The following article was published in the L.A. Times, Lake Ashton Community Newsletter (Winter Haven, Florida), May 2010.
By Becky Wolf, Activities Assistant,
The ministry of knitting shawls for those grieving, suffering or celebrating a milestone began in early 1998. Since then, the practice has spread across the U.S. and foreign countries. These are called prayer, comfort, healing or friendship shawls. As Ann Mulford knits, she prays for the recipient. Her special message accompanies the shawl, and their name is added to a prayer list that hangs on her refrigerator. Upon learning that Ann would begin knitting her 100th shawl, Becky Wolf asked if she would make it for a special recipient unknown to them both! Becky’s plan was to send it to her friends at Bill Rudge Ministries, an international Christian outreach ministry based in Hermitage, PA, trusting they would know exactly who would benefit from the comfort of the prayer shawl. Simple acts of faith in action! | 
Katie Hetrick (center) with her prayer shawl, standing
with her mother Willie (left) and Karen Rudge who was
given the shawl by Becky Wolf to pass on to someone special.
|
Pennsylvania Teen Receives Ann Mulford’s Prayer Shawl
by Becky Wolf, Activities Assistant
(Excerpt of letter from Karen Rudge of Bill Rudge Ministries)
“Katie is a Down’s syndrome young lady turned 18 on March 17. She is a senior at Sharpsville High School. She is having a lot of challenges this year, and I am sure part of it is what will her life be like after school. She was blessed to receive this shawl and I have sent a picture of her with it hoping you could pass it on to Ann so she may put it on the refrigerator and pray for her. I told Katie, Ann would be praying and that this shawl had already been prayed for. I told her no matter what circumstances she encounters, when she wraps the shawl around her it is like the Lord wrapping His arms around her and keeping her safe, knowing someone will be praying for her. God bless and thank you again for touching Katie’s life in this way.”
E-Mail from Becky Wolf
Hi Karen! Got your letter about Katie Hetrick receiving Ann’s prayer shawl. She was a wonderful choice and Ann will be so pleased and humbled. I can’t wait to tell her! We will keep Katie in our prayers and wish her all the best in the years ahead for her.
