Dear Prayer Partners,
New happenings.
Sunday 30th---again was full! We also have many children regularly coming! Mike is preaching on the teaching phase of training our children. It is being received very well. Next week will be our last one on parents’ and children’s responsibilities.
Monday---Mike was able to meet for several hours with a man (Vicente) who came as a visitor with Silvia. She has been witnessing to him for a long time. It was a very encouraging visit as the man seemed to be understanding more about salvation. Please pray for real conversion in this man.
Tuesday---Lauren (our former teacher) came as a surprise for Cara's 7th birthday! The 3 little kids did not know she was coming, and all were so happy to see her! We had them go into the cabin to find her. You can see this surprise on Facebook.
Mike's brother John is a pastor near St. Louis, and he has a jail ministry. We (first Mikey, then me, and then Mike) were able to speak on Skype with a man named Ricardo who is from Mexico City and is faithful in John's Bible study inside the jail. Ricardo had questions about knowing for sure that he was saved. In talking more with him, it appears that he is genuinely saved. Pray as we would like to have a weekly Bible study with Ricardo and two other men who also speak Spanish. We are not sure if this will be allowed as they strictly limit the men. John, however, seems to be doing a great job. The men who are interested take the time to look up in Spanish what they do not understand.
Our family also spent the rest of the evening having a special family time making a fun little video of Cara which is also on Facebook. (Mikefaith markell goldfuss)
Wednesday--Was Cara's birthday. She fell and broke her arm around 6 pm at gymnastics. I was not there to see the accident, but everyone there was very upset. Not wanting to rush into anything, I gave Cara ibuprofen, took her to church, heard a good message on the tongue, and had cake with all the church people for her birthday. Her pain began to increase, so after church I took her to the hospital. (Jessica and Lauren came along to help me.) Some of the doctors said that she had to see a specialist that night. I thought that it could wait until morning to see our orthopedic doctor, but they insisted. I didn't want to get just anyone since two doctors were suggesting surgery. (They thought one bone looked impacted.). The x-rays did not look that bad to me, so I really wanted someone that I could trust. It took me over an hour to locate our orthopedic surgeon, who is also a friend. Praise the Lord she was able to come to the hospital at that late hour—12:30 AM. She said that it did not need surgery, and she put a cast on her right arm. We ended up getting home around 3 in the morning.
Thursday---With an extra teacher, we have been able to get much school accomplished even with all of the chaos. A special birthday party was already planned for Cara for the evening with all of her little friends at gymnastics. We were not sure exactly what to do because Cara was in a lot of pain. Since the phone was ringing off the hook, and I knew that her friends and their moms were upset; I decided to double medicate her and take her. Praise the Lord, everything went very well, and I believe it was a testimony that we were calm and happy. I got to share again how our God is constantly in control---and what joy and peace there is in knowing that. Cara, feeling no pain, even headed over to the trampoline while I was still serving, - but was quickly stopped by her teacher. But guess what??? Two of the ladies from gymnastics are coming to our ladies conference----which is really something since they are STAUNCH Catholics.
Friday---another surprise!!! Jessica’s (our teacher) wonderful grandparents sent Jessica’s twin sister Jillian down here as a surprise! We had to keep this surprise for at least a whole month. It was so hard. You should see it. We hid Jillian, her twin, in the trunk of our little four-door sedan. Really it was priceless. I think they are going to put it up on Facebook.
During the whole week, we have been working here and there on things for the ladies’ conference. Our ladies are incredible. So many have come up with things that they want to make. One is decorating pens for the ladies so that they can take notes. Another is sewing napkins. Many others are making bookmarks and other things for the bookstore. And everyone is preparing food for the breakfast. Please keep April 12th in your hearts and minds. Last year we had 106, and we were crammed. We are moving out all of the furniture and trying to make room for more! Our ladies are planning to help serve and then will be sitting in the kitchen where they can see but will give priority to all the guests that they have invited. We are expecting a pretty big crowd.
So April 12th is the big day--- and Mikey is also taking his ACT.
I think we are all done for surprises for while—we hope. (And with Facebook)
Thank you for praying!
Faith
