Merry Christmas Eve to all of our praying friends,
Thank you so much for praying for our family.
We have been very blessed to have a very good measure of health it seems like for at least the last month and a half. The pollution has been very bad but our health has been very good. Thank you for praying.
On Friday the Christmas and New Years vacations began here and traffic is NOTICEABLY less and it's actually not too bad getting around in the city. We wish it were always like this but alas, it is not. (If it were like this all the time, Mexico City wouldn't be the largest city in the world and there would not be as many souls to reach. So we are thankful for all of the opportunities around us.) We will still enjoy the next week and a half as much as possible. :-)
Faith was able to get one more week of homeschooling in last week. She is happy for a break. If anybody out there would love the chance to serve the Lord in Mexico helping with teaching piano in the church, homeschooling with us, helping with people in the church, etc., please feel free to contact us. That would lighten Faith's load considerably and be very helpful. A young man would actually be the best as he could travel by himself and help families in the church, but we would be pleased with whoever the Lord calls to help us.
We have a dating couple in our church that has never seen what a Christian dating couple should be like. Last week we needed to encourage and exhort them about some things that we had noticed and they both responded in an excellent Christian manner. What a blessing.
In downtown Mexico City in the big Zocalo plaza, the government has set up the "world's largest ice skating rink." It will hold 1200 people at a time. The children were really asking about having a day out so we decided to drive to a metro station (about 1 hour from us) and then take the subway to downtown. 5 other young people (most of them in their 20's) also went with us and so each person was able to hang onto one of the kids and that made things much easier. We arrived at 12:30 PM, and stood in line to get our free tickets for 1 hour. Our hour to skate was at 4 PM. So, we went and had lunch at a Burger King, (standing in line there for almost an hour too :-), and got back to stand in another line about 200 yards long for the skating rink. It was the most organized thing we have ever seen here in Mexico City in our 12 years here. It was really neat. Probably 2/3 of the 1200 people in our group had never skated before in their lives, even on roller skates, and so there was a solid line around the outside of the rink of people who were just trying to get around one time. It was a lot of fun and our kids and the church young people really enjoyed it. Every time we go downtown, we always try to take a lot of tracts with us. We were all able to give out about 300 or so on Monday during our day. We made it home at 8 that night, all exhausted but having had a very nice day together.
For a number of months we have heard about the "Museum of Torture and the Inquisition" here in Mexico City. We were finally able to locate it and Saturday 8 of us young people in the young people's group (Mike writing here :-) made another trip by van to the subway for another trip downtown. We were able to give out about 500 tracts on Saturday. The museum was not exactly "enjoyable" but it was very informative and very sobering to see how many of our Christian forefathers were tortured and persecuted for their faith.
Yesterday was a very different Lord's day for us. We didn't start our services yesterday until 5 PM. We began with all the children of the church doing a Christmas play of the birth of our Lord. It was great for our little group. Then we had a regular service and we examined the great interruption in the night by the angels to the shepherds. We had a communion service and then in a circle all around the church we lit candles and sang Silent Night. To finish everything off, we all enjoyed 120 tamales. :-) Yummy. We ended after 9:30 pm.
We desperately need your prayers right now for Martha, the lady who made a profession of faith with Ruben several months ago and has been very faithful in our services. She has been in the hospital since Friday night with a problem with blood platelets and hemorrhaging. Right now it appears to even be a life-threatening problem. Please pray for her as it's Christmas Eve, she is very discouraged, her children are not allowed in to see her, and her husband has been out getting drunk. I was able to pray with her over the phone---and will try to see if they will let me see her tomorrow.
In Mexico, the big Christmas happening is on Christmas Eve when most families get together and have "supper" at 12 midnight. We are going to be going to Guille and Alejandro's for supper tonight but are planning on eating around 10. Faith is making the Turkey and they are doing the rest, which normally is a whole lot more.
So, we want to wish all of you a very Christ-centered Christmas and a very happy time with your friends and families.
We would appreciate your prayers as we prepare for a mission team from Trinity Bible Church in Greenville SC that is coming this coming Friday for a week. We are looking forward to their visit and pray that we will be a blessing to them and that they will be the same to our church family here.
Well, we are back from our "Mexican Christmas". We did eat at 12 midnight after all. LATE!! We were able to see Guille's sister Maricella and her husband Manuel. They had been faithful for a good while about three years ago. Please pray for them. We were also able to see Eric and his new wife Delilah. Eric attended for 4 years with his family. All of these people need to be saved. It was a nice time with Guille and Alejandro's family---Our kids were able to enjoy 4 pinatas!!
Well, it is very very late---or early----and the kids will be up soon for the "American Christmas."
Thank you for your prayers,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Tuesday, December 25
Thursday, December 13
Goldfuss update (December 12)
Dear Praying friends,
Today (Dec. 12) is the famous "day of the Virgin of Guadalupe" here in Mexico. It is the day that supposedly 400 years ago in the north of Mexico City, the Virgin appeared to the patron saint of Mexico, Juan Diego. He went to the local priest with a message from her, the priest didn't believe him and he left disappointed. Again on the road she appeared to him, and told Juan Diego to give some roses to the priest with his message. When he returned to the priest, again he was met with unbelief. (And rightly so we might add.) The legend says that when he reached into his cloak to bring out the roses, the Virgin's image was embedded there and of course the priest believed him. Now every 12th of December Mexico worships the Virgin with drinking alcohol, special offerings and often much immorality. (Kind of reminds me of Corinth.)
Please pray for Martha, the nurse who was recently saved. She was discouraged on Sunday because her husband and mother-in-law were trying to force her to make a big meal for the Virgin and Martha would not. She is really having to take a stand quickly.
Sylvia told us in church on Sunday that she had to forcibly put her son back into drug rehab for three months last Friday. She said he did not want to go and that they literally had to tie him up and take him kicking and screaming to the rehab place. Now she is feeling guilty again. Please pray for encouragement for both of these ladies.
Janet and Vanessa, 2 young ladies from up here where we live who attend our church also faced some persecution on Monday night. Their father came home drunk and really got on them about why they would say that the Virgin is not their mother.
A blessing on Sunday was that Carlos, his wife Cecilia and two children came to church. Carlos was the first person we ever met here in Mexico 12 years ago. During our first year here, he made a precipitous decision to trust Christ and was faithful for about 3 months. It appears that his decision was for some other reason other than for salvation from his sin. We have maintained contact off and on with him over the years, but this is the first time he's been back to church in about 6 years. It's obvious that they have many problems. Please pray that they would continue coming, that the Lord would give us many opportunities with them, and that they would truly be saved for His glory.
There has been a situation brewing between 3 ladies in the church for about a month and a half. We have faithfully encouraged them to go to each other to get it fixed. Last night after church the three ladies talked, but after about 10 minutes, one of them stormed out and right past me. I went outside to see her and she was crying and said that nothing was wrong. I continued to try to help her but she kept insisting nothing was wrong. Faith was able to come and she talked to us, then again the three ladies talked, and it appears, (we hope, trust and pray) that they did get things finally worked out between them and that there is peace again. We constantly encourage people to get things right and not hold grudges for anything and to constantly meditate on God's forgiveness to them. Noone has ever sinned more against us than we have sinned against God and if He has forgiven us in Christ, we have to recognize that we must forgive those who have offended us. If we don't, we call into question our own forgiveness in Christ. (Mt. 6:12-15; Eph. 4:32.) It appears that these ladies did that last night. Please pray that it would be so and that love and unity would be restored there.
We always take a number of people home from church. After our situation last night, it was late and about 10 people were waiting for us. We all piled in the van, but when trying to start, it was deader than a doornail. A man came to try to help us jump the battery, but nothing. So, we had to leave the van there and pray that nothing happened to it in the night. Our whole family and another young man that we bring home all piled into a little 4 door taxi and made the trip up the mountain. I am getting ready to leave this morning hopefully to have it fixed quickly and inexpensively. It seems that it will be some kind of electrical problem. We were going to finish this last night, but got home very late. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. It is always greatly appreciated.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Today (Dec. 12) is the famous "day of the Virgin of Guadalupe" here in Mexico. It is the day that supposedly 400 years ago in the north of Mexico City, the Virgin appeared to the patron saint of Mexico, Juan Diego. He went to the local priest with a message from her, the priest didn't believe him and he left disappointed. Again on the road she appeared to him, and told Juan Diego to give some roses to the priest with his message. When he returned to the priest, again he was met with unbelief. (And rightly so we might add.) The legend says that when he reached into his cloak to bring out the roses, the Virgin's image was embedded there and of course the priest believed him. Now every 12th of December Mexico worships the Virgin with drinking alcohol, special offerings and often much immorality. (Kind of reminds me of Corinth.)
Please pray for Martha, the nurse who was recently saved. She was discouraged on Sunday because her husband and mother-in-law were trying to force her to make a big meal for the Virgin and Martha would not. She is really having to take a stand quickly.
Sylvia told us in church on Sunday that she had to forcibly put her son back into drug rehab for three months last Friday. She said he did not want to go and that they literally had to tie him up and take him kicking and screaming to the rehab place. Now she is feeling guilty again. Please pray for encouragement for both of these ladies.
Janet and Vanessa, 2 young ladies from up here where we live who attend our church also faced some persecution on Monday night. Their father came home drunk and really got on them about why they would say that the Virgin is not their mother.
A blessing on Sunday was that Carlos, his wife Cecilia and two children came to church. Carlos was the first person we ever met here in Mexico 12 years ago. During our first year here, he made a precipitous decision to trust Christ and was faithful for about 3 months. It appears that his decision was for some other reason other than for salvation from his sin. We have maintained contact off and on with him over the years, but this is the first time he's been back to church in about 6 years. It's obvious that they have many problems. Please pray that they would continue coming, that the Lord would give us many opportunities with them, and that they would truly be saved for His glory.
There has been a situation brewing between 3 ladies in the church for about a month and a half. We have faithfully encouraged them to go to each other to get it fixed. Last night after church the three ladies talked, but after about 10 minutes, one of them stormed out and right past me. I went outside to see her and she was crying and said that nothing was wrong. I continued to try to help her but she kept insisting nothing was wrong. Faith was able to come and she talked to us, then again the three ladies talked, and it appears, (we hope, trust and pray) that they did get things finally worked out between them and that there is peace again. We constantly encourage people to get things right and not hold grudges for anything and to constantly meditate on God's forgiveness to them. Noone has ever sinned more against us than we have sinned against God and if He has forgiven us in Christ, we have to recognize that we must forgive those who have offended us. If we don't, we call into question our own forgiveness in Christ. (Mt. 6:12-15; Eph. 4:32.) It appears that these ladies did that last night. Please pray that it would be so and that love and unity would be restored there.
We always take a number of people home from church. After our situation last night, it was late and about 10 people were waiting for us. We all piled in the van, but when trying to start, it was deader than a doornail. A man came to try to help us jump the battery, but nothing. So, we had to leave the van there and pray that nothing happened to it in the night. Our whole family and another young man that we bring home all piled into a little 4 door taxi and made the trip up the mountain. I am getting ready to leave this morning hopefully to have it fixed quickly and inexpensively. It seems that it will be some kind of electrical problem. We were going to finish this last night, but got home very late. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. It is always greatly appreciated.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Tuesday, December 4
Goldfuss update (December 4)
Dear Praying Friends,
Sorry for no update last week. On Monday, I was doing some extra repairs on the house.
I appreciate so much the married ladies in our church whose husbands are unsaved. The trials and difficulties that they face on a constant and daily basis and the faith that they have in our Lord Jesus Christ is truly humbling to us and a testimony to God's daily grace in their lives. Two of those ladies are having some health problems at the moment. Teresa has been bedridden for the last week with serious back pain. She has one or two herniated discs that are also causing her sciatic nerve pain. Please pray for the doctors to be able to help her and for the Lord to give her relief from the pain also. Guille has been having some serious headaches again. I was able to visit both of them last week and the difference that Christ has made in their lives and the growth that they both are showing is a challenge to our own lives.
Memo (Guille's oldest son) has also been showing some tremendous growth in leading his wife Karina and three children, David, Adriel and new baby Alejandra. Yesterday they were asked to go somewhere else by a cousin and missed our services. Please pray that the Lord will continue to guard and strengthen them in His Word and way and that he will accept loving admonition as I talk with him.
Jose and America were able to come for dinner yesterday with their 6 year old son Jose Ruben. This is the couple that was married about 5 months ago and the Lord has also greatly changed both of them. When we first had them up at the beginning of this year, our time talking was spent mostly about both of them and salvation. Yesterday the conversation really was spiritual and they were asking questions about rearing their son Biblically. Jose is applying for a different job that would be a major upgrade economically for his family. Pray for the Lord's will to be done and for consistent application of Biblical discipline.
Nico and Lilliana also came over last week for dinner. It is very evident that Lilliana is not saved. She was miserable when she talked with us---and stated honestly that she does not want to come back to church and doesn't even know if she believes that there is a God. She has had some physical trials as well lately and on Monday we were able to help her get to a doctor as they have had no money for that. That effected her tremendously. She was happily in church on Sunday. At least now she was better able to concentrate on the message. There are still real problems in their home AND jelousy with Nico's first wife (who lives next door). Reina (Nico's first wife) and their daughter Laura came this week so that Faith could give Laura three antibiotic injections. We were able to visit with them. Please pray for more opportunities with them, for their salvation and for Lilliana to be saved.
Sarai, now 19, came to our church 10 years ago with her family (Juana and Fidel.) Nicolas' son Humberto, 22, has been attending for about 3 years now. Both of these young people show definite fruit of being regenerated and both want to please the Lord. There is definitely a romantic interest on both parts. They are both seeking the Lord's will and are trying to be God honoring in everything that they do. This last week, they came to me asking if they could see each other as boyfriend and girlfriend (that's a first). I gave them counsel from God's Word---and found out that Sarai had not asked her father's permission. I guess she thought that I would do instead of her father as he is very hot tempered. Humberto, on the other hand, was more than willing to go to Fidel---which is wonderful to see how above board he wants to be. Well, last week, Sarai talked with her father. She was amazed at his cool response. In other times he would have thrown the TV remote at her and she was fully expecting that. He knows God's Word and gave her almost the same counsel that I had given. Fidel seems to be changing slowly. Please pray that the Lord will save him and bring him back to church. He has not be attending anywhere.
In two weeks, the children will be doing a small Christmas story play. They are working hard in SS and getting ready. Pray that the Lord would use His Word in their hearts and in those who watch their play.
There is one family in the church that seems to constantly be offended with others in the church over little issues that should never even be a problem. Please pray for us as we seek to deal with them and help them to deal with problems in a godly way.
Many of our families have financial problems due to incurring debts that they shouldn't have. This has been a great strain on many. Please pray for the Lord to provide for each need, for the people to be wise in what they purchase and for contentment in all things---and for them to accept loving admonition regarding these issues. They are sometimes so strapped that they do not have money for food or medicine. This effects others as we try to help---but then we all need wisdom in deciding when and where to help.
