The Daniel Coates Family

2010-09-22T00:32:00.000-05:00

"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and
avoid the people, you might better stay at home." ~ James Michener

Mother's Day - Dia De Las Madres

2010-05-17T08:32:00.004-05:00

We had a great time here in the Iglesia Bautista La Esperanza this Mother's Day. We were very limited in what we could do in our old building but since we entered our second building (which is MUCH bigger) we have More possibilities! We Bar-B-Qed Chicken with steamed Veggies and tortillas!

We also celebrated my wife's 35th Birthday. Tammy didn't know anything about the Party and she was very surprised!

Escuela Biblica de Vacaciones

2009-11-18T14:56:00.014-06:00

Vacation Bible School was fun this year! We had a great series of lessons on New Testament Bible characters, and included missionary Hudson Taylor in the lessons as well.

The above photo was taken on the day we taught about John the Baptist, which is why Bro. Daniel is dressed in an animal skin! (It wasn't camel, but it was close enough.)

(Behind the scenes...)

We used puppets to teach the songs to the children, and also had a few skits with them to reinforce the theme of the day. We covered obedience, holiness, witnessing for Christ, and love for God.

Two Guatemalan pastor friends, Hno. Oto and Hno. Tomas, helped by teaching classes and with the music, and our missionary friends, the Jones, also came out to help. We appreciated their assistance, but look forward to the day when the church in La Esperanza has enough workers to not need outside help. Some day!

Hno. Beto, from our own church, taught these 7- to 9-yr-olds. He did a great job!

Working on their lessons..

Here I am, helping the 2- to 5-yr-olds recite their memory verse. Lookin' verrry pregnant, Oh my.

"Oh, be careful little eyes what you see..."

Here's little Timoteo, our guest musician. :o)

Lots of action songs to get the "wiggles" out!

It takes a real man to preach to a puppet, ha ha..

This is little Shirley. Pray for her just now.. she needs to be saved.

Overall, it was a great week! There were no major mishaps (well, except for the teacher who got struck in the forehead with a real stone flung by some little "David"... He's okay, though! lol)

This was only our second EBV here in La Esperanza, and we're still learning and taking notes. We met several new families, which we'll be visiting in the weeks to come. We're so thankful for God's blessings, and can't wait to see what He does next year!

One Terrific Tuesday!

2009-06-23T23:51:00.004-05:00

Today I came back home from the capitol city with my in-laws. God kept us safe on that trip, and we look forward to some good times of fellowship with them. But we had scheduled a meeting in San Martin Zapotitlan for this evening, and so we jumped right back into the van and headed back down out of the mountains.

Several from the church in La Esperanza accompanied me. It was a great meeting, with a wonderful turnout. Praying for God's will about the future of these meetings! To God be the glory.

Mother's Day Meetings

2009-06-05T23:28:00.008-05:00

We had a great time around Mother's Day when we headed to Xela and took all the ladies that were able to make it to a sister church, The Bible Baptist Church.

Everyone was divided up into classes and the National Pastors were the Teachers. The ladies were all divided up into groups and rotated in different parts of the church. Pastor Selvyn Monson asked our family to sing as well. We had a great time!

Then at our service on the Lord's Day we had a greater time still with several new families being there and we even passed out roses to all the Mothers present in the service.

Praise the Lord for all those who were able to make it to God's House this Day!
Thank you LORD for my mom Wanda, my mother-in-law Barbara, and my wife Tammy- the mother of our children!

Work Day at the Seminary

2009-04-21T17:00:00.006-05:00

The grounds at the Seminario Biblica Bautista Independiente de Quetzaltenango needed some work, so on Monday students and teachers/pastors alike pitched in for a very productive work day.

There have been a few construction projects going on, so there was some general clean-up needed, hauling blocks, bricks and debris out of the parking area below.

The entryway also needed to be concreted before rainy season hits. It's usually a mess when it rains!

Joseph and I helped shovel sand into sacks to be carried away by the men. I was there for a while, until the director's wife asked me to help with lunch preparations. Now THAT was more along my lines...

I got to grill steaks. Made me the heroine of the day. :o)

Everyone had a mind to work, and the work got done in good time.

Here's Joseph in his rubber boots, mixing up concrete with his feet. Looks to me as though he had fun!

Jessica and Jillian carried bricks up to the pile. They were smart to wear their little bonnets, since the sun was SO strong.

Even J.B. found a job he could do! He used the small shovel, and had fun helping out.

After we served lunch to all the workers, I took the children home for naps while Daniel and the other men stayed to finish the concrete work. It was a good, productive work day at the Seminary!

Youth meetings

2009-04-17T17:54:00.005-05:00

On Tuesday afternoon we drove down to San Martin Zapotitlan to get things ready for the meetings we hope to have there. This little lady, Maria, lives with her granddaughter and her family, which includes several youths.

They welcomed us into their home, and we plan to go down every second Tuesday of each month to hold a meeting especially for the young people in the neighborhood.

This time around, we just got more acquainted with them, and one young man helped Daniel build some benches to use for the meetings.

Perhaps the Lord will use this open door to build a Church there for HIS honor and glory! That is our prayer.

What a Vacation!

2009-04-12T22:33:00.009-05:00

With "Holy Week" quickly approaching and a break from the Seminary routine available, the Bible College students and I were going to be planning what to do with the week off of school. About that time we were in contact with Carpenter for Christ Preacher/Builder Robert "Bro. Bob" Stevenson out of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Waterbury, CT. Bro. Bob had mentioned how that his builder helper for his current project in Mexico had to leave. I went down to see Bro. Bob in Mexico ( a 3 hour drive from my house) and helped him do some translation work to get the concrete slab contracted to be poured. I believed that the Lord wanted me to help him build this house for the National Pastor in Tapachula, Mexico.

