Christmas 2009 in the Solomons & Happy New Year

Dear Prayer Partners,

I Want to thank you for your prayers and support during this past year 2009 and looking forward to a great year ahead.

Christmas in The Solomon Islands:

This year we had District Assembly up until 12 of December and had a house full of people until the 17^th. Then we left on the 19^th to attend a Christmas camp on Makira Island. We returned on 26^th December. Since we were so busy during the Holiday period we did not even get out our Christmas decorations this year. In some ways it did not feel like Christmas, at least not the traditional Western Christmas, but it was awesome anyway.

So you want to know; “How did we celebrate Christmas in the Solomon?” I’m glad you asked. Even if you don’t want to know I’ll tell you anyway. In the Solomon Islands, most people travel to their home island during the holiday period. Schools are out for the “Summer Break” in early December and do not resume until mid-January. We held our district meetings the first week of the break 8-13 December.

Zion Christian Academy, ZCA, held their closing Christmas program and graduation on Thursday 3^rd of December. George was the guest speaker, but found out about it the day of the event. He sensed that this would happen so had something “on the back burner” ready to share. It worked out fine. Pray for Nancy as she leads the school for another year. Pray that our students will be well equipped to meet the challenges in the future. So I suppose the Christmas celebrations here began December 3^rd. But actually 3 weeks earlier they began making preparations for the closing program.

Then December 12^th we killed three pigs and held a feast primarily for the Bible College graduation but it was also the Christmas dinner. The tables were full of all kinds of delicacies. Some of our church folk presented special music for the event. The youth, particularly female youth, helped in the food preparation and serving.

December 19 we boarded the Solomon Airline flight to Kirakira on Makira island. Then we took an outboard motor boat to Nukukaisi village. This was Nancy’s first time to visit this village. It was a joy for George to have his wife along. Nancy and George were both involved in teaching and preaching. The camp was a combined youth and women’s camp. I wasn’t sure how that would work out, but everyone enjoyed it and they chose to have the next district camp combined in 2011.

Sunday we had our opening service and we had a big feast and we were full of pork, fish, sweet potatoes, greens, and all kinds of Solomon Island delicacies, complement of the Tikopian (Polynesian) people at Nukukaisi village can fix.

The camp was awesome. All of the classes and services were great, but the Wednesday night service was very special and memorable. Many came to the altar to pray. I was worn out and exhausted from the teaching and preaching duties, arising early for prayer and going to bed late after the evening services. At 9:30 or so when they requested me to pray for those around the altar, I was really tired and ready to go home and hit the sack. As I was praying the Holy Spirit fell in upon the service and then I was no longer sleepy. After the prayer I said, “Anyone who needs someone to pray for them to remain at the altar”. Some remained and while we were praying for these, others came to the altar. Anyway we had spontaneous testimonies and prayer. I was praying with people until 2 a.m.

Christmas Eve, we held a combined outdoor service, on the beach. It had rained everyday while we were at camp, but even with the clouds threatening rain they decided to go ahead as planned. There was no rain during the outdoor service and it was in the middle of the night, well after all the equipment was safe at home before the rain began falling. The rain was always a welcome sight and provided us with fresh drinking water. The rains always came at the most opportune time and did not interfere with the services.

Christmas morning we had a baptism and baptized 14 children and youth. Then after the early service (7:30 a.m.) baptism at 9:00 a.m. they held the village combined Christmas service. All the denominations met in the Nazarene Church to standing room only. They expanding the church building by extending the roof and removing the side walls to accommodate the attendance. I would estimate 300 in attendance. We had an excellent service, with Bro. Dickson Manongi preaching complete with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

Now today as I write this is New Years Eve and I expect to have the ship ferrying the campers to return sometime today. Tonight we are planning a church fellowship and service welcoming in the New Year.

That is the Christmas in the Solomon’s. I know yours was different, but I trust it was just as enjoyable.

1 January 2010 - HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well in the Solomon Islands as I get around to concluding this letter, 2010 has officially begun. We are looking with great anticipation toward the future.

