Goldfuss update (December 29)

"Mexico is the world's 2nd market for job related stress, following China. Economic factors, social environments, violence, transportation challenges and family problems all contribute to the stress of most workers" (Reforma, page 2).

This quote was no surprise to us when we read it yesterday. We know of people who get up at 5:00 AM to leave their homes by 6:00AM to take between 3 and 4 hours to get to work. One young lady in our church does this only to arrive at 10:00 AM! When she leaves work, she sometimes arrives as late as 10:00PM depending on the return traffic! Thankfully, for her, this is not every day. Some are not as fortunate. Most also work a half of a day on Saturday.

Working in the world's largest city is very challenging which is why finding extra time to work on the new church building could be equally as challenging. BUT WE HAVE A LORD IN HEAVEN THAT CAN MAKE THE DIFFICULT POSSIBLE! The men have had an excellent spirit facing this daunting task. Please pray for a very essential and important meeting that the men will be having tonight after prayer meeting to decide how we can rotate the work between all to be the most efficient.

Our illness still continues. We may be on the mend. Mike has lost over 10 pounds. Cheri is the worst now.

We depend upon your prayers,
Mike, Faith, Mikey, Cristi, Carissa, Matthew, Cheri, and Caralyn Goldfuss

Goldfuss update (December 21)

Dear Prayer Partners,

Many praises!

The Lord gave Mike and Carissa a very busy, but safe trip to the border. As Mike wrote the following on Facebook:
On our round trip to Texas and back:
# of crashed semi-trucks in accidents--6
# of dollars spent for a year's supplies--too many
# of bullets heard or taken--0
3 1/2 days with Carissa ----------------priceless"

1. Mike had the privilege of preaching at Lala's 90th birthday party on Saturday. He was able to preach to over 70 relatives, the majority of them unsaved. We sought to honor Lala and even more, Lala's Lord. Because of this, we were not able to participate in the church's first work party. This, we are sure, was of the Lord because the people dug right in and began doing the work without us.
2. All Saturday, many of our church people worked at a new location for the church. One problem is that it is going to cost more than what the men of the church originally thought. All expenses will be taken off the rent---so that is a big help. The men feel that one major advantage of the move is that we will be able to put up a big sign and have our own location. (Our present landlord has never allowed that in the past). Please pray for wisdom for the men. They reported that the work party had a good spirit and that all worked well together. You can see in some of the pictures that they had to move a whole pile of red stone up to the second floor (in buckets) to fill in so that the floor will be one solid level instead of two.
3. The next work meeting is Saturday---Christmas day. Since Mexico celebrates Christmas in the evening of the 24th, there is no conflict for them. So that our family will be able to help, we will be celebrating our American Christmas with our family on the 24th, then the Mexican Christmas with them on the evening and night of the 24th. Then there will be another big work party during the day of the 25th.---And finally church on Sunday with a baptismal service, a meal together, and a Christian video following the usual services. Please pray for the great spirit to continue. You all can think of us on Christmas day when we have our work party; and please pray for unity, love, and wisdom for our church people. ***I almost forgot to ask for prayer at the special Christmas service on Thursday evening the 23rd!!! (pictures are included from the 1st work party). So that means activities with the church people from Thursday through Sunday!
4. Mike was invited to preach at another church in the city for their Christmas service on Sunday evening. What a great opportunity as there were many visitors. How we miss Jon to help with all of the preaching. Please pray for stamina for Mike.

Thank you so much for faithfully praying for the ministry here in Mexico City and for our family. How thankful we are to have a Savior from all of our sin! Thank you Lord for sending your Son! And how thankful we are to have you standing behind us in prayer!

