Dear Praying Friends,
It's been a while since we've written.
I was in Ohio preaching at the Jr. 2 camp week at Peniel Bible Camp. I was able to preach on 5 doctrinal words from Romans 3--sin, the righteousness of God, justification, redemption and propitiation. It was fun to try to put all that on the Jr. 2 level, (with practical illustrations). All were very attentive and seemed to keep right up. I pray that these truths will sink deep into their hearts. I was away from our church here for two Sundays. Jon taught SS and Morgan preached the first Sunday. Last Sunday they reversed the roles. We heard very good comments for both Sundays. That is such a blessing that I can be away without worry. Praise the Lord. That would not have happened just a short time ago. Morgan has been doing a great job this month on Wednesday nights. Jon preached in June on the Psalms and it was a great blessing to all who were there to hear him.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Faith and the whole church were organizing VBS. The cooperation this year has been absolutely phenomenal. Everybody has contributed and even asked what more that they could do. Therefore, the load on Faith and the others who normally prepare has been greatly lessened. That is a tremendous blessing and another step forward for our church. We thanked them profusely this morning. Just because all the physical things are ready does not mean everything is ready. We need your prayers. The theme is: A Mighty Fortress is Our God. It is about fortresses, castles and such. There will also be an acted out part of Pilgrim's Progress daily. We will have our VBS from Mon-Thurs this week. Please pray for the Lord to work in hearts.
We have had a good number of returning visitors in the past 2 months--Marbella and 4 children; Leticia and daughter, Maria Elena and her family, her sister Lourdes, and their mother, Lala. They come from a very different ministry but are eating up the preaching. Maria Elena's family is more upper class, but the people in church have been welcoming to them and the feeling seems to be mutual. That is such a blessing to see--that in Christ there is neither rich nor poor. Please pray for the Lord to continue to work.
Today, for the first time since Easter, Martha came. Praise the Lord. Many of you have prayed often for her. There are still some definite needs in her life with an unsaved abusive husband (she doesn't live at home,) problems at work, and a man who is after her romantically. She is very drawn to him. Please pray that she will be drawn more to Christ.
Miguel and Alondra came today with their little boy Cristofer again. They are the couple that lives very far away but come anyway when they can. They told us today that Elsa, (sister) is very depressed. Pray that we will soon have a chance to speak with her. Pray for them also to be saved.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated and needed. There is much spiritual warfare. Thank you for all you do for us.
In Christ,
Mike for all the goldfii
Sunday, July 26
Monday, July 6
Goldfuss update (July 9)
Dear praying friends,
Thank you for praying! We had the team here June 13-22nd. It was a nice time and because of all of their efforts, we had 10 visitors. Lately, things have been busy with four new families coming regularly. So that is a big praise.
Please pray for:
Yet, one of our faithful faithful families is moving farther away---Juana and her sister Reme. They will still be able to come on Sundays, but not on Wednesdays because of the increased distance. That means that Wednesday nights will be rather sparse in attendance even though Sundays are full. Many work from very early (7) until 8 or 9 and make it to church there late or not at all. This is so different from just a few months ago when we had almost as many people at prayer meeting as Sunday morning.
Even though the dynamics change, it is comforting to know that our Lord never changes.
Two people have promised to come to church, but haven't yet: 1. Aide, the girls' gymnastics coach. Her grandma is very ill and has asked all to pray. 2. The people at the fruit stand.
We had a 3 hour talk with Erasmo and Matilde about Abigail, their daughter who has left home again. We left after a good conversation. They had been trying everything to get her to come back. They now really seem to see--that even though the situation is very dangerous for Abby, they need to take their hands off and allow the Lord to deal with her. This is a very hard and heart-breaking situation. Praise for the Lord's upholding grace in their lives and that Abby would be saved and not continue to try to manipulate them and make Matilde feel guilty. We were also able to talk separately with Mildred, their daughter- in- law, about her salvation. Uriel, their son, was unsure about taking the Lord's supper. So it was a really profitable visit. Praise the Lord!
Carissa, 9, left last week to go to Camp Peniel--by herself. We just talked with her this morning and she is very excited. Please pray for the Lord's working in her life through the messages.
We are getting Mikey, Cristi, and MIKE(!) ready to go this week. Mike will be preaching at Junior 2 and appreciates your prayers for eternal changes in the lives of the campers. Cristi will be attending with him that week. Mikey will be going to Teen I the following week.
When the cat is away, the mice will play!!! I (Faith) have fun things planned for the three little ones while the older ones are away. It should be a really special time with them.
The church is preparing for VBS upcoming--July 27th-30th. I need wisdom in organizing that.
