Doug and Melody Corley Just another weblog 
April 2008
Praise the Lord; the Corleys are still alive and kicking in Mexico, just not quite as high as we used to. The community development ministry is making progress, but a bit more slowly that we had expected. It is a bigger job than we knew getting this new ministry organized and up and running. There are a number of projects we could start or get involved with, but we need to analyze each one to make sure that it fits in the parameters of our goals and mission statement. Please pray with us for wisdom and direction from the Lord for each step of organization of this ministry. Community projects are great opportunities for our missionaries to build relationships with the people of their area. We cannot move in and plant a church in a tribal area without first laying a foundation based on relationships and trust. Those happen largely through community development.
In the meantime, our mission leaders have asked Doug to participate in the field’s “safety program” that helps keep our missionaries safe from crime and terrorism. Doug will have the responsibility to review the risk situations on the field and help develop plans that help our missionaries cope with varied threats. He also will have a part in educating our folks in the best methods of safe living. Another responsibility will be to be a first responder for car accidents and home break-ins.
As for me, I have been daily mentoring/tutoring a high school student, participating in several Bible studies, helping with the annual field conference preparations, as well as helping with the Community Development launch. In August I will start teaching English in our mission’s institute that trains Mexicans to be missionaries. I’m really looking forward to teaching at the mission institute. Until then there is a lot of reading and studying to do on teaching English as a second language and on culture and language acquisition.
A couple of weeks ago I began experiencing some unusual physical problems. The symptoms seemed to fit into the list of symptoms for women who are having heart failure. So, we contacted a heart specialist for an appointment. The doctor ordered a chest x-ray and blood tests. He ran an EKG and I took a stress test. We’re thankful that nothing majorly serious was found. However, I do have a heart arrhythmia that requires some medication. The doctor also made several changes in my medications for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. When we added up all the expenses the total came to nearly $1,000 for the doctor visits, tests, and medications. We are thankful that we have health insurance. However, after the insurance company pays their part, we will owe $440. At present we do not have the funds to cover this expense. So please pray with us, asking God to meet this need which will be due by the end of April.
We are looking forward to our daughter’s wedding June 28. We will be leaving Chihuahua for Branson June 6th. We plan on being with Kate for those last few weeks helping her tie up loose ends before the wedding. Before jumping into the wedding scene, if the Lord provides, we would like to zip over to Chattanooga for the annual home coming at our home church, Duncan Park Baptist Church. This year is a very special year for our church family because they just completed an outdoor, covered pavilion for fellowships, homecomings, etc. Please ask the Lord to direct our steps as we once again drive across country. We’re so thankful for our Toyota minivan that has carried us 122,000 miles since December 2001.
There’s plenty to pray for in this letter!! Thank you so much for your continued expressions of love through financial and prayer support.
By His grace,
Doug and Melody
