Christmas time has been a whirlwind of activities, but praise the Lord---we have been able to use the extra time (without school) to spend time with our children meditating on the TRUE meaning of Christmas. We also have been able to just BE with the children--which in the normal year is very hard to do---with ministry.
Praises:
- Some people are really responding to recent messages and taking their personal walk with the Lord more seriously. This is what it is all about.
- After the Christmas Eve service, half of the church went to Christmas carol at Sra Gloria and Maria's. They had been sad all day because due to illness, they were not able to attend our service. We stayed a short time, but believe that we were a real encouragement. Sra. Gloria said that she cried all day because it was her birthday and she was not able to attend church. Then we came, and she cried for joy--not because of our singing. :-) The best part was that the church people saw how important it is to the people when we take the time to encourage those who are going through difficult times.
- We told the kids to be really rambunctious in our yard--in the hopes that the would be robbers would not even attempt anything to our house. We have a fence around the property and the kids obeyed perfectly. With all of the noise in the yard, the robbers must have thought that 50 people live here. We praise the Lord that we have had no problems.
- The Lord allowed us to pay the entire rent for the 2009 year for the church---This includes the (new to us) other side of the floor that we are on. Now we are concentrating on finishing those Sunday school rooms to be put to good use.
- Marta is in very serious condition in the hospital again with very low platelets. Morgan and Mike visited her for 2 hours yesterday. You would not believe the conditions that Mike saw at that hospital. Socialized medicine is not a great idea. She has been very discouraged with her health (this is the second time in a month that she is back in the hospital. Last year at this same time she was hospitalized for the same thing also. She also has tremendous problems with her unsaved husband who has a mistress, financial problems and other difficulties.) I had an excellent time with her being able to read Psalm 86 and really encourage her in her dependence on Christ. Pray for her strength, encouragement and faith to be strengthened. She did mention that she thinks that she very well may die (She is only 35 years old.) Please pray for Marta.
- We are having over 30 people from church for a service tonight for New Year's Eve. Pray for the testimony service and that God would be glorified. After the service, we are going to have a big New Year's Eve supper.
- We would like to see complete dedication to the Lord in 4 families that struggle to put Him first in their lives--salvation may very well be the root problem. Please pray for the Lord to open their eyes to their true need of Christ.
- Pray as we are trying to meet with each family and each person to see what their spiritual goals are for the New Year. Pray that this would not be seen as "in your face"---but know that even though we are getting really personal, it is because we truly love them---and want the Lord to be exalted through their lives. The time is short, and we need to redeem it.
Happy New Year.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfii
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