Last Update from the States!

March 23, 2015

I am thrilled to announce that things are on track and almost ready for my departure date. A year ago today I sent out my very first prayer letter announcing my internship. Today I am writing you for the last time on American soil until next year.  I fly out of Columbus Tuesday, April 14, at 12:18pm to Dallas. From there I will spend a few days with my brother and his family and then April 23^rd, at 3:40pm and I will begin my journey to Kiribati. 

God has done a great work in my heart this week through the Missions Conference at Loudonville Baptist Temple. The Lord re-established in my heart the purpose of missions and this internship. This purpose can be summed up one verse, “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art most high over all the earth.”  Our purpose on earth is to bring glory to God.  If this is true then those of us who know that and have His word MUST make it known among those who do not.  I am humbled that God would chose someone like me to be a part of making Himself known to other parts of the world. 

Previously I mentioned that I was in contact with a doctor who would be able to monitor my heart while I am overseas. I am very excited to share with you a new ministry he is starting and how I am able to be a part of it. God has burdened Dr. Bruce Martin to use Telemedicine to help meet the medical needs of missionaries around the world.  Recently he has purchased some equipment in which uses telecommunication and digital medical equipment in order to provide health care from a distance.  Sunday evening Dr. Martin presented this digital Stethoscope to me.

This is what I will use to do monthly heart checks with him, as well as help out with medical issues that may arise while I’m on the field.  I firmly believe that God can use this for His glory! Throughout Christ’s earthly ministry, He quite often met physical needs, which opened the door for Him to meet spiritual needs. If Christ did this, so can we.  My prayer is that we will be able to reach some physical needs, which will in turn allow us to show the people how Christ can meet their spiritual needs. 

Thank you for all of your continued prayers for my health as well as my support. I completed my cardiac rehab last week! With the budget changes we had to make, I am at 96% of my $15,600 budget. These changes involved new tax in Kiribati, evacuation insurance, and travel costs.  Thank you so much for partnering with me to reach the I-Kiribati people. I am so thankful for your faithfulness to support me even through the difficult times. I believe we have found two cellphone apps that will aid in communication with the states while I am gone. If you are interested, these two apps are VSee and WhatsApp.  Both apps are free. VSee is a video conferencing app that runs on low bandwidth that should allow good communication on the island.  WhatsApp is a texting app that runs strictly off of wifi.  If you have any questions or thoughts please feel free to contact me at any time (724)504-1174. The next time you hear from me it will be from Kiribati! 

Preparing to serve Him on the Equator

Candace Cook

Latest updates from the heart!

Below you will find the link labeled "February Prayer Letter" this will direct you to my latest prayer letter!
Thank you for your continued prayers and support!
Candace

February Prayer Letter

Apologies and Updates

I must start off by apologizing for my lack of communication recently. I have no real excuse, I was simply waiting on a time that I would have more information to give. I had this great plan to wait until I had all the new information concerning my new leave date etc. before posting again. I must apologize for the long wait and the fact that I still do not have all of that information. However I do have some things to update you on and I am excited about them!

Concerning my Health:
God has been faithful (as He always is) with the matter of my health. Yes I indeed had a rocky road of recovery but since my wire removal surgery things have been getting better every day! I am growing stronger physically as I go through cardiac rehab. It is a bear to go through, but all the while I am struggling and often wishing I did not have to do it I am reminded to be thankful that I have the ability to do it. You see its been 7 months since I was told I would not live another year. 6 months ago I could see my health began to drastically deteriorate. 5 months ago the Lord allowed me to have a series of surgeries to correct the problems that would soon take my life. And when I am reminded of how God brought me through that it makes it so much easier to go through therapy. February 4th I will go to Cincinnati for my 6 month post surgery check up. I am very confident that it will go well but I do ask that you pray for the upcoming appointment.

Concerning my Internship:
Things are beginning to fall back into place for the internship. I do not have all of the information as to some of the changes but I will share with you what I have. My official leave date is April 23rd, at that time I will fly out of Dallas, TX to begin my journey to Kiribati. We are working on securing a flight in order for me to get to Dallas and when I have one I will share that with you as well. There have been many changes concerning the financial end of my internship. I do not have all of the information concerning the changes but here is what I do have. Due to my existing health problem I am now in need of securing Emergency Evacuation Insurance. This is not something to be alarmed about it is merely a precaution that I must now take. The second big change is that of a tax change in Kiribati. I do not have all of the information as to how this will change my cost of living and such as of now but it will most certainly change my support levels.

As these things begin to come to light and I have more concrete information I will share them with you. Prior to this I was near 95% of my needed support. I do not know where I will stand after these new things come to light but I know I will be in need of more support. I know that God will provide these things as He promises in His word to provide for our needs, however I ask that you pray with me concerning these new financial needs. Pray that God will open doors for new supporters.

