WIKLUNDS NEWSLETTER 2004
November 16, 2004
Letter from Betty,
Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,
This fall I am reminded again of all I have to thank the Lord for. He is so good.
This year has brought many changes to us. In our family, Jeremy our youngest, graduated from High School and joined the Army. He is currently in Basic Training. We are hearing frequently by mail his trials and tribulations, but beneath it all I believe he is glad he joined. We ask for prayer for him spiritually. He is not living for the Lord or seeking God’s will for his life. I was surprised when he thanked me for getting a camouflage New Testament for him. I hope it means he’s reading it.
Melissa is living at home and working as a teller. She would like to take more college courses but is unable financially to do so at this time.
Larry is busy with many Missionary TECH Team projects as well as teaching one class at a local Jr. College. He also is involved in an evening discipleship study group and teaching high school Sunday School each week. I have started to work in the TECH office several days a week. At least two days a week I have been assisting in the Graphic Services Dept. helping produce displays and banners, filing and office procedures for the Dept. Today I am attempting to learn to answer phones and page the right person correctly and at the same time learn some more office procedures. I must admit for me this is a big change from being an at–home–mom and taxiing children around town.
We have to apologize for not writing more frequently. Much of our communication has been with our home church by E-mail and we often have neglected written letters with the rest of our ministry partners. We hope you will forgive us and we will try to write more frequently.
This year we have lost several large partners because of ill health and death. Our current income is not enough to meet our basic needs. We want to thank those of you who have been able to continue our support. We know this is hard to do in these insecure days, yet you have generously expressed your love for our wonderful Savior with a real desire to see Christ made known to all men.
We would appreciate your prayers on our behalf. The trials of life are not fun, but are a time of personal growth in the hands of a loving God. We know not how or from where the increase in needed ministry partners will come from. We can only look patiently and expectantly to Him as He opens hearts and opportunities as we share with others this ministry.
Embraced by His love,
Betty
Projects Notes from Larry,
Echoing Hills Village — Intro animation
http://www.iampersuaded.com/clients/eh/intro.swf
On my web site I posted the above macromedia flash animation intro that is part the web site for Echoing Hills Village, a Christian camp ministry to handicapped people that one of TECH’s web designers is putting together for them. I still have a lot to learn about this computer program, but I think this is a good start.
Kids Alive International — Legacy brochure
http://www.iampersuaded.com/clients/2_Projects/pages/1_Kids_Alive_Legacy_a.htm
The original photo supplied for the cover I determined was way to small to look good. Since there was no other backup photo, I was able the capture the silhouetted tree, make it bigger and literally redraw the background. I am so thankful for the updated computer programs and years of experience that encourages one try to tackle the problems such as this. For missions this is a benefit
Kids Alive International — Rescue Me brochure
This brochure is close to being printed. Sometimes the printers image setting computers don’t always output film that reflects the color values chosen in the brochure. The only way to know is to check the match prints before the film is used to make printing plates. Of course the errors can be the designers or the printers fault. Those need to be tracked down and corrected. Whenever anything is handed over to the printer, that’s when I feel as nervous as an expectant father in the waiting room, hoping this printed piece (this baby) will turn out all right so that it can go forth and accomplish what it was designed for, getting others involved in ministry. Is that not what we were designed for as well?
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
Thanks for your partnership & prayers on our behalf,
Larry
September 25, 2004
Dear Friends,
Summer vacation trips are over, so now our discipleship group with Jim Englund and Joel Kreider has started up again on Monday nights; we are half way through "Models for Disciple-Makers".
Teaching Sunday school, I have two high school boys, a senior and a sophomore, who as you insightfully suspected don't display much enthusiasm, just being cautious I guess. The church uses Scripture Press materials which I can supplement. I see my role in this class as: Teaching the Scriptures to another with prayerful intent that they will do the same.
My foot is getting better, but I have not done much walking lately. For some weeks now I have had a bad coughing reflex that makes my chest hurt. Thought it might have something to do with not taking the anti-inflammatory pain medication for my joints [my doctor's recommended experiment]. When I told a coworker in the office this Friday, that I had to go home because of body chills, weakness, and soreness in the joints, she said she had flu like symptoms a week ago and so did another worker before that. So maybe that's why I have been dragging my feet. Beyond that I don't have an a valid excuse for not walking. Just feeling tired.
Last Monday while driving home a few blocks away, another car at a high rate of speed was coming in the opposite direction on a residential street and he didn't stay in his side of the lane, rather he was coming directly at me. Only at the last possible moment did he quickly serve back to his side. I turned some so not to hit the side of his car. It happened so quickly, I assumed the guy was a jerk playing chicken, and I was pretty sure I wouldn't survive a crash even if the airbag worked. Afterwards I thought maybe he was distracted and unaware himself. In either case the devils intent was overcome by the ministering angels doing God's purpose. I know many want us to move from this neighborhood, and someday that may happen, but I don't think that would make us any safer.
One of my jobs at church is to condense the missionary letters each month for the WMF. A quote in a letter from a missionary [Steve Beacham] under going kim o-therapy for cancer, which I left out of the summary, but did share with the high school class the day before the car incident was as follows:
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming — WOW — What a ride!!"
Larry Wiklund
Missionary TECH Team
PS.
1] Pray for our daughter Melissa. She was hoping to be hired full-time at her job since she was already working nearly 40 hours a week; instead they cut her hours in half. Pray she can find extra work.
