David DeFord June 2015

Dear Family and Friends in Christ,

Where we’ve grown accustomed to contending with thorns in the desert, we were shocked back to reality in the mission work by the deadly effects of thorns of worldliness on the Cocopah.

“…that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Luke 8:14).

Opposition to gospel preaching was so brazen and fierce our final revival week that even the evangelist wondered if the time had come to “shake off the dust of our feet against them” and go to another tribe (Acts 13:51). Those who expressed themselves by not attending services chose the self-indulgent squandering of huge annual casino checks over the golden blessings of revival.

P.T.L. the substance abuse, seasonal sickness, imprisonments, new cars, “friends,” and apartments that sifted out many Natives pushed others back to the Lord! How thankful we are for the faithfulness of Autumn, Edward, Justice, Loren, Rickey, Toni, Tyrus and siblings to Bible clubs, studies and services after health and family crises and four weeks of back-to-back revival meetings.

The tribal death grip of Native pride, self-sufficiency, spiritism, substance abuse, and antagonism that confronts us daily makes each life giving conversion from the icy cold reservation tundra a true work of God. Every new birth and character transformation has become a miracle on the scope of “Aaron’s rod that budded” (Num. 17:8) to us.
Our Lord’s faithfulness to your prayers and enabling were the basis of joy unspeakable at the conversion of 62 year old Shirley, March 8, 2015. PRAY for this very frail lady’s health, growth, deliverance from alcoholism, and testimony to Mary and Millie, her unsaved peers.

Shirley’s neighbor, Cheryl, miraculously returned to church with two of her children and her boyfriend Stanford through our year’s work with Shirley. PRAY for others such as Alexis, Alyetha, Ashley, Belinda, Delsie, Jennifer, Jolie, Karen, Kayla, Kelsie, Lydia S., Roxanna, Valerye, and Wanda would be revived or genuinely saved through our May 23 ladies’ bake day and/or Bible studies.

THANK the Lord for the revival and stand of Jesse, Raul, James, and Jessica in our county and state prisons and the phenomenal growth of Ricky and Edward out of them. Their friend Kenny went the wrong way upon release, but by our Lord’s grace Ricky answered God’s call to preach! PRAY for Ricky and Toni’s health and marital well-being as well as for Edward’s employment needs as they begin their Christian service at the ages our first saved men passed away (forties and fifties).

PRAY for true conversion and/or consecration of nominal or lost adults and young people like both Andrews, both Angels, Cameron, Chauncey, Corey, Daren, Darnel, Ezequiel, Joe, Ralph, Thomas, Tim, Tyrus, and Victor through Bible Time, camp, and other summer ministries.

P.T.L. for the 2014 N.B.T. professions who still attend Bible club or Lydia’s Sunday School class! PRAY Benicio, Lilly, Justice, Loren, Marcus, Marriella, Molly, Tyler, Tylonna, and Tyrus will help us reach their many friends or relatives who moved or dropped out of church since last summer.

Lydia’s April lung function tests were far below normal though slightly improved over two years’ ago. Her Phoenix pulmonologist put her on an extremely low salt diet and three sessions of respiratory rehab per week prior to an upcoming heart catheterization June 2nd. Please PRAY the cath. will be uncomplicated and will disclose the status of her pulmonary hypertension clearly enough to show the best treatment plan.
Dawn’s meds are being changed and an unknown infection sought as possible contributors to her weakness and vasculitis flare. Your PRAYERS for her well-being are as appreciated as those for our Cocopah blessings or needs. You truly “strive together with us” (Romans 15:30) in this manner!

PRAISES:
· Richard and Mary-Francis Hastrich’s move to Yuma and assistance wherever needed.
· Return of Cheryl, Alyetha, Wanda, and others to church after long absences.
· Sufficient sacrificial Godsends to rebuild our 22 passenger bus and prepare our 66 passenger one for summer’s grueling schedule.
· Tires, heating, and A/C repairs for our most used van.
· Michael’s relief from back pain through cortisone shots and his unimaginably improved vision after cataract surgeries.

PETITIONS:
· Fruit in unreached or uncommitted ladies through their Bible study and Bake Day, May 23.
· True conversions and/or growth through Neighborhood Bible Time June 28-July 3 and
Native camp July 27-August 1.
· Very serious discipline problems at church with some foster children.
· Salvation of George, Joe, Arturo, Millie, Theodore, and other adults.

Your Servants In Christ,

Michael and Dawn Veldhuis

Dear Co-laborers in Christ,

Yuma’s third or fourth measurable rain of 2014 ushered in our nationally coveted winter temperatures in the seventies and assured the presence of Navajo evangelists from snow-covered northern Arizona at our November 3-5 revival meetings.

