Goldfuss update (6/30/2012)

Dear Prayer Supporters,


Praises: 

1. Thank you so much for praying! Because of your prayers, we were able to finish the roof before the big rains came! 
2. Also, last week we had the Bob Jones University team come. Our first two nights of special services had to be canceled due to a late arrival, but our people really enjoyed Saturday's fellowship, games and preaching as well as the special music and preaching on Sunday. The team also was exposed to the big city and was able to pass out hundreds of tracts in rapid fashion. We are praying that the Lord will burden some of the team members to come back and help us if the Lord should lead in that direction. 
3. Mati--a lady whose daughter attends gymnastics totally opened up about her doubts with her own Catholic church! I (Faith) have witnessed to her for one year--and she has been nice, but closed to the things of the Gospel. Last Friday I was kind of embarrassed because she normally gives us a ride when we cannot drive on Fridays. Helping our troop is no small feat. But I quickly asked the Lord to forgive me for focusing on myself because it almost seemed like she was waiting to unload everything that was on her heart without everyone else around. My kids were dumbfounded and Mikey and Cristi even joined into the conversation. I was able to give her a pamphlet that I had from a former priest who God has saved---and the Lord planted another seed in her heart. Pray for Mati, her husband, and her two children--Dani and Rodrigo---who are best friends with Cristi and Matthew.

Prayer Requests: 

1. We desperately need 2 school teachers for the fall to help with homeschooling our 6 children. We have the BJU DVDs. So mainly, the teaching would be helping proctor and extra studying with one of our children who is dyslexic and sometimes needs things read to her when headaches plague her from excessive reading. So far we have no teachers.
2. On a sad note, we had some money stolen on Saturday at the get-together at our home. Pray for us as we deal with the situation.
3. Please also pray for the 5 men who will be taking the services for us while we are gone. They have been preparing for several months. Pray for their hearts, their deliveries and that this will be a real growth step for our church. There are a couple of the men who have some problems with each other. Satan would love to be able to cause divisions. Please pray that they will truly uphold each other in prayer and that they will unite in the Lord's work while we are gone.
4. Also, Lourdes is completely heading up VBS. The ladies have helped for years and everyone is stepping up serving exceptionally well. VBS will be July 16th---18th. This is the first VBS without gringos---and it appears that they will not need us! Praise the Lord!!!
5. Lenny and Mariana are taking the children's Sunday School class for the whole month of July. Since they cannot help with VBS in the middle of the week due to work, they are taking the Sundays to free the ladies so that they can concentrate on Vacation Bible School. It is wonderful to see how everyone is pulling together to get the work done!
6. Pray for Cristi as she stays to finish the art work of transforming the church for VBS and complete her year of gymnastics at her competition. Pray for her and Reme to be a shining testimony to all of our unsaved friends.
7. Please pray as we are leaving Sunday after church to begin 6 days of travel to PA. Faith's mom is not doing well and we are asking prayer for wisdom for the doctors as she is having trouble breathing when she tries to do anything. She is fine when she is sitting. Pray that we would be a blessing and a help----and not too much for both mom and dad.
8. Pray for Mike as he preaches 3 Sundays that we are gone. We will return in August. We love you all and thank you for upholding us in your prayers. We truly depend on them. Please pray especially for Monday and Tuesday as we will be driving through the most dangerous parts of Mexico. Pray for Cristi on Friday, July 13th as she flies out of Mexico City Airport. They just had a shooting there on Monday in which 3 federal police agents were killed by drug cartel people dressed like police officers right in the airport. We praise the Lord that we know that OUR GOD is in control ---and we praise the Lord that we are not bound by superstition---(Friday the 13th--like most of our unsaved friends here). Our children are HIS and HE is ours. Whatever he decides is best. 

In Christ, 
Faith for the Goldfusses 
Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Carissa, Matthew, Cheri, and Caralyn

Goldfuss update (6/8/2012)

Dear Prayer Partners,

Now that school is over, we have been busier in the last 3 weeks!!?? How is that possible?? So sorry that we haven't written. So much has happened.