We have had very good responses to the family series. We have had 8 messages so far and have a good ways to go still. We have a small voice recorder that we use that plugs right into the USB port on the computer. After taping the messages, I put them on the computer and then burn them on CD's. I made 10 CD's of the message last week and they were all gone yesterday before church even started. Some people take them for themselves and others take them for family members and friends. Pray that the Word of the Lord would have free course and and the Holy Spirit would apply it, even long after it has been preached.
This past Wednesday we had 6 visitors at our prayer meeting. Morgan preached and did his best job yet. He would like to be more involved in the church and we would also like that too, but he also has some debts that need to be taken care of before he can do more. Pray for the Lord to give him the strength to work in his taxi and get those debts removed. He is making good progress. (And Faith will be thrilled when and if he can take over more of her organizing responsibilities as homeschooling is more than a full time job.) Cristi is making excellent progress in reading and spelling, but needs more attention than an average child.
As of right now, our family is enjoying a good measure of health. Praise the Lord for that as the pollution has been extremely "thick" with another day of thermal inversion. Probably in the States this would be a great emergency, but it is par for the course here. Sometimes we even don surgical masks when going further down into the city.
(This would have gotten to you last night, but the electricity went out (also par for the course many times) and we had to wait til this morning.)
Thank you for praying,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Sorry for no update last week. On Monday, I was doing some extra repairs on the house.
I appreciate so much the married ladies in our church whose husbands are unsaved. The trials and difficulties that they face on a constant and daily basis and the faith that they have in our Lord Jesus Christ is truly humbling to us and a testimony to God's daily grace in their lives. Two of those ladies are having some health problems at the moment. Teresa has been bedridden for the last week with serious back pain. She has one or two herniated discs that are also causing her sciatic nerve pain. Please pray for the doctors to be able to help her and for the Lord to give her relief from the pain also. Guille has been having some serious headaches again. I was able to visit both of them last week and the difference that Christ has made in their lives and the growth that they both are showing is a challenge to our own lives.
Memo (Guille's oldest son) has also been showing some tremendous growth in leading his wife Karina and three children, David, Adriel and new baby Alejandra. Yesterday they were asked to go somewhere else by a cousin and missed our services. Please pray that the Lord will continue to guard and strengthen them in His Word and way and that he will accept loving admonition as I talk with him.
Jose and America were able to come for dinner yesterday with their 6 year old son Jose Ruben. This is the couple that was married about 5 months ago and the Lord has also greatly changed both of them. When we first had them up at the beginning of this year, our time talking was spent mostly about both of them and salvation. Yesterday the conversation really was spiritual and they were asking questions about rearing their son Biblically. Jose is applying for a different job that would be a major upgrade economically for his family. Pray for the Lord's will to be done and for consistent application of Biblical discipline.
Nico and Lilliana also came over last week for dinner. It is very evident that Lilliana is not saved. She was miserable when she talked with us---and stated honestly that she does not want to come back to church and doesn't even know if she believes that there is a God. She has had some physical trials as well lately and on Monday we were able to help her get to a doctor as they have had no money for that. That effected her tremendously. She was happily in church on Sunday. At least now she was better able to concentrate on the message. There are still real problems in their home AND jelousy with Nico's first wife (who lives next door). Reina (Nico's first wife) and their daughter Laura came this week so that Faith could give Laura three antibiotic injections. We were able to visit with them. Please pray for more opportunities with them, for their salvation and for Lilliana to be saved.
Sarai, now 19, came to our church 10 years ago with her family (Juana and Fidel.) Nicolas' son Humberto, 22, has been attending for about 3 years now. Both of these young people show definite fruit of being regenerated and both want to please the Lord. There is definitely a romantic interest on both parts. They are both seeking the Lord's will and are trying to be God honoring in everything that they do. This last week, they came to me asking if they could see each other as boyfriend and girlfriend (that's a first). I gave them counsel from God's Word---and found out that Sarai had not asked her father's permission. I guess she thought that I would do instead of her father as he is very hot tempered. Humberto, on the other hand, was more than willing to go to Fidel---which is wonderful to see how above board he wants to be. Well, last week, Sarai talked with her father. She was amazed at his cool response. In other times he would have thrown the TV remote at her and she was fully expecting that. He knows God's Word and gave her almost the same counsel that I had given. Fidel seems to be changing slowly. Please pray that the Lord will save him and bring him back to church. He has not be attending anywhere.
In two weeks, the children will be doing a small Christmas story play. They are working hard in SS and getting ready. Pray that the Lord would use His Word in their hearts and in those who watch their play.
There is one family in the church that seems to constantly be offended with others in the church over little issues that should never even be a problem. Please pray for us as we seek to deal with them and help them to deal with problems in a godly way.
Many of our families have financial problems due to incurring debts that they shouldn't have. This has been a great strain on many. Please pray for the Lord to provide for each need, for the people to be wise in what they purchase and for contentment in all things---and for them to accept loving admonition regarding these issues. They are sometimes so strapped that they do not have money for food or medicine. This effects others as we try to help---but then we all need wisdom in deciding when and where to help.
We have had very good responses to the family series. We have had 8 messages so far and have a good ways to go still. We have a small voice recorder that we use that plugs right into the USB port on the computer. After taping the messages, I put them on the computer and then burn them on CD's. I made 10 CD's of the message last week and they were all gone yesterday before church even started. Some people take them for themselves and others take them for family members and friends. Pray that the Word of the Lord would have free course and and the Holy Spirit would apply it, even long after it has been preached.
This past Wednesday we had 6 visitors at our prayer meeting. Morgan preached and did his best job yet. He would like to be more involved in the church and we would also like that too, but he also has some debts that need to be taken care of before he can do more. Pray for the Lord to give him the strength to work in his taxi and get those debts removed. He is making good progress. (And Faith will be thrilled when and if he can take over more of her organizing responsibilities as homeschooling is more than a full time job.) Cristi is making excellent progress in reading and spelling, but needs more attention than an average child.
As of right now, our family is enjoying a good measure of health. Praise the Lord for that as the pollution has been extremely "thick" with another day of thermal inversion. Probably in the States this would be a great emergency, but it is par for the course here. Sometimes we even don surgical masks when going further down into the city.
(This would have gotten to you last night, but the electricity went out (also par for the course many times) and we had to wait til this morning.)
Thank you for praying,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Monday, November 19
Goldfuss update (November 19)
Dear Praying Friends,
Quite a week. :-)
Mikey and I ended up leaving on Tuesday morning at 4:30 AM for Texas. We arrived at Jack and Mollie Lee's house in McAllen, Texas 12 hours and 15 minutes later after 717 miles.
Wednesday morning was taken up with trying to get different things taken care of: insurance, driver's license, mail, etc. Then Mikey and I went to Wal-Mart from about 2:00 PM until 6:30 PM, went to supper for an hour and went back until 11:00 PM. WOW. Mikey said, "Man, I sure wish Mom was here to do this. That would be much better." :-) We tried to get the whole grocery list for Faith for the whole year. As an example, a can of Cream of Chicken or Mushroom soup here in Mexico costs about $1.50 USD. We found the same soups for 50 cents a piece at Wal-Mart, so we bought about 40 of each, as well as many other things that we either can't get or are much more expensive to buy here. It was a long, long day at Wal-Mart.
That night Mikey began to feel pretty bad with a headache and sore throat. On Thursday, we unloaded the whole van, cleaned it all out, packed everything back in, and we finally finished after 5:00 PM. Jack and Mollie took us to eat and then we left at 6:00 PM. We got across the border and then the checkpoint that's 15 miles into Mexico with green lights. A red light means you might have to unload your whole vehicle for them to inspect your cargo. We made it to the Zartmans in Monterrey, Mexico by 9:30 PM. Mikey was unable to speak and his throat was terrible. I was able to buy him an antibiotic and after 12 hours of sleep, he was doing better. We had a nice visit with the Zartmans and had to leave on Friday morning at 11:15 AM. We are not able to drive in Mexico City on Fridays from 5:30 AM until 10:00 PM due to pollution, so we didn't want to arrive at Mexico City before 10 PM on Friday night. We made it all the way from Zartmans to the toll booth at the outskirts of Mexico City by 9:40 PM and crossed into the city at 10:02. The traffic was still unbelievable at that hour and we made it home at 11:25.
Saturday was spent studying to get ready for Sunday. Faith had a ladies' meeting and she said that the ladies participated wonderfully and it is very obvious that the Lord is working and teaching them many things.
Saturday night I had a discouraging moment. I went to our little local store for some bread and when I walked in I saw a man from our church behind the counter. It was very obvious that he had been drinking. He didn't notice me at first but when I said hello to him, he was extremely shocked to see me, said something in very slurred speech to his father, and then disappeared into the back room. I went to his house Sunday morning with a cup of black coffee, hoping to encourage him with his need to be in church anyway and to try to sober him up. His son said that he wasn't there so I walked to the store again to find him. His parents said that they hadn't seen him since Saturday night. I am not sure, but believe that the son lied to me and that his dad was still there at home so I went right into their house (don't try this at home), walked upstairs, and knocked on his bedroom door. His son opened again and I said, "Please give this coffee to your father." He took the coffee, said, "Ok," and then shut the door again. So then I just had to leave.
There was only one family absent from church Sunday (our neighbor man's family) along with the two older ladies, Sras. Gloria and Maria who are fighting some sickness. After church, Teresa asked if she could talk to me about some serious family situations. When we left, Faith and I were the only ones left with Cherith and Caralyn. We had been invited over to Alejandro and Guilles' for dinner. We had to park a little ways away and walk due to a street market. We found Alejandro waiting for us in the street and he said we were going to his son Memo's house. He horded us into a little walkway and when I opened the door, I was greeted with a huge shout of "SURPRISE." The whole church had gotten together with Faith while Mikey and I were gone last week and organized a surprise 40th birthday party. They were absolutely thrilled because that is the first time in 12 years here that they have been able to really surprise me. I have always picked up on different things they've tried in the past. Yesterday, Sunday, I had no idea that the surprise was coming. They all enjoyed that very much. I enjoyed it too.
Thank you for praying for Faith last week as she held down the fort at home with the rest of the kids. Praise the Lord that right now everybody is doing fairly well. She had to deal with one lady who refused to talk to another lady last week. Praise the Lord that Faith was able to use the Bible and the other lady is biblically working through the situation now. Pray that the Lord will give her victory.
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
PS--I was just able to talk to the man from church. He feels the weight of his sin before the Lord, has asked the Lord and his family to forgive him and is planning on talking to his parents who own the store since he has really been trying to witness to them. He is feeling greatly that he has betrayed his Saviour which is a good thing. Please pray for him to get back up and continue walking and for our Saviour to continue to uphold him day by day and keep him from sin. He recognizes his weakness and his great need of walking with Christ day by day. Oh that we all would feel our weaknesses in the flesh in the same way and strive to maintain that constant communion with Christ. Thank you for praying.
Quite a week. :-)
Mikey and I ended up leaving on Tuesday morning at 4:30 AM for Texas. We arrived at Jack and Mollie Lee's house in McAllen, Texas 12 hours and 15 minutes later after 717 miles.
Wednesday morning was taken up with trying to get different things taken care of: insurance, driver's license, mail, etc. Then Mikey and I went to Wal-Mart from about 2:00 PM until 6:30 PM, went to supper for an hour and went back until 11:00 PM. WOW. Mikey said, "Man, I sure wish Mom was here to do this. That would be much better." :-) We tried to get the whole grocery list for Faith for the whole year. As an example, a can of Cream of Chicken or Mushroom soup here in Mexico costs about $1.50 USD. We found the same soups for 50 cents a piece at Wal-Mart, so we bought about 40 of each, as well as many other things that we either can't get or are much more expensive to buy here. It was a long, long day at Wal-Mart.
That night Mikey began to feel pretty bad with a headache and sore throat. On Thursday, we unloaded the whole van, cleaned it all out, packed everything back in, and we finally finished after 5:00 PM. Jack and Mollie took us to eat and then we left at 6:00 PM. We got across the border and then the checkpoint that's 15 miles into Mexico with green lights. A red light means you might have to unload your whole vehicle for them to inspect your cargo. We made it to the Zartmans in Monterrey, Mexico by 9:30 PM. Mikey was unable to speak and his throat was terrible. I was able to buy him an antibiotic and after 12 hours of sleep, he was doing better. We had a nice visit with the Zartmans and had to leave on Friday morning at 11:15 AM. We are not able to drive in Mexico City on Fridays from 5:30 AM until 10:00 PM due to pollution, so we didn't want to arrive at Mexico City before 10 PM on Friday night. We made it all the way from Zartmans to the toll booth at the outskirts of Mexico City by 9:40 PM and crossed into the city at 10:02. The traffic was still unbelievable at that hour and we made it home at 11:25.
Saturday was spent studying to get ready for Sunday. Faith had a ladies' meeting and she said that the ladies participated wonderfully and it is very obvious that the Lord is working and teaching them many things.
Saturday night I had a discouraging moment. I went to our little local store for some bread and when I walked in I saw a man from our church behind the counter. It was very obvious that he had been drinking. He didn't notice me at first but when I said hello to him, he was extremely shocked to see me, said something in very slurred speech to his father, and then disappeared into the back room. I went to his house Sunday morning with a cup of black coffee, hoping to encourage him with his need to be in church anyway and to try to sober him up. His son said that he wasn't there so I walked to the store again to find him. His parents said that they hadn't seen him since Saturday night. I am not sure, but believe that the son lied to me and that his dad was still there at home so I went right into their house (don't try this at home), walked upstairs, and knocked on his bedroom door. His son opened again and I said, "Please give this coffee to your father." He took the coffee, said, "Ok," and then shut the door again. So then I just had to leave.
There was only one family absent from church Sunday (our neighbor man's family) along with the two older ladies, Sras. Gloria and Maria who are fighting some sickness. After church, Teresa asked if she could talk to me about some serious family situations. When we left, Faith and I were the only ones left with Cherith and Caralyn. We had been invited over to Alejandro and Guilles' for dinner. We had to park a little ways away and walk due to a street market. We found Alejandro waiting for us in the street and he said we were going to his son Memo's house. He horded us into a little walkway and when I opened the door, I was greeted with a huge shout of "SURPRISE." The whole church had gotten together with Faith while Mikey and I were gone last week and organized a surprise 40th birthday party. They were absolutely thrilled because that is the first time in 12 years here that they have been able to really surprise me. I have always picked up on different things they've tried in the past. Yesterday, Sunday, I had no idea that the surprise was coming. They all enjoyed that very much. I enjoyed it too.
Thank you for praying for Faith last week as she held down the fort at home with the rest of the kids. Praise the Lord that right now everybody is doing fairly well. She had to deal with one lady who refused to talk to another lady last week. Praise the Lord that Faith was able to use the Bible and the other lady is biblically working through the situation now. Pray that the Lord will give her victory.
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
PS--I was just able to talk to the man from church. He feels the weight of his sin before the Lord, has asked the Lord and his family to forgive him and is planning on talking to his parents who own the store since he has really been trying to witness to them. He is feeling greatly that he has betrayed his Saviour which is a good thing. Please pray for him to get back up and continue walking and for our Saviour to continue to uphold him day by day and keep him from sin. He recognizes his weakness and his great need of walking with Christ day by day. Oh that we all would feel our weaknesses in the flesh in the same way and strive to maintain that constant communion with Christ. Thank you for praying.
