Dear Praying Friends,
During the last 3 months, as a church we have been studying about spiritual warfare. We have seen our fight against our own flesh, the world and the devil. We have seen how our enemy has only hatred for us and his goal is to take us all to hell with him. How we praise God for the victory that was won for us through Christ and His cross and through union with Him.
Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church. We have seen some extremely strong attacks in the past week--a week of intensive and difficult ministry. As you know from our updates last week, Jorge and Cecilia, our couple from Peru, went through some legal problems here due to being hoodwinked on a car sale (he ended up buying a car that had been stolen.) The Lord rescued him from having to do any jail time (except overnight on Sunday night.) During that trial, some other issues came to light about another family in our assembly. They have been with our church for almost 10 years. When I went to see them this past Thursday, they informed me that they will no longer be attending our church. This has been a great blow to us in several ways--we had hoped that the young man would especially use the gifts that God has given him to be a leader in Christ's church here. It is our prayer that the Lord would work in this family and even if it would never be in our assembly, please pray that the Lord would make them faithful servants to the Lord Jesus Christ somewhere else for His glory. Please also pray that the young man would be "useful to Him in the ministry," as Paul was able to say years later about John Mark. Please also pray that extended family would not be influenced to leave.
As much as we hate to lose anyone from a small church, and especially someone who has been a leader, the spirit was very good in our services yesterday. People were very sad about the circumstances, but there seemed to be a renewed love for each other. We had our monthly class for married couples (and even a few that aren't even married attended.) All in all, 50 people came to our house for a potluck meal and then Memo lead the class (let me give a quick plug for the book, "When Sinners Say I Do" by Dave Harvey.) There was very very good participation and excellent ideas put forth to help us in our marriages to remember that Christ is the only one who can make our marriages glorify Him. Even after the class was over, it was thrilling to see so many who have had problems in the past between them, stick around and talk amongst themselves.
We were also truly encouraged by our children. Cristi and Carissa planned a very detailed tea party for all the little girls to have during our study time. The little girls loved it! Mikey and another teen from the church, Yoltic took care of the boys outside. Yoltic, though only 16 has also been a real encouragement with his desire to serve the Lord. He is now burning all of the CDs of the messages as Jon Crocker is no longer here to do that.
Please pray that the Lord would raise up from this group, men who will faithfully be able to lead His local church here. We have experienced a setback in our plans, but it is not a setback in God's plans. God is faithful.
Thank you for your prayers,
Mike for all the Goldfii
Monday, February 28
Tuesday, February 22
Goldfuss update (February 22)
Jorge spent Sunday night in jail. Yesterday Morgan took Cecilia and I downtown to the the precinct where he was being held--it's called "the Bunker" here. Cecilia was not able to get a hold of one lawyer lady. Another 2 lawyers looked like they had just graduated from the CJ school of law (That would be Cracker Jack.) When you look at and are in the middle of situations like this one, things appear so helpless and hopeless except that we have almight God watching out for His own. Humanly speaking, it really was absolutely hopeless.
Cecilia and I spent from about 9 AM til 9:30 PM there. Jorge had to give a statement (It lasted 2 1/2 hours) to the police. The cracker jack lawyers were supposed to be there to accompany him at 1:30. His statement started at 2:15. They showed up at 2:35. Then they wanted Ceci to pay them. I said, "Cecilia, give me all the money you have. I will have it and you will have no money to pay them. They should have showed up to do their work and they could have gotten paid." So Cecilia was Jorge's lawyer during his statement. ?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was about 15 feet from where they were this whole time. I tried observing all around the office to see who the important men were. I figured out who one was and after about 1 1/2 hours, was able to talk to him. I said, "I'm not a lawyer, but I'm here to plead for Jorge." I told him the whole story, but at the end, he didn't give much hope.