Last night we had a fellowship meal followed by a service at Zion church. People shared their testimonies and we had communion together. The ship arrived at 3 a.m. this morning returning with those who attended the youth and women’s camp. The sea was rough and the ship they were fortunate enough to catch has a tendency to roll from side to side even when the sea is fine. It is good to have them back and are looking forward to their sharing about their camp experiences.

As I heard the revelry and the parties going on around the church. The beer was flowing and many were celebrating the New Year in this way, the thought of it all just made tears well up in my eyes. When I think of the price that Jesus paid for these people in spite of their addictions and sins. “Lord please help us to make a difference, to be the Light and Salt of this dark world” was my prayer as I sat teary eyed praying and weeping over the challenges faced in the Solomon’s. It is overwhelming, and to think this is in the Solomon Islands which claims to be a “Christian Country”.

Many things have happened recently which have intensified my passion for souls and has given me an urgency to be about the Masters business. I have no time to play games with the Lord, souls are hanging in the balance. Continue to pray for the Solomon Islands and Nancy and I as we want to make a difference this year.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

Prayer and Praise Letter December 16

Dear Prayer Partners,

[Picture of the youth leading the worship service]

Sorry it has taken me so long to post this to the Blog. Thank you for your prayers. Our district meetings were awesome let me give you some of the highlights of our time together.

District Meetings:

From the opening service on Tuesday night until the closing service on last Sunday night, you could sense the Lord’s presence. There was a good response at the altar.

The emphases of these meetings was on prayer and living in obedience to God. I held a “Prayer Awakening” seminar from materials I received at General Assembly from Rev. Elaine Pettit. Then we also used the “Concert of Prayer” that Toni & Jerry Porter, our General Superintendent Dr. Jerry Porter and wife Toni, {this explanation is for the many non-Nazarene prayer partners we have.} presented at the recent District Superintendent conference I attended in Malaysia.

Many people responded to the challenge to come forward and pick up a prayer commitment card, committing to pray for one hour minimum per day and fast once per week. Pray that they will return to their home villages with the challenges of this assembly and will be able to get their church’s prayer warriors organized so that we will really witness a spiritual breakthrough in the Solomon Islands. I’m having all the churches write down the names of those they should be praying for (Pastor’s family, members, unsaved in area, backsliders, and casual attendees, or anyone with contact with church). Then I’ve encouraged them to divide their list up and have each prayer warrior to each take some names and commit to pray daily name by name. That way everyone in the church is being prayed for by someone daily. Then after three to six months prayer, I’d like for the churches to hold a revival campaign.

[Picture of youth putting on a Drama]


Saturday morning was the District Assembly. Pray for the district secretary as he finalizes the report. It is Christmas time and he is ready to travel home, same as everyone else in Honiara. We gave a District minister’s license to 10 pastors. Pray for these pastors that they will lead their church to a new spiritual level.

It is always a blessing to have Harmon Schmelzenbach, our Field Strategy Coordinator, with us. He ministered to us and was our guest of honor at our first Bible College graduation. His address to the students was very powerful. We had three students graduate. A fourth student has completed his work but felt he would like to wait for next year because his wife was not here to witness the graduation. Pray for our graduates as they return home and to their places of ministry. Harmon left us and went to Fiji, where he was met by a cyclone. Please pray for those in Fiji. He then is to fly to Samoa for their District Assembly. Pray for the Samoan assembly and Harmon. Fiji was flooded and so pray that the Lord will strengthen Harmon for the challenges he faces, and that the flood waters will recede so he can make it to the air port.

[Pictures of our first Graduating Bible College Students.]

Praises:

We praise the Lord the rain came and gave us water until the meetings were over. We have not had rain since, and the water tank ran dry the Sunday night right after the assembly was over. Continue to pray for rain. Thanks to everyone who gave toward the water project. After the Christmas Holiday period we will be able to get someone to came and give us an estimate for the cost for pump, etc. Also we need it to rain so we have water to make cement for the pump house.

New Starts:

It was exciting hearing the encouraging reports from the new start churches.

