Sunday Services in Aguilar- Delay and more delays

To our praying friends,
Many of you are inquiring how Sunday services went in Aguilar. Well we got bumped from using the community center as someone else reserved it. So we were planning to start for sure this coming Sunday. That is until I got a call from the mayor today. She explained to me that we could rent the center but first she wants to have the town board approve it. This is after she had previously said that it would be alright for us to use it. Also until we get that approval I cannot use it for the Friday night mens Bible study. We have been doing the Bible study there since March. I was immediately reminded of Eph. 6:10-19.
Would you all be praying for a resolution to this. No doubt, God has a plan and He is not caught by surprise in all of this. Jesus is the Light and the darkness cannot overcome it.
At the Cross,
Bill & Mary

"Have anything you need help with?" Sept 21 update

"Hey do you have any work that you need help with?" I hadn't seen Matt in several weeks. But yesterday he passed by the house on his way to ??? Matt is one of the teens I have met while helping at the Morning Star Youth group. I have been waiting for this moment for almost 2 months, I just didn't know who God would send. You see I had a trailer full of "stuff" in front of our house- the last load of our things from Tularosa. "How hard do you want to work Matt?"


































Matt was up to the challenge. As we carried stuff in and wrestled some furniture up the stairs, I learned a little more about Matt and his family. In previous conversations I had learned that Matt is really into Star Trek, Star Wars and all the deep space research. We were almost done when Matt asked me what I thought was going to take place in 2012. "HMMMM well I know there are a lot of people making predictions based on a lot of things. But I know only this- that God our Father is the only one who truly knows what will happen in 2012 or any other day. Matt did you know that even Jesus doesn't know when He will return? We can trust in Him today and every day for our salvation and for every aspect of our whole lives." I knew Matt has accepted Jesus as his Savior. Now it's time for him to become grounded in scripture and discover what a relationship with Jesus is all about.


Whoa! It is snowing like crazy here today.

Would you be praying as we begin Sunday morning worship and Bible teaching with some in Aguilar this Sunday Sept.27. We have had some ask us about doing this and believe God is leading us to this need. We desire to respond to Him.

Also would you be praying as we seek a location to have an After School Bible Club in Gardner. We had a VBS there this summer and desire to continue working with the children and their families.

Seeking Him,

Bill and Mary

August Newsletter

Summer Summary

The last part of May was spent preparing for 2 VBSs in our area. Being new and not too many people being familiar to AMF, I believed it was important for

people to see us face to face. I now have quite a few more miles on my boots, and

I got to meet more people.

VBS week was May 25-29. Curtis Rhoadarmer brought Ray, Matt, & Alex to lead the VBSs. We recruited Rebecca Rice from the Fairs to add a feminine touch. Good thing she came too, as the VBS in Gardner was attended by 13 girls, 0 boys. In Walsenburg we had the VBS in our backyard and it was attended by 15 boys and girls.

Between the 2 VBSs there were 15 kids who asked Jesus to be their

Savior!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your faithful praying on behalf of this ministry! God is working!!

La Veta Rodeo Bible Camp What a great time we have helping out at this camp. This was our 2^nd year here. Mary again assisted Barb Fair in preparing some great meals for these young cowboys & cowgirls. I helped with the Shooting Sports part of the camp.

Building Fences and

Relationships

Mary decided to get into the bee raising business. One of the things she needed was a “bear proof” enclosure for her hives. Manuel lives in Aguilar & he has built fence most of his life.

Having Manuel come help me would be a good way to continue building a relationship with him. Mary brought us lunch & we spent the next 2+ hours talking about Jesus & His gift of redemption for us. Manuel is now also coming to the Friday night Bible study in Aguilar

RATTLESNAKE BITE!

June 27 Mary was seeing to the needs of her bees and was bit on the toe by a rattlesnake. Minutes after getting to the emergency room she went into anaphylactic shock. We are so thankful that we were at the hospital at this life threatening moment. She was

intubated & flown to Pueblo where she spent the next 5 days in a coma and a total of

10 days in the hospital. We don’t begin to know the reasons why this has happened but we have had opportunities to tell people about God’s love, provision, & healing. We were privileged to get to pray with & encourage several families as well as staff at the hospital. About 10:30 one evening I was prompted to go get something to eat. There were several long painful & restless nights for Mary as she came off the sedation.

Getting on the elevator, I discovered I was with the CEO of the hospital. I just had to thank him for having such a wonderful & caring staff. We began talking & he wanted to know about Mary’s condition & how it happened. No way to let this conversation go by without giving praise to our Father & His healing touch. I also got to share with him what we do as missionaries in SE Colo. The last 2 months have been quite different than we had planned & thought was God’s plan for us. Thanks to the thousands of people all over the world that have been praying for Mary.