I went back to Guatemala the next morning and spoke my burden to the seminary students. They were excited about the prospect of helping out a Brother in Christ and one of the guys, Juan de Paz, suggested we all go down during Semana Santa (Holy Week). I said that would be perfect. One of the students who is currently pastoring said he could preach for me on Wednesday night since his services are on Tuesday and Thursday. One of the students hurt his back and would not be able to make it. (Please pray for him, Andres de Paz. He was kicked in the spine playing soccer and had to have emergency personnel carry him out on a stretcher!)

So we loaded up our van, taking along tracts and all the tools I had that might be useful. We had no problems entering into Mexico with our equipment. We got to the job and found a hardened concrete slab waiting to be built upon.

By the time we retired that first night we were eaten up by mosquitos but had gotten a few walls up.
On Saturday, 5 days later, by God's Grace we had all the exterior and interior walls up, and about half of the roof on and no major accidents. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

This project has been profitable, not only in providing a faithful national pastor with a modest but nice house to live in, but it has also been a great opportunity for me to gain some new skills. Only the Lord knows how many times they will come in handy in the ministry for years to come.

Bro. Coates

A quick update...

2009-02-02T17:05:00.005-06:00

Here is it, February already! Happy Groundhog Day to all. And Happy 32nd Birthday to my groundhog brother, Kevin Graham. Love ya, Kev! ;o)

Just recently we received many holiday greeting cards and anniversary cards (Daniel & I have been married for 13 years as of December 29) from some of you folks. Some of you even sent us Christmas money.

Thank you so much for remembering us! I am in the process of replying to all of you. I can not tell you what an encouragment your cards, letters, gifts and emails are to us!

The church in La Esperanza is coming along, poco a poco, as they say. Sunday morning we had 13 present, and 11 in the afternoon meeting. We have a few children who want to be baptized, but we are waiting for their papa's approval.

Daniel and I, and the three oldest children, are learning to play the guitar. I must say, the children impress me with their ability to retain everything! All they lack is to "grow into" that big ol' guitar.

Well, I am off to reply to some snail mail.

2009-01-26T16:03:00.003-06:00

I wanted to show you the photos of Floridalma in Central Park, so you can see her traje típico.

Her corte, the skirt, is made of woven fabric from San Marcos, her home town.

She is wearing a blusa with it instead of the traditional güipil, which would be made of heavy cotton material embroidered with elaborate designs. Most ladies opt for the blouse for everyday use.

With all the attention, they started getting a bit silly. We had fun!

Teaching at the Seminary

2009-01-22T21:27:00.004-06:00

We attended the opening day of the Seminary last week. Daniel is teaching two classes this year: Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes/Song of Solomon. Our family was privileged to sing two songs to encourage the students and teachers present, and there was some great preaching about laying aside every weight as we run the race of the Christian life.

On our way home, we stopped at Central Park in Xela to take some photos, since everyone was dressed up and relatively clean!

We sure draw a lot of attention when we are all out together, partly because of our little blonde children, and partly because there are six of them. I saw one lady take some photos of us with her cell phone camera, Ha!

An interesting thing happened while we were at the park. As we were taking some individual shots of the children, who should walk up but Floridalma, one of the young ladies who has been visiting the church in La Esperanza. She had with her the two children of the family she works for, so we took some pictures of them all, and had a good time of fellowship with her. It was an opportunity to build a friendship with her -- our meeting in the park was certainly not coincidence.

Escuelas Biblicas de Vacaciones 2008

2008-12-30T15:37:00.008-06:00

This was our first time to have VBS at the new work in La Esperanza. We tried to set the dates so that they would not interfere with other activities in the town, but somehow we missed that on Monday they would be passing out Christmas toys at the municipal building! So the first day looked like this:

(Our Joseph showed up, though, and he was pumped!)

The next day things picked up, and it looked more like this:

Praise the LORD! We ended up averaging around 75 daily attendance. Several decisions were made for the Lord, and we look forward to visiting with the many families represented by the children who came.

It is a privilege to serve the Lord, and a joy as well! We praise the Lord for the good turnout, for the children whose lives were affected for good, and for all that we learned this year.

2008-12-02T10:12:00.007-06:00

We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanks Giving. The Coates family certainly has much to thank the Lord for, and we do thank Him every day!

Right after Thanksgiving, we dive headlong into Vacation Bible School season, helping other churches throughout the region, and preparing for one of our own. We have Escuela Biblica de Vacaciones this time of year instead of the summertime because now is when the children have their big break from school.

This week we are assisting our friends the Jones with their group southeast of us, closer to the base of our local volcano.
Signing up children for the bus route.

Time for songs and "breaking the ice", in which we identify the hams among the children. :o)

Daniel is doing the activity time, and Tammy's helping with the music.

Daniel organizing a game of kickball.

(He really gets into this...)

It's such a fun opportunity to minister to these kids, and our own children get to be among them. In two weeks when we have a VBS at the church in La Esperanza, our children will be our most valuable helpers. :o)

2008-11-10T20:45:00.003-06:00

Prayer for Hna. Lola's family

This afternoon Lola, the woman pictured below who was just recently saved and baptized, went to be with her Lord. We don't have all of the details yet, but she had gone to the coast to be with family on the Dia de los Muertos, and she apparently died rather suddenly. She will be buried down there tomorrow.

Thank you for your prayers for the family.