1. The three men that are the leaders have all been undergoing personal struggles. These three will be taking over while we are in the States for the month of July. Each of them has been struggling with exactly the theme with which they will be preaching. For example, one who has been in danger of losing his job, has the theme of --faith. Please pray for these three men: Gabriel, Memo, and Nico. Pray for Mike as he has been working with each of them as they develop their messages.
2. Even though Marcos and Ruth and Jorge and Ceci have left because of moving, the Lord is bringing us new people! (Jorge and Ceci will be returing from Peru on August 30th.) Sergio and Clara---now understand that they need to use the Gospel in their marriage relatationship. In such a short time, the Lord has done miracles in their lives. They are growing in this area, and are actually a happy addition to the church. (Remember this is the couple that were verbally attacking each other right in our marriage class.) Lilliana--Nico's wife really is showing that God has changed her! She is so different. This is the lady that nearly lost her leg to an infection. She is showing the love of Christ to her family and working together with her husband. Her son, Miguel, who is 16, has returned home. The condition of his return was that he work with Nico, obey him, and go to church. The Lord is working here. He is wanting to read the Christian doctrine book that we are studying in Sunday School! Nico's sister, Guille, has come for spiritual counselling. We were able to give her the gospel for about 2 hours. Please pray for her salvation. Carmen is a new comer that went to church far away. She already has volunteered to help the ladies with VBS. We are so pleased to have Jose and America back with us. They are working with their little ones to have them in the services and really being a vital part of the church now---when before they were kind of in the background and expected much without giving anything.
3. Special Praise: We had 73 people for a Youth Ralley. Over 30 were actually teens. Lots of their families came. First ,we went to a tree maze to play freeze tag, then climbed the mountain behind our home, and finally ate and played games. It was particularly entertaining to see 2 teams trying to throw round cheese balls on the heads of two of the oldest guys. How did they stick? Well, we had prepared their heads with whipped cream on top of shower caps! We want to praise the Lord for all 73 who heard Mike's devotional about "Remembering our Creator in the days of our youth." Tere's unsaved grandson brought two friends, and Mikey brought his 15 year old atheist friend, Eukenni, from basketball. I'm sure that there were many more unsaved people there as we had teens from 4 different churches. When it was time from the devotional, Eukenni said, What is an atheist supposed to do now? Mikey said, "Well, you don't have to convert, you just have to listen." Eukenni agreed and later thanked us two different times for inviting him. Please pray for the Lord to work in his heart as well as in his mom's heart (Claudia.) Faith gets to talk to her frequently. We were particularly praising the Lord for Mikey's answer as we might have ASKED Eukenni to listen. Mikey, however, TOLD him to listen. We thank the Lord for placing the boldness there. 

In all of the normal busyness of services, discipling, and counselling, we are continuing to try to prepare the roof of our home for rainy season. The dome lights are all finished! I'm sure you can picture 6 kids with dad scraping away. There is one problem: rainy season started this week. We just need 2 more dry hot days to seal the roof with impermeable paint. Please pray for the Lord's will in this matter. Mom is heading up a complete spring cleaning! It is exhausting!!

 The Lord has enabled us to supply the church people AND the family of 5 Bible Club children (who lost their father and grandfather) with good used clothes that we do not need anymore. Because of this, Faith was able to meet the children's mother for the first time. It is hard to be in contact with her as she is always working. Our kids' health: Since the rains have come, most are better. Cristi and Carissa are not-- and have sinus infections. Cristi has been sick almost continually since October. Please pray for us to figure out with the allerologist how to help her.

Upcoming events:

1. BJU team---June 20--27. 
2. Victor and Shelley Labelle are leaving with their family the 27th to go back to the States to accept another position with his job. 
3. We leave July 2nd. Cristi will be staying in Mexico for an extra 10 days to compete in the end of the school year gymnastics competition. She will be staying with Reme and they will be working on the HUGE job of doing all of the art to transform the church for VBS. Please pray for her to continue to be a good testimony to her unsaved friends at gymnastics and as she flys to Cleveland on July 13th.
4. Third week in July---VBS headed up by Lourdes with tons of help from Juana and Karina. We do need you to pray for our church while we are gone. There has been good attendance, and expect some visitors during the BJU team visit and several special activities-----and then all of the gringos leave! Victor will be especially missed because he plays the piano. Please bathe our people in prayer while we are gone that they would not become discouraged and that they would continue in the work of the Lord while we are gone. Our kids won't be there to help with piano playing. Please pray for Yoltic, Yolat, and Yolotzin Olivares as they will be in charge of the music for the month that we are gone. 

