George & Nancy Miller

Prayer update - 12 December 2011

2011-12-12T11:49:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends and Family;

Here’s a long over-due update;

Thank you for your prayers. I will try to fill you in on what’s happening on our side of the world.

It has been busy and hectic we are. I trust we have been remembered in prayer. We arrived home from the regional mission conference to proceed immediately into the district assembly. Following district assembly I went to a church opening, now we are into the school Christmas, graduation, and closing for the year.

Regional Missional Leadership Conference: (October 26-30, 2011)

The missional leadership conference was attended by Nancy and I plus four other leaders from the Solomon Islands. (Picture shows from L-R Mairy, Nancy, George, Jimmy, Jeremiah, and Gibson) Thank you for your prayers. It was the day of our departure, about 2 hours before we needed to be at the air port before we picked up the last person’s Visa into Australia. We were met with challenges and obstacles in getting our team there, but God met our needs. It was a delight seeing many of our friends from across the Asia Pacific and meeting new friends too. The sessions and workshops were really challenging. We witnessed a lot of different

James and Della Du
(Seminary Students from PNG)

scenarios of how people are making Christ-like disciples. We are a missional church and want to passionately take the love of Jesus and the message of holiness and hope to people who are hurting and broken. We witnessed how Christ is moving and reaching others in countries across the Asia Pacific and around the world. As our team met together processing the information we thought of ways we can make a difference in the lives of people in the Solomon’s.

District Assembly: (November 8-12, 2011)

Following regional missional conference we had a week to get ready for the District Assembly and meeting. I intended to send out the prayer letter concerning the Missional Leadership conference during that week. But I was not ready for the assembly and there were so many loose ends to tidy up. November 8^th arrived even though I did not feel prepared. It was good because we were fresh from the trip to Manila and the sessions and what we learned were fresh on our mind. It was a chance to re-teach what we learned in Manila.

We showed a 30% increase in church membership this year, bringing our total membership to 409. The increase in membership is large due to the new starts in White River area around Honiara and Vella la Vella, Western Province. There are many Christians (95% or so) in the Solomon Islands, but many of these are Christians in name only. Pray that the light of Jesus will shine so bright in the Solomon’s that people will be under such conviction and come into a serious relationship with Jesus, the glorious light.

Church Dedication at Kwailatutu: (November 26-27)

The Kwailatutu church completed their church building and had invited me to attend their dedication and official opening of their new church building. The opening service was Friday night 25^th. I wanted to get there for the opening but the ship that travels daily to the area was being refitted and so was out of commission. The airport in Auki is closed due to land owner dispute. (This is a frequent problem with that air strip.) I thought I would cancel the trip but the church there called and insisted that I attend, so I booked the Friday night ship and would have to delay until Tuesday my return to Honiara.

I want to thank you for your prayers. I’m not sure what happened to me, but we departed Honiara at 6 p.m. and arrived in Auki around midnight. After we waited for transport and drove the 1 hour or so to Kwailatutu it was 3:30 am Saturday when we arrived at our destination. I was probably exhausted but I went to sleep and got up at 8:00 a.m. washed up and got ready for the opening service. After the dedication service (11 a.m.) I told Ezra that I was going to go and rest, but he should awake me when the meal was ready. The meal was right outside the house where I was “resting” but the next thing I remember is 2:30 when the boys came into the house and I aroused and asked them, “Is is time to eat yet?” I was told the meal was finished and I dosed back off to sleep. At this point I didn’t have a mattress or even a mat on my bed. I covered the boards with my towel and slept. I slept until 9:00 a.m. or so the next morning. I have never slept so soundly in my life before. I didn’t experience many of the things that frequent my sleep, especially when sleeping on a boards. For example, I didn’t dream about anything, don’t remember rolling over to change position and get more comfortable, my back did not hurt when I finally awoke, my arms or legs did not go to sleep, etc. After I finally awoke on Sunday morning I was fine and felt great. People told me that my Saturday Dedication sermon was powerful, but I haven’t a clue what I said. God for sure preached that sermon as I must have been preaching in my sleep. After the Sunday morning service, one lady felt sorry for me and brought me a 6 inch foam mattress to use.

The Kwailatutu church is a vibrant church. They have some people attending this church who have really experienced God and his transforming power in an awesome way. It is such a delight to be with these wonderful people.

Water Situation/Update:

Some have been asking about our water situation and about the Solar system we installed. Right before we took off for Manila the solar pump went out. I need to have the pump serviced but it may have to wait until after the new year now, as thing in the Solomon’s are beginning to slow down.

Leadership direction for the Solomon Islands:

As missionary DS, I desire to turn over the DS responsibility to a local person. When I first arrived in the Solomon’s I felt within the first (2 yr.) term we would have a local DS in place. This past assembly I gave my 13^th annual report to the District Assembly. We have some capable leaders in our church in the Solomon’s. There are some challenges as we localize, but I feel there are more challenges and obstacles with a foreigner in the DS role. Someone from this culture will definitely understand the people of the Solomon Islands better than a Western Missionary. They can relate better. Join me in prayer for this transition to a local DS. I’m praying and believing God that by next assembly we will have one named. In this transition period, I am putting more responsibility onto the District Advisory Board in the decision making process. This is going to be a tough year for me, so pray for me and the development of the church in the Solomon’s.

Bible College Classes:

I will be conducting more Bible College Classes this next year in an attempt to prepare more pastors for ordination. I would like to broaden the leadership base so we will have a greater selection of potential leaders. I hope to have at least 5 pastors or so ready for ordination by next assembly. Right now I am conducting a Monday and Thursday night class. Now we have taken a break for the holidays and will resume classes after the New Year. I plan to hold this class ongoing throughout this next year. This will be mainly for students living around Honiara.

Zion Christian Academy:

ZCA had their school closing last week. Pray for the school as they need another classroom. School is out but Nancy is still working as the grade 12 graduates need to finish up a little work for an ACE certificate.

Pray for Nancy as she will have a minor surgery on Wednesday 14^th to release a trigger finger (I never heard of this before now.)

Home Assignment:

It seems we just returned to the field, but now looking at the calendar it is just a little over a year before it will be time for home assignment. If you would like to have us for a district tour, Faith Promise Service, Convention speaker, Children/youth or Caravan rally, or any other type of sharing, just let us know.

Home Assignment Dates: March 16 – June 15, 2013

Scheduled services: (If you have scheduled a service and it does not appear below please notify us.)

Carnegie Oklahoma – March 24

NE Indiana District Tour – April 7-14

Indianapolis District Tour – April 20-28

(Note: Our Sunday’s fill up fast so our home churches and Districts who wish us to tour should book soon.)

3^rd Wave:

Pray for our two delegates to go to 3^rd wave. It will take a miracle during this Christmas season for them to get their travel documents in order to be able to fly out by December 31^st. We often wait until the last minute to get moving. This is one of the sicknesses we have in the Solomon’s. The two don’t even have a Passport yet. Fortunately in our small country where everyone knows everyone, it doesn’t require a long time to get things done when given to the right person (friend or relative).

Your partner in His Ministry,

George Miller,

prayer update

2011-10-20T22:39:00.001-07:00

Dear Prayer partner,

Thanks for your prayers. Here is an update.

Bible College Classes:

We had a total of 30 students attend the Bible College. For those who may not know our structure, we are a satellite campus of the South Pacific Nazarene Theological College. We have campuses in Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Guam, as well as Solomon Islands. I have turned the grades in and we are anticipating our next course in February 2012. At that time Nancy will teach Christian Education and George will teach Pastoral Care, an Introduction to Pastoral Ministry.

Our Bible College facilities is our house. The downstairs is made into a classroom, which also doubles as a dormitory during Bible College. We have a small room with three triple-deck bunk beds to accommodate male students. We have a room where we house our library and text books. This past block course the two female students slept in the library. We only have one classroom and this year we used our living room as a second classroom as we had two classes simultaneously. We have the block classes which is great but it is expensive for people from the outer islands to travel into Honiara. We need a plan to get the BC training to the pastors and church leaders in the province. Pray that the Lord will raise up those who will re-teach the courses at their home island.

It is always great having Dr. David McEwan, our dear friend and professor at the NTC, Brisbane, Australia, with us. This is his 7^th consecutive year to come up and teach a block course. He is a regular on our staff. Be in prayer for the NTC, Brisbane as they are facing some challenges. Our students really connect well with David.

During our class we were also blessed by the visit of our friend Peter Yost, currently stationed with his wife Candy in New Zealand and working with Campus Crusade for Christ. He spent four days in the Solomon Islands and we offered him a bed in our home for the time he was here. Then we had another surprise visit from our friends Bill and Sharon Biebers with MAI [Medical A International]. We enjoyed a Sunday evening dinner together as they were getting ready to return to Papua New Guinea. It was great catching up with these dear friends and partners in His ministry.

Regional Leadership Conference:

All of our tickets are purchased, all but one of the Visas is picked up and the last one should be ready today, and we are preparing to depart Monday to Manila via Australia. Pray for our trip, as yesterday there was news of an impending strike action involving airline personnel. The district leaders that will be going are; Jeremiah Akoeasi, pastor of our Zion church; Mairy Walesara, District Women’s ministry president and District Treasurer; Jimmy Olofisau, Circuit Pastor of the Malaita Circuit and pastor of Kwailatutu Church; Gibson Pina, Associate pastor of the Munda Church; along with Nancy and George Miller.

Pray for us as we attend this conference and then as we return, because the very next week we will be in District Assembly. At that assembly we will conduct workshops with the idea of bringing the things learned at the conference and implementing them at the district level.

Pray for ZCA as Nancy will be away from her role as principal for the week to attend the conference.

3^rd Wave Youth Conference:

Pray for our two youth Rex Daga, from Munda Church, and Nicholson Donga, from the Zion Church as they prepare to attend the 3^rd Wave conference in January 2012. Time is rapidly approaching and these boys would like you to remember them in prayer in their fund raising efforts. This conference will be held in Thailand. Please remember them in your prayers.

Rex is a single man who works in the Munda Church as a school teacher in their newly established school and he works with the NYI in the Munda Church. Nicholson is the NYI President in the Zion Church, Honiara.

Volunteers:

If you would like to volunteer in missions there are many worldwide opportunities, in the SI as well as other countries. In the Solomon’s we have a couple work and witness projects (or we could use even a builder to supervise local carpenters), teacher to help with the Bible College classes, etc. For more information you can write or check out the blog and web site below.

World Evangelism Fund:

For our many Nazarene Prayer supporters, please continue to be generous and faithful with your Faith Promise offering for World Evangelism. I also want to thank you for the Alabaster offering received in September. We pray that this year’s Thanksgiving offering will be abundant.

For my growing team of non-Nazarene prayer warriors, I did not mean to exclude you, if you would like to make a financial contribution please contact us for information. Most importantly we thank you for your continual prayers and encouragement.

To everyone, thanks for your prayers and financial support for missions. It’s partners like you who enrich HIS Kingdom.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George Miller,

Solomon Islands -Church of the Nazarene

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Office/Home: 677 25-109 Mobile: 677 74 68920

USA Contact:

c/o 4994 Highway 78 S

Nevada, TX 75173

http://oceanianazarene.org

Responsibility - Developer - Positivity - Woo - Empathy

Testimony

2011-09-11T21:29:00.001-07:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

Greetings from the Solomon Islands.

I want to share these two testimonies with you:

One Sunday [August 28, 2011] I was sitting in the Honiara Zion Church, the worship team was singing and getting prepared for the worship service to begin, and I felt a prompting from the Lord that I should go to the New Start Church at White River. The White River Church is a daughter church of the Zion Church. Pastor Osborn, district NMI President and family, and Salome, a high school teacher at Zion, and her family were the ones who had the vision for this church.

This church was started among the children and with a special focus on prayer. It is awesome seeing the children getting excited about the things of God. The children’s ministry at the White River church is called the “Heavenly Kids” ministry. They began meeting under a make shift tabernacle beside pastor Osborn’s house, until a strong wind came one day and tore the plastic tarp that they used for the roof. After that incident happened they moved the church to an incomplete building nearby (The building has a cement floor, and roof but no walls.) They have been renting that for a modest amount of money for a few months now. The children attendance has really grown to where they now are running 70 or more children plus a few adults.

Every Saturday evening the pastor and a large group of his “Heavenly Kids” prayer warriors walk up the near-by “Prayer” mountain for a time of prayer in preparation for the Sunday service. The children are working on the parents, praying for them, witnessing to them, and encouraging them to attend the service. The church without walls is very nice as the parents are beginning to attend but they feel unworthy to come into the church building but they attend and set in another open outbuilding nearby and listen to the service. These kids are really on fire for the Lord.
(Tautau in the Center)

(Elizabeth and Margaret on Left)

Now let me tell you the testimony of Elizabeth, one of the Mother’s who started attending a few weeks ago. Her daughter Margaret (age 8) became involved in the Heavenly Kids ministry and began to talk to her mother. So Elizabeth joined her daughter and came to church for the first time in 42 years. She has never been to church since she was a small child. While she was there she heard the message preached by Bro. Dickson Manongi, a layman from the Zion church. She responded to the altar call and began her spiritual journey. The Sunday that Nancy and I attended was now maybe two weeks later, so Elizabeth was now just 2-week in her walk with the Lord. The Saturday night before we attended Elizabeth wanted to go with them to the prayer mountain. She still had some spiritual bondage from her past life. As they went up the mountain the demon inside of her revealed itself. She had been in spiritual bondage to this evil spirit. She lashed out at Pastor Osborn and he had a swollen lip to show for it as Osborn shared, “The demon tried to kill him.” The children were afraid and ran off. Osborn calling upon the name of Jesus, cast out the demon. The children then witnessed the transforming power of God. Now here we are the very next morning in the Sunday morning worship service hearing this testimony. Elizabeth as she shared her testimony told that she is now free. Pray for these children and their unsaved parents as there are many like Elizabeth who are under spiritual bondage and need delivered.

Pastor Osborn told me that his house is like a clinic where people come for him to pray for them. They are witnessing many miracles, as people are being saved, healed, and delivered. The Lord is at work in the White River community. Pray for this church. They have two from the community volunteering at our Zion school as they have a plan to start an early childhood school in White River, to teach the children how to read and better prepare them.

