Fwd: Goldfuss update

Dear Prayer Partners,

 

This has been a crazy week!  We are thankful for all that The Lord is doing.  We had two new visiting families this Sunday!   I am trying something new in this update.  It will be a family update:)

 

Mike-----Had lunch with a man struggling in his life after leaving his wife for another woman.  He is back with his wife.  Pray for Juan Carlos to truly understand salvation.  He has claimed to be a Christian for over 17 years, but his church before coming to ours has been very weak on doctrine and what conversion truly is.  Please also pray for wisdom for Mike in dealing with Sergio.  He is a very proud man who knows a lot.  He constantly seeks to answer in our SS hour and almost always what he says has many errors.  He has not responded well to admonitions regarding this.   On a very happy note, Mike taught the last Bible Club story on Samuel.  Everyone went outside to play and Mike asked two boys why they did not go outside.   Both boys said that they wanted to talk more about what Mike had taught about sin.  Please pray for a genuine conversion for both Tonio and Mauricio.

 

Faith---- had another good opportunity to talk with the lady at the orange juice stand.  She is very interested in coming to church.  Also, a friend, Georgina, who I knew at former gymnastics gym, called on Thursday night and  asked to have a Bible study!  Please pray as our studies will be every Tuesday night at 6pm.  I also was able to get with a graphic designer who helped me make up maps for the church that we can stick on the back of our tracts.  Tere volunteered to help me cut all of them out.  She regularly gives many tracts.  One lady called on Saturday because of a tract that she received from Tere.

 

Mikey---was able to do the gran finale as Prince Mofutofu for Bible Club this last Saturday.  His friend Elias did a great job as the king and Shadow did a great job as the king’s lion.  The children seemed to love Mikey's renditions.  Overall there were 30 different children that came to Bible Club for 8 weeks with an average of 22 each week.  Pray for these seeds to keep bearing fruit.   Mikey is super busy finishing up 11th grade while taking History of Civ. for college credit. 

 

Cristi---was a great helper in Bible Club and even taught one week.  At the beginning of last week, Cristi fell all the way down a flight of stairs and was very bruised.  Thankfully, nothing was broken.  We had to take her to the doctor on Friday because her foot was still bothering her.  He put it back in place.  This last Saturday (the next day) right after Bible Club, we rushed to one of her few yearly gymnastics competitions.  She placed 3rd and helped her team win 1st place overall!

 

Carissa---also was able to teach one week of Bible school!  She helps with the food preparation for Bible Clubs and is always making us goodies.  Last Friday her basketball team was in the finals.  Unfortunately, they lost ; but Carissa did a great job and made the last points for her team-----a three pointer from way out!

 

Matthew---had fun reenacting last week's break-in.  He was the very first one finished with school---about three weeks ago!  He helped me this week make a box for church where we can keep all of the tracts.

 

Cheri---has been learning how to teach the songs in Bible Club.  She also just learned how to do a back-flip!  Always pleasant, she is the one who rushes to help with the dishes. 

 

Cara---is constantly swinging or flipping.  I spent most of the day on Thursday getting x-rays because she fell really hard on her arm.  Again, we praise the Lord that it was not broken!  (Maybe we should invest in bubble wrap to protect everyone). 

 

As the mom-nurse, I am so thankful that the rains have come to clean away some of the pollution.  Breathing issues and asthma have been better. 

 

Thank you again for praying!

In Christ,

 

Faith for Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Cari, Matt, Cheri, and Cara Goldfuss

Goldfuss update

Dear Prayer Partners,

 

I just really want to thank you for praying for our family and ministry for the last two months.  I am sorry that I have not been writing my weekly updates as I had been doing.  I hope to change that now that most of the children are done with school. 

 

   The ear surgery, although it was very simple, took a lot out of me.  My blood pressure dropped, and the doctor said that my drained feeling was because of all of the pain and lack of sleep the month before they could do the surgery.  Nonetheless, I was very tired and felt like I could barely do my necessary daily tasks for about three weeks after the surgery.

 

     During all of this, our church was going through a great trial with one of our families.  It became necessary for us to take care of some children several times.   

 

     Right at that time, The Lord had preordained the visit of Mike’s mom during the surgery and the arrival of Lauren Stone who had already asked if we were going to need help at the end of the school year.  I am overwhelmed at the love of our Savior.  He planned extra help right when we would need it.

 

     The Lord has been working mightily in our church through a number of situations.  Satan has attacked the leaders and their families.  We praise The Lord that we have all grown through these situations even though they have been exhausting. 

 

     Gabriel is studying Hosea right now with an eye on preaching some of that book to our church.  Pray for him and his family, and for Mike to have wisdom in helping him. 

 

      Mike is meeting with several men.  Pray for these times.  Many think that they are “Christians” but come from much false doctrine.  It is really doubtful that a number of them have been truly converted.  Pray for The Lord to truly illumine their hearts.

 

      Jorge and Ceci are our Puruvian couple who are studying here in Mexico City.  They are working with two young men who are relatives of people in our church and who are battling with addictions to drugs.  Pray for wisdom as they seek to give them the only means to freedom---the Lord Jesus.  We would love for Jorge and Ceci to be able to stay here in Mexico to work with us.  As it stands now, they are planning to head back to Peru in August because no jobs have opened up for him here.   Please pray for the Lord's will in their lives.

 

On the home front-  We have had a lot of physical problems including stomach parasites and asthma--due to the extremely high levels of pollution.  I have been so thankful that I have had some medical training to be able to help our family.  On a more happy note, 3 of the 6 kids are finishing details of school, but school is basically done for the year.  Mikey, however, is taking another college course by taking the second semester of History of Civ.  Since he is taking this for duel credit and at half price, we consider this as his equivalent to a job because he should save about $500.  He also has jobs lined up to do yard work.  He, as well as all of the children, have been a great encouragement to us during the last few months of difficulties.   Mikey has taken on the role of Prince Mofutofu from Africa for Bible Club.  The prince, who tells stories about Africa, is hysterical ; and the kids really seem to enjoy him.  (He made his sister, Cristi, carry his luggage because he is the prince of Sudan.  She was not thrilled but laughed at his spontaneity.)  Mikey is using a book that my uncle, David Naff, wrote called Stories I Heard in Africa.  (My uncle and aunt, David and Mary Naff were missionaries in Africa for over 40 years--and were extremely instrumental in my becoming a missionary.).  Anyway, this week is the last week of Bible Club.  Saturday, May 25th, is the grand finale.  “The prince” has promised to bring his pet lion for this memorable event (Shadow, our dog)---and has been training him.  The other special guest will be ---the King of Sudan, who is really Mikey's best friend, Elias.  Elias is deaf, and the idea is that he is so royal that he doesn't even speak.  Mikey will be the translator between the king and the kids through signs.  I know the kids will have a wonderful time, and Elias is really happy to be a part of the Bible Club. (I did have to let some of the kids in on the secret that Shadow is going to be the lion ----because some of the little kids were afraid to come.  All of this is 100% Mikey's idea, and it is fun to see what he has planned as each week has been a surprise.  

 

     We have had several new people who have been coming off and on during the past 8 weeks.  Please pray for Bryce, Carmelita, Javier, Francisco, Lucia, Odelva, Dinora, Alexia, Regina, and Dario.  Pray for each to understand salvation in Christ. 

 

   Thank you so much for each one of you who prays and gives to make it possible for us to serve our Lord here.  We are so thankful and overwhelmed by your love to us.

 

  In Christ,

 

Faith for Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Cari, Matt, Cheri, and Cara Goldfuss