Happy Thanksgiving (Nov28/08)

Dear prayer partner,

This letter is to wish my USA prayer partners a Happy Thanksgiving.  I trust you enjoyed the holiday time with your family, visiting, eating, watching a foot ball game, playing games with the kids & grandkids, hunting, shopping, or whatever you enjoy doing during the holiday season.  In all our festivities I pray we will not forget to give thanks to God, the one who made it all possible.  Actually the Solomon Islands does have a Thanksgiving Day on the 26^th of December.  In Australia, Papua New Guinea, and other countries December 26^th is also a national holiday but referred to as Boxing Day.

Holiday times, especially since our family was always very close, brings a little homesick feeling to me.  But God has given me a lot of family around the world and we are blessed in so many ways.  We are so looking forward to our kids Geoff and Churie with the GRANDkids [Raina and Felicity] coming in just under 2 weeks.  They'll be here for Christmas and

plan to stay for 1 year.

( Picture on Left is the Class at Rhema School)

This time of the year is our end of school graduations and activities in the Solomon Islands.  Wednesday 26^th I was asked and accepted the invitation to be the guest of honor at the graduation and school closing of Honiara Christian Academy (HCA), an ACE school operated by the Rhema Family Church.  They have a school for Kindy [USA pre-class] through grade 1.  They graduated their Kindy students, ABC students [equivalent to USA Kindergarten], and Grade 1 students.  It was neat seeing them in their little gowns.  I noticed they were walking a little funny, then I realized the trouble, they were all wearing new shoes that they bought to wear with their graduation uniforms.  I think the shoes were hurting their feet, as normally children here walk barefoot, esp. inside and if not barefoot they will be in flip flops.  It was neat seeing them all in their spiffy clothes and nice shiny black shoes.   After graduation it did not take them long to get out of their shoes.  The principle of HCA, Ruth Edwards, is a long time friend and a Nazarene girl, at least before she married this wonderful man who was a member of the Rhema church and he "stole her away." 

(Picture on Left Most of the Students in the Grade 6 Class)

Then our Zion Christian Academy (ZCA), operated by the Zion Church of the Nazarene, in Honiara held its graduation on Thursday morning.  I don't remember exactly how many we graduated but we had approximately 30 Kindy, 30 ABC, 19 grade 6, and 20 high school students graduate.  I did not have a responsibility at this graduation which made it fun for me just being there, shaking hands, and taking photos.  That's what I love to do, so it was like a holiday for me.  Three of the grade 6 girls have been in Zion since

Kindy.  It is always a joy seeing these kids grow up and mature right before our eyes. 

(Some of High School class marching in)

Then there is one young man, Henry, who graduated from High School.  Henry is a miracle.  He has been in our school since the start of ZCA (1997).  Henry has a very severe disability.  He has Cerebral Palsy real bad.  Due to his

condition he can hear but is unable to speak, and his arms and legs are deformed.  He is an exceptionally bright student.  Even with his condition he is an excellent artist and communicates by writing and those who know him can understand his signs.  When I get around to it I'll post his picture on my blog.  Henry is one of the students that would not have been able to make it through the conventional education system.  With our ACE program Henry was not only able to make it, but he was also an inspiration to everyone around him.  At the graduation, as Henry was receiving his diploma, my eyes become watery and I couldn't hold back the tears.  I had to give him a hug and tell him, "I'm so proud of you, son."

(Henry.  He is also the middle student marching in the above photo.)

(The following are some photos from the ZCA closing ceremony.  This first one is the Kindy class in a Drama dressed in traditional dress and presenting gifts to the Christ Child.)

This second Photo is the same drama at the Manger with the angels behind. The third photo is the High School drama.  This is depicting the final judgement and Satan coming to take his followers with him.

As with any drama it is hard to capture it on photos.

Nancy was not feeling well.  She's doing better now.  Anyway she did not feel she could attend the graduations.  Graduations here do not get over in a hurry.  Wednesday Graduation, I was at HCA from 3 – 7 p.m.  and Thursday at ZCA from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.  Thursday evening Nancy fixed a Thanksgiving dinner complete with chicken (Turkey is TOO expensive), dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce (It too is expensive, but I splurged), and corn.  We'll have to wait for the pie.

(Pictured on Left is Jane Ramo receiving her prize.  Her teacher Freida Donga is in the yellow shirt.  Jane, is a wonderful Christian girl and is one of the new members taken into our Zion church this year.  Freida is also a member of our church.)

Then yesterday (Friday) I was in my office around 10 a.m. when about 5 girls from the 3^rd grade class came up to my office door.  When I opened the door, Jane, one of the students who is a member of our church, said, "Uncle George, we'd like to invite you to come down to our class's closing party."  Of course, busy or not, who could refuse such an invitation.  I went down to their classroom and saw the table spread with all kinds of local delicacies.  So I was able to enjoy a wonderful meal with the 3^rd grade class.  Nancy still did not feel like she could make it down the hill.

School's are closing and it won't be long until Honiara will be emptied out as people start to leave for the Holidays.

Today 12 students and 3 teachers sponsors are departing for a week in Australia to attend an ACE student convention.  This is our first time to attend such an event.  Pray for them as they go.  The students will participate in different events.  It has been a real challenge for them to get everything together to go.

Pray for Nancy.  She tripped and fell a while back and her leg is sore.  It is doing better now, but she is keeping it elevated and staying off of it as much as possible.

Thank you for your prayers,

George & Nancy Miller PO Box 712 Honiara, Solomon Islands george_nancy@reachone.com Phone: (677)25-109 Mobile: (677)68-920