1. Our Sovereign Grace Church in Munda, Western Province is off to a good start. They recently held their first membership class and took in 6 new members by Profession of Faith. They have three men attending the Bible College. One of the men who was a recent convert, Rodney, has a glowing testimony of the transforming power of Jesus. He owns a small store and uses his store as a place to minister. He closes at noon on Wednesday and Friday so he can attend the church’s programs, and he said that on the days he closes early his sales during the morning equals his daily take on the other days when he is open all day. Pray for Pastor Alick Hagi as they are involved in outreach into the neighboring communities.

2. Tautaumalefo is another new start and I request your prayers for them. Pray for Pastor Revelation Kalia.

3. Pray for Barakoma on the island of Vella la Vella and their pastor, Kendrick. They also have started a school. Pray for Rollingson and Grace as they administer and teach at the school.

4. Pray for Malasova, Vella la Vella Island, and Hudson as he leads this new church.

5. Pray for Jimmy Kwaisui as he pastors two churches. His primary responsibility is to the Iriiri Pasapasa Church, but he also goes to the Vilorae church. This area has recently seen an alarming increase in crocodiles, so pray for their safety and the safety of their children.

New Church Buildings:

I want to say thank you to those of you who have given to the approved special for new churches, as we had funds to assist the churches in building needs for these new starts.

Land Cruiser:

The land cruiser broke down before the start of the assembly, so we were without transportation during the assembly. I was returning from picking up people from the wharf at 2 p.m. or so when the timing belt snapped. I was thankful that this didn’t happen the previous night when I was taking people home on this very poor narrow road during a torrential downpour. I took it to the dealer and knew I was in trouble when it took 4 days work to get me the estimate for repair. Ouch! Anyway it will be after New Years before the parts ordered from Japan will arrive and then it’s anyone guess when it will be fixed. Thanks for those of you who gave generously toward our deputation during last home assignment.

Youth/Women’s Camp:

The youth and women are having a combined camp December 20 – 25 in Nukukaisi. They plan to leave by ship tomorrow. Pray for this camp, their travel, and their safety. Nancy and I will fly to Kirakira on Saturday and then take a boat to Nukukaisi. Nancy doesn’t swim and climbing down from a ship into a small boat to ferry us to the shore doesn’t appeal to her. I can’t imagine that. Anyway, I wanted her to go along with me so I purchased the air fare.

Pray that my new SIM card for my satellite phone arrives this week, because I like to have that contact in case we have an emergency while there.

Pray for Nancy and I as we prepare to share during our classes and we both are on the preaching schedule.

Conclusion:

Our Christmas letter will have to wait until our return from Nukukaisi on 26^th December. From the 20^th through the 26^th we will be out of contact so I pray there will not be an emergency.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

george_nancy@reachone.com

http://oceanianazarene.org/

Prayer Update 11 November 2009

Dear Prayer Partners,

My Brother Wesley’s Book:

Wesley’s book that he wrote and sent to the publisher just before he passed away is published and it is for sell just for the cost of printing and shipping. If you would like to purchase the book, “A Tale that is Told”, you would need to sent $12.50 check to Sara Miller. Contact her by email to make arrangements Revcwesley@dobsonteleco.com The church address I have for her and I think it would still work is Sara Miller, Rt. 2 Box 50, Taloga, OK 73667.

Wesley has written another book, “Redneck Reflexions”. It is a thirty day devotional book. I referred to some of his devotionals during his funeral service. It is also available for $12.50 or both books together for $24.50.

The “A Tale That is Told” book is a personal testimony of my Brother Rev. C. Wesley Miller. I’m a part of his story too, so you would read some about me. It is a challenging and interesting read, especially for those who know Wesley, our family, or me.

Water well Drilling Under way:

(I have three pictures here of the water well project. The last one shows the site in relation to the school building for those partners who have visited here.)

The Water well is being drilled as I type this email. Thank you for those who have donated toward this project. The big expense is down the road. The bore hole should be finished today or tomorrow. We have received enough funds to finish this first phase. When I get to it I’ll post the photos on my blog. After the drilling is completed, we still need power line run, water pumps, water holding tanks, a water tower, not to mention we will have to lay a lot of pipes. If you wish to contribute toward this project remit to General Treasurer, Global Ministry Center, 17001 Prairie Star Parkway, Lenexa, KS, 66220. Send a letter or mark it for Solomon Islands, water project. Also if anyone has expertise to assist in this project and would like to volunteer or come on a W&W team just let me know.

