"Thank you so much for sharing your ministry with us. It's difficult to put words to the impact your visit to our church had. The service was humorous and the music was engaging, but the best part of your visit was how you made a very simple presentation and then stepped aside to let the Holy Spirit do His work. Larry's simple message cut straight to the heart of so many that were in attendance because it was a message of truth brought by a God-gifted evangelist. Thank you for stirring and challenging DeSmit Christian Alliance Church."

Have a great couple weeks until we chat again!

Gloria

 

Gloria

-Lydia M. Child

 

I miss him - he passed away at 87 years of age when I had just turned 55 years old...I was officially a senior. Dad always joked, "When you turn 55, we both can go get our McDonald's senior coffee and take advantage of all the 'freebies' for seniors." And then...he up and left me! It wasn't fair...that wasn't the plan.

As I stood there with a balloon swaying freely in the soft breeze, I let my mind race back to a number of childhood memories. I was "Daddy's Girl"... his only girl as I had 10 brothers - 5 older and 5 younger. I cherished being loved, spoiled and protected by him. Dad was born June 6, 1912 in Howard, SD in a family of 13 children. Dad was not prefect...but he was perfectly full of energy, mischief and spunk! For a man who only had an 8^th grade education, he definitely was a man ahead of his years. He had extraordinary wisdom, common sense, knowledge and motivation. He could fix, invent or repair anything. As a young teenager it was his dream to have an auto repair shop and a car dealership. In fact, when he was about 16, he built his own car from parts he gathered around the country. His dream came true when he started his own business. The word "Dad" and "work" were synonymous. He believed that everything that breathed should work and make their own way through life. When each of my brothers were about 5 or 6, he started them with sweeping floors at his business. He worked with us kids since we were little on washing cars, teaching mechanics, parts department, paint shop, motorcycle and car sales, wrecker service and salvage yard. I'm sure Dad felt a huge obligation and burden to keep his 10 sons and me out of mischief. With that in mind, he also had a ¼ of a city block that was a huge garden. I've never seen or pulled so many weeds! Well, dad's dream came true. We kids never got bored as he made sure we had more than plenty to do. Of course, I was assigned to babysitting, cleaning, cooking, diapers, dishes, gardening, canning, ironing (yuck) and baking.

One of my most treasured memories is when our family was invited to a church in 1952 and an invitation to receive Christ in our hearts was given. We all stepped forward and prayed. Dad was so at peace. I was mesmerized as I watched him read the bible every spare moment he had, morning, noon and night. He devoured the Word, and I loved to hear him pray.

He was also a great witness to others. Almost every night he took a couple of us younger kids on evening walks and often we'd stop in a home of someone who was hurting or without Christ and he would boldly share the Gospel story, and he would tell them that "Jesus is the answer" to all their problems. As a little girl, this really made an impact on my life. I also loved to watch him in church as he sang the congregational songs (out of tune - ha!) and he drank in every word that was preached. Dad also taught me by example about tithing. On his dresser he kept an old box of tithe envelopes and the last thing he did before he went to bed was to put the tithe money in that little envelope to take to church the next morning. Guess who does the identical thing? Me. I make out my tithe and giving checks just like he did.

Assoc. Krista & Kelly Kraemer

Kevin & Shelli Wertz, altar counselor

After the altar call, a father of a teenager approached us and tearfully said, "My wife and I have been praying for our teenage son. This morning when Larry gave the invitation for those to come to Christ, he stood right up. My wife and I just sat there and cried tears of joy. I was a Muslim and my wife led me to the Lord years ago. This new life is so wonderful and now our son made a decision as well. We are overjoyed!"   

This coming weekend we'll be in Elbow Lake, MN for a women's event on Saturday and sharing at the Sunday morning service at Victory in Life church. Then, next week, we'll be off to De Smet, SD for a Father's Day service. Have a blessed couple of weeks until we chat again!

Gloria

"Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional."