When Jorge still had about 1/2 hour to go in his testimony/statement, the school where he is studying his doctorate sent their own lawyer. HE WAS EXCELLENT, PROFESSIONAL, AND A BLESSING FROM OUR GOD. However, around 6:30 PM, he came by me and said under his breath, "He's in," meaning that Jorge was going to be committed to the prison. I just prayed and said, "Lord, Shadrac, Meshac and Abednego heard the same line--You are going into the furnace--and you saved them--of course, they did get in their for a very short time, but YOU are the only one who can help us in this situation." For another three hours the lawyer talked to the head of everything and finally came over about 9:30 and said, "He's going to be set free." After a few papers were signed, Cecilia and I walked out with Jorge. They took all of his belongings the night before--shoe strings, socks, and everything else. It appears many people have committed suicide in the past when they get put in jail. So the owner of the school, her husband, Jorge and Cecilia, another lawyer's assitant and I all piled into this little tiny car for the ride home. Even at 9:30 traffic was tremendous and I got out feeling very pretzelly. We had really not eaten anything all day, so Jorge, Cecilia and I all enjoyed a supper of tacos. It was an exhausting day, but thank you SO MUCH for approaching the throne of grace with us through Christ for Jorge and Cecilia. They were so thrilled last night--as was I and they asked us to thank all of you who have prayed.
We live in a wicked world. Praise the Lord that He is sovereign and in control and that His children can trust in Him no matter what. Please pray for all the tracts that we were able to give out yesterday, that the Lord would continue to call out for Himself, more people from this wicked world, to the kingdom of His dear Son. Father, hallowed, exalted, sanctified, glorified, lifted up be your name today and forever.
In Christ,
mike for all the goldfii
Cecilia and I spent from about 9 AM til 9:30 PM there. Jorge had to give a statement (It lasted 2 1/2 hours) to the police. The cracker jack lawyers were supposed to be there to accompany him at 1:30. His statement started at 2:15. They showed up at 2:35. Then they wanted Ceci to pay them. I said, "Cecilia, give me all the money you have. I will have it and you will have no money to pay them. They should have showed up to do their work and they could have gotten paid." So Cecilia was Jorge's lawyer during his statement. ?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was about 15 feet from where they were this whole time. I tried observing all around the office to see who the important men were. I figured out who one was and after about 1 1/2 hours, was able to talk to him. I said, "I'm not a lawyer, but I'm here to plead for Jorge." I told him the whole story, but at the end, he didn't give much hope.
When Jorge still had about 1/2 hour to go in his testimony/statement, the school where he is studying his doctorate sent their own lawyer. HE WAS EXCELLENT, PROFESSIONAL, AND A BLESSING FROM OUR GOD. However, around 6:30 PM, he came by me and said under his breath, "He's in," meaning that Jorge was going to be committed to the prison. I just prayed and said, "Lord, Shadrac, Meshac and Abednego heard the same line--You are going into the furnace--and you saved them--of course, they did get in their for a very short time, but YOU are the only one who can help us in this situation." For another three hours the lawyer talked to the head of everything and finally came over about 9:30 and said, "He's going to be set free." After a few papers were signed, Cecilia and I walked out with Jorge. They took all of his belongings the night before--shoe strings, socks, and everything else. It appears many people have committed suicide in the past when they get put in jail. So the owner of the school, her husband, Jorge and Cecilia, another lawyer's assitant and I all piled into this little tiny car for the ride home. Even at 9:30 traffic was tremendous and I got out feeling very pretzelly. We had really not eaten anything all day, so Jorge, Cecilia and I all enjoyed a supper of tacos. It was an exhausting day, but thank you SO MUCH for approaching the throne of grace with us through Christ for Jorge and Cecilia. They were so thrilled last night--as was I and they asked us to thank all of you who have prayed.
We live in a wicked world. Praise the Lord that He is sovereign and in control and that His children can trust in Him no matter what. Please pray for all the tracts that we were able to give out yesterday, that the Lord would continue to call out for Himself, more people from this wicked world, to the kingdom of His dear Son. Father, hallowed, exalted, sanctified, glorified, lifted up be your name today and forever.