Sunday, November 11
Goldfuss update (November 12)
Dear Praying Friends,
I don't have time to say a lot because tomorrow morning (Monday) Mikey and I are leaving to go to Texas for three days for paperwork, a new driver's license and other things. Please pray for our safety.
We had another tremendous mens' meeting yesterday. We were 9 men and there was great participation.
Please pray for Humberto. Erasmo has had a good friendship with him and last week informed us that he didn't appreciate in our men's meeting that we were warning against those who preach false doctrine. So, our men's group prayed for him yesterday. His wife Orthencia came today, but Humberto didn't.
Sylvia has been through another roller coaster week. They were going to enroll her son Roberto again in the drug rehab on Friday but she wasn't in church today so we don't know how that went.
Our two older ladies, Maria and her daughter Gloria were not there today due to health problems. Pray for them.
The great news is that the men have a plan to pursue a piece of property near the church and build a building on that property to rent. I'm not really for it, but that doesn't matter. This is their church and I'm asking them all to pray and you all to pray that the Lord's will be done in this situation.
Martha, the nurse, was able to be at both services today for the first time. We had her up for dinner after church with her 13 year old daughter Frida. Martha's husband is living at home with them, committing adultery, not providing any money for the family, and taking Martha's money to spend on the other woman. It is a heart wrenching situation, but this whole issue has brought her to Christ. Pray for wisdom for us and her in dealing with this terrible situation.
You wouldn't believe our Saturday night--All night long!! Caralyn is teething, Cherith had a fever, Matthew threw up, Mikey's stomach hurt, and Cristiana woke up at 3:30 AM with hives. It must be some type of allergic reaction to a tetanus vaccination. By morning, she was covered. We finally got ahold of the doctor tonight and he prescribed some medicine after we gave her benadryl today. Please pray that the kids will be over these bugs soon if the Lord will allow that. Pray for the hives to go away. Pray for Faith as she deals with all this and probably more this week with Mikey and I gone.
Thank you for your prayers,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
I don't have time to say a lot because tomorrow morning (Monday) Mikey and I are leaving to go to Texas for three days for paperwork, a new driver's license and other things. Please pray for our safety.
We had another tremendous mens' meeting yesterday. We were 9 men and there was great participation.
Please pray for Humberto. Erasmo has had a good friendship with him and last week informed us that he didn't appreciate in our men's meeting that we were warning against those who preach false doctrine. So, our men's group prayed for him yesterday. His wife Orthencia came today, but Humberto didn't.
Sylvia has been through another roller coaster week. They were going to enroll her son Roberto again in the drug rehab on Friday but she wasn't in church today so we don't know how that went.
Our two older ladies, Maria and her daughter Gloria were not there today due to health problems. Pray for them.
The great news is that the men have a plan to pursue a piece of property near the church and build a building on that property to rent. I'm not really for it, but that doesn't matter. This is their church and I'm asking them all to pray and you all to pray that the Lord's will be done in this situation.
Martha, the nurse, was able to be at both services today for the first time. We had her up for dinner after church with her 13 year old daughter Frida. Martha's husband is living at home with them, committing adultery, not providing any money for the family, and taking Martha's money to spend on the other woman. It is a heart wrenching situation, but this whole issue has brought her to Christ. Pray for wisdom for us and her in dealing with this terrible situation.
You wouldn't believe our Saturday night--All night long!! Caralyn is teething, Cherith had a fever, Matthew threw up, Mikey's stomach hurt, and Cristiana woke up at 3:30 AM with hives. It must be some type of allergic reaction to a tetanus vaccination. By morning, she was covered. We finally got ahold of the doctor tonight and he prescribed some medicine after we gave her benadryl today. Please pray that the kids will be over these bugs soon if the Lord will allow that. Pray for the hives to go away. Pray for Faith as she deals with all this and probably more this week with Mikey and I gone.
Thank you for your prayers,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Monday, November 5
Goldfuss update (November 5)
Dear Praying Friends,
We praise the Lord for a good week and for the things that He continually teaches us, both from His Word and in the daily experiences that the Lord permits in our lives, both good and bad.
Marta (the nurse who has come with Sylvia several times) was back again today and brought her two children. She said that she is planning and can't wait to come to both services next week--she had to leave again after SS.
Sylvia has struggled through two excruciating weeks with her drug addict son in the house. Please pray that the Lord would remove her son Beto from their home so that she may be able to get the rest that she needs--physically, emotionally and spiritually. Please also continue to pray for his salvation. Please pray for her continued faithfulness in spite of other troubles also.
Saturday's men's meeting was again tremendous. We had 12 again, which is only missing one other man who could possibly attend. Francisco came last time but did not this time. Marcos missed the first time but came this time. With 22-24 different requirements of elders/pastors/bishops in 1 Timothy and Titus, I divided them giving each man two different ones to study for the past week and to explain them to the whole group. We had an excellent discussion, they gave some excellent feedback of things that they had seen in previous churches and it was very very profitable. Our next meeting was supposed to be sometime in December but one man can't make it so we needed to reschedule it. They all decided unanimously that they wanted to do it again this coming Saturday. So, we are doing it again this Saturday.
Many of you know that we have prayed for years for some men who will be faithful. A number of these men who have been attending are unconverted, but several of them have truly been born again and their participation and enthusiasm has been a real joy and encouragement. In this society where Maria is "king" or "queen" however you will, women take the leadership in their homes constantly and the men let them. These studies have been liberating for these men in a sense and they really are seeing the need for the men to be leaders in their church at least--hopefully, Lord willing, they will do it in their homes as well.
Our service attendance was a little bit down today but there was an excellent spirit. We finished Hebrews 3 in SS remembering that we disobey God's Word through a lack of faith in what God has told us. Again we had excellent participation. Our worship service was very worshipful today and we had our fifth message on the family, focusing again on the duties of husbands to love their wives. Our Savior chose us when we were ugly and vile in our sins and had nothing beautiful about us. Then He set us apart, and his bride, the church, doesn't get older and "ugly" with age, but is being cleansed and made more and more beautiful--she'll be without spots or wrinkles or any such thing. Why? So that He can present her unto Himself as a glorious church. Most of the time the father of the bride presents her to the groom. Jesus Himself is the one who presents His bride to Himself. Anyway, before I preach at you, it was a blessing to me and hopefully a blessing to the people.
There have been some serious financial difficulties for families in the church lately. Pray that the Lord would supply the needs of each who is being faithful to Him.
We had to have our piano insides taken all out and totally redone after the piano had been sitting for three years while we were trying to build our house. The man who is doing the job came for about four weeks straight doing different things on the piano. He hasn't been here for the last three weeks though and we need to be able to use our piano. Pray for him to come quickly to finish the job.
Please continue to pray for good health for the family. The dry season has begun and the pollution causes us many problems.
Thank you for your prayers and support,
In Christ,
Mike for the Goldfi
We praise the Lord for a good week and for the things that He continually teaches us, both from His Word and in the daily experiences that the Lord permits in our lives, both good and bad.
Marta (the nurse who has come with Sylvia several times) was back again today and brought her two children. She said that she is planning and can't wait to come to both services next week--she had to leave again after SS.
Sylvia has struggled through two excruciating weeks with her drug addict son in the house. Please pray that the Lord would remove her son Beto from their home so that she may be able to get the rest that she needs--physically, emotionally and spiritually. Please also continue to pray for his salvation. Please pray for her continued faithfulness in spite of other troubles also.
Saturday's men's meeting was again tremendous. We had 12 again, which is only missing one other man who could possibly attend. Francisco came last time but did not this time. Marcos missed the first time but came this time. With 22-24 different requirements of elders/pastors/bishops in 1 Timothy and Titus, I divided them giving each man two different ones to study for the past week and to explain them to the whole group. We had an excellent discussion, they gave some excellent feedback of things that they had seen in previous churches and it was very very profitable. Our next meeting was supposed to be sometime in December but one man can't make it so we needed to reschedule it. They all decided unanimously that they wanted to do it again this coming Saturday. So, we are doing it again this Saturday.
Many of you know that we have prayed for years for some men who will be faithful. A number of these men who have been attending are unconverted, but several of them have truly been born again and their participation and enthusiasm has been a real joy and encouragement. In this society where Maria is "king" or "queen" however you will, women take the leadership in their homes constantly and the men let them. These studies have been liberating for these men in a sense and they really are seeing the need for the men to be leaders in their church at least--hopefully, Lord willing, they will do it in their homes as well.
Our service attendance was a little bit down today but there was an excellent spirit. We finished Hebrews 3 in SS remembering that we disobey God's Word through a lack of faith in what God has told us. Again we had excellent participation. Our worship service was very worshipful today and we had our fifth message on the family, focusing again on the duties of husbands to love their wives. Our Savior chose us when we were ugly and vile in our sins and had nothing beautiful about us. Then He set us apart, and his bride, the church, doesn't get older and "ugly" with age, but is being cleansed and made more and more beautiful--she'll be without spots or wrinkles or any such thing. Why? So that He can present her unto Himself as a glorious church. Most of the time the father of the bride presents her to the groom. Jesus Himself is the one who presents His bride to Himself. Anyway, before I preach at you, it was a blessing to me and hopefully a blessing to the people.
There have been some serious financial difficulties for families in the church lately. Pray that the Lord would supply the needs of each who is being faithful to Him.
We had to have our piano insides taken all out and totally redone after the piano had been sitting for three years while we were trying to build our house. The man who is doing the job came for about four weeks straight doing different things on the piano. He hasn't been here for the last three weeks though and we need to be able to use our piano. Pray for him to come quickly to finish the job.
Please continue to pray for good health for the family. The dry season has begun and the pollution causes us many problems.
Thank you for your prayers and support,
In Christ,
Mike for the Goldfi
Monday, October 29
Goldfuss update (October 29)
Dear Praying Friends,
Thank you for your prayers for the Lord's working and blessing last week.
On Saturday we had a young people's meeting--our young people can be anywhere from 11 to 35. We have a young man who is 27 and a young lady who is 35. :-) (I'm there leading and will be 40 in three weeks, so that makes many of you also "young.") We went to a volcano that we can see right from our house. We have never climbed it though. It's only 5 minutes from our house so we took the group and had quite a hike up the mountain. All of the guys were brave and went down into the crater. (Please do not worry. The volcano last erupted 400 years ago.) The crater is just massive. It was steep getting down with a good number of spills and it seemed even steeper when we sought to walk back up and out. One of the guys brought a football and I ended up carrying it as we were trying to climb out of the crater. About 150 yards up the steep grade out, I dropped it and it went all the way to the bottom again. Fortunately, one of the other younger men went back down to get it. :-) We had a very good time with 11 young people (besides myself) and even had a picnic. After the "death hike", we came back to our house and had our devotional in the living room by the wood stove. (It has been COLD. The cold is really felt in cement/concrete, brick houses. This morning we saw our breath when we woke up. Everyone snuggles down under a PILE of blankets.---How's that for Mexico!). Anyway, our devotional was on Proverbs 4:23 and keeping our hearts and we started a study on how to do that from Philippians 4:8.
Yesterday's services were very good. Again, it was very very cold and many people came with big coats, hats and scarves and most people kept them on during the whole service. We have a little space heater, but its hard work goes for naught every time someone comes in and opens the door. :-) Praise the Lord, there is no extra room at church. We may need to rent another room on the other side of the building for Sunday school. It is hard to take a step in our little Sunday School room with 20 children ranging from 3-12. Please pray for the Lord's will regarding this.
Alejandro came back yesterday and it was a real blessing to see him again in church. Please pray for his salvation. Tere was able to come again after her husband had not let her come for three straight weeks. Her sister Sylvia is struggling greatly right now with her son Roberto's drug problem. He keeps causing problems at home by stealing and she has a hard time not giving in to him. She wants to keep "helping" him and he keeps taking advantage of her. This has really affected her physically, emotionally and spiritually. Roberto is 38 and I mentioned to Sylvia that "whoso spareth the rod hateth his son," and while we normally use that for little children, it applies to her oldest son in the aspect that she needs to stop rescuing him from the consequences of his sin and be firm. Please pray for her and her husband to really have the strength to put their "foot" down and to allow Roberto to experience the consequences of his sin so that the Lord will deal with him and bring him to salvation.
For the first time in three weeks, Martha, Sylvia's friend didn't come to church. Continue to pray for her growth in extremely difficult circumstances. Sra. Lupe who has come to prayer meeting for a month straight and last Sunday also showed up with her two sons (Daniel and Roberto) and her husband (Manuel). Please pray for the salvation of each member of this family. They were invited by Matilde. It is such a blessing to see our people inviting others and to see the invitees coming.
This coming Saturday we will have our second men's meeting. There has been a great interest on their parts to study Timothy and Titus and this week we will be looking at the different characteristics of Elders. I have assigned each of the men two characteristics to study and explain on Saturday. Please pray that they will understand that whether they will be elders or not in the future, many of those characteristics are what they should be striving for as godly men.
Thank you for praying. The family series is being received well. Pray for lasting changes and praise the Lord for at least four or five entire families attending!!!!
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Thank you for your prayers for the Lord's working and blessing last week.
On Saturday we had a young people's meeting--our young people can be anywhere from 11 to 35. We have a young man who is 27 and a young lady who is 35. :-) (I'm there leading and will be 40 in three weeks, so that makes many of you also "young.") We went to a volcano that we can see right from our house. We have never climbed it though. It's only 5 minutes from our house so we took the group and had quite a hike up the mountain. All of the guys were brave and went down into the crater. (Please do not worry. The volcano last erupted 400 years ago.) The crater is just massive. It was steep getting down with a good number of spills and it seemed even steeper when we sought to walk back up and out. One of the guys brought a football and I ended up carrying it as we were trying to climb out of the crater. About 150 yards up the steep grade out, I dropped it and it went all the way to the bottom again. Fortunately, one of the other younger men went back down to get it. :-) We had a very good time with 11 young people (besides myself) and even had a picnic. After the "death hike", we came back to our house and had our devotional in the living room by the wood stove. (It has been COLD. The cold is really felt in cement/concrete, brick houses. This morning we saw our breath when we woke up. Everyone snuggles down under a PILE of blankets.---How's that for Mexico!). Anyway, our devotional was on Proverbs 4:23 and keeping our hearts and we started a study on how to do that from Philippians 4:8.
Yesterday's services were very good. Again, it was very very cold and many people came with big coats, hats and scarves and most people kept them on during the whole service. We have a little space heater, but its hard work goes for naught every time someone comes in and opens the door. :-) Praise the Lord, there is no extra room at church. We may need to rent another room on the other side of the building for Sunday school. It is hard to take a step in our little Sunday School room with 20 children ranging from 3-12. Please pray for the Lord's will regarding this.
Alejandro came back yesterday and it was a real blessing to see him again in church. Please pray for his salvation. Tere was able to come again after her husband had not let her come for three straight weeks. Her sister Sylvia is struggling greatly right now with her son Roberto's drug problem. He keeps causing problems at home by stealing and she has a hard time not giving in to him. She wants to keep "helping" him and he keeps taking advantage of her. This has really affected her physically, emotionally and spiritually. Roberto is 38 and I mentioned to Sylvia that "whoso spareth the rod hateth his son," and while we normally use that for little children, it applies to her oldest son in the aspect that she needs to stop rescuing him from the consequences of his sin and be firm. Please pray for her and her husband to really have the strength to put their "foot" down and to allow Roberto to experience the consequences of his sin so that the Lord will deal with him and bring him to salvation.
