May/June 2010 update

Ministry News by Chris

Dear Friends,

Although the past few months have not been without their challenges they have also not been without their extraordinary blessings either. Words cannot describe (as many of you will attest) the sheer joys and challenges of being first time parents. Our little son Josiah both embodies the pure beauty and glory of God’s wisdom in creation as well as the obvious effects of the human and can I not say sinful nature (ha-ha). I am daily humbled and awed that God would entrust me with the care of one so helpless and so small. Needless to say it has been a blessing and I daily thank the Lord for him. I would like to say thank you to all of you for your prayer and spiritual support in this new season of great change.

Since the birth of our son Josiah I have prayerfully and carefully relinquished the role of leading to each of the young men involved. It is my prayer and my hope that each of these precious saints will grow in the calling that God has placed upon their lives as they lead each monthly meeting themselves. I will still be attending the meetings but as more of an overseer than an authority.

Josh and Tim now leading!

Already I have seen tremendous growth. At our last meeting two new guys came and it was such a blessing to hear what God is doing in their life as well as to see the hunger they each have to grow more deeply in their relationship with God and in the understanding of his word and the gospel. The young man who led us did an excellent job of providing the others with the space to share about what the Lord is doing in their lives as well as facilitating a comfortable environment to fellowship in.

It brings my heart such joy to see the growth in each of the lives of these young men. It both encourages me to continue to meet with them and reminds me how the Lord is with each of us in our own growth. I would ask that you continue to lift up these young men as they are faced with the pressures of their culture and their peers to reject Christ and the life and truth he gave His own life for each of us to have.

Changes ahead

Both Cindy and I have a heart to minister to the young people of today. So after much prayer, both together and separate, We believe that the LORD is leading us to do full time ministry together.  We have applied and been accepted to Campus Crusade for Christ.  We are excited and scared about doing ministry together!! We will both continue to work at our current jobs until we have raised the support needed to work with Campus Crusade on the Cal Poly Pomona Campus.  We have a lot of support to raise and are only currently at 33%.  Please pray with us that we will be at 100% by Sept 9th.  If you would like to learn more about our upcoming ministry, please let us know.  We would love to share with you personally!

Prayer Requests:

  • For wisdom and direction with raising our son Josiah.
  • Continued health of our family.
  • For our Marriage: clear communication,  that we would put each other first and not get so wrapped up with baby, that we would keep Christ at the center!
  • For wisdom and grace dealing with the Hospital concerning our bill.  They are requiring us to pay more then we can.
  • Strength, wisdom, and encouragement as we raise support. We are only at 33% and need to be at 100% by Sept!

Chris and Cindy welcome the precious gift of God into their lives…                            by Cindy

Josiah David Broniste

Josiah was born on March 31st, 2010 at 5:15pm after 4 hours of labor! He weighed 7lbs 13oz and was 20 inches long.

It seems like just a few weeks ago that Josiah was born.   My labor was short which I am very thankful for.  My water broke at 12:15pm and Chris and I arrive at Labor and Delivery just a little after 2pm.  I had been dilating for the past 4 weeks very slowly so once my water broke I was between 4 and 5 centimeters dilated.  After the epidural, I went to 10 centimeters in 30 minutes.  No one was prepared for how fast my labor was, not even the nurse.  She had to call for help and have Chris help her with things that normally nurses do.  We are very thankful for a delivery without complications.  Thank you for your prayers for us!

Since that time we have been adjusting to having a very cute but very trying at times new addition to our family.  People kept telling us that it would be a hard adjustment but I don’t think till you actually are going through sleepless nights and walking around like a zombie that you really understand what they were saying.  It has taken some time but we feel like we are starting to get the hang of things.  It does also help that the last few weeks he has been sleeping for 6-8 hours per night.  Boy what sleeping through the nights will do for you! :)

I have been learning a lot about myself since the birth of our son.  My sin is so apparent when I have little sleep.  I have been growing in patience and learning how to communicate my frustrations and not take them out on my husband. Please continue to pray that I would be open to what the LORD is doing in my life.

Prayer requests:

Please continue to pray for us as we are new parents!

Pray for our relationship with God and our relationship with each other.

Pray for wisdom in raising Josiah!

Pray for the hospital bill. After our insurance was billed we owe about one  third of the costs. Pray that we will qualify for special payment arrangements unlike what the hospital wants which is way more then we can afford. Thanks!!

We love you all! Thanks for your prayers and support!!

Love,  Chris and Cindy

Our sweet baby

Josiah

Our little boy is growing!

bath time!

Prayer requests!

Hi friends and family,

I am currently on maternity leave till July.  Our beautiful son Josiah David was born on March 31st! We love him! As you know with all new parents there is challenges and adjustments to go through.  That’s why I haven’t had time to write an update.  Chris will write one for us soon…so until then here are some prayer requests!

Praises:

Josiah is growing strong! He is doing well and has finally decided to sleep for 6 hours a night! Praise the LORD for sleep!! :)

Prayer Requests:

For Chris and I and our marriage.  That we would be open and honest and communicate well.  That we would put each other ahead of our own needs and love one another with Christ’s love.  That we would continue to walk by faith and trust the LORD with our baby!