Water is very unreliable to our area of the city. Last week we only had water coming out of the taps one night. Normally water comes 2-3 nights per week. When it comes it begins around 1 or 2 a.m. and is off before 8 a.m. So that doesn’t give much time. Just imagine operating a school of 200 student with water one night/week for 2 a.m. until 7 a.m. Fortunately we have a rain tank but the rain tank is drained sometimes at night because our neighbors don’t have water either. Fortunately it has been raining regularly. The Water drilling might drain our tank today.

DS Conference:

Thank you for your prayers. We had a good DS and Regional Leaders Conference in Malaysia. The District Superintendents were challenged to return to their district and really make a difference. I met and made friends with a DS from one of the Creative Access Countries. When he shared his testimony with me I was really challenged. He is my age and was saved at 12 years old. He was the first believer in his family and was saved by talking with his Christian Classmate. His parents forbid him to attend church and so he was prohibited from attending church until he was 21 years old, when he could finally make up his own mind.

The mission statement of our Church is: “To Make Christlike Disciples in the Nations.” We were challenged to make Christ-like disciples and to live like Christ, and what does that look like in our contexts.

Your partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

george_nancy@reachone.com

Prayer Update 28 October 2009

Dear Prayer partner,

DS Conference: 

Pray for our DS conference coming up in a few days.  Because of the flights in and out of the Solomon’s I need to depart on Thursday 29^th October and will return to Honiara on 10^th November.   The conference is in Malaysia from the 2-6 November.  A few days before and after the conference I’ll be staying in Australia at the Nazarene Theological College.  I plan to use this time to prepare for the upcoming district assembly.

District Assembly:

Be in prayer for our District Assembly and meetings coming up Dec 8-13.  The actual business will be conducted in one morning.  We are planning this for Saturday morning 12^th.  Our first Bible College graduation (3  students) will be held in the afternoon of the 12^th.  We have the 5 days so we can get in a lot of teaching/training.  This year our emphasis  is going to be on prayer.

Women/Youth camp:

Over the Christmas time Dec 20-27 or such the Women and youth are going to Nukukaisi village, Makira Island for a combined camp.  Nancy and I will go for this too.  Pray for us as we prepare to share at this camp.

Other Items of thanks:

Thank you for your prayers and for those who have given money for the water project.  I should have enough now to start drilling the bore hole.  Please remember us in your prayers.  I hope to have the hole drilled by Christmas.  Also I want to get some security doors installed before Christmas too.  This is a result of our recent break-in.  Trying to secure our house so we have more piece of mind.  Christmas time is a time of heightened alert and we want to be vigilant.

I want to thank those who have given money for other approved specials.  We have built some churches or are in the process of building them, replaced timber in another church, built a parsonage, helped with some Bible College student scholarships, purchased some bicycles for pastors, purchased some Coleman lanterns, and guitars to help the village churches, provided a canoe for one pastor.   Thank you for your prayers and your generosity.   I am so sorry that I have not yet visited these places to get the photos that you as donors would like to see. 

Your Partner’s in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

Here are some Photo from the Fund Raiser to support the disaster efforts

This photo is Osborn Fagea the District NMI President

The Photo of Enoch, the NMI president

The guest band Echoes of Innocense.

Some of the 300 or so the attended this fund raising event. There was lightning visible in the sky but we did not get rain until after the program was over.

People droping their offering into the collection box.

A fund raiser is not complete without some food and coffee/tea

The Zion youth entertained the guest at their arrival.

Other Local Talent competition and entertainment.

The winner of the competition

Those watching thoroughly enjoyed the evening and the offering was $1461.80. Once converted to US dollars is isn't a lot but it is about a fortnight (2 week) salary for a Bachelor degreed person.

Prayer Update

Dear Prayer partner,

Tsunami

Some of you received letter about the Tsunami warning.  Before I got all the letters sent they cancelled the warning notice.  So some prayer partners didn’t get this one.