For the first time in three weeks, Martha, Sylvia's friend didn't come to church. Continue to pray for her growth in extremely difficult circumstances. Sra. Lupe who has come to prayer meeting for a month straight and last Sunday also showed up with her two sons (Daniel and Roberto) and her husband (Manuel). Please pray for the salvation of each member of this family. They were invited by Matilde. It is such a blessing to see our people inviting others and to see the invitees coming.
This coming Saturday we will have our second men's meeting. There has been a great interest on their parts to study Timothy and Titus and this week we will be looking at the different characteristics of Elders. I have assigned each of the men two characteristics to study and explain on Saturday. Please pray that they will understand that whether they will be elders or not in the future, many of those characteristics are what they should be striving for as godly men.
Thank you for praying. The family series is being received well. Pray for lasting changes and praise the Lord for at least four or five entire families attending!!!!
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Monday, October 22
Goldfuss update (October 21)
Dear Praying Friends,
This morning as I was in my office early making some last preparations for today's services, our neighbor man, Nicolas, who has been a tremendous encouragement in our church approached from across the yard to my window. He let me know that his 12 year old step-son Miguel (1 year older than Mikey) had left yesterday because he didn't want to work around the home. He is in the neighborhood in the home of some of his mother's family members. He told them that Nico ran him off when the truth is that he ran away. Nico has struggled greatly in how to deal with Miguel Scripturally. He is to the point that he doesn't want him to come back. Please pray for Biblical wisdom for Nico and his family in dealing with this situation and for backbone for Nico and Liliana to lovingly discipline and instruct Miguel as he needs to be.
For the second straight Lord's Day, Martha came, this time without Sylvia. What a blessing to see her come on her own and devour everything that she hears. She is a nurse and has to work after SS but she says that next month she will be able to be with us all day long for the services instead of leaving early. Please pray for her to continue to grow.
We also had Lupe attend our worship service today. She has come three straight Wed. nights with her two boys, but today was her first Sunday service. I have tried unsuccessfully during the last two weeks to personally talk with these ladies and their husbands (who have not attended). Please pray for open doors in these homes.
Today's family message was on 1 Peter 3:1-6 and a wife's submission to her husband, especially those who have an unsaved husband. That passage is especially applicable to a number of women in our church who have unsaved husbands. There was a good spirit in our services today and for that we praise the Lord. We were missing about 20 people who could have been there today, but still were very full. We are really praying as a church family for a permanent building for the church to have more Sunday school rooms for more individualized teaching to the different age groups.
Please also pray for Teresa. Her husband has prohibited her from coming for the last 3 Sundays.
Faith had a wonderful ladies' meeting yesterday with 11 in attendance. She said that the ladies' participation was excellent and that they made many excellent Biblical and thoughtful comments. Rosie, one who has been a regular in church for 10 years, but who has never come to anything other than Sunday morning attended the ladies meeting---and her growth in the Lord was very evident in her answers. She is now allowing her son to attended the young people's group. Please pray for the upcoming young people's group this Saturday.
As always, we appreciate your prayers and support greatly.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
This morning as I was in my office early making some last preparations for today's services, our neighbor man, Nicolas, who has been a tremendous encouragement in our church approached from across the yard to my window. He let me know that his 12 year old step-son Miguel (1 year older than Mikey) had left yesterday because he didn't want to work around the home. He is in the neighborhood in the home of some of his mother's family members. He told them that Nico ran him off when the truth is that he ran away. Nico has struggled greatly in how to deal with Miguel Scripturally. He is to the point that he doesn't want him to come back. Please pray for Biblical wisdom for Nico and his family in dealing with this situation and for backbone for Nico and Liliana to lovingly discipline and instruct Miguel as he needs to be.
For the second straight Lord's Day, Martha came, this time without Sylvia. What a blessing to see her come on her own and devour everything that she hears. She is a nurse and has to work after SS but she says that next month she will be able to be with us all day long for the services instead of leaving early. Please pray for her to continue to grow.
We also had Lupe attend our worship service today. She has come three straight Wed. nights with her two boys, but today was her first Sunday service. I have tried unsuccessfully during the last two weeks to personally talk with these ladies and their husbands (who have not attended). Please pray for open doors in these homes.
Today's family message was on 1 Peter 3:1-6 and a wife's submission to her husband, especially those who have an unsaved husband. That passage is especially applicable to a number of women in our church who have unsaved husbands. There was a good spirit in our services today and for that we praise the Lord. We were missing about 20 people who could have been there today, but still were very full. We are really praying as a church family for a permanent building for the church to have more Sunday school rooms for more individualized teaching to the different age groups.
Please also pray for Teresa. Her husband has prohibited her from coming for the last 3 Sundays.
Faith had a wonderful ladies' meeting yesterday with 11 in attendance. She said that the ladies' participation was excellent and that they made many excellent Biblical and thoughtful comments. Rosie, one who has been a regular in church for 10 years, but who has never come to anything other than Sunday morning attended the ladies meeting---and her growth in the Lord was very evident in her answers. She is now allowing her son to attended the young people's group. Please pray for the upcoming young people's group this Saturday.
As always, we appreciate your prayers and support greatly.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Monday, October 15
Goldfuss update (October 15)
Dear Praying Friends,
Thank you for all of your prayers from the past week. The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.
Fidel and Juana's hearing was on Thursday before the magistrate. Supposedly there is a legal document that will be sent out today commanding them to leave their property. We aren't sure if they will have one day or eight days to leave. Several of their family members are already up here living with us. Please pray that Fidel will look for a place to live and that they will be able to live in their own place quickly.
Saturday was our very first men's meeting. Of the 13 different men in the church, 12 of them attended. We are studying the purposes of Elders and Deacons and their requirements so that they will know what they need to be striving for in their own lives and so that they will know what to be doing in our local church. The men wanted to meet again in two weeks, but due to our young people's meeting, we will have to make it three weeks from now. I am planning on dividing the lists of requirements for elders and giving each man 2 or 3 to study and explain at our next meeting. Pray for our men.
Yesterday, Martha, the lady that Ruben was able to speak with and who also made a profession of faith, came to SS with Silvia. She listened extremely well. In spite of the incredible amount of tremendously difficult trials in her life, she was present and seemed to really enjoy it. Our SS lesson was on remaining faithful to Christ, not apostatizing, and not being deceived by the deceitfulness of sin. Oh how each one of us is so prone to an "evil heart of unbelief" if we are not daily walking with our Saviour.
We had our second message on the family yesterday. It has been very well received. On the way back up the mountain bringing several different families and people home, there was much discussion of the message. Some had questions and others had some very insightful comments. Please pray for the Lord to raise up Godly families for His glory.
Last week, we had invited Guille, Morgan, Christian and their family to dinner. They said they couldn't come then. Morgan called on Saturday night asking if they were still on for Sunday. "Um, ah, er, well, Yes!" The thrilling thing is that Alejandro (the dad and husband) came to church with them for the first time in 4 or 5 months. Memo and Karina (Guille's son from before being married) also came to dinner with their three children and we had excellent and profitable conversation. Please pray for Alejandro to return again to the services, and for the Lord to save him.
Many of you have prayed in the past for Elsa, Alondra and Miguel with their little boy Christopher. Elsa and Alondra are the two twin sisters that have been sporadic throughout the past 4 years or so. Alondra, Miguel and Baby Christopher all came last Sunday and what a surprise (and great blessing) to see them show up again yesterday with Elsa also. Please pray for each of these young people to be truly converted to Christ and to grow in His grace and knowledge.
Things are always busy. Pray for the Lord's grace in dealing with family and ministry day by day.
With love in Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Thank you for all of your prayers from the past week. The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad.
Fidel and Juana's hearing was on Thursday before the magistrate. Supposedly there is a legal document that will be sent out today commanding them to leave their property. We aren't sure if they will have one day or eight days to leave. Several of their family members are already up here living with us. Please pray that Fidel will look for a place to live and that they will be able to live in their own place quickly.
Saturday was our very first men's meeting. Of the 13 different men in the church, 12 of them attended. We are studying the purposes of Elders and Deacons and their requirements so that they will know what they need to be striving for in their own lives and so that they will know what to be doing in our local church. The men wanted to meet again in two weeks, but due to our young people's meeting, we will have to make it three weeks from now. I am planning on dividing the lists of requirements for elders and giving each man 2 or 3 to study and explain at our next meeting. Pray for our men.
Yesterday, Martha, the lady that Ruben was able to speak with and who also made a profession of faith, came to SS with Silvia. She listened extremely well. In spite of the incredible amount of tremendously difficult trials in her life, she was present and seemed to really enjoy it. Our SS lesson was on remaining faithful to Christ, not apostatizing, and not being deceived by the deceitfulness of sin. Oh how each one of us is so prone to an "evil heart of unbelief" if we are not daily walking with our Saviour.
We had our second message on the family yesterday. It has been very well received. On the way back up the mountain bringing several different families and people home, there was much discussion of the message. Some had questions and others had some very insightful comments. Please pray for the Lord to raise up Godly families for His glory.
Last week, we had invited Guille, Morgan, Christian and their family to dinner. They said they couldn't come then. Morgan called on Saturday night asking if they were still on for Sunday. "Um, ah, er, well, Yes!" The thrilling thing is that Alejandro (the dad and husband) came to church with them for the first time in 4 or 5 months. Memo and Karina (Guille's son from before being married) also came to dinner with their three children and we had excellent and profitable conversation. Please pray for Alejandro to return again to the services, and for the Lord to save him.
Many of you have prayed in the past for Elsa, Alondra and Miguel with their little boy Christopher. Elsa and Alondra are the two twin sisters that have been sporadic throughout the past 4 years or so. Alondra, Miguel and Baby Christopher all came last Sunday and what a surprise (and great blessing) to see them show up again yesterday with Elsa also. Please pray for each of these young people to be truly converted to Christ and to grow in His grace and knowledge.
Things are always busy. Pray for the Lord's grace in dealing with family and ministry day by day.
With love in Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Tuesday, October 9
Goldfuss update (October 8)
Dear Praying Friends,
The day that everyone was dreading came on Thursday. Ruben had to leave. He has gone back to Indianapolis to be with Heidi. Please pray for a doctor there that will really be able to give them some help with Heidi's health. Please also pray for the Lord's direction for their future service.
It appears again that Juana and Reme and their family have lost their land case and will have to move out of their property where they have lived for the last 35 years. We are praying that Juana and Fidel will not be sent to jail. They have to go on Wednesday of this week to the magistrate's office to find out their sentence.
Christian, Alejandro and Guille's son, has faced some extremely serious temptation in his school. His main problem is that he does not want to submit to Christ. Please pray for Alejandro to come back to church and for both he and Christian to be converted.
Martha, Sylvia's friend who made of profession of faith in Christ last week with Ruben, is facing some extremely difficult circumstances. She still has not been able to come to church. Sylvia was also not able to come on Sunday. Her son Roberto was getting out of the rehab place that he has been in for the last three months. Pray that they will be able to attend this coming Sunday. Roberto's only hope is not rehab but regeneration.
The rainy season is just about gone. Every year in October, the rains leave and the pollution is not washed out every night so it accumulates. Many people are suffering with strep throat and sinusitis--so several were sick on Sunday. Cristi has had it this week in our family. Even so, we were excited to begin a study of the family. Sin has made such a mess of all the families that are in our church and they have really had no training in what real Christian families are. The danger in a series like this is to focus on externals without the heart. Please pray that we won't just have good families who do what is right, but Godly families who do what is right from a heart of love to Christ.
This coming Saturday is our first men's meeting. We are going to be studying the requirements for deacons and elders so that the men will know what they should be striving for and also what Biblical leadership in the church should look like.
Thank you for your faithful prayers,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
The day that everyone was dreading came on Thursday. Ruben had to leave. He has gone back to Indianapolis to be with Heidi. Please pray for a doctor there that will really be able to give them some help with Heidi's health. Please also pray for the Lord's direction for their future service.
It appears again that Juana and Reme and their family have lost their land case and will have to move out of their property where they have lived for the last 35 years. We are praying that Juana and Fidel will not be sent to jail. They have to go on Wednesday of this week to the magistrate's office to find out their sentence.
Christian, Alejandro and Guille's son, has faced some extremely serious temptation in his school. His main problem is that he does not want to submit to Christ. Please pray for Alejandro to come back to church and for both he and Christian to be converted.
Martha, Sylvia's friend who made of profession of faith in Christ last week with Ruben, is facing some extremely difficult circumstances. She still has not been able to come to church. Sylvia was also not able to come on Sunday. Her son Roberto was getting out of the rehab place that he has been in for the last three months. Pray that they will be able to attend this coming Sunday. Roberto's only hope is not rehab but regeneration.
The rainy season is just about gone. Every year in October, the rains leave and the pollution is not washed out every night so it accumulates. Many people are suffering with strep throat and sinusitis--so several were sick on Sunday. Cristi has had it this week in our family. Even so, we were excited to begin a study of the family. Sin has made such a mess of all the families that are in our church and they have really had no training in what real Christian families are. The danger in a series like this is to focus on externals without the heart. Please pray that we won't just have good families who do what is right, but Godly families who do what is right from a heart of love to Christ.
This coming Saturday is our first men's meeting. We are going to be studying the requirements for deacons and elders so that the men will know what they should be striving for and also what Biblical leadership in the church should look like.
Thank you for your faithful prayers,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Tuesday, October 2
Goldfuss update (October 2)
Greetings again to all of you our praying friends,
We had a nice five days down at the coast. It was hot and restful. The kids got really really sunburned a couple of days, but they didn't want to leave. We had some very good opportunities to witness to some different people and give out a number of tracts. Please pray that even on a short vacation that the Lord would bring fruit from labors. Mikey was sick two of the days and is still battling some type of stomach ailment.
Ruben did a great job of holding down the fort here in Mexico City while we were gone this week. He has been a huge blessing to us and to the church this past year and a half. He is going to be leaving on Thursday for Indianapolis. Please pray for the Lord's direction in Ruben and Heidi's lives and for Heidi's health to improve there in Indianapolis. She is going to be seeing a doctor that has some hope that she will be able to help Heidi. Please pray for healing in the Lord's perfect will.
Silvia was not able to attend last Sunday but invited two ladies who did come for the SS hour. They left after SS, one saying she would not be back but the other said that she would like to come again. Ruben had a great opportunity to witness to her (Martha) on Friday. I'll give you his words about the happening:
Praise the Lord for this. Martha didn't come today so please pray for her. Silvia will be very faithful in talking to her.
On Saturday we had a youth meeting. We took a hike in an ecological park and then came back to the house where Faith had prepared a mammoth amount of spaghetti. After dinner, Ruben gave a good talk on how to interpret God's Word. Pray that the young people will really get into God's Word on their own.
