Dear Wayne, Christy, and family
There have been people in my life over the years that have had a profound effect on who I am today. Of course the greatest and the Master builder behind it all is my dear loving Saviour.
Some of these people He has sent have been to me as the mighty men of David and have gone to great lengths and effort to provide refreshment, guidance, and fellowship. This character of people has been made evident to me through my extended family, the saints here at the Richmond assembly, as well as other dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It is the Coleman clan in particular I have on my heart today. I will attempt to share a little of what I can remember about the time I have been able to enjoy with them.
It was autumn about 4 years ago, after about 2 months of praying and much searching that I found myself heading to the Coleman house for the first time. I had only spoken for moments on the phone with Wayne prior to this and didn’t know what to expect.
It was dark outside and could not see the house numbers very well. So I went to the house with the appliance repair van in front of it and knocked on the door. It was a very nervous time for me, as I had been drifting far from the Lord for many years and was apprehensive about returning to the assembly. Well a very young couple came to the door, much younger than I had expected ( expecting Wayne and Christy ) with the information I had been given from a dear brother from Washington. Soon finding out that I had apparently gone to the wrong house, but they were also going to Wayne and Christy’s for dinner. This young couple turned out to be none other than the sweet Jeff and Heidi Coleman I have grown to deeply cherish. Once we were inside I saw for the first time our dear sister Christy’s wonderful smile. She warmly invited me into her kitchen to sit down and wait with them ( as Wayne was running late ) : ). She was cutting up onions I recall and it was making the tears run down her cheeks as she spoke so kindly and so personally about the Lord Jesus. I just felt comfortable being there although I hardly knew why I was there at the time. Then we had a wonderful, lovingly made dinner which was followed by a chapter from Gods Word and some discussion. When brother Wayne asked why I was there or wanted to come to the meeting all I could say was, to know more about my Saviour. The verse dear brother Wayne used that gave me great comfort in coming back to the assembly was “…go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9. He could see the fear I had and simply said, come and go as you feel, no pressure.
So I would like to say to any who may have drifted away from God, and fear embarrassment, or uneasiness about returning. Don’t fear, but come and “delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee.” Isaiah 58:14
Well as the years went on I really enjoyed the time I have been able to go over to Wayne and Christy’s home and go for walks along the dyke. We would talk together about the Lord Jesus, what He has done for us, and share the joy He has been in our lives. And now still although from a bed, physical strength diminishing dear Christy has continued to be a bright encouragement to me and many others.
I thank the Lord for using this loving family who continues to be very close to my heart, and a big part of my life. It is amazing to see how the Lord has by His grace sustained them through this time. May the Lord continue to use them as he has in my life to show the same compassion Christ showed to so many while here below and continues to through others.
It is with much joy that I say thank you to dear sister Christy, to Wayne, and the entire family for allowing yourselves to be the vessels by which God may receive the glory for your kindness and love shown over the years. What a wonderful hope we have, “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes” Revelation 7:17.
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” Revelation 22:20.
Your brother by grace, Marlin
Monday, October 22, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Update
October 20, 2007
About 3 weeks ago Christy's blood sugar went up quite high (25.5), they said that the steriods have damaged her pancreas and she has become diabetic. The doctor gave her drugs to control it, then stopped administering it as he realized that it was not consistent with her request. No more blood sugar checks have been made. They say that it would likely spike again and she would go into a coma. This has not happened, she appears to be on a plateau again. There is no evidence of cancer spread to the vital organs. Due to only eating a little fruit here and there, she has now lost what looks to me like all muscle and fat, she is just skin and bones. Other than her head and arms, she cannot move her self in bed, even though she has slight sensory feeling in her legs, there is often pain in her right knee, a large tumor has taken over the knee. Being that she is so thin I can plainly see the tumors on her ribs and arm also. The Lord has somehow enabled me to see her like this without falling apart, I don't understand how He has done this in me, but am very thankful for His mercy. Her spirit is so bright and sweet, no complaints at all. She is sleeping at the moment with a beautiful smile on her face, breaking into a grin at times. She is dreaming of something, I wish I knew what it is... she won't be able to remember in order to tell me. She is just happy.
Wayne
About 3 weeks ago Christy's blood sugar went up quite high (25.5), they said that the steriods have damaged her pancreas and she has become diabetic. The doctor gave her drugs to control it, then stopped administering it as he realized that it was not consistent with her request. No more blood sugar checks have been made. They say that it would likely spike again and she would go into a coma. This has not happened, she appears to be on a plateau again. There is no evidence of cancer spread to the vital organs. Due to only eating a little fruit here and there, she has now lost what looks to me like all muscle and fat, she is just skin and bones. Other than her head and arms, she cannot move her self in bed, even though she has slight sensory feeling in her legs, there is often pain in her right knee, a large tumor has taken over the knee. Being that she is so thin I can plainly see the tumors on her ribs and arm also. The Lord has somehow enabled me to see her like this without falling apart, I don't understand how He has done this in me, but am very thankful for His mercy. Her spirit is so bright and sweet, no complaints at all. She is sleeping at the moment with a beautiful smile on her face, breaking into a grin at times. She is dreaming of something, I wish I knew what it is... she won't be able to remember in order to tell me. She is just happy.
Wayne
Friday, October 19, 2007
The story of Christy, by Wayne
Christy’s mother, born in 1918, was appropriately named Faith. She, with her mother Bessie, went to South Africa from England at 16 years old on a family inheritance to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. While in South Africa, Faith was written to by a former acquaintance in England named Richard Haws. They had a long-distance courtship and he proposed, ring and all, via mail. She accepted his proposal, and he moved to Africa to marry her shortly after. They lived in Sabie, Transval, South Africa, where Christy was born on August 17, 1956. Christy had an older sister, Mary, and a younger brother, Paul, both of whom are still currently living.