In Christ,
mike for all the goldfii
Urgent Goldfuss update (February 20)
Dear Praying Friends,
We are asking you to pray for the young couple from Peru (Jorge and Cecilia) that lost the two babies. This time last week, Cecilia's body was not responding to any of the antibiotics. She was literally at the point of having the infection throughout her whole body. Our church pleaded with the Lord for her on Wednesday night that He would be glorified in her, and we asked specifically for Him to heal her. The Lord healed her. Today in church Jorge gave an excellent testimony of what they have been through and how surprised the doctors were at Cecilia's clean bill of health. They were totally praising the Lord.
Right after church, someone had an appointment at their home to buy a car that they had recently bought over the internet here in Mexico City. They had bought a minivan recently when Ceci's family came to visit and wanted to trade that for a smaller car, which they did about a month ago. They had had a lot of problems with their newer car and finally seemed to have gotten them fixed. So they decided to sell it. What they did not know was that the car was stolen and sold to them. The original owner saw it announced over the internet and came to test it today at Jorge's house. It was a sting operation and they were both taken to jail this evening. It's a long story but the end result is that the authorities said that all could be done with if Ceci would just make up a bill of sale that they were lacking and sign it. Ceci said that she would not lie--therefore it appears that her husband may face some substantial jail time, unless our Lord intervenes dramatically. They have done nothing wrong, except for mistakenly not getting a bill of sale. Even the owner who organized the sting today recognizes that they are not the ones who stole the car from him. But here, you are presumed guilty until proven innocent. This couple has really been through the wringer the last few months. Please pray that the Lord would honor Jorge and Cecilia as they have sought to honor Him. The God who rescued Shadrac, Meshac and Abednego from the law of King Nebuchadnezzar is the same God of Jorge and Cecilia. Please pray that the Lord would honor and exalt His name in this. Please pray for the Lord's protection of Jorge in jail. Please pray that the Lord would intervene and allow Jorge to get out tomorrow. We covet and need your prayers desperately,
In Christ,
mike for all the goldfii
We are asking you to pray for the young couple from Peru (Jorge and Cecilia) that lost the two babies. This time last week, Cecilia's body was not responding to any of the antibiotics. She was literally at the point of having the infection throughout her whole body. Our church pleaded with the Lord for her on Wednesday night that He would be glorified in her, and we asked specifically for Him to heal her. The Lord healed her. Today in church Jorge gave an excellent testimony of what they have been through and how surprised the doctors were at Cecilia's clean bill of health. They were totally praising the Lord.
Right after church, someone had an appointment at their home to buy a car that they had recently bought over the internet here in Mexico City. They had bought a minivan recently when Ceci's family came to visit and wanted to trade that for a smaller car, which they did about a month ago. They had had a lot of problems with their newer car and finally seemed to have gotten them fixed. So they decided to sell it. What they did not know was that the car was stolen and sold to them. The original owner saw it announced over the internet and came to test it today at Jorge's house. It was a sting operation and they were both taken to jail this evening. It's a long story but the end result is that the authorities said that all could be done with if Ceci would just make up a bill of sale that they were lacking and sign it. Ceci said that she would not lie--therefore it appears that her husband may face some substantial jail time, unless our Lord intervenes dramatically. They have done nothing wrong, except for mistakenly not getting a bill of sale. Even the owner who organized the sting today recognizes that they are not the ones who stole the car from him. But here, you are presumed guilty until proven innocent. This couple has really been through the wringer the last few months. Please pray that the Lord would honor Jorge and Cecilia as they have sought to honor Him. The God who rescued Shadrac, Meshac and Abednego from the law of King Nebuchadnezzar is the same God of Jorge and Cecilia. Please pray that the Lord would honor and exalt His name in this. Please pray for the Lord's protection of Jorge in jail. Please pray that the Lord would intervene and allow Jorge to get out tomorrow. We covet and need your prayers desperately,
In Christ,
mike for all the goldfii
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