Sofia, the lady who visited last week after her husband had played basketball with Mike seven years ago returned today. There were several regulars missing as well as several visitors present today in the services.
We are beginning a series on the family this next Sunday. It is something that is greatly needed as we have some young families and even older ones who do not practice Biblical principles. As I've been preparing for this, several books have really been challenging me in my own leadership of our family. Please pray for all of us.
In Christ's love,
Mike for all the Goldfi
We had a nice five days down at the coast. It was hot and restful. The kids got really really sunburned a couple of days, but they didn't want to leave. We had some very good opportunities to witness to some different people and give out a number of tracts. Please pray that even on a short vacation that the Lord would bring fruit from labors. Mikey was sick two of the days and is still battling some type of stomach ailment.
Ruben did a great job of holding down the fort here in Mexico City while we were gone this week. He has been a huge blessing to us and to the church this past year and a half. He is going to be leaving on Thursday for Indianapolis. Please pray for the Lord's direction in Ruben and Heidi's lives and for Heidi's health to improve there in Indianapolis. She is going to be seeing a doctor that has some hope that she will be able to help Heidi. Please pray for healing in the Lord's perfect will.
Silvia was not able to attend last Sunday but invited two ladies who did come for the SS hour. They left after SS, one saying she would not be back but the other said that she would like to come again. Ruben had a great opportunity to witness to her (Martha) on Friday. I'll give you his words about the happening:
Hello Everyone,
I had the great privilege today of speaking with a young woman named Martha. It's a long story, but I'll try to make it short.
After a long conversation, she willingly recognized that not only does she sin --she is a sinner. She had previously come to some fear of judgment and of sin. So after an explanation of sin and salvation, even understanding that salvation involves death, a taking up the cross, to follow Christ. I believe she really understood that Christ is not an anodyne for her problems, but the sovereign Saviour from sin. She expressed her desire, her eagerness to abandon herself to Christ, with no plan b, with no other mediator. And so I have high hopes that the angels are celebrating the genuine repentance and faith of a new daughter of God.
Please pray for Martha, that her profession of faith would have been genuine, and that she would, as a newborn babe, desire the unadulterated milk of the word. She is facing great problems on about every front that the human mind can conceive of; but if she has been justified by faith, she has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: and that is greater than the largest problems.
Ruben
Praise the Lord for this. Martha didn't come today so please pray for her. Silvia will be very faithful in talking to her.
On Saturday we had a youth meeting. We took a hike in an ecological park and then came back to the house where Faith had prepared a mammoth amount of spaghetti. After dinner, Ruben gave a good talk on how to interpret God's Word. Pray that the young people will really get into God's Word on their own.
Sofia, the lady who visited last week after her husband had played basketball with Mike seven years ago returned today. There were several regulars missing as well as several visitors present today in the services.
We are beginning a series on the family this next Sunday. It is something that is greatly needed as we have some young families and even older ones who do not practice Biblical principles. As I've been preparing for this, several books have really been challenging me in my own leadership of our family. Please pray for all of us.
In Christ's love,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Monday, September 24
Goldfuss update (September 24)
Dear Praying Friends,
We had quite another exhausting and grueling week. We thank you for your prayers for the Lord's sustaining grace day by day.
Three straight Sundays have brought a new person each Sunday to church with a cast on. We may soon be known as the "Hard Cast Bible Church." Pray for Francisco, Liliana and Adriana to be able to heal quickly and for them to learn the spiritual lessons that the Lord has for them right now.
We found out on Wednesday that Juana and Reme and their family has officially lost their property case. They will be finding out this week when they will have to move out of their property that they have lived in for 35 years. The case has been unjustly handled in the Mexican court system and it seems that other party bought out Juana and Reme's lawyers. They will probably have to move out at the beginning or middle of next week. We aren't sure where they are going to go, but we have offered them the use of our cabin and extra room over the garage if they need some time to find another place. That would be eight new people so pray for that. The Lord could still also work a miracle to allow this family to not have to uproot if it is His will.
We have had a situation of immorality in the church that has resulted in a pregnancy outside of marriage. The young couple wanted to stand before the church today and ask forgiveness from all. I was able to use Galatians 6:1 after their public apology to encourage the church to not think that any of us are above sin and to show ourselves spiritual in restoring in meekness the publicly repentant couple.
Angel and Mayra, the couple who lost the baby, returned today for a second straight Sunday. Pray for them to be saved. We also had three other first time visitors. One lady looked familiar but I didn't recognize her. She said that her husband had known me about seven years ago through playing basketball. He said that he didn't want to go to a Pentecostal church as it was a fraud, but wanted to come to our church. He didn't come but his wife (Alejandra) did.
Heidi Zartman had to leave on Thursday. We, and Ruben, were very sad to see her go. Pray for the Lord to work in Heidi and allow a doctor in Indiana to be able to relieve much of her physical problems if the Lord will permit it. It has been a blessing to have Ruben here helping in the ministry. The people love him so much and it will be very sad when he also has to leave in 1 1/2 weeks. It was a blessing to have him preach today and to lead us in the Lord's Supper.
Faith had an interesting ladies' meeting yesterday. One lady brought up an issue in the church with another lady right in front of the whole group. So, Faith had to biblically deal with the situation right there with all the ladies right there. She said it was an exhausting time. This Saturday we are planning another young people's meeting. The second Saturday in October we are planning our first men's meeting to study the requirements for elders and deacons in the church. Please pray that the Lord will use this for his glory in the future of this little church and also to give men a goal that they can seek to reach.
Many of you have prayed for Memo and Karina. This is the family that several years ago was an absolute disaster and we even questioned and doubted (sad to say) whether it was possible for the Lord to rescue them. He has done an incredible work in them. Karina told us this week that Memo bought one of our new little family devotional books for the whole year last week and is reading it with their children each night. What an encouragement.
Tonight after we had dinner here at home, we received a call from a lady in the church who wanted Ruben and I to come and talk to a lady to whom she rents. She is a Muslim from Jordan who speaks Arabic and English, no Spanish. Fatima is in Mexico for just two months doing research on different Muslim religious groups. Ruben and I sat fascinated for about three hours as she told us of her beliefs. We had some tremendous opportunities to present the gospel to her. She listened well and answered our many questions about her religion. She left the door open for us to return and speak further with her. Please pray that the Lord would open her heart to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Well, due to exhaustion, both physical and mental, we are going to go for five days starting tomorrow to the coast for a short getaway that is very needed. Please pray that Caralyn's persistent cough will improve and be removed due to the the sea air.
We thank you so much for your prayers and support.
In Christian Love,
Mike for all the Goldfi
We had quite another exhausting and grueling week. We thank you for your prayers for the Lord's sustaining grace day by day.
Three straight Sundays have brought a new person each Sunday to church with a cast on. We may soon be known as the "Hard Cast Bible Church." Pray for Francisco, Liliana and Adriana to be able to heal quickly and for them to learn the spiritual lessons that the Lord has for them right now.
We found out on Wednesday that Juana and Reme and their family has officially lost their property case. They will be finding out this week when they will have to move out of their property that they have lived in for 35 years. The case has been unjustly handled in the Mexican court system and it seems that other party bought out Juana and Reme's lawyers. They will probably have to move out at the beginning or middle of next week. We aren't sure where they are going to go, but we have offered them the use of our cabin and extra room over the garage if they need some time to find another place. That would be eight new people so pray for that. The Lord could still also work a miracle to allow this family to not have to uproot if it is His will.
We have had a situation of immorality in the church that has resulted in a pregnancy outside of marriage. The young couple wanted to stand before the church today and ask forgiveness from all. I was able to use Galatians 6:1 after their public apology to encourage the church to not think that any of us are above sin and to show ourselves spiritual in restoring in meekness the publicly repentant couple.
Angel and Mayra, the couple who lost the baby, returned today for a second straight Sunday. Pray for them to be saved. We also had three other first time visitors. One lady looked familiar but I didn't recognize her. She said that her husband had known me about seven years ago through playing basketball. He said that he didn't want to go to a Pentecostal church as it was a fraud, but wanted to come to our church. He didn't come but his wife (Alejandra) did.
Heidi Zartman had to leave on Thursday. We, and Ruben, were very sad to see her go. Pray for the Lord to work in Heidi and allow a doctor in Indiana to be able to relieve much of her physical problems if the Lord will permit it. It has been a blessing to have Ruben here helping in the ministry. The people love him so much and it will be very sad when he also has to leave in 1 1/2 weeks. It was a blessing to have him preach today and to lead us in the Lord's Supper.
Faith had an interesting ladies' meeting yesterday. One lady brought up an issue in the church with another lady right in front of the whole group. So, Faith had to biblically deal with the situation right there with all the ladies right there. She said it was an exhausting time. This Saturday we are planning another young people's meeting. The second Saturday in October we are planning our first men's meeting to study the requirements for elders and deacons in the church. Please pray that the Lord will use this for his glory in the future of this little church and also to give men a goal that they can seek to reach.
Many of you have prayed for Memo and Karina. This is the family that several years ago was an absolute disaster and we even questioned and doubted (sad to say) whether it was possible for the Lord to rescue them. He has done an incredible work in them. Karina told us this week that Memo bought one of our new little family devotional books for the whole year last week and is reading it with their children each night. What an encouragement.
Tonight after we had dinner here at home, we received a call from a lady in the church who wanted Ruben and I to come and talk to a lady to whom she rents. She is a Muslim from Jordan who speaks Arabic and English, no Spanish. Fatima is in Mexico for just two months doing research on different Muslim religious groups. Ruben and I sat fascinated for about three hours as she told us of her beliefs. We had some tremendous opportunities to present the gospel to her. She listened well and answered our many questions about her religion. She left the door open for us to return and speak further with her. Please pray that the Lord would open her heart to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Well, due to exhaustion, both physical and mental, we are going to go for five days starting tomorrow to the coast for a short getaway that is very needed. Please pray that Caralyn's persistent cough will improve and be removed due to the the sea air.
We thank you so much for your prayers and support.
In Christian Love,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Monday, September 17
Goldfuss update (September 17)
Dear Praying friends,
This has been a grueling and exhausting week. On Monday, I went to visit Erasmo and Matilde who hadn't been to church on Wednesday nor last Sunday. Erasmo (the man who had several of his fingers cut off this past year) had to go to the hospital on Sat. night at 11 PM with serious stomach pain. It turned out to be gastritis and he wasn't able to get out until Sunday afternoon.
Their family is going through a very serious problem right now that will affect our church here. Please pray for them.
They were able to come up on Thursday this week for lunch and stayed til 10 PM. While we were trying to talk to them, Carlos, a friend from long ago called, Pedro, an old friend showed up for lunch also, unexpected, and we received several other phone calls during our time of trying to help them. Please pray that each family member will do what the Lord wants them and requires of them and also that God's name will be glorified in all of this situation.
Ruben and Heidi arrived on Thursday night from Panama. They were down there helping another GFA missionary family, the Mavars, who have been on furlough. It was such a blessing to have them back in the Padierna Bible Church today. The church people were thrilled to see them. I taught our SS class and Ruben led the worship service and preached. We followed up the services today with a "Welcome back" meal for Ruben and Heidi. Please pray for Heidi. As many of you know, Heidi has suffered in the past here from altitude sickness. She's only been here for three days now and is not doing well again. Their plan was for her to leave this coming Thursday but she may have to leave as early as Tuesday. Ruben is planning on staying until October 4. Please pray for both Ruben and Heidi and their future plans. The people here are really really going to miss them a lot.
Today's services were very well attended again. We had nine visitors and no extra chairs. America and Jose have a little school supply store and have been giving out tracts. Today, Cesar, and two of his children came because of receiving a tract there. His wife left him with the two children and took the littlest one with her. He said he enjoyed it and would really like to come back. Juana invited two other ladies and they also attended. A young lady from our church, Mildred, also attended today with her mother who came for the first time. One of the greatest blessings was that Angel, Myra and Myra's brother Manuel all came today. Angel and Myra are the couple who had the baby die last week. We picked them up for church this morning. They worked at their taco stand last night until 3:30 AM so it was no easy task to get up for church this morning, especially for coming for the first time. All the visitors stayed for the meal that we had after church. Please pray for the Lord to work in the hearts of each of these nine people so that they would think about what they heard from God's Word today. Please pray for them to be saved.
We'll end tonight with an incredible blessing for our family. Cristi had a full week of therapy this week. She is READING. She is also SPELLING. It was like a switch flipped on for her. We aren't done and have a few more days of the therapy. Also, they are really just giving Faith tools to use to keep on teaching Cristi. It will still be about a two year process for Faith in dealing with her.
We thank you for all that you do for us in praying for and supporting us. We appreciate your prayers greatly. Please pray for us a lot in this coming week. There is an upcoming ladies' meeting this Saturday.
Mike for all the Goldfi
This has been a grueling and exhausting week. On Monday, I went to visit Erasmo and Matilde who hadn't been to church on Wednesday nor last Sunday. Erasmo (the man who had several of his fingers cut off this past year) had to go to the hospital on Sat. night at 11 PM with serious stomach pain. It turned out to be gastritis and he wasn't able to get out until Sunday afternoon.
Their family is going through a very serious problem right now that will affect our church here. Please pray for them.
They were able to come up on Thursday this week for lunch and stayed til 10 PM. While we were trying to talk to them, Carlos, a friend from long ago called, Pedro, an old friend showed up for lunch also, unexpected, and we received several other phone calls during our time of trying to help them. Please pray that each family member will do what the Lord wants them and requires of them and also that God's name will be glorified in all of this situation.
Ruben and Heidi arrived on Thursday night from Panama. They were down there helping another GFA missionary family, the Mavars, who have been on furlough. It was such a blessing to have them back in the Padierna Bible Church today. The church people were thrilled to see them. I taught our SS class and Ruben led the worship service and preached. We followed up the services today with a "Welcome back" meal for Ruben and Heidi. Please pray for Heidi. As many of you know, Heidi has suffered in the past here from altitude sickness. She's only been here for three days now and is not doing well again. Their plan was for her to leave this coming Thursday but she may have to leave as early as Tuesday. Ruben is planning on staying until October 4. Please pray for both Ruben and Heidi and their future plans. The people here are really really going to miss them a lot.
Today's services were very well attended again. We had nine visitors and no extra chairs. America and Jose have a little school supply store and have been giving out tracts. Today, Cesar, and two of his children came because of receiving a tract there. His wife left him with the two children and took the littlest one with her. He said he enjoyed it and would really like to come back. Juana invited two other ladies and they also attended. A young lady from our church, Mildred, also attended today with her mother who came for the first time. One of the greatest blessings was that Angel, Myra and Myra's brother Manuel all came today. Angel and Myra are the couple who had the baby die last week. We picked them up for church this morning. They worked at their taco stand last night until 3:30 AM so it was no easy task to get up for church this morning, especially for coming for the first time. All the visitors stayed for the meal that we had after church. Please pray for the Lord to work in the hearts of each of these nine people so that they would think about what they heard from God's Word today. Please pray for them to be saved.
We'll end tonight with an incredible blessing for our family. Cristi had a full week of therapy this week. She is READING. She is also SPELLING. It was like a switch flipped on for her. We aren't done and have a few more days of the therapy. Also, they are really just giving Faith tools to use to keep on teaching Cristi. It will still be about a two year process for Faith in dealing with her.