Christy had many sweet memories of her early years in Africa, particularly of her Grannie. Grannie was a devoted servant of the Lord Jesus, a godly woman, and was such a kind and loving soul, that to know her was to love her. Both Christy’s mother and grandmother modeled the love of God to Christy, so as to deeply impress her with eternal realities. This godly heritage reminds me of the apostle Paul writing to Timothy, where he says, “I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also.” 2 Timothy 1:5. Those of us that know Christy have also seen this “unfeigned faith” and devotion toward God, along with an uncommon sweetness toward her fellow man.
Christy’s father decided that they should leave Africa to see his dad back in Canada as he had become quite sick. So the little Haws family left Africa for Canada on Mary’s birthday, April 14, 1965. Christy was 9 years old when they eventually settled in a little cottage in White Rock, BC.
It was about this time that Christy accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior according to Ephesians 2:8 & 9,"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."
When she was about 14 years old Christy was challenged by a godly pastor to not just believe his preaching, but to prove all things in the Word of God. She accepted this challenge and the Lord really opened His Word to her. She just kept yielding more and more to this wonderful God, the eternal lover of her soul. This challenge to prove everything by the Word of God eventually led her out of man-made denominational Christianity, to be gathered simply to the name of Jesus Christ in early 1977.
The summer of 1972 after graduating from high school Christy went to Montreal to help with an evangelical door-to-door outreach that traveled throughout Quebec. Later that year, Christy went to a Bible college near Abbotsford, BC.
In the summer of 1973 Christy was sent to the Yukon to relieve a pastor and his wife that went on holidays for two months. She found herself having to pastor the church, taking the services, etc. She just shared the joy of her life, Jesus, from the Bible.
When Christy returned to the city she was accepted into nurses training at the Vancouver General Hospital. After about a year she realized this was not a career fit for her at all. Christy started working at Bank Cheque Supply in Vancouver.
In those days it was my habit to spend the bus ride to work reading my beloved Bible. One day on the bus, I noticed a girl with long beautiful hair reading a big Bible on the bus. When the passenger next to her got off at his stop, I sat beside her. I noticed her wearing a button that said, "I am eternally grateful to Jesus." I have never forgotten the impression that she made on me that day. I had never met a girl so in love with the Lord Jesus, so full of His Word, such a sweet spirit about her. I was deeply moved. But our paths did not cross again for about six months. During this time I had been praying that I would get to meet her again. As the months went by I told the Lord that as He had showed me His best, I would be better off single than to settle for anything less than His best. One awesome day in December of 1976 Christy came and sat beside me, on my bus. I later learned from Christy that she had been praying about meeting me again too.
I realized early on, and clearly too, that I would never be the only lover in Christy's life, neither would I have the first place in her heart, that place would always be reserved for Jesus. Christy has always been other-worldly; the Lord had really captured her heart and gone away to heaven with it.
We were married Nov 7th, 1977, and a little over a year later our first son Stephen was born February 14th, 1979. Christy called him “Sunshine” with his bubbly laugh and bright blue eyes. But Christy longed for another child. Finally, on January 1st, 1982, when Stephen was almost three, we welcomed little Jeffrey into our world. Jeff was a delightfully fat baby with huge cheeks and lots of rolls and dimples. We didn’t know it then, but our family was complete, with two little boys to fill our lives with joy. Christy really wanted more children, but her health was failing. She had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that had set in shortly after Jeff was born.
In the years following, life was really quite difficult, for she was extremely tired all the time, had food allergies to almost everything, and suffered chronic poor health. We lived in a house full of mold, etc. In spite of this handicap, Christy home schooled Stephen and Jeff at a time when it was very unpopular and considered weird to do so. There was little support available, and very few friends understood. Christy’s love for her boys was the fire that kept her going, she would rather die than give up what she believed to be her calling. In my estimation she succeeded, the evidence cannot be challenged, as in Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” She literally, in love, gave the best that she had to give for her children, and did what she wholeheartedly believed to be God's will for her family.
We had begun to realize that the wet, moldy house that we lived in may be at least partly responsible for Christy’s poor health. I was beginning to think that I was going to lose my precious wife. These were hard years that brought us to our knees often, looking to the Lord to help us. The Lord graciously opened the way for us to buy a house in Richmond. Christy’s health did slowly start to improve.
One of the things that we asked the Lord about in connection with having a house of our own, was that we would be able to use our home to care for people in need. Shortly after we moved to Heather street, people came to us one after the other, sometimes two at a time. Some would stay for a few weeks, some a year or so. Christy and I loved these years of ministering to others. We recently received a letter from Phil Brown who stayed at our place at a time of crisis in his life. His letter is posted on this blog, please read it, it is entitled simply ‘letter from Phil Brown.’
Christy loved the outdoors and preferred gardening over housework any day. We had many very happy times wandering on trails in the mountains. In later years we did a lot of mountain biking together, such as the Kettle Valley railway from Myra Canyon to Naramata in the interior of BC. A romantic day for Christy would be walking hand in hand down a trail with birds twittering in the trees, over pretty much anything else. She was very fit in those days, running or walking miles every day with our German Shepherd dog, Mitsy.
In 2004 we moved from the house on Heather Street to the far west side of Richmond, quite near the famous dike trail that surrounds Richmond. Christy became known to many people that walked on that dike daily, as she could be seen walking very fast in her long flowing colorful skirts, her long wavy greying hair gracing her slight build. She had a smile for everyone; I have been amazed at just how many people knew her in the area. The area is a bird sanctuary; it was also a sanctuary for Christy, and she enjoyed it so much.
