Dear Prayer partners,
Thank you for praying for us. Last week was very eventful with the
difficult situation that we mentioned in our last letter. On Sunday the
23rd, repentance was made at church. Most felt that it was truly
genuine. Then we had one of our biggest crowds. Praise the Lord, there
was between 80 to 85! The children of the church acted out Luke 2, and
then we had a Christmas meal together. Many relatives were there. Pray
for the Word to continue working in people's hearts.
Sadly, there was another situation this week regarding the same
difficult situation. It has really been a daily drama. Please pray for
us and for the people involved. We are truly in a spiritual war.
Please pray especially for energy, clarity of mind, and wisdom both for
the services tomorrow and for the situation.
We felt that we needed prayer before tomorrow.
Thank you,
Mike and Faith
Saturday, December 29
Friday, December 21
Goldfuss update
Thank you everyone for keeping us in your prayers.
We have had a very difficult situation for the past two weeks in our
church. Please pray for the Lord to grant true repentance in the lives
of two people. It has been exhausting as we've gotten to bed two
different nights at 4:30 AM and another night about 2 AM. The sin has
been confronted and confession has been made. Please pray for true
repentance.
It's been hectic trying to get school finished up here these last two
weeks with so much going on. Pray for grace, strength and patience for
all of us.
Thank you so much for praying for Faith's mom. She has been doing much
better now that the thyroid surgery has been done. It does appear that
in moving her after the surgery that they hurt her back. That has been
very painful in the meantime but some therapy has been helping that.
Just this morning, Matthew and Cheri were out on the trampoline and
Cheri slipped and hit her head on the little half-wall next to the
trampoline. She was bleeding pretty badly. We took her to a doctor's
up here in our pueblo but she was not equipped to do the double-layer
suturing necessary. So Faith took her down to our good hospital about
40 minutes from here. They are on the way home right now with Cheri all
stitched up. Pray for her not to have any complications from that if
the Lord wills.
Pray for our services this Sunday. There are a number of people who are
visiting Lord willing. Several in our own assembly are concerned and
praying for the Lord to give us revival. May He be pleased to make us
joyful in Him and His Work for us.
Merry Christmas to all,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfii
We have had a very difficult situation for the past two weeks in our
church. Please pray for the Lord to grant true repentance in the lives
of two people. It has been exhausting as we've gotten to bed two
different nights at 4:30 AM and another night about 2 AM. The sin has
been confronted and confession has been made. Please pray for true
repentance.
It's been hectic trying to get school finished up here these last two
weeks with so much going on. Pray for grace, strength and patience for
all of us.
Thank you so much for praying for Faith's mom. She has been doing much
better now that the thyroid surgery has been done. It does appear that
in moving her after the surgery that they hurt her back. That has been
very painful in the meantime but some therapy has been helping that.
Just this morning, Matthew and Cheri were out on the trampoline and
Cheri slipped and hit her head on the little half-wall next to the
trampoline. She was bleeding pretty badly. We took her to a doctor's
up here in our pueblo but she was not equipped to do the double-layer
suturing necessary. So Faith took her down to our good hospital about
40 minutes from here. They are on the way home right now with Cheri all
stitched up. Pray for her not to have any complications from that if
the Lord wills.
Pray for our services this Sunday. There are a number of people who are
visiting Lord willing. Several in our own assembly are concerned and
praying for the Lord to give us revival. May He be pleased to make us
joyful in Him and His Work for us.
Merry Christmas to all,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfii
Thursday, November 22
Goldfuss update
Dear Prayer Partners,
Many of you have been praying for Juana and the biopsy that she was to have.
Our big, wonderful praise was announced to the congregation in the following way.
Juana said, "I have news that was happy for my family and may be happy for you. However,
it is not happy for me as I was ready to see my Savior face to face. The doctors have
found that I do NOT have cancer." She then went on to thank us for all of the prayers,
love, and support shown to her by the entire church family.
This truly has been a soul searching and sobering time. It was very difficult,
but also very good for our church family to consider losing from our presence such a sweet,
godly lady. Mike preached 3 messages on death during this time.
Please continue to pray for one family whose employer owes him a considerable amount of money
from sales that he has made but refuses to pay him. This has been a very discouraging time
for that family. Several church families have reached out to help them which embarrasses them.
They have not come 3 out of the last 4 weeks. This has been discouraging to many as this family
is a big part of our church.
Also pray for 2 ladies, friends of Juana's, that are considering leaving their church that no
longer has the Gospel and is extremely focused on money.
Mike and Cristi went to the border for our car papers. There were no police stops, and no
problems other than the van did not pass the inspection in the United States 3 x. That was
tiring as they had to keep fixing things, but the Lord gave safety, and we were all thankful
to get them home again.
Faith tried to hold the fort down while Mike was away. The week was difficult without a car.
Then someone cut the electric wires (because they steal the copper in the wires). On Thursday
morning at 3:22AM, there was an earthquake that was rather strong--6.2. She knew she was
extremely tired when she thought about getting everyone out of the house, but then decided
to go back to bed. She said she thought, "We are here Lord. I am ready to go home."
I believe the Lord is working in our hearts through difficulties, but both Faith and I have
had what seems like a touch of the flu. It just kind of leaves you drained. Please pray
for the energy to continue.
On this Thanksgiving, I must say that we are extremely thankful to each and every one of
you that has a part in the Lord's work here. We love you and thank you from the bottom
of our hearts.
With Love,
Mike, Faith, Mikey, Cristi, Carissa, Matthew, Cheri, and Caralyn
Many of you have been praying for Juana and the biopsy that she was to have.
Our big, wonderful praise was announced to the congregation in the following way.
Juana said, "I have news that was happy for my family and may be happy for you. However,
it is not happy for me as I was ready to see my Savior face to face. The doctors have
found that I do NOT have cancer." She then went on to thank us for all of the prayers,
love, and support shown to her by the entire church family.
This truly has been a soul searching and sobering time. It was very difficult,
but also very good for our church family to consider losing from our presence such a sweet,
godly lady. Mike preached 3 messages on death during this time.
Please continue to pray for one family whose employer owes him a considerable amount of money
from sales that he has made but refuses to pay him. This has been a very discouraging time
for that family. Several church families have reached out to help them which embarrasses them.
They have not come 3 out of the last 4 weeks. This has been discouraging to many as this family
is a big part of our church.
Also pray for 2 ladies, friends of Juana's, that are considering leaving their church that no
longer has the Gospel and is extremely focused on money.
Mike and Cristi went to the border for our car papers. There were no police stops, and no
problems other than the van did not pass the inspection in the United States 3 x. That was
tiring as they had to keep fixing things, but the Lord gave safety, and we were all thankful
to get them home again.
Faith tried to hold the fort down while Mike was away. The week was difficult without a car.
Then someone cut the electric wires (because they steal the copper in the wires). On Thursday
morning at 3:22AM, there was an earthquake that was rather strong--6.2. She knew she was
extremely tired when she thought about getting everyone out of the house, but then decided
to go back to bed. She said she thought, "We are here Lord. I am ready to go home."
I believe the Lord is working in our hearts through difficulties, but both Faith and I have
had what seems like a touch of the flu. It just kind of leaves you drained. Please pray
for the energy to continue.
On this Thanksgiving, I must say that we are extremely thankful to each and every one of
you that has a part in the Lord's work here. We love you and thank you from the bottom
of our hearts.
With Love,
Mike, Faith, Mikey, Cristi, Carissa, Matthew, Cheri, and Caralyn
Monday, October 29
Goldfuss update
Dear Prayer Partners,
Praises:
Last Sunday was such a big blessing even though it was very unusual, and we were not sure exactly what the Lord was doing.
It started with Mike being invited to speak again to over 200 people in an AA meeting. Again we were surprised because he always shares the gospel very clearly,
and it is exactly opposite of what they are teaching. He states that what they are teaching there will not help, but only the Lord can break the chains that bind.
BUT, they keep inviting him back!!! Mike is just thankful for the opportunity.
One man volunteered to preach for our normal services in place of Mike because Mike would need to leave before church was over. Mike was able to work with
him two different times during the week, and he was ready---until Saturday, . . . when he called Nico. He felt unworthy to preach because of some anger issues
he was dealing with after his boss refused to pay him. (Unfortunately we have seen this kind of thing before.) Because work is hard to find, people are afraid to
leave to leave a job. Sometimes people don't even have enough money to get to work---and life becomes very difficult.) Nico explained to him that we all are
sinners and struggle; and that the only way anyone can stand up to preach is knowing that we are sinners covered with the grace of our Lord. But alas, the young
man really didn't even have enough money to come to church because he lives farther away. SO, Nico, who had been studying four different topics, became the next candidate.
