March 29, 2006

Greetings from Apache Junction Arizona!

A week ago, we took a couple hour drive up the mountain, and late that afternoon it snowed. Here's the picture Larry took of the snow on this cactus-You don't see this very often!

March 22, 2006

Greetings!  It is spring!  Here in the Phoenix area, the spring flowers are in full bloom.  I love it!  Back in parts of the Midwest, however, folks are "celebrating" spring by shoveling out what they hope is the last hurrah of winter!  I am glad I am here instead.  Although, I must say, last weekend it did get down to 40 degrees here in Arizona, and it felt like the Midwest.  This area also had a major snowstorm up in the higher elevations over the past few days.

We had another great weekend of ministry.  We ministered in Apache Junction, Arizona, at First Assembly with interim pastors Rev. & Mrs. Hugh Middleton.  This church is extra-special to us, as it was the site of our first "Family to Family" rally in December 1982.  Our children were only 14, 10, and four years old at the time.  Wow-that was a long time ago!  First Assembly took us under their wing then, and they encouraged us on our new family venture.  Twenty-five years later, we are still coming back about every two years or so to minister in this church.

During the winter months, Apache Junction First Assembly fills up with snowbird visitors from all over the United States and Canada.  During our service last Sunday, I asked how many people were from someplace else other than Arizona, and 80 percent of the congregation lifted their hands!  They voiced locations as diverse as California, Louisiana, Wyoming, Montana, Kansas, Arkansas, Alaska, New York, Nebraska, and so on!  I responded to the lady who hollered out, "Alaska," by asking, "You were really led of the Lord to leave Alaska for warm Phoenix, weren't you?"  She chuckled and readily agreed.

After the morning service, guest after guest told us they had attended our family rallies throughout the United States in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.  Many of them had come to Christ under our ministry!  It is always rewarding to see people still serving Christ faithfully after many years.  Several folks remember Larry from the early 1960s, before Larry and I were even married.  I quickly reminded them that was "B.G.-BEFORE GLORIA," and his life didn't count until he married me!  Ha!

After the sermon, Larry gave the altar call, and it was so thrilling to witness the altar packed with prodigals coming home and many others making decisions for Christ.  Nathan, the Youth Pastor at First Assembly, was so excited!  He said, "You not only ministered to our adults, but you equally touched the hearts of our teens.  The Lord used you to motivate and encourage several of our young people to recommit to Christ."

It was refreshing to be with the Middleton's again; they are such a precious couple.  They reminded us that they attended one of our services in Arizona when our family first began traveling on our own.  That was almost 25 years ago!  They told us, "We have always enjoyed your ministry.  We appreciate the anointed singing and preaching.  The Spirit of the Lord is always present, encouraging many people to make decisions for Him.  We have also appreciated your friendship throughout the years.  Thanks for coming to minister here-please come again!"

On the subject of life seasons, they seem to come and go more quickly each year.  When I was a teenager, my mom told me, "Missy, the older you get, the faster time seems to fly by."  Boy, can I attest to that!  I am sure that you all know through experience that not all the seasons of life are enjoyable.  Some seasons are filled with pain and trial, but the good news is, that if we hold tight to our faith in Christ, He is faithful to bring us through the difficult times!  I have talked to so many of our friends lately who are experiencing a painful season in their lives.  I encourage them to hold on and persevere-a new season will come.  I Peter 1:6-7 reminds us that "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

I just feel that someone reading this today needs encouragement.  I want to encourage you right now-you will make it!  I want to share two powerful thought with you.  First, don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the other seasons.  And secondly, don't judge life by one difficult season.  Larry and I have faced many tough seasons in our own lives-but God has always seen us through.  I share an encouraging message on tape entitled, "Keep Holding On!  You Can Make It."  I would love to send this tape to you as a free gift of encouragement.  On that recording, I share some of our struggles, as well as how God saw us through them.  I truly feel that some of you reading this today need to hear this tape.  Please contact us today with your name and mailing address-either by writing to llmin@venturecomm.net, or by calling 605.698.7007-and we will send it right out to you.

