JANUARY 2009 NEWSLETTER
GOD's SAVING GRACE MINISTRIES

GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

Hello Saints,
2008 has come and gone and here we are in 2009 already. I for one, am very glad to see 2008 end. I had some dear friends go home to be with our Lord and the heart attack I suffered in December. The heart attack gave me no warnings at all.
I was sweating for a few days and was getting ready to drive to Atlanta that weekend and thought it was wise to see my Doctor before I took that 500 mile drive. When I arrived at my Doctors office, my blood pressure and pulse was taken. The physicians attendants eyes were wide open as she took my pulse.
It was 200!! I was given an EKG and was informed I had a heart attack by the Doctor. He called for an ambulance to take me to the nearest Hospital. When the EMT's arrived they took my pulse and it was still 200. They gave me a shot in my left hand to stop my heart. My heart felt like two hands were squeezing as hard as they could around my heart. Within seconds my heart restarted and my pulse was down to 90, and I was taken to the Hospital.
When I arrived at the Hospital Emergency Room I was given another EKG exam and was told once again I suffered a heart attack, and was diagnosed with "atherosclerosis" which is hardening of the arteries.
I stayed in the Emergency Room for 12 hours before a bed was available. I have no health insurance, so I wasn't a priority, even though the Hospital employees took good care of me.

The next day a cardiologist had scheduled a angioplasty for me. I was told I had 2 arteries that were clogged. One was clogged 90%, the other 80%.
The cardiologist put a stent in the artery that was clogged 90% and decided to wait to do the other artery because the dye that was used had affected my kidneys and I now only had 40% use of my kidneys. I was also informed that I had Chronic Kidney Disease for a while and I had never known about it. The kidney specialist wanted to wait a while or send me home for a week before having the other angioplasty done.

But after a few days of rest and diet, the cardiologist said it was safe to put the other stent in the artery that was clogged 80% and scheduled me for the second angioplasty that morning. I was sent home the following day to recuperate.
The medications I was prescribed cost close to $500 a month. I'm praying for God's healing touch so I won't have to take these medications much longer.
A month has gone by and thank God I am feeling well. I am exercising by walking 3 miles a day and trying to work my way up to 10 miles a day and watching my diet which is now "lean & green." I have lost over 15 pounds, which I needed to lose, but not like this!!
Because of my health, I will not be doing much traveling in 2009. I may be speaking sometime in Florida, and also in Oklahoma in 2009, but have not scheduled anything more as of yet, nor do I plan to.
I will concentrate on local ministry here in Florida in the jails and prisons, joining with other ministries that are already established in this State. I will also be involved with the Homeless ministry here in my town, as well as some volunteering in the church I now attend. I will keep myself busy as much as possible in doing the Lord's work.

This may have been God's way of telling me I'm not as young as I think I am anymore. But, as long as I'm still involved in some form of ministry I can handle that.
I knew I should have slowed down somewhat the last few years, but was hard-headed, and refused.

In the last 6 months we have established God's Saving Grace Ministries in Kenya, East Africa, with a local Pastor, Maurice Chesoli. We helped this Pastor with clothing and furniture when his apartment burned down and he lost everything. We also helped rebuild the latrine in the children's school he has built there and operates. It is such a blessing to be able to help other brothers and sisters in need doing God's work even if they are thousands of miles away.

I want to personally thank all of you who sent E mails wishing me a speedy recovery and encouraging me to continue on. I also want to thank those of you that have helped with my medical expenses, sinceI had no health insurance when I had the heart attack. You people never cease to amaze me with your love and generosity towards myself and this ministry.
I don't know what I would do without all of you who show me so much of God's love for one another.

Please continue to pray for me and this ministry as I know God is not done with me yet. Pray for our country and leadership, and our church leaders especially.

A fellow bondservant,

Tom Papania

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