Veldhuis October 2017 Prayer Update
Dear Praying Friends and Family,
In contrast to our recent “monsoon” season’s waterless tumbleweed whipping sandstorms, we have used every available means to water the seed sown through summer ministries and maximize the fruit of your provisions since our August letter.
Only eternity will tell the role your prayers played in giving the Word free course (II Thess. 3:1) and delivering Natives from the unrelenting, pernicious pull of traditional spirit worship and her children: substance abuse, pride, violence, indolence, and every imaginable sin of the flesh.
Eternal fruit from Bible clubs, Bible studies, church services, camps, revivals, witnessing, prayer, or any other ministry is thus the work of Him “with whom nothing is impossible” and “who shall deliver us from every evil work” (II Timothy 4:18). “Surely serving Him is a grace of unsearchable richness.” (Eph. 3:8)
How grateful we are for Brother Nam’s full repair of our newest 15-passenger van and our safe 600 mile trip home in the older one after the death of its battery in the wilderness of Apache Creek’s Deaf and Youth Camp. BLESS the Lord for the growth and greater faithfulness of participants in this camp as well as both Bill Rice West Branch Camps.
Amon, Clara, Justice, Lilly, Lilah, Marcus, Talon, and other grade schoolers are growing through Bible Clubs and Sunday School while Airus, Jere, Mariella, Molly, Tyler, and Tyrus are doing individual or group Bible studies with Jacob and Lydia or their youth group.
Bible studies and care packages are helping Christoferson (“Happy”) overcome threats of violence or pressure to do drugs at his Native high school in Oregon. PRAY we’ll find the optimal tools to disciple Happy 1400 miles away and Ani, Cayden, Cleo, Cylas, Jazmin, Kayden, Maya, Rosie, Sencia, and Talon here. The latter all disappeared into foster care or elsewhere after their major summer spiritual decisions.
Sixteen year old Tyrus took a giant step forward in participating in Bill Rice’s West Branch youth rally near Phoenix September 9, 2017 with four other Cocopah and dozens of teens. Mariella still did not understand the gospel, but subsequently began weekly Bible studies with Lydia. PRAY they will lead to a solid conversion of this thirteen year old young lady and deliverance from the substance abuse and tuberculosis of her highly dysfunctional family.
PRAY for her mother Sarah’s salvation while in rehab at Yuma’s Crossroads Mission as well as for that of Arturo, George, Millie, Sherri, Stanford, and others through our own Native Revival Meetings October 26-28, 2017. PRAY these meetings will bear as much fruit in the Alvanez, May, Miller, Hart, Serrano, Soto, and Thomas families as our September 23rd bake day did in the lives of Alexis, Airus, Justice, Mariella, Molly, Shirley, and Valerie.
Your prayers for God’s power in effecting true conversions and growth are as important and appreciated as they are for the camp meeting preparations. Thankfully, accommodations, meals, funding, vehicles, and travel plans that are well underway locally with Yuma’s supporting churches and miles away with Natives from True Vine Baptist in Phoenix or on distant reservations.
We sincerely ask the Lord to multiply and return the untold blessings of your prayers and sacrifices for every opportunity or challenge before us.
PRAISES:
- Jacob and Lydia’s commitment to indefinite Cocopah youth work after their excellent summer start.
- Sufficient control of Lydia’s lung diseases to resume part time teaching.
- Jacob’s participation with me in Treasure Valley Baptist Church’s Pastor’s School.
- Heritage Baptist Church’s surprise 26th anniversary celebration of our Cocopah ministries with many of you August 14, 2017. Your combined unbelievable gift for our first vacation since coming here (possibly after the camp meeting).
- Blessed missions meetings with Faith Baptist Churches of Washington state and Yuma Aug. 28th and Sept. 19th.
- Daren, Edward, Felipe, and Shirley’s faithfulness despite serious health problems.
- Hope Baptist Church of Toledo, OH’s new support and huge gift towards our church yard lighting.
- Silas’ seeking a good church upon accepting Miller Welding’s excellent job in Wisconsin.
- The return and help of winter visitors Michael and Rebecca Wilber.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Locate and follow up young people removed from homes by social services.
- Overcome the official tribal upsurge in Spiritism with the gospel and the Word.
- Time off work and the right messages for our camp meeting preachers.
- Installation of church yard lights and treatment of Quonset corrosion from the 2015 flood.
- The Wilbers and Hastrichs’ recovery from chronic health conditions and each of our strength and safety with the greatly increased revival and Christmas labors.
Faithfully Yours In Christ,
Michael and Dawn Veldhuis