- Chili Davis

 

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{ Pic of the Week }

 

 

 

 

We saw this on the way home from Oakes, ND...we wonder what stories it has to tell. 

Mother's Day is always special and this year was no exception. I was invited to speak the Mother's Day message at Aberdeen, SD at First Assembly of God. As always, it was a delight to be back with pastor friends, Rev. Gary and Joni Wileman and their wonderful congregation. They are another exceptional pastor and wife team, who lead their church by example: vision, love, zeal and motivation.

Of course, this moving event took me down as I missed my own children so much on Mother's Day...but Nashville, Tennessee (where all my family is except our grandson, Dante, in Minneapolis) is too far for them to run home to celebrate Mother's Day. I really cherish their cards, phone calls and flowers from my children. But, as any mother can relate, it is not the same without that physical hug and physical presence.

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day. I am waiting for the annual phone call from my mother (96 ½), "Missy, we need to get to the cemetery to get the flowers on the graves." This has been our mother-daughter tradition since I was a little girl. I still remember winding through the maze of tombstones, dragging bags of plastic flowers to put on the graves of my grandparents, my only sister, relatives, a baby sitter, etc. Mom always looked and observed the graves that had no flowers, and with her compassionate heart, she'd comment, "Missy, we need to put a flower on this grave." Now the years have rolled by, and we have many more loved ones graves added to our mission - dad, sister in law, aunts, uncles, mom's friend that died at 103, and more of the "forgotten" ones. For many years, mom has always walked with us, but now she sits in the car as I follow her commands, along with a brother or two as we open the trunk that is jammed full of flowers. She carefully watches to make sure I put the flowers in the right place here and there. I will usually hear a voice coming from the car, "Missy did we remember flowers for so-and-so...we need more flowers." Often I make a quick run to the store for a few more to make sure no one is forgotten.

Some years I wonder how I will get it all done...and then, I stop and appreciate and admire my Mother's example of remembering those who left the memories of their presence here on earth and who are now in Heaven! Her compassion and determination has left a great impact on my life - and as long as Larry and I live in Sisseton, we will continue to carry on the tradition of remembering Larry's family and ours and those who have gone on before us.

The longer I live, the more loved ones we have on the other side. The great truth and joy is that the grave is just the encasement and as we visit it, it reminds us of heaven and eternity. If know Christ as our personal Savior, we will never fear death - for the grave is not the end...it is the beginning. What a reunion heaven will be.

Be sure this Memorial Day to take time to remember those who have gone on before us, and please visit the military section of the cemetery to honor those who fought and sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

Gloria

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{ Pic of the Week }

The beautiful roses I got on my birthday from my husband Larry.

- George Herbert

The Century Cactus...

While in Arizona - I noticed this unusual breathtaking, beautiful blooming cactus in my brother, Larry's, yard. It literally stopped me in my tracks as I said, "It is so beautiful." He responded, "Yes it is. That spike with all the flowers literally sprung up over night, and you can see how tall it is. It grows in a few hours up to heights of 28 feet and then blossoms." He continued, "When you see the blossom Gloria, it's a sign of impending death for the cactus. The century cactus can live up to 30-50 years, but it will bloom only once, then dies. You never know when the cactus will bloom between 1 and 30-50 years. But if you are patient, and looking, you may be blessed to experience that event. He told me that the cactus blooms, then it dies and leans over because it's filled with seeds.

The winds carry the seeds away and new cactus will grow.

After I saw and heard that, I prayed, "Lord, it's my prayer that I will continue to grow strong and when that day comes for me to come home to heaven, I pray that during that time my life and testimony will zoom and bloom that when I die, the legacy and seeds of my life will scatter and bring forth much spiritual fruit, especially in my children and grandchildren's lives. I was so happy I got to experience the event of seeing the blossoms that only last a few hours of the plants lifetime.

{ Recipe }

{March 28, 2012 }

 

"How sweet it is!" That one-liner from an old sitcom, the Honeymooners, that played many years ago best describes the last two services we've ministered at.