2008-10-28T15:10:00.009-05:00

Baptisms

Praise the Lord! We were privileged to baptize this sister in Christ! Her story is pretty amazing. The morning of our first Sunday School, Sister Lola trusted Christ as her Saviour, along with her visitor that she brought!

I spoke with her concerning baptism, and she said she wanted to be in better health before she was baptized. I talked with her about the necessity of following Christ's example and teachings, and that we do not know what tomorrow holds for us. She decided to wait on baptism.

Lola has been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, and her health started a rapid decline. She got so bad that she was hospitalized with dehydration, anemia, and a couple of other health problems. Several Christians were praying for her, and the Lord helped her during her time spent in the hospital. She made an amazing recovery.

Tammy picked her up and brought her home on a Friday afternoon. I spoke to her once again about giving God everything, whether our health is good or poor. So, two days after she was dismissed from the hospital she was baptized into the Iglesia Bautista La Esperanza.

Please pray with us as we have several others who are awaiting baptism and others still that are delaying this basic and first step in following our Lord.

2008-08-25T23:13:00.008-05:00

We were blessed to be able to host Bro. Stansell and his son Jonathan for a mini-missions trip last week. Bro. Stansell preached to churches in Xela, La Esperanza, and San Juan during his brief stay, and he was a real blessing to the people!

Since he does not speak Spanish, our friend Miguel translated for him a couple times, and Daniel translated other times. (We really enjoyed hearing good preaching in our first language, too!)

We were able to visit the Mayan ruins at Huehuetenango...

...And we also hiked this even more impressive structure:

This is Cerro Quemado, a dormant volcano.

We are so glad the Stansells came, and we hope they will be back as soon as the Lord permits. Our people have already asked when they will return!

By the way, Bro. Jonathan is starting his second year of Bible College this week.

Way to hang in there, Brother!

2008-06-23T12:29:00.001-05:00

First Meeting!

We had a great day on Sunday! There were 30 people present for the first service, with 12 adults and 18 children. It was wonderful, and the Lord blessed. Some admitted that they did not know the Lord as Saviour, but were not ready to make a decision. Most of the others are already born again. Please pray for the unsaved as we continue to witness to them, and remember the Iglesia Bautista La Esperanza in your prayers, too.

2008-06-12T21:36:00.003-05:00

We are very excited to announce the first meeting of Iglesia Bautista La Esperanza, "Hope Baptist Church", on Sunday, June 22, at 4 p.m., in the city of La Esperanza. Six families are expected to attend, including two prospects that God sent Daniel's way today!

We were able to secure the building we posted a picture of below. Our sign will be ready next week. Here's what it will look like (two sides):

At the bottom it reads, "Jesus Christ, the hope for your family."

We are still shopping for some of the practical things needed, and are trusting the Lord to provide for those.

Your prayers for us are appreciated as this new church takes root in a city that lacks a true Gospel light! May Jesus Christ be magnified in La Esperanza.

2008-05-26T22:33:00.002-05:00

El Dia De La Familia

Sunday was our first annual Dia De La Familia in San Juan, which combines Mother's Day and Father's Day into one Family Day. Attendance was very good, and we were especially pleased that many of the children who come regularly, brought their parents and extended family to hear a great sermon on the family! I'll share here some photos.

2008-05-20T00:49:00.002-05:00

We have been checking into locations for the church in La Esperanza to meet at, and were excited to find this place:

It is a brand-new house, suitable for a small church to meet in, with ample parking in front, for those who own vehicles. Inside, there is a front main room, small kitchen, and three other rooms which could serve as classrooms or overflow. Please pray with us as we seek God's will about it.

2008-05-16T23:02:00.007-05:00

"Work Day" is pretty much every day at the church in San Juan. Pastor Oto always has one project or another going, as funds allow, and one day a truckload of sand arrived for the concrete needed for the second-floor classrooms being constructed.

First of all, since the truck could not enter the church driveway from the road, the sand had to be dumped onto the street. From there, it had to be hauled one wheelbarrow at a time, about 100 yards to the church building.

We got the whole pile moved in a hurry, because it looked like it was going to rain, and our sand would have been swept down the street! That done, some of it was then carried up in buckets to the second level, where the concrete was to be mixed.

Everybody works. From the pastor...

...To the teenagers...

...To the littlest ones.

Our Johanna had SO much fun filling her little bucket again and again. Her boundless energy was contagious! She was doing her part. :o)

You've never seen such a motley crew! But we got the job done, and had a great time doing it!

2008-04-30T14:15:00.007-05:00

I couldn't let the calendar change without posting an update here! Daniel has been busy visiting folks, and there have been several saved. Next month, Lord willing, we will start having Sunday meetings in La Esperanza with some new believers.

Meanwhile, we continue a support ministry at the church here in San Juan. Sunday I took the camera with me to church, so I could share with you what it's like. Here are some photos from Sunday:

Daniel preached Sunday morning a wonderful message about Jesus Christ Our Foundation! The people identified with his illustrations about construction, because their church building is under construction at this time. We build upon a Solid Foundation that will never be destroyed - Jesus Christ! Our prayer is that you are building your life on Jesus, too.

See why there's construction going on? This is one of the children's classes being held outdoors. Not that they mind so much! :o) But the rainy season is setting in, and they really need to be indoors soon. Classrooms are being built on top of the church sanctuary as the funds come in, and Brother, it is tight! But the Lord has really blessed, and the people are learning to live (and give) by faith.

Sunday night four children raised their hands to indicate that they wanted to give their lives to Jesus. (Excuse the funny color of the photos. I didn't use a flash, so as not to be a distraction.)

Two were visitors, and two were children of a church member. My friends, that's what it's all about!