Be encouraged; know that we care about you, and that you are loved.  Have a great week!  God bless you!

Gloria

Wow! What an action-packed week.  It seems like I'm still flying, as my feet haven't been still since the plane landed in Phoenix (one week ago today).

As we were flying over the state of Arizona, the land looked so parched from the lack of rain.  They haven't had a drop of rain since last November.  Much prayer has been going up for the end of the drought.  According to the letters from our friends and partners, many states desperately need rain.  Please remember to pray for these folks!

After landing, we were anxious to get back to our coach, which has been parked in Apache Junction by a church.  Our son Donovan drove it there after Larry's TIA stroke in late November 2005.  At the time, Larry was in the hospital in Nebraska.  It was so good to unlock the coach door and step into our "home on the road!"  We were thankful to find everything okay, except…we had a lot of extra relatives that had moved in to occupy it.  Ants!  They were crawling everywhere, and I was beating them to death with an old rag.  Exhausted, we went to bed.  A few moments later, I started itching here and there.  I jumped up, turned on the lights, and saw that ants were crawling everywhere on my bed-between the sheets, and in my nightgown!  What a rude awakening.  Needless to say, it was a sleepless night.  We spent Thursday scrubbing, vacuuming, and laundering all the bedding and other linens.  We put ant traps everywhere!  The ants must have liked whatever was in the traps, because they quickly disappeared after that.  Thank God!

On Saturday morning, we loaded up our sound equipment and headed off for Sierra Vista by way of Tucson.  It was a beautiful 200 mile drive.  Dozens of saguaro cacti treated us to the typical sights of Arizona.We arrived in Sierra Vista at 5 pm, and quickly set up our equipment, hoping to have a quiet evening in the motel, so we'd be rested and prepared for Sunday's service.  That plan didn't quite work out!  We had a fluke with our sound system, and it squealed out of control.  Something was definitely wrong, and I was definitely stressed!  Larry and I worked for over five hours, and we finally got it up and running at 10:15 pm.  We still had some quirks to deal with, but I was relieved to know that we at least had sound.

On Sunday morning, we had two services at the Sierra Vista Assembly of God church, with new pastor Ken Frank.  We have been coming to this church for about 10 years now, and it was thrilling to see people in attendance that have come to Christ under our ministry.  It is especially wonderful to see how they have matured in the Lord!

When we were at this same church three years ago, the former pastor's daughter, LaRae LePoidevin, was single and involved in the church.  She had been praying for God to provide her with her life's mate.  That Sunday morning, Jim Swartz came to the service, and when Larry gave the invitation, Jim rededicated his life to Christ.  A couple of weeks later, Jim and LaRae began to date; then they became engaged a few months later.  They got married last summer!  They are both so happy, and are both involved in the church.  It is exciting to see how God works in the lives of those who love Him!

The altar calls were precious, to say the least.  As you can see by the photo, God was drawing people to Him by His Spirit.  Those joyful and tearful reunions at the altar always reaffirm our calling to us.  When I saw the altars packed with people making commitments to Christ, I then knew why we had such an attack on our sound equipment the day before.

Arizona, of course, is "snow-bird country."  People flock from all the colder states, and rush to where the sun shines brightly and it's warm outside!  During the second service this past Sunday, I asked the congregation what states and countries were represented there.  They hollered out, "California! Canada! Minnesota! Wisconsin! Panama! Arkansas! Iowa!"  And on and on it went.  I then heard someone holler, "Sisseton, South Dakota!"  I saw a person in the back with their hands raised, and I asked, "THE Sisseton, South Dakota?"  They laughed, "Yes!" I found out that it was Alice Moldrem Wheeler.  She spoke up, "I was your Sunday School teacher when you were little!"  My heart leapt.  I readily recognized her-she looked as beautiful and gracious as ever, only a little older.  I acknowledged her, and thanked her for her part in building my spiritual life as a child.  I was so glad that I could honor her that way.  Just then, her daughter Audrey piped up, "Gloria, I was with my parents at your wedding.  I can still remember it-it was so beautiful."  Larry and I chuckled, "Wow, that was forty years ago!  You have a good memory!"  I remember Alice being so sweet and so full of Jesus.  And she still is!  Alice made a tremendous impact on my life growing up, and evidently made a great spiritual impact on her daughter Audrey's life, as she is the coordinator for the "Women of Virtue" conferences that are held all over the United States.  Those conferences touch many thousands of women each year!