We thank you for all that you do for us in praying for and supporting us. We appreciate your prayers greatly. Please pray for us a lot in this coming week. There is an upcoming ladies' meeting this Saturday.
Mike for all the Goldfi
Monday, September 10
Goldfuss update (September 10)
Dear Praying Friends,
Thank you so much for your prayers this past week. We always appreciate them very much.
Last Sunday I began a two part series on Isaiah's vision from Isaiah 6, basically on the holiness of God and how it affected Isaiah. We heard that last Sunday afternoon/evening, Memo, the young man who is married to Karina and has the three children, David, Adriel and Alejandra, went home and took his secret collection of pornographic DVD's and broke every one of them. I'd never talked about that to him as I never knew about it. His wife said, "Why don't you turn those in and exchange them for something good?" Memo said, "If they aren't good for us, they aren't good for anybody." What a blessing to see God work in great ways in people through His Word. That was an absolute joy and blessing.
One Wednesday, Teresa had her wallet stolen when she was on a public transit bus. She went to file a report on Thursday and met a young man who was at the same station as she was trying to file a report about his sister's little girl of 1 year 4 months who died in the night. Instead of being preoccupied with only her own difficulties, Tere helped the young man get a hearing. She came home and called me. That night she went with Morgan to their home and they shared Christ with the family.
On Friday morning, Morgan and I went to visit one of the new families who came to church last week. We had an excellent visit with them and they said that they would be at church yesterday. They were. Pray for Constantino and Juliana. After visiting their family, Morgan said that the couple who lost the little girl was going to be waiting for us. Angel (32) and Myra (18) had their little baby die in her sleep the day before. I walked into their little one room home and there was a little casket, open and with the little girl there with many candles around. Teresa was there also. What a blessing Morgan and Teresa have become in seeing needs and seeking to meet them as much as is possible. Myra's parents are separated and live in different states and had no plans to come. Angel's parents live below but the mother is almost blind and the father has to constantly care for her. So, it was Angel and Myra, one aunt, Myra's brother that Tere met at the police station, and 2 little neighbor girls along with Morgan, Tere and me. I gave about a 10 minute "funeral message" from Job and heavily emphasizing the responsibilities that we have in this life to repent and believe the gospel. Morgan and Tere accompanied the family to the burial site and I came home and we made a meal for their family for that evening. Mikey and I took it back to them and we were able to have a very good time with that couple and their aunt and brother. Angel cried when we finally had to leave and said "Thank you so much for all that you have done for us. We have nobody to help us in such a time as this." We are going to follow them up. Angel especially seemed interested in coming to church. Myra, understandably so, has great grief at this time. It's amazing how the trials that the Lord allows in our own lives in the past prepares us to help meet the needs of others in His service. Teresa also lost a 22 year old son about 6 years ago.
Yesterday in church we were missing a few people. Sylvia was back which was a great praise. She told me on Saturday night that yesterday was her birthday and that she asked her husband for only one present--"Please let me go to church, and not only go, but please take me." Her birthday wish was granted.
We were able to spend a lot of the afternoon and evening last night with Humberto, Orthencia and their daughter Carolina. They are coming from an "evangelical" cult where they have been taught that Jesus is not God. The others we know from there are charismatic/pentecostal people. However, they don't believe in Jesus' deity so it has nothing to do at all with true Biblical Christianity. The leader also has been involved in adultery and many other sins. The people who have seen the issues and tried to confront the "pastor" have been labeled as "rebellious" and "divisive" while the leader denies all of the problems and sin. Humberto and Orthencia finally left and have been coming to our church for the last 4 months. Please pray that they would have the veil lifted so that they would see Christ and trust in Him alone for salvation from their sin. You may remember in the past that we prayed for a friend, Fernando. He is Humberto's brother and has continued in this cult. We have a number of folks in our church that have come from this group and are now believers--i.e., Juana and Reme. Praise the Lord for this.
Cristi has started her therapy again this week. She has 5 days this week and then one more next week. Please pray for this to really work for her as it is very costly and it's about our last hope for the dyslexia. Thank you so much for praying for us.
We are trying to prepare a men's class (since Faith has a ladies' class now) and are going to study the qualifications of elders and deacons. We don't have any yet, but need to set the standard so that the men will know what they need to be reaching for. There is a good interest so far in trying to get that class going. Pray for planning.
Morgan and I were able to purchase last week some devotional books for families, young people and children. There was a tremendous interest in those books yesterday after church. We are going to need to go get more.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Thank you so much for your prayers this past week. We always appreciate them very much.
Last Sunday I began a two part series on Isaiah's vision from Isaiah 6, basically on the holiness of God and how it affected Isaiah. We heard that last Sunday afternoon/evening, Memo, the young man who is married to Karina and has the three children, David, Adriel and Alejandra, went home and took his secret collection of pornographic DVD's and broke every one of them. I'd never talked about that to him as I never knew about it. His wife said, "Why don't you turn those in and exchange them for something good?" Memo said, "If they aren't good for us, they aren't good for anybody." What a blessing to see God work in great ways in people through His Word. That was an absolute joy and blessing.
One Wednesday, Teresa had her wallet stolen when she was on a public transit bus. She went to file a report on Thursday and met a young man who was at the same station as she was trying to file a report about his sister's little girl of 1 year 4 months who died in the night. Instead of being preoccupied with only her own difficulties, Tere helped the young man get a hearing. She came home and called me. That night she went with Morgan to their home and they shared Christ with the family.
On Friday morning, Morgan and I went to visit one of the new families who came to church last week. We had an excellent visit with them and they said that they would be at church yesterday. They were. Pray for Constantino and Juliana. After visiting their family, Morgan said that the couple who lost the little girl was going to be waiting for us. Angel (32) and Myra (18) had their little baby die in her sleep the day before. I walked into their little one room home and there was a little casket, open and with the little girl there with many candles around. Teresa was there also. What a blessing Morgan and Teresa have become in seeing needs and seeking to meet them as much as is possible. Myra's parents are separated and live in different states and had no plans to come. Angel's parents live below but the mother is almost blind and the father has to constantly care for her. So, it was Angel and Myra, one aunt, Myra's brother that Tere met at the police station, and 2 little neighbor girls along with Morgan, Tere and me. I gave about a 10 minute "funeral message" from Job and heavily emphasizing the responsibilities that we have in this life to repent and believe the gospel. Morgan and Tere accompanied the family to the burial site and I came home and we made a meal for their family for that evening. Mikey and I took it back to them and we were able to have a very good time with that couple and their aunt and brother. Angel cried when we finally had to leave and said "Thank you so much for all that you have done for us. We have nobody to help us in such a time as this." We are going to follow them up. Angel especially seemed interested in coming to church. Myra, understandably so, has great grief at this time. It's amazing how the trials that the Lord allows in our own lives in the past prepares us to help meet the needs of others in His service. Teresa also lost a 22 year old son about 6 years ago.
Yesterday in church we were missing a few people. Sylvia was back which was a great praise. She told me on Saturday night that yesterday was her birthday and that she asked her husband for only one present--"Please let me go to church, and not only go, but please take me." Her birthday wish was granted.
We were able to spend a lot of the afternoon and evening last night with Humberto, Orthencia and their daughter Carolina. They are coming from an "evangelical" cult where they have been taught that Jesus is not God. The others we know from there are charismatic/pentecostal people. However, they don't believe in Jesus' deity so it has nothing to do at all with true Biblical Christianity. The leader also has been involved in adultery and many other sins. The people who have seen the issues and tried to confront the "pastor" have been labeled as "rebellious" and "divisive" while the leader denies all of the problems and sin. Humberto and Orthencia finally left and have been coming to our church for the last 4 months. Please pray that they would have the veil lifted so that they would see Christ and trust in Him alone for salvation from their sin. You may remember in the past that we prayed for a friend, Fernando. He is Humberto's brother and has continued in this cult. We have a number of folks in our church that have come from this group and are now believers--i.e., Juana and Reme. Praise the Lord for this.
Cristi has started her therapy again this week. She has 5 days this week and then one more next week. Please pray for this to really work for her as it is very costly and it's about our last hope for the dyslexia. Thank you so much for praying for us.
We are trying to prepare a men's class (since Faith has a ladies' class now) and are going to study the qualifications of elders and deacons. We don't have any yet, but need to set the standard so that the men will know what they need to be reaching for. There is a good interest so far in trying to get that class going. Pray for planning.
Morgan and I were able to purchase last week some devotional books for families, young people and children. There was a tremendous interest in those books yesterday after church. We are going to need to go get more.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Monday, September 3
Goldfuss update (September 2)
This past week was extremely busy in getting ready for our big weekend church get together at our home for Carissa's birthday and our "fall festival." Cristiana began her two weeks of therapy last week. Please pray for this. She is still needing a great deal of help for reading. The teacher had to go to a conference from this past Friday throughout this next whole week, so Cristi has some homework to do this week and will do her second week next week.
Nico and Lilliana welcomed their new baby boy into this world on Monday. She is home now next door and we are trying to help them with meals and help in their home while she is trying to recover.
Sylvia was able to go and visit her son Roberto, in the drug rehab for the first two times last week and this week. The only problem is that the visits are only on Sunday and she has missed the last two Lord's days. Please pray for her to be able to work her schedule to be able to be in the the church services each week. She came on Wednesday --and that is a praise.
Teresa has had very high blood pressure and has felt miserable the last 3 weeks. She has also missed the last two Lord's day services.
Miguel--Nico's 12 year old son who has caused some very very difficult problems for his parents. I was able to go to their home about a week ago and seek to give some very stern and biblical counsel to both parents and son. Nico said that the next day Miguel disobeyed. Nico didn't want to but knew that he needed to apply scriptural discipline. He did, then hugged Miguel and Miguel hugged him. He went the whole last week a happy boy. Pray for Miguel to understand that he can't just reform his life but that he needs a new birth. On Friday, Mikey and Miguel helped me move many things from our neighbor's (Tent, tables, chairs, etc.,) to our home. It was drizzly but Miguel really wanted to help and he was a real blessing. So also was Mikey. Please pray for these two young men to experience God's saving grace in Christ.
Birthday Party/Church get-together. We had a "western" theme for the church get together and it was amazing how many people came who dressed the part.
There were approximately 85 people present.
We had two horses attend. :-) We had them for 3 hours. The children all loved that. In the meantime we had other games and fun.
Ivan (the young man that had his hand caught in a tortilla maching last week) and his wife Claudia and their little girl Carolina came! Many people in our church, although they didn't know them personally, said things like, "Oh, you are Ivan. We have been praying for you!" It was such a blessing. They were amazed at how many people cared. As a result, they came on Sunday to both of our services. Praise the Lord and thank you for praying for them!
NO RAIN. The forecast was for thundershowers all day long and it rained about 10 minutes before we were supposed to start and then stopped. It remained cloudy and then the SUN actually came out for a while. From what we understand, the whole rest of the city was getting heavy rain. We may have been the only place in our whole big city where there was no rain and even a little sun. :-) Praise the Lord.
It started to sprinkle when Mike gave the devotional and that cut things short. Going along with the theme, the point was that---" some trust in horses and some in chariots, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." Please pray for several neighbors who also attended who have not heard the gospel before.
Sunday: we were missing about 12 normal people but we were unbelievably full. Again, Ivan and his family came, Martha's family who came several years ago but we haven't seen them since also came. There were probably about 7 or 8 of them. They escaped quickly after church and I wasn't able to speak with them. Please pray that they will return, be saved, and be a part of Christ's church in this part of Mexico City.
Between SS and church, someone told me that there were some people out in front of our church who wanted to speak to me. It was a man, Constantine, his wife Juliana, and daughter (Cristina) with her friend from school (Damaris). The man is an acquaintance of ours from a favorite taco place. He knew that we were Christians. His daughter and friend needed to interview an English speaking person for a project for school and video tape it. So, I answered the questions in about three minutes. They offered to pay something but I mentioned to them that the only payment acceptable was to stay for church. They agreed although the dad had to leave after our hymns because he had to work. We found out that they live very close to us up here on the mountain. I told them we would bring them home, but they took off quickly after church. Then, they came back when we were all loading into the van. They had accidentally taped something else after church and taped over our conversation. I said we could do it up at our house so we invited them to dinner along with Juana and Reme and their whole family.
We had a tremendous opportunity with them over lunch and they have been attending a New Life Christian (or not so Christian) church five streets from our church but are very upset over the constant appeals for money and the disorder with rock music. We have been praying as a church for believers in other churches which are preaching false doctrine to find us and for us to find them. This may be an answer to that prayer. :-)
Morgan, Gabriel and Francisco all have indicated recently a desire to serve the Lord more. Please pray for us to have wisdom in dealing with each one of these men.
The people are excited about all of the new opportunities for witnessing; yet as in every place, all isn't perfect in Mexicolandia. There are four people in the church that need some personal loving Biblical admonition and exhortation. Please pray for them to receive these things well and to respond Biblically.
Erasmo is somewhat discouraged--he was turned away from 4 hospitals when he had several of his fingers run over and cut off back in December. Seeing Ivan yesterday and realizing that he had his fingers saved made him think that he lost his fingers because he had no money to pay for the operation in a private hospital whereas Ivan's father was able to do that. Pray for the Lord to continue healing Erasmo's fingers that he still has and for him to accept this as from the Lord.
Alberto (Teresa's husband), Alejandro (Guille's husband), Roberto (Sylvia's husband), Octavio (Martha's husband), Fidel (Juana's husband.)--all these men are unsaved husbands of believing ladies in our church. Pray for their salvation.
We have enclosed some pictures of the fall festival. We also celebrated Cherith's 3 year old birthday yesterday. There is a tradition of sticking the birthday person's head in the cake (just a little bit) here in Mexico. So that is why you will see our two daughters covered in frosting. We appreciate greatly all of your prayers. God is answering in miraculous ways!
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfusses
Nico and Lilliana welcomed their new baby boy into this world on Monday. She is home now next door and we are trying to help them with meals and help in their home while she is trying to recover.
Sylvia was able to go and visit her son Roberto, in the drug rehab for the first two times last week and this week. The only problem is that the visits are only on Sunday and she has missed the last two Lord's days. Please pray for her to be able to work her schedule to be able to be in the the church services each week. She came on Wednesday --and that is a praise.
Teresa has had very high blood pressure and has felt miserable the last 3 weeks. She has also missed the last two Lord's day services.
Miguel--Nico's 12 year old son who has caused some very very difficult problems for his parents. I was able to go to their home about a week ago and seek to give some very stern and biblical counsel to both parents and son. Nico said that the next day Miguel disobeyed. Nico didn't want to but knew that he needed to apply scriptural discipline. He did, then hugged Miguel and Miguel hugged him. He went the whole last week a happy boy. Pray for Miguel to understand that he can't just reform his life but that he needs a new birth. On Friday, Mikey and Miguel helped me move many things from our neighbor's (Tent, tables, chairs, etc.,) to our home. It was drizzly but Miguel really wanted to help and he was a real blessing. So also was Mikey. Please pray for these two young men to experience God's saving grace in Christ.
