Goldfuss update (2/20/2012)

Dear Prayer Partners,

Yesterday was our 15th anniversary. To be honest, it was both a wonderful and at the same time, a disappointing day.

1.  Two families came back who have not attended in years!
2. We had about 20 visitors--10 at church and 10 more who made it to the meal at our home afterward. There was a new family who is looking for a church. The 10 came from another church who may be looking for help since their church apparently does not preach the gospel. Pray for ministry possibilities here.
3. The disappointment was that about 20 of our regulars were not there! Although it was wonderful to have so many people in church, (there were about 70), we did not feel complete. It was like being so thrilled to have visitors for Christmas dinner, but missing your own family. Two families or couples were sick, two we are still unsure of, and one family is not taking receiving Biblical counselling well.
4.  Another disappointment was that Gabriel and Lilliana and their family worked all week to do a power point presentation of the last 15 years. They were so excited. But when it came time to view it after dinner, it wouldn’t work.
5. We had just been studying in Sunday school about being willing to allow the Lord to work and do His will. We were all willing for the change, but it was still disappointing. We are planning on seeing the presentation next Sunday before Sunday school.

Special Prayer—Jorge and Ceci. After being free from infection for almost a year, Ceci has another serious infection again. This is the same kind of infection that they believe killed their twin babies that she was carrying last year. She has also been sick with a cold this past week. Jorge as well had some unexpected problems with his dissertation that require a rather significant change in what their plans have been. They were not able to be with us to celebrate yesterday. They will need to stay in Mexico for around another month before they are able to return to Peru.

Thank you for praying,

Mike and Faith for all the Goldfii   

Goldfuss update (2/13/2012)

Dear Prayer Partners,

Praises:

1. After talking extensively with Luis this week, he can give a clear understanding of the Gospel. Pray that it is indeed a true profession. Time will tell.
2. Angelica—who is a 7th day Adventist, attended church on Wednesday night. Pray as she just wants to follow the Lord —not Ellen White. Pray also as Reme and Juana keep witnessing to her. She seems to be trusting in her works.
3. A couple—Clara and Sergio have been coming for about three weeks.
4. Fernando—keeps coming and learning although he has a background of not believing that Jesus is God.
5. Gabriel has now been added to Memo in teaching Sunday school!—and he did a very good job yesterday!

Prayer Requests:

1. Sundays are a big family day in Mexico. Many people work ½ days on Saturdays. Two of our families are struggling with being faithful to the Lord’s house when families want to have get togethers. It would be feasible to go with the family after church, but they struggle with choosing family over the Lord.
2. Two folks to be under the Word faithfully—Gaby (whose husband has left her), Pedro—who is unsaved and formerly corrected Mike’s sermons years ago.
3. Jorge and Ceci —have their tickets to return to Peru on March 6th. Pray as they will be living with his unsaved family during that time. They will be gone for six months and then return here for eight more months while finishing his doctorate.
4. Next Sunday is our church’s 15th anniversary! We will be having a big dinner up at our house after the services as well as a PowerPoint presentation prepared by the Yolo family of God’s many blessings over the years.

We do praise the Lord that yesterday, even though we were missing a few, we were still full!! Pray for our whole church to be so full of Christ’s love, that evangelism will be the overflow of that great love. Ephesians 3:17-19. Thank you so much for your prayers for us.

In Christ,

Mike and Faith for all the Goldfii

Goldfuss update (2/8/2012)

The Lord has opened many daily opportunities to give the Gospel. Thank you for praying! We believe that this is a direct result of your prayers.

Praises: 

1.      Saturday teen get together—Over 40 teens and parents attended the teen get together from four different churches. We praise the Lord that several unsaved teens came including...

2.      Jonathan—Tere’s grandson who has been struggling with a drug and alcohol problem. Tere said that it was truly a miracle that he even came! Mike had a great opportunity to talk with him about the Gospel for about 20 minutes! He listened and was open as this has not been the case in the past.

3.      Mario—Juana’s neighbor that is now friends with Mikey. He is 14 and is encouraging his parents to leave their Seventh Day Adventist church and come to ours. Pray for that entire family’s salvation.

Prayer requests:

1.      Tere’s son—Surgery this past Saturday and for him to be open to the Gospel.

2.      Roberto—Juana’s brother-in law—serious health needs. Mike was able to visit him in the hospital and he was more open to the gospel than before. Just was released from the hospital on Saturday and wants to come and thank the church for their prayers.

3.      Silvia brought a Catholic lady to church Sunday—Margarita.

4.      Martha who has come very sporadically. She just had her spleen removed and was in church two weeks ago with Miguel, a man who is not her husband. Please pray for their spiritual needs.

5.      The Lord has given us several opportunities to witness to people we haven’t seen for years. Some former closed doors have been reopened.

6.      Marta—a lady and her family that came seven years ago with her family. She came on Wednesday night.

7.      Osvaldo—a young man who made a profession of faith our first year here. He now has a family with four little girls. Pray that he would come back to church as he is reading his Bible and realizes his need to lead his family in the things of the Lord. We have not seen this man for close to 10 years.

8.      People relocating—

9.      The LaBelles—This family is here because of work. They have been faithful for three years and are being relocated back to the States by His company. They have been a big help. We are hoping that they can stay until September.

10.  A Peruvian couple, Jorge and Ceci. They are very faithful and are leaving this month to go back to Peru for 8 months. He is working on his doctorate and has a class to finish there. Then they will return here for another year before going back to Peru to serve the Lord.

11.  Two young couples are buying or building homes. (These are core families). Since the land is so expensive—500 square meters being almost 100,000 US dollars, they are both going to the outskirts of the city which in one case is 3 hours away where land is cheaper—and so that they don’t have to pay exorbitant rents. Both plan to be faithful to church, but six hours traveling on Sunday seems very very unlikely with the couple who is going to the north. The other is going to the southeast. Pray for the Lord’s will and if He wants church plants to be started with these couples that He will give them wisdom and strength to do this. Pray for us to not to be discouraged with these moves, but realize that the Lord is building His church—and it is not necessarily in one location.

12.  Salvation—Luis—Mike got to spend a lot of time with him on Monday. Pray for a true conversion or for fruit that will remain if he truly is converted. Also for: Pedro and Fernando

Upcoming events

1.      Wed. 7:30—normal prayer meeting

2.      Fri. 7:30—Men’s meeting

3.      Sat. 2:30—Churchwide dinner at Lourdes and Lala.

4.      Neighborhood Bible Club starting in two Saturdays.

Thank you for helping so much in the fight by your spiritual work of prayer.

In Christ,

Faith