Anyway it was exciting for a time.  Today, we were in line at the bank and were the next in line to see the teller when the bank manager came out and said we are closing down the bank for Tsunami warning.  It was not long until all the businesses in town were closed.  Then the highway was full of traffic and so travel home was slow.  Praise the Lord it was a false alarm.

There have been a lot of natural disasters in the Asia Pacific region. Tsunami in Samoa, Flooding and Cyclone in Philippines, Earthquake in Indonesia, etc, etc.  I trust you are in prayer for these needs.  Also October is the month with prayer emphases to pray for those working in the 1040 window.  There are many serving under adverse conditions and many Christians are facing persecution for their faith in God.  Please stand with these brothers and sisters working to aid and bring relief to those hurting and those serving in difficult situations.

Saturday Night:

Saturday night the Solomon Island Zion Church is hosting a benefit band concert, receiving donations for Nazarene Compassionate Ministry, to go toward the relief efforts in Samoa, Philippines, and Indonesia.  Pray for those serving on the teams going into these disaster stricken areas.  Pray for Osborn Fagea, our district NMI President, as he leads this and for the success of this night.  We are not a large church and do not have many members but we want to do our part.  I’ll post the photos on my blog sometime next week.

Thank you for your prayers:

It all happened so fast and I was so shaken that I didn’t write anyone except family about our recent break-in/robbery.  It was in the wee hours of Saturday morning September 26 (4 a.m.) that a gang of masked youth (age 13-20 or so) broke our front door down.  They kicked it in with 3 good strong kicks which broke the locks.  Thank you for your prayers during that time.  I am an early riser and was laying there debating on getting up when I heard the bang that shook the whole house.  We had 12 BC students sleeping downstairs and as I was trying to imagine what on earth they dropped that made that racket, I heard two other crashes.  I got out of bed after the 3^rd bang and went out of my room in time to see them kick the hall door trying to gain entrance.  I shouted and they stopped.  Then from my locked bedroom I rang the police.  We will be purchasing some outside security doors, but armed with the pinch bars, bush knives, pipes, etc, and not caring how much noise they made, they could have torn off the siding and made a hole through the wall if they really wanted to gain entrance. 

The important thing is we are all safe, not much was stolen.  I lost one cheap CD stereo, my BP cuff, and some food from the frig.  If the Lord ever brings us to your mind, whisper a prayer for us.  This incident really shook me up, more than any of our other robberies.  The reason this shook me up was the fact that we had a house full of people and the robbers had to know that, because the Bible College students were here for two weeks up to the point of the robbery.  If we would have had female students they would have been sleeping in the front room with the hallway door unlocked.  It could have been bad and I am so thankful for his protection.

Most of these have been arrested after they broke into the Police Commissioner’s residence.  That brought out the full force of the law.

Your partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer Update

Dear Prayer Partner,

Bible College Classes:

The Bible College Classes are in progress. Please remember Dr. David McEwan and Nancy Miller in your prayers as they teach these classes. At the conclusion of the last Bible College block we have taught all the classes needed for graduation in the Bible College program. Now we are beginning year one of the block courses. We had three students complete the entire 24 course program and ready for graduation.

After this 2-week course we will have our 4^th student complete the Bible College program. We plan for graduation in conjunction with the District Assembly time. We teach our courses in 4-year cycle (6 courses per year) and we allow students to enroll whenever they can and then once they complete the 24 courses they can graduate.

We teach on a diploma level but for those whose English skills are weak and have trouble with the written assignments we offer a certificate.

David has 20 students in his Doctrine of Holiness class and 20 in his Old Testament Survey. Nancy has three students in the Christian Education class.

Sovereign Grace Church:

This time Pastor Alick Hagi, who is pastor of our newest church, Sovereign Grace Church of the Nazarene, Munda, Western Province, brought four students with him to the Bible College. This church began in February this year. They were given an abandoned building, in Munda, that was built and previously used by another denomination. The timber in the church was badly damaged by termites. The church members with the assistance of some from the Honiara Zion Church, the district chain saw, and approved special money given to build new churches, were able to replace all the timber from the floor to the roof. The floor and bearers were made out of varsa (A timber that is not eaten by termites and wood rot doesn’t affect). They replaced the rest of the timber from flooring to roofing iron, which was termite infested, with the varsa timber. A special thanks to those prayer partners who gave to the approved special for new church buildings.