 WOW! that was alot. Thank you so much for your ministry to us and our people of holding us before the Lord in prayer.

In Christ, Faith for the Family-----Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Cari (short for Carissa), Matt, Cheri, and Cara

Goldfuss update (5/9/2012)

Dear Prayer Partners,

Praise:

The people were really prepared as we discussed what we believed about the Bible in Sunday School.  It was a huge blessing.  We are going through a book on Christian Doctrine--and before we began, Mike asked what we believe personally about the Scriptures.  The answers were truly amazing and such a blessing to hear.  Please continue to pray as we are writing our church doctrinal statement from this study.

Prayer Requests:

1.  Lilliana asks prayer for Miguel her son.  He is only 16, but has been living with other relatives and in the streets because he refuses to submit to the parents--Nico and to Lilliana.  He is hitting bottom ---and we pray that he will agree to obey and be a part of their family again, be under the Word, and be truly converted.

2.  Victor and Shelley LaBelle--have received word from his company that they will be leaving us at the end of June.  Victor and Shelley and their 4 children have been a huge help to the ministry here for the last 3 years.  We are really sad to see them go.  They will be first based again in Delaware, but Victor is open to wherever the Lord will send him in the world.  Please pray for them as they continue to serve the Lord wherever he has them.  And please pray for us as their absence will leave a huge gap.

3.  This Friday is our men's meeting---Since the men have agreed to preach during the month of July when we will be away, they have received some tremendous spiritual attacks.  Three families have moved or will be moving.  That may also add to their discouragement as there will be fewer people present to hear them preach.  Please pray for spiritual understanding and strength for Memo, Nico, Gabriel and Beto. 

4.  Sick-----Sick-----Sick--------!  Our children and also Bethany and Lauren have been plagued with nagging colds, sinus problems and coughs for the last month and a half.  We left the city for 2 days last week to help and when we got back the next day, some were ill again.  Please pray as our doctor says that it is a combination of the pollution, drastic weather changes from hot to cold, and then all of the ash from our friendly neighborhood volcano!  Popocatepetl, 60 miles away near Puebla, is very active at this time and we have been getting a lot of ash in the air.  So please pray.  Mom's exhausted.  

Cristi will be going to an allergist and then an endocrinologist for help as she has been sick almost constantly with something since October.  

Carissa has been having back pain.  We finally got an x-ray (she never complains)----and her tailbone is broken!!!!!!!!  She broke it last summer on the slip and slide at camp and says that it has hurt since then.  We need to do an MRI because it should be better by now. 

We do praise the Lord that Mikey's severe cough---almost 5 weeks--- is now better.  The little 3 just take turns with all of the respiratory illnesses.

5.  Mikey and Cristi both have official testing next week with another missionary Jason Boyle as it has to be a non-family member who tests them for high school.  Two of the six are still finishing school this week.

6.  Bethany and Lauren will be leaving us next week.  Please pray for them as they need to make decisions regarding their futures!  They have been such a help to our family during this past school year.  Please pray for the Lord to provide other teachers for this coming school year.  If you would be interested or know someone who might be interested, please let us know.

Thank you so much for upholding us before the Lord!

In Christ, 

Faith for the family           

Goldfuss prayer update (4/29/2012)

Dear Prayer Partners,

As always we thank you so much for upholding us and the Lord's ministry here in prayer.

The Lord Builds His Church:  We were down in numbers.  One family was at a homeschool conference, and we were all missing Jorge and Ceci who left Saturday for Peru.  However, the Lord brought us a visiting couple...and He is equipping those who are here to help the new ones who are arriving.

Praise:

1. Lilliana came to church with her children and without Nico.  In the past, she has been the one who did not want to come.  We need to bathe this family in prayer.  It seems that Nico is feeling the weight of his sin of leaving his first wife.  He is now realizing that it was a big mistake to leave his first wife--Reyna.  He abandoned her when their children were around 10, and Reina had to rear their children by herself.  Now that he has lived 13 years with Lilli, he wants to do the same thing to her.  Please pray as the Lord seems to be opening Lilli's heart.  Please pray for wisdom as we know everyone involved, and truly want to glorify God in our counseling each person.
2. Memo has a desire to meet with and deal with or disciple those who are new.  Please pray for him as he meets with Roberto (Juana's brother-in-law).
3. L. and M. are praying about teaching a special series in Sunday School to the children.  Pray for this step of service.
4. Last night Mike had the opportunity to preach to about 30 people in a drug and alcohol rehab lock down.  Pray that God's Word would not return void.  There was one young man that already had a some Bible knowledge and Mike was able to talk with him further.