With much love, the Goldfusses
(Faith) for all the rest of us--Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Carissa, Matthew, Cherith, and Caralyn

Goldfuss quick update (December 12)

Dear Praying Friends,

Please pray:

1. Tomorrow morning, (right now in about 5 hours) Carissa and I are leaving to accompany Jon and Andrea and family to Texas. Please pray as this trip is much more dangerous here in Mexico now.
2. Quickly, we just found out this week that our church is going to be moving to another place to meet. The new place has a ton of work that needs to be done, but the people are excited about doing it. Please pray that this would draw us closer in the bonds of love and that we would all pitch in and help for the Lord's glory and the good of His people.
3. This coming Saturday, I will be preaching at Sra. Lala's 90th birthday party--in front of many of her unsaved family members. Please pray that the Lord will give me wisdom and the ability to give the gospel clearly and glorify the Lord for Lala's life.
4. Many opportunities for preaching this Christmas season. Please pray for the Lord's wisdom and for the gospel to be presented clearly.

Thank you for your prayers,
In Christ,
mike for us all

Goldfuss update (December 6)

Dear Praying friends,

We had a wonderful time in Florida at the family reunion that Mike's mom put together for the whole family. Mom flew us there and back and paid for our whole time together. Everyone had a WONDERFUL time. The kids all got to see their cousins--all 22 were able to spend 8 days together, and about 1/2 of them got to spend another 5 days together after several others had to leave for left for their homes. All of my brothers and sisters and spouses were able to be together too with Mom.

We have just recently started a new SS theme on why the Bible is trustworthy. Last Sunday I asked several of the people in the discussion time how old they were the first time they ever picked up a Bible and tried to read it. One lady said that she was 63 years old, a few people mentioned that they were in their 30's, and another lady who has attended for about 2 years said that she had never read or opened a Bible until she came to our church. Please pray that this study would increase our faith in and obedience to God's Word. Please also pray that Padierna Bible Church will be and remain faithful to God's Word. Pray that all of us will make it our lamp and light for our daily lives.

We have also been three weeks in a new study on the spiritual war that we are in with our own flesh, the world and the devil. There is no shortage of the enemy around and within us, and some folks have really been feeling that battle. The last few weeks, our attendance has been ravaged by a number of people sick and a number of other people just really struggling in their spiritual lives. Please pray for the Lord to give us much wisdom in dealing with different situations each day. Since the rains have gone, it seems like in the past 3 or 4 weeks, MANY are dealing with sinus, cough, cold and congestion due to pollution. Please pray for the Lord's grace to sustain us physically and spiritually day by day.

For the past year and a half, we have been privileged to have the Crocker Family, Jon, Andrea, Paul and Timothy, living in the cabin on our property. Sadly, they have to leave on December 13, a week from today. We are really really going to miss them. They have been a super tremendous blessing to our family and our church in the past year and a half. They have helped in the ministry in many many ways and will be very much missed here. Please pray for them as they will begin full time deputation to come back to Mexico City in the Lord's time. They would be a great missionary couple to support. :-) The church had a going a way dinner for them yesterday. Pray for Jon as he will be preaching and doing the SS hour this coming Sunday for the last time.

Jon and Andrea have helped greatly in our homeschooling for the past year and a half as well. They will be missed in that area as well. We are very thankful that the Lord has provided two young ladies to come and help for second semester--Rachel Steffensmeier and Jessica Snell. We trust that they will be a blessing to our family in homeschooling and that we will be a great blessing to them as well. Jon and Andrea haven't even left, Rachel and Jessica haven't even arrived, but it's probably not too early to mention that we will also need someone to come help with school in the fall. If you know anyone who would like to have that opportunity on a missionfield, please let them know that we would love to hear from them.

We have had a few more opportunities recently to give the gospel clearly. Pray especially for a lady who visited our home last Saturday--Elisabet.

Please pray for Mike and Carissa as they will accompany Jon and Andrea up next Monday to the Texas border. As you may have noticed in the recent months, the drug lords in Mexico have caused much unrest and violence throughout much of the country as they battle for the best drug routes. We would appreciate greatly your prayers for the Lord's protection of us as we travel next week.

Thank you so much for your prayers. We could not be here if you were not upholding us before the throne of grace--that grace that we all so desperately need.

In Christ,
Mike for all the Goldfii (Faith, Mikey, Cristiana, Carissa, Matthew, Cherith and Caralyn)