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