He was nervous, but said that he would do it.
Mike preached Sunday school and then left for the preaching at the anniversary of the AA. I cannot explain to you how wonderful it was to watch everything take
place without our intervention. The Lord, who was arranging everything, allowed a man to come who had not been there for 3 years! He had left his wife and family
for another woman---- and , of course, there has been a lot of pain and suffering that we have tried to help the wife and children through. The wife, however, even
stopped coming for the last 6 months. So here they were, and he was embarrassed to enter the church. We all welcomed him into the church stating that none
of us is without sin, and we all needed to be here because of that. The wife came with him, and she was having a hard time because she wants to forgive him
with the Lord's help, but her own heart is harboring bitterness. Praise the Lord they stayed.
Nico's message was very direct about "lovers of self." It was very good and very needed for everyone. The couple even stayed for lunch and the married class.
I know that the men were in charge while we were gone this summer, but it was truly amazing for me, Faith, to see all the men working together for myself.
One led the service. Another preached. Another man took charge of the meal. While yet another led the marriage class. Two of these mentioned above
counted the offering and took care of the books. The marriage class was a blessing. We have one older couple that is growing In the Lord, but they are still
"going at it" a little bit during the class. The leader of the class lovingly spoke to them from the Bible. Two other men (one not mentioned yet) chimed
in---all with graciousness. All of this was while the separated couple sat and listened. The leader even had to correct bad doctrine and thinking. By the grace
of God, he caught it all. All of this blessing and we still have the first man ready to speak. :-)
Prayer requests:
1. Continued growth of these men.
2. For Juana and her family. They should find out the results of her tests on November 7th.
3. Salvation for a number of visitors that have been coming.
4. For school. We just finished the first quarter! We are a little behind due to a late start because of our LONG trip coming back from the States.
5. Our health. Matthew especially has been having a very difficult time with asthma because of the pollution.
A final blessing was that several of the youth got to go to Six Flags together on Thursday and they had a great time! It was a special time for unity.
Thank you so much for praying!
Faith for all the Goldfii
Praises:
Last Sunday was such a big blessing even though it was very unusual, and we were not sure exactly what the Lord was doing.
It started with Mike being invited to speak again to over 200 people in an AA meeting. Again we were surprised because he always shares the gospel very clearly,
and it is exactly opposite of what they are teaching. He states that what they are teaching there will not help, but only the Lord can break the chains that bind.
BUT, they keep inviting him back!!! Mike is just thankful for the opportunity.
One man volunteered to preach for our normal services in place of Mike because Mike would need to leave before church was over. Mike was able to work with
him two different times during the week, and he was ready---until Saturday, . . . when he called Nico. He felt unworthy to preach because of some anger issues
he was dealing with after his boss refused to pay him. (Unfortunately we have seen this kind of thing before.) Because work is hard to find, people are afraid to
leave to leave a job. Sometimes people don't even have enough money to get to work---and life becomes very difficult.) Nico explained to him that we all are
sinners and struggle; and that the only way anyone can stand up to preach is knowing that we are sinners covered with the grace of our Lord. But alas, the young
man really didn't even have enough money to come to church because he lives farther away. SO, Nico, who had been studying four different topics, became the next candidate.
He was nervous, but said that he would do it.
Mike preached Sunday school and then left for the preaching at the anniversary of the AA. I cannot explain to you how wonderful it was to watch everything take
place without our intervention. The Lord, who was arranging everything, allowed a man to come who had not been there for 3 years! He had left his wife and family
for another woman---- and , of course, there has been a lot of pain and suffering that we have tried to help the wife and children through. The wife, however, even
stopped coming for the last 6 months. So here they were, and he was embarrassed to enter the church. We all welcomed him into the church stating that none
of us is without sin, and we all needed to be here because of that. The wife came with him, and she was having a hard time because she wants to forgive him
with the Lord's help, but her own heart is harboring bitterness. Praise the Lord they stayed.
Nico's message was very direct about "lovers of self." It was very good and very needed for everyone. The couple even stayed for lunch and the married class.
I know that the men were in charge while we were gone this summer, but it was truly amazing for me, Faith, to see all the men working together for myself.
One led the service. Another preached. Another man took charge of the meal. While yet another led the marriage class. Two of these mentioned above
counted the offering and took care of the books. The marriage class was a blessing. We have one older couple that is growing In the Lord, but they are still
"going at it" a little bit during the class. The leader of the class lovingly spoke to them from the Bible. Two other men (one not mentioned yet) chimed
in---all with graciousness. All of this was while the separated couple sat and listened. The leader even had to correct bad doctrine and thinking. By the grace
of God, he caught it all. All of this blessing and we still have the first man ready to speak. :-)
Prayer requests:
1. Continued growth of these men.
2. For Juana and her family. They should find out the results of her tests on November 7th.
3. Salvation for a number of visitors that have been coming.
4. For school. We just finished the first quarter! We are a little behind due to a late start because of our LONG trip coming back from the States.
5. Our health. Matthew especially has been having a very difficult time with asthma because of the pollution.
A final blessing was that several of the youth got to go to Six Flags together on Thursday and they had a great time! It was a special time for unity.
Thank you so much for praying!
Faith for all the Goldfii
Thursday, October 18
Goldfuss update
Dear Prayer Partners,
Praises:
1. One visiting lady, Carmelita, has come back two times and also brought her grandson. In talking to her, she doesn't have a good grasp of the gospel.
2. The 5 men who said they would come to church two weeks ago, didn't. They said they would come this past Sunday; and didn't. But, two of them came last night to our midweek service. Mike is loaning them an MP3 player with a dramatized audio New Testament. One of them today said that he "heard things last night in listening to that that he never ever knew before." Pray for God to use His Word to open their hearts.
3. Our church is rallying around Juana in prayer, presence, love, and monetary gifts. We praise the Lord for their unity. Sarai, Juana's daughter, is overwhelmed by the love that has been shown to her mother and family. Our men's meeting last Friday evening involved some excellent questions as to how we can help Juana and her family and deal with her health situation. All of us prayed about 40 minutes together with extremely heartfelt, serious, and caring prayers to our sovereign God for Juana, each letting our requests be made known and also trusting for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
4. Lauren, our former schoolteacher, is coming from next Wednesday to Sunday. That will be very joyful for the children as well as helpful to mom in school as she can oversee the older girls.
Prayer requests:
1. A new family visited our church about a month ago and Faith and I were able to go and visit them. The mom said that due to her work schedule that they would not be attending for four weeks, but then they hoped to attend again. Pray that they would come again this week. Pray that they would make it a priority to be in the Lord's house. They do not know the Lord, but have an interest.
2. Pray for Juana and her family at this time. As we mentioned in our last letter, she was supposed to find out the results of a biopsy this last Tuesday. They have postponed that until Nov. 7th. Right now things are not looking good. Marcos, her son worked in an institution that helps children with cancer. One doctor that worked with him, who now works in the woman's hospital, told Marcos that his mother was at stage 4. How he knew that before the biopsy, we are not sure. Yet her doctors are not saying anything---and won't for these next three weeks. It is hard for all of us to wait. The biopsy was also very painful and Juana is now recuperating from the whole ordeal. She has had a tremendous testimony though to our church family and to family members who are unsaved.
3. Please pray for all of us--- for our health. We are doing much better with stomach issues, but the pollution is so bad that everyone is having a horrible time respiratory-wise.
4. A taxi- driver by the name of Juan Jose, who was very serious about wanting to come to church. Pray for his salvation.
5. Our own children's salvation and for our love for the Lord to grow.
Thank you so much for praying!
Mike, Faith, Mikey, Cristi, Carissa, Matthew, Cheri, and Cara Goldfuss.
Saturday, October 6
Goldfuss update
Dear prayer Partners
Praises:
1. The school year is now underway without any any extra teachers. What a blessing that the Lord has enabled us to get everything accomplished! We are amazed! We would never have thought that this was possible. The children are all doing much more on their own and somehow Cara (the baby) learned how to read very quickly---which means a lot less work for mom than we anticipated for the next 2 years. We just thank the Lord because He is the one who is enabling everyone to be able to do so well by themselves. This is not to say that we do not need prayer--- because we do. Pray that we won't just teach and learn academics, but also godliness.