Prayer:

1. Faithfulness for those who come every other week or even more sporadically, Gaby, Marbella, Erasmo and Matilde, and Luis and Claudia.
2. 2 older couples--both new in the last month---prayer for marriages and wisdom in counseling.
3. One man who has done a great job leading but feels very unworthy to lead.  
4. Follow up on a family that visited for 2 weeks, but did not come yesterday.
5. 3 of our children are done with school and the other three are almost done!
6. And finally our own spirits.  Our goal is to start a church and leave it independent.  It's very hard to watch people be trained and then move away.  They are serving the Lord in other places, but it doesn't fulfill our long range goal of leaving an independent church.  Pray that God's goals would be the goals that we desire to further and fulfill.    

On the home front:  we are finishing school as well as getting ready to prepare the outside of the house for the "monsoon" rains that come with rainy season.

**I can't believe that I forgot to mention---On Wednesday the church where we meet was officially sealed by the bank.  After a number of phone calls with the owner, everything was cleared up in the afternoon.  It appears that the owner has not been paying the money due on the house payment.  I guess she used the rent that we paid for the whole year on other things.  Pray for the men to have wisdom and kindness in dealing with her.  

Thank you again,

In Christ,

Faith for the whole Goldfuss family----Mike, Mikey, Cristi, Cari, Matt, Cheri, and Cara

Goldfuss update (4/23/2012)

Dear Praying Friends,


We had a very intense and wonderful weekend and Lord's Day. 
Praises: 

1. Friday night men's meeting. It was a good meeting. We will be going for a month to Pennsylvania in July to see Faith's mom and dad. We worked out who will be doing the SS and preaching services for that whole month.  Five men are going to be dividing up the fruit of the Spirit to preach to our congregation. Please pray for them to have wisdom and that I would be a good mentor for them. 
2. Lilliana's leg. As her LEG has been healing, God has been opening her HEART. We are starting a Bible doctrines class in SS that will enable us, Lord willing, to create our own doctrinal statement for members. Lili asked this morning what the book says--she is unable to read. So Bethany, one of our school teachers, is going to read out loud the whole book and record it for Lili. Praise the Lord for Bethany's willingness to go way out of her way to do this for Lili. 
3. Jose and America. Left about 3 years ago due to several issues. After our marriage class in the afternoon yesterday, he came up to me and asked me to forgive him for his pride and bad attitudes that just "took his own family through the mud." It was wonderful to immediately be able to give him a big hug and extend forgiveness. It has been wonderful to have them back for about the past month and a half. Pray for the Lord's work in this family. 
4. Our marriage class. We had 22 people in attendance and were missing one couple who normally comes--due to sickness. It was an extremely INTENSE class as the oldest couple we have basically unleashed years of pent up feelings and emotions against each other. The wonderful thing was that about 3 or 4 people gave them wonderful counsel from the Scriptures. It was tremendous to see them stepping up with the gospel and God's Word to gently rebuke and encourage this couple. At the end, the man said, "We are thankful God brought us here; the church is a hospital for us." Please pray for S and C. 

Prayer Requests: 

1. A new lady and her mom, daughter and son and two small children have been attending the last two weeks. 
2. Marcos and Ruth are moving about 3 hours to the north. Pray for them--family, marriage, move and for them to find a new church closer to them. 
3. Jorge and Ceci. We had a time of prayer for them yesterday. They will be leaving to go back to Peru for 4 months to do his field work for his dissertation. Their long term goal is to start a Christian university there. 
4. On the homefront, we are having spirit week with the kids this week as we seek to finish up the school year. Pray that the Lord would enable us to finish school in the next two weeks. Mom, Bethany and Lauren would appreciate your prayers for that--as would the kids too. :-) 

Thank you so much for your prayers, 
In Christ, mike for all the goldfii