In Romans 10 Paul speaks of his hearts desire to see should come to Christ. Now more than ever my hearts desire is to see the I-Kiribati people come to know Him. God is using the Daku and Snyder families in a great way to reach those people and I am so honored that He chose me to have the opportunity to join them in His mission.

There are two areas where you can support me right now in reaching the I-Kiribati people. Firstly, would you consider supporting me financially on a monthly basis for ten months or with a one-time financial gift. Secondly, I need prayer partners who will intercede both while I raise support and am in Kiribati. Thank you for your support in these two areas. 

If you choose to support me financially please make all checks out to First Baptist Church and put Candace Cook in the memo/for line as well as whether this is a one-time gift or a monthly basis.
Please send this page with your support check to:

First Baptist Church
1367 Woodville Pike
Milford, OH 45150

Thank you so much for all of the love and support you have shown me.
Preparing to serve Him on the Equator, 
Candace

Two steps forward one step back!

I appologize for the lack of updates here lately. I have three wonderful steps of both progress and preparation which brings me just that much closer to my internship! First off I am very excited to announce this letter! I can't not even begin to explain to you how wonderful it was to receive this letter from my cardiologist!

This letter is the official approval from my cardiologist to my school stating that he approves my leaving for my internship this coming spring! I have a six month check up appointment with my cardiologist in February and as long as nothing has changed at that point he has approved my heart to be in working condition and able to go!

Secondly I am excited to have this here card stating that I am CPR and First Aid certificated! This was a small requirement for my internship in which I was unable to complete before. I am very excited to say that I am now healthy enough to have it! 

Lastly I would like to ask prayer for the one step back. 

Due to some lingering difficulties with my incision the doctor has put me on another medication and drawn some blood for testing. They are yet again concerned for a possible bone infection in my sternum. I do not have the results back yet but we are praying that they will come back clear and it will be something minor. 

Thank yall so much for all your prayers! I am so very excited about these new steps forward!

Just a little bit from the heart

I apologize for the lack of updates these past few weeks. Everything has been wonderful! My new incision healed up perfectly and because of the way he made the new incision he was able to close up the old one! The first few day after surgery was quite rough because of the anesthesia. However by the second day I was feeling wonderful. While I was not back to my complete normal self I felt better than I had since the very beginning of this journey.

Yes I know it was slightly insane of me due to the fact that I had just gotten out of surgery but the third day I was privileged to stand and be part of my best friends wedding! I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends! It was a beautiful wedding!

I had two appointments today, one was a cardiac stress test and one was my final check up for the year! The stress test went well, my heart seemed to handle it well. I should start cardiac therapy within the next week. My primary doctor said as far as he can tell everything is fine and I should be good to resume my normal life! I have to say what a wonderful blessing it is to go to my primary doctor here. I typically can't stand going to the doctors but I have been blessed with amchristian doctor here in Mansfield that is very involved in medical missions trips. I always enjoy my visits with him because we always end up talking of missions and what the Lord is doing in each others lives concerning His mission.

Thank you all for your continued prayers, calls and cards they are a wonderful blessing! I will continue to update on any changes both here and in Kiribati.
Candace

Home again

Thank y'all so much for all of your prayers, texts and calls yesterday. I can't explain how much it helps in trying times to have those encouraging things. I got home yesterday evening. I am doing well my pain is pretty low which is nice. I havent actually taken any pain meds as of yet. I struggled with sickness from the anesthetic all yesterday and last night but that has mostly passed. My throat is pretty torn up from the breathing tube but other than that all is well.

Everything seems to have been successful. They removed the top wire from my sternum with hopes that everything will heal up normally now. The doctor said when he got in he was very thankful that they did not wait another day because there was a great deal of build up and fluid around my sternum. He believes that if I had waited even one more day it could have gone into severe infection.

Today I am on "bed rest" which is driving me crazy but I am very thankful for my sweet little brother who is taking such wonderful care of me. I can't imagine where I would be without this kid he has been my right arm these past few days. I cannot wait till my parents are home tho! There is nothing quite as good as having my sweet mama here with me.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support. I have a follow up appointment next Wednesday, I will update how that goes. 

Please don't forget to keep the Daku and Snyder families in your prayers as well as the I-Kiribati people. 

Candace 

Back to the OR

Just wanted to give a quick update. I am heading to the OR within the hour. The doctor called this morning and feels as though the need to remove the top wire from my sternum right away. After reviewing the CT scan he fears that a bone infection could develop if they don't remove it right away. Please continue to pray they are very hopeful that this will help everything else to go start to improve.

I'll update when I can.