I (Deb) had the privilege of teaching a series from
the book of 1 John to a group of 159 ladies from the churches in Anlagan,
Miarayon, Lapoc, Tinaytayan, San Aquino, Colawingon, Lantod, Buyungon,
Tumpagon, Cauyunan, Limondà and Ricodo. We held our retreat at a place
called Seaside Bible Camp which was several hours journey for all of us but a
perfect location with cabins near the beach and a wonderful staff who looked
after us and cooked for us.
It was a truly great time of fellowship, prayer,
studying the Word, being together, talking late into the night, crying and
laughing together.
On the last night together, we had a leadership
meeting for all the women from every church who are involved in ministry:
scripture teachers, elder’s wives who serve alongside their husbands,
women who lead women’s bible study groups, youth group leaders etc. I was
astonished when that 53 women came to this meeting. Out of 159 ladies at the
retreat, 53 are involved in ministering the Word and in leading children, youth
and women’s groups!
Nayumi
(wearing yellow) was at this retreat with her cousin Richel, and
she gave a beautiful testimony and then afterwards sang a song.
It
was awesome to hear her share of how Jesus has been helping her through these
awful and tearful days of her early widowhood. It had only been 15 days on this
day since the Lord took Dondon to heaven, but during those days she has been
discovering that in the heaviest and darkest of times in our lives, that Jesus
promises are true and that she can get through this time because He is with
her.
In
part of Nayumi’s testimony, she shared: “Dondon, who was part of me, is now
gone and the pain I feel is terrible, but I know that it was Jesus’ plan to
take Dondon when He did and I accept this and believe that Jesus does
everything right....”
We
brought Nayumi and Richel back here to Lapoc with us after the Ladies’ Retreat
and we had some great opportunities to talk with Nayumi about all that these
last months have held, to remember things we did together with Dondon, to pray
with her and to do some fun things.
We’re
missing them today as they went back this morning to Tumpagon.
Another
opportunity we had this week was to spend four days with 13 of the elders and
other church leaders from some of the Dulangan Higaunon churches including two
of the wives. We spent many hours of this time studying the Word together and
helping them to update all their resources. We did some intensive study on part
of the book of Acts and also had meetings and prayer times with them. Most of
them stayed here in our home with us and most meal times we had about 19 people
here which we did all the cooking for.
It
was a hugely busy time but very valuable and it was a privilege for us to be
able to serve them, to spend time with them in the Word, to meet with them and
we will be doing this quite frequently over the next several months.
Our
morning today started at 3 AM when we all got off for them to start their trip
home. Nayumi and Richel caught a ride with them too and the house has been
strangely empty and quiet today.
My
eyes were still unfocused at 3 AM and it was dark so I cut several of them off
in the photo – next time we’ll try to get some better photos for you.
This
exciting missionary journey of waking up every day to new things and new
opportunities is a great joy and we are privileged to be walking this journey
alongside you! We don’t know what tomorrow has for us but we are sure of our
Lord’s grace and presence with us to the end of our days and He gives us great
confidence and strength – especially when our feet start to falter!
Thank
you for praying – our hearts have a particular ache in them at the moment which
need your prayers because our co-workers, Josh and Belinda Moffit have decided
not to return to the work here in Lapoc. They came back here on the 6th -
8th of October and packed up their things and said their goodbyes to
the church here and to all their friends. It has been extremely hard and
painful for us and to tell the truth, we cannot really explain why they left.
Some of the reasons we think they left is that they maybe felt intimidated by
us and also did not feel comfortable with us as team leaders. But bottom line I
think is that the enemy of the Gospel is behind all this. Josh and Belinda and
their family are now living in another area and looking to the Lord for a new
ministry.
Don’t
know if we ever told you but where we live is at the foot of a volcano and this
past week, all the people living in this area were informed by the Department
of Natural Resources that the volcano is apparently showing signs of becoming
active. So we don’t know if a volcano eruption is going to be part of God’s
plan for us or not but you could keep this in your prayers as well.
All
these troubles are just more opportunities to trust our Great and Loving and
Faithful God!