2008-03-04T14:43:00.004-06:00

More photos from the meeting at The Eagle's Nest. As you can see, it is a beautiful place, perched on the cliffs overlooking Lake Atitlan, and it boasts a nice view of a few volcanoes. The camp is available to house visitors from the States when you come down for mission trips.

2008-03-04T14:28:00.004-06:00

Daniel is away for a Preachers' Conference this week at The Eagle's Nest, a Christian camp located about two hours from here. Each year preachers and laymen come from Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala, to be encouraged by the preaching and singing. These photos are from another year when he took a group from Cantel.

2008-03-04T07:23:00.004-06:00

We are introducing a new, separate weblog that will continue to chronicle family topics, while The Daniel Coates Family blog will focus more on the ministry specifically. Of course, family and ministry are often intertwined, so while there might be some repetition, you are encouraged to visit both. The new weblog ThisPilgrimage is now up and running!

2008-02-01T12:56:00.000-06:00

Things Don't Just Happen
by Esther L. Fields (circa 1944)

Things don't just happen to us who love God;
They're planned by His own dear hand.
Then molded and shaped, and timed by His clock.
Things don't just happen; they're planned.

We don't just guess on the issues of life,
We Christians just rest in our Lord.
We are directed by His sovereign will
In the light of His holy word.

We who love Jesus are walking by faith,
Not seeing one step that's ahead,
Not doubting one moment what our lot might be,
But looking to Jesus instead.

We praise our dear Saviour for loving us so,
For planning each care of our life,
Then giving us faith to trust Him for all,
The blessings as well as the strife.

Things don't just happen to us who love God,
To us who have taken our stand.
No matter the lot, the course, or the price,
Things don't just happen; they're planned.

From a tract entitled, "Things Don't Just Happen".

2008-01-25T14:20:00.000-06:00

Three boys!
Joseph (5 yrs) John Benjamin (almost 2) and Joel (2 mos)

2007-12-02T16:54:00.000-06:00

Today we took little Joel to church for the first time. The sermon was excellent, one about Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, who had been removed from the palace as an infant, and had been raised in a house in the wilderness. King David sought him out to show him mercy and kindness for his friend Jonathan's sake. The preacher saw Mephibosheth as a picture of our own condition: fallen, lame and unable to help ourselves, and at the mercy of the King. The King sent for him, extended mercy to him and made him as one of his own sons, giving him a mansion to dwell in. This is just what our Heavenly Father does for us, not because we deserve it, but just because He wants to.

I look at our new little son, whose hands have never committed sin, realizing that he is yet infected with the sin nature. Should God give him life, he will one day realize his sinful state, and I pray that at that point he will bow before the Lord, repentant of his sin, and receive Christ as the atonement for his sin. This is the only way to be reconciled unto God! We are all at the mercy of the King, and must look to Him if we are to be saved. I am so glad He is full of mercy, and loves us in spite of our sin!

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" John 1:12

2007-11-29T11:29:00.000-06:00

2007-11-27T19:22:00.000-06:00

Sideburns.

He's the man!

2007-11-25T11:10:00.000-06:00

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (Psalm 91:1,2)

This has always been a precious psalm to me, and I've determined to memorize the chapter. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust... What comfort! What safety! His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. How dependable is God's word! I can stand behind it, and be protected from the darts of the enemy, the father of lies.

Oh, to dwell in the secret place of the most High! To dwell is to live there continually. A secret place is hidden; I must be led there by the sweet Holy Spirit. There I shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty!

I was reading this psalm in my Spanish Bible recently, and was delighted to see how shadow was translated abrigo. That is a Spanish word that, these days, is also used for a protective overcoat. I thought to myself, I know what it feels like to abide under the abrigo of the Almighty!.. When I was a little girl, I always wanted to sit next to my daddy in church. He would open his coat, and I would scoot in close to his side, where his coat and his arm could cover me. It was the safest, warmest place a little girl could wish for, and I delighted in listening to the preacher's sermon from my haven in the pew.

God's children have access to that special place by His side - not only next to Him, but so close as to be under His shadow! What a wonderful thought. May you seek and find that spot today, and may you be blessed enough to dwell there!

2007-11-22T18:00:00.000-06:00

Joel Daniel, on Thanksgiving Day, 2007. He is eight days old. Honest, sometimes he does open his eyes!

He is already on a pretty good eating/waketime/sleeping schedule during the day, and during the night he sleeps for 3-5 hour stretches.

What a sweet blessing from the Lord!

2007-11-15T19:04:00.000-06:00

Just arrived! Joel Daniel Coates was born on November 14th at 6:51 a.m. weighing in at 10 lbs, and measuring 21 inches long. At first we were guessing his weight to be about 9 1/2 lbs, but when Daniel found the fish scales, he put the baby into a sack and hung the sack from the scales. He was a keeper!

2007-11-12T18:41:00.000-06:00

One last photo before the baby comes. This was taken in front of our home in San Juan. Due date passed two days ago.

2007-11-08T16:32:00.000-06:00

Daniel got the birth pool set up, in preparation for the new baby's birth. I don't know if J.B. knew he was born in this same pool or not, but he thought it looked like a lot of fun!

We have found waterbirth to be such a nice option, making labor easier for me, and a smoother transition into the "outside world" for the baby. If anyone would like to have more information about waterbirth, feel free to email me.

2007-10-28T00:43:00.000-05:00

We're back home again, and have set to the task of unpacking and setting up house. It's a big job, and everyone is pitching in, but we take the time for a little fun, too! Here's a dogpile-daddy moment, just before bedtime.

2007-10-23T21:43:00.000-05:00

Just reminiscing about our time in the States...