Recently they took their Alabaster Offering and Osborn brought me the offering of nearly $350 (US $70). One boy brought a heavy box of coins and put in the offering. They counted the coins and there were $107 in coins. Tautau had been saving the coins for a long time but heard Pastor give the Alabaster appeal and wanted to give this collection to Jesus. Pray for Tautau.

Tautau is a natural leader and so enthusiastic about the things of God. Before Osborn and family, Salome and family, and the Zion church started the White River church these children were all unreached. Tautau was gloriously saved at a combined children’s camp [Zion and White River]. Recently they had a fund raising night where they had light refreshments, coffee, and entertainment to try to raise some funds to help their outreach as well as to minister to and reach the un-churched. For the entertainment the Heavenly Kids sang and some of the children gave their testimonies. It is one thing to give your testimony in the church with the Christian family but quite different to give your testimony where your unsaved family are present. I was setting toward the front and so did not really notice his family’s reaction, but as he shared about his life before his salvation he paused and said to his family, “You can laugh, but this is the truth.” He shared a powerful testimony of how Christ changed his life. Pray for Tautau and the “Heavenly Kids” and the White River Community.

George Miller,

Solomon Islands -Church of the Nazarene

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Office/Home: 677 25-109 Mobile: 677 74 68920

USA Contact:

c/o 4994 Highway 78 S

Nevada, TX 75173

email: george_nancy@reachone.com

Blog: http://georgeandnancymiller.blogspot.com - http://oceanianazarene.org

Responsibility - Developer - Positivity - Woo - Empathy

July 10, 2011 Update

2011-07-10T14:28:00.003-07:00

Dear Prayer

Thank you for your Prayers. Here is an update from our last prayer letter.

Children’s Camp {The following is from a report written by Doris Manongi the Zion Church of the Nazarene Sunday School President.

Greetings to you in Christ’s name. It is a joy for me to testify about the love of Christ and what he has been doing in the lives of our children here.

We had about 90 children (plus adult sponsors) attend the camp. 49 of these came from the White River Church (Which is our daughter mission church) and the other 40+ from our local Zion Church of the Nazarene. Our theme: from Matthew 19:14 “ ‘Let the little children come to me,’ Jesus said”. The White River Church is mostly made up of children and these children come from various backgrounds, like divorced parents, unsaved parents, single parents, and for most of these children their parents never attend church. The children are so excited to serve Christ. During our camp five children gave their life to the Lord. [Many went to the altar but five shared their testimony.] We believe the children are the open door through which we can reach out to their parents.

Chris Testified to being Saved at Children's Camp.

White River Children Choir

· Pray that God will move mightily in the lives of these children. They are increasing in numbers.

· Pray for Pastor Osborne [Pastor of White River] and wife Hilda who are looking after them for God’s grace and strength.

· Pray for the Sunday School teachers that they will have the passion for teaching and reaching the lives of these children in the Word of God and His love.

· Pray that through these children we’ll be able to bring the parents and adults to Christ.

In His Service , Doris Manongi

Note from George: Thank you for praying for the Children’s camp it was a tremendous success.

Miller’s Trip to Australia:

We had a wonderful time in Australia. Thank you for your prayer support. The first part of our trip we attended the South Pacific Leaders Conference. This is an annual conference held for leaders/teachers of schools in the South Pacific using the A.C.E. (Accelerated Christian Education) curriculum. This is my first time to attend (Nancy’s second time). The theme of the conference was from Romans 8:37, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” The 3-day conference was busy with workshops, including testimonies, and a special guest presenter from South Africa. It was great meeting the people from S.C.E.E. (Southern Cross Education Enterprises, which administers the A.C.E. curriculum.

Following the conference we stayed at the Nazarene Theological College in Brisbane. It was a time of relaxation and people asked what I wanted to do. We had no agenda and no rushing around. We got in some excellent church services. In the two Sundays there we were spiritually enriched by attending and fellowshipping in three different churches, sitting in a few hours of class at NTC (taught by guest lecturer, Dr. Deirdre Brower Latz), attended morning prayer at the NTC as they began the 40 days of prayer, George attended a men’s chat group and Nancy a lady’s chatter group at a coffee shop in the shopping mall, and God really met with us.

As we were preparing to leave for vacation we ran out of water and LP gas. Bible College just concluded and some of the students stayed around and it didn’t rain so our rain tank was running low. We were doing our last load of laundry on early Monday morning the day of our departure and the rain tank ran dry. We keep two 6 gallon containers full of water for emergency so we needed to wash the dishes and I was heating the water and the LP Gas ran out. This was one hour or so before our departure. We normally keep a spare small gas cylinder but during BC class the cylinder was emptied and I hadn’t refilled it. Praise the Lord when we returned it had rained so we had a full water tank and when I primed the pump and turned the power on it worked. PTL, because running out of water is an easy way to damage a pump. I try to never do that.

Then on the trip home, I can’t believe what happened. It is quite humorous but is suppose to happen to someone else. It is a first for me [George]. My resident permit [SI equivalent to a Visa] was expired. On departing Honiara they didn’t comment on it. Now, imagine the shock when we went to check in and my permit had expired. I checked through my passport that is full of stamps to find my permit and there I found it expiring 1^st June 2011. How could that happen??? So I had to purchase a ticket out of the SI so fortunately I have to travel back to Australia in September for IBOE (International Board of Education) meeting, so I bought the ticket. Fortunately we arrived at the airport with 3 hours to spare. Our travel to the airport went smooth with every traffic light green and the traffic moving at near speed limit so we made it in 30 minutes from NTC to Airport. We sorted out all the problems, checked in, and still had a couple of hours for breakfast and relaxation before boarding the plane to Honiara which was full. Once in Honiara, I am thankful for a small country where everyone knows everyone. Also we have been around for a long time. I wanted to get in an immigration queue (line) where the official working knew me. Did I mention the plane was full so my carry-on stored overhead was 6 rows behind where we were setting and by the time I retrieved that we were near the last passenger de-boarding even though our assigned seat was near the front. Every queue was long except the queue for returning residents. I knew the official in all the queues except the one marked “returning residents’. We got in the short queue and when I got there I apologized and asked if I could come in the office and sort it out later. This week was holiday week, July 7^th our Solomon Island’s Independence day. I did get it paid for and lodged the work permit with labor as it is also expired. If you are wondering Nancy’s expires next year, since she lived here many years without a work permit and now is school principal so she had to get a work permit and new resident permit and a different date.

District Youth/Women’s Camp:

Women and youth sharing after their return.

The Youth and women had a holiness revival at their camp. They came back excited about what happened. They experienced the presence of God in a new way and they were so excited. They came back tired from the week at camp, followed by the long ship ride in a really rough sea, but they were spiritually rejuvenated. I have asked them to write a report and should have more information to share about the victories at camp. They went around town witnessing and the church services were packed with those attending the evening services. Reports came back of miraculous healings, salvation, and deliverance. The report was the altar were full every service. The theme for the Camp was from Joshua 24:15 “. . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

NYC, Zach, and the Youth:

Our Grandson Zach is attending the NYC in Louisville, KY. His parents Scott and Gloria Nelson went as sponsor with their church’s youth. 6300+ in attendance at NYC. Oh, don’t we serve an awesome God! There was one photo posted on the NCM e-news and faces of 7 youth visible and there was the picture of our Zach. This grandpa was thrilled to see that photo. I guess as a grandpa I have bragging rights. Recently I was thrilled and tears came to my eye when talking to Gloria and Zach and was told that Zach felt called to preach.

Pray for the youth attending NYC as they return to their home churches that they will be empowered to live the holy, Christ-style life, but include in your prayer the youth around the world. It appears the spirit of God is moving around the world and we are on the verge of a holiness revival and it very well could begin with the youth. There is so much political, economical, social, and spiritual uncertainties and unrest in the world today. People are restless, uncertain of the future, unsatisfied with status quo, and are searching for answers, which is the perfect climate for a spiritual awakening. Pray for this generation as they seek answers that they will turn to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Other Prayer needs:

Continue to remember the events coming up:

September 13-18: IBOE review meeting in Brisbane (George plans to attend).

September 20 - October 4: Bible College Block course (Dr. David McEwan from NTC, Brisbane will be visiting professor)

October 26 – 30: Mission leadership Conference, Manila, Philippines (George and Nancy plan to attend, and pray that other leaders from Solomon Islands will be able to attend too.)

January 2012: 3^rd Wave NYI Conference in Bangkok, Thailand (Plan to send 1 or 2 youth from Solomon Islands.)

Harmon Schmelzenbach has a trip planned to Solomon Islands July 18 – 23. Pray for our trip as we go to Makira Province and visit a pastor there.

Special Prayer Request: Remember the Nazarene Theological College in Brisbane, Australia in you prayer. They have some financial challenges facing them. They are meeting 6 a.m. daily for the 40 days of prayer and they have already witnessed the hand of God upon their situation.

Ezra: He is a high school boy who went to youth camp.

Ezra Testifying and Praising God.

He lives at our house and raised chickens to pay his school fees. While at camp his chicken house was burned down along with 50 2-week old chickens. When he received word he said, “That is something of this world, I have come on a mission and am not going to let that side-track me.” Those of you present during our recent deputation tour, may remember seeing Ezra’s picture on our power point. We thank the Lord as someone donated money to cover his school fees for this year, isn’t God awesome.

Nancy: Teachers report to school tomorrow for teacher’s training, and Nancy has a lot of items to discuss with the teachers as they have this week of teacher’s meeting getting ready for classes to begin 18^th July.

Last Prayer letter I mentioned that I was passing through a discouraging time. Nothing will lift ones spirits like the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as witness by our youth at camp in Munda. We returned from Australia and I was still a little down but when the youth got off the ship after a stormy ride and they were bubbling over. That was awesome and then when they met the following night and shared their testimonies about the many victories any remnant of discouragement disappeared. Pray that this fire of the Lord that was kindled in their hearts in Munda will burn bright as they return to school in another week.

George Miller,

Solomon Islands -Church of the Nazarene

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Office/Home: 677 25-109 Mobile: 677 74 68920

USA Contact:

c/o 4994 Highway 78 S

Nevada, TX 75173

email: george_nancy@reachone.com

Blog: http://georgeandnancymiller.blogspot.com - http://oceanianazarene.org

Responsibility - Developer - Positivity - Woo - Empathy

Youth Praising God after returning from camp.

June 16, 2011 Prayer update

2011-07-10T14:28:00.001-07:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

Thank you for your Prayers. Here is an update of some of the items we requested prayer for.

Bible College Class:

The Bible College classes were super and well attended. Sylvia Holiday, from New Zealand, was our guest lecturer. Sylvia is an Ordained Minister and professional counselor in New Zealand. This is her second time visiting the Solomon Islands. We praise the Lord for the 21 students she had in her morning class, Interpersonal Communication; and the 25 attending her evening class, Christian Worship. I (George) had 12 student in my Hebrews & General Epistles class. Thanks for your prayers as God moved mightily in these classes.

Children’s Camp:

The Honiara Zion Church is hosting a Children’s camp this weekend. Tomorrow (Friday) night I will be preaching the opening service for the children. Nancy will then have the Saturday service. The new church in White River will be attending. Pray for the White River church. The White River Church is a new daughter church started by the Zion church. They invited the DS and wife a few week ago. Then last Sunday I returned when the Zion Pre-teen class visited, led by their Sunday School teacher Mairy. This church is made up of mostly children, but they are on fire. Pray for the children that God will raise up some teens and adults that are on fire for Jesus.

Miller’s Vacation:

Pray for Nancy and I as we take a much needed vacation to Australia. We depart Solomon Islands on Monday 20^th June and return Monday 4^th July. Please be in prayer for us during this time.

District Youth/Women’s camp:

In our last news letter I made an error in the dates. The correct dates for this camp is 27^th June through 2^nd July. This camp will be held in Munda, on the Island of New Georgia in the Western Province. One of our newer churches Sovereign Grace will host this camp. Pray for a wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our youth attending camp.

Other events coming up:

1. September 13-18 the International Board of Education is going to meet with our South Pacific Nazarene Theological College and conduct a review at that time. Please be in prayer for this meeting.

2. Then September 20 – October 4^th will be another block course at our Bible College and Dr. David McEwan from NTC, Brisbane, Australia will be our guest lecturer. I will also be teaching a course.

3. October 26 – 30 we will be attending a mission leadership conference in Manila, Philippines.

4. Pray for Rex as he prepares to attend, representing our Solomon Island youth at the 3^rd wave conference in Thailand in January 2012. Rex is a relatively new Christian and member of our Sovereign Grace Church in Munda. For a few months he lived at our house while volunteering at ZCA (Zion Christian Academy). Now he is working as a teacher at the school established this year at the Sovereign Grace Church.

5. In addition to these meetings I plan to visit churches in the provinces.

Personal Prayer Request:

Please remember us in prayer as we want to see a mighty revival and a great awakening and an awesome movement of the Holy Spirit within the Solomon Islands. In recent days I have been battling discouragement and we request that you bathe us in prayer.

George Miller,

Solomon Islands -Church of the Nazarene

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Office/Home: 677 25-109 Mobile: 677 74 68920

USA Contact:

c/o 4994 Highway 78 S

Nevada, TX 75173

Responsibility - Developer - Positivity - Woo - Empathy

prayer update 28 April 2011

2011-04-27T22:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Prayer partner,

Oh my how time flies! Has it really been nearly one month since I sent our last prayer letter? I can hardly believe how rapidly time has flew by.

We bring you greeting in the name of our risen LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. This past weekend (Easter Weekend) was a wonderful time.

Updates on our prayer requests in the last letter.

1. Unpacking went well. We have almost everything unpacked and put away. Some of the things are left in storage until needed. Home assignment is good for “packrats” like us, as it helps minimize the supply of things.

2. The Land Issue we were dealing with was the Government’s plan to acquire some of our property to drill a water well. We finally signed a lease agreement at least then we will get a little money. Our main concern is that there is a great possibility that the city water well drilled in close proximity to ours and three times deeper will lower the ground water level and therefore cause our well to dry up. We will wait and see. At least right now we have Solar water supply which is free.

3. The Easter Revival Camp organized by the Zion Church of the Nazarene was a huge success. The camp was totally organized by the Zion Church Board, which was a tremendous relief for me as all I had to do was attend and bring a morning devotional and preach at the Sunday sunrise service at 5:30 a.m. So with my limited responsibility we could just attend and enjoy the services.

