“Still Looking For Answers”

          We want to thank you all one more time for your generosity this Christmas. Tammy and I are still pinching ourselves over having been able to experience a real American Christmas with our family.
          We do wish that we had more positive things to report concerning my health (John). We’ve found a great doctor who is trying everything possible to find an answer to this cough that has worn both Tammy and I out over these last several years, but he’s only been able to eliminate possibilities thus far. I am, however, scheduled to see a Gastrointestinal specialist this next week (not looking forward to what I’ve heard that experience might be) and then a Pulmonologist (lung specialist) on January the 20th. The honest truth is that we’d be willing to do just about anything to put this problem behind us right now. It has, more or less, crippled us since we’ve been home. Members of our family have said, however, that my cough has served a purpose in that they always know where to find me when we’re out in public because they can hear my cough even when they can’t see me (We’re trying to make the best of it by being as lighthearted as we can about it).
          We have scheduled visits to just a small handful of churches who have contacted us about doing so, but have not yet aggressively sought the opportunity to fill our schedule because we feel like we must get this health issue resolved before we start traveling extensively. We want you to know, however, that that does not mean we are not available, or that we’d rather not see each of you. We’d love to see you if the Lord provides the opportunity. If you would like to have us come, please e-mail us or call us on either of our cell phones (317-750-5891-John or 317-750-9292-Tammy) and we will do everything possible to arrange a visit. Otherwise, we intend to begin making calls and filling our schedule after we’re confident that we’ve exhausted every treatment option.
          We appreciate both your support and your patience with us and we certainly hope that our making this issue such a high priority does not appear selfish.
          All of that said, there is still a living ministry in Burkina Faso, and, according to Roger and Pierre (Pierre remains our primary contact in Babo), things are moving forward. Because both churches are fairly distant from our missionary friends, there’s been little communication between those missionaries and our churches. I have spoken with both Roger and Pierre by phone, however, and they say things are going well. Just a couple of weeks ago when I talked to Roger he was very excited to share with me that they’d had an adult saved after a service.
          Please keep praying for these guys because I’ve no doubt that they will be faced with many challenges that will, no doubt, cause them to doubt the legitimacy of their ministries and the merit of their sacrifice for the ministry’s sake. Among their difficulties I’m sure is the reality that we are not close at hand to help them financially. Though they are on their own, we do intend, however, to send each church a small financial gift, in the near future, just to let them know we’ve not forgotten them.
          You can pray specifically that the leaders and both churches will see people saved and believers developed to the point that they will begin seriously contributing in every way to the success of the churches. There is only so much any missionary can accomplish. At some point, every New Testament work must be put in the hands of the Lord, or it will always be, in reality, the missionary’s work.
          Thank you for praying for both the Cooleys and for the churches in Tinsouka and Babo and we hope that this year will represent the most productive for your church, your families, and for each of you personally.

Partners,
John & Tammy Cooley