Prayer and Praise!

● For Mary & the healing that has taken place, & as her body continues to heal.

● Our home in New Mexico sold! PTL—we closed July 28th!

● My mom (Bill) had surgery for breast cancer at the same time as Mary’s incident. She is now going through chemo treatments and all the emotions and complications that go with that.

● We are preparing to start after school Bible clubs for the kids in Gardner & Aguilar

● Some people in Aguilar have asked us to begin Sunday services there

● The Bible studies at the prison with the Arizona inmates. We have had between 12 & 21 attend each Wednesday night .

Glidden update 7-21 - Update on Mary's progress

Computers- frustrating things at times! My computer died back somewhere the middle of June. I have our master email list on my computer. We never could figure out how to get it transferred onto Bill's computer. If you have not received our email updates during the past few weeks we are so very sorry. It was not intentional and since that time we have remedied that issue by hand typing all the addresses back in the computer. If you are receiving this email and do not wish to be on our email list just give us a quick email asking to be taken off. I couldn't get to just the ministry email list- I could only access the entire list so I may have added some names that do not wish to be on our update list.

With that said- we thought we should give everyone an update as to the events of the past several weeks- please just skip if you have already been informed of the RATTLESNAKE INCIDENT! Below the summary of what happened is a current update in red.

Saturday June 27 our son Jonathan had brought our 5th wheel back to us as we were heading out to speak at a Sr. high camp the next week and needed it for our time there. Many of you know I became a beekeeper and while we were out at the land I decided to check the bees water. Without warning I felt a prick on my left big toe and told Bill something had just bitten me. I then saw the rattlesnake there by the water tub.

Bill drove me to the Walsenburg hospital where they administered a pain killer Fentanyl- immediately I started with an allergic reaction and felt my face and body begin to swell. I went into anaphylactic shock. The team induced a coma and put me on life support and then Flight For Life took me to St. Mary Corwin Hospital in Pueblo. There I basically fought for my life for several days as antivenin and meds kept bringing allergic reactions.

Finally on Tuesday they told Bill they would start the process of bringing me off the ventilator as the swelling in my airway had decreased. I guess I didn't like the thing, as before they could begin the process I somehow got that thing out of my throat while still being tied down!

I continued to have allergic reactions to the antibiotics and meds they were giving. Finally after 10 days in the hospital I was allowed to go home with, what I call , House arrest instructions- totally off foot- foot elevated at all times- no outside activity.

Bill has been taking care of me wonderfully and my sis, Kathy came out one weekend to help him get a bit of a break!

We went to the Dr. on Friday (July 17) and I can start putting some weight on the foot and hope to be able to start walking with out a crutch in a few more days. My toe is looking pretty good- just the inside part of the big toe has some dead tissue. From talking to others this is a miracle in itself, as most of the time rattlesnake bites will affect the entire limb. Our neighbors brother was bit years ago. His whole arm was affected and he lost the finger that received the bite.

The Dr. also gave me permission to travel so we are planning on going to Tularosa, NM later this week to close on our house and pack the rest of our household!! Yes, after 2 years on the market our home has SOLD!!!

I am so thankful for God's protection and healing grace to me! Your prayers have been such an important part of my healing process and I so wish I could thank each of you personally for lifting me up in prayer and sending cards & plants & flowers, calling, making meals, etc. We have been surrounded by so many who have made me feel so loved and cared for during this time!

Today, Tuesday, I was able to go to our chat and coffee and bread distribution that we have in Aguilar- I so missed this great bunch of people and was blessed to be back. I am still needing to work on building up my strength and endurance- everyone was so sweet about wanting to help. We have grown to love these precious friends so much!

We look forward to seeing how God will use this snake encounter for His glory in the future. It has been a great conversation starter as it seems news got around fast about the lady who got bit by a rattlesnake in Walsenburg!

Praising God for His Abundant Mercy and Grace!

Bill and Mary

Mary came home!

We brought Mary home from the hospital yesterday(Tuesday) afternoon. She got some pretty good rest last night. She is under "house arrest" and is to stay off of her foot for 10 days. Keeping the foot from becoming infected is the concern right now. The platelet count did go up. Again thank you for all your prayers and love!

Mary's account of Rattlesnake ordeal!

I am simply overwhelmed with emotion as I look back over the last week of my life. I am sitting in my hospital bed at this moment feeling like I am actually going to make it for the first time 7 days. Many have asked what happened last week and so I will try to give you a glimpse of my very interesting week!

