Living Sacrifices

Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your act of spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 Paul describes this as involving your heart, your mind and your will in obedient service to Him. God demands our actions as well as our thinking and believing.

Where has the month of February gone? The past 4 weeks have just flown by for John & me. Seven mission teams arrived this month with literally a ton of donations to give out to the poor during their ministry opportunities. Co-coordinating & managing the teams’ overlapping schedules has been a huge challenge that was managed by John ensuring that no two groups were at the same work site or ministry outreach at the same time. Wow…thank you John for a job well done.

Many thanks also to the 2 teams of Journey 2010 from the Kitchener/ Cambridge area, La Vechia from Belgium, Green Valley Enterprises from Manitoba, Runnymede Community Church from Toronto, St Thomas’ Anglican Church from St. Catherine’s, and Dominican Service Project team consisting of Rotarians from the Cambridge / Kitchener, Ontario area for their huge contribution of manpower and their donations that were received by the poor in the Dominican Republic. We could not have accomplished so much without your assistance.

Julie Kinder and Cathy Willkie, team 1 & 2 leaders from Journey 2010 display their organizational skills on their 5th annual mission trip and who have since become good friends with us.
3000 lbs of food was packed into 160 bags and distributed to families in villa Emmanuel giving assistance to the elderly by bringing the bags to their home, while others wait patiently in line to receive their food. After the children’s program in villa Esperanza, members from the La Vechia team distributed bag lunches and gifts. During this week, one of our biggest challenges was communication because most of the team members only spoke Italian. Yikes!
After two weeks of working in the hot sun and reaching out to the needs of the poor, team members from Green Valley smile with satisfaction for a job well done, knowing that the next day it was time to return to frigid Winnipeg.
With an average age of 70, these members of St Thomas’ Anglican Church present their donation for sponsorship of two homes to John after attending a Haitian worship service.
O Canada…..what a privilege it was to sing our national anthem with the Dominican Service Project team at a children's program in Poncho Mateo on their first day. In our ministry outreaches, the teams visit and pray with the sick at the local hospital, visit an orphanage, feed hungry children, distribute bags of food to an entire village, sing songs and participate in Biblical dramas at a children’s program in addition to the daily construction work and painting.

Many lives have been impacted and blessed this month, not just local people but also those of the team members during their visits. In all things, we strive to be a follower of Christ, being bold enough to proclaim the word of God and putting our faith into action cheerfully.

The Lord is faithful and good

The Lord is faithful and good, His mercies are ever abundant.

Jim Coates is doing well in his recovery at home. The latest CAT scan shows that 50 % of the hemorrhaged blood in his brain has now been reabsorbed into his body. The doctor has told them however, that 85% of the patients with this type of stroke will develop hydrocephalus and require surgery to install a shunt to drain excess fluid from the brain. Please continue to pray that Jim will be in the 15 % that will not require surgery. His strength on the right side is very weak at the moment but progress has been seen in his left side, in that he feels pain when the therapist works on his muscles. This is a good sign that the paralysis is slowly regressing and for this improvement we are very thankful to God.

IN THE MEANTIME…..
The feeding programs continue in villa Ascension. Up to 200 children and 25 elderly are receiving a hot meal twice weekly. We have been blessed to have the assistance of many visiting mission teams during this time also.

Jane & Claribel received one of many bags of dehydrated vegetable soup mix that were donated by the Ontario Christian Gleaners, so a new item has been incorporated in the menu planning. Each bag will make 100 bowls of nutritious soup loaded with vegetables and proteins. Last week Friday, with the help of team Journey 2010, we served over 200 bowls of delicious chicken soup for the first time. The kitchen and dining hall are busy places on Wednesday and Friday mornings with many children’s tummies being filled. What a blessing and honour it is to serve the hungry in the name of Jesus.

READY OR NOT?

Thursday afternoon Jim was released from hospital only 3 days after leaving the ICU. As much as it was Jim’s desire to return home a.s.a.p., we wonder if this is indeed the best for both of them. Sue will be both Martha’s & Jim’s primary caregiver since their daughter Sarah is returning to England today.