Touching others and building lives; isn't that what life is all about?  Matthew 15:16 says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  In other words, let your daily Christian walk, talk, and actions be so evident to those around you that they will see Jesus just spill out all over.  Then they will desire to have what you have spiritually, and ultimately find Christ, or continue to grow in Him.

The reason I am in ministry today is because I had positive role models in my life, like Alice Moldrem, who poured forth Jesus.  That gave me a deeper desire to know more about Him, and to live a Godly life.  Remember, we leave an impact upon every person we meet-whether good, bad, or Godly.  It has been my prayer, and continues to be, that whomever I come into contact with will see and feel Jesus in my life, and that they will desire Him.

Well, I must run once again.  I pray that you will have a wonderful week, and that you will be blessed by God's love, comfort, and strength.

March 1, 2006

This is a big day!  We are both on our way to the airport and will arrive in Phoenix, Arizona later today.  We are leaving the beautiful tropical Hawaiian Islands, and will be ministering the next five weeks in the lovely desert state of Arizona.

Yesterday, February 28, was a real milestone for me.  It has now been one year since Larry fell off the top of the coach, onto me, and broke my leg!  Though it's been a long year of rehabilitation, I am so happy that I still have my right foot!  Those first few hours after the accident, the doctors in Slidell, Louisiana were not sure if I'd be able to keep that foot.  I know it was a miracle, an absolute gift from God, that my foot was able to be fully reattached.  Not one day goes by that I am not thankful to see that foot on the end of my right leg!  The scars are my souvenir of God's goodness to me.  Now my leg is my "weather forecaster."  Whenever the temperature changes, the plate and screws in my foot go crazy!  I still experience a lot of pain, due to the type of injury I sustained.  But that's okay!

Speaking of a long recovery-last night, I watched a special Hurricane Katrina update broadcast.  I saw a news piece on Slidell, Louisiana, which is where I was hospitalized last year following my accident.  The hospital I stayed in had been leveled during Katrina, along with so many other buildings.  I often think of my doctors and nurses there, and I wonder where they are now.  They were such extra-special, wonderful people!

After that news program, I called to check on the church in Kiln, Mississippi, where Larry and I ministered at the time of my ladder accident.  Pastor and Mrs. Ken Worley suffered extensive damage to their church building as well some damage to their home.  The church has been trying, since right after the hurricane, to get materials to begin reconstruction.  On February 24, the day I called the Worleys, the first load of building materials had just arrived that very morning.  They have been waiting almost six months for those materials!  Let's continue to pray for these areas still devastated by the hurricane season of 2005.

Larry ministered his last Hawaii message in a home missions church called Kamala Valley Assembly of God, which is pastored by Herb Sniffen.  They have such a wonderful group of new parishioners!  After Larry preached and gave the invitation, over 40 people made decisions for Christ.  Even more wonderfully, 2 of those were first-time decisions!  We are always in awe of, and humbled by, being a part of God's work.  We feel we are privileged to be able to do it!  That is why we keep going-people are hungry for Christ.

Debra Pagan shared the following about our ministry:  "It would be difficult to share in one paragraph or less 'my take on the ministry' because my heart is overwhelmed with the love that portrays from Gloria and Larry Lundstrom.  This is a couple who have been through so much pain and heavy trials in their past/present but nothing, absolutely nothing can turn them away from the Love of Christ.  Thank you for your desire to share Christ with us.  You have been absolutely what we need because if you can endure all these trials in life, we can surely endure also."