2. Lauren, one of our teachers from last year, has asked us if she could come and help with school and the ministry from February to April. She is already down here in Mexico studying Spanish and staying with another missionary couple near the university where she is studying. When we tried to find out if she was just trying to help us, she insisted that she would like to take one module off to practice with our people at church before going on to advanced Spanish. So that is a praise! I am sure that we will all be tired by then and in need of the extra help.
3. One new family and a lady have visited the church in the last weeks. We have visited them in their homes and been able to clearly share the Gospel with them. Pray that they will continue to come again and be genuinely converted.
4. Mike has been able to make friends with 5 men who have come from various pueblos to work at the tree farm on the mountain behind us. To do this, he has visited them on 7 or 8 different occasions. They are preparing for the Christmas tree season. He has been able to give the Gospel various times and they have promised to come to church with us this Sunday (tomorrow). Please pray for them to follow through.
Prayer requests:
1. Juana, a very faithful lady, has been to the doctor several times and had numerous tests. There is a lump that could possibly be cancer. She is supposed to find out the actual diagnoses this next Tuesday. Please pray with our church family for continual peace for Juana and for a cancer-free diagnosis if that is His perfect will. She is seeking to be a testimony for Christ in her family and in front of the doctors and nurses. She is concerned for the salvation of several of her sons.
2. Revival. Attendance has been good, but everyone seems to be bogged down with the difficulties that arise from daily life--and they are many. Pray that the people of the church would continue to do the work of the ministry, witnessing for Christ, and that the Lord would revive us and make us rejoice in our God. Pray for all of our hearts to burn with a love for the Lord.
3. G. , Lourdes' brother was in a very serious, life- threatening car accident right after we had spent the evening with Lourdes' family. Mike has gone to speak with him, but please pray that the Lord would open up his heart for salvation. He has made a profession in the past but has no fruit.
4. There is one in our assembly who professes faith in Christ, but has been leading a life of unrepentant sin. Pray for the Lord to work in R's heart--to either bring to conversion or restoration.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support for us.
With much love and gratitude,
Faith, Mike and all the kids
Praises:
1. The school year is now underway without any any extra teachers. What a blessing that the Lord has enabled us to get everything accomplished! We are amazed! We would never have thought that this was possible. The children are all doing much more on their own and somehow Cara (the baby) learned how to read very quickly---which means a lot less work for mom than we anticipated for the next 2 years. We just thank the Lord because He is the one who is enabling everyone to be able to do so well by themselves. This is not to say that we do not need prayer--- because we do. Pray that we won't just teach and learn academics, but also godliness.
2. Lauren, one of our teachers from last year, has asked us if she could come and help with school and the ministry from February to April. She is already down here in Mexico studying Spanish and staying with another missionary couple near the university where she is studying. When we tried to find out if she was just trying to help us, she insisted that she would like to take one module off to practice with our people at church before going on to advanced Spanish. So that is a praise! I am sure that we will all be tired by then and in need of the extra help.
3. One new family and a lady have visited the church in the last weeks. We have visited them in their homes and been able to clearly share the Gospel with them. Pray that they will continue to come again and be genuinely converted.
4. Mike has been able to make friends with 5 men who have come from various pueblos to work at the tree farm on the mountain behind us. To do this, he has visited them on 7 or 8 different occasions. They are preparing for the Christmas tree season. He has been able to give the Gospel various times and they have promised to come to church with us this Sunday (tomorrow). Please pray for them to follow through.
Prayer requests:
1. Juana, a very faithful lady, has been to the doctor several times and had numerous tests. There is a lump that could possibly be cancer. She is supposed to find out the actual diagnoses this next Tuesday. Please pray with our church family for continual peace for Juana and for a cancer-free diagnosis if that is His perfect will. She is seeking to be a testimony for Christ in her family and in front of the doctors and nurses. She is concerned for the salvation of several of her sons.
2. Revival. Attendance has been good, but everyone seems to be bogged down with the difficulties that arise from daily life--and they are many. Pray that the people of the church would continue to do the work of the ministry, witnessing for Christ, and that the Lord would revive us and make us rejoice in our God. Pray for all of our hearts to burn with a love for the Lord.
3. G. , Lourdes' brother was in a very serious, life- threatening car accident right after we had spent the evening with Lourdes' family. Mike has gone to speak with him, but please pray that the Lord would open up his heart for salvation. He has made a profession in the past but has no fruit.
4. There is one in our assembly who professes faith in Christ, but has been leading a life of unrepentant sin. Pray for the Lord to work in R's heart--to either bring to conversion or restoration.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support for us.
With much love and gratitude,
Faith, Mike and all the kids
Friday, September 28
Faith's mom
Thank you so much for your prayers for Faith's mom yesterday. Here are
two updates from them.
From Faith's sister:
Mom's surgery went well! They took out a grapefruit - sized tumor
wrapping around the piece of thyroid that they left last time. They
don't think that there should be any loss of ability to speak like last
time; no damage to the vocal chords.
From Faith's sister in law:
Also there was no damage to the esophagus even though it was pressing up
against it as well as the parathyroid. He checked out her vocal chords
and they seemed in good shape and no damage... SO PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
I'll update ya'll tomorrow when I go back to the hospital
Please praise the Lord with us and pray for Mom's recovery.
In Christ,
Mike, Faith and all the Goldfii
two updates from them.
From Faith's sister:
Mom's surgery went well! They took out a grapefruit - sized tumor
wrapping around the piece of thyroid that they left last time. They
don't think that there should be any loss of ability to speak like last
time; no damage to the vocal chords.
From Faith's sister in law:
Also there was no damage to the esophagus even though it was pressing up
against it as well as the parathyroid. He checked out her vocal chords
and they seemed in good shape and no damage... SO PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
I'll update ya'll tomorrow when I go back to the hospital
Please praise the Lord with us and pray for Mom's recovery.
In Christ,
Mike, Faith and all the Goldfii
Thursday, September 27
Prayer Request
Dear Praying Friends,
Please pray today for Faith's Mom, Nancy Crouthamel. She is having a
pretty serious surgery this afternoon to have her thyroid removed.
1. Pray for the doctors to have skill and wisdom.
2. Pray for Nancy's confidence in Christ to continue to be strong and
for her body to heal.
3. Pray for grace for Bob as he will be caring for her and going back
and forth from the hospital--and that the Lord will also calm his heart.
4. Pray for Faith and her brother and sister, Ron and Jan, for strength
and encouragement as well.
5. Pray for Faith's sister in law Bridgette who is helping them a lot.
The surgery will be between 2 1/2 to 3 hours long and sometime between 2
pm and 6 pm. The doctors say she will need to be in the hospital
between 1 and 3 days.
Thank you for your prayers,
In Christ,
Mike and Faith for all the Goldfii
Please pray today for Faith's Mom, Nancy Crouthamel. She is having a
pretty serious surgery this afternoon to have her thyroid removed.
1. Pray for the doctors to have skill and wisdom.
2. Pray for Nancy's confidence in Christ to continue to be strong and
for her body to heal.
3. Pray for grace for Bob as he will be caring for her and going back
and forth from the hospital--and that the Lord will also calm his heart.
4. Pray for Faith and her brother and sister, Ron and Jan, for strength
and encouragement as well.
5. Pray for Faith's sister in law Bridgette who is helping them a lot.
The surgery will be between 2 1/2 to 3 hours long and sometime between 2
pm and 6 pm. The doctors say she will need to be in the hospital
between 1 and 3 days.
Thank you for your prayers,
In Christ,
Mike and Faith for all the Goldfii
Monday, August 27
Goldfuss update (8/28/2012)
Dear Praying Friends,
I’m sorry not to get an email update out to you all since the END of our trip. We made it back to our home in Mexico City a week ago Saturday about 5:30 PM. What a trip. The Lord brought a lot of unexpected things into our paths during our 7000 mile round-trip journey. At the same time, He also brought so many blessings. It was so easy to focus on the difficulties, but last Monday morning, Faith and I woke up and decided to just pray and thank God for all of the blessings by giving thanks in everything. It probably took us over 30 minutes to mention each of the blessings that we could think of and thank the Lord for His goodness even in the trials. Then we did the same thing at breakfast with the kids.
We were able to get the transmission fixed and didn’t seem to have any more problems with that on the way back down. That was a tremendous blessing. The Lord also provided four new tires for the van. When the tire man brought the van up to me when it was done, he advised me that the rim that we had for our spare tire didn’t fit our van. :-( It was great to have that be known in Waco, Texas instead of on the side of the road in Mexico and unable to change a spare tire.
