Prayer and Praise Report

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/