This picture was taken July 30, 2007, on the grounds of The Alamo in San Antonio, TX. Although the weather was hot, we had a really nice time there, and the children enjoyed learning about an important part of Texas history.

2007-10-10T23:33:00.000-05:00

We are wrapping up our time in the States, and are getting ready to leave for Guatemala. We have traveled over 25,000 miles to meetings in at least fourteen states. It has been a wonderful (and busy!) eleven months, and we have been privileged to meet so many of God's people who love missions and missionaries. God bless you all!

And now we turn our faces toward Guatemala. Daniel will be driving down through Mexico with our children and my dad on the 22nd of October, and I will fly down to meet them on the 25th. What is it like to be returning after almost a year in the Land of Wal-mart, Modern Medicine, and Convenience? Breath-taking, butterflies-in-the-stomach excitement. What does the future hold? What is the Lord going to do this term? Great things, no doubt! We return to the field with a fresh vision, and renewed desire to bear much fruit for our Lord Jesus in Central America.

That is not to say we won't miss friends and family in the States. This year I looked into the faces of people I love dearly, and could hardly bear the thought of not seeing them again for five years or more. For a few seconds I entertained thoughts that we could quit and just stay here, and live like "normal" people do.... but those thoughts quickly vanished when I remembered the faces of people we were able to reach for Christ last term in Guatemala. They are precious souls that Jesus died to redeem! Our loved ones in the States we will either see again next furlough, or will see them in Heaven, whichever comes first. But souls in Guatemala who would never come to know Christ if we don't tell them, would be lost forever if we don't go.

There are selfish reasons, too, for desiring to be back in Guatemala. It brings us so much peace to be where God wants us to be, and joy in doing His will. How does a person cope with being outside of God's will? "As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place." There is no rest in the soul, no peace of mind, when one wanders from the place where God wants him or her to be.

So we are glad to return, even in the midst of whirlwind travels and last-minute preparations! Please remember us in your prayers. Specifically, for safety, wisdom in decisions about shipping items and importing our vehicle, preparations for the birth of our new baby around November 10. Thank you, and may you be blessed as you serve in the place where God has called you to be!

2007-08-03T00:13:00.000-05:00

The heathen in Guatemala

As I was meditating on Psalm 2 this morning, I thought about the people to whom we minister in Guatemala. "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" I used to wonder what the heathen were raging about, and what vain things they imagined. I can now see the answer to that: They rage "against the Lord, and against his anointed". They do not need God, they forget him. Left to their own resources, they just imagine and rage!

We have been hearing about some terrible rumors across the country about people who kidnap Guatemalan children and sell them to harvest their organs. This is an old rumor that comes up again every few years, and sometimes their suspicions are targeted at Americans, especially those whole deal with adoptions. At least two Guatemalan people have been lynched by angry mobs this time around - something aroused the suspicions of the locals, and in a panic they attacked two suspect women and took their lives.

This is a tool of the devil, who loves to keep them in the bondage of their fear and darkness! He confuses them, gets them worked up. They imagine a vain thing! The heathen rage. It may seem primitive and barbaric to us, but it is the same pride and arrogance Americans have when we choose to take matters into our own hands.

Please pray for these people for whom Christ died. They need to know the Saviour!

2007-08-01T22:43:00.000-05:00

Appointments

Appointments... we know all about 'em! I haven't counted, but we have kept many, many appointments in churches around the country. Things are getting especially busy now, as we are in the final three months of furlough. We travel a lot, and are often up until the late hours... How many times have we carried sleeping children in from the van? I must say, our busy schedule often makes it difficult for me to read my Bible and pray in the morning. And that is one appointment that I am learning MUST be kept - my appointment with the Lord!

I've heard it said that you can meet with the Lord any time of day, whenever it fits into your schedule. But I agree with the preacher that said, "You don't prepare for the battle when in the midst of the battle; you prepare BEFORE the battle." That makes sense! Not that our home life is like a battle - HA - but daily life is a spiritual battle. As a friend of mine reminded me recently, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. That sounds like something that needs some spiritual preparation before heading out for the day!

The psalmist said, "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." (5:3) I think any mom with young children will agree with me on this: once the rest of the family wakes up, you can forget quiet time! David had it right - get with the Lord BEFORE the day's business comes pressing in. And we find the ultimate example in the Lord Jesus himself, who also set aside time to be alone with the Heavenly Father. If He needed quiet time, then I know I do for sure!

So I am setting an appointment with the Lord, and will set my alarm clock to be sure it is kept.

...You know, it is amazing to me that the Creator of the universe is even interested in an appointment with me! But that is another post...

2007-07-31T17:56:00.000-05:00

Recently Pastor Tomas and his wife Karmen celebrated the first birthday of their son, Boaz Timoteo, in Cantel, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Isn't he handsome? I had the privilege of being present when he was born, so he's a special little fellow to me.

There was a party for him at the church, complete with cake and all the extras. We are excited for their family, and for the future of this little man who is being trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord!

Please pray for this young pastor as he leads a growing church. They make many personal sacrifices for the ministry, and the need is great for a larger meeting place, as well as a larger home for his family. They are a blessing, and we are privileged to have worked with them!

2007-07-22T23:21:00.000-05:00

harry-brained kids

Well, it's out. The last of the Harry Potter books has been released, and according to the newspapers, it caused quite a sensation across America and other countries. Something about this kid wizard captures the imaginations of young people, and many educators nod in approval of any book that will get a child to read. Others have criticized the books as being inappropriate for children for their subject matter: witchcraft. What is a Christian parent to do?