Last Saturday our son Jonathan had brought our 5th wheel back to us as we were heading out to do a church camp the next week and needed it for our time there. The camp had issued a paper stating no sandles would be allowed do to snakes- I had ordered a pair of sneakers and thought -well no time like th present to start breaking these puppies in. When Iwent to put them on they ended up being too small and since we were just making a quick trip to the land to unload the trailer I put a pair of sandles on. Many of you know I became a beekeeper and while we were out there decided to check the bees water. Without warning I felt a prick and told bill Something had just biten me when I then saw the rattle snake there by the water hole. Bill immediately drove me to the Walsenburg hospital where they administered a pain killer Fentenye- immediately I started with an allergic reaction and felt my face and body begin to swell. I went into Antifilatic Shock. The team induced a coma and put me on life support and then Life flighted me to Saint Mary Corwins hospital in Pueblo where I basically fought for my life for several days as anti venom and meds kept bringing allergic reactions. Finally on Tuesday they told Bill they would start the process of bringing me off the ventilater- I guess I didn't like the thing as before they could begin the process I somehow got that thing out of my throat. I can not begin to tell of the ordeal of all that went on and yet in the midst of it all Jesus was there in each Doctor, nurse, tech, cleaning lady etc. that ministered to me in my time of need. There is some difficuty with my platelet levels, antibiotic reactions etc but I feel blessed to have been given another day to live for Him. My foot is oh so sore and they feel with all the reactions the antivenon may not have worked. My Fibromylgia is in full flare mode after being bed ridden for 8 days now. I can not put any pressure on my foot for now and hopefully by tomorrow the team of Drs will have some conclusions as to where to go from here. Maybe home? Even so it will be a long recovery time. I am not the most patient person and ask for prayer that I will let God be God during this time and rest in Him and His timing./ My DH has been absolutely a Godsend,our boys were here, my Mom and sisters, tons of precious prayers going up on my behalf- Thank you.

Turkeys, Bees, and VBS!

OK where do I start? Let me just tell you that the last 4 weeks have been an amazing time of watching God work.

* "Training of the Twelve". By the time we got camp set up it had turned into the "Training of the Four", and everyone that was supposed to be there was there. What a great time of getting into the Word, dealing with life issues, fellowshipping together, and hunting with and learning from some avid turkey hunters. Promise not to laugh? The turkey whisperer called one in for me and....... I missed.

* Got home from hunting and quickly shifted gears to promoting for the 2 VBSs that were held May 25-29. One week to let 2 towns know about the VBSs. Being new and not too many people being familiar to AMF, I believed it was important for people to see us face to face. I now have quite a few more miles on my boots, and I got to meet more people.

* VBS Week. Curtis Rhoadarmer brought Ray, Matt, & Alex to lead the VBSs. We recruited Rebecca Rice from the Fairs to add a feminine touch. Good thing she came too, as the VBS in Gardner was attended only by girls. A great big applause for Mary who did all the cooking for this crew and making sure everyone was comfortable. Me - well I got to play and talk to some of the parents and play and burn hotdogs.

**If you will click on any of the pictures below they will enlarge
Gardner- we had 13 girls attend and made some great friends. On Friday at the end of our time we invited families and friends to a weiner roast. We talked briefly about the possibility of a weekly kid's Bible club, since there is nothing going on for the kids in this little town.

Walsenburg- we had 15 boys and girls attend here. It was great to see our backyard full of activity in the afternoons. We met new families here in town through this VBS. We look forward to getting to know them better and find God's directing to minister to them in the future. Between the 2 VBSs there were 15 kids who asked Jesus to be their Savior!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for your faithful praying on behalf of this ministry! God is working!!

We took the team to Bishop's Castle and to Westcliff for some food and bowling as a thank you for all their help-

We kinda sorta thought we would just have a light week this week to prepare for the LaVeta Rodeo Bible Camp starting tomorrow. God thought it would be cool to mess up our plans- it was :>)

Real quick- the condensed version. 14 guys showed up at the new Bible study at the prison. Shared Jesus with Manuel who helped us build fence around Mary's new beehives. 2 new guys at tonights Bible study (one being Manuel). Several opportunities to help/ minister to people in the community. Talked to a couple of neighbor boys who missed VBS but keep asking when we are going to have "church" again.

We also have unexpected guest here this weekend while we help at the Rodeo BIble camp then Mary's sister Maureen, and family will be here Monday and staying the week- Look forward to spending some time with family!

You guys, our faithful support team, are amazing!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Seeking Him,

Bill and Mary

The new beekeeper in town!!