Youth Worship team led by Brother Dickson Manongi

Some of the Highlights of the Easter Camp:

Rev. Maisel Boude, Papua New Guinea Defense Force Chaplain, was the guest speaker. The messages and the classes he held were timely as they dealt with living a holy life in Melanesia.

Saturday night the fire fell and many came to the altar under conviction. It was a great service as young and old alike came to the altar. After the altar service there was a spontaneous testimony time. It kind of reminded me of camp-meeting time when I was young. It was one of those really special services that you just have to be present to fully appreciate.

Children that came to the altar wanted to share their testimony, but in this country it is difficult for children to just go to the front of adults and share, but these children talked to their adult leaders and these leaders scheduled a time for them to share during the Sunday evening services. Words are inadequate to describe the thrill in my heart as these children got up with tears in their eyes and testified to the saving grace of God.

This is the first time I have ever witnessed this among the Solomon Island Children. Normally I do not see the young children even going to the altar in the Solomon Islands, unless we have a special children’s service, then they feel free to come forward. This is a breakthrough and a direct answer to your prayers.

During one of the sessions that dealt with some of the “witchcraft” issues in the Solomon’s, one man questioned Rev. Maisel and it brought out into the open some of the pluralism in the Solomon Islands, as they attempt to merge Christianity with their animistic/ancestral belief system. This lead to quite a discussion and some deliverances from some of the demonic activities.

Baby Wesley held by George and parents standing near.

We had three churches participate in this camp. In addition to the Zion Church, we also had the Macedonia Church and the White River Church (Preaching Point). The pastor’s wife of the Macedonia Church delivered a baby on Good Friday. They asked me to name the baby so I gave him the name Wesley, after my brother. The White River Church has a lot of children and we request prayer for the salvation of their parents. Also pray that these children will grow strong in their faith.

One of the board members who helped organize this camp, made the comment that this is the first camp ever where no one complained about anything. We could definitely feel the presence of the Lord around this place.

There was a drama during many of the services. The youth presented the crucifixion drama and everyone was in tears. The White River pastor commented, “If just a drama will make you cry, just think about the being present at the real event.”

Prayer request for Upcoming events:

1. Bible College Class from May 25 – June 8. Sylvia Holiday from New Zealand will be the guest lecturer. This time we will offer three classes. Sylvia will teach two courses a. Interpersonal Communication and b. Church Worship. Then I will teach an elective course on Hebrews/General Epistles so those who have already completed the other courses will have a choice. Pray for me as I prepare for this class.

2. Miller’s Vacation/ACE Conference: We will be away from 20 June to 4 July in Australia. We will be attending the SCEE [ACE] conference in Brisbane from 21 – 23 June and while there we are going to take a little vacation time.

3. District Youth/Women’s Camp: This is to be held 20 – 27 June. This is the second year that they have held a Youth/Women’s combination camp. That is certainly different from our Western Culture. Pray for God’s blessing upon Pastor Revelation Kalia, the District NYI president and Sister Mairy Wale, the District Women’s Ministry President as they organize this. This Camp will be held in Munda at the site of one of our newer churches, Sovereign Grace.

Also Pray for:

1. Those who have committed their life to Christ this past weekend.

2. Me as I bring a message this Sunday and try to keep the momentum from this revival services flowing.

3. Continue praying for the appointment of local DS.

4. Pray for rain as it has been dry. That was probably in answer to the Christian’s prayer for fine weather for the many camps and special services going on around the country. It definitely was beautiful weather for the Easter Camps and meetings.

George Miller,

Solomon Islands -Church of the Nazarene

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Office/Home: 677 25-109 Mobile: 677 74 68920

USA Contact:

c/o 10109 Links Fairway Drive

Rowlett, TX 75089

Phone: (469) 377-0400

email: george_nancy@reachone.com

Blog: http://georgeandnancymiller.blogspot.com - http://oceanianazarene.org

Responsibility - Developer - Positivity - Woo - Empathy

Crucifixion Drama

Prayer Update 13 October 2010

2010-10-15T21:41:00.001-07:00

Prayer Update:

Dear Prayer partner,

Bible College Classes:

The Bible College Classes were a huge success and well attended. We had a total of 22 different students attend one or all three of the Bible College classes. In addition we had 2 people who audited one or more of the courses. We are grateful for Dr. David McEwan from our NTC in Brisbane, Australia. This is his sixth consecutive year for him to visit our campus and teach block courses for us. God is so faithful and is doing awesome things in the Solomon Islands.

In Church Growth and Evangelism Class it was great and I feel the students were all challenged to return and evangelize their local communities. We emphasized the “Each One, Win One”, “Big Brother, Big Sister”, and “Prayer Cell” plans for church growth and evangelism. We are trying to get back the book of ACTS strategy for evangelism. The Church of the Nazarene was begun as a movement and our desire for the Solomon Islands is to return and develop the passion for souls as in Acts and once again rekindle the fire.

I was busy preparing for the pastor’s conference and so did not attend Dr. McEwan classes but he reported that they went well.

I request prayer for two of our Bible College Students. John is a relatively new believer and is called to pastor. He is beginning his pastoral ministry in the church where his uncle is currently pastor. This uncle is elderly and the church is spiritually weak. In this church John is the one of only a few men attending regularly. Pray for a smooth transition and that John can reach out to the community, which is mostly relatives.

James is a new student, beginning a new church on the island of Vella la Vella. A day or so after James and his father arrived in Honiara so James could attend BC class, a man from their place living in Honiara died suddenly and the belief was that James &/or his father performed witchcraft on this man which caused his death. So then the angry relatives of the deceased man, burned James’ and his father’s houses at home. Then James received word that his teen age daughter was seriously ill, so he left the Bible College early. I am really encouraged because after arriving home James called me and told me that he is not deterred and has already moved out into a new area. Pray for the light of the gospel to penetrate these people’s hearts so steeped in witchcraft and spirit worship. They have accepted Christianity, but are still deeply attached to their animistic religion.

Pastors/Wives’ conference:

The pastors and wives’ conference was a huge success. I knew it would be good and the Lord would bless because during the week leading up to the conference there was a lot of things that came up attempting to distract us from the final preparation. I don’t have time to mention all of them but to give you an idea our printer went out as I was printing the materials for conference, we had a water leak in the bathroom, the school held their end of term program and fund raiser, and many other disturbances most of which required urgent attention.

Note: The printer was repaired, the water leak is still dripping with a bowl under it, and the school fund raiser was a huge success.

District Superintendent Rev. Peter Degene, from the Hagen district of Papua New Guinea, and Evangelist Rev. Nicholas Wako also from PNG delivered the messages and taught classes that really challenged our pastors.

The theme of the conference was Living a Life [worthy of the calling, of love, and pleasing to the Lord]. This was taken from Ephesians 4 & 5 and Colossians 1.

As an illustration of unity, I had each pastor set beside his wife for the entire program. Culturally husbands and wife set on separate sides of the church. We saw husbands and wives reconcile to each other and some came to the altar and testified how their was disunity in their relationship and how it had hindered their ministry. The challenge was given to pray and seek the source and not chase after money, cargo, and other resources. They were encouraged and challenged to run their church without asking for outside [that is without asking anyone but God in prayer] assistance. We want our pastors to have a new mentality, please remember them in prayer as it will not be easy but we will continue to bring a change.

WEF PLUS Challenge 2010 offering: {For all my Nazarene Prayer Partners}

In November, Nazarenes from all over the world are being challenged to give the single largest offering for World Evangelism in the history of our church, a WEF PLUS offering. As you know the WEF is the life-line for Nazarene missions and your continued support pays the missionaries’ salaries and keeps them on the field. Our global church is witnessing unprecedented growth, which brings with it financial challenges. Also the world-wide economic downturn intensifies the challenge, but Nazarenes have always been faithful in rallying to meet any and all challenges.

Our Solomon Island district NMI President, Osborn Fagea, gave the challenge for each adult member in town to give a donation equivalent to US $10 per person which will be quite a sacrifice for our Solomon Islanders. As your local church gives this challenge please give the most generous offering possible.

For further information or to give a secure gift on-line please check it out at Church of the Nazarene: Challenge 2010

Deputation Schedule:

Our home assignment is only 9 weeks away. Please remember us in your prayers, as we prepare for home assignment. Below is our schedule and we still have a few dates open that are available in the Oklahoma City area so we can be near family & grand children.

December 7, 2010 - Depart SI

Dec 7-11 – Preparing presentation, doctors visits, etc.

December 12 – Pittsburg, TX a.m. – Glenda McNeil

December 12 p.m. – Kilgore, TX

December 19 – Owasso, OK (Silver Creek) a.m. – Nathan Burns

December 22 (Wed) (Open)

December 23 – 25 Holiday and time with family

December 26 – Camp Creek a.m. – Sara Miller

December 26 – Clinton, OK p.m. – Rick Brewster

December 27 – January 4 Vacation time with family/available to speak in churches where our children attend.

January 1 – Nancy and George 40^th Anniversary Celebration – Choctaw, OK, Church of the Nazarene

January 5 (Wed) (open)

January 9 – Carnegie, OK both services – Chip Perkins

January 12-23 – Dallas District Tour – Julie Torres

January 26-February 9 – South Carolina District Tour – Brenda Haynes

February 13 a.m. (Open)

February 13 p.m. – OKC Southpoint – Mark Williams [Doug Veneer Pastor]

February 16 (Wed) (Open)

February 19-27 – Arizona District Tour – Marilyn LaRue

March 2-13 – NorthWest District Tour – Kay Schlotman

March 14 – 21 Vacation time/preparation to return to the Solomon Islands

March 22, 2011 – Return to the SI

Especially pray for two teens as we depart Solomon Islands for home assignment. Hannah has been staying with us this year and attending our ZCA school, where Nancy is the Principal. Ezra, has a chicken project near our house and takes care of his chickens to pay school fees, also attending ZCA. They are both strong Christian young people, very active in the church, and I know the Lord will watch over them, but pray that they will have peace, and experience the Lord’s provision.

District Meetings and Assembly:

Be in prayer for our District Assembly and meetings coming up November 10 – 13. We will have our conventions, assembly with the business, and Bible College Graduation.

George Miller, District Superintendent

Solomon Islands District - Church of the Nazarene

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Office/Home: 677 25-109 Mobile: 677 74 68920

email: george_nancy@reachone.com

Responsibility - Developer - Positivity - Woo - Empathy

12 September 2010

2010-09-11T14:55:00.000-07:00

Prayer Requests:

Bible College Classes/Pastor’s conference

I need you prayers during the next 3 weeks. Wednesday 15^th we begin Bible College classes. The 15^th – 21^st I will teach a course on Church Growth and Evangelism. This is a 1-week intensive block course – 6 hours per day for 5 days. That will keep me busy.

Dave McEwan for NTC Brisbane will arrive on 21^st and then hold 2 courses – Theology 1 in the morning and New Testament Survey in the evening.

Then following the Bible College Class we will hold a National Pastor’s/wives/District Leaders Conference. This will be for 3 days – Oct 5^th-8^th. Pray for Rev Peter Degene as he is coming from Papua New Guinea for this conference.

Prayer Updates:
National Elections:

The National Elections are over and we have a new Prime Minister and Government. Pray for them as they have big challenges ahead of them. There were only a few election incidences: 1. the water pump and gardens from a high school was damaged and disrupted forcing the week closure of the school. 2. In another area some ballot boxes were burned. 3. Then a celebration party got out of hand and ended with a man being shot by the RAMSI police force. If you are interested in more Solomon Islands political or national news you can check Solomon times on-line or Solomon Star web.
Schools in Honiara were dismissed for the elections and the town was busy as it was a school holiday but the businesses were open. I routinely shop on Wednesdays because that is the day when the town is less crowded and I can finish my business in a fraction of the time, but the election Wednesday was equal to a Friday.

(Community Based Health Care) Trip

Dr. Becky Morsch, a Missionary based in PNG, visited Solomon Islands from August 21^st through September 6^th. She held CBHC workshop and training in two communities in the Western Province of Solomon Islands. Mairy Walesara, our district Women’s Ministry President, and treasurer accompanied her on this trip. I went along for the first week of the two-week trip. The courses were well attended and received. We trust that they will implement the things that they learned.

The first week we went to village of Iriiri Pasapasa on the island of Kohiggo in the Vona vona lagoon. There were representatives in attendance from 10 different communities around the church. We’re praying that this will make a big impact in their lives.
Then the second week’s workshop was held in Munda at the Sovereign Grace, Church of the Nazarene. I returned after the Sunday morning service to prepare for the Bible College/pastor’s conferences schedules, but Becky and Mairy reported many blessing from this time.

Thank you for your prayers as I was sick for one day with stomach flu or something and Becky was ill the next day while in Iriiri. Mairy went as a translator and also so she would know how to teach the course. With Becky sick that afforded her an excellent opportunity to teach. Pray for Mairy as she has retired from NPF (National Provident Fund) after 21 or so years and is giving her time now serving the Lord. She is kept busy with our District and SICA (Solomon Islands Christian Association).

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George Miller, District Superintendent

Solomon Islands District - Church of the Nazarene

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Office/Home: 677 25-109 Mobile: 677 74 68920

email: george_nancy@reachone.com

Blog: http://georgeandnancymiller.blogspot.com - http://oceanianazarene.org

Responsibility - Developer - Positivity - Woo - Empathy

Listing of Miller's Deputation Schedule,

2010-07-12T20:36:00.001-07:00

Here is our Deputation Schedule for our next Home Assignment. If we are near where you live we would love to see you. If we have a district tour on your district and you want us to speak in our church please contact you district’s deputation coordinator for scheduling.

· December 7^th – Depart to the USA

December 12th - AM Service, Pittsburg, TX

· December 19^th – AM Service, Silver Creek Church, Owasso, OK

· December 26^th – AM Service, Camp Creek Church, near Taloga, OK

· December 26^th – PM Service, Clinton, OK

· January 9^th – Both Services, Carnegie, OK

· January 12^th-23^rd – Dallas District Tour

· January 26^th-February 9^th – South Carolina District Tour

· February 19^th-27^th – Arizona District Tour

· March 2^nd-13^th – Northwest District Tour

· March 22^nd – Return to the Solomon Islands

As you see we have a few gaps but not many. Most of the gaps we would like to fill up with services near the grand children, which will basically be Oklahoma or Dallas area. Join us in prayer for transportation, as we make a decision about flying or driving.