Christy was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2005. She refused chemotherapy as her white blood cell count was too low, but was treated with radiation from November 2005 to Jan 2006 and then surgery on February 14th, 2006. This was a very dark time for Christy, and she suffered much from the effects of radiation, especially fatigue and anxiety. We are so grateful that she was not subjected to the additional torture of chemotherapy, and from what we later learned she would not have survived the ordeal. After her recovery from surgery, things were brighter, and the battle seemed to be over for a while. In fact, the day after the surgery, when I brought her home, she insisted on going for a walk on her beloved dike! We walked 2 miles that day; I was amazed how she kept going.
We began to sense that all was not well in April 2006 when she developed persistent rib pains, then later in August her knee pain started. This pain spread to her mid back and by February of 2007 it was unbearable. This was probably one of the hardest times of her illness, as she endured great pain and discomfort without knowing what was causing it, and no one understood what was going on. We were desperate to get answers. She pursued various doctors and discovered they all had their own opinion, but none seemed to clue in to what was really happening. Some doctors seemed to feel it was something to do with radiation side effects. It got so bad by early February that Christy was unable to get out of bed on her own, and the pain was so intense it kept her from sleeping. She spent many nights weeping and wondering what was wrong with her.
On February 13, 2007 a naturopath called me with results of a routine blood test and said to drop everything and get Christy to emergency as she had severe hypercalcaemia. Once at the hospital, the doctors put the picture together quickly, and after doing some tests to confirm, they broke the news that the breast cancer had spread to the bones and was advanced, resulting in blood calcium levels being extremely high. She was apparently very close to kidney failure. The calcium levels were treated and Christy was put on pain medication and sent home under palliative care. She was given a prognosis of about 6 months to live.
It initially took only a few anxious hours for her to adjust to the news that she would be dying soon. It was unmistakable to me that she felt the fight was over - not lost, just over. She said of all of her years of research and chasing expensive remedies, treatments, etc… “I am finally free of all that.” Christy made it very clear to the doctors that nothing should be done to prolong her life here on earth. Christy realized that this news of her terminal condition was really the Lord calling her to come home. The Bible verse that Jesus gave to her at that time was from The Song of Solomon 2:10 “My beloved spake and and said unto me, Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.” This has captivated her heart from that time till the present.
Through the mercy of God our business had grown to the point where I was able to leave and care for Christy at home. I am indebted to the office staff and technicians for keeping the bus on track at http://www.priorityappliance.com/ (Those of you at Priority may never know how much this has meant to Christy and me.) Over the next few months Christy had quite a few radiation treatments to her spine, ribs, hips, and knees to slow the growth of tumors in those areas. The first of these treatments helped her with pain and mobility greatly, but the later treatments were not much use. The second radiation treatment damaged her stomach lining, and she suffered horrible nausea, vomiting and pain. She was put on steroid drugs to help with the inflammation and pain. Soon after this bout, she recovered and for the next few months she actually grew much better! Whether it was due to the radiation/temporary use of steroids or divine intervention, from about mid-May to July she enjoyed a wonderful reprieve. A 'plateau' they called it. Her energy improved, her pain was very minimal, and we went from 72 mg of Hydromorphone a day to 9 mg. As to the duration of this “plateau” the doctors and nurses had no explanation. One nurse clearly told us that there was no other explanation but God! She said with David in Psalm 71:7 & 8 " I am as a wonder to many; but Thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise and with Thy honor all the day." Her mobility was such that she went for many walks in the neighbourhood and the nearby dike trail. She was able to even drive herself to her sons’ house in Surrey and had an enjoyable though bittersweet visit with her children and grandchildren at the end of May.
As the months went on, she gradually got weaker, and by early September she was unable to make it up and down the stairs and go out for her walks, even with help. Also, being in the wheelchair caused great pain for her, so she became housebound. The pain continued to increase, as did the need for steroids and morphine. She quickly increased to 108mg of Hydromorphone plus breakthrough meds each day. But through all this time as her body grew weaker, her faith grew stronger and the hope of being with her Lord grew brighter and more real! She spent many of her waking hours when she did not have visitors reading or praying, and she experienced complete peace about her circumstances. Not once did she complain bitterly about how unfair it was that she had cancer, and as the disease progressed, so did the sweetness and patience with which she endured her suffering. Around this time her longing to be with her Lord overcame every tie on earth. As far as regrets go, one of the hardest things for dear Christy, having been so richly filled with mother-love, has been the thought of leaving her family. We have both enjoyed parenting, our hearts have been enlarged and taken to the limit in every way through the years, it has been a rich sharing of joy. By the grace of God we have seen the Lord bring two of the sweetest girls in existence just for our boys. Susie and Heidi have become our treasured daughter-in-loves. We now have three granddaughters from Stephen and Susie, and one grandson from Jeff and Heidi (and another one on the way). It has been hard for her to think of leaving these precious ones behind, but thankfully the Lord has recently given her peace about this too.
On Saturday morning of September 23, I left Christy briefly to pick up a brother from the airport. Christy attempted to make it to the on-suite bathroom, she fell onto her back, and could not move. She was wearing a lifeline at the time, pressed the button, the dispatcher called me, I came home quickly and found her on the floor unable to move. Soon after, she was taken by ambulance to the palliative ward of the hospital. Tests showed that vertebrae 5 through 9 were destroyed, and vertebra 9 had been completely replaced by tumor. Likely the tumor had impinged the spinal cord, causing her to lose control of her legs and fall. The doctors told her that likely her legs would soon be paralyzed, bowel and bladder control were gone now. She was fully ready to go then, seeing little point of remaining on earth. But about a week after being in the hospital she was transferred to a hospice facility run by the Salvation Army, and there she has remained, telling others about Jesus whenever she has an opportunity. Since September 23rd she eats nothing but a little bit of watermelon, and drinks various juices and lots of water. As far as it goes she is stable, there hasn’t been much further change. As I sit by her bedside in the evenings, she drifts in and out of sleep, I now notice that her breathing rate drops to 5 breaths a minute during sleep. . . seems very slow to me. When visitors come to encourage her, she is quite bright, lights on high-beam, huge smiles.