After we got the transmission fixed, we left Waco on Thursday morning. We made it down to McAllen about 4 pm. We had to buy a couple more things at Walmart to bring back—we waited so that they wouldn’t melt and put them in a cooler—choco chips, etc. Then we got the oil changed and headed over to the border. We crossed the bridge into Mexico to register our trailer, but got stuck on that with paperwork for over an hour. We had to return to the US side that night to wait for some paperwork to be faxed to us from Mexico. You are not going to believe this, but we had a hard time just getting back into the US due to the customs agents who wanted to know where we’d come from—um, er, well, just came from the US over to Mexico and right back—and with a full trailer, they were very suspicious. Sigh!!!! So they went through the trailer and finally let us go. Until they let us enter, we felt like people without a country— in the middle of both countries and not able to enter either.
So we had another overnight stay in Texas. We Left about 10 the next morning for the international bridge crossing again and were able to get the trailer paperwork in about 3 hours. Then we headed off to Monterrey—about a 3 hour trip. We got the green light at the bridge so we didn’t have to unload anything. About 26 miles into Mexico there is another customs place, and we only had to open up and the man looked at a couple things and sent us on our way. Thank you Lord. There is about an 80 mile long toll road that leads to Monterrey and we were pulled over by the Federal Police who gave us a hard time about permissions and such, but after about 25 minutes, they sent us on our way as well. In all the fuss about showing them permissions and papers, the back door of the trailer didn’t get locked correctly. 20 minutes further up the road we were stopped by another federal policeman—who only stopped us to inform us that the back door to the trailer was wide open. My heart sank. We had hit some pretty rough road and without the lock on the back, the door had jarred open—we aren’t sure where. However, it appears that we only lost one thing while driving with the door open. All the suitcases were still right there at the back door still intact and in place. We made it to Monterrey about 6:30 PM and had a nice evening with the Zartmans, fellow GFA missionaries. We left the next morning, Saturday, about 5:30 am. We were stopped by the police about 10 minutes into our journey, again without incident and then again about 3 hours later. They kept me a little longer but at last we were again free to go.
Around 4 pm, we made it to Mexico City. If all goes well, we can normally make it home in about an hour from the top of the city to the very bottom edge where we live. But we were stopped by the city police here. They said that I wasn’t allowed to carry cargo on the central freeway with a trailer. So, I asked what I needed to do. Answer? Go with us to impound your van and trailer. “Um, How long is it impounded?” I asked. ”Until Monday.” “OR,” he continued, “We could just arrange things right here so that you could go on without a problem (i.e., a bribe.) I said, “Well I am a Christian and a pastor and I can’t do that before the Lord, so let’s just go get it impounded and I’ll have to come get it on Monday.” The policeman looked at me, handed me back my papers and said, “Go ahead. God bless you.” And we made it home. It felt like we would never ever get here, but praise the Lord for His kindness and protection. We serve a very great and kind and good God.
To commemorate the long trip, the kids came up with a song sung to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas—although they could only fill in 9 things. ”Nine different cousins, eight crowded people, seven thousand miles, six new tires, five police pullovers, four days stuck in places, three flat tires, two attempts to get over the border, and one broken transmission. And after all that, on August 18, we FINALLY arrived home. We had not pulled into the driveway for literally 30 seconds before the phone rang and a young man asked if he could come get some counsel and he would need to stay overnight. We immediately felt right back in the saddle. :-)
It appears that the ministry went well with God’s blessing in our absence. They had VBS with a few problems that they solved. Six men preached and taught SS. The attendance was a little lower than we would have liked. Pray that some will follow Christ and not just us. Praise the Lord that overall, there was good faithfulness in the core believers.
I’d like to share a special blessing/prayer request. The men divided up the book of Jude with each taking several verses for the Sunday school hours in our absence. They were studying about false teachers and the need to contend for the faith that has been delivered to us in Scripture. A newer man was asked by someone else in the church to teach the children’s Bible story during VBS (we were unaware of this us). The first morning, he mentioned something about heaven and how all of us are going there. Beto, the youngest man who has been helping with teaching and preaching, (about 25 years old,) heard that phrase and thought, “If we are supposed to contend for the faith, and I don’t say anything to this man, what we are learning doesn’t do any good at all.” And so after VBS that day, he kindly talked to the man about what was said to all the children. (This is an older man about 60 years old or so.) The man condescendingly put his arm on Beto and said, “Don’t be such a legalist, man.” So, Beto has followed the first step in Matthew 18, and we need to follow up on that with the second step. Please pray for S to see the error of that and to humble himself to accept correction. Praise the Lord for Beto standing up for truth. School started this past Thursday. We don’t have any school teachers to help this year, so please keep Faith in your prayers for strength, wisdom and Christ-like responses. If anyone would like to help come teach, don’t hesitate to ask, or certainly plan on coming second semester. :-)
*** On a humorous note, yesterday I preached on thanking the Lord for all things without grumbling or complaining, and we returned home to find our garage and living room flooded. We laughed while we cleaned up the mess. Cheri reminded us that at least our bedrooms—on the second floor—were not flooded.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement and support.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfii
I’m sorry not to get an email update out to you all since the END of our trip. We made it back to our home in Mexico City a week ago Saturday about 5:30 PM. What a trip. The Lord brought a lot of unexpected things into our paths during our 7000 mile round-trip journey. At the same time, He also brought so many blessings. It was so easy to focus on the difficulties, but last Monday morning, Faith and I woke up and decided to just pray and thank God for all of the blessings by giving thanks in everything. It probably took us over 30 minutes to mention each of the blessings that we could think of and thank the Lord for His goodness even in the trials. Then we did the same thing at breakfast with the kids.
We were able to get the transmission fixed and didn’t seem to have any more problems with that on the way back down. That was a tremendous blessing. The Lord also provided four new tires for the van. When the tire man brought the van up to me when it was done, he advised me that the rim that we had for our spare tire didn’t fit our van. :-( It was great to have that be known in Waco, Texas instead of on the side of the road in Mexico and unable to change a spare tire.
After we got the transmission fixed, we left Waco on Thursday morning. We made it down to McAllen about 4 pm. We had to buy a couple more things at Walmart to bring back—we waited so that they wouldn’t melt and put them in a cooler—choco chips, etc. Then we got the oil changed and headed over to the border. We crossed the bridge into Mexico to register our trailer, but got stuck on that with paperwork for over an hour. We had to return to the US side that night to wait for some paperwork to be faxed to us from Mexico. You are not going to believe this, but we had a hard time just getting back into the US due to the customs agents who wanted to know where we’d come from—um, er, well, just came from the US over to Mexico and right back—and with a full trailer, they were very suspicious. Sigh!!!! So they went through the trailer and finally let us go. Until they let us enter, we felt like people without a country— in the middle of both countries and not able to enter either.
So we had another overnight stay in Texas. We Left about 10 the next morning for the international bridge crossing again and were able to get the trailer paperwork in about 3 hours. Then we headed off to Monterrey—about a 3 hour trip. We got the green light at the bridge so we didn’t have to unload anything. About 26 miles into Mexico there is another customs place, and we only had to open up and the man looked at a couple things and sent us on our way. Thank you Lord. There is about an 80 mile long toll road that leads to Monterrey and we were pulled over by the Federal Police who gave us a hard time about permissions and such, but after about 25 minutes, they sent us on our way as well. In all the fuss about showing them permissions and papers, the back door of the trailer didn’t get locked correctly. 20 minutes further up the road we were stopped by another federal policeman—who only stopped us to inform us that the back door to the trailer was wide open. My heart sank. We had hit some pretty rough road and without the lock on the back, the door had jarred open—we aren’t sure where. However, it appears that we only lost one thing while driving with the door open. All the suitcases were still right there at the back door still intact and in place. We made it to Monterrey about 6:30 PM and had a nice evening with the Zartmans, fellow GFA missionaries. We left the next morning, Saturday, about 5:30 am. We were stopped by the police about 10 minutes into our journey, again without incident and then again about 3 hours later. They kept me a little longer but at last we were again free to go.
