Prayer, Praise, and News from Solomon Islands

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

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

FW: Memorial Services for Wesley

Dear Prayer Partner,

Here is some highlights of the memorial service for my brother.

Memorial Services for C. Wesley Miller

Sunday Evening April 5th:

We had a viewing and sharing service at the Camp Creek Church of the Nazarene for family and Camp Creek Church folks and friends who could make it. The Camp Creek church was full. There was probably around 100 or more in attendance. Their interim DS Rev. CJ Kinzler officiated at the service and this was a open time for people to share memories about Wes. Then at the close I was given some time to share.

Monday Morning Funeral:

The family met at the Camp Creek church and followed the Hearse into Vici, Oklahoma, to the high school auditorium. We booked the auditorium because of the large attendance expected. The weather was chilly and for this man just in from the Solomon Islands it was downright cold. We arrived at the Auditorium at right at 10 a.m. and when we entered the auditorium it was pretty full. I just couldn’t hold back the tears, as I thought of the love shown toward this brother of mine. The auditorium has seating for 750 and we estimate an attendance of 700. There was around 150 family members with all the cousins and some very close friends that are like family. There were a number of pastors [estimate 120 pastors and wives] in attendance. Rev. Todd Derbyshire, a personal friend and pastor from Wichita Falls, Tex was the MC and Rev. Henry Siems, personal friend and pastor from Stillwater Church brought the message. Rev. CJ Kinzler, NW Oklahoma District Superintendant, read the obituary. I gave some personal reflections on my brother’s life. I would like to share some of the personal reflection with you too. Many of you knew my brother, some did not, some of you were at the funeral while others were not able to attend.

Reflections of George Miller concerning His Brother:

1. At 6 years of age I began praying for a baby brother. Mother had 5 miscarriages after I was born and it looked like she would not be able to have another child. Wesley was a miracle baby. It was while I worked in laboratory medicine that I realized what mother’s problem was. It was an Rh incompatibility. I was Rh pos and mother was Rh neg and had built up Rh antibodies, from my delivery, that caused her multiple abortions. When mother became pregnant with Wes in my childlike faith I knew she would go to term and my brother would be born healthy. Mother asked me, “What if it is a sister.” I replied, “It won’t be a sister, because I prayed for a brother and God ain’t deaf.” Wesley was born the day following my 7^th birthday.

2. Wesley was around 6 years old when he became sick and blood test showed leukemia. Mother and the church prayed for him and he was miraculously healed from this dreaded disease. Dr. Hollingsworth, our family physician in El Reno, Ok, later when he would see Wes referred to him as his miracle baby.

3. He was still a teenager when he got married. He referred to his marriage to Sara as the, “Second best thing he ever did.” You probably know what was the best thing.

4. I really appreciate my sister-in-law because during the years when Wesley was backslidden she had every right to divorce him. Our family took Sara in as a daughter and Sister. When Wesley was living for himself and following the worldly ways our dad told him, “Son, if you want to leave, Go ahead, but Sara and the girls are ours.”

5. When the Lord got a hold of him that Friday Afternoon around 3:30 p.m. he did an about face. Instant transformation, as he was headed in one direction and turned around 180° and went the other way.

6. He would go and confront his old drinking buddies and they would say, “Wes you are a little belligerent.” To which Wes would reply, “I was a belligerent sinner.”

7. Wesley had a passion for the lost souls. He would confront anyone with the claims of the gospel. When some family member was going astray, I’ve heard him say more than once, “I think I’ll go and lay hands on him (her), and pray for healing later.” He’d then add, “I know where this road is leading, and it ain’t good, because I’ve been there and done that.”

8. He was called to preach at 14 years old when he saw Jesus, or a vision of Jesus in the sky, and Jesus told him he wanted him to preach. Later when he came under deep conviction and I confronting him with the gospel he told me, “If I repent and come back to Christ now, I can’t preach now, because I have a wife and 2 daughters to care for.” I told him to, “Leave that up to God.”

9. Well he did surrender his life to God and was a preacher for these past 25 years and most of those in the service here today, outside of family, are those he has impacted during the past 25 years, of his life, when he was serving the Lord.

Final Thoughts: Wesley experienced Jesus. Why was he an effective preacher and evangelist? He had a relationship with Jesus. He loved Jesus. He lived Jesus, and he preached what he knew. Dr. Carl Summer, my long time friend and former DS of SW Ok district once told me, “A man with an experience is never confused by someone with an argument”, and Wesley definitely had an experience with Jesus.

One time Wesley was asked by a young pastor struggling to prepare sermons, “How much time do you spend preparing your sermon?” He replied, “You won’t like this but to write it down requires about 20 min. But my sermon ideas and thoughts come from a dynamic daily devotion, reading, and communicating with God. I then just preach my devotions, but I only spend about 20 minutes in writing my sermon notes down on paper.”

Wesley has discovered what the apostle Paul said in Romans 14:8, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (NIV) Then in Philippians 1:21 it says, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (NIV)

Cowboy Funeral:

Wesley’s body was carried away from the funeral in a horse drawn hearse. I with other family members traveled behind in another horse drawn wagon. It was cold in the open wagon, especially with the Oklahoma wind blowing, so it was mostly Wes and my grandchildren riding in the wagon. We traveled 6 blocks from the auditorium to the funeral home, where we transferred the body to a modern Cadillac hearse for the long ride to the cemetery. I learned something about cowboy funerals. They had Wes’s horse following the hearse with Wes’s boots tied backwards in the stirrups, indicating that the cowboy had died. Wesley was a cowboy pastor too and held some cowboy revivals and they have a yearly roundup, for which Wesley was the pastor.