A visiting team member, Dr. Graham had a long chat with Sue prior to Jim’s release to ensure that she knows what needs to be done in the next 3 month phase of therapy and adjustments. The paralysis is still evident on his entire left side and his vision is still “off” but his spirits are good.

A full time nurse, a physiotherapist and a masseuse will need to be hired immediately to ease Sue’s burden as the sole caregiver. But when all was said and done in their discussions, the doctors surmised that Jim would receive more stimuli at home than if he continued to stay in the hospital so he was sent home.

Friday evening at 11 pm he was rushed to the hospital with severe pains in the back of his head and the doctors found that Jim’s blood pressure was extremely high again.

Please continue to uphold them in your prayers as they are on a roller coaster of emotions at this time. Also pray for strength to those who carry on the work of “Dominican Ministry” in addition to their regular duties. Jim & Sue’s hearts are daily thinking of the people in villa Ascension.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me. Psalm 23:4

UPDATE #2

Praise the Lord! After 1 week in the ICU, on Monday afternoon Jim was moved to a regular room. He is glad to be in a quieter environment where he can have the lights turned off while resting and a window to be able to distinguish night from day. On the weekend, Jim was moved to a lounge chair for short periods of time, but with any changes in his routine, he usually becomes disorientated for a while.

Their daughter Sarah arrived at 4 a.m. Sunday morning after a 12 hour delay with her flight but happy to be together with her mom. Together when they bring Martha to the hospital, Jim is the doting father once again, giving Martha kisses and he loves watching her reaction to them. Martha becomes very excited and animated at hearing his voice. Jim’s sense of humor throughout this ordeal has not left him, so for those who know him well his favorite saying is “Hasta manana….have a banana”.

Visitors must still be kept to a minimum so please continue to respect the doctor’s orders. Locally we had a beautiful prayer service Sunday morning in which Dr. Lisa Klassen explained to all present what exactly a stroke does to a body and what can be expected during this time of recovery.

Jim & Sue would like to thank you for your continued prayers and the generous outpouring of support physically & financially they have received.

UPDATE ON JAMES COATES

On Wednesday Feb. 3rd, the mood of the entire village in Ascension was visibly despondent while Donna, Bill & I helped to serve the noontime meal. It seemed that every person we encountered asked the same question. “Como esta mi amigo Santiago?” How is our friend Jim?

It was like the joy had literally been ripped right out of their hearts. Today when we returned, Claribel, the cook mentioned in passing that a prayer service is being held daily at 4 a.m. in the church for Jim. Many people are praying for his recovery, and we trust that the Lord hears our prayers, so please continue to pray, pray, pray.

The critical 72 hour period has passed and Jim is now stable…not out of the woods, but stable. Dr. Spitali has said that it is a miracle Jim has survived considering he had blood in his brain stem. They will regularly continue to monitor the amount of bleeding that has accumulated in his brain. While the paralysis continues on his left side and he is marginally coherent. However, the staff was going to try to get him to sit up in bed today.

Sue continues to spend much time at the hospital with him. Please remember her also during this stressful time.
Locally, please note that the doctor has requested “NO VISITORS PLEASE.”
Jim needs this time to rest and heal.

What can you do to help?

First and foremost pray! We believe that with God all things are possible and that includes a complete restoration of Jim’s health.
Secondly, please GIVE!
With no medical insurance, they should not be left alone to face the greatest challenge of their lives!
*ICU costs are $1,000 / day
*Regular room costs approx. $600 / day
After being released from the hospital Jim will require a nurse for a period of up to 6 weeks at home. Also in the future, he will eventually require neurosurgery.
This is our plea to you; let us unite our faith and love in this emergency.

Please send your contribution today to the address below with a note: Emergency funds for Jim & Sue Coates, and a receipt for Tax Purposes will be issued. They will forward the monies to the Dominican Republic to help pay the bills.