I think the first thing we should do is consider what the Bible says about the matter. What things should a parent allow and encourage their children to read? The answer is found in Philippians 4:8 "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, ...just ... pure ... lovely ... of good report; if there be any virtue [godliness] and if there be any praise, think on these things." I still have vivid impressions of many of the things I read as a child, don't you? The word pictures formed in an impressionable mind by a talented author, stay with them for life. The things my children hear or read from a book are rehearsed in their play, and reflected in their attitudes. How important it is, what Mom and Dad allow them to meditate upon! Before reading any book or watching any video, we must first ask, Is it true? Honest? Just? Pure? Lovely? Of good report?

There are many books on the market for children and young people that definitely do not meet these criteria. But the teacher at your child's school may say, "These books are wonderful pieces of literature. They open the minds of children and encourage their imagination. Besides, if they really like it, they'll actually READ! Isn't that a good thing?" There are all sorts of programs and incentives to read, read, read; and some children learn to love reading. But is reading the most important thing? I've heard the slogan, "People who read, succeed." Is that absolutely true? Our culture puts a premium on knowledge, but has that helped our country as it falls apart at the moral seams?

Reading just for the sake of reading leaves us "ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (II Timothy 3:7) We must read and encourage our children to read things that are godly and biblical. In the early schools of America, children were taught to read to the end that they might be able to read the Word of God for themselves. The ability to read and amass knowledge is not to be used to fog our minds with fables and untruths.

Which brings me back to Harry Potter. I've seen young people hazy for days on end as they spend hours into the night reading these books, and in the end, what good has it done them? Do these kind of books help the child live a godly life? Does it make them meditate on godly principles? Does it encourage them to walk in the light? Does it turn their hearts to their parents, whom God has given to them to raise them and guide them?

God help us Christian parents to love our children enough to give them good things to do and to read. They will one day rise up and call us blessed.

2007-07-13T00:34:00.000-05:00

Today we went to the Birth Center for a prenatal check-up, and to have a sonogram done. While I have my own private reservations about peeking in on God's work in progress, it sure is nice to know everything is going well, before we have another unassisted home birth!

It is lovely to not only feel, but to see the baby move and gesture, so sweet, so safe, patiently growing and developing into the creature God is making him to be. What a miracle! Baby's brain and spine are perfect, heart beating strong, and everything seems to be right where it should be, and the size it should be as well, at 22 weeks. Thank You, Lord!

2007-02-04T14:07:00.000-06:00

We are in the States now, for our first furlough. Our first term on the field was four years short, and every fifth year we are to take a furlough to report to churches here. We arrived just before Thanksgiving, and are renting a house not far from our home church in Texas. It does not take very long to get used to life in the States - things are a lot easier here - but I do miss many things about Guatemala. For instance, fresh eggs from our own chickens, a dairy just down the road to purchase clean, unpasteurized milk, and cheap, fresh veggies! It seems to cost a lot more to eat well here in the States. But I'm learning to be content where I am, and look forward to the next adventure the Lord has for us!

2006-10-13T13:17:00.000-05:00

Our dachshunds, Oscar and Canela, gave us a litter of six pups recently. We are in the process of finding homes for them.
These are the three puppies we have left. (Couldn't get a better pic - They wouldn't keep still for very long!) They are about eight weeks old now.

2006-09-12T17:08:00.000-05:00

Being a missionary is not all just preaching and visiting and shopping in the market. Recently, a brother in Christ passed away after being ill with cancer for some time. This is the funeral procession from the city below, up the hill to the cemetary. The people saw how Daniel lent a hand with securing the coffin to the bier, then later helped shovel dirt even though he was in his dress shoes and pants. It made an impression on them, and his servant's heart blessed the family. That's how my Daniel is!

2006-09-12T16:56:00.000-05:00

Jessica and Jillian have learned some handstitching, and made several blocks for a quilt. Jillian did especially well, and finished quickly. Jessica, like her mom, prefers the zip of the sewing machine to the slower progress of handstitching. But they both finished, and now each has her own quilt to cover her bed. I am so proud of their work!

2006-09-12T16:41:00.000-05:00

Nope, this is not a photo of our camping vacation in the mountains. This pic was taken about five minutes from our home! Daniel loaded us all up into the van, and we went exploring on the back roads behind the house. These falls are man-made, but pretty just the same. They were created many years ago to power a large mill, the remains of which can still be seen nearby.

We enjoy living a bit further from civilization. The air is cool and clean, and it is refreshing to hike around in it sometimes. We discovered a bridge, too, made of two looong tree trunks with planks strapped on them. Crossing this provided the children some scarey fun!

2006-07-05T16:11:00.000-05:00

John Benjamin is four months old now. Joseph loves to hold his little brother, and most of the time JB doesn't mind.

Aren't they sweet?

2006-07-05T15:52:00.000-05:00

This fellow works at the post office in downtown Xela. He got saved, and Daniel gave him a BEAMS Bible to read. He was really proud of it. Praise the Lord!

2006-05-14T16:09:00.000-05:00

This is Wanda, my mother-in-law, and her horse (Cheyenne, I think). I could not ask for a sweeter mom-in-law. She is so proud of her son Daniel, and I know it is hard for her sometimes for him to be so far away in Guatemala. Please pray for her as she especially misses her first son, Robert, who is now in Heaven.

2006-05-13T20:25:00.000-05:00

Today the lady in the center (light blue shirt) was baptized. She is the mother of two of Daniel's "bus kids", and we are very excited for their family! That is what bus routes are all about - not just reaching out to the children we pick up, but also reaching out to their families.

Pastor Tomas and his wife Karmen are on the right. (Note her round middle - they are expecting their first child!)

