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
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