 

Sunday, March 18^th we were invited and very excited to sing and preach at the Cowboy Church in Wickenburg, Arizona. From the minute we hit the city limits of the historical Old West town, we felt an air of excitement come over us. Early Sunday morning we set up our equipment at the local movie theatre where services are held- people began to flow in from the streets filling the theatre seats. Pastor Wes Walton stood up on the stage, totally fit and dressed in his sharp Western attire - hat, boots and personality plus as he exuberantly introduced us... and away we went. "What a ride!"

 

 

 

 

When Larry presented the altar call for those "who don't know when they die if they would go to heaven" the response was wonderful. Over 50 stepped forward to make a decision for Christ. Pastor Wes approached us afterwards as we were packing up the equipment. With all the excitement in his voice of someone who had just won the rodeo championship, he declared, "People got saved here today!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor Wes called us this afternoon and shared this:

"Larry and Gloria, we have been praying for revival and we believe God brought you here to start it in Wickenburg. So many lives were changed. A dear lady called me and said, 'Oh pastor, I've prayed all my life for my husband to get saved. When Larry had the altar call, my husband gave his heart to Christ. God finally answered my prayers." Then she added, "A couple days after the service, it was 6:30 am, and I couldn't figure out where my husband went. There he was in the living room reading the Bible. I'd never seen him read the Bible before. He had started in the New Testament and was already in chapter 28 of Matthew.'"

 That's what you call, being changed by the power of God. It's always thrilling for Larry and I to just stand back and watch what God does and have a small part in people committing their lives to Him.

 

 

 

 

We would like to mention Penny and Sid, as they were responsible for our opportunity in Wickenburg, AZ. We met Penny and Sid in Montana last October and they said, "You've just got to come to our Cowboy Church in Wickenburg, Arizona". We want to thank them for making that possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was also "sweet" to see the same excitement at the altar call at Harvest Church in Glendale last Sunday, March 25^th. Our pastor friends, Ron and Sue Rockwell pastor this exciting and growing church. The worship team of singers and musicians fill the stage. What a sight - then the anointed worship began. You literally felt you were going to have to hold onto your chair because the worship was so awesome as it drew us in to the presence of God. If you live in the Glendale/Peoria, Arizona area, don't miss a chance to visit there and to experience this dynamic church. I guarantee you will be challenged, blessed and changed before you walk out of the church doors.  We were so thrilled to feel a multicultural spirit at Harvest Church as they embrace friends from other countries who are attending there. We respect Pastor Ron and Sue so much and we love their compassion for the hurting and lost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"What a joy it was to have Larry and Gloria in service with us here at Harvest Church. What a tremendous impact their life, their music, their genuine love for people, and their desire for souls has on our church family. We praise God for the number of new births in Christ! We're so grateful to be called friends of this ministry."

 

Rev. Ron & Sue Rockwell

Harvest Church

Glendale, AZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It was such a delight to have the opportunity to attend Harvest Church in Glendale, AZ on Sunday, March 25th and hear you minister once again. We have followed your ministry since 1979 when the entire Lundstrom Team visited our community of Dauphin, Manitoba Canada and 1000 people came to Christ, many of whom are still serving the Lord, and we attend church together. Thanks for never changing the message while always remaining relevant and current in your presentation."

Love in Jesus,
Hessel & Rhoda Dethmers

 

 

 

We will be here in Arizona for just over a week and we'll be heading into New Mexico...and on and on. We pray that you'll have a wonderful week, sense the presence of God, and remember that God loves you and says that He will never leave you nor forsake you.   

 

Gloria

 

 

                                 

 

 

 

 Another day, another cactus! 

 

{ Recipe }

Jesus commanded, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15)". Larry and I call it a privilege to go and preach. Each one of us has the right and should feel that same privilege every time we can share Christ with someone else.

As you look at the photos, please pray for these people as well as those who live next to you, and that you come in contact with that need the Lord. Have a great week!