Last night, Larry had an interesting experience.  He had gone over to a Barnes & Noble bookstore to do some research.  He began to visit with a young woman about issues like home and family.  The woman asked him all kinds of questions, and then thanked him for being so kind and for sharing with her.  She then informed him she was a Hindu.  Boy, did Larry race to that one!  He began to witness to her.  After he shared the gospel, she thanked him again and left the store.

A young Korean gal then walked up to Larry and said, "Excuse me.  I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with that Hindu woman.  I am a Christian and I attend a Christian church in Korea.  That was a wonderful conversation you had!  I just wanted to thank you for witnessing to her like you did."  God is always faithful to open doors to share the gospel, isn't He?  The question is: do we take the opportunity when it is presented?

Well, it's time once again to go.  I will tell you goodbye, or Mahalo, from Hawaii.  We will reconnect next week from Arizona!  God bless you, and have a great week.

Gloria

February 22, 2006

This is the last time I can say "Aloha" to you!  I can hardly believe we've been in Hawaii for six weeks now.  It's time to pack up for our departure on March first.  We'll be headed to Phoenix, Arizona.  It has been such a wonderful time of ministry over here!We have made so many new friends, and we are reluctant to say goodbye to those we've known for years.  Many people in the Hawaiian Islands are hungry for ministry, and their hearts are open to receive Christ.  We always appreciate that!

Last Sunday, Larry ministered a simple gospel message at Bethel Chapel in Waipahu, during two morning services.  Again, the Holy Spirit was faithful to draw dozens to Christ.  When Larry asked how many people had responded for the first time, many hands were raised.  It's always thrilling to see new "babies" born into God's Kingdom, and it's equally thrilling to witness prodigals returning to Christ.  The images of the altar calls will forever be with us.

Speaking of packing, isn't that always a challenge?  It can be like a trivia game to try to pack all that you need for six weeks-including two computers, office and study materials, mail, Bibles, plus all of our clothing-into four suitcases and two small carry-ons.  If a piece of luggage exceeds 50 pounds, you have to pay an extra $25 to $50 per overweight piece.  When we came over to Hawaii, two of our suitcases weighed 49 pounds, and the other two weighed 48 pounds.  As you can easily deduce, there is no room for us to do any extra shopping!  Someone asked me recently if I've bought souvenirs and clothes while I've been here, and I told them, "Yes-twelve postcards and four key chains, which I sent back to family and friends."  Unfortunately, a wheel got knocked off my luggage by the handlers, so it no longer rolls-instead you have to drag it.  Oh well, if all we had to worry about was a missing suitcase wheel, wouldn't life be a piece of cake?  Ha!  That last statement reminds me of a true story I read yesterday:

"A woman was sitting in her den one day when a small black snake suddenly appeared, slithered across the floor, and made its way under the couch.  Being deathly afraid of snakes, the woman promptly ran to the bathroom to get her husband, who was taking a shower.  He came running from the shower with only a towel wrapped around his waist, grabbed an old broom handle from the closet, and began poking under the couch.

At this point, the sleepy family dog awoke.  Curious to see what was happening, he came up behind the husband and touched his cold nose to the back of the man's heel.  The man, surmising that the snake had out-maneuvered him and had bitten him on the heel, fainted dead away.  The wife concluded that her husband had overexerted himself and collapsed with a heart attack.  She ran from the house to the hospital, just one block away.  The ambulance driver promptly returned with her to the house and placed the man on a stretcher.  As they were carrying him out of the house, the snake reappeared from beneath the couch.  One of the drivers became so excited that he dropped his end of the stretcher and broke the husband's leg.  Seeing her husband's twisted leg, the wife collapsed.  Meanwhile, the snake slithered quietly away!

And so how was your day?  Ha!

I hope you needed that humor for today, as I needed it yesterday!The scripture to correspond with that story is II Timothy 4:5 (NIV): "But you, keep your head in all situations..."

I pray that your week will go more smoothly than that story.  I pray that again, God will supply your every need, strengthen you, and refresh you through His Word and the time you spend in prayer.