For wisdom, grace, patience, understanding with raising Josiah.  That we would seek the LORD together in what to do and how to raise him.

For finances! Our hospital bill after insurance is $4600.  We called to maked payment arrangements and the only allow payments of $725 per month for six months.  That’s more then one paycheck! We can’t do that!! We are in the process of filling out some form to try and qualify for lesser payments.  Pray that we will and that the LORD would allow the payments to be reasonable.  We thought $100 a month would be a stretch.  God can provide and we ask that you join us in praying that He will!

For a second vehicle.  It’s hard for me to be at home all day without a car with a baby.  We need a second car for dr visits etc.  Thanks!

For God to provide greatly and abundantly as we are raising support! That God would lead us to those who want to partner with us in ministry.

For Me (Cindy) to learn to balance time as I only have one more month of maternity leave. Then I will be working from home.  Thanks!!

He's here!

First family picture!

Josiah David day 1

Just after birth!

daddy and baby!

daddy and baby!

Daddy and baby playing!

We love you all! Thanks for being a vital part of our life and ministry!

Love,  The Broniste Family!

Jan/Feb update

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Dear Friends,

Hi!! Chris and I are so sorry it has been a while since we have done an update.  With Thanksgiving and Christmas and so much going on it was hard to get an update out.   So let me briefly fill you in.

In November we mostly focused on our golf tournament.  We have a golf tournament 2 times a year to help raise funds for all the expenses that aren’t covered.  It was a great event and we were excited to see the LORD richly provide.  Also in November we had issues with our website.  So I have become our temporary tech person.  Needless to say I am not a computer person and can only do what I have been taught. 

December was filled with Christmas stuff and seeing our family.  This was the first year that Chris’ family got together for Christmas since we have been married.  

Haiti!!

Well since the earthquake that hit and devastated Haiti  SGWM have been seeking the Lord through prayer on what is our part in all this.  We want to make a lasting difference for the gospel there and not just to come and help and to never return again.  We are sending in assessment teams to go in first before we start sending in more teams with supplies.  There are so many physical needs but the greatest need is for life change through the power of the gospel.  Please join with us in prayer as we seek the LORD as where He wants to serve in Haiti.  If you would like to give to medical supplies, food, etc for Haiti you can go to www.sgwm.com. 

Nepal

Recently we (SGWM) have accepted another new missionary…Tonielle (pronounced Tenile) Antenesse.  She has been going on missions trips to Nepal for the past four years! She believes God wants her to go there long term.  So she will be leaving on a vision trip for three months starting in February.  For more information about her and her ministry please go to www.sgwm.com/tonielle

Personal New from Chris and Cindy

Count down till baby arrives!

 Life has been very busy lately.  I (Cindy) was hoping that we would slow down the closer it gets to the arrival of our little one but for some reason we can’t! Chris and I are aware that things will have to change once baby comes. Currently we both go to a book study on Sunday Nights with friends from church(Holiness by R.C Ryle) then we have individual bible studies on Tuesday nights then couples fellowship every other Friday night. It’s been fun to see Chris lead worship again on Sunday nights!

In case you haven’t heard, we are having a boy!  I have made it to my third trimester.  There are only 9 weeks to go to till my due date.  We are praying for a happy, healthy, wholly (all ten fingers and toes) and holy (one that is set apart for Him!) baby! We are still a little scared about this new addition to our world.  There are still a lot of unknowns…like how I will be able to handle working part time, will we make it financially, can we do this with just one car, etc?  But all in all  we are trusting in God’s perfect timing and that He is our strength, rock and great provider!

Love in Christ,

Chris and Cindy

Special Prayer requests for Cindy and baby Josiah:

1. Strength and endurance during this final trimester.

2. Increased energy. I am tired a lot.

3. Endurance with pain as baby grows and is in her ribs all the time.

4. That I and baby would have a normal healthy delivery and that it wouldn’t be too long of a delivery! Due date is 4/3/2010. Pray I won’t be overdue!

5. That God would go before us with our bills from baby.  Chris’s insurance changed and  now we will owe about $1500 or more.

 

Prayer Requests:

  • Pray for our walks with the LORD that they would be rich and full.
  • Pray for our marriage to be grounded deeply in Him and that we would continue to love one another with His amazing love.
  • Pray for our finances. That we would trust the LORD to provide $200 in monthly support . 
  • Pray for Cindy and the baby (Josiah) —health, protection, normal delivery.
  • Pray that the LORD would provide a second car. 
  • Pray that the LORD would provide all the needs for the baby– financial (what insurance doesn’t cover!) car seat, stroller, etc.
  • Pray for strength and energy as we serve the LORD together!

Chris and Cindy Broniste 200 S Highland Ave APT F, Placentia, CA 92870  Email: cindybroniste@gmail.com   

For donations please go to www.sgwm.com/missionaries.html  and click on our page!

Thank you!