I asked her the other day, "why are you still here, my love?" She said, “I am here to bring honor to my Lord and Savior Jesus, and that means I am here just to thank Him and praise Him.” Her prayer request from the beginning of this disease and suffering has been, “ that I would not do anything to dishonor the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that through my suffering and eventual death, many people would know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, and be filled with all the fullness of God.” You can read about this in Ephesians 3:19. She is waiting for Him to say “Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away.” Song of Solomon 2:10 If this means her death, I feel that I would, if I could, step into the flame and go up with her. But, although death for Christy is a present reality, there is an even brighter hope in her soul… That is that the promised return of the Lord Jesus Christ in the rapture could take place before she dies. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 18. Christy has not shown one sign of self pity, but she has shown an ever-increasing desire that everyone around her would know Jesus as Lord and be ready to die with peace and meet God even as she is.
Well, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Priority Crew, friends, neighbors, this is my Christy, my lover and my friend. By faith alone I open my hand after these 30 years together, and prepare to release her to a known and trusted friend, Jesus Christ, my Lord.
We trust in "Him that is able to do far exceedingly above all which we ask or think, according to the power which works in us, to Him be glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus unto all generations of the age of ages. Amen" Ephesians 3:20 & 21 JND NT.
"As for God His way is perfect" Psalm 18:30.
Christy had many sweet memories of her early years in Africa, particularly of her Grannie. Grannie was a devoted servant of the Lord Jesus, a godly woman, and was such a kind and loving soul, that to know her was to love her. Both Christy’s mother and grandmother modeled the love of God to Christy, so as to deeply impress her with eternal realities. This godly heritage reminds me of the apostle Paul writing to Timothy, where he says, “I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also.” 2 Timothy 1:5. Those of us that know Christy have also seen this “unfeigned faith” and devotion toward God, along with an uncommon sweetness toward her fellow man.
Christy’s father decided that they should leave Africa to see his dad back in Canada as he had become quite sick. So the little Haws family left Africa for Canada on Mary’s birthday, April 14, 1965. Christy was 9 years old when they eventually settled in a little cottage in White Rock, BC.
It was about this time that Christy accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior according to Ephesians 2:8 & 9,"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."
When she was about 14 years old Christy was challenged by a godly pastor to not just believe his preaching, but to prove all things in the Word of God. She accepted this challenge and the Lord really opened His Word to her. She just kept yielding more and more to this wonderful God, the eternal lover of her soul. This challenge to prove everything by the Word of God eventually led her out of man-made denominational Christianity, to be gathered simply to the name of Jesus Christ in early 1977.
The summer of 1972 after graduating from high school Christy went to Montreal to help with an evangelical door-to-door outreach that traveled throughout Quebec. Later that year, Christy went to a Bible college near Abbotsford, BC.
In the summer of 1973 Christy was sent to the Yukon to relieve a pastor and his wife that went on holidays for two months. She found herself having to pastor the church, taking the services, etc. She just shared the joy of her life, Jesus, from the Bible.
When Christy returned to the city she was accepted into nurses training at the Vancouver General Hospital. After about a year she realized this was not a career fit for her at all. Christy started working at Bank Cheque Supply in Vancouver.
In those days it was my habit to spend the bus ride to work reading my beloved Bible. One day on the bus, I noticed a girl with long beautiful hair reading a big Bible on the bus. When the passenger next to her got off at his stop, I sat beside her. I noticed her wearing a button that said, "I am eternally grateful to Jesus." I have never forgotten the impression that she made on me that day. I had never met a girl so in love with the Lord Jesus, so full of His Word, such a sweet spirit about her. I was deeply moved. But our paths did not cross again for about six months. During this time I had been praying that I would get to meet her again. As the months went by I told the Lord that as He had showed me His best, I would be better off single than to settle for anything less than His best. One awesome day in December of 1976 Christy came and sat beside me, on my bus. I later learned from Christy that she had been praying about meeting me again too.
I realized early on, and clearly too, that I would never be the only lover in Christy's life, neither would I have the first place in her heart, that place would always be reserved for Jesus. Christy has always been other-worldly; the Lord had really captured her heart and gone away to heaven with it.
We were married Nov 7th, 1977, and a little over a year later our first son Stephen was born February 14th, 1979. Christy called him “Sunshine” with his bubbly laugh and bright blue eyes. But Christy longed for another child. Finally, on January 1st, 1982, when Stephen was almost three, we welcomed little Jeffrey into our world. Jeff was a delightfully fat baby with huge cheeks and lots of rolls and dimples. We didn’t know it then, but our family was complete, with two little boys to fill our lives with joy. Christy really wanted more children, but her health was failing. She had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that had set in shortly after Jeff was born.
In the years following, life was really quite difficult, for she was extremely tired all the time, had food allergies to almost everything, and suffered chronic poor health. We lived in a house full of mold, etc. In spite of this handicap, Christy home schooled Stephen and Jeff at a time when it was very unpopular and considered weird to do so. There was little support available, and very few friends understood. Christy’s love for her boys was the fire that kept her going, she would rather die than give up what she believed to be her calling. In my estimation she succeeded, the evidence cannot be challenged, as in Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” She literally, in love, gave the best that she had to give for her children, and did what she wholeheartedly believed to be God's will for her family.
