WIKLUNDS NEWSLETTER 2005

December 30th, 2005

Christmas was a great time of getting together with the kids (Tim and Melissa). Played a lot of games, Scrabble and Pictionary, lots of laughs, and too much food. Only Jeremy stationed in Iraq couldn't be here. The kind of things he requested for Christmas was that we send him things that remind him of the comforts of home. We know he is very tired and needs sleep so he can be alert to any dangers around him. Keep praying for him.

I went to the doctor on the 29th. The pain level in my left wrist was more than I could bear. I thought it could be cracked or maybe carpel tunnel symptoms. The doctor thought it was an infected irritated tendon. He gave me a anti-inflammatory steroid shot at the source of pain. I was also given packets of Celebrex to take twice a day for 21 days. My follow appointment is February 28th. I am wearing a wrist support that helps stabilized the movement.

I praised God that I can type this letter (slower speed than usual). Maybe in the future I can get a different keyboard that is ergonomic. Betty's mom has had similar problems with her wrist, and they think it was due to blood test and needle insertion. I think that is very possible as nurses have always had problems finding a vein in my wrist, top of my hands and elbow area.

With hurricanes and other disasters experienced in Texas and nearby states, insurance companies are getting tougher on their polices. We received notices that if we don't fix certain items on our home, they will drop our insurance policy in March. This will be difficult for us with our physical limitations and potential cost in labor and materials. We sure need wisdom and knowledge on this issue. Please pray.

Larry

December 20th, 2005

Our daughter, Melissa was taken to the emergency room at Good Shepherd Hospital 5:00 a.m. She has had kidney stones before. The morphine given her was sufficient to relax her. Thankfully the painful stone passed and she was released four hours latter. Two days latter we all went out to dinner and celebrated her birthday. No "kidney beans", no "Rocky" road ice cream, or anything else to remind her of that experience. Of course we have not receive the hospital bill yet. Something's are just hard too swallow, but this to will pass.

Larry

December 5th, 2005

I am sure we have all met people who are either halfhearted, no-hearted, or wholehearted in their relationship towards God.

The junior high Sunday school lesson was titled a tale of three kings. Their names, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (father, son, and grandson). Each inherited various obstacles to overcome. Jotham's dad followed the Lord, but compromised and allowed pagan worship to continue. Jotham grew up seeing such inconsistency, yet nevertheless, like his dad, he continued halfheartedly by not removing the idols in the land. His son Ahaz rejected the ways of his father all-together when he became king, and actually offered sacrifices to pagan gods. Hezekiah probably had a godly mother, and that surely helped when he became a wholehearted king that honored the Lord. Growing up in such families, who learned or was willing to give up bitterness and resentment? Who learned forgiveness, thankfulness and faithfulness to God even during the tough times in their lives?

No matter what kind of family we live in, we must decide for ourselves what our personal commitment to Jesus Christ will be.

Recently a member of TECH's staff, passed away into the presence of the Lord. Laurie Collins' crippling arthritic condition had confined her fragile body to a wheel chair. But it did not stop her from walking with God in daily devotion and service towards others. This was something that my mother in her arthritic condition would have had nothing to do with. How different these two were. It is disheartening seeing those who reject our Lord and Savior, but we are are much encouraged by those who endure to the end.

When the grace of God is revealed to us, will we accept it? Will we allow it to transform us?

May we learn not to take His grace for granted

Larry Wiklund

PS. Here is the article about Laurie Collins from TECH's Intercessor.

Precious Moments of a Precious Servant.

September 6th, 2005

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

Jeremy, our youngest son, has arrive in Mosul, once known as Nineveh (read the book of Jonah). He does ask and appreciate your prayers on his behalf.

Those who wish to write him or send care packages, can do so; his address is:

PFC WIKLUND, JEREMY
B. Co. 117, 172nd INF.
APO – AE 09319

....
Map of Iraq and City map of Mosul
[click to see larger view]

Jeremy and Betty during Christmas leave.

With family prior to going to Alaska, then Kuwait, and now Mosul.
Larry, Melissa, Jeremy, Timothy, and Betty at Pine Crest Bible Church.

July, 27, 2005

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

Jeremy is back in Alaska. He will most likely be in Iraq in August for over a year. Pray for him, he is not walking close to the Lord. He doesn't read, and shows little interest in going to church or fellowship. He did have ADD as a kid and this may have affected reading ability. Despite that he has become a prodigal son who thinks he has everything under control and lives recklessly. I have given him my set of CDs on the Purpose Driven Life. Pray that he will take the time to listen. His birthday is Sept. 26th. I'm sure he listens to music CDs, perhaps not what we would appreciate. He needs something with a wake up call.

Pray that he would see the need to "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." Ephesians 6:11

Melissa is still home with us. Her supervisor at the credit union where she works will not give her 40 hours a week, so she's considered part-time without health benefits. She's looking for additional work. We can't afford her medication for depression, nor can she. She prefers not taking the medication and so far she is doing fairly well when with minimal stress at work.

Tim our oldest lives in Dallas. He has a good job. doing well.

Jim Englund, Joel Krieider, and myself have final finished Colin Sr."Models for Discipleship". We continue to meet weekly at the office during lunch for fellowship and encouragement. I have ask some at church if they would be interested in a discipleship study. Their response wasn't positive. They know it would require of them a faithful commitment of time to get involved. I still have two students in the high school Sunday class this summer. One will be going to college in the Fall. The other I believe will hang in there with me. I have always considered my time with them a blessing. For now I have shifted gears from Scripture Press to a book I discovered in the church library called "The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus" by John R. Cross. It is also on the internet in print and audio form: http://www.goodseed.com/ If you know of anything I need to be aware of concerning the book material, please let me know.

I wasn't consistent in my exercise routine for months, I'm slowly trying to get back on track. It seems I take one step forward and slip back two. My ankles slowly swell up some after walking and feels more like a twisted ankle that last for days. Lord willing this will pass where I can walk more often.

Keep praying for us. Lord knows we need it.

Thanks much for your support and encouragement.

Larry & Betty Wiklund
Missionary TECH Team
25 FRJ Drive
Longview, TX 75602