2006-05-05T15:41:00.000-05:00

On the way home from Texas, we stopped along the gulf coast of Mexico to enjoy the beach for a few minutes. One of the benefits of driving the trip instead of flying is all the pretty sights along the way!

2006-04-26T09:56:00.000-05:00

In memory of Robert Wayne Coates 1/2/73 - 4/5/06

In the early hours of the morning of April 6th, the phone in our home in San Juan rang. Daniel answered it to hear the voice of our pastor in Palestine, TX, who told the sad news. Daniel's brother "Bert" had been killed in a tragic automobile accident the evening of April 5, 2006. He called his mother to offer her comfort and to assure her that he would do his best to be at the funeral.

After a quick trip to the American Embassy in Guatemala City to renew passports and get a new one for the baby, we started the drive to the Mexican border, then along the east coast of Mexico toward Texas. There were many delays at the border, and at checkpoints across Mexico, but we finally arrived in Palestine the day before the funeral.

Daniel was privileged to preach the funeral of his brother, and his sister and I sang "Amazing Grace". Daniel has been such a comfort to his family for the time we have been able to be here, and we are thankful to the Lord for allowing us to come!

When Robert was a teenager, he heard a preacher tell the truth from the Bible that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Robert had a choice to make that would determine his eternal destiny, and he chose to ask Jesus to forgive him of his sins. Praise the Lord, Robert is in Heaven today.

2006-04-26T09:42:00.000-05:00

We had this portrait made of our family with Daniel's sister Candis, who is his only sibling now. Candis is at the top, then (clockwise) Jessica, Jillian, John Benjamin, Joseph, Johanna, and Daniel. I'm in the center.

2006-03-03T13:47:00.001-06:00

Announcing the birth of our fifth baby, John Benjamin Coates.
He was born in a very nice birth pool in our bedroom on February 17, 2006, at 8:51 p.m. He weighed in at 9 pounds, and was 21 inches long. He is a robustly healthy little fellow! Praise the Lord for His goodness!

2006-03-03T12:08:00.000-06:00

Here is a photo of me during labor. Each of our sweet children came in one at a time to see Mommy. Johanna gave me a kiss on the nose :o) John Benjamin was in no hurry to arrive, and labor was slow. Effective though!

2006-02-14T16:18:00.000-06:00

Meet Oscar, our dachshund. He's a pretty good dog, and can really ham it up for the camera. He sits when he wants to, rolls over when he wants to, plays dead most of the time. But we love him.

Ferocious yawn!

2006-01-02T19:26:00.000-06:00

In our morning family devotions, we have been going through Proverbs. The verse that says a prudent wife is from the Lord apparently made an impression on Joseph, and he says that he is looking for a prudent wife. Any eligible girls who are now between the ages of 0 and 3 may apply. Don't worry about a deadline, though. We've got plenty of time!

2006-01-02T13:56:00.000-06:00

My cousin Shelley (the attractive, *single* young lady on the left in this photo) flew in from Costa Rica to spend Christmas with us. She is in Costa Rica to study Spanish in preparation for her ministry in Nicaragua. Daniel watched the children sometimes so that she and I could do some "girl stuff" during her visit, and we also did lots of fun stuff with the whole crowd! It was a blessing to have her here. Remember to pray for her as she prepares for ministry with Nicaraguan street children, and as she seeks the Lord's will for her life every step of the way.

2005-12-30T04:34:00.000-06:00

While Shelley was here to visit, she volunteered to babysit our four babies so that Daniel and I could go out to celebrate our TENTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY on the 29th of December. It is hard to believe that ten years have passed since we exchanged vows... it has been a wonderful, exciting, never-a-dull-moment kind of ten years. No wonder it went by so fast!

Daniel took me to a really nice restaurant, where he had roses waiting for me at the table he had reserved, and we enjoyed a romantic dinner, along with sweet memories from the past, and big plans for the future. He is still my one and only, and always will be :o)

2005-12-11T12:50:00.000-06:00

Here are our four thankful little Pilgrims. We had fun making costumes. (They also made little Indian vests out of brown paper. "How!")

2005-12-10T12:34:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is our favorite time of year! This was my first time to cook my very own turkey without Mom or some other capable cook in the kitchen with me, so I needed lots of help from our girls. Here is a picture of my littlest helper, Johanna :o)

The turkey and stuffing came out nicely (thanks to Mom's instruction over the years), and we invited our pastor and his wife from Cantel to give thanks with us. We had much to be thankful for this year!

2005-12-02T18:20:00.000-06:00

OOPS! This photo is sideways. If you will cock your head to the side, you will see our beautiful daughter Jessica, holding a precious baby in the one-room house where she was born days before. The baby's name? Tammy Flora. Am I proud to have a namesake? You bet.

2005-11-18T19:48:00.000-06:00

In November 2005, after Hurricane Stan had wreaked its havoc on Tapachula, Mexico, Daniel and Pastor Tomas were able to take a trip down to visit a pastor friend there. Daniel was deeply affected by the extent of the devastation... he told me about one place that looked like a vast, dry river bed, boulders and all... but it had been a neighborhood before the storm. The pictures he took are amazing, but I am only able to post a couple here. They were able to distribute some household goods and food to needy folks down there, and also help do some reconstruction.

We are so grateful for God's hand of protection on us, and His abundant blessings! At a time when many folks were doing without their daily necesities, we were giving to others out of our abundance. Bless the Lord! Let us not forget all His benefits!

