This past week has brought some new and different challenges. One dear friend who prays for us, used the word "crisis". She said that we do not realize because we are right in the middle, but it seems like many of our families are struggling with very difficult things.
- Please pray for the Lopez Family--Erasmo, Matilde, Abby, Vania and Usi. This past week Abby left home with a girlfriend. Fortunately the Lord allowed her parents to find her, and she is back home again. I was able to spend two nights last week talking to them and trying to get to the bottom of the problems. Please pray for each one in the family to do what is right before the Lord. For Erasmo to lead, for Matilde to submit to her husband and be an example for her daughters, and for Abby and the other two girls to submit to, honor and obey their parents. There are some definite salvation needs in that family also.
- Martha fell this past week in her nursing job at the children's hospital. She has a neck and back injury. As a result of being on sick leave this past week, she was able to come to church yesterday for BOTH services--although in a great deal of pain and in a neck brace. She almost always has to leave before our second service and so rarely gets to sing. She loved being there to sing. Pray for her recovery as the Lord allows and for her continued growth in grace.
- Analilia has left Jesus. She has taken all 5 of the children and gone to Alcapulco where her family is. Please pray as we minister to Jesus and seek to try to reunite this family. Their main need is salvation.
- There is some continued frustration with financial problems in a good number of people in the church. Many have taken on debts that have chained them down so that they can't do what they need to do to provide for their families. Please pray that the Lord would give us wisdom and patience and that the people would have the determination to seek to pay off their debts in order to owe no man anything. It is wonderful to see these same people growing in other spiritual areas of their lives, but it is devastating to see them not having a problem with spending money for birthday parties etc. when loved ones are ill and need medical attention.
- We had a surprise: 5 guests arrived on Saturday evening. In the group were a couple from Singapore, a man from Columbia, and two men from Michoacan, Mexico. The Singaporean man is a retired teacher from BJ. He is helping with a church in Greenville. The man from Columbia also attends the church. They were all visiting the Mexican men. Apparently, one of the men was saved in Greenville and they were visiting to encourage him in the Lord. Since there is no good church where this man is, all came to the morning service to ask our church if we would go and start a mission work there about three hours away outside of the city. Please pray for this wonderful opportunity. Mike brought it to our church's attention and the men are going to pray. This would be wonderful for Mike to be able to take the men individually and train them to minister. Please pray for this along with the: men's meeting on Friday night and men's work meeting at the church 8AM Saturday morning. (They will be putting divisions in the other side of the church to create different classrooms).
- On a lighter note, we are very thankful that we found the problem with our wood stove. The creosote and buildup in the chimney had fallen down by itself during the last 9 months and filled up the head of the chimney with about 6 solid inches of soot. That was making it impossible for the air to get by and so the fire would put itself out. We got that fixed and cleaned out last week and it is working like a new stove. That's a blessing as we have had some pretty cold nights and mornings---but for the most part here in the house we have been toasty and warm.
- There is a possibility of several different people coming to help short term in the next year or two. Please pray for the Lord to open and close doors as He sees fit. Pray for us to have wisdom from the Lord as we seek to help place them in areas of service based on their gifts and interests.
- Melissa only has 5 weeks left with us. All are studying like mad to make good use of our time with her. We hate to even think of her leaving, but are thankful for all of the help she has given in both homeschooling and piano lessons for the church.
- Last night Gabriel went to talk to Morgan for about 4 hours. From that conversation, it is very obvious that he is trusting in his works for salvation and could possibly cause a good deal of trouble in the church. We ask that you would first of all pray for him to be saved and to truly understand God's grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. If that is not going to happen, we ask that you would pray for the men who have a good grasp of doctrine to understand and to be able to encourage him and refute his false ideas. Gabriel's wife Liliana and their three boys, Yoltic, Yolat and Yolotzin are all a blessing to have in our church. Please pray for the Lord to work in His perfect way in this situation.
We depend on your prayers!
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfii
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