To be very honest, this has been a difficult week. We got a horrible cold front which would have been no problem except that we kept losing electricity--once for 24 hours and once for 12 hours. This would not have been a problem either because we have our wonderful wood stove, but we have had a problem with the gasket not fitting right and smoke has been escaping into the house. So as of right now, no wood stove usage. It was so cold that we could see our breath. Everyone in the whole family was very sick and it just seemed like we were not able to get much accomplished. But before you all feel bad for us, we realized that this was very good for one and all. We are so used to ease and comfort and that may not be in any of our futures. We were able to help the children use their heads and make the best of everything and just keep going. The Lord allowed us to do school even without the electricity. We just wore tons of clothes, wrapped up in blankets and did our best. The Lord has given us much to be thankful for.
On the worst day, when it seemed like we were just barely maintaining instead of "accomplishing something for Christ", the Lord in his incredible love sent us 2 letters that were extremely encouraging. (The electricity came on for 10 minutes and we got them via e-mail). One was an extremely encouraging letter from a church that supports us. Another was a letter from a young man who we were able to lead to the Lord when we were in language school almost 13 years ago. His name was Rene. We lived on a ranch, and he was the nephew of the owners of the ranch. Faith and I have wondered about Rene for years---really hoping that his conversion was real. He wrote and said that he had asked his uncle about us and finally found our web site. He now is 28, married, has 3 children, and works for the border patrol. This is what his letter said, "I'll start first by giving all praise, honor, and glory and thanks to our heavenly Father for sending his Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, making it possible for us to go to heaven, when we deserve hell....I want to thank the Lord for using you to witness to me and 'sow the seed' in my younger years. I truly to this day believe that the Lord used you to change my life today. I use you and Faith as part of my testimony that God was calling me to Him at a very young age. It was me who wasn't listening to his voice. Some of my hobbies now are basically spending time with God..." We were thrilled to see that he is a godly father--leading his family in the Lord! AND actively witnessing to all around him. But we then again were overwhelmed.....Why would the God of the universe take the time to move this young man to write to us (truly nothing people) at a time when we really needed encouragement? It was a wonderful reminder that God is the One who does the work. We are just privileged to be the means to somehow get that truth to His people. We are merely the tools---and broken tools at that. It was an encouragement to just keep plugging along, loving the Lord, teaching that to our children, and allowing little difficulties to work their purposes in our lives.
On Sunday (yesterday), I was very sick and didn't feel at all well during the SS and preaching services. I thought that the delivery wasn't very good; but then again, it isn't about me. The people trickled in...many are also sick. All were wondering if we would ever again see the sun---AND the Lord blessed us with that on His Day.
Good news:
- Marcos and Ruth had their little baby--Joana (after Juana--the new grandma). She is beautiful and we went to see them yesterday after church to pray and rejoice with them.
- Teresa mentioned that her grandson Jonathan--who left after coming to church 3 weeks ago--is still not home. The Lord is using this situation greatly in the life of Teresa's daughter Vanessa. We have known her for years, but she has never wanted to bow the knee to the Lord. She told her mother--- in front of her very critical sister that the Lord has shown her her horrible sin--and that she has repented of her sin and asked Him to forgive her and be her Savior! We were thrilled. These are not just words because Vanessa is NOT the type of person that would just say something like that. Pray for her that she would come to our church or find a good church closer to her as she lives 2 hours away (still in the south of the city).
- Janet came after 3 months of not coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Janet had been dating an unsaved man for 3 months. She is still is struggling spiritually, but it was wonderful to see her with her sister Vanessa (another Vanessa). All of the church people hugged her and welcomed her with open arms!
- The owner of the church is now offering to rent us the other side for $200 more per month. (Thankfully his daughter's belly dancing business has gone belly-up!) Yet, the men need to meet to pray and decide whether we should take this next step. This would give us three extra rooms for more classes, another bathroom (really necessary), and another room for a stove and kitchen like area. Our total would be $500 per month. Pray with us for wisdom and the Lord's perfect will. We are not sure whether to keep renting there at all as some of the people who live there are being very mean to our people as they enter church. The wonderful thing is that it does not bother our people. The people who live there are normally kind to us gringos, but to their own, they treat them rudely.
- Normally, I make a yearly trip for supplies as some things are half price at the border. I usually do this in November, but may need to do it sooner as we decide about a generator or not. We want the Lord's perfect will on this matter--and don't want to purchase it if it is not really necessary.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfii
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