Birthday Party/Church get-together. We had a "western" theme for the church get together and it was amazing how many people came who dressed the part.
There were approximately 85 people present.
We had two horses attend. :-) We had them for 3 hours. The children all loved that. In the meantime we had other games and fun.
Ivan (the young man that had his hand caught in a tortilla maching last week) and his wife Claudia and their little girl Carolina came! Many people in our church, although they didn't know them personally, said things like, "Oh, you are Ivan. We have been praying for you!" It was such a blessing. They were amazed at how many people cared. As a result, they came on Sunday to both of our services. Praise the Lord and thank you for praying for them!
NO RAIN. The forecast was for thundershowers all day long and it rained about 10 minutes before we were supposed to start and then stopped. It remained cloudy and then the SUN actually came out for a while. From what we understand, the whole rest of the city was getting heavy rain. We may have been the only place in our whole big city where there was no rain and even a little sun. :-) Praise the Lord.
It started to sprinkle when Mike gave the devotional and that cut things short. Going along with the theme, the point was that---" some trust in horses and some in chariots, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." Please pray for several neighbors who also attended who have not heard the gospel before.
Sunday: we were missing about 12 normal people but we were unbelievably full. Again, Ivan and his family came, Martha's family who came several years ago but we haven't seen them since also came. There were probably about 7 or 8 of them. They escaped quickly after church and I wasn't able to speak with them. Please pray that they will return, be saved, and be a part of Christ's church in this part of Mexico City.
Between SS and church, someone told me that there were some people out in front of our church who wanted to speak to me. It was a man, Constantine, his wife Juliana, and daughter (Cristina) with her friend from school (Damaris). The man is an acquaintance of ours from a favorite taco place. He knew that we were Christians. His daughter and friend needed to interview an English speaking person for a project for school and video tape it. So, I answered the questions in about three minutes. They offered to pay something but I mentioned to them that the only payment acceptable was to stay for church. They agreed although the dad had to leave after our hymns because he had to work. We found out that they live very close to us up here on the mountain. I told them we would bring them home, but they took off quickly after church. Then, they came back when we were all loading into the van. They had accidentally taped something else after church and taped over our conversation. I said we could do it up at our house so we invited them to dinner along with Juana and Reme and their whole family.
We had a tremendous opportunity with them over lunch and they have been attending a New Life Christian (or not so Christian) church five streets from our church but are very upset over the constant appeals for money and the disorder with rock music. We have been praying as a church for believers in other churches which are preaching false doctrine to find us and for us to find them. This may be an answer to that prayer. :-)
Morgan, Gabriel and Francisco all have indicated recently a desire to serve the Lord more. Please pray for us to have wisdom in dealing with each one of these men.
The people are excited about all of the new opportunities for witnessing; yet as in every place, all isn't perfect in Mexicolandia. There are four people in the church that need some personal loving Biblical admonition and exhortation. Please pray for them to receive these things well and to respond Biblically.
Erasmo is somewhat discouraged--he was turned away from 4 hospitals when he had several of his fingers run over and cut off back in December. Seeing Ivan yesterday and realizing that he had his fingers saved made him think that he lost his fingers because he had no money to pay for the operation in a private hospital whereas Ivan's father was able to do that. Pray for the Lord to continue healing Erasmo's fingers that he still has and for him to accept this as from the Lord.
Alberto (Teresa's husband), Alejandro (Guille's husband), Roberto (Sylvia's husband), Octavio (Martha's husband), Fidel (Juana's husband.)--all these men are unsaved husbands of believing ladies in our church. Pray for their salvation.
We have enclosed some pictures of the fall festival. We also celebrated Cherith's 3 year old birthday yesterday. There is a tradition of sticking the birthday person's head in the cake (just a little bit) here in Mexico. So that is why you will see our two daughters covered in frosting. We appreciate greatly all of your prayers. God is answering in miraculous ways!
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfusses
Monday, August 27
Goldfuss Update (August 26)
Mikey has been begging us since he wrote his last update several months ago to write this next update. Since we've been with Memo and Karina from 4:00 til 10:30 tonight counseling them, we finally said yes. We had some excellent conversation with them today, and Memo showed some real insights on certain things. Please pray that the Lord would give them a true understanding of salvation in Christ and for us to have wisdom in talking with them. If you don't have time to read this, please go to the ***** and you can get the requests.
Hello this is MIKEY, and I will tell this week's update.
Reme's neighbor's son Ivan, who is about 18, wanted to have a tortilla shop for a business with his brother. Last Sunday night he was looking at the machine ( he put his hand in it ) ( the machine was on) and it took his hand. His brother was there with him so he turned off the machine..... (and it is hard to concentrate to because my sister is yelling in my ear). ( the baby)
So back to the story, he was fine BUT......... People came to help him so, they were trying to pull his hand out and the skin came off of the bones in his fingers and hand and two fingers were crushed. Yes, I agree with you YUCK..... so 2 hours later an ambulance came... yes 2 HOURS LATER.. They came and got him out and took him to the hospital. They had surgery the next day.
What a Sunday.
Now we move to Monday.
On Monday we got word from Reme about what had happened with Ivan. My dad went to see him, but I wanted to have a day with Dad so I said, ''Dad can I go with you? '' and he said ''yes''. But Carissa my sister said "I want to go too." There goes my day with Dad and then Cristi said I wanna come too. So she came too. No day with dad. It was still fun with my sisters though.
So we went to the hospital to see Ivan. After we did that we went down town. We rode on the subway and my we went to the book store and got books for my Mom's study with the women of our church and then went to KFC. I knew that it would be good to go with my Dad. So after that we went to a big park and we passed out tracts.
While we were there, we heard this guy sing. I don't know if he was showing off to his girlfriend or was just showing off but he sounded like a dying duck . So we got to the middle of the park, our tracts were about gone and a red eyed guy comes up and says ''Oh I just saw your kids and there is a kids concert up over there and blaa blaa blaa blaa blaa''. (parent's added comment---The Vienna Boy's Choir for free) So my dad gave him a tract and we went to where he said to go. Now I thought this was pretty fishy. I don't know if I've been reading too many Hardy Boys books or what, but I didn't like it. So we went about ten minutes and the red eyed guy comes again and said, "Oh thank you so much for the tract. I just read it and it helped me a lot because I am a Christian too." The tract is long to read and I didn't think he read it. Plus when he said, "I'm a christian. I should of said ''Christian!!!! ''how did you become a Christian'', but I didn't. So we went on to where he said for about a half an hour. I was dead tired. So we stopped and asked for directions. A man says, "Oh that place. No, it's all the way back there and I almost fainted, but we walked back to the subway. Oh, and I got to get my shoe's polished so I got to rest by sitting down when I had my shoes polished. Then we went home and the next thing I knew I was studying the insides of my eyelids.
On Tuesday, we stayed home and Cristiana, Carissa, Matthew, Cherith and I all made a jail in our yard for Carissa's birthday party coming up this next Saturday. We are having a western theme, so we need a jail.
On Wednesday dad helped Morgan and Morgan preached.
On Thursday it rained a lot from Hurricane Dean so we pretty much had to stay in the house. That's what I call "rained in." So, it was a pretty boring day.
On Friday, Morgan came and studied with my dad.
On Saturday, my mom had a ladies meeting at Guille's house where they are studying a book entitled, "Lies Women Believe." There were about 15 ladies there--mom said, I wasn't there, thankfully. Each of the ladies said that they really really enjoyed the study and learned a lot.
Today, Sunday, my dad preached on Hell. After the services today, we had Memo and Karina and their three children come over for dinner. They just left tonight at 10:40 PM. Now, I'm very tired. So, I'm going to let my dad proofread this and go to bed. Goodnight,
Mikey
*****
Mike for all the Goldfi
Hello this is MIKEY, and I will tell this week's update.
Reme's neighbor's son Ivan, who is about 18, wanted to have a tortilla shop for a business with his brother. Last Sunday night he was looking at the machine ( he put his hand in it ) ( the machine was on) and it took his hand. His brother was there with him so he turned off the machine..... (and it is hard to concentrate to because my sister is yelling in my ear). ( the baby)
So back to the story, he was fine BUT......... People came to help him so, they were trying to pull his hand out and the skin came off of the bones in his fingers and hand and two fingers were crushed. Yes, I agree with you YUCK..... so 2 hours later an ambulance came... yes 2 HOURS LATER.. They came and got him out and took him to the hospital. They had surgery the next day.
What a Sunday.
Now we move to Monday.
On Monday we got word from Reme about what had happened with Ivan. My dad went to see him, but I wanted to have a day with Dad so I said, ''Dad can I go with you? '' and he said ''yes''. But Carissa my sister said "I want to go too." There goes my day with Dad and then Cristi said I wanna come too. So she came too. No day with dad. It was still fun with my sisters though.
So we went to the hospital to see Ivan. After we did that we went down town. We rode on the subway and my we went to the book store and got books for my Mom's study with the women of our church and then went to KFC. I knew that it would be good to go with my Dad. So after that we went to a big park and we passed out tracts.
While we were there, we heard this guy sing. I don't know if he was showing off to his girlfriend or was just showing off but he sounded like a dying duck . So we got to the middle of the park, our tracts were about gone and a red eyed guy comes up and says ''Oh I just saw your kids and there is a kids concert up over there and blaa blaa blaa blaa blaa''. (parent's added comment---The Vienna Boy's Choir for free) So my dad gave him a tract and we went to where he said to go. Now I thought this was pretty fishy. I don't know if I've been reading too many Hardy Boys books or what, but I didn't like it. So we went about ten minutes and the red eyed guy comes again and said, "Oh thank you so much for the tract. I just read it and it helped me a lot because I am a Christian too." The tract is long to read and I didn't think he read it. Plus when he said, "I'm a christian. I should of said ''Christian!!!! ''how did you become a Christian'', but I didn't. So we went on to where he said for about a half an hour. I was dead tired. So we stopped and asked for directions. A man says, "Oh that place. No, it's all the way back there and I almost fainted, but we walked back to the subway. Oh, and I got to get my shoe's polished so I got to rest by sitting down when I had my shoes polished. Then we went home and the next thing I knew I was studying the insides of my eyelids.
On Tuesday, we stayed home and Cristiana, Carissa, Matthew, Cherith and I all made a jail in our yard for Carissa's birthday party coming up this next Saturday. We are having a western theme, so we need a jail.
On Wednesday dad helped Morgan and Morgan preached.
On Thursday it rained a lot from Hurricane Dean so we pretty much had to stay in the house. That's what I call "rained in." So, it was a pretty boring day.
On Friday, Morgan came and studied with my dad.
On Saturday, my mom had a ladies meeting at Guille's house where they are studying a book entitled, "Lies Women Believe." There were about 15 ladies there--mom said, I wasn't there, thankfully. Each of the ladies said that they really really enjoyed the study and learned a lot.
Today, Sunday, my dad preached on Hell. After the services today, we had Memo and Karina and their three children come over for dinner. They just left tonight at 10:40 PM. Now, I'm very tired. So, I'm going to let my dad proofread this and go to bed. Goodnight,
Mikey
*****
- We have known Ivan, the boy with the hand accident in the tortilla machine, for about 10 years. They came to VBS when they were little. They are presently not attending any church and not putting the Lord really anywhere in their lives. Please pray as we visit him again this week that the Lord would open his eyes to his need of Christ.
- Matilde and Erasmo had a very difficult week. She is still in a lot of pain from gall stones, but they seem to be really trying to put the Lord first in their lives. They were there early ready to serve today (they did the cleaning) and they are trying to help a new couple in the things of the Lord. They have also been witnessing to Humberto's unsaved family.
- Teresa is still very weak with very high blood pressure.
- Nico and Liliana were supposed to go to a hospital this morning for Liliana's baby to be delivered via C-section. They went and there was no antesthesiologist there. So they sent them to "find another hospital if you can." ?????? Unbelievable. They went to several others but the price was way out of their range, so they came home. Actually, the due date is September 6, but most places here schedule C-sections so that the doctors don't have to wait for the mothers. :-( There is such a lack of basic medical knowledge here so please pray for all to go well when the Lord works things out for their baby to come. Mike has also been to their house three times this week to help them with their son Miguel 12 years old. He seems to be responding to Biblical discipline now that Nico has added much love and consistency.
- Tomorrow, Monday, Cristi is starting a new Dyslexia therapy for two straight weeks and three hours per day. We are really praying for a breakthrough for her.
- On Saturday we are having a church get together and have invited the whole church. PLEASE pray for sunny weather as it would be a lot easier to have about 120 people outside than inside. We will be celebrating Carissa's birthday and have invited many visitors. Pray for Mike as he will give a short devotional message. Pray for this to be an excellent outreach for our church as well as a good time of fellowship and a nice birthday for Carissa.
Mike for all the Goldfi
Monday, August 20
Goldfuss update (August 19)
Dear Praying Friends,
Thank you for praying for our men last week. This week most of the men were there. We seemed full even though six of our faithful ladies were all very ill. So now could you please pray for the ladies. :).
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we were able to have a nice visit from two other long-time missionaries to Mexico, Miss Norma Helle and Miss Diana Boss. They had come to Mexico City to renew their papers. It was nice to see them and spend two days with them. Here are a couple of pictures of them this week with Cherith and Caralyn.
Faith is starting a ladies' class this Saturday at 10:00 AM. There is a lot of interest on the part of the ladies to study. Pray that the Lord would help many of them grow and some to come to Christ for salvation during this study.
We will end with a funny story: (well, kind of sad). On Tuesday of this week, Mike heard a knock on the street door. Answering it, he found a representative from one of the two biggest TV stations here in Mexico City, TV Azteca. The man explained that they had been filming some TV programs in the neighborhood and that they were looking for another house to use to do taping. I asked what the name of the program was that they were going to be taping and how much they paid. He said that they paid $800 United States Dollars per day of taping. Wow. The name of the program: "Bellezas Indomables." I'd never heard of that program before (I've never heard of a lot of programs here though) and came back to the house to ask a friend of ours. She said that the program was a soap-opera and that it's not very good. I found out that the translation of that title means, "Untameable Beauties." Unfortunately, they aren't talking about horses. So, I grabbed a tract and went back to the door. I told the man that perhaps any other program would be able to be taped in our home, but not a soap-opera as our home should always be used for God's glory. I gave him the tract entitled, "Are you a good person, a SINNER or a saint?" The word sinner is pretty BIG like that. He gave a very sarcastic laugh.
Later that afternoon when the rest of the family was all together, I told them about that incident. The kids were of course amazed that we were offered so much money, but we explained to them why we couldn't allow our home to be used for that. (Our family devotions that morning were on the seventh commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," and they were able to see the application.) It was encouraging to hear Mikey say, "Dad, I think the Lord was testing us." That was a test. (The neighbor man has been having taping done at his house and they have been there about five times in the last month.) Pray that we will be faithful testimonies to our community and our family.
We thank you for your continued prayer and support,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Thank you for praying for our men last week. This week most of the men were there. We seemed full even though six of our faithful ladies were all very ill. So now could you please pray for the ladies. :).
- Teresa has been very tired, has a severe headache and needs some tests. The doctor says her blood pressure if very high.