Family Dinner:

We had probably 150 or so attend the family dinner. The dinner was held in the Camp Creek Church fellowship hall and gym, where Wesley was pastor. This was a huge feast. I have been to a lot of family dinners but this probably was the largest spread of food I’d ever seen. Most of the servers and workers at the dinner were women from the community, not the Camp Creek Church members. Wesley has made a big impact in the community.

Burial Service:

The burial service was held at the Red Rock United Methodist Church Cemetery near Calumet Oklahoma. Walking through that cemetery is where a number of our relatives are laid to rest. It is like our Van Gundy family tree. Wesley was also our family’s pastor. He held funerals for family members and my aunt commented that she didn’t have anyone to bury her now that Wesley was gone. There were probably around 200 who came to the grave side service, even though it was very cold. Probably 75 – 100 people who came did not attend the service in Vici.

Wesley and I were raised at the Darlington State Game Farm where our father worked. At the farm they primarily raised Bob White quail for the state of Oklahoma Wildlife Dept. We lived on the farm and our nearest neighbors were the Brother’s family. They were like kin. We were very close so we asked them to join the family. They set with the family during the funeral, and we intended them to come to the dinner with the family, but there was a miscommunication and so the 13 of them went to a restaurant in Seiling, Ok to eat. When they finished their meal and went to pay for their dinner, the waitress said, “Your meals were covered by someone else.” They were shocked because they did not know anyone in Seiling, and have no idea of who paid for their dinner. They told me this story and it is a testimony to the love and support given from a wonderful community and a tribute to a truly great man.

Thank you for your prayers,

George & Nancy Miller

God's appointment at Ohanas

God’s Appointment at Ohana’s

30 March 2009

Tonight I had an appointed arranged by God to meet a young lady at the Ohana’s Restaurant in Nadi, Fiji. Before I begin let me explain what this Solomon Island missionary is doing in Fiji, far away from his home on Guadalcanal. I attended the SPNTC (South Pacific Nazarene Theological College) board meeting held in Apia, Western Samoa. The plane arrived in Nadi early Sunday morning, but due to flight schedule to Honiara, I had a two day layover in Nadi. I stayed at the hotel and used the time to pray, read a couple of books, preparing for the upcoming meetings in Singapore, and just quiet meditation. No television, newspapers, and very little computer time to distract me.

Tonight I went to the hotel restaurant to have my dinner. I had my mind set on a Pizza, but when I got there all they had was the buffet. I like buffet’s and there is nothing wrong with them, but I tend to over eat, because I want to get my money’s worth, and I can certainly put the grub away. I had vowed not to eat at a buffet while in Nadi if I could help it. I remembered seeing a restaurant near the hotel and it seemed like I had a definite pull to go somewhere else to eat. I know now it was the Holy Spirit’s quiet nudging that was leading me.

I walked out and looked across the street and there was the restaurant, Ohana’s Restaurant, Bar and Grill. As I entered the restaurant, I saw there were no customers. I set down at a table, and then I realized I didn’t have much Fiji dollars left. At the hotel I put the cost of meals on my room tab to pay with credit card later. My waitress, the one I had an appointment with came by the table. She had a big friendly smile. I paused from the reading of my book, “Organic Church” long enough to order a burger, island style complete with egg, fries, and a coke. That was all I felt I could afford. My waitress, named Asenaca, came by and asked, “Would you care for a beer?” I replied, “No thanks, I have never tasted beer in my entire life.” She said, “Really! That’s interesting.”

That opened up a conversation with her about my best friend and the love for HIM that has kept me from drinking. I must have been in the restaurant for over an hour and during that time there was only one other couple that came in briefly. Asenaca kept coming to my table to visit and I was able to share with her, Asenaca, was a Christian but had backslidden. Now she was trying to get her life back together. Asenaca told me that she normally works in the bar upstairs except for Monday night she covers for another employee’s day off.

She was able to share with me about some of her spiritual struggles, and I talked with her about my best friend, Jesus. I promised to pray for her and I’d like many of my prayer partners to pray for this 22 year old Fijian lady named Asenaca Naisara, that she will fully commit her life to Jesus. I took her photo and asked her permission to use this story, as well as post her photo. When I said, I will not use your name, she said, “It’s OK, you can use my name.”

Asenaca and I both realized this was a God appointment. She needed someone to talk to and I enjoyed the opportunity to share with someone who was eager to listen and spiritually hungry. So I’m posting her photo so you can have a face as well as the name to pray for.

One of the things that Asenaca shared with me is that it is difficult for her to concentrate when she reads the Bible. Please pray as the enemy is trying to keep her from the Word.

Now it is the 10^th of April and I still did not get this story out. I arrived home and was only there a couple days when I received word that brother passed away. So Geoffrey and I had to make an emergency trip back to the USA. We had a 24 hour layover in Fiji, and we stayed at the same hotel. You can imagine Asenaca’s surprise when she saw us again eating at the restaurant. I certainly did not plan to return so soon. We had a good visit with her about the Lord and I do want you to pray for her. She told us that she was leaving the restaurant to take up a job in a 5 star resort hotel.

We never know who the Lord will lead us to.

By George Miller