Next week, we will connect with you from the beautiful state of Arizona.  God bless you!  Have a great week-

Gloria

February 15, 2006

Greetings!  It seems the days fly by so quickly, and before I realize it, another week of my life is history.

I called our daughter LaDawn back in Minnesota, and she chuckled, "Here I sit in 7 degree weather with snow, and you sit in 82 degree sunshine with palm trees."  I told her, "Well, if I have a choice, this is better than that.  Ha!"  A couple of days ago on the TV, the weatherman gave a weather alert and was predicting an arctic front that was to move through.  Well, the front came through, and the temperature got "down" to 62 degrees!  Hmmm, I think we need to take that weatherman back to the Midwest to show him what a real arctic front is!  It is supposed to get below zero again in Minnesota this weekend.

Last Saturday morning, Larry and I went to Anna Miller's restaurant for breakfast.  We hadn't been there for two years.  It is a favorite spot by Pearl Harbor where tourists and locals like to eat.  They serve fresh seafood omelets and delicious pancakes with their "to-die-for" coconut pancake syrup.  Anyway, we were sitting in our booth, and the waitress came to our table and asked to take our order.  She took a second look at us and giggled, "I remember you!  You haven't been here for a long, long time."  We responded, "Yes, it's been two years."  She hesitated, looked up as if to the ceiling, and then said, "You're Larry and Gloria.  Larry, you came in here two years ago and told us all those jokes."  We all laughed-what are the chances of remembering someone after thousands of other customers have passed through the doors since?  It must be Larry's memorable jokes-ha!

Tuesday was Valentine's Day, and Larry gave me a beautiful bouquet of roses in a red vase.  That touched my heart!  We have been blessed to have shared 40 Valentine's Days-and each one keeps getting better.  The grandkids sent beautiful cards and sent Grandpa a bag of his favorite licorice.  He'd rather have candy than flowers anytime!

Last Sunday, we ministered at Pastor Janet Cordeiro's church in Waimanalo.  When Larry gave the altar call, again the response to the invitation was wonderful.  There were 10 first-time decisions for Christ.  Many prodigals also came back home!  Precious family reunions took place at the altar.  That's what life is all about, isn't it?  It keeps us going, after all these years, to see lives changed like that.  It is also refreshing to visit with so many friends that we've gotten to know through the years here in Hawaii.  They have all become like family to us.  Already, they are asking when we will be coming back!  Our tentative plan is to return in 2008.  It seems like a long time away, but we know it will come quickly.

Perhaps you've had the opportunity to watch a few moments here and there of the Winter Olympics taking place in Turin, Italy.  I am amazed at the talent, endurance, and perseverance of all the athletes!  I enjoy the interviews and photos of them telling and showing how hard they've worked just to qualify for their country's Olympic team.  Then the adrenaline hits when they compete in the final races.  The exuberant look on their faces is priceless when the final scores come up, and they are told they are the winner of a gold medal!  Even though they are exhausted physically and mentally at that point, they realize it was worth all the effort when the Olympic medal is placed around their neck.  They know it made the grueling months and years of exercise, practice, injuries, and strict diet, worth it all.  They had the stamina necessary to pull themselves up again, and to go on.  As they stand before the whole world, they will always be remembered in the history books for having endured and won the race.

The Olympic coverage challenges me to never give up, even though this life is often filled with many obstacles and much pain and disappointment.  If we faint not, as it says in Isaiah 41, we shall win the crown of life.  Wow-that makes the Olympic medal look pretty unimportant in the scheme of things.

If you, too, have become weary in running this life's race, don't give up.  Keep reading the Word.  Keep your faith.  Keep praying!  God will give you the endurance to make it until you get home to heaven.  And when you stand before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He will say, "Welcome home.  You've won the race.  Here is your crown of life!"  What a moment to look forward to!  I just encouraged myself with that, and I hope I've been able to encourage you also.

I pray that this coming week, you will feel the presence of God and His strength to carry you through whatever you may be facing.  Remember, it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Gloria