Dear Family and Friends In Christ,
Increasingly out of control and depraved national and world events point to our Lord’s soon return and stir us more than ever to labor to our fullest in His harvest.
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” (James 5:7).
The earth may be filled with the violence of our reservations (Gen. 6:13), but our sovereign God will surely give the increase for faithfully sowing and watering His gospel seed.
Your prayers for ongoing ministries ‘midst reconstruction from last Fall’s breathtaking downburst and subsequent sandstorms were as appreciated and fruitful as your almost unbelievable gifts. BLESS the Lord and each of you for sufficient physical progress on our building, parking, and vehicles to know the great blessing of spiritual fruit through our Nov. 3-6, 2015 Native revival.
Alexis, Daren, Edward, Ezequiel, Ricky, Toni, and Valerie were touched enough by the revival to help with days of fruit picking and endless church ministries. Many other Cocopah and Quechan natives heard the gospel through Christmas and New Year’s services and the personal distribution of fruit bags or gifts and treats to almost every Cocopah home.
To God be the glory for significant spiritual inroads into the lives of Ashley, Karen, Lorie, Lydia S., Tillie, and Tyrus as well as for renewed contacts with Alyetha, Arturo, George, Laura, Sarah, Wanda, and the many others exposed to the Living Water over Christmas.
PRAY for these and the many who recently moved or disappeared into foster care and society at large. Chauncey, Darnell, Gabriel. Joe, Matthew, Ralph, Raul, and both Andrews are professing Christians we can rarely contact. James is growing in prison as are Shirley, Daren, and young people from the 50 mile North and West Reservation circuit.
Huge Godsends toward vehicle needs miraculously caught up repairs sufficiently to pick up all three reservations simultaneously. This brings in more children without increasing the “annoyance time” of their long rides with adults. How grateful we are for the Hastrichs’ age- tailored King’s Kids ministries to young people from all three reservations.
Lydia’s work with these and other children in Sunday School nurtures them further while opening heart windows to unimaginable needs. Personal conversations on the bus with literally abandoned, abused, or horribly neglected children have turned hopeless, atheistic, unloved, or suicidal thoughts in Cocopah as young as eight into renewed trust in our loving Savior.
PRAY His light will shine through our church/“orphanage” ministries and “pull brands” of all ages from the humanly hopeless fires of despair. (Jude 23) PLEAD for our Lord’s deliverance from the wake of death and destruction normally accompanying this month’s annual casino profit sharing checks. Pray for His convicting, saving power on our Jan. 30 church-wide Bible study/craft day and February/March revivals at Heritage and Maranatha Baptist churches.
Endless miles’ mission driving on remote unlined or mud-covered county roads make your prayers for strength and safety that much more critical and precious. These in turn stir us and give grace to pray for the scattered homes we pass and the unprovoked opposition or hatred we often encounter.
We began house and property repairs from September’s storm last month at the expense of heartfelt Thank Yous for your staggering Christmas gifts and kindnesses. We owe you more than gratitude for your additional prayers for each of these blessings and petitions:
BLESSINGS:
· Return of some Thomas, Twist, Hayes, and Stevens family members to church.
· James B.’s growth in prison.
· Edward, Eric, Toni, and Ricky’s adult Bible studies and help with physical work.
· Enormous special gifts for church building and vehicle repairs.
PETITIONS:
· Lydia’s February 9, 2016 eye surgery after cancellation of her 12/29/15 date due to chronic bronchitis.
· Dawn’s evaluation of cardiac irregularities.
· Lori’s spiritual and physical needs and the best custody of her 4 children.
· Silas’ church ministries ‘midst full time work and university commitments.
· Salvation of Oriah, Phoenix, Caesar, Jasmine, Lena, Marcus, Rosie, Sage and other children.
· Summer Neighborhood Bible Time and camp preparations.
· Resurrection Sunday Plans.
· The Hastrichs, Dawn, Lydia, Silas, and Edward’s long battle with the flu.
Gratefully Yours In Christ,
Michael, Dawn, Lydia, and Silas Veldhuis