- Matilde has had another kidney infection this week and has kidney stones. She was in severe pain and crying when Faith visited her.
- Juana was laid low today by a very bad migraine (as compared to a very good one). :-)
- Liliana is in her last month of pregnancy and was not able to make it today.
- Guille was not in church today and we weren't sure if it was due to illness or problems again with her husband Alejandro.
- Rosy suffers greatly with kidney problems and was also unable to be there today. Please pray that the Lord would give these blessed saints of His grace to deal with the illnesses, difficult home situations with most of their husbands, and that the Lord would graciously save many or all of these ladies' husbands.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, we were able to have a nice visit from two other long-time missionaries to Mexico, Miss Norma Helle and Miss Diana Boss. They had come to Mexico City to renew their papers. It was nice to see them and spend two days with them. Here are a couple of pictures of them this week with Cherith and Caralyn.
Faith is starting a ladies' class this Saturday at 10:00 AM. There is a lot of interest on the part of the ladies to study. Pray that the Lord would help many of them grow and some to come to Christ for salvation during this study.
We will end with a funny story: (well, kind of sad). On Tuesday of this week, Mike heard a knock on the street door. Answering it, he found a representative from one of the two biggest TV stations here in Mexico City, TV Azteca. The man explained that they had been filming some TV programs in the neighborhood and that they were looking for another house to use to do taping. I asked what the name of the program was that they were going to be taping and how much they paid. He said that they paid $800 United States Dollars per day of taping. Wow. The name of the program: "Bellezas Indomables." I'd never heard of that program before (I've never heard of a lot of programs here though) and came back to the house to ask a friend of ours. She said that the program was a soap-opera and that it's not very good. I found out that the translation of that title means, "Untameable Beauties." Unfortunately, they aren't talking about horses. So, I grabbed a tract and went back to the door. I told the man that perhaps any other program would be able to be taped in our home, but not a soap-opera as our home should always be used for God's glory. I gave him the tract entitled, "Are you a good person, a SINNER or a saint?" The word sinner is pretty BIG like that. He gave a very sarcastic laugh.
Later that afternoon when the rest of the family was all together, I told them about that incident. The kids were of course amazed that we were offered so much money, but we explained to them why we couldn't allow our home to be used for that. (Our family devotions that morning were on the seventh commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," and they were able to see the application.) It was encouraging to hear Mikey say, "Dad, I think the Lord was testing us." That was a test. (The neighbor man has been having taping done at his house and they have been there about five times in the last month.) Pray that we will be faithful testimonies to our community and our family.
We thank you for your continued prayer and support,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfi
Sunday, August 12
Goldfuss update (August 12)
Dear Prayer warriors,
Thank you again for praying!
Answers!
Everyone is feeling better---except for daddy--throat and ear infection and sinus headache.
The Lord seems to be working in a number of the men for whom you have been praying. Please continue to bathe them in prayer.
UNCLE JOHN, AUNT JENNIFER AND JONATHAN were such a blessing. They have wonderful spirits that encouraged us to be encouraged even through some difficult sicknesses and trials that we had. Uncle John finished painting the outside of the house, and varnished the cabin as well as helped Mike with the septic tank. Unfortunately, the septic tank job helped John become extremely ill. I guess he became more ill than he has ever been in his life. We were sad for that. But during all of this, we were encouraged because three of our families who knew John from previous visits had all of us over to their house. Our people are really learning to be giving.
We found a therapist for Cristi only 40 minutes from our house!!!!!!!!!!! This is such an answer to prayer. The others were over 2 1/2 hours away only up to the center of the city.
Requests:
ALEJANDRO and OCTAVIO'S salvation.
Upcoming events:
About 10 minutes later, Mike went back out to see the river and the drain was almost full and was about 30 seconds from running over into our garage. The bad news is that our cistern is below our garage floor and the metal door to the top of the cistern is right in the garage. Any overflow into the garage would ruin all the water in the cistern and cause us to have to do a major cleaning of it. Mike prayed quickly and grabbed a broom stick and stuck it as far down as possible to try to get the water to go down. Praise the Lord it worked just at the last second when the water almost got to the garage floor level. The Lord is so good to us in little (BIG) ways like that. Below are a couple of pictures of the storm and it's aftermath. The pictures were taken when everything was abating.
We thank you for your continued prayers,
in Christ,
Faith for the Family
Thank you again for praying!
Answers!
Everyone is feeling better---except for daddy--throat and ear infection and sinus headache.
The Lord seems to be working in a number of the men for whom you have been praying. Please continue to bathe them in prayer.
- MORGAN---just loves studying the two days per week that he and Mike have together. This is becoming evident in his preaching.
- GABRIEL---came to the house with his family on Thursday night. Lilliana, his wife, says that he now wants to take the children's home school Bible class. This is an great answer to prayer. Since they walk together for their health, he has suggested that they pray together during the time. Pray for us as we guide him. He is wondering if the Lord has some kind of service for him.
- MARCOS---(the groom who just got married) has been talking about witnessing and wants to lead his family in family devotions.
- ERASMO---has been inviting Umberto and Ortencia over to the house to help them become more faithful to church. He has been doing a good job of answering their questions.
- NICOLAS---recognizes that the Lord is the only answer in helping his twelve-year-old rebellious son and desires spiritual help for him and to guide his family.
- JOSE---is happy attending church with his "new" family. (They were married in the civil ceremony about one month ago after living together for eight years. They are planning a formal wedding in two months.)
- HUMBERTO---(mentioned above) is beginning to see the falsehood of the church they attended previously. This church does not believe that Jesus is God. Pray for he and his wife's salvation. He has been coming on Wednesdays, but has been working on Sundays.
- HUMBERTO---(21 year old son of NICOLAS) really seems to desire to want to give his whole life to the Lord.
- FRANCISCO---is a joy as he loves to learn about the Lord and always wants help in his witnessing.
UNCLE JOHN, AUNT JENNIFER AND JONATHAN were such a blessing. They have wonderful spirits that encouraged us to be encouraged even through some difficult sicknesses and trials that we had. Uncle John finished painting the outside of the house, and varnished the cabin as well as helped Mike with the septic tank. Unfortunately, the septic tank job helped John become extremely ill. I guess he became more ill than he has ever been in his life. We were sad for that. But during all of this, we were encouraged because three of our families who knew John from previous visits had all of us over to their house. Our people are really learning to be giving.
We found a therapist for Cristi only 40 minutes from our house!!!!!!!!!!! This is such an answer to prayer. The others were over 2 1/2 hours away only up to the center of the city.
Requests:
ALEJANDRO and OCTAVIO'S salvation.
Upcoming events:
- August 25---Ladies Bible Study
- September 1st--Fall festival---at our house. The whole church is coming and we are having them invite unsaved friends that they have been witnessing too. We are combining this with Carissa's big special birthday party. (We only have one big party per child and that's at 8 years old). Since it needs to be on a Saturday it just happens to be falling on Cherith's birthday.
- Janet and Vanessa our two sisters didn't come today. Neither did Memo and Karina and their two boys and baby girl.
About 10 minutes later, Mike went back out to see the river and the drain was almost full and was about 30 seconds from running over into our garage. The bad news is that our cistern is below our garage floor and the metal door to the top of the cistern is right in the garage. Any overflow into the garage would ruin all the water in the cistern and cause us to have to do a major cleaning of it. Mike prayed quickly and grabbed a broom stick and stuck it as far down as possible to try to get the water to go down. Praise the Lord it worked just at the last second when the water almost got to the garage floor level. The Lord is so good to us in little (BIG) ways like that. Below are a couple of pictures of the storm and it's aftermath. The pictures were taken when everything was abating.
We thank you for your continued prayers,
in Christ,
Faith for the Family
Sunday, August 5
Goldfuss update (August 5)
Thank you so much for praying for us this past week.
Our health was very very bad last week. Every one of the kids contacted the "mysterious" illness during the week with several being much worse than the others. Cristiana and Cherith really seemed to suffer the most, but even the baby had a couple of days of suffering. It was one of the worst health weeks we've ever had here in Mexico and we have had some pretty bad ones. Cristiana is still having a little bit of a problem and Cherith also. Please pray that Lord would allow the medicines to do the job so that we won't have to visit the doctor again anytime soon.
NoemÃ, the other lady with the land dispute, left on Saturday for Tijuana. We are not sure how long she will be gone. Things are not in the best of shape with her husband Mario here in Mexico City, so she is worried about her relationship with him. Mario needs to be saved. Pray for the Lord to work in Noemi during her stay in Tijuana.
Guille called on Saturday morning around 9 AM while we were getting ready for the wedding. She said that her husband Alejandro accused her and said he had proof that she was running around on him with another man. (The truth would most probably be closer to the opposite of the accusation.) Anyway, Guille was absolutely distraught. Alejandro is a man with a lot of bitterness in his past toward his family. Humanly speaking, he seems like a very difficult case, but we have seen God work in this family in the past in seemingly impossible situations. Guille wasn't able to make it to the wedding yesterday but she was in church this morning. That was a real blessing to see her. The message today was on the joy of our salvation and trials. It was very appropiate for many different folks in our church.
Marcos and Ruth's wedding yesterday (Saturday.) It was supposed to start at 1 PM. We started around 2:30 PM. :-) There were many many Roman Catholic people present (including Ruth's parents), and Marcos and Ruth both thought that the most important part of the wedding was the preaching of the gospel. That was a great blessing to hear them say that. In such a situation, it's easy for them to listen, but I am the one who has to preach. :-) We have found out over the years that it's not what we have in common with people that is important, but the differences. I mentioned that Jesus Christ is the exclusive way to Christ as per John 14:6. I mentioned that saints, the virgin, a human priest, good works, sacraments, neither their church nor my church, would give them peace with God and forgive their sins. I wasn't stoned or pelted with tomatoes.
Pray that our Heavenly Father would work in hearts and draw men and women and young people who heard the gospel yesterday to the Lord Jesus Christ. The service was very nice and the meal afterward was very good. There were probably between 200-250 people present. Pray for Marcos and Ruth and Jimena (Ruth's four-year-old daughter) to keep Christ first in their relationship.
We are privileged to have John, Jennifer and Jonathan until this coming Friday. Pray that the Lord will keep them healthy and that we will get much accomplished this week.
Thank you so much,
Mike
P.S. Here are a couple of pix of the wedding.
Our health was very very bad last week. Every one of the kids contacted the "mysterious" illness during the week with several being much worse than the others. Cristiana and Cherith really seemed to suffer the most, but even the baby had a couple of days of suffering. It was one of the worst health weeks we've ever had here in Mexico and we have had some pretty bad ones. Cristiana is still having a little bit of a problem and Cherith also. Please pray that Lord would allow the medicines to do the job so that we won't have to visit the doctor again anytime soon.
NoemÃ, the other lady with the land dispute, left on Saturday for Tijuana. We are not sure how long she will be gone. Things are not in the best of shape with her husband Mario here in Mexico City, so she is worried about her relationship with him. Mario needs to be saved. Pray for the Lord to work in Noemi during her stay in Tijuana.
Guille called on Saturday morning around 9 AM while we were getting ready for the wedding. She said that her husband Alejandro accused her and said he had proof that she was running around on him with another man. (The truth would most probably be closer to the opposite of the accusation.) Anyway, Guille was absolutely distraught. Alejandro is a man with a lot of bitterness in his past toward his family. Humanly speaking, he seems like a very difficult case, but we have seen God work in this family in the past in seemingly impossible situations. Guille wasn't able to make it to the wedding yesterday but she was in church this morning. That was a real blessing to see her. The message today was on the joy of our salvation and trials. It was very appropiate for many different folks in our church.
Marcos and Ruth's wedding yesterday (Saturday.) It was supposed to start at 1 PM. We started around 2:30 PM. :-) There were many many Roman Catholic people present (including Ruth's parents), and Marcos and Ruth both thought that the most important part of the wedding was the preaching of the gospel. That was a great blessing to hear them say that. In such a situation, it's easy for them to listen, but I am the one who has to preach. :-) We have found out over the years that it's not what we have in common with people that is important, but the differences. I mentioned that Jesus Christ is the exclusive way to Christ as per John 14:6. I mentioned that saints, the virgin, a human priest, good works, sacraments, neither their church nor my church, would give them peace with God and forgive their sins. I wasn't stoned or pelted with tomatoes.
Pray that our Heavenly Father would work in hearts and draw men and women and young people who heard the gospel yesterday to the Lord Jesus Christ. The service was very nice and the meal afterward was very good. There were probably between 200-250 people present. Pray for Marcos and Ruth and Jimena (Ruth's four-year-old daughter) to keep Christ first in their relationship.
We are privileged to have John, Jennifer and Jonathan until this coming Friday. Pray that the Lord will keep them healthy and that we will get much accomplished this week.
Thank you so much,
Mike
P.S. Here are a couple of pix of the wedding.
Thursday, August 2
Goldfuss update (August 2)
Dear Prayer Warriors,
So sorry that we are late in writing. Things have been very good, busy, and difficult. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Mr. Frank Davis from Bible Community and Ethan Regan (Mikey's friend) from Westerville Bible Church. We were sad to see them go on Tuesday. Mike's brother (Pastor John Goldfuss) came on Monday with his wife Jennifer and son Jonathan. So it has been a great time with visitors.
Prayer Requests
I know this is quick, but we all feel sick. Pray for the Lord to be glorified in all!
Faith
So sorry that we are late in writing. Things have been very good, busy, and difficult. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Mr. Frank Davis from Bible Community and Ethan Regan (Mikey's friend) from Westerville Bible Church. We were sad to see them go on Tuesday. Mike's brother (Pastor John Goldfuss) came on Monday with his wife Jennifer and son Jonathan. So it has been a great time with visitors.
Prayer Requests
- Please pray as our children have been extremely ill. I can't remember an illness this bad. One by one, each has gone through vomiting, high fever, then severe abdominal cramps (We had to first rush Matthew on Saturday and then Cristi on Monday evening to the doctor), then a fever again with a very bad sore throat and continued stomach pain. The baby has this now and it was so sad to see her in pain this morning. She seems to be doing better now. We just found out that the contamination is unusually high—so that is probably the cause. That is very very abnormal for our rainy season.
- Please pray for Marcos and Ruth's wedding this Saturday. They seem to be doing well and truly want God to be glorified in everything. There will be 300 guests—only 75 from our church—so the majority will be Catholic. They are praying that the Lord will use the service in people's lives. Pray for Mike as he does the service—this is only his second wedding and the first was 9 years ago, so this is an almost new experience again. Pray also for Ruth's family as they are staunch Catholic and are very unhappy that she is a Christian and that she is marrying a Christian young man. They mentioned not coming to the wedding and they did not come to her baptism last month. (Little Matthew is in the wedding).
- Noemi (that was falsely accused because she co-signed something for a friend) is planning on leaving Mexico City Saturday after the wedding to live in Tijuana. She will be taking Alexis, her 11 year old son, with her. We would have preferred her standing up to the situation and seeing the Lord work his perfect will, but this is the path that she has chosen. Pray for her to find a good church there. We will miss her.
I know this is quick, but we all feel sick. Pray for the Lord to be glorified in all!
Faith
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