GoBeDo Missions Update

Happy Sabbath Church Family

It’s been a very long couple of weeks since we last have written and there is no shortage of news. Let’s begin with the good news

Last Sunday three of our five candidates for baptism were baptized. The husband of the grandma had to wait because he was caught eating pork while down in the city getting supplies. We will spend more time with him in helping him to understand the health principles of WHY it’s important to be a clean vessel unto the Lord. He has repented and we will work toward his new birth covenant in a couple of months and his wife will join him at that time

The next matter on the agenda is that we have been given our paperwork to operate as 90.7 “Melek” Fm DXMC. AMEN.

We have available to us possibly about $4000- $5000 usd. The cost of the 1000 watt transmitter is about $8,000. We have a less expensive omnidirectional antenna we plan to use for now until such time we are able to buy a better 4 bay one. This week I was able to locate the needed UPS for the computers and voltage regulators. We walk by faith and God is able to provide the remaining funds in His time. The cost of those things will be an additional $500 plus $3-4,000 for the remaining transmitter cost

We have been slowed down this week in doing repairs etc. In the past 10 days 6 of those days have left us in a brownout and without electricity. Oh how nice it would be to be off the grid with solar and wind for the station. We have a pretty good amount of wind here but we will continue to pray. Our generator is still in the repair shop. We have continued to try and retrieve it but they said that they had an employee take the broken relay home and then he quite his job. I reminded them that this is not our fault and that they need to make this right but things are not that easy here. They said they would need to re evaluate what happened because new management has come into the store. Re evaluate??? This has been told us four times now.

This is a reputable construction store but this is part of the problem in working in a country like this. We saw a large line of other customers complaining as well. The lack of accountability and honor here amazes me and sometimes I find it amazing this place hasn’t sunk under judgements. I don’t want to be forced into buying yet another generator

Next Our attention was called by the dept of lands to have our land re surveyed for the fourth time. Yes you heard correct... fourth time... It was found out that when the new road was built three years ago the dept of roads didn’t follow the land map and they took part of the mission land. The dept of lands made up for this for us by relocating us land on the other side of the road but under this new survey that relocated land was no longer on the map, and it was found out that the government has claimed that land as part of a tourism package. We lost 1 entire hectare of land without even a sorry or warning and then they proceeded to claim more by telling us that a new law was passed several weeks ago allowing them to claim 30 meters from the center of the road on either side (in the past it was 15 meters). The funny thing is that it appears to only affect us. They made the mistake and we suffer three times because of it and then they tell us that if we fight it we can’t have the land released for titles. Praise the Lord for trials is all we can say. It’s ALL His so I guess they are fighting heaven and not us. We need these front two lots titled before more happens as we have heard that politicians may be trying to find ways to take the front lot which has most the buildings on it including the station

We again ask for prayer. We had planned to enter a new village Sunday (tomorrow) morning but have needed to change plans...

One of our missionary couples has left us (Ricky and Jolena). They said they wanted to use the skills they had learned here to try and make it on their own in their old village. It will be a big struggle for them there as Ricky has less then two years of recovery from his addictions. We tried to counsel them but they were determined. His wife Jolena honored her husbands decision and she was honest that she was fighting her carnal self and felt it better to be outside the mission. We need to keep them both in prayer. They took with them one of the students who is 11 years old so that they could use her as a helper. Slavery is still part of the culture here like it or not. All we can do is teach what is right in Gods eyes and leave the consequences with Him

After one week of being back in the mountains they encountered cousins who are in the rebel forces. They tried to witness to them but they only received curse words back from the cousins with mocking and threats. The cousins also took the pictures from their phones of the children in our mission post of which they made remarks that one day they would come to take them away from us to indoctrinate them for the war. MORE PRAYER. This is not far from where we were going to enter a new area this upcoming week but we feel it may be too risky at this point for the children if we provoke the area to accept God into their ranks. It’s really sad for me to have to pull out before we even begin. We have made it a prayer priority

So with this situation happening we have decided to go to the forest of Augusan del sure early Sunday morning (tomorrow),for another survey of a village we have learned about there. It’s far and will be difficult for Jay Jay and the survey team. Please keep us in prayer tomorrow. I personally won’t be going this time as I was hurt in a crash yesterday

I was returning from the city yesterday doing a survey for the remaining radio needs when a vehicle called a motorella pulled out in front of me. It is a motorcycle with a steel back room built on the back of it to carry about 8 passengers. I was traveling about 40 mph on the motorcycle when we collided. As soon as the crash happened I was thrown to the ground and hit the back of my head into the pavement. After I realized I was still alive I immediately praised God for my heavenly angel and the bell helmet I was wearing.

It appeared my elbow was broken sticking out about 3-4 inches with numerous other cuts. The driver of the vehicle wouldn’t stop apologizing. I’m pretty sure he had no license and no money to pay for my injuries and damage to the motorcycle so I just counseled him to be more careful and to not just pull out into the Hyway so rashly from blind spots. I was in shock and knew I needed to get attention. I was about 30 minutes away from the mission post still.

To my surprise the motorcycle was still able to drive although now it was missing a foot peg and the shifter lever was bent along with the clutch lever being broken off and numerous other body plastics being damaged such as the headlight and fairing. I rode it home. It was about 15 minutes away that the pain begin to set in but the whole way home I was praising God. The motorcycle sustained about $600 damage as far as I can tell and my $250 bell helmet met its match

When I arrived at the mission I was able to get ice on my wounds immediately and put a medicinal oil we have made here that we use. It is a mix of virgin olive oil with sticks from a select forest tree here and it becomes very sticky when soaked together in a glass bottle and it’s able to keep wounds closed. The swelling went down and I was thankful I had no broken bones which was a real surprise. The oil sealed the wounds thus avoiding the need for sutures.

Today I am recovering but the body pains are severe as well as my neck pains. I guess bad weeds really are difficult to kill. Lol

Every year that I have been here I have been faced with a near death experience. Each time I find myself re evaluating my self and honestly looking within. I so want to reflect Jesús in my life but finding myself coming up short each time. I need more of the Lords Spirit in my life. I’m determined to not give up and we encourage you as well church family. No matter what the setbacks in life may bring, nothing is more precious than the blood that has paid the price for you, we have been bought with a very high price and it would be a shame for Christ if we were to give up now. Be strong brethren

As for Melanie, we have not heard from her yet

No shortage of excitement this month for sure. Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement

In the meantime let’s all keep planting seeds and doing our part to claim and reclaim the lost sheep

Until next time keep your head up. Jesús IS coming soon

Love

Mike & Michelle and team

Survey Team stopping for lunch. Rice and vegemeat on the go