Around 4 pm, we made it to Mexico City. If all goes well, we can normally make it home in about an hour from the top of the city to the very bottom edge where we live. But we were stopped by the city police here. They said that I wasn’t allowed to carry cargo on the central freeway with a trailer. So, I asked what I needed to do. Answer? Go with us to impound your van and trailer. “Um, How long is it impounded?” I asked. ”Until Monday.” “OR,” he continued, “We could just arrange things right here so that you could go on without a problem (i.e., a bribe.) I said, “Well I am a Christian and a pastor and I can’t do that before the Lord, so let’s just go get it impounded and I’ll have to come get it on Monday.” The policeman looked at me, handed me back my papers and said, “Go ahead. God bless you.” And we made it home. It felt like we would never ever get here, but praise the Lord for His kindness and protection. We serve a very great and kind and good God.
To commemorate the long trip, the kids came up with a song sung to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas—although they could only fill in 9 things. ”Nine different cousins, eight crowded people, seven thousand miles, six new tires, five police pullovers, four days stuck in places, three flat tires, two attempts to get over the border, and one broken transmission. And after all that, on August 18, we FINALLY arrived home. We had not pulled into the driveway for literally 30 seconds before the phone rang and a young man asked if he could come get some counsel and he would need to stay overnight. We immediately felt right back in the saddle. :-)
It appears that the ministry went well with God’s blessing in our absence. They had VBS with a few problems that they solved. Six men preached and taught SS. The attendance was a little lower than we would have liked. Pray that some will follow Christ and not just us. Praise the Lord that overall, there was good faithfulness in the core believers.
I’d like to share a special blessing/prayer request. The men divided up the book of Jude with each taking several verses for the Sunday school hours in our absence. They were studying about false teachers and the need to contend for the faith that has been delivered to us in Scripture. A newer man was asked by someone else in the church to teach the children’s Bible story during VBS (we were unaware of this us). The first morning, he mentioned something about heaven and how all of us are going there. Beto, the youngest man who has been helping with teaching and preaching, (about 25 years old,) heard that phrase and thought, “If we are supposed to contend for the faith, and I don’t say anything to this man, what we are learning doesn’t do any good at all.” And so after VBS that day, he kindly talked to the man about what was said to all the children. (This is an older man about 60 years old or so.) The man condescendingly put his arm on Beto and said, “Don’t be such a legalist, man.” So, Beto has followed the first step in Matthew 18, and we need to follow up on that with the second step. Please pray for S to see the error of that and to humble himself to accept correction. Praise the Lord for Beto standing up for truth. School started this past Thursday. We don’t have any school teachers to help this year, so please keep Faith in your prayers for strength, wisdom and Christ-like responses. If anyone would like to help come teach, don’t hesitate to ask, or certainly plan on coming second semester. :-)
*** On a humorous note, yesterday I preached on thanking the Lord for all things without grumbling or complaining, and we returned home to find our garage and living room flooded. We laughed while we cleaned up the mess. Cheri reminded us that at least our bedrooms—on the second floor—were not flooded.
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement and support.
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfii
Thursday, August 16
Prayer update/going across the border
We wrote the following email this morning travelling down from Waco, Texas
to McAllen. We went over the international bridge into Mexico about 6:30
PM, but had to come back due to some paperwork that we still need. Please
pray that the Lord would allow us to obtain the right things tomorrow and be
able to get over. Mike
Dear Prayer partners,
Well, we are so thankful that the Lord allowed our van to be fixed! I know
that you will be happy to hear that the Lord moved a couple, the Storms,
from one of our supporting churches in Houston to cover the cost of the
transmission AND they wanted us to put on new tires! We are also very
grateful to Jack and Mollie Lee for housing us for the whole time that the
transmission was being fixed. That was no small feat!
We are now on the road again and headed for the border. Yesterday we called
the Zartmans to let them know that we were finally coming---and Mrs. Zartman
said that there were big roadblocks in Reynosa set up by the drug cartels
because they were upset that a couple of drug members had been killed. Memo
from our church also wrote to warn us. Evidently he heard about it on the
Mexican news. So we began our trip this morning from Waco, Tx. We now need
to get down to the border and across----and then go the three hours to the
Zartmans in Monterrey before dark for safety reasons. Then on Friday we
need to drive the last remaining 10 hours to Mexico City. However, we can't
arrive before 10 pm because we cannot drive in the city limits on Friday.
That is our day not to circulate.
Thank you for praying for us!
In Christ,
Mike, Faith, Mikey, Cristi, Carissa, Matthew, Cheri, and Cara Goldfuss
to McAllen. We went over the international bridge into Mexico about 6:30
PM, but had to come back due to some paperwork that we still need. Please
pray that the Lord would allow us to obtain the right things tomorrow and be
able to get over. Mike
Dear Prayer partners,
Well, we are so thankful that the Lord allowed our van to be fixed! I know
that you will be happy to hear that the Lord moved a couple, the Storms,
from one of our supporting churches in Houston to cover the cost of the
transmission AND they wanted us to put on new tires! We are also very
grateful to Jack and Mollie Lee for housing us for the whole time that the
transmission was being fixed. That was no small feat!
We are now on the road again and headed for the border. Yesterday we called
the Zartmans to let them know that we were finally coming---and Mrs. Zartman
said that there were big roadblocks in Reynosa set up by the drug cartels
because they were upset that a couple of drug members had been killed. Memo
from our church also wrote to warn us. Evidently he heard about it on the
Mexican news. So we began our trip this morning from Waco, Tx. We now need
to get down to the border and across----and then go the three hours to the
Zartmans in Monterrey before dark for safety reasons. Then on Friday we
need to drive the last remaining 10 hours to Mexico City. However, we can't
arrive before 10 pm because we cannot drive in the city limits on Friday.
That is our day not to circulate.
Thank you for praying for us!
In Christ,
Mike, Faith, Mikey, Cristi, Carissa, Matthew, Cheri, and Cara Goldfuss
Saturday, August 11
Quick update (8/11/2012)
Dear praying friends,
We have been in the midst of a whirwind! It has been 6 years since we took a furlough---and we plan to take one in about 3 more years. Since we have not taken furlough in a long time, our mission granted us one month to be with our parents. Faith's mom has been ill for a number of months.
The doctors are testing mom's thyroid. While we were there Faith's dad was also having problems. They determined that he basically has a lazy esophagus. He also has a hernia. They were doing better when we needed to leave, but it was still hard to go. Before we left we were able to help with few things around the house, but they were much more of a blessing to us than we were to them. It made Mike feel good to have our whole family be able to help chop and stack wood for his mom. I think she is pretty well set for the winter.
Mike has been able to preach each Sunday while I have shown the slides. It has been a blessing to be able to get reaquainted with a few who pray for us so diligently.
The trip back has been very eventful. We had a blowout from PA to OH. Later we had two more flat tires in Kentucky to Tennessee--3 flats in less than 800 miles. :-( We have spent about 7 hours total by the side of the road in close to 100* weather. The Lord has showed His grace even in the midst of the trials. We've been thankful for each hour of progress that was made in the right direction.
We are now in Waco headed toward Houston for a meeting tomorrow. However, the mechanic yesterday told us that we have some pretty serious transmission problems and we need to have that fixed before we go back into Mexico. So we are going to Houston tonight and coming back tomorrow night. Hopefully, we'll be able to get the van in early on Monday and they will make quick work of the transmission. Please pray for the Lord's will regarding getting back to Mexico. We had hoped to make it back on Tuesday, but that doesn't seem likely now. We rely on your prayers and the Lord's timing.
Thank you for praying!
Mike and Faith for the rest of the Goldfii
Tuesday, July 24
Goldfuss update (7/24/2012)
Thank you all for praying for our travels. We've gone about 4800 miles so far.
It's been a HOT summer here in the USA and we aren't very used to that. For those who don't know, we are just about 2 miles above sea level in Mexico City where we live so we have pretty low heat and very low humidity.
It's been great to be able to see all three of our parents and both of Faith's siblings and 4 of Mike's so far. Please continue to pray that the doctor's will have wisdom in trying to find the source of Faith's mom's breathing problems.
YIKES!!!. School is starting in less than a month and so far we don't have any teachers. One or two would be a real blessing for Faith. Please make that an urgent prayer request.
Please continue to pray for our time here that we would be a blessing and encouragement and glorify our great God and Savior.
In Christ, Mike for all the Goldfii
It's been a HOT summer here in the USA and we aren't very used to that. For those who don't know, we are just about 2 miles above sea level in Mexico City where we live so we have pretty low heat and very low humidity.
It's been great to be able to see all three of our parents and both of Faith's siblings and 4 of Mike's so far. Please continue to pray that the doctor's will have wisdom in trying to find the source of Faith's mom's breathing problems.