Rodney, a new Christian from the Sovereign Grace church, gave his testimony how he came to Christ. He is the grandson of one of the first local missionaries who took the gospel into their area in Western Province. Rodney walked away from the Lord and no longer served the Lord but had worked as a policeman. He said as a policeman even though he wasn’t a Christian and did a lot of things that wasn’t right, he stayed on the right side of the law and out of prison. He said, “Now I am a life-timer for Jesus.” He has a glowing smile and is rejoicing in his new life in Christ. Pray for him as God uses him to reach his family.

The Munda church has identified five communities around Munda where God has given them an interested person and contact. There is a church working in these communities that orthodox Christians would refer to as a Christian cult, in fact this is the predominant church surrounding Munda. In this area there is a huge spiritual need. Please join in praying for spiritual breakthrough in these communities. These five communities are referred to as “Platoon 1”, “Platoon 2”, “Platoon 3”, “Platoon 4”, and “Platoon 5”. Outreach into these areas are tough. One recent convert from platoon 5 wanted to move out but Alick has encouraged him to stay in the community as they pray and hold on for God to bring the spiritual victory and breakthrough.

Alabaster Offering:

Our Zion church took up their alabaster offering on Sunday. For those non-Nazarene prayer partners, alabaster offering is an offering collected in February and September and it goes specifically for buildings, construction, and property improvement needs.

Osborn, our district missionary president, decorated a wheel barrow, putting into it some building materials into which people would march by and put the water bottle of money, which they have been collecting over the past 6 months. Go to my blog for photo’s. Early Wednesday morning the nephew of the Osborn passed away and I just returned from the funeral and burial. Osborn has been praying for his family, and would like to request prayer for his family that they will turn to God.

Water Well Update:

I want to thank those who have given money for the water well drilling. Continue to prayer as this will be a major project and we also want to use the water as an evangelistic tool to reach our community for Christ. As soon as Bible College classes are over we will organize the drilling and hopefully have the bore hole finished by Christmas.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

Prayer Update

Dear Prayer Partners,

Thank you for your prayers. I did not have time to write this past week, since the kids left because I have been really busy, but want to thank you for remembering us in your prayers.

Wedding last Saturday:

Saturday I conducted a wedding or as they say here I prayed over their marriage. This is one of Nancy’s school teachers. They had a custom marriage and wanted a Christian marriage. Usually these weddings where they are already married according to custom are small and not a great lot of pomp and ceremony. When I talked with the couple this was what was planned but as it progressed it became a big shindig. The bride was adorned with full bridal dress with a long train and the brides maid and groomsmen all beautifully and handsomely adorned. The wedding “uniform” as it was called was donated by a single young man.

His father bought the outfits for the marriage of his first born and it has been passed down for all his siblings to use and he is the last to wed. It was interesting because they recruited the bridal party to fit the clothing. The suit for the groom was too large but he still looked nice. Pray for Steven, the teacher, and his new wife Elizabeth. It was really sad for them because neither one of their family’s attended the wedding.

Steven did not have a single relative attend. Elizabeth had a great uncle, who is a member of our church attend. I don’t know for sure why they didn’t attend but I feel maybe because they had no money or food to contribute and they recently put on a big custom wedding. Anyway the church family made it a special time for them.

Death of Bible College Student and House Church Pastor:

I received a phone call Sunday morning that Joash Tisa, one of our Bible College Students and house church pastor, passed away. He died around 4 a.m. on Sunday morning. On Facebook I wrote his wife’s name was Joyce, but her name is Nancy. [I’m not sure how I confused that one, but I had a senior moment and couldn’t remember her name and so asked someone and they told me “Joyce”] During our Sunday morning worship time, I felt that I should try to attend, and so I prayed that if there is easy travel available for Sunday I’d go. Checking with the airline, the plane to Auki was nearly empty so I left at 4:30 p.m. to travel to Auki and then our church people there were waiting for me with a truck for the trip to Bina 1 hour or so South of Auki. Bina is a 30 min walk from the Kwailatutu Church. Nancy and the family were overjoyed to think that I would come to see them and they were really glad to see me.