BLESS the Lord, each of you, and Heritage, Maranatha, and True Vine Baptist churches for the means and fruit of busing in capacity numbers of Cocopah for meals and convicting calls to true salvation and growth at each service. We saw no new converts but rejoice in the training of summer converts and the return to church of Wanda, George, and the Hayes, Stevens, and Thomas families through these meetings.

Dawn and Lydia further challenged unreached ladies and teen girls to salvation and growth through their Nov. 15th bake day and Bible study. These were also the goals of our Dec. 23 and 31st Christmas and New Year’s Eve services.

BLESS the Lord, each of you, and United Indian Missions near Phoenix for the citrus, gift packs, and winter clothes through which we got the gospel to the majority of our three reservations’ homes. Like the Athenians of Paul’s day blinded by the god of this world’s idolatry and superstition, “…some [Cocopah] mocked: and others said, we will hear thee again.” Through the grace of God and your prayers…“Howbeit, certain men clave unto him and believed…” (Acts 17:32-34)

Bible studies and sincere church participation are going well with Ashley, Darnell, Lydia S., Ricky, and others, though many are still unsaved or actually trying to scatter God’s flock.

Our most used vehicle for church meetings threw its’ rods right after the Nov. revival. This 1982 22-passenger bus was in good enough shape at 300,000 miles for Bro. Nam of Heritage Baptist to begin rebuilding it. THANKS for the gifts towards this huge project as well as the prayers that helped this brother get our 66-passenger bus home and repaired after breaking down on tribal land. PTL for enough drivers to shift passengers to our fifteen passenger vans and still have our Christmas service that night!

Inclement elements of Southwest Arizona Desert weather take a physical toll on us similar to that on vehicles and buildings. Dawn regained some strength through a stricter diet and more precise insulin dosages. PRAY however for a timely diagnosis of the tachycardia, skipped beats, and increased insulin needs which her doctors guess are due to an idiopathic infection or her vasculitis.

Lydia’s lung function tests worsened each of the last two years’ six month evaluations despite previously improved health in the desert as opposed to the mountains. PRAY her Phoenix pulmonologist will soon evaluate a new suspected cardiac component and halt the usual progression of pulmonary hypertension from oxygen support, to transplant, to respiratory failure and death. Lydia’s severe tachycardia simply feeding her dog or loading laundry illustrates why she’s made nonphysical ministries her primary mission contribution.

Silas, as a full-time Welding Department employee and student at our local junior college still picks up our third reservation route and helps with endless repairs. He and Lydia are praying about better career opportunities outside Yuma despite serving the Cocopah church as teachers, pianists, and ever-present monitors.

Their help getting out this update was delayed but not foiled by my last several months’ near inability to read or write as the result of the sudden growth of cataracts. Night driving is still safe but the haze of sunlight demands more prayer, assistance, or a substitute at other times.

Your PRAYERS for safe transportation to all ministries are as appreciated as they are for my eye surgeries Feb 12/’015 and March 9//’015. Treatment and further PRAYERS for the successful care of my July 2014 herniated disc and aggravated lumbar arthritis are enormous Godsends which will surely lead to His enabling (II Corinthians 9:8)

The prayers that brought salvation to forty year olds Nate and Marlin prior to their tragic deaths October and December, 2014 allowed us to comfort and give the gospel to their families despite pagan burial practices of others around them. GOD BLESS you for claiming the promise of His power through united prayer (Matthew 18:19) and praying with us for eternal life and growth through upcoming ministries rather than misery and death through the misuse of February’s annual casino checks.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

·      Ladies’ Tea Party and Bible Study, January 31.

·      Individual ladies, men’s, and jail Bible studies.

·      Lasting fruit through revival meetings at Heritage and Maranatha Baptist Churches Feb. 8-15 and March 31-April 4.

·      Our revival with Pastor Doyel of Emmanuel Baptist Mission March 22-25, 2015.

·      Salvation of Antonio, George, Millie, Shirley, and other adults.

·      Repentance and growth of both Angels, Daren, Jessica, Karen, Lori, Matthew, Roxanna, and the White and Alvanez children.

·      Obedience of true believers in baptism.

PRAISES:

·      Daren’s healing from a spinal infection.

·      Wisdom and provision for Christmas ministries beyond the enormous personal and vehicle needs.

·      Continued open doors reservation wide despite opposition by some individuals.

Gratefully Yours In Christ,

Michael, Dawn, Lydia and Silas