YIKES!!!. School is starting in less than a month and so far we don't have any teachers. One or two would be a real blessing for Faith. Please make that an urgent prayer request.
Please continue to pray for our time here that we would be a blessing and encouragement and glorify our great God and Savior.
In Christ, Mike for all the Goldfii
Thursday, June 28
Goldfuss update (6/30/2012)
Dear Prayer Supporters,
Praises:
Faith for the Goldfusses
Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Carissa, Matthew, Cheri, and Caralyn
Praises:
- Thank you so much for praying! Because of your prayers, we were able to finish the roof before the big rains came!
- Also, last week we had the Bob Jones University team come. Our first two nights of special services had to be canceled due to a late arrival, but our people really enjoyed Saturday's fellowship, games and preaching as well as the special music and preaching on Sunday. The team also was exposed to the big city and was able to pass out hundreds of tracts in rapid fashion. We are praying that the Lord will burden some of the team members to come back and help us if the Lord should lead in that direction.
- Mati--a lady whose daughter attends gymnastics totally opened up about her doubts with her own Catholic church! I (Faith) have witnessed to her for one year--and she has been nice, but closed to the things of the Gospel. Last Friday I was kind of embarrassed because she normally gives us a ride when we cannot drive on Fridays. Helping our troop is no small feat. But I quickly asked the Lord to forgive me for focusing on myself because it almost seemed like she was waiting to unload everything that was on her heart without everyone else around. My kids were dumbfounded and Mikey and Cristi even joined into the conversation. I was able to give her a pamphlet that I had from a former priest who God has saved---and the Lord planted another seed in her heart. Pray for Mati, her husband, and her two children--Dani and Rodrigo---who are best friends with Cristi and Matthew.
- We desperately need 2 school teachers for the fall to help with homeschooling our 6 children. We have the BJU DVDs. So mainly, the teaching would be helping proctor and extra studying with one of our children who is dyslexic and sometimes needs things read to her when headaches plague her from excessive reading. So far we have no teachers.
- On a sad note, we had some money stolen on Saturday at the get-together at our home. Pray for us as we deal with the situation.
- Please also pray for the 5 men who will be taking the services for us while we are gone. They have been preparing for several months. Pray for their hearts, their deliveries and that this will be a real growth step for our church. There are a couple of the men who have some problems with each other. Satan would love to be able to cause divisions. Please pray that they will truly uphold each other in prayer and that they will unite in the Lord's work while we are gone.
- Also, Lourdes is completely heading up VBS. The ladies have helped for years and everyone is stepping up serving exceptionally well. VBS will be July 16th---18th. This is the first VBS without gringos---and it appears that they will not need us! Praise the Lord!!!
- Lenny and Mariana are taking the children's Sunday School class for the whole month of July. Since they cannot help with VBS in the middle of the week due to work, they are taking the Sundays to free the ladies so that they can concentrate on Vacation Bible School. It is wonderful to see how everyone is pulling together to get the work done!
- Pray for Cristi as she stays to finish the art work of transforming the church for VBS and complete her year of gymnastics at her competition. Pray for her and Reme to be a shining testimony to all of our unsaved friends.
- Please pray as we are leaving Sunday after church to begin 6 days of travel to PA. Faith's mom is not doing well and we are asking prayer for wisdom for the doctors as she is having trouble breathing when she tries to do anything. She is fine when she is sitting. Pray that we would be a blessing and a help----and not too much for both mom and dad.
- Pray for Mike as he preaches 3 Sundays that we are gone. We will return in August. We love you all and thank you for upholding us in your prayers. We truly depend on them. Please pray especially for Monday and Tuesday as we will be driving through the most dangerous parts of Mexico. Pray for Cristi on Friday, July 13th as she flies out of Mexico City Airport. They just had a shooting there on Monday in which 3 federal police agents were killed by drug cartel people dressed like police officers right in the airport. We praise the Lord that we know that OUR GOD is in control ---and we praise the Lord that we are not bound by superstition---(Friday the 13th--like most of our unsaved friends here). Our children are HIS and HE is ours. Whatever he decides is best.
Faith for the Goldfusses
Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Carissa, Matthew, Cheri, and Caralyn
Friday, June 8
Goldfuss update (6/8/2012)
Dear Prayer Partners,
Now that school is over, we have been busier in the last 3 weeks!!?? How is that possible?? So sorry that we haven't written. So much has happened.
The Lord has enabled us to supply the church people AND the family of 5 Bible Club children (who lost their father and grandfather) with good used clothes that we do not need anymore. Because of this, Faith was able to meet the children's mother for the first time. It is hard to be in contact with her as she is always working. Our kids' health: Since the rains have come, most are better. Cristi and Carissa are not-- and have sinus infections. Cristi has been sick almost continually since October. Please pray for us to figure out with the allerologist how to help her.
Upcoming events:
In Christ, Faith for the Family-----Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Cari (short for Carissa), Matt, Cheri, and Cara
Now that school is over, we have been busier in the last 3 weeks!!?? How is that possible?? So sorry that we haven't written. So much has happened.
- The three men that are the leaders have all been undergoing personal struggles. These three will be taking over while we are in the States for the month of July. Each of them has been struggling with exactly the theme with which they will be preaching. For example, one who has been in danger of losing his job, has the theme of --faith. Please pray for these three men: Gabriel, Memo, and Nico. Pray for Mike as he has been working with each of them as they develop their messages.
- Even though Marcos and Ruth and Jorge and Ceci have left because of moving, the Lord is bringing us new people! (Jorge and Ceci will be returing from Peru on August 30th.) Sergio and Clara---now understand that they need to use the Gospel in their marriage relatationship. In such a short time, the Lord has done miracles in their lives. They are growing in this area, and are actually a happy addition to the church. (Remember this is the couple that were verbally attacking each other right in our marriage class.) Lilliana--Nico's wife really is showing that God has changed her! She is so different. This is the lady that nearly lost her leg to an infection. She is showing the love of Christ to her family and working together with her husband. Her son, Miguel, who is 16, has returned home. The condition of his return was that he work with Nico, obey him, and go to church. The Lord is working here. He is wanting to read the Christian doctrine book that we are studying in Sunday School! Nico's sister, Guille, has come for spiritual counselling. We were able to give her the gospel for about 2 hours. Please pray for her salvation. Carmen is a new comer that went to church far away. She already has volunteered to help the ladies with VBS. We are so pleased to have Jose and America back with us. They are working with their little ones to have them in the services and really being a vital part of the church now---when before they were kind of in the background and expected much without giving anything.
- Special Praise: We had 73 people for a Youth Ralley. Over 30 were actually teens. Lots of their families came. First ,we went to a tree maze to play freeze tag, then climbed the mountain behind our home, and finally ate and played games. It was particularly entertaining to see 2 teams trying to throw round cheese balls on the heads of two of the oldest guys. How did they stick? Well, we had prepared their heads with whipped cream on top of shower caps! We want to praise the Lord for all 73 who heard Mike's devotional about "Remembering our Creator in the days of our youth." Tere's unsaved grandson brought two friends, and Mikey brought his 15 year old atheist friend, Eukenni, from basketball. I'm sure that there were many more unsaved people there as we had teens from 4 different churches. When it was time from the devotional, Eukenni said, What is an atheist supposed to do now? Mikey said, "Well, you don't have to convert, you just have to listen." Eukenni agreed and later thanked us two different times for inviting him. Please pray for the Lord to work in his heart as well as in his mom's heart (Claudia.) Faith gets to talk to her frequently. We were particularly praising the Lord for Mikey's answer as we might have ASKED Eukenni to listen. Mikey, however, TOLD him to listen. We thank the Lord for placing the boldness there.
The Lord has enabled us to supply the church people AND the family of 5 Bible Club children (who lost their father and grandfather) with good used clothes that we do not need anymore. Because of this, Faith was able to meet the children's mother for the first time. It is hard to be in contact with her as she is always working. Our kids' health: Since the rains have come, most are better. Cristi and Carissa are not-- and have sinus infections. Cristi has been sick almost continually since October. Please pray for us to figure out with the allerologist how to help her.
Upcoming events:
- BJU team---June 20--27.
- Victor and Shelley Labelle are leaving with their family the 27th to go back to the States to accept another position with his job.
- We leave July 2nd. Cristi will be staying in Mexico for an extra 10 days to compete in the end of the school year gymnastics competition. She will be staying with Reme and they will be working on the HUGE job of doing all of the art to transform the church for VBS. Please pray for her to continue to be a good testimony to her unsaved friends at gymnastics and as she flys to Cleveland on July 13th.
