Mike Coverett: October 2005 (1 of 2)
Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,
This is a special prayer letter! We have been praying and seeking God's will as to what He would have us to write for some time. He has been doing some things in our lives that we ourselves could not really understand and therefore did not know how to express. We are now better able to share with you what is happening.
First ofall, God has really blessed our small group at Lighthouse Baptist Church! The community center we were meeting in continued to have problems. We began meeting in our home. This was so that God could do a work in the lives of our core group. Our people became really focused on prayer and witnessing. They have become more and more faithful in passing out tracts and inviting people even though Satan has fought and we have had very few tangible results. They have caught a real vision of a church and what our real purpose as Christians is. To see this in the lives of a couple couples who had been discouraged and not excited about serving the Lord because of being too long in a "dead" church is a real blessing. It gives us hope for the future in our part of North Wales.
While God has been doing such positive things it appeared that things were not so positive for us personally. He seemed to be closing some doors. We faithfully prayed and sought His definite leading! I was not aware that Mike was extremely burdened to know what God wanted and had actually asked Him for a sign to guide us. He has only done this one other time in our 32 years of marriage. As you know I have required regular blood transfusions since I nearly died last September. Mike asked the Lord to show us if He would have us take a medical furlough to seek further help. He asked that during a particular three week period I not lose my blood. When we went in we found that for the first time I did not require a transfusion. I had lost nothing! This had not happened before or since. Mike knew that we needed to take the furlough. It was very difficult for both of us to face but I know that Mike had been carrying too much alone with both me and the church. We both know that I am in God's hand but facing the potential loss of a loved one, I believe, is more difficult than for the loved one who is facing heaven. Mike has never wavered in his care for me and faithfulness to God. He had begun having physical problems that led the doctors to believe that He might be having a heart attack. His father was only 46 when he died and his grandfather 52. They each died of their third heart attacks. His older brother has had his first heart attack and is only 55. The doctors wanted to give Mike a stress test but the waiting time was a few weeks at best so unless he actually had a heart attack there was nothing they could do but put him on nitroglycerin which gave him some relief. The doctors advised him to get on a plane and come here for quick help. Our people worked with me to do all we needed to do. We arrived in the States at the end of September where we are staying with our son Josh and his wife Amy in Pennsylvania. Josh is on staff as a Youth Pastor here. God has provided Mike with a good family doctor who ordered a nuclear stress test. Mike is in good condition in that area. In fact his overall health is excellent due to our good diet and exercise. Due to his family history he could still have a heart problem but nothing has shown up. It appears that because of the lack of rest this past year not knowing if I could die and always wanting to be there, his body has forgotion how to relax and he developed a problem with a nerve that affects his gastrointestinal system (esophagus, gall bladder, etc) and exhibited all the evidence of heart problems. We praise God that his heart is good and that his problems require his being in an environment where he can have a support system and allow his body to learn to relax for six months or a little more. The people in our son's church had been praying for us and have made us feel at home. We are taking each day as it comes knowing that God will reveal His plan for us in His time. Please pray for Mike's healing. His faith is strong, but we still live in these human bodies. That's alright though - we have new ones on order!
As for me, I am doing well. We found a cancer specialist near here that was able to answer some questions and offer a bit of hope to my transfusion problem even without chemotherapy. Of course chemotherapy is still my only option to extend life that they are aware of but we all know that God has taught me to take care of my body and has sustained my life longer than the best chemotherapy would have done. The yeast and fungus problem I had which were fed by mold growing through the kitchen floor is beginning to go away. We were not able to afford another move in Wales. It has only been three weeks, but I look and feel so much better. God has really kept me going! I cannot imagine not being able to actively serve Him as long as I draw breath. There are so many that still need to know our wonderful Saviour and so many Christians who need to grow in His love! As for now, we ask that you bear with us as we take some time for healing. As for our people in Wales, please read our other letter.
Yours in Christ,
Virginia Coverett