2] Pray for our son Jeremy at boot camp, Ft. Benning, Ga; that he be focused on the Lord's wisdom and strength or he will have none for what really counts.
August 11, 2004
Dear Friends,
Suddenly awakened 3:00 a.m. by a drive-by shooting outside our home, I thought maybe this was it, this is the night I die. I thought of jumping to the floor, but the possibility of hurting myself made me hesitate. The Bible says, in Psalm 91:1 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” and verse 5 says, “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day.”
When the shooting had stopped and I realized I was still here, and my heart beat shifted from abnormal to semi-normal, I considered the exhilarating expectation of being in God’s presence and then went back to sleep (though not right away). When morning came, I knew that this was a new day, with a new view of the cross I was called to take up and follow my Lord. I might have thought it was a pre-4th of July celebration, but the bullet that hit Jeremy’s car and the one that went through Betty’s car proved otherwise. The intended target was our next-door neighbors, who party till all hours. Another bullet went through the walls missing their sleeping baby indoors by inches. The neighbors came back out with their guns waiting to retaliate, according to our son Jeremy. The party was for now, silent was over.
Considering all the things people do to preserve their life and to eventually lose it, how can we best invest our life that brings joy to our Savior?
• We can start by realizing that our life is not our own, we belong to Christ who redeemed us.
• We can start by making ourselves available for service, turning over our schedule at His direction.
• We can start by considering how to be better stewards of the resources placed in our care.
Living for one’s self is fruitless. I recall a bumper sticker proclaiming, “If you could gain the whole world, where would you put it?” Most would lose their soul striving for much less. The world already belongs to our God and He is coming again to claim it. Let’s be content and faithful to him in all things, so that His kingdom has the utmost priority.
You would think we must be the only ones around this neighborhood with a telephone. We’ve had to ask some to use the pay phone at the gas station, when we figured out that their purpose for the call was non-emergency. But emergencies do arise. We’ve had several beaten women crying, pounding on our door at 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning seeking refuge and police assistance from aggressive boyfriends and landlords.
Minutes before Betty and I were to go out for dinner on our 30th anniversary, an unknown high school student, Stacy, who lived down another street requested to use our phone in hope of stopping a friend named Mindy in Dallas from getting an abortion. She said she and her mom would be willing to care for the baby while her friend finished high school. She made many calls including assistance from a local crisis center, but all attempts made could not get past Mindy’s other friends who intercepting the calls, laughed, mocked and repeatedly hung-up on her. At best all we could do was to pray for Mindy, that she not destroy her unborn child and to encourage Stacy for her courageous effort, and for her love shown towards her friend. She tried.
To whom do I become a disciple maker? I’ve prayed, I’ve asked individuals, I’ve made my desires known, but not as often as I should, or to as many as I could, or as earnestly as I ought. I believe that in God’s timing it will come to past, meanwhile as I wait for God to answer that ultimate call, I know He answers in ways not expected. I was asked by the pastor if I would teach our small Sunday high school group this next quarter. Though I jokingly said “no” as he approached, I knew I was willing to get involved again. I just need God’s help in every area. The little things we do count for eternity also and these high school students are important and we want them to excel beyond anything we have done with our lives, so I look forward to serving in this way.
Prayer Request:
1. Turn my physical exhaustion into strengthened excitement.
2. Physical healing of my foot primarily. I stopped walking at the gym this last month till the open sore heals. My legs have their problems too, some unusual bruises that have not healed for about six months now.
3. Pray for Jeremy that he would desire to walk in the Spirit’s control, pleasing God in all things.
4. We had a second shooting outside our house. Pray that the police will find this person before someone’s life is taken.
As a family we are taking next week off for vacation to see Al & Carol Holt, Jack & Trixie Gear in Seattle before Jeremy leaves for basic training at Fort Benning, GA, September 17th.
Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support.
With great expectations,
Larry Wiklund and family
Graphic Designer
Missionary TECH Team
25 FRJ Drive
Longview, TX 75602
PS. If you prefer to receive future letters by E-mail, please let me know. My address is: Larry@iampersuaded.com
Drop me a note sometime, I would love to hear from you.
January 16, 2004
Prayer Request:
…that the discipleship group Larry takes part in, will in turn become disciple-makers of others. May the Lord make these potential individuals known to him for discipleship.
…that Betty's kidney stone will pass without the need for further medical treatment.
…that Larry's discomfort in his bones and joints will lessen.
January 10, 2004
I went to the doctor on Friday and he told me my condition with D.I.S.H. (Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis) will never improve. Exercise may be good for my heart and lungs and hopefully to lose some weight, but not to expect anything else. He did prescribe a different pain medication if I want to take it. I will wait about 10-14 days to see what my base pain level is and go from there. Have not lost much weight, could be the medication, probably those after church fellowships. OK I confess, its my craving desire for brownies and chocolate chip cookies.
Betty thinks she has another kidney stone. Today we got as far as the emergency room when the pain subsided and went home for now. She has been breaking out in hives/rash which we think is related to the antibiotics. She had canceled a Monday IVP dye test to find the stone because she feared an allergic reaction in her blood. But we may have to reschedule it.
Excited about our discipleship meeting with Joel and Jim. tomorrow I will ask the pastor of our church here in Longview to look over Colin Sr book. I would like Pine Crest Bible Church to consider me available to disciple others in a small group setting.
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