2005-11-14T13:46:00.000-06:00

We do not have internet connection in our new home, so our updates and emailings are less frequent.
We are in Panajachel today, having come here yesterday afternoon for a special preaching service. A group of Cuban doctors came to Guatemala to help relieve some of the pressure at free medical clinics since Hurricane Stan, and we were hoping to lead some of them to Christ. They all listened attentively to the preaching, but there was less response than we had hoped. Daniel did not get to preach, but he did have opportunity to talk to a few of the visitors. They did gladly receive the BEAMS Bibles we presented to them, and our hope and prayer is that they will read them and be drawn by the sweet Holy Spirit to receive Christ as Savior! Please pray for these Cuban men and women who do not know Jesus, and who live in a country where the Gospel is suppressed.
The pregnancy is going well, and there seem to be no problems whatsoever. We are going to set up a birth tub at home for this birth, too, and are looking for options to heat up that much water! Any ideas?

2005-10-14T19:01:00.000-05:00

Today is MOVING DAY!! Most of our big stuff is already over in the new house. Bro. Tomas (the pastor of the mission in Cantel) and his sweet wife Karmen helped us this morning and afternoon. While the guys made a few trips moving furniture and boxes, we girls cleaned, mopped, and waxed the floors upstairs in the new house. Jessica thought the floor waxing looked like fun, so she was an enthusiastic helper.

...And it IS a new house. The first time I saw it a week and a half ago, the kitchen floor was still DIRT! The flooring is all in now, of course, but we won't have any doors on the bedrooms and bathrooms until next month. We also have to wait for closets and kitchen cabinets, but I think we will manage :o)

We are happy and blessed by the new house the Lord has allowed us to live in, and are excited about spending the first night in it tonight. I will post pictures as soon as things start looking presentable!

2005-10-12T02:00:00.000-05:00

We have been offline for a while, due to damage from Hurricane Stan. Yep, we felt it up here in the mountains, too! Heavy rains caused flooding and landslides, and trees fell onto power lines and across roads. Some towns just down the road from us are practically ghost towns, as the people evacuated and have nothing left to return to. For days, we had no idea what was going on around us, because we had no access to t.v. news nor newspapers nor internet... But little by little it dawned on us the magnitude of the loss of lives and property as a result of the hurricane.

We were blessed to be living on higher ground... people on the other side of town saw their houses flooded by up to six feet of water! When word got around that the highways were all blocked or had major bridges destroyed, and that no supply trucks would be coming for a while, many people flocked to the stores to stock up on food and water. Supplies of fresh vegetables and fruits, bread, and meat were quickly depleted, and many shelves stood bare by the second day after the storm. Gas stations were running out of petrol, and limiting the number of cars they would allow in. Through it all, the Lord has been so good to us, and we have had plenty of drinking water and food. "...yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

We now have electricity and water restored, as well as phone service. Thank you, Lord!

2005-10-01T22:44:00.000-05:00

At first, Johanna wasn't sure what she thought about being fed by her brother, but - hey - it's food! Bring it on!

2005-09-30T16:02:00.000-05:00

"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee...and I will bless thee...and thou shalt be a blessing." (from Genesis 12:1-2)
Meditating on Abraham and his life today, it is amazing how much I can identify. Reading about him is like reading about my family, too, only we already had children when God moved us. The nice thing was that He told us where we were going :o) We have been in Guatemala since December 2002, and boy, has it been a journey! And I don't mean the physical journey. (Although that in itself is a tale to tell, driving through Mexico!)

More important was the spiritual "place" that God was leading Abraham's family to. That is what mattered most, though the physical displacement played an important part. Separation! Separation from all things familiar, all things that felt "safe", and yet Abraham followed, knowing that the "safest" place to be was in the will of God. It was separation from the distractions of the old family traditions and habits, to build new, godly traditions that would one day point generations to Christ! It was a separation from the comforts of the world, so that he could and would come away more often to seek God's face. There was no one else to look to for help!

This is all about our family, too. God called us away, not only to serve others and give the gospel to spiritually hungry people, but also to take our family to a spiritual "place" where we have never been. He has stripped us of many worldly possessions and conveniences, and has led us to the place where we have learned (and are still learning) to depend on Him. If He had not brought us to this place, separated from family and old friends, I do not know where I would be in my spiritual life, and I don't think our children would be so blessed, either. If God had not brought us here, I know I would not have prayed for my husband and children so much (nor for the loved ones we left behind!), and sought God's face about being a godly wife, mother, and how to educate the children He has given us. Could it be that we are more thankful for the little things (like a box of macaroni and cheese) because there is no Wal-mart just around the corner?

Thank you, Lord! Thank you for loving us so much, and for taking the trouble to tend to us and help us grow. Thank you for keeping us moving, and not letting us stagnate into uselessness. Thank you for placing a yoke on our shoulders, then pulling alongside us, bearing most of the burden Yourself. It is my delight to come away and learn more about You, Lord!

May God bless all of you, too, and keep you "moving" to new spiritual places!

2005-09-27T14:47:00.000-05:00

Hooray for Joseph! He's our little man. I had promised him that the first day he woke up dry and went all day with no accidents, we would throw him a special party.... a POTTY PARTY! Here he is with his cake. (It was just us - didn't invite the neighbors for this one :o)

2005-09-26T16:24:00.000-05:00

We are just coming out of a very busy season of our life and ministry here. We were involved in a Missions Conference for Guatemalan pastors and laypeople, the purpose of which was to "Awaken our Vision for Missions". We also got our homeschooling started up again, and the girls are very excited about that! We'll post school pictures soon. The girls were also asked to be "damicelas" in the Quinceanos of a teen girl in our church in Cantel. So we got some dresses together for that, and coached them what to do and when. They did their jobs well, and looked lovely too!