We had begun to realize that the wet, moldy house that we lived in may be at least partly responsible for Christy’s poor health. I was beginning to think that I was going to lose my precious wife. These were hard years that brought us to our knees often, looking to the Lord to help us. The Lord graciously opened the way for us to buy a house in Richmond. Christy’s health did slowly start to improve.
One of the things that we asked the Lord about in connection with having a house of our own, was that we would be able to use our home to care for people in need. Shortly after we moved to Heather street, people came to us one after the other, sometimes two at a time. Some would stay for a few weeks, some a year or so. Christy and I loved these years of ministering to others. We recently received a letter from Phil Brown who stayed at our place at a time of crisis in his life. His letter is posted on this blog, please read it, it is entitled simply ‘letter from Phil Brown.’
Christy loved the outdoors and preferred gardening over housework any day. We had many very happy times wandering on trails in the mountains. In later years we did a lot of mountain biking together, such as the Kettle Valley railway from Myra Canyon to Naramata in the interior of BC. A romantic day for Christy would be walking hand in hand down a trail with birds twittering in the trees, over pretty much anything else. She was very fit in those days, running or walking miles every day with our German Shepherd dog, Mitsy.
In 2004 we moved from the house on Heather Street to the far west side of Richmond, quite near the famous dike trail that surrounds Richmond. Christy became known to many people that walked on that dike daily, as she could be seen walking very fast in her long flowing colorful skirts, her long wavy greying hair gracing her slight build. She had a smile for everyone; I have been amazed at just how many people knew her in the area. The area is a bird sanctuary; it was also a sanctuary for Christy, and she enjoyed it so much.
Christy was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2005. She refused chemotherapy as her white blood cell count was too low, but was treated with radiation from November 2005 to Jan 2006 and then surgery on February 14th, 2006. This was a very dark time for Christy, and she suffered much from the effects of radiation, especially fatigue and anxiety. We are so grateful that she was not subjected to the additional torture of chemotherapy, and from what we later learned she would not have survived the ordeal. After her recovery from surgery, things were brighter, and the battle seemed to be over for a while. In fact, the day after the surgery, when I brought her home, she insisted on going for a walk on her beloved dike! We walked 2 miles that day; I was amazed how she kept going.
We began to sense that all was not well in April 2006 when she developed persistent rib pains, then later in August her knee pain started. This pain spread to her mid back and by February of 2007 it was unbearable. This was probably one of the hardest times of her illness, as she endured great pain and discomfort without knowing what was causing it, and no one understood what was going on. We were desperate to get answers. She pursued various doctors and discovered they all had their own opinion, but none seemed to clue in to what was really happening. Some doctors seemed to feel it was something to do with radiation side effects. It got so bad by early February that Christy was unable to get out of bed on her own, and the pain was so intense it kept her from sleeping. She spent many nights weeping and wondering what was wrong with her.
On February 13, 2007 a naturopath called me with results of a routine blood test and said to drop everything and get Christy to emergency as she had severe hypercalcaemia. Once at the hospital, the doctors put the picture together quickly, and after doing some tests to confirm, they broke the news that the breast cancer had spread to the bones and was advanced, resulting in blood calcium levels being extremely high. She was apparently very close to kidney failure. The calcium levels were treated and Christy was put on pain medication and sent home under palliative care. She was given a prognosis of about 6 months to live.
It initially took only a few anxious hours for her to adjust to the news that she would be dying soon. It was unmistakable to me that she felt the fight was over - not lost, just over. She said of all of her years of research and chasing expensive remedies, treatments, etc… “I am finally free of all that.” Christy made it very clear to the doctors that nothing should be done to prolong her life here on earth. Christy realized that this news of her terminal condition was really the Lord calling her to come home. The Bible verse that Jesus gave to her at that time was from The Song of Solomon 2:10 “My beloved spake and and said unto me, Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.” This has captivated her heart from that time till the present.
Through the mercy of God our business had grown to the point where I was able to leave and care for Christy at home. I am indebted to the office staff and technicians for keeping the bus on track at http://www.priorityappliance.com/ (Those of you at Priority may never know how much this has meant to Christy and me.) Over the next few months Christy had quite a few radiation treatments to her spine, ribs, hips, and knees to slow the growth of tumors in those areas. The first of these treatments helped her with pain and mobility greatly, but the later treatments were not much use. The second radiation treatment damaged her stomach lining, and she suffered horrible nausea, vomiting and pain. She was put on steroid drugs to help with the inflammation and pain. Soon after this bout, she recovered and for the next few months she actually grew much better! Whether it was due to the radiation/temporary use of steroids or divine intervention, from about mid-May to July she enjoyed a wonderful reprieve. A 'plateau' they called it. Her energy improved, her pain was very minimal, and we went from 72 mg of Hydromorphone a day to 9 mg. As to the duration of this “plateau” the doctors and nurses had no explanation. One nurse clearly told us that there was no other explanation but God! She said with David in Psalm 71:7 & 8 " I am as a wonder to many; but Thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise and with Thy honor all the day." Her mobility was such that she went for many walks in the neighbourhood and the nearby dike trail. She was able to even drive herself to her sons’ house in Surrey and had an enjoyable though bittersweet visit with her children and grandchildren at the end of May.