George Miller, District Superintendent

Solomon Islands District - Church of the Nazarene

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Office/Home: 677 25-109 Mobile: 677 74 68920

email: george_nancy@reachone.com

Blog: http://georgeandnancymiller.blogspot.com - http://oceanianazarene.org

Responsibility - Developer - Positivity - Woo - Empathy

Prayer Update 13 July 2010

2010-07-12T18:05:00.001-07:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

I want to thank you so much for partnering with us through your prayers. Also I want to thank you for your faithfulness in your church’s Faith Promise offering and other gifts to the World Evangelism Fund.

Extension Bible College Class in Munda:

We held a very successful Bible College Class recently in Munda at our newest church Sovereign Grace Church of the Nazarene. We had eight (8) students in attendance. It was very encouraging because we started on time each morning and the students were faithful in their attendance. That was quite an accomplishment considering we were competing with the World Cup. There were a couple of places in Munda with TV set ups so people could go and watch the soccer match [pay for viewing]. Soccer is big in the Solomon Islands and these matches drew large crowds and attention.

Trip to Iriiri Pasapasa:

From Munda we took a trip to Iriiri Pasapasa. It was encouraging to see the new people coming to the church here. Chris is a nurse who recently attended school in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. While in PNG he was involved in the Church of the Nazarene. He is now back in Solomon Islands as the Director of Nurses at the Helena Goldie Hospital, outside of Munda. He has been on holiday [vacation for USA partners] near the Iriiri church. He attended all the services and will be quite a resource person for the church in the Western Province.

The name Iriiri Pasapasa means “a well of bitter water”. The name came from the shallow well dug that is mixed with sea water and has a bitter taste. Their new church is near completion and they decided to change the name of the church to Petra Church of the Nazarene, because it is literally built on a rock, but more than that they want the church to be built on “The Rock”, Christ Jesus. Thank you to those who gave money for new church buildings that has made this possible.

The pastor, Jimmy Kwaisui, and two young men (Raymond & Apollos) have been teaching early childhood classes in the pastor’s house. They have 20 students enrolled in these classes. Apollos is now in Honiara attending a class to learn how to teach phonics and he plans to stay on for at least one term to observe at our Zion School.

Trip to Vella la vella:

Vella la Vella is an island in the Western Province, accessible only by outboard motor boat from the provincial center, Gizo. I went the Vella la vella to check on a couple of churches there. We have mission churches in two locations Barakoma and Malesova with requests to start more. Pray for strong spiritual leaders for this work and for many other areas throughout the country where doors are opening. Pray that the Lord will give wisdom, strength, and patience as Christ-like disciples are being developed to pastor these churches. Pray for God to call men and women who will be servant leaders and will rise to the challenge to pastor these new works.

The Barakoma Village completed their church building and so we went to dedicate and take some photos. They decided to rename their church in honor of the church in the USA that donated the funds to erect this building. They have a school with a current enrollment of 20 students.

Malsesova Church currently meets in the home of one of the members. They also have a weekday school to teach early childhood, phonics so they can read well. They minister to 10 students through their school.

Education:

Pray for Rev. Dolasi Baesi, our Nazarene National Education Secretary. Dolasi went with me on this trip to the Western province. For much of the travel two people can travel as cheaply as one. Dolasi went to check out the schools operating or planned in each of these villages. Teaching reading is one of the big needs in the Solomon’s. For some reason children here, as a general rule, tend to read very late (3^rd – 6^thgrade) if at all. Our Nazarene education system (ACE curriculum) using phonics teaches them how to read, so by the time the child is ready for the 1^st grade they can read. So many of our new schools teach Kindy (equivalent to USA pre-school) and ABC or Prep (equivalent to USA Kindergarten). In addition to that they many times will offer after-school remedial reading for students of any grade from the public school system. We have seen remarkable results.

National Election:

Pray for our national election coming up. It took a while to settle on a date but it is set for August 4^th. Following election then the parliament will vote on the new Prime Minister. Last election time sparked a riot that burned China Town. Pray that this election will proceed peacefully. Pray that the election of Prime Minister and transfer of power will go smoothly. The police are making preparations and have been holding “riot drills”.

ZCA (Zion Christian Academy):

This is the final week of school break for ZCA. Of course the teachers are not on break. Pray for Nancy as principal and the teachers, esp. Martha, head teacher for the primary, and Salome, head teacher for the High School. They need wisdom, as this is a huge ministry opportunity for our church. Many of our high school students have failed out of the Solomon Island system. We take these “drop outs” {Those whose test scores are not high enough to get a place in a high school.} and we give them a second chance. Unfortunately some of the students have been cheating by stealing test score keys. Pray for the challenge Nancy and the teachers face.

Schmelzenbach’s visit:

We were privileged recently to have a visit by Harmon Schmelzenbach, our FSC (Field Strategy Coordinator) and his wife, Cindy, and son, Quinton. We are privileged to have such caring, servant leaders, over the Melanesia/South Pacific fields. The main purpose of their visit was to visit with and disciple the two Nazarene missionaries in the Solomon Islands and especially to look at our “Clifton StrengthsFinder” results. For those who are not familiar with this, it is from Gallup and involves an on-line assessment which we completed. We received the evaluation now we know our top 5 strengths.

For those interested here they are in order 1^st-5^th:

Nancy:

Learner – Loves to learn; Input – Inquisitive, likes to collect things; Intellection – Likes to think, mental activity; Belief – Has certain core values that are enduring; Responsibility – Takes psychological ownership for anything committed to.

George:

Responsibility– Takes psychological ownership for anything committed to; Developer – See potential in others, try to help others experience success; Positivity – Generous with praise, quick to smile, and on lookout for the positive in any given situation; Woo (Winning Others Over) – Enjoys meeting new people, strangers are rarely intimidating; Empathy – Sense emotions of those around, ability to feel what they feel.

That explains a lot. Those who know us well can comment if you agree with that assessment. It would be interesting to see what our next 5 strengths are, because as I read through the book I saw others that describe me pretty well. When we return from home assignment I plan to bring some of these books back and have our district team and English literate pastors take the assessment. As we train our key people to utilize their strengths.

CBHC:

We have an upcoming visit by Dr. Becky Morsch. We are planning CBHC visit into two communities, Munda and Iriiri Pasapasa. Pray for this outreach. We will have some local volunteers accompany Dr. Becky on her visit. This visit is scheduled for August 21^st – September 4^th. Begin now to bathe this in your prayers. We will keep you updated on this in future news letters.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George and Nancy

George Miller, District Superintendent

Solomon Islands District - Church of the Nazarene

PO Box 712, Honiara, Solomon Islands

Office/Home: 677 25-109 Mobile: 677 74 68920

8 June 2010 prayer update

2010-06-07T12:05:00.001-07:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

Thank you for your prayers. We have been so busy that I have not taken time to write. During these times of silence on our part, please continue with your intercession. I really appreciate those of you who have inquired about our silence. Your prayers have sustained us.

Home Assignment Date Change:

Please note our home assignment dates have been changed. We have moved the date forward one year. Now we will leave for the USA on 7 December 2010 (this year). We will only take a 3 month furlough, instead of the 1-year previously planned (2012), and will be available for deputation services through 6 March 2011. We are trusting the Lord and praying that even with this change we will have a full slate of services. Be in prayer supporting us. God has always blessed us with a full schedule and we know as we are faithful He will make up the difference. We will be residing with or near our grandchildren, which is in the Dallas & Oklahoma City areas, but we do not mind the travel and would love to get to our LINKS district(s). We realize that district tours have probably already been set, but we are available if you can work us in.

The dates of our upcoming Home Assignment - Dec 7, 2010 – March 6, 2011

For those of you who have booked your missionary speakers and unable to have us early 2011, here are the dates for our next home assignment (Mar. 16, 2013 - June 15, 2013). Looking forward to seeing you. Please contact us if you would like a deputation service.

Bible College Class & Trip to Western Province:

Bible College Class ended Friday. This is the main thing that kept me busy. During the block classes we hold two classes per day for 2 and half weeks. Sometimes we use visiting teachers, but this time I did the teaching, and it certainly keeps me busy. The classes are over now except grading of the final homework assignments and turning in the grades. We had 10 students this time. We were down some but last time we had eight or so students come in from Western Province but I felt for that many students I should travel there and teach a satellite course. It should be less expensive for one teacher to travel to Munda than for 8 to 10 students to travel to Honiara. Pray for me as I prepare to depart for this class on June 19^th. Pray for Pastor Alick Hagi and the Munda congregation as they prepare to host the Bible College Class.

During this trip (June 19 – July 3) I plan to also travel around, following the 1-week course in Munda. I plan on visiting two churches in the Western Province (Iriiri Pasapasa and Barakoma). They have both built a new church building and I need to go check on them and get some photos to send to the donors. Pray for Jimmy Kwaisui as he leads the church in Iriiri Pasapasa. Pray for Kendrick Lonisasa in Barakoma.

Pray for this trip as I will also check in Munda on the progress of the land application. While in Iriiri I will see about the possibility of CBHC (Community Based Health Care) working there. Then I will check on the newly started “kindy” school that these two communities are operating.

During this time away I will not be on-line, but Nancy will be at home and will be able to reply.

Pastors and leaders:

Pray for pastors called into the ministry. Pray for local leadership as we move forward. We need to identify some diploma graduates to send for further schooling to obtain their bachelor’s degree. We have a need of Bible College teachers. Any gifts toward a scholarship fund to assist qualified students with their tuition and transportation costs, would be appreciated.

Honiara Church:

The Honiara church under the leadership of pastor Jeremiah Akoeasi has really caught a vision to help others. They are a missional church and are looking at ministry opportunities these days. It is exciting seeing the paradigm shift in this way. Their church tithes and offering is up and their giving for others, which is a reflection of their emphases. Continue to pray for our Honiara church as they have had some struggles in recent weeks. Continue to pray for our youth (last prayer letter I sent you their names).

On a related note, Sunday I was informed that they are beginning a preaching point in the White River area. Pray for this new work. We have a number of members that travel from the White River area to our Zion Church and it will be great having a church near their residence.

ZCA School Break and ACE Training:

ZCA (Zion Christian Academy) will have their semester break beginning June 18. Our teachers will be involved in an ACE training course. There is a couple from New Zealand visiting the Solomon Islands who will be conducting training for ACE teachers in the Solomon’s.

Water update:

Thank you for your prayers and support for this project. It is much improvement, but for some reason I still haven’t achieved my aim which is when you turn on a tap water comes out. I’m trying to figure out if the supply is inadequate, or we are leaving the taps open and wasting water or a combination. We are using solar power to save money on electricity.

Speaking of utilities, the power has been really dependable lately. There have been only a few blackouts over the past few weeks and usually they have only lasted for minutes. Thank you for your prayers.

Chickens:

Pray for Ezra and his chicken project. The chickens are ready to dress and sell now. Pray that he will have a good market for his birds. He is doing this to raise money for his school fees. He is a hard working young man. I’m trying to help him with entrepreneurial skills. He feels God has called him into ministry, and desires to serve the Lord when he finishes school.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

george_nancy@reachone.com

http://oceanianazarene.org

Prayer Update 28 April 2010

2010-04-27T12:02:00.001-07:00

I want to thank you for your prayers.

Easter Program:

The Easter program at church was a huge success. I posted a story and pictures on our blog:georgeandnancymiller.blogspot.com

Trip to Malaita:

Thank you for your prayers. I went and installed a pastor at a very small church. Pray for the work on Malaita, Satan is hard at work there. Please pray for unity and cooperation [team work] among our members, pray for the pastors’ families and especially their marriages and training of their children. It seems there is much attack on the family, which is not surprising since this is the Biblical picture of Christ and the Church.

During one message, an illustration came to my mind, and after the message a lady came to me to explain to me her side of the story and how it all happened. I was dumbfounded and replied, “What are you talking about?” She asked, “Didn’t . . . [her husband/pastor] tell you anything?” I had heard nothing but the illustration I used was exactly what was going on in her life. It’s amazing how the Lord preaches messages through ordinary people.

Zion Christian Academy:

Remember Nancy and the ZCA school board in your prayers. The school has really been making progress but they have some challenging issues concerning discipline of students and staff that needs to be bathed in prayer. Today the Queen’s baton (Equivalent to the Olympic torch) is making its rounds through Honiara and will be visiting the school around 2 p.m. en-route to the commonwealth games to be held in New Delhi this fall.

Water:

We praise the Lord for our water well and supply. This past Saturday I spent the day repairing the pastor’s rain collection system so we will have more water available. It was a hot job on the roof. Thank you for your prayers. Also a special thank you to those who contributed toward this project.

Land in Munda:

Pray for pastor Alick Hagi as he has put in a request to the government for land in Munda. We now have a building we are using for worship but it belongs to someone else and we need a more permanent arrangement. We need the Lord’s direction.

Elections:

Elections are coming up, sometime in June (a definite date is still to be announced). This is always a tense/uncertain time in the Solomons. Many people seem to forget about God and chase after politics, or their politician. Our Parliament was dissolved this past weekend so the members and other intending candidates can campaign for election.

Rose Muaki:

Pray for Rose, a charter member of our Nukukaisi church (and Solomon Islands District). She has been ill for two months now and she is now bed fast. Dickson, her son, and family are planning a trip to Makira island to be with their mom. Pray for her husband Dick, who has been visiting family in Australia, and will soon be returning to the Solomon Islands.

Youth:

Pray for our youth in the Solomon Islands. They are facing lots of pressures and temptations as they have new freedom and electronic gizmos. They are connected now with the rest of the world as never before, but with that connection comes a lot of garbage. Let me give you some names to pray for. Shema, Sophia, Simeon, Hannah, Jesse, Lisa, Barbara, Mona, Hephzibah, Alira, Ezra, Elishama, Franklyn, Melissa, Karen, Jimmy, William, Jonathan, Mary Esther, Enoch, Liev, John, Sandra, Noelyn, Jean, Crystal, Moffat, Margaret, Florence, Sally, Nicholson, Raymond, and Hudson.

Upcoming Trip:

Pastor Dolasi and I are planning a trip to Fiji departing May 4 returning May 8. This is to attend the SPNTC (South Pacific Nazarene Theological College) Board of Trustees meeting. Bathe this meeting with your prayers.

Bible College Class coming up:

Be in prayer for our next Bible College block classes coming up. (May 19 – June 4) This time I’ll teach Hermeneutics (Biblical Interpretation) and Church History 2 (post Reformation).

