Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Report of return to Solomon's

Dear Friends,
(This is excerpts of a letter sent to churches that hosted us on our last HA) 

Summary of our Home Assignment:
We visited 11 districts and had district tours on 5.  We shared the story in 45 venues (mostly churches) and held 59 services.  This was somewhat down from last time, which was providential because we needed the time for medical checks [the 100,000 mile check-up].

Thank you for your prayers and generosity.  We were able to bring 20 e-readers back to the Solomon's to use in the Bible College.

Please continue to remember us in prayer.  Some of you have been our prayer partners for a number of years while some are new and we welcome you.  We can stay connected through Christ and email.

Travels:
We had an enjoyable time in the states, . . .   We have many fond memories, reconnecting with old friends and making many new ones.  This was our 8th home assignment in our 25 years of ministry.  During our home assignment we travel lots of miles, and have seen a lot of accidents, but God has been good to us and kept us safe again as we traversed one of the most dangerous places on earth, the US highways.  Thanks for your prayers for traveling mercies.

Our return trip took longer than expected.  We were almost home to the Solomon Islands when our aircraft developed a "minor" mechanical problem and we then returned to Nadi, Fiji to sort the problem out.  We then arrived 7 hours or so late and after the stores were closed and it was dark.  Minor inconvenience as we had packed our house up preparing for 4 months away and there was no food in the house.  But we were safe, and praising God to be back in the Solomon's.

New Computer:
We purchased a new computer (for me, George) as our old one was processing slow (kind of like me somedays).   I think I'll like my new Apple but it has been a while getting my address and mailing list straightened out.  If you do not want to get our letter please let us know or if you see this letter and would like one delivered directly to your box let us know that too.

Update on the Some of the Stories:
You know when I was with you I told you to pray for those I talk about because Satan will work hard in the Solomon's to destroy their testimony.

Patricia:
I shared about Patricia who had tragically lost her son right before our last District Assembly.  Pastor Patricia and Pastor Phillip from Vella la vella Island and their group of 22 from their island are still here.  They came to attend the district youth and then followed by the district children (Sunday School) camp.  They are doing fund raisers to earn money to return home.  It is an expensive trip and quite a sacrifice for them.  It was awesome seeing them make the sacrifice to come and in such number.

Patricia was encouraged when I told her that I had shared her story.  I assured her of your prayers. She thanked me (and you) as she relayed how she almost died.  She credits the Lord for healing her.  The ministry in Vella la vella is going strong.  Continue to pray for her.

White River Church:
I showed a photo of the baptism in White River and about the church that was started by Pastor Osborn among the children.  I want to report the church is growing.  They lost their uncompleted building where they were meeting and moved the church into a homemade tent, using a plastic tarp covering a frame.  The church is continuing to grow as people are coming to the Lord.  It was exciting hearing Osborn and others attest to what God is doing.  They now have a number of adults.  Osborn shared that he is beginning a membership class and hopes to start construction of a church building soon.  It sounds like this church will soon be organized.  They are still carrying on with their Saturday night prayer.

I mentioned in some services about a woman who was led to the Lord through the testimony of her daughter.  Prayer is requested for her as I am sad to report that she has backslidden.

Kwailatutu Church:
I told you about the Kwailatutu church where daddy Jacob lived.  Their new pastor shared with me how the Lord is moving there and he has over 20 that are ready to join the church.  Their attendance has now outgrown their building.  What a wonderful problem!

Delegates to General Assembly:
Our Solomon Island delegates had a wonderful time at General Assembly.  Our GA delegate was Alick Hagi, and then we had two NYI convention delegates Ezra Kuki and Rex Dagga, and we had one visitor, Hannah Konainao.  The delegates traveled to the USA on $20.  The banks ran out of US currency and so they went to the airport to wait their flight when someone from the church was trying to exchange their funds.  The plane departed before their treasurer returned.  They have numerous stories of miracles along the way to meet their needs. 

Hannah, met up with us in Los Angeles and toured with us for 3 weeks prior to General Assembly.  She had a wonderful experience and I know she was a blessing to those churches she visited and sang a special.  She made lots of friends along the way.

One incident that I'll relate concerning God's provision for the delegates - We were together in OKC eating lunch at a Golden Corral and a Maury man from New Zealand, seeing the Melanesian Neighbors talked with the boys and asked if they were from the Solomon's, then he shook hands with Ezra and passed through his handshake $40. This was a gift from a stranger.  Thank you for praying, as they were supported through your prayers.

Health Checks:
We had extra complete physicals while home this time.  

I have been experiencing weakness and also had the liver cysts diagnosed during last term.  I am 62 yo and have never had a colonoscopy done.  Our Nazarene Physician said, "It's time."  Then my brother died suddenly from presumably a massive heart attack, so I was advised to have my heart thoroughly checked out.

I had my stress test and the cardiologist looked intently at the cardiogram scan and sonogram images for a long time in complete silence, before turning to me and exclaiming, "I don't see anything at all here, it looks completely normal."  That's good news! 

After viewing my colonoscopy the doctor said, "There was a small polyp but it was nothing to worry about, you don't need another one for 10 years".  More good news!

The liver was checked out by every lab test imaginable to see if there was a pathogen causing the liver cysts.  All tests returned negative.  Good News!

In the battery of tests they did Serum Iron level, and Iron Binding Capacity [IBC], and ferritin level.  The Iron level was really high, IBC nearly zero, and Ferritin level 5x normal.  Then I had a DNA test and MRI.  I was then diagnosed with Hereditary Hemochromatosis [HH] (DNA tests showed I inherited the gene from both parents)  This means I have too much Iron stored in the liver, confirmed by the MRI.  Therefore I had to do a weekly therapeutic phlebotomy or donate one pint of blood weekly to reduce the iron.  In the USA this was not an easily obtained procedure, for a traveling/transiting man.  Some places it was expensive and most places I had to jump through lots of hoops.  The easiest place, prior to returning to the Solomon Islands, was in Spokane, WA.  I was unable to get this done weekly during our travels but successfully donated 6 units of blood during the last 10 weeks of our HA.  Then on my lab exam prior to return the values were back to almost normal and doctor ordered a monthly phlebotomy.  Some things about the developing world is much easier.  I went into the Hospital (Red Cross) Blood Bank in Honiara yesterday to try my first monthly draw in the Solomon's and discovered the tech here knew exactly what I needed and I didn't even show her the doctor's order.  Thanks for your prayers as over the next term I'll be a regular blood donor.  HH does not make the blood unsuitable for transfusion, as long as the donor criteria are met.  HH does have symptoms of weakness, which explains some of what has been going on.  One of the problems in the US is my recent travel overseas.  Thanks for your prayers.

Nancy did not have the extensive tests.  However, as many of you witnessed she has a chronic cough.  She was under the care of an ENT as he tried various things.  The cough comes and goes.  We do not really know the cause of this cough.  Please be in prayer for her.

Health checks were done and nothing serious enough to keep us from returning to the field.

All Authority:
As you remember my theme for the deputation message was Jesus was given all authority in Heaven and on earth and we are under His authority to make disciples we are not alone.  Thank you for partnering together to build the Kingdom and make disciples under HIS authority.  

God Bless and Keep the Prayers coming.
George Miller
PO Box 712
Honiara, Solomon Islands
Phone: +677 7468920