As the months went on, she gradually got weaker, and by early September she was unable to make it up and down the stairs and go out for her walks, even with help. Also, being in the wheelchair caused great pain for her, so she became housebound. The pain continued to increase, as did the need for steroids and morphine. She quickly increased to 108mg of Hydromorphone plus breakthrough meds each day. But through all this time as her body grew weaker, her faith grew stronger and the hope of being with her Lord grew brighter and more real! She spent many of her waking hours when she did not have visitors reading or praying, and she experienced complete peace about her circumstances. Not once did she complain bitterly about how unfair it was that she had cancer, and as the disease progressed, so did the sweetness and patience with which she endured her suffering. Around this time her longing to be with her Lord overcame every tie on earth. As far as regrets go, one of the hardest things for dear Christy, having been so richly filled with mother-love, has been the thought of leaving her family. We have both enjoyed parenting, our hearts have been enlarged and taken to the limit in every way through the years, it has been a rich sharing of joy. By the grace of God we have seen the Lord bring two of the sweetest girls in existence just for our boys. Susie and Heidi have become our treasured daughter-in-loves. We now have three granddaughters from Stephen and Susie, and one grandson from Jeff and Heidi (and another one on the way). It has been hard for her to think of leaving these precious ones behind, but thankfully the Lord has recently given her peace about this too.
On Saturday morning of September 23, I left Christy briefly to pick up a brother from the airport. Christy attempted to make it to the on-suite bathroom, she fell onto her back, and could not move. She was wearing a lifeline at the time, pressed the button, the dispatcher called me, I came home quickly and found her on the floor unable to move. Soon after, she was taken by ambulance to the palliative ward of the hospital. Tests showed that vertebrae 5 through 9 were destroyed, and vertebra 9 had been completely replaced by tumor. Likely the tumor had impinged the spinal cord, causing her to lose control of her legs and fall. The doctors told her that likely her legs would soon be paralyzed, bowel and bladder control were gone now. She was fully ready to go then, seeing little point of remaining on earth. But about a week after being in the hospital she was transferred to a hospice facility run by the Salvation Army, and there she has remained, telling others about Jesus whenever she has an opportunity. Since September 23rd she eats nothing but a little bit of watermelon, and drinks various juices and lots of water. As far as it goes she is stable, there hasn’t been much further change. As I sit by her bedside in the evenings, she drifts in and out of sleep, I now notice that her breathing rate drops to 5 breaths a minute during sleep. . . seems very slow to me. When visitors come to encourage her, she is quite bright, lights on high-beam, huge smiles.
I asked her the other day, "why are you still here, my love?" She said, “I am here to bring honor to my Lord and Savior Jesus, and that means I am here just to thank Him and praise Him.” Her prayer request from the beginning of this disease and suffering has been, “ that I would not do anything to dishonor the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that through my suffering and eventual death, many people would know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, and be filled with all the fullness of God.” You can read about this in Ephesians 3:19. She is waiting for Him to say “Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away.” Song of Solomon 2:10 If this means her death, I feel that I would, if I could, step into the flame and go up with her. But, although death for Christy is a present reality, there is an even brighter hope in her soul… That is that the promised return of the Lord Jesus Christ in the rapture could take place before she dies. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 18. Christy has not shown one sign of self pity, but she has shown an ever-increasing desire that everyone around her would know Jesus as Lord and be ready to die with peace and meet God even as she is.
Well, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Priority Crew, friends, neighbors, this is my Christy, my lover and my friend. By faith alone I open my hand after these 30 years together, and prepare to release her to a known and trusted friend, Jesus Christ, my Lord.
We trust in "Him that is able to do far exceedingly above all which we ask or think, according to the power which works in us, to Him be glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus unto all generations of the age of ages. Amen" Ephesians 3:20 & 21 JND NT.
"As for God His way is perfect" Psalm 18:30.
Beyond the Sky by Fernando Ortega
This expresses Christy's constant longing and hope as she waits for her Lord to call her Home! This song was a huge comfort to Christy especially when she was first diagnosed with terminal cancer.
One morning
When time is done
When time is done
Bright heaven
Will be our refuge
The city of God most high
I long for
That holy day
This longing
Sometimes it captures my heart
And carries me far away
Beyond the sky
Beyond all telling
Our Father himself
Will be our light
His arms will hold us
And with his hands
He'll wipe away the tears
That stain our eyes
When darkness
Falls over me
This promise
It's like a fire inside
Burning the dark away
Beyond the sky
Beyond all telling
Our Father himself
Will be our light
His arms will hold us
And with his hands
He'll wipe away the tears
That stain our eyes
The city of God most high
I long for
That holy day
This longing
Sometimes it captures my heart
And carries me far away
Beyond the sky
Beyond all telling
Our Father himself
Will be our light
His arms will hold us
And with his hands
He'll wipe away the tears
That stain our eyes
When darkness
Falls over me
This promise
It's like a fire inside
Burning the dark away
Beyond the sky
Beyond all telling
Our Father himself
Will be our light
His arms will hold us
And with his hands
He'll wipe away the tears
That stain our eyes
That you may know Him
"Do you know Jesus?" This question came from Christy's lips many times. She spoke them wherever she went throughout her life. One of her deepest desires on earth was that she could have the privilege of introducing others to her Lord. Christy came to know Jesus as her Savior at a young age, and gave her heart and life to Him. No, she didn't get "religion." Christy passionately followed her Lord Jesus because He loved her! And that same God desires to be your God. He is seeking you. He loves you with an infinite and unconditional and deep love. He is the One who loves your soul and has loved you long before you were born. He is the One who loves you and cares about you as no one else has ever cared.
His name is Jesus. He is the Son of God, the Creator of all living things. He has been working and pleading with mankind to know and love Him for thousands of years. Ever since the beginning in the Garden of Eden when the first man and woman sinned and brought a curse on themselves and every one of their descendants, God has been seeking a way to restore His relationship with men and women. Most people are blinded by the hardness of their hearts and stubborn wills. Many seek their own way to God and have devised every form of religion they can think of to find their own way to God or have made up false gods. They think that by "doing" something, they can earn their way to heaven. Others completely refuse to believe that there is a God at all. But God has made Himself quite clear in Creation, and the Word of God, the Bible. Let Him introduce Himself to you: "Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things" Isaiah 44:24.
