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February 14, 2008
Dear Praying Friends,
Thank you for your
prayers and your love in Christ!!! "By this all men
will know that you are my disciples, if you love one
another."
I am very thankful
for your prayers for the people here!!! Sarah is
continuing on by God's grace. She was called upon this
week to be there for a friend who is having struggles
with her kids and then found out yesterday that her
missing niece was murdered. Sarah is very good at
weeping with those who weep. She was emotionally
exhausted when she came over last night to talk and
pray. She wanted me to go with her to pray for the
family which I eagerly did. The extended family are
mainly Christians and were very thankful for our visit
and prayers. Bible studies with Sarah have been a joy
and a challenge at times, with joy coming out on top. :
)
"Alv" is the
Navajo youth who has worked with me on natural
horsemanship prior to the weather and mud postponing
that activity together for a while. She has also been
working for me on some Saturdays so she can earn some
money. One Saturday she came with questions on her
heart so we talked for two hours before starting to
work. As some of you may remember her older sister, "Clar,"
has been in and out of a relationship with an unsaved
abusive boyfriend who is now the father of her two
children. "Clar" is having a tough time committing to
walk with the Lord. When she had her second child the
father came and then stayed with "Alv's" family for
almost a week. "Alv" was confused again about whether
or not it's okay to sleep together and be sexually
involved outside of marriage. We looked at what our
culture is saying and at how "Clar" was trying to get "Alv's"
approval of what she's been doing. We then looked at
God's Word on the issue. By the end of the conversation
she was saying she wanted to stay single like me!!! I
did say that God may have other plans for her down the
road and that would be a blessing.
I continue to
appreciate working with our youth pastor at church. He
has started a series on "Relationships" which will be
very good for these youth to hear. I am very concerned
for our pastor. He is definitely discouraged as
attendance at services has dropped off since last
summer. He has been scolding the congregation on a few
occasions as well as saying love for God would be proven
in attending every service. Major red flags have gone
up every time in my heart with the belief he will only
drive people away doing that. Major prayer is needed
here.
Thank you for your
desire to see Native people come to Christ and walk in
faith and confidence in Him!!!! Prayer is the key!!!
Thank you for your investment in prayer and thank you
for your financial investment that enables me to be hear
and reach out to people with God's love and truth. : )In His Care,
Tobie Keiser
February 28, 2008
Hi You All!!!! : )
It is rare for me to write twice a month but there is a rather urgent prayer request concerning Sarah. I discussed this with her last night to find out what if anything she wanted me to share with you for prayer. The following is comes from that conversation.
As many of you may recall she lost her only child, Saraphine, two years ago April when a drunk illegal driving way too fast at night with no head lights on hit Saraphine's car on the driver's side killing her instantly. Saraphine was to be married just a week later. Her fiance, Jon became like a son to Sarah. She held onto him to keep some touch with her daughter. Over this past weekend a number of disappointing events took place including Jon not spending time with Sarah on one of his rare trips out this way. He was not able to be honest with her about wanting to move on with his life so he avoided her. This was used by the enemy to compound Sarah's depressed feelings about Saraphine's loss. Sarah's family's inability to be there for her time and again pushed her over the edge of sane thinking. She again wanted to die so bad because she was sure God had abandoned her therefore she did not want to talk to me or our mutual friend, though she did call to tell me she would not be attending Bible study that evening.
I had a real bad feeling about what could be going on with her so I prayed as did my chores before needing to lead Bible study. My bad feeling would be confirmed early the next morning. I was just about to head out my door for a walk at 5:30 a.m. when my phone rang. It was Sarah. She needed someone with 4 wheel drive to pull her car out of the mud about 15 miles from Sanders. I was given no details at that time so as I traveled to her home I prayed for the Lord to prepare my heart to know how to respond if my bad feelings from the night before were true. After picking her she began to tell me what happened over the weekend which led to her wanting to die so bad that she ended up buying some beer and drinking two quarts while out at her daughter's grave side. She went to the home of a friend who has had a drinking problem because she didn't want me and another friend to see her that way. Though she said she didn't care anymore she knew she shouldn't drive on the freeway so she started down a frontage road heading back to Sanders. Because of recent rain and snow the road had one very bad spot which she went right out to the middle of and no further. After walking barefoot for close to a mile she found a house where she could call for a ride home.
She really did do a good job of getting stuck!!! At one point I wasn't sure I would get her out. After she was free and clear she told me there were two more quarts in her car. I took them so she would not have the temptation so strong to drink them. She just started crying saying how she really wanted to die. I invited her to stay with me that night after work which she did end up doing and continues to do. The last two nights we have spent talking over dinner and beyond. I have had opportunity to share more deeply about some of my darkest days which has resulted in her believing I do understand the deep desire to want to die and the feeling that God abandoned her. How wonderful to be able to use what God has brought me through to begin to help her!!!!!! This is a royal spiritual battle for Sarah. She does not want to share what's going on with many at all but did want me to share this with you all so you could be praying for her!!!
Thank you for praying as the Lord leads you!!!!!!
In His Care,
Tobie Keiser
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