Home Assignment:

This is a ways off but I need you to begin praying for the work and replacement etc. to cover for us during the one year home assignment December 2011 through November 2012. Also we would love to schedule a service in your church. There is a new electronic way to schedule services now and I have no clue how to do it. I suppose I need to find out. If you are like me and have trouble with the on-line scheduling, but would like to have us in your church just contact us and we’ll put you in contact with someone to help you.

Final Remarks:

It has been very challenging getting our work done, I mean, with the power outages, Internet server down, photocopier on the blink, etc. Pray for grace and patience. As someone prayed, “Lord, I need patience and I need it now.”

Your partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

george_nancy@reachone.com

Easter Time at Zion Church

2010-04-12T13:43:00.001-07:00

Easter Time at Zion Church, Honiara

Children Palm Sunday Drama and program.

The Zion Church of the Nazarene, Honiara, held an Easter Camp over the Easter weekend.
Easter is a time of memorial, to remember and reflect upon the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Hannah Konainao, a lead singer on the worship team, reports, “Easter weekend at church was a blessed time for me which has really helped me understand the real meaning of Easter and how our Savior, Jesus Christ, really sacrificed his heart to die as a physical being for us. I was really challenged.” [The picture is of the youth group, Hannah is the one in the center of this photo holding the mic.]

The Easter camp began on Thursday evening, with our men’s fellowship group leading the worship service. The men presented the first of a number of dramas during the camp. The men’s drama portrayed the Last Supper of Jesus. The men did a good job portraying Jesus as the servant leader, who ministered to the disciples even washing their feet.

On Good Friday the NYI (Nazarene Youth International) led the worship. The worship time began with a family communion service.

[Each family took communion as a family unit and a pastor prayed God's blessing over each one, as they came to the altar as a family.]

The youth presented their drama of the crucifixion of Jesus. This was such a powerful act that those present could all feel the presence of Jesus. The message came through with such power that everyone present was in tears. It was hard to hold back the tears. It was totally awesome.

Saturday we had group discussion classes. The youth and men class was taught by Brother Dickson Manongi, and the women group was led by Nancy Miller.

There was also a children’s program and the girls learned how to do flower arrangements, which beautified the church for Easter Sunday morning. The boys painted Easter sign boards, which were displayed in church on Easter Sunday also. The young children colored pictured. There was something for all ages at the camp. Saturday night the Sunday School led the worship service.

Easter Sunday service began early with a sunrise service. It was a beautiful time with the Lord. They put on the drama of the ladies going to the empty tomb. Then during the morning worship time led by the women’s ministry we had the drama of the resurrection of Jesus. Then we once again celebrated the Lord’s Supper. The Sunday evening service was the final service at Zion.

Monday, following Easter is a Public Holiday too in the Solomon Islands, so we took the entire church to the beach. We spent the day relaxing, picnicking, and swimming. It was a fun time to be together and fellowship with the church family.

Prayer Update 30 March 2010

2010-03-30T03:58:00.001-07:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

Thank you for your prayers. It has been too long since the previous prayer letter. Our internet in our house was out of order for nearly 4 weeks. So we didn’t do much on-line except emergencies.

The Cyclone missed Honiara, at least the brunt of the cyclone missed us. We had some high winds and lots of rain but nothing serious. The Bible College students I asked you to pray for in their travels home, did not get far as they held up for a week at Russell Island before proceeding on to the West. They did arrive home safely, even though it was a week late. We tried to convince them to stay in Honiara for a week but the ship was sailing and they were anxious to get home.

Easter Programs:

Pray for the Easter camp and program at our Zion Church and other churches in the Solomon Islands. Our camp in Honiara begins on Thursday night and goes through Monday. We have services each evening and Good Friday morning and Easter Sunday morning. Remember me as I preach the Good Friday message. Our NYI will lead the service, and perform the crucifixion drama. Actually each service we will have a drama re-enacting a different part of the Easter story. The men’s ministry on Thursday will dramatize the Last Supper. Then the women’s ministry will dramatize the resurrection on Easter Sunday Morning. Nancy taught a course (or rather facilitated a time of discussion) at the women conference. I just passed by as they were discussing some interesting things about marriage. I was asked some questions and threw in my ten cents worth. I’m not sure what exactly I told the women, but they have requested us to teach this same “good stuff” to their husbands. So on Saturday we are to teach a class to the married couples. I guess I need to try to remember what I shared. I’m not sure if the men and women are separate or together. I guess I need to find out soon, as I was thinking I’d leave the preparation to Nancy and just throw in a few nuggets here and there. Pray for Nancy or maybe both of us as we prepare to answer their questions and lead a discussion. We do want to equip couples so they can live together in harmony and really be “Team mates”.

ZCA School Break:

School one-week break begins on Thursday 1 April and classes will resume on Monday April 12. Pray for Nancy and the school during this break time.

Trip to Malaita:

I have a trip planned to Malaita on April 9^th, to return to Honiara on 12^th or 13^th. Pray for this trip.

Solomon Island Infrastructure:

Pray for the infrastructure in the country, as we are now go without public electricity for 4 hours every day. They cut the power from 10 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The most productive part of the day we have no power. I do have an electric generator but it is not powerful enough to run the photocopier and many other things around the house. Daily power outages have been going on for years, but it is progressively worse. We now have our own water from our well. So far we have good sunshine and so our solar pump pumps during the day but by the next morning the storage tank is empty. I am looking into another pump to transfer the water to our storage tank. Our public water supply is pretty poor and we have to be able to transfer enough water from our well so the storage tank will not run dry at night. Pray for us as we conserve water. Mobile phones have been hopeless. They have installed a new system and we are optimistic that this will solve a lot of the problems. I was wondering when I awoke this morning and had no bars on the phone and SIM card had failed. We are about 500 meters as the crow flies from the nearest tower. I don’t know if the bugs are all out of the mobile system or not.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

Prayer Request from 14th March

2010-03-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

Urgent prayer is requested for Solomon Islands as we are in the path of two cyclones. Cyclone Ului is not moving fast and should arrive in two to three days. Right behind Ului is Cyclone Thomas and is much larger. We have been through a lot but this is our first cyclone, if it hits us. We are preparing according to the directions issued from the Disaster Management and the US State Department.

Our internet has been out at our house for 2 weeks now. We will get back to you as soon as we can but the turnaround may not be as fast as you have come to expect with email.

Thank you for your prayers for the Bible College class it went well. I had 21 students in the Homiletics (preaching) class and 23 in the Church History Class. There were some spiritual victories too. Prayer for five Bible College Students who left this morning by ship to the Western Province. The sea was rough due to the approaching cyclone. They are traveling away from the cyclone but I still ask for your prayers for their safety.

Praise the Lord our water well is now pumping water. We have a Solar pump and of course that involves a solar panel on top of the roof, so as part of our preparation I will take that down and lock it away for safe keeping. I want to thank everyone who contributed. We still need to plumb to the buildings and add a few rain collection tanks.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

george_nancy@reachone.com

Phone: (677)25-109

Prayer Requests 19 February 2010

2010-02-19T00:46:00.001-08:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

Please pray for the following:

1. Bible College Classes that begin on Wednesday 24 February. I will be teaching two classes Homiletics (Preaching) in the morning and Church History in the evening. We expect 20 students give or take for each class.

2. Water Project is moving ahead we have ordered the tanks and pumping system. We have ordered a solar pumping system as it will save power bill. Thanks to all who have contributed to this project. The two tank platforms are completed and ready. Some of the plumbing supplies are out of stock so pray that they arrive soon. Hopefully within a month this will be up and running.

3. Pray for our church in Malaita, where Satan is working hard. One of my pastors committed adultery which has essentially closed the church. In another church there was some strong disagreement between the pastor and the one who ‘owned’ the church so he forbid them from worshipping inside the church house. {I know in the Western culture it doesn’t make sense about a person owning the church, but that is the reality of many SI churches.} As I was going through all these issues I was reading in our family devotions from our denomination’s daily devotional book and this past week it has been from Nehemiah. The opposition that Nehemiah faced was very similar to things that are going on here. Pray that we can keep focused on mission and trust in the Lord to build the church in the Solomon’s just like Nehemiah and the Jews rebuilt the broken down wall in Jerusalem.

4. We have a new secretary, Mairy. She works part time in the mission office and part time helping Nancy at Zion Christian Academy.

5. Pray for Nancy as she is Principal of ZCA and she is doing more teaching in the High School this year. She has faced many challenges and really needs you to lift her in prayer.

6. Pray for two high school students at ZCA that are staying here and going to school.

a. Hannah Konainao is a wonderful Christian young lady. She is on the church’s worship team. She is quite a blessing to us and is really a help in the ministry here and around the house too.

b. Ezra Kuki is a high school student and was pastor of one of our churches for a couple of years as he attended high school. He was going to school in the province and his schooling was not going well. He wanted to come to the Nazarene’s school ZCA so he could finish his High School and enroll in the Bible College too. He wants to start a poultry project and grow a garden to make money for his school fees.

7. Pray for James Age our resident carpenter who is doing a lot of the work on the water project. He is just a general handy man and is doing the work for very little pay. He opens and locks the doors and really takes pressure off of us. We feed him and give him a little to tie him over. He is bothered with boils and a sore/stiff neck.

8. Pray for the youth in the

Solomon Islands. We have some that are really serious about serving the Lord and we really want to encourage them in their faith. A missionary colleague once told me as he approached the end of his missionary career that he wished he would have invested more time in the children and youth as they are not as set in their ways as the elders. Then I purchased a book written by S Truett Cathy, the founder of Chic Filet entitled “It is Better to Build Boys than Mend Men”. How true!

I was reading from Oswald Chambers, “My Upmost for His Highest” a few months ago and one of the devotionals struck me when it made reference to the fact that salvation and sanctification is receiving from God. He said there are lots of conversions but many who are converted have not received anything. Salvation is more than merely a personal decision to become a Christian and be a good boy, it involves a born again life changing encounter with God. In the Solomon’s we have many conversions, that is they have converted from their old life to a life of going to church and following the church rules. But it appears by the way people can easily revert back to their former lifestyle, without even feeling remorse, that many have not received that gift from God, the gift that transforms the heart. Pray for the Christian Churches in the Solomon Islands, including the Church of the Nazarene, that we can make a difference at the heart level.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

george_nancy@reachone.com

http://oceanianazarene.org/

Prayer Update 26 January 2010

2010-01-27T11:50:00.001-08:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

Thank you for your prayers.

On 15^th of January I left by ship to travel to Auki and then on to Northeast Malaita to dedicate a new church [see below]. It was a wonderful trip. I traveled over on the Bikoi and returned on a new small ship (or maybe large boat), 360 Discovery. The Discovery is a passenger vessel and very fast, making the trip in a mere 3 hours. I praise the Lord for this ship. I understand they just began the service at Christmas time, but when I went to Malaita was the first time I heard about it. They have daily service to Malaita which is very handy for our work because now I can go for a one day trip or meeting and return next day without having to pay the high air fares. It will be handy if we have teams visit because we can take a one-day excursion trip. The sea on the return trip was rough however and a number of people became sea sick. I also praise the Lord that I am not bothered by motion sickness. The Bikoi ship travels once weekly to Auki and then to the Western Province. I thank the Lord for the Bikoi ship as it is owned and operated by a Christian man and friend who allows us to transport cargo for ministry or pastors belongings free. That is a huge saving when we move equipment and relocate a pastor. Also our pastors have an opportunity to hold devotional services for the fellow passengers on board the Bikoi while enroute.

New church plants,

Bethany:

I returned Wednesday 20^th January from this trip to Malaita. I went there for the dedication and opening of a new church named Bethany. The Bethany church of the Nazarene is located at the village of Anasao in Northeast Malaita. Our Bethel church, led by pastor Joel Sada, and his nephew Stephen Miki, is the mother church of this new church. This was the smallest church building I have ever seen, and has a maximum seating capacity of 24. I think with children we crowded 30 or so into the building for the opening service. The opening Sunday I counted 70 people, over half of them were standing outside. They had erected a tent to have the meeting in because they were expecting a number of visitors. Due to the heavy rains the ground was wet under the tent so we only used it for the food. Sunday morning the rain stopped and it was a beautiful day until the program was over.

John Lofta, the head man of this place who invited the Nazarene Church into his area was sick for two weeks before our arrival. He was so excited to have us come that as soon as we arrived he was encouraged and got up from his sick bed and I actually didn’t realize he had been sick until we left his village. Once I was told that he had been sick I thought that he didn’t act all perky. Pray for John and his family.

Tautaumalefo:I went back to Auki and visited another area where they are beginning a new church, Tautaumalefo, where a Bible College Student Revelation Kalia, is pastor. They are struggling trying to get the church going there. This is among Revelations in-laws.

Masupa:

Then Sunday, 24^th a group visited our Honiara Zion Church from the village of Masupa in the Are’are area on Malaita. They have been holding prayer cell meetings and are starting a church in their village. This village is the home of the wives of, Jeremiah, our Zion Church pastor and, Osborn, our district NMI president. These family connections are instrumental in getting the work going there. There have been students from there attend our Bible College too.

Please pray for these new works.

Zion Christian Academy:

ZCA began classes yesterday, Monday 25^th. Nancy is the Principal of the school again this year. She is also going to be teaching High school English for half the day. Last year her main goal for the school was to get the school out of debt and she accomplished that paying off the SB $300,000 debt (US $40,000). At the end of last year all bills were paid and we had SB $6,000 (US $800) in the bank. This year her goal is to work on the procedures as some of them were a little lax last year. Pray for her, as she has a tough job. There are challenges with getting teachers to come to work on time, and toward the end of last year it was discovered that there was cheating among some of the students, and the student record keeping needs help too. Pray for Nancy as she faces these challenges

Office Secretary:

One of our devout members has retired after 21 years with NPF (National Provident Fund-equivalent to our US Social Security). We have hired her on as a secretary. She will serve where needed. She will assist Nancy in the school as well as in the District/Mission office. She will bring a lot of experience as she desires to serve the mission.

Water Project:

Here is an update on the water project. WE have completed the well house and are obtaining estimates for the pumps. We are looking at solar pumps which will cost more initially but should quickly recoup the money, especially considering our electric rate. We have constructed a stand for one tank and are ready to work on the second stand. We need a couple days of dry weather now, but as much as we have been without water, we are not complaining. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this project.

