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

Goldfuss update

Dear Praying Friends,

 

Thank  you to all of you for your continued prayers for our family and church.

 

First of all, we are very thankful that Faith is recovering very well from the ear surgery.  Thank you so much for your prayers for her.  She is sorry that she has not written an update since her surgery, but the surgery left her unusually tired for about a month.  She has been trying to get caught up with the children in school-----and is almost there.  Her ear has been very sensitive to loud noises, but thankfully, she can hear 100%---and was unaware that she had lost so much hearing with the tumor.  Thank you so much for your prayers.   

 

The Lord has allowed our great enemy to sift a number of families and people in the church here.  We are in great need of prayer for protection from the evil one, for grace and strength in the battle, for eyes to be fixed on Christ, and for victory over temptation.  There has been a lot of discouragement lately, and we do covet your prayers.  There are a number of different folks who are struggling right now with contentment, alcohol, pride and envy.

Two faithful families are struggling right now with marriage problems—so much that their church attendance is being greatly affected. 

One problem that many families deal with is a lack of communication.  Little issues grow and become giant issues because people have never learned how to talk through a problem with the understanding that we all are sinners.  When you try to get to the bottom of an issue, and figure out that it was such a little thing in the beginning, you see how Satan can take something so little and make it into something so damaging. 

 

On a happy note, Francisco, a young college age man of about 30, has been attending pretty regularly for a number of months.  He is unsaved and studying philosophy in college right now.  He asks a lot of questions in our services and is very very good for our church people.  He asks honest questions, not questions that show an unbelief or a snarky attitude toward truth.  He has come to our home the last three Wednesdays to interview Mike about different questions.  He has recorded the interviews and is putting them up on YouTube to be a testimony to his friends and to help them with questions that they have as well.  We have sought to answer the questions, What is a true Christian?, What is confession?, How do I defeat sin in my life?, Are tithes required in church?, and What is truth?  Pray for the Lord to bring fruit from this endeavor. 

 

Just yesterday, Mike was able to talk to a man who served 12 years in jail and has just recently been released.  He said that he has served his time and paid his dues.  Therefore, according to him, he doesn’t really need to be worried about his relationship with God--that's if there even is one.  Pray for Javier as I was able to give him a little bit of the gospel and leave a tract with him.

 

Matilde is a gymnastics mom.  She worries constantly about everything.  Faith was able to give her a gospel-based book yesterday about defeating worry and preoccupations in our lives.  Faith has been able to explain the Gospel a couple of times, but Matilde’s eyes have been blinded.   Please pray that she would read the book, understand the gospel, and turn to Christ. 

 

Living in one of the world’s largest cities, it is often easy to be accustomed to seeing people without being concerned for their souls.  Please pray for our eyes to be fixed on our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, so that we might constantly see ourselves as we are, so that we might constantly recognize our own need of Him, and so that we might say as Isaiah did, “Here am I Lord, send me.” 

 

We are trying to finish up our school year.  We are sooooo blessed to have had Lauren Stone with us again for the past two months helping Faith with school.  Lauren will be leaving us again this weekend to go back down to where our other missionary friends, Jason and Danielle Boyle live.  She has one more section of Spanish language school to finish by the end of June.  Pray for Lauren’s clear understanding of what the Lord has for her in the future. 

 

We appreciate and greatly need your prayers.

In Christ,     

Mike, Faith, Mikey Cristiana, Carissa, Matthew, Cheri and Caralyn Goldfuss