Merry Christmas to all,
2012 in Brief.
· Nancy served as principal of ZCA for her fourth and final year. She has now resigned, retired, or been dismissed by the Government (a little of all of those).
To explain, She did submit a letter of resignation as I need her at home more; retirement age in the Solomon’s is 55 (she qualifies) but you can be considered year by year after that; then also the labor department said this would be the last year for them to issue a work permit. Principal in the Solomon’s is a position filled by local laborers.
This was a tough year for Nancy as she had excessive teacher absenteeism and tardiness.
The water supply for the past four years only arrived at our location every other day beginning at around 1-2 a.m. and it goes off by 7 a.m. so Nancy had to get to school by 6 a.m. on the days the water came to fill up the tanks and drums so they would have water.
· George served as District Superintendent and Principal of our Solomon Island’s campus of the SPNTC [South Pacific Nazarene Theological College].
· SPNTC – Solomon Islands offered 10 block courses this year. All the teaching this year was performed by Nancy (3 courses) and George (7 Courses). {For more info about this check out our blog http://georgeandnancymiller.blogspot.com or our field WEB page http://oceanianazarene.org. or www.SPNTC.net.
· Visitors to the field this past year.
January our Field Treasurer, Joani Goossens and husband Randy visited for 5 days from PNG, to audit and help our Solomon Island treasurer (Nancy) with the books.
During the USA summer we were overjoyed to have our Son, Greg, and family (Wendy, and children Justus, Ransom, Addie, and Elisha) visit. Their two month visit passed very quickly. I had the privilege of baptizing our grandson Ransom during their visit. Ransom got sick during that trip and so we took a trip to the hospital.
We went to the airport to say good bye to our departing family, heading back to the USA via Fiji, and also to pick up another visitor, Dave Kerr, our new SPNTC Chancellor stationed in Fiji.
· Trips in 2012.
In March we (Nancy and George) travelled to Papua New Guinea. We attended and took part in the 20th wedding anniversary of Baru and Christina Dirye, dear friends of ours. Baru was one of my (George’s) first students that I helped train in our Medical Laboratory Assistant’s school, during the first year of our work in the Nazarene Hospital, Kudjip.
While in PNG I (George) had a routine medical exam which revealed some liver cysts and so we took an unexpected detour to Brisbane, Australia. We were well looked after by the generosity of our friends Bruce and Jacque Allder, at the Nazarene Theological College, Brisbane.
While Greg and Wendy were here, I (George) took them to Malaita to attend the Malaita Circuit youth camp, visit a church, and visit with Hannah’s uncle and family.
In September Nancy and I went to Nadi, Fiji to attend the SPNTC Board of Trustees meeting.
In October I (George) made an emergency trip to Vella la vella Island to comfort one of our pastors and family who lost their son.
· Nationally 2012 was a busy year
Solomon Islands hosted the Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA). There were over 20 Pacific Nations represented. This was the largest FOPA ever and was a tremendous success. The country benefitted by better infrastructure development in preparation for this event. Greg and family were here during this time.
Solomon Islands hosted the Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA). There were over 20 Pacific Nations represented. This was the largest FOPA ever and was a tremendous success. The country benefitted by better infrastructure development in preparation for this event. Greg and family were here during this time.
We hosted a major soccer match involving several Pacific Island countries.
We hosted royalty this year when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge came to visit.
The US Marines visited for the 70th anniversary of the battle of Guadalcanal. A Coast-watcher Memorial was erected to show the valuable partnership between the Marines and the local Coast-watchers.
Family Update:
· Nancy’s mother, is still living by herself in a retirement home. We praise the Lord for helping her through some health issues and no doubt healing her, so she did not have to undergo a scheduled heart procedure.
· Gloria and Scott, with their 3 sons (Zach, Geoffrey, and Joshua) live in Nevada, TX. Zach has really grown tall and has filled out. He took after my Grandma Miller “Bigler’s” side of the family. He is a star football player in his high school. (That is American Gridiron Football, for my non-American friends.) He plays on both sides of the ball (offense and defense). He is active in his church’s Bible Quiz team. Scott has his Podiatry practice and Gloria assists her husband in the practice and is busy with their active family.
· Greg and Wendy and their children, (3 daughters and 1 son, named above) still live in Spencer, Oklahoma. Greg is a High school teacher and Wendy is a home school mom/teacher.
· Geoffrey and Churie live in Bethany, Oklahoma. In September this year Churie gave birth to our 11th grandchild, a girl named Kyla. Kyla was welcomed into her family by her three sisters Raina, Felicity, and Tessa. Geoffrey works as a paint contractor and the bulk of his work is at SNU (Southern Nazarene University). Churie is the children’s pastor at their church and homeschools her children.
· Gary is still single and working weekend security at SNU and the rest of the time he is working for his brother, Geoffrey.
Anticipating 2013:
· General Assembly: Pray for our Solomon Island Delegates as they are raising money to go to the USA for General Assembly. The dates of the General Assembly and convention to be held in Indianapolis are June 17 – 28. We plan to return to the Solomon Islands soon after this assembly.
· 30th of January we begin our Bible College Block courses with Bruce Allder from Brisbane coming as our guest lecturer.
· Looking Forward to Bible College graduation in February and our Chancellor attending and staying for a week or so to teach a class for our former graduates to train teachers for our campus.
· Home Assignment: Our Home assignment begin March 5, 2013. Maybe we can make contact with many of you. Our schedule up to this point is printed below.
2013 Tour Schedule Mar. 8, 2013 -June 9, 2013
March 8-10, 2013 Westminster, MD –
March 17, 2013 NE Okla. district –
March 24, 2013 Carnegie Oklahoma, Church of the Nazarene, -
March 26 – 8 a.m. Southern Nazarene University – Introduction to Missions class –
March 27 p.m. Woodson Park, OKC
April 7-14, 2013 NE Indiana District
April 17, 2013 Spencerville, OH
April 20-28, 2013 Indianapolis District Tour
May 12-16, 2013 Upstate New York Convention
May 19-26, 2013 Los Angeles District Tour
May 29 – June 9 Northwest District (Eastern Washington State, Panhandle Idaho, & Small portion NorthEastern Oregon)
If you are on one of these districts listed and would like for us to speak in your church please contact your district’s deputation secretary. If we are in your area but you are on a neighboring district or a non-Nazarene church and would like for us to share in your church, school, club, etc, please contact us directly.
Free Dates on Home Assignment Schedule:
11 – 15 March: Reserving for Medical Checks. Available for evening services in Dallas area, assuming the medical checks go well.
18 – 23 March: Available for services in Oklahoma/Texas or within 3-4 hour drive of OKC
25 & 26 March (26th Evening only) in OKC area.
28 March – April 5: Available anywhere in USA for Faith Promise or District Tour with easy airport access. For a one night service needs to be 2 hour drive from OKC or Dallas. March 31 (Easter Sunday) is available.
15, 16, 18, & 19 April - Available to speak Northeast Indiana, Northwest Ohio, or Southern Michigan.
April 29 – May 10: Available anywhere in USA with easy airport access. May 5th is an available Sunday. We are reserving this time for a district tour or faith promise.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
George and Nancy Miller
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