In Canada:
Christian Life Relief International
P.O. Box 85100
Burlington, ON. L7R 4K3

In the U.S.A.
Dominican Crossroads USA
c/o Brad Burlington
85 Peachtree Rd.
Ashville, NC 28803

Or to use PayPal, visit www.dominicanministry.com.

Jim & Sue Coates need your prayers and financial support now.
Thank you for giving generously.

JAMES COATES

Jim Coates, affectionately known to everyone in villa Ascension as Santiago suffered a stroke while at home Monday evening.
Jim and Sue Coates are what missionaries are expected to be. Warm, sensitive, caring and most of all, Christ-like. There is not a child, adult or senior in Villa Ascension who has not been blessed by this exemplary English couple. Monday afternoon when I saw him after a day’s work in the village, Jim was his usual bubbly self so it came as a great shock to receive the news of his stroke later that evening.
The Lord had all the puzzle pieces in place though when Bill, a snowbird friend was able to borrow a car to rush Jim to the new private hospital which opened in Sosua recently and is located just a stone’s throw from his home. Dr. Spitali, a neurosurgeon Jim & Sue have used many times for baby Martha was in the hospital and administered a CAT scan right away to assess the situation.

Presently, Jim’s condition is very, very critical. He has bleeding on the inside of the brain and if it doesn’t stop soon, a shunt will need to be inserted. At this time all movement and muscle from the left side of the body, including the left side of the face, has stopped working. We know he is in capable hands and we pray that the doctors will be guided by our heavenly Father.

This is a very difficult time for all of us.
We have been working very closely with Sue and Jim and John met with her this afternoon to discuss how to proceed from here. There are many concerns! Jane has taken a strong role in making sure the feeding programs, the children’s, adults, and family programs of their Dominican Ministry keep operating as before.

Though Jim is often fading in and out, he hears pretty much everything that is said. His biggest concern was that the people would go hungry in his absence. His short term memory is not good right now but he remembers most things from months and years ago. Their daughter, Sarah, is arriving from England this Saturday. I will let you know more as I can.

Till then, please continue to pray, pray, pray for both Jim & Sue.

PARADISE CONTINUES TO GROW

On January 29, 2010 a grand celebration was held to welcome 25 new families to villa Paraiso. Through the hard work and dedication of the Spruce land team, many people were blessed through their visit. Hospital visits, children’s program, crafts and roof installation took place but one of the highlights of their visit was when 3 members of one family in villa Paraiso accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. After the dedication service not only did the 25 new families receive a welcome gift from the team, but each family in this expanding village of 125 received the gift of a 20 lb. bag of food and charcoal brought to their home. While delivering this food, a number of children followed the truck like a pied piper wanting to assist on this mission of mercy. HAITI RELIEF WORK
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our Haitian neighbours as they attempt to rebuild their lives after the devastating earthquake. Dr. Lisa Klassen and a team from Crossroads travelled to the Jiminai located on the border to assist with the overwhelming need of the many injured people. Dr. Lambert, a Haitian doctor who works in the clinic in villa Esperanza also came back very tired but grateful for the opportunity to help his fellow countrymen. Two truckloads worth $25,000 of medicine and food have been sent also on behalf of the Samaritan Foundation from the designated funds allotted.

DOLL MAKING

Even when family members visit, there is lots of work to do…so Pat, Jane and the ladies from the Spruce land group prepared and taught 14 local women in villa Paraiso how to make dolls. While craft making in not part of our normal routine, sometimes it is a nice change of pace when visiting teams want to initiate their own project. The children have very few toys and just use whatever is available to them. Small stones can be used instead of marbles, a stick and an empty water bottle or cap can strike up a baseball game, or their favorite game of rolling a bicycle tire along the street using a stick with the top of a plastic jug attached to it. This was the inspiration to create and teach how to make dolls for the girls. The women created imaginative characteristics on the each doll by embroidering the faces and braiding the yarn hair with beads. On day 2, they were taught to make 3 hand sewn dresses for each one. The two day craft workshop was a huge success and was enjoyed by all who attended.