Mike has been preparing for his absence for the last 2 weeks. Morgan will be preaching the first week with Jon Crocker the next. Morgan is also preaching on Wednesday nights and Jon will be leading the VBS. Please pray for these men! We are very happy to have Jon and Andrea working with us, and of course, we are always thankful for Morgan. :)
Mike has an opportunity to give some English classes to a group of 5 or 6 men and women. Please pray for the Lord to really use that as an open door for the gospel.
We have had two people who came to us asking how to go about getting some problems right with others that they had offended. What a blessing. They went and talked and the Lord has really blessed.
We do truly depend upon your prayers! Thank you!
In Christ,
Faith for the Family
Thank you for praying! We had the team here June 13-22nd. It was a nice time and because of all of their efforts, we had 10 visitors. Lately, things have been busy with four new families coming regularly. So that is a big praise.
Please pray for:
- Alejandro and Maria Elena--they have been coming and are bringing some relatives. Maria Elena's sister, Lourdes, stated that she would make this her home church and came back yesterday. This family is a result of our prayer as a church to bring us people from churches that have bad doctrine. We met this family through Mikey's basketball. He and the son Hugo are good friends.
- Susana and Mauricio--have been coming since a week before the team came. Their church disbanded several months ago and Susana is concerned about her husband's desire for God since then. They have also brought many family members--brothers and sisters with their children and their parents, but Suzanna and Mauricio remain the ones that have come the last three weeks faithfully.
- Leticia and her daughter, Avat, also have come since the team. Her husband is an alcoholic and they need much prayer. We do not believe that they are true believers.
- Marbella and her four children are unbelievable. She gets all of these children ready and sneaks out to come to church. The problem is not her husband, who allows her to come, but her mother- in- law. They live under her roof and do not pay rent so the mother-in-law insists that she stays away from Christians. She sometimes arrives a little late and has to leave early to get back before the mother-in-law does. Her prayer request is that they can find a place of their own so the mother- in-law has no influence over their family. We cannot go and visit her because of her situation. Please pray for this family. The children are unusually attentive and very happy to be there.
Yet, one of our faithful faithful families is moving farther away---Juana and her sister Reme. They will still be able to come on Sundays, but not on Wednesdays because of the increased distance. That means that Wednesday nights will be rather sparse in attendance even though Sundays are full. Many work from very early (7) until 8 or 9 and make it to church there late or not at all. This is so different from just a few months ago when we had almost as many people at prayer meeting as Sunday morning.
Even though the dynamics change, it is comforting to know that our Lord never changes.
Two people have promised to come to church, but haven't yet: 1. Aide, the girls' gymnastics coach. Her grandma is very ill and has asked all to pray. 2. The people at the fruit stand.
We had a 3 hour talk with Erasmo and Matilde about Abigail, their daughter who has left home again. We left after a good conversation. They had been trying everything to get her to come back. They now really seem to see--that even though the situation is very dangerous for Abby, they need to take their hands off and allow the Lord to deal with her. This is a very hard and heart-breaking situation. Praise for the Lord's upholding grace in their lives and that Abby would be saved and not continue to try to manipulate them and make Matilde feel guilty. We were also able to talk separately with Mildred, their daughter- in- law, about her salvation. Uriel, their son, was unsure about taking the Lord's supper. So it was a really profitable visit. Praise the Lord!
Carissa, 9, left last week to go to Camp Peniel--by herself. We just talked with her this morning and she is very excited. Please pray for the Lord's working in her life through the messages.
We are getting Mikey, Cristi, and MIKE(!) ready to go this week. Mike will be preaching at Junior 2 and appreciates your prayers for eternal changes in the lives of the campers. Cristi will be attending with him that week. Mikey will be going to Teen I the following week.
When the cat is away, the mice will play!!! I (Faith) have fun things planned for the three little ones while the older ones are away. It should be a really special time with them.
The church is preparing for VBS upcoming--July 27th-30th. I need wisdom in organizing that.
Mike has been preparing for his absence for the last 2 weeks. Morgan will be preaching the first week with Jon Crocker the next. Morgan is also preaching on Wednesday nights and Jon will be leading the VBS. Please pray for these men! We are very happy to have Jon and Andrea working with us, and of course, we are always thankful for Morgan. :)
Mike has an opportunity to give some English classes to a group of 5 or 6 men and women. Please pray for the Lord to really use that as an open door for the gospel.
We have had two people who came to us asking how to go about getting some problems right with others that they had offended. What a blessing. They went and talked and the Lord has really blessed.
We do truly depend upon your prayers! Thank you!
In Christ,
Faith for the Family
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