Pastor and Family Needs Prayer:

Please pray for one of my recent Bible College Graduate pastor’s family. This pastor committed adultery with a high school student. This is also one of the things I had to deal with when I went to Malaita. I am in tears about this deal, and I need your prayers. Enough said about this request. Pray especially for his wife who just delivered a healthy baby girl around Christmas.

Your partner in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

http://oceanianazarene.org/

Christmas 2009 in the Solomons & Happy New Year

2009-12-31T14:50:00.001-08:00

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

2009-12-29T12:03:00.001-08:00

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

2009-11-11T21:31:00.001-08:00

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

2009-10-27T23:10:00.001-07:00

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

2009-10-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-08T05:32:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-24T04:32:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

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

Prayer and Praise Report

2009-08-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

Thank you for your prayers.

Scott and Gloria’s Visit:

It was great having Scott and Gloria and their family visit. We had a full house with their three boys along with Geoff and Churie and their two daughters. It was pretty noisy and active around here for a while. It was great. The house is much quieter now. We enjoyed showing them around and Zach, our first born grandchild, was born while Gloria and Scott were volunteering as MK teachers in Papua New Guinea. Zach wanted to return to see his birthplace. He made the comment several times that he would like to return. They enjoyed their time in PNG and Zach made friends with Josiah Radcliffe.

The week before their return to the states I took Zach and Scott with me on a 5 day trip to visit some churches. They read my stories and wanted to see what village life is like. They for sure got a taste of missionary life in the Solomon Islands. It was a long hot ride in the truck to Alisisiu. I’ll just say that Scott likes the air con, and we had none. We slept under mosquito nets which makes it hotter. After the first night, Scott was ready to return to Honiara. He would have left if one of the two trucks passing through would have had space. This is an area of limited transportation possibilities. It is time to practice patience. We had some good services and time with the very small congregation in Alisisiu. Pray for this place as they are really struggling.

From Alisisiu we traveled to Bethel by outboard motor boat. As you know when traveling I try to catch fish. It was not long into the voyage when I hooked something very large. I was too aggressive trying to pull it in and whatever kind of fish I had broke my steal leader. I couldn’t believe the steel broke before the line, I definitely need a heavier steel leader. After that I only caught one small fish. It would have been a pretty good size fish if I was fishing in an Oklahoman lake, but in the sea it was small. We were fishing along and Scott and Zach got a touch of sea sickness. We were going slow and trolling when Scott announced, “let’s go on in, I’m ready to get there.” The boat driver wasn’t interested in going faster until we caught something. Before I caught that small fish, I thought this was going to be the very first trip through that area without success.

We arrived at Kofiloko and walked across the rivers and up, and I mean up the mountain to Bethel. A few years back they built me my own lodge to stay in when I visit there. The small one-room house was full with us three, Scott, Zach, and myself. Scott brought with him some battery operated thing-a-ma-gigs that you clip to your belt. This small machine has a small battery operated fan and blows an odorless mosquito repellent out. With the heat we decided to forego the nets and hang these around the room. We saw no mosquitoes, so it worked.

We left Bethel on Friday, a day ahead of schedule, because there are no trucks that normally travel to Auki on Saturday. For enough money you can get someone to take you, but that was too expensive for just a few hours more ministry. Scott announced that he would pay for an “air conditioned” motel room, and so I called Geoffrey in Honiara (Praise the Lord for Satellite phones). There is a new motel in Auki that we booked. It is a “Super 8” quality at “Hyatt Regency” prices but hey it was air conditioned.

We arrived in Auki Friday night so I was able to put my family on the Ship Saturday morning for Honiara, while I went to visit Mage village. I needed to visit with them and be there for church on Sunday Morning, 9 August. We had an important meeting of all the Malaita Island churches the weekend of 15 and 16^th, and I had to talk with them about this and make sure all the preparations were in place.

Malaita Circuit Meeting:

I returned then to Honiara on Sunday afternoon 9^th, farewelled Scott, Gloria, and family on 11^th, and then on Thursday 13^th August, Geoffrey and I along with Osborn Fagea, our District NMI President, and Jimmy Kwaisui, our District Jesus Film Director, returned to Malaita to hold a Malaita Circuit meeting. August 14^th was the Malaita Day, a Provincial Holiday, and we rode on the plane with the

Governor General and his entourage. When we landed at the small grass airstrip in Auki we were greeted be a thousand people or more, complete with the Police band and Color Guard as they welcomed the GG. Friday we were schedule to start our meeting, but there was too much attraction, because not only was the GG there but the US Navy had two ships anchored in the Auki harbor, and there was a good contingency of US Naval and Marine personnel in Auki for the parade and festivities on Friday.

So we joined in and began our meeting with the Friday night worship service.

A few years ago I organized the Malaitan churches into their own island circuit, but I had to rethink that because there was serious disunity and jealousy among the members. They invited me to come and meet with them to reorganize them into a circuit. I knew though that the main thing they needed was a move of the Holy Spirit, not another tier of leadership. I prayed about it and invited my team to go. Osborn was going to share in the preaching. Jimmy took the Jesus Film Equipment to provide lighting and a generator so I could use the computer to do a power point presentation and project teaching notes using the JF data projector, and also we took some movies to show on forgiveness.

We did not accomplish what they initially wanted to do as far as elect circuit officers and organize the circuit, but the Holy Spirit did move mightily. Sunday morning services, Osborn preached a short but powerful message and there was a good time of prayer around the altar as people were weeping and crying out to God. Throughout the weekend we emphasized that we don’t primarily need another program but need a movement of the Holy Spirit. Once we follow HIS will, HE will direct us and help with a program to glorify HIM. I challenged them to prayer, obedience, and commitment.

Pray for the work at Mage and Malaita. Saturday, Jimmy received word that Lydia, his niece and mother in her mid-twenties with 3 children, became paralyzed just after she arrived to her home port from Honiara. Jimmy tried to go to his home on the other side of Malaita Island on Sunday 16^th but was unable to get there. Then Monday word was received that she passed away. Pray for Jimmy and his family during this time. Florence, the sister, works as a teacher at Zion Christian Academy. Florence and some other family members departed Honiara, yesterday (Tuesday) to catch up with Jimmy in Auki and then proceed to Beri village, their home to mourn with the family there and for the funeral service of their loved one. Pray for this our Nazarene family as this is their second young person to die within a week.

Water Well:

This is an update for those of you who wrote interested in the water project. Today I found the location where the one lives who drills the bore holes for the water well. The boss was away but the boys told me the cost is SB$450 (approx US $60) per meter to drill for water. I don’t know how deep they would have to go to find water, but they mentioned 30-40 meters. That does not include the pump and all the necessary plumping work etc. to finish it out. Soon I should be sending out a mailing just for those who expressed interest in helping with this project. If you are interested in updates on the water project, and have not yet written me about it, please write and I’ll make sure you receive these update. I want to thank those of you who have already expressed interest in this and one already sent in money. Thanks for your contribution in the Kingdom.

Bible College Class:

Bible College block course will be coming up next month September 15 - 29. Please pray for Rev. David McEwan as he travels from Brisbane to teach two course. Nancy will also teach one course.

New Church at Munda:

Pray for our newest church, Sovereign Grace Church of the Nazarene, in Munda. They were given an uncompleted building that formerly housed a church that vacated the premises. The landowner then gave it to The Church of the Nazarene. Termites were in the studs and trusses really bad and I sent the chain saw to mill timber for them and they rebuilt this building, replacing all the timber from the floor to the roofing iron. Someone who attends this new church in Munda has a studio and he made a video, free of charge, for our Solomon Island, Work & Witness team, who went down to help with this construction. This is exciting because the Munda church largely funded this project, with some assistance from the Honiara Church, and some funds were used from the Approved Specials to build new churches. I want to thank those who have contributed for this approved special. Pray for pastor Alick Hagi as he leads this congregation. He is planning on bringing a couple of students to Bible College.

New Church and School at Barakoma:

Pray for our church at Barakoma on the Island of Vella la vella. Pray for Kendrick, the Pastor, and Grace and Rollingson, the couple leading the school. Pray for unity and team work between the school and church. Communication is a challenge but they should have completed their new school/church building. Thanks for the Approved Special money to assist in this new church construction. Also pray for Hudson as he has taken the Jesus Film Equipment to the island of Vella la vella as he had two interested communities.

Bicycles for Pastors:

Thanks to a memorial gift, designated for approved specials we are able to purchase 7 bicycles to give to pastors. I have already purchased 4 bikes placed 2 bicycles in the hands of two pastors [Jimmy Olofisau, Kwailatutu Church and Barnabas Siru, Mage Church]. I’ll be placing some more in the following weeks.

Jimmy Olofisau and the Kwailatutu Church:

Pray for Jimmy and Mirriam and their work in Kwailatutu. Jimmy and his church have built a house for his family and they are preparing to build a new church. They have outgrown the small church that they initially built. This church has a good heart and a humble spirit. Many people attending this church have little prior Christian experience and are so hungry for the things of God. Nearly everyone in the SI have a “mother church” but in this church most were saved in our church and so their mother church is Nazarene. Before conversion, they were so into the witchcraft and worship of the evil spirits. [These people who worship the Devil are referred to as heathens in this country.] They had faith in the Devil’s magical powers, but when they turned to God they put all that faith in God. I have witnessed so many miracles of healing and deliverance in this place. When they pray, they pray with an expectancy and with tremendous result.

Geoff and Churie:

We really have enjoyed having Geoff and Churie here for this year. They have really been a great blessing and there is a lot of improvement around the mission as a result of their work. Churie has been doing the mission books and helping since Nancy is busy as principal of the Zion Christian Academy, our church’s K-12 school in Honiara. Geoff and Churie hosted the YIM team this past June/July, built a dorm room for the Bible College including bunk beds. Geoff is a work-a-holic and has a lot of energy. He has helped me in mowing the grass, driving to the wharf and town for supplies, keeping our workers going, and he has helped in a lot of other areas too. The project he has going now is building a retaining wall to prevent our drive way from eroding away. The driveway was so narrow that we could not get large trucks back to our house, including the fire truck. He hopes to get this finished this week. Our boys are back filling the hill one wheel barrow at a time and so it is taking time to fill the wall and build up the road bed.

This year has been difficult with Felicity’s frequent ear infections. They took Felicity to visited US Navy doctors that are here doing humanitarian assistance in the Solomon’s. The doctor reported that there was no infection but there was a lot of scarring and the tube put in recently in Australia had fallen out. We’re praising the Lord the infection was cleared up. Also they stocked Churie up on children’s meds that we were having trouble obtaining in the Solomon’s. Anyway, Geoff and Churie changed their tickets to depart Solomon Islands on August 25. Pray for them as they resettle in the USA. They have a couple of job offers in the USA. I’ll let you know what they decide on. Geoffrey stored his painting equipment so he can resume his private business too. We know that our God will supply all of their needs as they return to the USA next week.

Final comments:

There is so much I’d like to share. I apologize for the length of this letter and commend anyone who has stay through to the end. It requires a long time to send out my prayer letters. My server was returning my message then I finally heard that they have a limit of 20 addressees/letter and a certain number per hour allowed. This requires me to break up my address list into about 40 letters of 15-20 addressees each. I am so thankful for each one of you prayer partners and don’t want the SPAM filters to stop them. I want to thank each one of you that replies to my letter. Nancy and I are also on facebook, but we are not too active with it. You can check our Blog for photos. The Blog will be updated when I get to it, usually within a day to a week after the email goes out.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

Phone: (677)25-109

Mobile: (677)68-920

http://oceanianazarene.org/

Excerpts from Scott and Glorias Trip to PNG

2009-08-16T14:46:00.001-07:00

Enjoy this. This is some interesting things that happened during our kids recent visit to Papua New Guinea. Sorry I'm just now getting it posted on the Blog.

This report written on July 31, 2009

By Scott Nelson

Okay, so I am on vacation so my brain must be too.

We are having a blast though. Yesterday we did something that is quite a bit of fun for the younger ones on the station. We took inner tubes and floated down the river near the station. Okay, on a normal day this would be alright and relatively safe. However, the river was really swollen from the rain all night the night before. That should have been the first clue right? The temperatures have been really cool too. It is their "winter" time here in the southern hemisphere. The water you ask? It was way colder. I mean turn your feet numb…cold. That was the second clue right? Oh yeah, we talked our wives into joining us. Third clue to not do this right? After a safety briefing to Zach (one which was intently listened to by the wives) we get started down the river. Jump right in and your breath is gone for a few seconds! I can't feel the whole bottom half of my body at this point. I look down stream and see Churie and Gloria both flip over at the same spot in the river. Okay, I am not exaggerating this very much, but if you were to classify this river for rafting, it would be near a 2-3 (out of 5) on this particular day after an all night rain event. Another clue not to do this, right? Okay, back to the story. Both of the girls are out of their tubes. Churie is clinging to the rock she is by like a drowned rat. My wife is being helped by the nationals. I am starting out on the tube by sitting in it…oh shoot! My big belly this time around is making it much more difficult to balance myself on the tube. All my energy is spent balancing the tube and I can not navigate it in any direction. Remember this thing is moving us pretty fast down the river? We get the girls back on the tubes and Geoff and I decide to lay down belly first on the tube. Okay much better, at least I can navigate the thing some. However, the girls are not out of trouble yet. Zach you ask? He and the other missionary kid are downstream having a ball! He has no clue the challenge he faces in this type of water. The girls make it past the next couple of sets of rapids then comes the area of the river where we need to get out and walk around a man-made disaster (lots of rusty wires and concrete from a hydro electric project that was destroyed by a flood). You guessed it the girls both get dumped out of their tubes. Churie goes to the complete opposite side of the river and grabs onto reeds. Gloria is tumbling downstream. I stop to help Churie because Geoff has already made it down to get Gloria. By the time we pull them out, they are telling us that they almost died and that their lives flashed before their eyes 2-3 different times coming down the river. Oh and we are hearing about it too by this point! "Why did we let you talk us into this…?" We get to a relatively safe spot to tube (shallow) and the girls would have nothing to do with it. We are walking the rest of the way back at this point. I mean a long way back. Oh, did I also tell you that they brought only flip flops to do this in? Those shoes were gone the first dump (later to be found downstream). We get to another part of the river that is very swift moving but the best and safest way to cross is to get on the tubes again. The girls come unglued! What do you mean?! There has got to be another way of crossing?! Nope, on they go, only this time we go first and get in a line to catch them as they come by. Then we still have a long walk back. Both girls are beat up. Scratches on their legs, Churie has broken a toe at this point. A slow, long walk back to the station it was. BTW, Zach and Josiah jumped out of the river and said, "That was fun! Let's do it again!" Momma shut that one down real quick!