- Third week in July---VBS headed up by Lourdes with tons of help from Juana and Karina. We do need you to pray for our church while we are gone. There has been good attendance, and expect some visitors during the BJU team visit and several special activities-----and then all of the gringos leave! Victor will be especially missed because he plays the piano. Please bathe our people in prayer while we are gone that they would not become discouraged and that they would continue in the work of the Lord while we are gone. Our kids won't be there to help with piano playing. Please pray for Yoltic, Yolat, and Yolotzin Olivares as they will be in charge of the music for the month that we are gone.
In Christ, Faith for the Family-----Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Cari (short for Carissa), Matt, Cheri, and Cara
Wednesday, May 9
Goldfuss update (5/9/2012)
Dear Prayer Partners,
Praise:
The people were really prepared as we discussed what we believed about the Bible in Sunday School. It was a huge blessing. We are going through a book on Christian Doctrine--and before we began, Mike asked what we believe personally about the Scriptures. The answers were truly amazing and such a blessing to hear. Please continue to pray as we are writing our church doctrinal statement from this study.
Prayer Requests:
1. Lilliana asks prayer for Miguel her son. He is only 16, but has been living with other relatives and in the streets because he refuses to submit to the parents--Nico and to Lilliana. He is hitting bottom ---and we pray that he will agree to obey and be a part of their family again, be under the Word, and be truly converted.
2. Victor and Shelley LaBelle--have received word from his company that they will be leaving us at the end of June. Victor and Shelley and their 4 children have been a huge help to the ministry here for the last 3 years. We are really sad to see them go. They will be first based again in Delaware, but Victor is open to wherever the Lord will send him in the world. Please pray for them as they continue to serve the Lord wherever he has them. And please pray for us as their absence will leave a huge gap.
3. This Friday is our men's meeting---Since the men have agreed to preach during the month of July when we will be away, they have received some tremendous spiritual attacks. Three families have moved or will be moving. That may also add to their discouragement as there will be fewer people present to hear them preach. Please pray for spiritual understanding and strength for Memo, Nico, Gabriel and Beto.
4. Sick-----Sick-----Sick--------! Our children and also Bethany and Lauren have been plagued with nagging colds, sinus problems and coughs for the last month and a half. We left the city for 2 days last week to help and when we got back the next day, some were ill again. Please pray as our doctor says that it is a combination of the pollution, drastic weather changes from hot to cold, and then all of the ash from our friendly neighborhood volcano! Popocatepetl, 60 miles away near Puebla, is very active at this time and we have been getting a lot of ash in the air. So please pray. Mom's exhausted.
Cristi will be going to an allergist and then an endocrinologist for help as she has been sick almost constantly with something since October.
Carissa has been having back pain. We finally got an x-ray (she never complains)----and her tailbone is broken!!!!!!!! She broke it last summer on the slip and slide at camp and says that it has hurt since then. We need to do an MRI because it should be better by now.
We do praise the Lord that Mikey's severe cough---almost 5 weeks--- is now better. The little 3 just take turns with all of the respiratory illnesses.
5. Mikey and Cristi both have official testing next week with another missionary Jason Boyle as it has to be a non-family member who tests them for high school. Two of the six are still finishing school this week.
6. Bethany and Lauren will be leaving us next week. Please pray for them as they need to make decisions regarding their futures! They have been such a help to our family during this past school year. Please pray for the Lord to provide other teachers for this coming school year. If you would be interested or know someone who might be interested, please let us know.
Thank you so much for upholding us before the Lord!
In Christ,
Faith for the family
Monday, April 30
Goldfuss prayer update (4/29/2012)
Dear Prayer Partners,
As always we thank you so much for upholding us and the Lord's ministry here in prayer.
The Lord Builds His Church: We were down in numbers. One family was at a homeschool conference, and we were all missing Jorge and Ceci who left Saturday for Peru. However, the Lord brought us a visiting couple...and He is equipping those who are here to help the new ones who are arriving.
Praise:
- Lilliana came to church with her children and without Nico. In the past, she has been the one who did not want to come. We need to bathe this family in prayer. It seems that Nico is feeling the weight of his sin of leaving his first wife. He is now realizing that it was a big mistake to leave his first wife--Reyna. He abandoned her when their children were around 10, and Reina had to rear their children by herself. Now that he has lived 13 years with Lilli, he wants to do the same thing to her. Please pray as the Lord seems to be opening Lilli's heart. Please pray for wisdom as we know everyone involved, and truly want to glorify God in our counseling each person.
- Memo has a desire to meet with and deal with or disciple those who are new. Please pray for him as he meets with Roberto (Juana's brother-in-law).
- L. and M. are praying about teaching a special series in Sunday School to the children. Pray for this step of service.
- Last night Mike had the opportunity to preach to about 30 people in a drug and alcohol rehab lock down. Pray that God's Word would not return void. There was one young man that already had a some Bible knowledge and Mike was able to talk with him further.
Prayer:
- Faithfulness for those who come every other week or even more sporadically, Gaby, Marbella, Erasmo and Matilde, and Luis and Claudia.
- 2 older couples--both new in the last month---prayer for marriages and wisdom in counseling.
- One man who has done a great job leading but feels very unworthy to lead.
- Follow up on a family that visited for 2 weeks, but did not come yesterday.
- 3 of our children are done with school and the other three are almost done!
- And finally our own spirits. Our goal is to start a church and leave it independent. It's very hard to watch people be trained and then move away. They are serving the Lord in other places, but it doesn't fulfill our long range goal of leaving an independent church. Pray that God's goals would be the goals that we desire to further and fulfill.
On the home front: we are finishing school as well as getting ready to prepare the outside of the house for the "monsoon" rains that come with rainy season.
**I can't believe that I forgot to mention---On Wednesday the church where we meet was officially sealed by the bank. After a number of phone calls with the owner, everything was cleared up in the afternoon. It appears that the owner has not been paying the money due on the house payment. I guess she used the rent that we paid for the whole year on other things. Pray for the men to have wisdom and kindness in dealing with her.
Thank you again,
In Christ,
Faith for the whole Goldfuss family----Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Cari, Matt, Cheri, and Cara
Monday, April 23
Goldfuss update (4/23/2012)
Dear Praying Friends,
We had a very intense and wonderful weekend and Lord's Day.
Praises:
In Christ, mike for all the goldfii
We had a very intense and wonderful weekend and Lord's Day.
Praises:
- Friday night men's meeting. It was a good meeting. We will be going for a month to Pennsylvania in July to see Faith's mom and dad. We worked out who will be doing the SS and preaching services for that whole month. Five men are going to be dividing up the fruit of the Spirit to preach to our congregation. Please pray for them to have wisdom and that I would be a good mentor for them.
- Lilliana's leg. As her LEG has been healing, God has been opening her HEART. We are starting a Bible doctrines class in SS that will enable us, Lord willing, to create our own doctrinal statement for members. Lili asked this morning what the book says--she is unable to read. So Bethany, one of our school teachers, is going to read out loud the whole book and record it for Lili. Praise the Lord for Bethany's willingness to go way out of her way to do this for Lili.
- Jose and America. Left about 3 years ago due to several issues. After our marriage class in the afternoon yesterday, he came up to me and asked me to forgive him for his pride and bad attitudes that just "took his own family through the mud." It was wonderful to immediately be able to give him a big hug and extend forgiveness. It has been wonderful to have them back for about the past month and a half. Pray for the Lord's work in this family.
- Our marriage class. We had 22 people in attendance and were missing one couple who normally comes--due to sickness. It was an extremely INTENSE class as the oldest couple we have basically unleashed years of pent up feelings and emotions against each other. The wonderful thing was that about 3 or 4 people gave them wonderful counsel from the Scriptures. It was tremendous to see them stepping up with the gospel and God's Word to gently rebuke and encourage this couple. At the end, the man said, "We are thankful God brought us here; the church is a hospital for us." Please pray for S and C.
- A new lady and her mom, daughter and son and two small children have been attending the last two weeks.
- Marcos and Ruth are moving about 3 hours to the north. Pray for them--family, marriage, move and for them to find a new church closer to them.
- Jorge and Ceci. We had a time of prayer for them yesterday. They will be leaving to go back to Peru for 4 months to do his field work for his dissertation. Their long term goal is to start a Christian university there.