Nancy and Joash have eight children. The eldest three are out of high school, but one is in a vocational school. Three are in high school and one is in the 1^st grade [this child is actually a grandson but they are raising him as their own] and the baby is 3 years old with probably severe cerebral palsy. He cannot even turn over by himself. I asked Nancy, “Has he been sick since birth?” And she replied, “He’s not sick he is just weak.” Joash woke up early on Sunday morning and told his wife to gather the children and get ready for their house church fellowship. He wanted to have an early breakfast and have their service and then he was going to go up on the mountain to spend 3 days in prayer and fasting. Around 4:00 a.m. he had a heart attack and told his wife to rub his chest because it really hurt. Then he told her, “It’s time for me to go now, and said good bye to her and went to meet Jesus.”

Pray for Nancy as she takes care of the eight children without a father.

Joash served as a senior pastor in his denomination, until his unwed daughter became pregnant and he was expelled from the church and ministry, because he did not control his daughter. Then after the church rejected him, he began having home fellowship with his family and other youth. After six years, out of the church and ministry, he came to the Nazarene church and began taking classes at our Bible College. At his funeral was the first time, since the disciplinary action forced him out of the ministry, that he or his family have attended the church where he use to pastor. I trust that through his death maybe healing can take place within this community. His elder children were really spiritually affected by all this and I talked to them and am praying that they will repent. While there I witnessed them indicate that they were going to make some changes. Pray for the eldest three children [their names are Frank, John, and Joy].

On Monday, I preached at his funeral, to a packed church house. I spent two night with the family in mourning. Sunday night I went to bed at 4:30 a.m. and got up at 6:30. Then Monday night I went to bed at 1:00 a.m. but didn’t sleep well due to the mourners coming and the loud crying outside the bedroom where I was sleeping. It was a good time as I was able to share in their grief and also was able to talk with the children and encourage Nancy and the family.

Joash was 52 years old and Nancy is 12 years or so his junior. They have been married since Nancy was 15 years old. Please remember her in your prayers.

Geoffrey, Churie, Raina, and Felicity:

Geoff and family had some interesting stories in getting to the USA. Their flight on August 25^th was cancelled. What happened was the civil employees including the airport, immigration, and customs went on strike which shut down all international travel. The strike was resolved at noon on Monday 24^th but Air Pacific cancelled the Tuesday flight, and did not resume it on Tuesday even though the airport was open. Now we prepared for them to stay to catch the once a week flight on Tuesday 1^st September. At around 4 p.m. on Tuesday 25^th we received a call from the travel agent that they are putting on a special flight for Wednesday morning 26^th and it would depart around 8:30 a.m. So they got into high gear and rushed to the travel agent to pick up the tickets to Nadi, Fiji, but once in Fiji they had no onward tickets, and would have to sort it all out there. The Wednesday flight, arriving from Fiji, was carrying a coffin of a Telekom employee or wife of an employee who died will on study leave in Fiji. Whether that is the reason for the special flight, we do not know. An influential friend of ours traveling to Fiji told us that she called the Prime Minister and requested he call the PM of Fiji and try to resolve this at the diplomatic level. Anyway they got out on Wednesday, only one day late.

On arriving in Fiji the airline finally agreed to put them up in a hotel to await their flight out on Thursday night. During the night Felicity awoke crying with an ear infection, and the ear was draining pus again. On the flight home it got worse, and we were glad that the Lord provided this plane. We felt her ear was cleared up and I even wondered if their early departure was necessary. She went to an ENT in Dallas the morning after arrival. I just talked with Geoffrey and her ears are still draining. Pray that they will find out the source of this infection and get medical intervention to clear it up.

Pray for them as they resettle in the USA and as Geoffrey begins work. They have found a house to rent. God is providing for them. Geoffrey had three job offers before he left the Solomon’s. Geoffrey is very industrious and it has never been hard for him to find or keep a job.

George & Nancy Miller