My brain is on vacation too, remember? If that adventure wasn't enough, we get to the airport this afternoon for our return trip to the capital of PNG and then on to Honiara Solomon Islands where Gloria's folks are with our boys and Geoff and Churie's young girls. We've been looking at these itineraries for some time now. We knew we were flying back to the Honiara on Aug 1-2. What didn't sink in was that Aug 1 is this Saturday. We are all packed and trying to check in the flight on Thursday. The guy behind the counter was saying "I don't see your names on the flight." "What do you mean?! We reconfirmed this flight on Monday as we came through the capital!' He says, "your flight is on Aug 1." The color leaves my face and Geoff asks "Well what do you think today is?" Then the realization of what we just did sets in. Oh man! No way. We are two days early. Okay, best plan at this point is to get back to the mission station and wait until Sat. (We have already gone through all the food we bought earlier in the week and spent out money down to bare minimum to exit country.) We were in a Toyota Land Rover though and that is where the next adventure gets started. The original plan was to be in a 4 cylinder van.

Right before we get back to the mission station we learn that the road is closed. What? They put that culvert in now? While all the public transportation is still running? Anyway, we are not getting through there. We can see the mission station but need to get us and the car there and have just learned they will not be reopening the road until 10 p.m. tonight. A couple of the locals walk up to us and tell us that there is a way around all of this! The missionary that has been here the longest and was driving said, "I am not aware of any way around this." But the locals insisted that there was. "We have had 4 cars already go through here! You'll be okay." It ended up being right through the middle of the field! Remember that I mentioned earlier that we had rain the other night? Well, it has rained every night. The first turn they direct us to, is across two 2 x 12 type boards. Now, in America, I would never try this. But the wood they have here is some of the hardest in the world. So this missionary gets out and turns the vehicle over to another driver who has more experience 4 wheeling. That was fine until the middle of the field when we are up to the axles in mud and get the dang thing stuck. This is not a problem in PNG. When that happens 100 guys will run out of the bushes to help push or pull the car through. I have been in this predicament several times when I was here 13 years ago. So the guys all get out and leave the girls in there. We help the nationals push this thing through the field. Only to get to another 2 x 12 type "bridge". We barely make it over this one and get stuck again before coming to a third "bridge". We drive up there in time to see 4-5 guys bailing out of the back end of a truck, the back of the left side disappear in the ditch, and the nose of the truck end up in the air. Great! How are we going to get around this? He even broke that side of the bridge. Well, all the guys I mentioned earlier jumped right in. They unloaded the coffee he was carrying. They then all got to the back of the truck and lifted it up and pulled it with another vehicle and managed to get it out of the ditch. The next job was to then assess the damage to the bridge and "rebuild" it to make sure we could get the next two vehicles by. The third vehicle made it over, then ours, after much more repair to the "bridge". I've got pictures, some things you just have to see to believe. I can't make this up.

God was protecting us. By us being stuck in the middle of the field, we were away from the shooting that was happening at the closed road. We heard the shots but learned later that the police had shot someone because the crowd of people there was getting out of control. They don't shoot too straight.

Anyway, that's life when you choose the mission field as your vacation destination. It has been fun! We appreciate your prayers! Please continue to do so.

Between all of these moments though we are really enjoying the ministry we get to be a part of. The Nationals that knew us before are really glad to see us. It is like a family reunion in many ways. Some of these were the ones to help clean our houses and change our baby's diapers from years back. Geoff has been able to see a couple of the people that helped to raise him along the way. There are others who we have adopted as family and they have felt the same. It has been an excellent time of encouragement to me and I hope to them as well.

Yesterday, after the not-so-bright river adventure, we did get the opportunity to go out to the bush to pick up one of the medical students here that was teaching at a CBHC (community Based Health Care) center. When we got out there, we were surprised by the number of nationals we recognized from our time here before. It was God's way of showing us some of the fruits of our labors then. The relationships we developed and that Gloria's dad developed is just blossoming! There is a pretty neat revival going on right now in PNG. It is good to see! The church of the Nazarene is definitely growing here.

Yesterday, I was sitting and church and amused that cell phones were going off during the service. It just boggles my mind that cell phones are available here! Many things have changed but many have not.

Anyway, I'll let you go for now. I'll try to send some more info in 2-3 days.

Love you all!

Scott Nelson

2009-07-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

Felicity and her 3 year Birthday

Dear Prayer Partners,

Thank you for your prayers.

Water situation:

This letter was received from Churie:

Yesterday we sent out a prayer request for water. We did not know that you could do this, but this morning the pastor had the fire truck come in and fill up his tank. We quickly ran over and asked them if they could fill up our tank. They said it would cost 300 dollars. We were ready to have them fill up our tank. However, they would not take a check. We went to the bank yesterday but the line was at least a three hour wait and decided that we did not really need the cash that bad. So when I found out we were not going to get water because we did not have cash I was pretty upset. Geoff and I thought for a moment and realized that I had been cleaning out mom and dad's room and had found some cash. We quickly ran into the house and counted the money I had found and knew we would replace in on Monday when we could get back to the bank. As we counted it all there was 300 dollars. Thank you God for taking care of our need.

The water truck came and it filled up part of the tank. The amount of water pretty much gave us about a fourth of a tank, which might last us a couple days on reserve mode. It was great to flush the toilet and get the dishes washed. Later this afternoon it started to rain and I just sat in the chair and watched it and cried and praised God for the rain. We now have about a half a tank which should last us about a week.

On Monday we will be looking at options for a well. They have had water problems like this for 9 years. Pray for us as we make these decisions. Pray that God will show us which pump would be the best use and which way would be the best financially.

Thank you God for taking care of us! And thank you to all of your prayers for us. Please continue to pray that we will get some more rain and that our tank will be overflowing. I would settle for full as well. We love and miss you all

From George and Nancy

We are almost ready to return to the Solomon Islands. Vacation time is coming to a close.

Highlights from General Assembly and our trip to Orlando.

because our home assignment did not coincide. It was good seeing my aunt and a number of my cousins. It was a good time of fellowship and catching up. Our Van Gundy family has a long spiritual heritage and many are still really actively serving the Lord. It was just an enjoyable day.

We went to family reunion packed and ready to go to General Assembly. Then Saturday evening we left by car heading to Orlando, Florida, the venue for General Assembly. Gloria, our daughter, was our driver. When traveling on the Lord’s day, we always stop for worship services as we like to worship with other brothers and sisters. Through Internet I find a multicultural church in Little Rock Arkansas and checked their statistics and saw that they were a growing church, and so I felt that would be a church I would love to attend. We were not disappointed as it was a great service. I don’t know how many were in attendance but I’d guess 450 – 500. There was a Baptism service, Special children program, and recognition of fathers since this Sunday was also Father’s day. Then on Sunday night we attended a small church in North Mississippi, with probably 10-12 (not counting us) in attendance. As we walked in the church on Sunday evening and introduced ourselves, one man recognized our name and informed me that they had been praying for us. I was surprised but reminded that we are a part of a great big family. When the service was over in about 45mins my grandkids asked, “Is it over already?”

By Monday night we were in Georgia and about 30 miles from Albany, where the Sherwood Baptist Church is located. When I saw that, I wanted to go and visit the church that produced some of my favorite movies “Flywheel”, “Facing the Giants”, and “Fire Proof”. So on Tuesday morning we backtracked the 30 miles to Albany and had a great visit with the church folks there. The Kendrick Brothers were out but we met and visited with Tracy Goode, the one in charge of the media and an actor in 2 of the movies.

Wednesday we arrived at the Convention Center and we met many friends but there were also a lot of our friends and prayer partners attended the convention that we didn’t meet. It was great catching up with many of our prayer partners and friends. There were 54 delegates and visitors from Papua New Guinea. I was reminded of 12 years ago when I led a group of 20 PNGers to the Assembly in San Antonio, TX. Many of the District Superintendents in that first group were supported by mission funds. Now there are 54 delegates with very little travel expense paid by mission funds. I was so surprised to see this large number present. There was also one delegate from the Solomon Islands.

The following information is primarily for my host of non-Nazarene prayer partners. (For Nazarene prayer partners this is old news, so bear with me.)

This year we had 3 General Superintendents retire and had to elect 3 new ones to replace these. We made history this year by electing our first Non-Western General Superintendent. Eugenio Duarte from the Cape Verde Islands was elected as the 37^th GS. Rev. Duarte has served as DS in Cape Verde and for the past few years he has been the Regional Director of our work in Africa. The Nazarene work in Cape Verde began in 1901 when a Cape Verdean named John Diaz was converted while living in Boston and returned to his home country as the first missionary in Cape Verde. The Cape Verde story is very thrilling and exciting. The work in Cape Verde is nothing short of a miracle and a result of intercessory prayer. They prayed for water and God sent water out of volcanic rock, and as I understand this spring God opened up from the rock is still flowing today. This is the only country in the world where the Church of the Nazarene is the largest Protestant Denomination. Cape Verdeans have served as missionaries to other countries like Brazil, and this assembly one was elected GS. Rev. Duarte speaks a number of foreign languages. (I’ve heard different figures, but probably around seven.)

The other GS’s elected were 38^th GS was David Graves. Graves was the pastor of College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe Kansas. He was the third pastor in a row from College Church who has elected General Superintendent.

Then Stan Toler was elected the 39^th GS. Stan is a longtime friend of ours and was recently elected District Superintendant at our Southwest Oklahoma District Assembly. Prior to his election as DS, Stan has served a long time as pastor of the Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City. He didn’t even have time to get oriented into his DS position before going to the General Assembly. Stan has authored a number of books and I felt he would have a fair chance of being elected but as I saw how the balloting went, he did not receive many votes until near the very end. (In our church to elect the General Superintendent one has to receive a 2/3 majority, and all ordained ministers in good standing are eligible for election. So it requires a number of ballets until one candidate receives the required number of votes.)

Also elected as President of the Nazarene Missions International (NMI) was Jennifer Brown from Jamaica. She also made history as being the very first NMI president elected from a country outside the USA. It is exciting witnessing leaders being elected and coming from the areas that were formerly referred to “Foreign Mission Fields”. We no longer use that designation, as a global church now the entire world is a mission field and every country can deploy missionaries. Our church is now ministering in 155 countries, the newest country being Norway. We have missionaries on the field from 40 countries.

While at assembly I talked to some people from many other countries. I met a pastor from Cuba. This pastor shared some of his challenges and requested prayer for his work.

I talked to people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Africa, and others in what is commonly referred to as the 10/40 window. I was told that Bangladesh is now the largest Nazarene district in the world. The work in Pakistan has really grown during the past 3 years or so. God is opening the doors among the least evangelized in the 10/40 window. We are in some creative access countries (I believe 9) we are unable to name for security concerns for those working there. Continue to pray for the Lord’s work in the 10/40 window among our Moslem, Hindu, and Buddhist neighbors, and for open doors.

We fly out to return home tomorrow. (Sunday July 12th, It took a while to post. I forgot to send to the Blog.)

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

2009-07-12T03:08:00.001-07:00

Here are two recent Prayer letters:

10 July 2009

I talked last night by Skype to Geoff and Churie in the Solomon Islands. We are out of water. We are in an el Niño weather pattern and there has been very little rain the entire time I’ve been in the USA. The public water supply has been a continually unreliable water supply for 9 years now. We are going to have to look into alternative ways of getting water including investigating the drilling of a well on our property. I don’t have an idea of how much that will cost but it is difficult without water.

******** Today we received the following letter from Churie:

Today we have officially ran out of water. Before when we ran out of water we could get some (very little) normally every night from the city water supply. Last night our tank ran out and we did not think a whole lot about it. Then, when the water did not come last night we thought a little more about it. We have been praying for rain for about four weeks. We have not had very much rain and we knew the tank was low so we have been filling it with the city water every night. Our whole mission stations is out of water which means that all five tanks are out.

We went to the city water supply this morning and asked them if they could please turn on our water supply in order to fill up our tanks and they told us sorry, but the pumps that pump the city water are broken and they do not have the parts to fix them. So we do not have any clue when water might come. Please pray for lots and lots of rain.

School is suppose to start on Monday and if we do not have any water we will have to cancel school. Today we had to buy a lock for our tanks because when the water supply runs low neighbors will come and take water from the tank. If the rain does come someone will probably have to stay up all night at the tanks to make sure and protect the water. Please pray for us.

Today we are going to look into the price to build a well. Pray that God would give us wisdom and knowledge so we can help here.

Thanks so much for all your prayers
The Millers

******* This concludes the letter from Geoff and Churie***********

Thank you for remembering us in prayer. We leave for the Solomon’s on Sunday and will arrive back early Tuesday afternoon local time. Pray for Nancy and her work as Principal, as she gets back on Tuesday. Hopefully we’ll be welcomed back by the “Showers of Blessing” (both physical and spiritual showers).

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

11 July 2009

Thank you for your prayers.

Water situation:

From George and Nancy

We are almost ready to return to the Solomon Islands. Vacation time is coming to a close.

Highlights from General Assembly and our trip to Orlando.

We arrived in Dallas late at night on Thursday 18^th of June. Saturday we went to El Reno for the Van Gundy family reunion (my mother’s side). Nancy and I have not attended this annual event for a number of years, because our home assignment did not coincide. It was good seeing my aunt and a number of my cousins. It was a good time of fellowship and catching up. Our Van Gundy family has a long spiritual heritage and many are still really actively serving the Lord. It was just an enjoyable day.

The following information is primarily for my host of non-Nazarene prayer partners. (For Nazarene prayer partners this is old news, so bear with me.)

While at assembly I talked to some people from many other countries. I met a pastor from Cuba. This pastor shared some of his challenges and requested prayer for his work.

We fly out to return home tomorrow. Pray for our safe return.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

george_nancy@reachone.com

Phone: (677)25-109

Mobile: (677)68-920

2009-06-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

Note: I give up on this blog. I've tried to put photo in the script but the edit screen is nothing like the post screen and there is no way to may it look good. I trust you enjoy the photos.