- On the homefront, we are having spirit week with the kids this week as we seek to finish up the school year. Pray that the Lord would enable us to finish school in the next two weeks. Mom, Bethany and Lauren would appreciate your prayers for that--as would the kids too. :-)
In Christ, mike for all the goldfii
Saturday, April 14
Goldfuss update (4/14/2012)
Dear Prayer Partners,
Sorry for not giving an update of Easter Sunday right away! We still did our normal routines with school as well as doing several additional ministry events because of the Easter Vacation week. So here it goes:
Sunrise service was packed! We had people outside of our house. We think there were around 105 people!!! It was a blessing. One of our ladies, Juana, has been inviting some of her neighbors who had stopped attending a Baptist church nearby. Evidentally, these people were missing preaching from the Bible that they had had a number of years back. Their church has turned into "raising money for projects". Juana is very concerned about helping their church since many don't understand salvation. Since the number was growing of different people who had stopped attending the Baptist church and who were planning to come on Easter morning, Mike formally invited the pastor and the rest of the congregation. The Pastor said that he would send 20 people over for the Sunrise Service because he was going to be out of town. Well, the 20 people came as well as 20 more who hadn't been attending their church. Then the Pastor also showed up!??
We were happy that so many came, but then the Pastor pulled a switcher-rooskie. He called all of the people that were and had been attending to leave because they had a service at 10. We were a little sad, but then 5 minutes after they all left, a good number of the Bible Club kids came with several of their parents! We had another 25 or so--and we could concentrate on serving them. Please pray that this other church would return to the Bible, and pray for Juana as she is very burdened for these people who once had the truth, but --many are now depending upon their works.
In Christ, Mike and Faith for all the Goldfii
Sorry for not giving an update of Easter Sunday right away! We still did our normal routines with school as well as doing several additional ministry events because of the Easter Vacation week. So here it goes:
Sunrise service was packed! We had people outside of our house. We think there were around 105 people!!! It was a blessing. One of our ladies, Juana, has been inviting some of her neighbors who had stopped attending a Baptist church nearby. Evidentally, these people were missing preaching from the Bible that they had had a number of years back. Their church has turned into "raising money for projects". Juana is very concerned about helping their church since many don't understand salvation. Since the number was growing of different people who had stopped attending the Baptist church and who were planning to come on Easter morning, Mike formally invited the pastor and the rest of the congregation. The Pastor said that he would send 20 people over for the Sunrise Service because he was going to be out of town. Well, the 20 people came as well as 20 more who hadn't been attending their church. Then the Pastor also showed up!??
We were happy that so many came, but then the Pastor pulled a switcher-rooskie. He called all of the people that were and had been attending to leave because they had a service at 10. We were a little sad, but then 5 minutes after they all left, a good number of the Bible Club kids came with several of their parents! We had another 25 or so--and we could concentrate on serving them. Please pray that this other church would return to the Bible, and pray for Juana as she is very burdened for these people who once had the truth, but --many are now depending upon their works.
- Please pray for Flor---a mother of 3 Bible Club children, who says she'd like to go to church again. -The family of the kidnapped girl, Danielle, did not come.
- 2 families in the church are struggling with husband and wife relationships.
- The Last Bible Club was today!!!! It went very well. The children are very sad to have it be over.
In Christ, Mike and Faith for all the Goldfii
Thursday, April 5
Goldfuss update (4/5/2012)
Dear Prayer Partners,
You have been praying.....and the Lord has been opening doors!
Praises:
- Fernando came back to church----Mike met with him and he assured Mike that he does believe that Jesus is God. He has been helping his neighbors--and having a mini-Bible study with around 10. His plan is to change the Bible study to Saturdays and have the 10 come with him to church. He really wants all of them to come to our home for the special Easter Services.
- Last night so many came for prayer meeting!!! It is Holy Week, but in year's past fewer people have come---because of a vacation mentality. But the Lord is working!
- The Sunday special 50th anniversary for Don Pedro and his wife went very well. The family was very pleased with the service and the Lord gave freedom for the Gospel to be proclaimed! Pray especially for Roberto and Veronica and their family to come to church as a result. Roberto has come before and Veronica is the daughter of the couple. (Pictures included).
- Bible Club was great---again a wonderful turnout 25 children. We are inviting all of these children and their families for Easter Sunday.
- Jorge was approved for his dissertation. They will be leaving at the end of this month for Peru for 4 months before returning here for another 8 months-- and then returning to Peru permanently.
Prayer Requests:
- The family of the girl that was kidnapped will also be invited to Easter. The little brother attends the Bible Club. Pray that they will attend.
- Mariano---Clara and Sergio's son that was in the accident has acknowledged his need to "know the Lord better." We believe he needs to be saved. Pray as Mike visits him. He is now recuperating at his home.
- A couple in our church is having major marital problems. The wife has continually been practicing lying and stealing---please pray for her conversion.
- The Easter Services:
7:00 AM--Sunrise service
8:00 AM--Breakfast that we will provide
9:30 AM--Morning Service
12:00--Lunch that the church people will provide
2:00--Fun and fellowship
Our people are so wonderful! They are preparing to serve and to be ready to talk with all of the visitors after serving. The potential for many coming is huge!!! We need this day bathed in prayer.
- Our own church people are @ 80.
- The church in the pueblo that used to preach the Bible (and now it is questionable if they do)---is coming. They have said that 20 are definitely coming. We have met more that used to go and they said that they are coming. So we are thinking ---maybe 40.
- The 27 Bible Club kids and their families are invited. So a potential of @ 50???
- And then our kids couldn't resist inviting some of their friends from their sports---another 10.
- Oh yes, and Fernando's 10.
If everyone came, we could have between 150-190 people here. Obviously, there is no way to know for sure. Pray that the Lord would bring who he would want to come and that he would prevent those that would hinder God's work.
Pray that we could maintain order, the Gospel would have free course with little distraction, and that people's lives would be changed. The best part of all of this is that our people are ready to minister. Praise the Lord!!!!!
***With open doors always comes spiritual warfare. We expect it. Two of our crew have been having nightmares. We prayed for that specifically---and the Lord gave sweet sleep, but please continue to pray!
With much love,
Faith for Mike and kids----and Bethany and Lauren too!
Friday, March 30
Goldfuss update (3/30/2012)
Dear Praying friends,
- The girl, Daniela, from our neighborhood who was kidnapped last week, was finally found this past Tuesday. We held off on giving you news as there were conflicting reports several times. Pray especially for Nico as he has opportunities with that family to give them the gospel.
- New couple at church, Sergio and Clara. On Monday morning at 5 AM, their 28 year old son fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a bridge. He has a broken hip and nose but the other passenger was in an induced coma. Pray for Mariano and Felipe that the Lord would use this to save them.
- Tere's grandson Marlon (4 yrs old) is in the hospital with pneumonia. Tere has been struggling with her diabetes and very serious family problems--none of her adult children are saved. Pray for the Lord to also use this situation to bring this family to Christ.
- Nico's wife, Liliana--her leg is getting progressively better. Each day for 2 weeks she has come to get it redressed and we have had more gospel opportunities with her than ever before.
- An old christian church up here in the pueblo where we live. The pastor is leaving and people say the church used to preach the Bible but no longer--some have been saddened by this. Pray for the Lord to open a door there if He would have us help them. We'd be very interested in helping them if the Lord would allow this.
- Praise--we have had a few more kids each week for our Bible club--27 this past week. The great majority of them have never heard the gospel before. Pray for our 5th week tomorrow (Saturday.)
Future prayer requests:
- Sunday services--we are studying 1 Corinthians right now. This past Sunday, Juana and Reme's mom (suffering some dementia) left between our 2 services and we could not find her. About 7 people went out looking for her. She showed up again on her own after going to visit someone that she knew. Everyone at church was very very preoccupied while she was just eating lunch with a friend. Needless to say, the first part of our worship service wasn't very worshipful with so many distractions.
- Don Pedro and wife. This Sunday evening after our services, I have been asked to do a "ceremony" for a couple that is celebrating 50 years together. They are not saved and there will probably be between 50-100 unsaved people present. Many in our church will also be there. Pray for the Lord to give me much wisdom in presenting the gospel during this time.
- We've been bombarded with minor health problems recently (as well as earthquakes--we had a 7.9 earthquake last week and they say that there have been over 120 aftershocks--we only felt the earthquake.)
Next Sunday, April 8, we will have our 5th consecutive sunrise service and then Resurrection service starting at 7 AM at our home. It is normally a very very full but blessed day. Pray that Christ will be glorified.
Thank you for your prayers,
In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfii
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