He made us for His pleasure and to have fellowship with. "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you" Isaiah 59:1,2. Yes, there is a little word that has separated man from his Creator: Sin. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23. We like to hear that God is love, but we do not want to hear that God is holy. He is so holy that He cannot have sin in His presence. Sin not only separates us from God, but man's refusal to acknowledge his own sinful nature prevents him from being restored to his God. Newspapers are the testimony of our society's sins; our conscience, if we let it, convicts us; and our memories are our own partial record; but God has the absolute record for each one of us. The moral condition of man was declared guilty from the first act of rebellion in
God is Love, and desires to pour out His love on His creatures, us. But there is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus Christ, God's Son. He gave His life and shed His blood on a cross between two thieves outside of
Christy has that hope of eternal life, and is soon to see it fulfilled! She has no fear of death, even while staring it in the face. Christy has perfect peace because her faith is reality. She knows that death is only a portal to being in the presence of her Lord. When she draws her last breath here on earth, her spirit will depart and be forever with Christ, where sin and death and pain can never enter. Further, she knows that there is a day coming, probably very soon, when her dead body will be raised in a moment at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and she will be reunited with her body and also with every other believer in God and Jesus Christ. The following verses explain why Christy can have this very real hope and promise. It is because "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and…was buried, and…rose again the third day, according to the scriptures." Christy knows that she also will rise from the dead "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?' Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" I Corinthians 15:52-57.
Christy's hope, and the hope of every believer in Jesus, is in heaven! She never had her hopes and dreams here. She understood that "if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable!" I Corinthians 15:19. Her Home is in heaven with God, and He has been her object, the One who has filled her heart and soul, and put in her an insatiable longing to be with Him. May this hope become yours also, dear reader!
by Susie, Christy's daughter-in-love (aka daughter-in-law!)
Beautiful leaves by Walt Porter
Beautiful leaves
Fall is a wonderful time of year! The heat and dust of summer is over, and God heralds the end of that time of activity and labor with a most lovely change in the landscape. The colors of fall are so delightful to the eyes! There are many different, rich colors that blend into a canopy of variegated shades that paint whole hillsides in wonderfully colorful panoramas! Are there lessons for us in this season?
As the warmth and brightness of summer fades into autumn, the days shorten, the nights get longer, and the leaves begin to change color from what has characterized them during their working season. We then begin to see what has been under the surface, when all we’ve seen so far is their green "working clothes."
The time comes to each of us when the long service and toil of summertime will be over. Our days of secular employment, raising children, learning how to keep rank, and how to provide for our own in an honest and honorable way eventually mutate into a different way of life. Things begin to "change color." How will that time of life find us? How will we age? What color will we be? What beautiful things has the Lord hidden under the surface of your life that are waiting to show themselves out?
As the fall season progresses, we see different colors appearing; some leaves turn a deep orange, some royal red, and some become brilliant yellows and golds. We might wonder, "where did all this come from?"
Scientists tell us the yellow and gold colors are there all along, just hidden by the overriding color of the chlorophyll, their "service uniform." This substance is used in the process of making food for all the cells of the trees. As the summer food-producing season draws to a close, and the processes begin to shut down, the yellow and gold colors that have always been there but had been overshadowed by the chlorophyll now begin to show out. It can be breathtaking!
Then there are the deep oranges, reds, and purples. We are told that as the sugars that are still being manufactured are trapped in the leaves, they react to the brilliant sunshine of fall days and these rich colors appear. How wonderful if we can show out some colors like this in our "autumn"!
At this time in our lives, when things begin the process of slowing down, how important it is that there is with us a sweet, thankful spirit! It isn't hard to see that if we can have such an attitude, believing that the Lord has done all things well in our lives, there will then be some beautiful colors that will show out to enrich the lives of others around!
Some leaves delight our eyes with colors we hadn’t seen in them all summer. Others seem to stay "green," perhaps "working" until they fall off the tree. Some of the leaves only turn brown before they fall to the ground with little fanfare.
How sad to see some of those folks in the nursing home, for example, who seem to have no purpose, no object before them to bring some "color" to their lives at the end. Maybe they’re not saved; but then again, maybe they are. We recently saw the opposite of that.
We were visiting an old brother in his room in such a place, and there were pictures of the saints on his walls along with several Scripture texts. He had a machine to magnify his Bible so he could continue to read it. I saw that he was in the process of writing a letter to some young person on his computer. He and a younger brother have weekly meetings for Bible study with others there in the home. It was said of him that everyone in that home remarks on his continually happy countenance and spirit! That was really colorful to us, a real joy to behold! He was still "bringing forth fruit in old age."
Do we find ourselves with that desire? We have choices to make in that regard, as it says in Rom 6:13, "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God." If we didn’t have the choice as to what we yield ourselves to, we wouldn’t have to be exhorted about how to make it. Our options are open to us, and the Lord is acting with us as with the two on the way to Emmaus. He will not force us, but would have us to desire and even constrain Him to come help and guide our footsteps into the path of His choosing.
Maybe we’ve hidden our light under a bushel or a bed most of our lives. The Lord can still make wonderful things happen if we just yield ourselves to His working. May we give Him that opportunity that He desires, to use us for His glory, and in the process, find such sweet employment in taking up the blessed privilege of working in His vineyard however He may lead us!
Is it also possible that, just as the colors of fall signal the coming of the long, dark winter in this world, the Lord has allowed there to be a great recovery of beautiful truth just as the summertime of the day of grace is closing? The last 10% of the 2000 years of grace has been a wonderful time in that regard, has it not?
As the days shorten, and winter for this world approaches, the Son still shines brightly on us. If this causes there to be some "sugar" produced, as mentioned above, some sweetness from our relationship with the Lord and the knowledge of His word and ways, may He transform that into some of those vibrant hues as we prepare to exit this world.