Gloria

- Bessie Stanley

8. God won't ask about the color of your skin.
He'll ask about the content of your character.

 

Larry got a kick out of this view at "the end" of a tour...

 

{ Recipe }

Okay...so I'm a wimp! Larry's only been gone for 24 hours and I'm already stir crazy without him. We truly are joined at the hip - ha!

We took Larry to the Phoenix airport Tuesday morning at 5:15 to catch the first leg of his missions trip to Africa. He arrived in Atlanta, Georgia where he was to meet up with Pastor John Brady and 8 of his men from the Minot First Assembly of God church in North Dakota. They all met just minutes before the 15 hour flight. Coming from North Dakota, Pastor John and his group had to deal with travel conditions, which caused plane delays. The whole group was scheduled to leave Atlanta at 7:40 pm. In Larry's last call to me at 7:20 pm, there was a bit of distress in his voice as he said, "Hi honey - Pastor John and his men are frantically running through the Atlanta airport hoping not to miss the flight to Africa." Just the thought of that made myblood pressure rush. Well...I didn't hear anymore from them, so I assumed they got in the plane by a squeak. Their first flight is 15 hours to Johannesburg, Africa and then onto Zimbabwe. Larry has looked forward to this trip for two years.

Last weekend we were thrilled to have two wonderful services at Apache Junction, Arizona (by Mesa). Dozens of our friends from over 15 states: Alaska, California, New York, Florida, Michigan, Texas and several Midwest states in between, attended. It's amazing and thrilling how many friends we have met and made through the 46 years on the road. So last Sunday was like a big family reunion.

"Hi! Hope all is well with you and all that you are doing in the name of the Lord. I just wanted to send my appreciation and thanks. Coming up in about two weeks is my 2 year anniversary for giving my life over to Jesus and accepting Him as my Savior. This all happened during a Sunday morning altar call at Apache Junction First A/G. You spoke the gospel with such a loving heart that I will never forget the feeling of wanting to know "that Jesus" they are talking about. Since then, I have been baptized in water and am now attending a ministry school. Through your obedience, Larry and Gloria, the Lord was able to touch and change my life. I pray the Lord's hands upon your ministry and the anointing of your lips will continue to change the lives of many. God bless you both."

Sara Dimas

It is our prayer that you will have a great week, blessed by the Lord - peace unto you!

Gloria

Her friend glared at her. For at least three minutes she just stared and glared at her. Finally, she said, "How soon do you need to know?"

A view of the snow that's coming into the Midwest...

{ Recipe }

Not bad, huh? As you already know, my husband has a sense of humor! After dating for about a year and a half, Larry finally popped the question, in his own fashion, "If you marry me, I'll take you out for lunch!" Of course I accepted, with a chuckle.

Little did I know or could imagine how many lunches would be included in 46½ years on the road. It has been his constant love and confidence in me that has kept me holding tight to the "Red Flyer" wagon of life since we vowed, "I do." I had the flutters thinking about leaving home, parting from my family, getting married and moving into an old 1948 Flex bus, which we bought in 1965. It was an old bus parked at a disaster scene for the state of California. Lundstrom's bought it, and soon it became our disaster and nightmare!

Larry worked under it trying to keep it going about as much as he did behind the wheel driving it! He could have entered the Guinness Book of World Records for removing, tweaking, repairing, and putting the transmission back in the old bucket of bolts while Lowell was preaching. Quickly he would change back into his suit and run back on stage in time for the altar call! I saw Larry live in his work clothes during those years more than in every day attire.

When I was reminiscing about all of this I was reminded that love and marriage is much like that old Flex bus. Marriage requires a lot of tweaking, upkeep, consistent diagnosing of problems, facing them and solving them. I have found out that problems don't just go away.

They have to prayerfully and carefully be dealt with and fixed or you will blow the marital engine in your marriage. I kind of chuckle thinking back that any time our children or I have taken the car somewhere, Larry firmly instructs, "Don't forget to check the oil. Be sure there's enough oil in it or you will burn the engine." That statement resonates to everyone in our family.