Veldhuis May 2019 Prayer Update
Dear Family and Friends in Christ,
How good it is to freely appeal to our Lord’s eternal rewards when words fail and circumstances hinder our individually thanking and returning you the enormous blessing of your faithfulness this year.
“For God is not unrighteousness to forget your work and labor of love, which we have shewed toward His
name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (Hebrews 6:10)
Your inquiries, prayers, gifts, and special provisions for my cancer treatments and Jacob and Lydia’s needs are fresh enough memories to view this update as a personal note of gratitude to each of you.
January 8, 2019 Yuma obstetricians and cardiopulmonary experts referred Lydia and Jacob to a Phoenix high risk perinatal clinic with the goal of getting Lydia to a potentially viable 26-week delivery of their firstborn
son. Low oxygen Sats, potential heart failure, edema, and crippling weakness made carrying the baby much farther too risky, but God blessed her beyond our boldest prayers.
Countless prayers undoubtedly superintended the frequent ultrasounds, prenatal and cardiopulmonary care, E.R. visits, and hospitalizations that culminated in Samuel Jacob Jones’ delivery, March 28, 2019 at 7lbs 4oz.
Despite initial food intolerance and reflux problems, Samuel’s four pound weight gain in as many weeks highlighted the toll his delivery had taken on Lydia. Twenty-nine hours of induced labor ending in a C-section left her hospitalized again a week later with life threatening edema and possible heart failure. THANK the LORD Lydia gradually recuperated enough this month to resume full time Cocopah work here with Jacob. PRAY for their remaining 50% support needs as Jacob canceled May meetings to be home. He will make occasional short deputation trips solo until Lydia and Samuel are able to accompany him.
Nine weeks of weekday focused prostate radiation treatments ran from Nov. 27, 2018 through Jan. 28, 2019 for me. Morning sessions allowed me to carry on all ministries in the afternoons and weekends with extra rest.
One blessing was their conclusion in time to attend Grace Baptist Church’s annual Bible Believer’s Conference in Corona, California, Jan. 28-30th.
General exhaustion and other radiation side effects diminished steadily throughout February and permitted the resumption of cactus landscaping work and the initiation of serious vehicle, property, ministry, and staff
preparations for summer’s opportune labors.
PRAY the first cancer follow-up evaluation, May 31, 2019, will clear me to focus fully on the grueling weeks ahead and that any additional or alternative treatments will be covered by my specified disease insurance
policy. Kindly accept our late but heartfelt thanks for your enormous help to date!
Your prayers and enabling for Christmas, New Year, and ongoing winter Cocopah ministries undoubtedly contributed directly to the decreased mayhem of death, substance abuse, and violence normally accompanying
their huge casino cash disbursements each February. Adult church attendance dropped as thousands of dollars were squandered on casinos and sinful pleasures, but junior and teen attendance increased despite having to combine their classes.
Young couples Alex and Roxanna, Loren and Martina, Stanford and Cheryl, and Vincent and Kayla either sent their children or attended occasionally until surrendering to substance abuse or the cares and pleasures of
this world. PRAY for the unique spiritual and family needs of each couple and their combined 15 children as Satan’s attack on these first two generations of Cocopah believers is vicious and unending.
Thankfully, Lori returned to church after her release from prison and is doing her best to provide for her four children after their recent abandonment by their caretaker for an ungodly higher paying job. PRAY for Adolfo, Michael, and Tyrus’ true repentance and conversions in prison and family members’ needs at home.
P.T.L. for nearby Native and Hispanic adults to whom we devoted labors rejected by disinterested Alvanez, Hayes, May, Phillips, Serrano, Soto, and Thomas Cocopah families. What can compare to the privilege of leading 84 year old Joe H. to the Lord January 5, 2019 or of preaching and giving the gospel to neighbor families prior to their move in May.
PRAY for all of these souls as Mays and Phillips youth and a first time parent have miraculously resumed or begun young people’s or adult Bible studies and rallies. Your prayers and sacrificial gifts are the lifeline of
winter and spring blessings as well as summer’s opportunities, as “ye strive together with us in your prayers to God for us.” Romans 15:30.
BLESSINGS:
● Jacob, Lydia, and Samuel’s 50% support level and fulltime work with us as of this past April.
● Gospel seed sown and grown through Maranatha’s revival with Evangelist Tim Green April
18-20th.
● Dawn and my first mission conference in some nine years with faithfully supporting Calvary
Indian Baptist Church in eastern Oklahoma.
● Humbling special gifts for medical needs, vehicle maintenance, and larger repairs for summer
ministries.
● Brother Carl Engstrom’s months’ help with church piano accompaniment and youth chorus
lessons.
CHALLENGES:
● Salvation of 11 year-old Airus and comfort in her young father’s death.
● Restoration of Lydia’s health as well as that of the Hastrichs and the Wilburs.
● Strength for and fruit from Jacob and Lydia’s resumed North Cocopah Reservation Bible Club
25 miles away.
● Repentance and just sentences for Tyrus, Vincent, and Kayla as well as continued Biblical care
for Kayla’s four children.
● God’s strength, safety, provision for, and truly eternal fruit through:
○ Bill Rice West Branch Junior and Teen Camps June 24-29 and July 8-12, 2019.
○ Neighborhood Bible Time (on our property), July 15-19, 2019.
○ Apache Creek Deaf and Youth Camp 600 miles away, July 22-29, 2019.
Yours In Christ,
Michael and Dawn Veldhuis