Fall only comes one time in a year. The truths recovered in the early 1800's (and still enjoyed now) are not new, but the redisplay of them now, at the end of the church period is perhaps a crowning touch to the beautiful ways of God in this dispensation.
In the last 200 years we have also enjoyed waves of peace, prosperity, and advances in many fields that are in many ways unequaled, as well as the widespread availability of the Holy Scriptures. This has allowed there to be great strides in the understanding by a much greater segment of the Lord's people than had been possible before. If we can look at it in that way, it would again signal to us that we should lift up our heads for our redemption is drawing nigh!
We can, with the Lord’s help, display some brilliant colors in our lives, in our little corner, that will please the eyes of those who look on, including our Creator Himself! The glory will be all His, for He worked it all in us. He is just looking for willing vessels, and He’ll do the rest. May He graciously help us desire to be more here for Himself and His interests as we wait, expecting His soon return!
Walt Porter – Fall 2006
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Letter from Phil Brown
My dear sister in the Lord:
Christy, remember how we met, in the parking lot of the meeting room in Richmond? You were planting trees and started back peddling as I got out of a black van, dressed in black - I hadn’t shaved since leaving Ottawa. I really wanted to go into the mountains and plant trees for six months to get away from it all, but God wisely placed you, and Wayne next, in my path to draw me to keep attending the assembly meetings, which I did. Wayne and yourself soon took me under your wings. I am so thankful for the love of the Colemans.
Christy, remember how we met, in the parking lot of the meeting room in Richmond? You were planting trees and started back peddling as I got out of a black van, dressed in black - I hadn’t shaved since leaving Ottawa. I really wanted to go into the mountains and plant trees for six months to get away from it all, but God wisely placed you, and Wayne next, in my path to draw me to keep attending the assembly meetings, which I did. Wayne and yourself soon took me under your wings. I am so thankful for the love of the Colemans.
Remember the birth certificate you and the boys made for me, Phil Brown - property of the Colemans? That was a very special time in my life, living under the Coleman roof - a godly home. The times we spent around the kitchen table fellowshipping with your family, and other saints, were very precious to me. Listening to Wayne unfold the scriptures after supper was a highlight of my day. And your own special sisterly and motherly care for me was a treasure.
Christy, your letter and phone ministry to me after I came back to Ontario and was still single, often picked me up from low places. I remember with delight as you phoned one time when I had come to the end of myself - all I needed was the Lord - nothing else mattered. You ministered to me from the scriptures time and time again, faithfully offering the Word as comfort, guidance, help and hope, sharing the love of the Lord Jesus. Thank you so much dear sister. God bless you.
Christy, your letter and phone ministry to me after I came back to Ontario and was still single, often picked me up from low places. I remember with delight as you phoned one time when I had come to the end of myself - all I needed was the Lord - nothing else mattered. You ministered to me from the scriptures time and time again, faithfully offering the Word as comfort, guidance, help and hope, sharing the love of the Lord Jesus. Thank you so much dear sister. God bless you.
Phil Brown
Christy during her illness.
Click on the picture above to view photos of Christy and family taken in 2007 after her diagnosis with terminal cancer. The photos in the album are in chronological order, with the oldest first and the most recent near the bottom.
Christy as a Grandma
Click on the picture above to see photos of Christy as a grandma. In the above picture she is holding her first granddaughter, Abigail.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The family years
Click on the picture above to see photos from Wayne and Christy's
years of raising their boys, Steve and Jeff.
years of raising their boys, Steve and Jeff.
Christy's childhood
Click on the picture above to see photos of Christy from her childhood and young adult years before she married. There are a few taken in South Africa where Christy spent the first 6 years of her life.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Haws Family Photos
Click on the picture above to see photos of The Haws family. Christy was born to
Richard and Faith Haws. Faith Haws was a shining example of a godly
woman, and endured many very difficult circumstances with grace and patience.
She was a gentle lady, devoted to her Lord and she tried her very best to provide her
children with security and kindness and left them a legacy of love. She passed away from cancer over 20 years ago. Richard, Christy's father, only recently died in the last few years.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Psalm 34
"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."
I have enjoyed these verses especially during Christy's illness and I believe they express beautifully many of battles and victories she has won. She would most likely agree wholeheartedly with each one of the above verses! Some look upon her illness and death and see a premature end, defeat, pain, and sorrow. But I see tremendous victory and triumph and the power and love of God helping Christy to overcome. She has found that there is no fear in love...that perfect love casts out fear! She has found safety and assurance in the complete surrender of herself to God's will, and the profound peace and rest that comes with trusting Him fully. Her heart has been bound with the cords of His love that will never let her go, even in death. The Lord will perform the perfect work that He began in her long ago. It has been really neat to see what the Lord has been doing in her life, and the many proofs of His love and goodness and kindness especially during her illness. He has proven Himself faithful and trustworthy, as this Psalmist declared thousands of years earlier!
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."
I have enjoyed these verses especially during Christy's illness and I believe they express beautifully many of battles and victories she has won. She would most likely agree wholeheartedly with each one of the above verses! Some look upon her illness and death and see a premature end, defeat, pain, and sorrow. But I see tremendous victory and triumph and the power and love of God helping Christy to overcome. She has found that there is no fear in love...that perfect love casts out fear! She has found safety and assurance in the complete surrender of herself to God's will, and the profound peace and rest that comes with trusting Him fully. Her heart has been bound with the cords of His love that will never let her go, even in death. The Lord will perform the perfect work that He began in her long ago. It has been really neat to see what the Lord has been doing in her life, and the many proofs of His love and goodness and kindness especially during her illness. He has proven Himself faithful and trustworthy, as this Psalmist declared thousands of years earlier!
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