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:

1. 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.
2. 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).
3. L. and M. are praying about teaching a special series in Sunday School to the children.  Pray for this step of service.
4. 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:

1. Faithfulness for those who come every other week or even more sporadically, Gaby, Marbella, Erasmo and Matilde, and Luis and Claudia.
2. 2 older couples--both new in the last month---prayer for marriages and wisdom in counseling.
3. One man who has done a great job leading but feels very unworthy to lead.  
4. Follow up on a family that visited for 2 weeks, but did not come yesterday.
5. 3 of our children are done with school and the other three are almost done!
6. 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

Goldfuss update (4/23/2012)

Dear Praying Friends,


We had a very intense and wonderful weekend and Lord's Day. 
Praises: 

1. 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. 
2. 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. 
3. 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. 
4. 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. 

Prayer Requests: 

1. A new lady and her mom, daughter and son and two small children have been attending the last two weeks. 
2. 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. 
3. 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. 
4. 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. :-) 

Thank you so much for your prayers, 
In Christ, mike for all the goldfii

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.

• 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. 

We have included pictures from Easter and then from Bible Club today! Thank you for praying and please pray again for services tomorrow. 
In Christ, Mike and Faith for all the Goldfii

Goldfuss update (4/5/2012)

Dear Prayer Partners,

You have been praying.....and the Lord has been opening doors!

Praises:

1. 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.
2. 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!
3. 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).
4. Bible Club was great---again a wonderful turnout 25 children.  We are inviting all of these children and their families for Easter Sunday.
5. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. A couple in our church is having major marital problems.  The wife has continually been practicing lying and stealing---please pray for her conversion.
4. 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!