to all of you in a call for help, and we are so incredibly grateful to all of you who answered.

Thank you foremost to all that have kept David in their prayers. When talking with David, he explained how grateful he was for everyone's support, both locally or through their prayers. He spoke on how clearly he can see God's love and support through everyone during this difficult time. Also, an immense thank you to everyone that has donated - we have currently raised over $11,000 on the GoFundMe page alone!

Glimmers of Hope

When the fire had ceased, David climbed a ladder to his bedroom window to see what he could salvage. Looking around, everything he saw had been incinerated - completely in rubble and ashes. But when looking down, he noticed a couple of angels and golden rays peaking out of the ashes. Upon lifting the angles up, he could not believe his eyes. It was his prized monstrance that he took everywhere with him for over 20 years (he did not keep the Blessed Sacrament in it however, he would work with local priests as he traveled). Not only was the entire monstrance intact and glass not shattered, but he said the sunlight shined perfectly through his window upon it and it shined like someone had just polished it.

Unfortunately, not much else survived the fire, but a few items that did were prayer cards, pictures of his family, a Lady of Guadalupe poster, and his most prized guitar. A guitar that he happened to be playing the night before, which was placed in a case that allowed it to survive. He explained that the guitar too, upon opening the burnt case, shined like it never had before.

David's Next Steps

As of January 26th, David has gotten approval from the city to begin rebuilding his home! With a crew helping him out, they plan to salvage as much of the structure as they can and rebuild David's home. A house built in 1862 and having almost 160 years of history to it, he is so excited to begin this process. Once again, David wants to express how grateful he is for all the support and donations. Without it, he would not be able to begin this rebuilding phase.

 "People always ask me, how do you still have faith in God after something like this happened to you? Why would God allow something like this to happen?

I tell them, 'I am not shaken in my faith one bit. I will not waiver one bit, my faith is stronger now. I don't know God's mystery but whatever His plan is for me I will follow it! I will give Glory to God through this!"

     -David Vogel

Thank you once again for all your donations and prayers.

May God bless you,

-The Nelsons