I’m sorry I didn’t get many letters out in May. It was kind of a blur as we were very busy. Thank you for your prayers. Here is some follow-up of the Prayer requests mentioned earlier.

MST Training:

There were six couples from our mission team, serving in various fields on the Asia Pacific Region. This is the first time some of us had met. It was a good time of training. We had some times when we actually went out on the streets of Singapore to have intentional conversations with people. We visited a Hindu temple, as well as a Mosque. I love to talk with people so this was right down my alley. We went to Arab street and visited in some of the shops as we also did some shopping, but primarily we were talking and making friends. I met a lot of neighbors mostly from Pakistan and Iran. I had an employee years ago who worked for me from Pakistan and he taught me the Arabic greeting: Aselam Alayakum {or something like that} which literally means “Peace of God be with you”. The first person I greeted replied Alahkum selam (“And God’s Peace to you”) and then he went on in Arabic to which I replied, you have already used all the Arabic I know. But I was encouraged because I must have sounded authentic enough that he felt I knew Arabic.

On Sunday Nancy and I visited a very large, United Methodist Church. They had 3 or 4 services being conducted simultaneously. Their weekly program was a 20 page book. They held about 13 worship services every weekend, ministering to over 5,000 not counting the Children’s department.

Continue to pray for open doors and now the harvest fields are white, please pray for workers to go into the harvest fields. For those of you who are native English speakers and want to make a difference, the doors are open as there are many request for English teachers. Some requests are for those with teacher’s training but for other positions the only qualification is for a native born English speaker. Please let me know if you are interested in a position like this where you can enter as an English teacher but can show the light of Jesus and make an eternal difference in people’s lives. I would refer you to our Strategic Partners who would gladly assist you.

Felicity:

Thanks for your prayers for Felicity. They are back from Australia and she has new tubes in her ears and had her adenoids removed and appears to be doing fine.

Nancy and ZCA:

Thank you for your prayers for Nancy and ZCA. The workshop for teachers was a tremendous success. Continue to pray for Nancy as her platter is still full.

Bible College Class:

The Bible College Block classes were quite successful. We had 20 students attend the two week course. With this course three of our students completed their studies for a diploma from the Bible College. We are looking forward to the graduation in November.

YIM Team:

The Youth In Mission team is currently in the Western Province. Pray for this team and Geoffrey and Churie as they supervise their ministry.

This is their rough schedule for your prayer:

· Now through Sunday 14 June at Munda - Sovereign Grace Church of the Nazarene

· Monday 15^th – Travel by Ship to Honiara

· Tuesday 16^th and Wednesday 17^th around Honiara getting prepared for the Honiara Zion Church youth.

· Thursday 18^th – Sunday 21^st Honiara Zion Church

· Tuesday 23^rd To Auki, Malaita Province. Ministering near Auki 23^rd and 24^th

· Thursday 25^th – Sunday 28^th to Kwailatutu

· Monday 29^th back to Auki

· Tuesday 30^th June – Sunday 5^th July to Beri church in the bush of East Kwaio.

· Monday 6^th -7^th Travel back to Honiara

· Wednesday 8^th and Thursday 9^th In Honiara recovering and preparing for next outreach.

· Friday 10^th – Sunday 12^th at Macedonia Church in the Guadalcanal Plains.

· Monday 13^th – 20^th July around Honiara, helping around the mission, relaxing, and a day or two of sightseeing and fun.

· Tuesday 21^st depart for home. (One member, Tim Radcliffe, leaves on Monday 20^th for PNG to spend the rest of his summer visiting his missionary parents).

General Assembly:

Nancy and I will be leaving Tuesday 16^th June to attend the General Assembly.

We fly through Fiji and due to an airline schedule shift we will not be able to make our connection on Tuesday to travel on to the USA. Air Pacific is putting us up for two nights in Nadi. We are really looking forward to the time of relaxing in Nadi, Fiji.

We will arrive in Dallas, Tex on Thursday night 18^th.

Saturday the 20^th is our VanGundy family reunion in El Reno.

After the Reunion we will depart for Orlando, Florida and plan to arrive there sometime on Tuesday 23^rd

We will depart the USA for the Solomon Islands Sunday July 12^th and arrive here on Tuesday 14^th.

We would be willing to speak in churches during our time in the USA, so if you would like to have us share, just let me know and we will do our best to accommodate the request.

Thank you so very much for your continued prayers.

Your Partners in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

george_nancy@reachone.com

Phone: (677)25-109

Mobile: (677)68-920

Field Team Web site: http://oceanianazarene.org/

Prayer requested for Nancy

2009-05-21T02:03:00.001-07:00

Pray for Nancy:

Nancy needs special strength in the coming days:

She is the Principal of Zion Christian Academy. Currently they are holding an ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) training at our church. There are 60 enrolled and ZCA has 30 teachers and monitors taking the course. The course begins at 7:30 a.m. and has been going late 5-6 p.m. There is a couple Michelle and Graham from New Zealand, who have come and donated their time to conduct this training. It looks like they will have to go through Saturday to complete it and the graduation will be on Saturday. Then our teachers will all be ACE certified.

Nancy is also taking the training. It involves a lot of work. After this class Nancy is teaching a Bible College Block course, ‘Christian Worship’, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.

Sorry for those who have tried to contact us but our computer has been off most of the time during this past week.

Early this week two of Nancy’s teachers (husband and wife) left the training without telling her, and now today she received a letter that they will not be coming back. The letter said that someone has worked magic on him to ruin his marriage and job. So they went to his home village. So now Nancy is short 3 teachers. Pray that she can fill these positions before General Assembly. This really makes her short in the High School and she may have to teach there. If so she will get more exercise walking up and down the hill.

Felicity:

Felicity had her surgery and is doing well. Geoffrey and Raina are returning from Australia tomorrow 5 a.m. and Churie and Felicity will follow next week after Felicity’s final doctor’s appointment. Pray that everything will be all right at this check up.

Thanks,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

george_nancy@reachone.com

Prayer, Praise, and News from Solomon Islands

2009-04-30T03:03:00.001-07:00

Dear Prayer Partners,

I request your intercessory prayers for all the things going on here in the Solomon Islands.

Mission Strategy Training (MST):

Nancy and I depart tomorrow for Singapore to attend the MST held in Singapore. We will be away until May 10^th. We will be exploring what it really means to “Make Christ-like Disciples in the Nation.” We have been reading 3 books in preparation for these sessions. The training is only for 4 days (4-7 May) but we have to be gone the 10 days due to airline schedules.

Felicity:

Felicity and Churie are back in Australia. The ENT doctor is going to put the tubes back in Felicity’s ears, as well as perform an adenoidectomy. The surgery is scheduled for May 12. Pray that her ear will clear up and remain clear so the surgery can proceed as planned. Geoffrey and Raina have their tickets to fly to Brisbane on Sunday, but are hoping that space will be available on the Friday flight. Following surgery Felicity will need to stay in Australia for another 10 days. Pray for them during this trying time. Geoffrey and Churie were able to get a great price on tickets. It was US $360 for a round trip ticket to Brisbane.

Zion Christian Academy:

Pray for ZCA and Nancy in her role as Principal. She has a lot of things on her platter. The 14^th of May there is a meeting between the School’s recently constituted Planning Committee and the government Education Dept. The purpose of this meeting is to work on a development plan for the school. There is work being done on getting the ACE curriculum recognized by the Government. ACE curriculum is an American curriculum and we are merging it with the SI curriculum esp. in the area of SI History and Social Studies. In May there will be a teacher’s training meeting with a visiting education instructor from New Zealand. Our classes will be dismissed during this time so the teachers can all attend this course. Nancy is staying busy now for sure. Please remember her in prayer. Now with Churie gone Nancy has lost her 5^th grade teacher too.

Bible College Class:

The 2^nd block will be held May 13 – 30. I will be teaching the course, “Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ” and Nancy, with the help of others, will be teaching, “Christian Worship.”

YIM Team:

Four University Students from Nazarene Universities in the USA will be coming to the Solomon Islands. I have not yet received their confirmed flight but due to our limited airline schedules, looking at what is probably the least expensive flight, they should arrive on June 2^nd. They will be here for 6 weeks or so. We are making plans for them to visit some villages and conduct Youth and Children Camps/rallies, do follow-up and training on the Proclaimer, and other work. {The proclaimer is a box that play a dramatized audio of the New Testament and is ideal for illiterate people} Geoffrey and Churie will be the main supervisors of this team because Nancy and I will be away for most of their time.

General Assembly:

Nancy and I are planning on taking our vacation to attend the General Assembly. We will fly out of the Solomon’s on June 10^th and return on July 14^th. My good friend and colleague Baru Dirye, the Papua New Guinea National Health Secretary, wrote me a nice letter, asking if I would be willing to help the PNG delegates and visitors with contacts to facilitate their trip to Orlando and General Assembly. I am praying about this. We have been the PNG delegate’s “tour guide” for two assemblies and really enjoyed it both times. They are planning on a month after assembly, and would like to speak in Churches and see a little of the USA.

Are there Missionaries or any of our Florida Prayer Partners that would like to help with this delegation? If so Please Let me Know and I’ll put you in contact with Mr. Baru Dirye. Maybe you could offer accommodations, give them an opportunity to share in your church, or drive a van chauffeuring them around. I am still thinking praying about this. I’m not share how I can help them. Please pray for all the overseas delegates as they obtain visa, make travel arrangements, etc to travel to the USA for these meetings.

Visit to the Solomon Islands by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu:

The last few days were filled with excitement and anticipation with the visit of Desmond Tutu. As head of our church I was invited to join with Government, Church, and Diplomatic Leaders as we met the plane welcoming the arrival of our Country’s invited guest, Desmond Tutu. The Archbishop came at the invitation of our Prime Minister to launch our Solomon Island’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). I had never been in the VIP lounge at the air port before. It was nice and a thrill to see a man of this global notoriety in person.

The Prime Minister hosted a dinner which Nancy and I attended as invited guests. Then there was the TRC launching on Wednesday morning and the combined service at Lawson tama stadium (The soccer stadium). Please remember our country in prayer and the TRC as there are many hurts, unforgiveness, unconfessed sins, etc. Pray that bitterness and hurt can be replaced by forgiveness; that those with hidden sins can come forward and confess these and experience God’s forgiveness. I was really impressed as Desmond Tutu challenged our people. If you are interested in this I’m sure you can get the full story through one of many Internet News sites.

Tomorrow when we board our full plane to Brisbane, Archbishop and his wife will be fellow passengers on this plane.

It looks like I’ll be able to slow down in August:

So far August looks like a slow month, but I will probably make my visit to the provinces and visit some of the churches during this time.

Your Partner’s in His Ministry,

George & Nancy Miller

PO Box 712

Honiara, Solomon Islands

george_nancy@reachone.com

Phone: (677)25-109

Mobile: (677)68-920

Blog: http://georgeandnancymiller.blogspot.com

FW: Brother's Obituary

2009-04-10T08:26:00.002-07:00

Dear Prayer Partner,

Thank you for praying, The following is my Brothers Obituary from the funeral.

Obituary of Rev. C. Wesley Miller

{Note: People would think the C. Wesley was Charles Wesley, but Wes would say he was Clyde Wesley, the Redneck version}

Clyde Wesley Miller was born October 11, 1957 in El Reno, Oklahoma. He was the second son of Violet (VanGundy) Miller and Clyde Miller. He departed this life on April 1, 2009 in Caddo, Oklahoma. He attended Mountain View Elementary [Rural school NW of El Reno, OK], Darlington Elementary [This is really the same school district as Mt. View but they built a new building, relocated and renamed the school], El Reno High School, and Redlands Community College. He married Sara Lou Helt on January 31, 1976 and to this union two daughters were born.

Wesley’s father taught him early the value of honesty and hard work which serviced him well throughout his entire life. Everyone who worked with him knew that he was a hardworking dependable man. Wesley’s mother taught him early the value of prayer and did much to guide him into the man he would later become. Wesley and Sara made their home in the Darlington area where he worked at Evergreen Mills, Ft. Reno, in the oil field, and for the wildlife department at the Darlington State Game Farm.

Due to the dedicated prayer and fasting of his mother and brother, George, he found the Lord on April 6, 1984 [25 years to the day before his burial] at which time his whole life changed. He accepted the call into ministry and began his pastoral ministry at the Olivet Church of the Nazarene. He attended Southern Nazarene University and was ordained in 1991. He was chaplain at the Federal Penitentiary at El Reno, Oklahoma and his life was going great when he accepted a call to pastor at the Camp Creek Church of the Nazarene in 1994. He loved the Camp Creek area and people of Dewey County and he and Sara decided to buy a house and land so they could retire in the Webb area, south of Camp Creek. In 1999 he accepted a call to the Blackwell Church of the Nazarene and enjoyed some years of fruitful ministry there until 2003 when he returned to once again pastor the Camp Creek Church.

At this time he began his evangelistic ministry along with his pastoral duties at the Camp Creek Church. He soon became a well known evangelist and traveled all over the United States holding revivals, reaching countless people for the Lord. Wesley was country through and through with some of his favorite times being spent in the woods hunting, fishing, or just enjoying God’s earth. He loved to ride horses. He was an excellent artist and loved teaching these things to his children and grandkids. Rev. C. Wesley Miller was a man of prayer, having wisdom and common sense along with his knowledge and insight into the scriptures. He wrote two books and was working on a third at the time of his death. His wisdom and godliness led to being a valuable member of the district Church of the Nazarene, serving on the District Sunday School Board, the District Advisory Board, and the District Ministerial Studies Board. One of his most valued awards was the Eagle award given to him by the district for church growth because it represented not only members but people whom he had won to the Lord.

Wesley was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Violet Miller. He is survived by his wife, Sara, of the home; daughter, Christina and husband Bert Wagner of Botavia, New York; daughter, Sara Jane and husband Brian Hau of Henessey, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Luvena Wagner, Michael, Colton, Collin, and Alexis Hau; one brother, George Miller and wife Nancy, missionaries in the Solomon Islands; niece, Gloria (Miller) Nelson; nephews Greg, Geoffrey, and Gary Miller who were very close to Wesley, spending a great deal of time in their home while in high school and college; a number of other nieces and nephews and literally thousands of church family and friends.

Pastor Wesley never knew a stranger and everyone he met considered him a close friend and confidant. His passing will leave a void in the world that cannot be expressed. Wesley was truly a man of God.

George & Nancy Miller