Though Mama Opal is in the U.S., the work is continuing on here in the Philippines. Pastor Boy and I are continuing to meet and plan the new school that will open soon in Manila City. His church, New Creation Christian Fellowship Group, will be the facility that will house the school. The photos are of Pastor Boy and family, myself, and the teachers who will be part of the faculty for the school.

I have also been meeting with Pastor Rocky about opening a school in his church which is located about 15 minutes by bus from Tagaytay in the city of Ginhawa. I preached last Sunday in his church and there was an incredible response from the people. They realize their need to learn God’s Word. The photos show Pastor Rocky and his church members and the new extension of his church building that we helped finance. We need teachers and supporters for this school to open.

Mama Opal has emailed me to let me know that the Board of Advisors for Shiloh Bible Training Center, Pastor Westberry, Pastor Hauser, and Pastor Ladd, will be part of the team that plans to visit the Philippines next October. Let us keep that trip, and Mama Opal in our prayers! May God bless you all for your support and prayers!

Last Tuesday evening, I boarded a plane in Manila and arrived back in the states on Wednesday evening. I had been experiencing some physical difficulties and felt that I should return to the states and get some blood tests done and medication changed. This is nothing that can’t be fixed, but I appreciate your prayers! Simeli will remain in the Philippines and continue teaching the classes in Tagaytay.

The school in Nasugbu has not continued because most of the students had to go to work. With their poor economy, these jobs were necessary, so Pastor Erwin is working at starting night classes. The difficulty with evening classes is that the buses and other public transportation are not available in the evening. It is all in the Lord’s timing. Pray for Pastor Erwin and the school in Nasugbu.
We are going ahead with plans to start a new school in Manila with Pastor Boy and two of his church member who are teachers. Simeli will let us know as soon as classes have begun. He is also the only remaining speaker for a family camp coming up in April, so we would appreciate your prayers for God’s anointing strength. God bless him for his faithfulness and willingness to continue on alone.

For the time being, I will be here in the states until I am in good health again, and will continue with my plans to return to Fiji sometime in May for the graduation of the class in Nadi. Again, thank you all for your love and support and for all of your prayers.

Yesterday, I saw a dead man lying in a crumpled heap in the middle of the road. His tricycle nearby was as crumpled as he was. A truck nearby told the story. I prayed for help for him, or at least someone to cover him. I said, “I hope he was ready to meet God.” It makes you realize how fragile life is. He was a young man, maybe thirty. I suddenly was very thankful I am in the business of preparing people for eternity!

Our classes are going well! This week we asked our students to share their dreams with us. I was surprised how many of them have felt the call of God most of their lives but never knew how to realize them until we came here. Now they hurry to learn so they can go and do what they feel God is saying to them. Some of them are not young but still believe they will work for God. Pastor Mao is now teaching and his wife will begin this week. Also, another of his Pastors who is a student in the class will begin this week. So, praise God! He is answering our prayer for teachers!

We are here and ready to go! We have met the Pastors and spoke with some on the phone. They are ready to go, also. We are meeting a Pastor from Manila about starting a school in his church. He has two teachers ready to go if we simply teach him about the administration of the school and familiarize them with the curiculum. There is an excitement here about what God is doing.

We are in touch with Pastor Chen in Baguio. Keep that project in your prayers. We do not know what to do there as we do not have enough teachers for a school there, yet. That is the city where there are potentially 300-400 students. Thursday, we will go to Nasgubu, to meet with Pastor Erwin and prepare for classes there.

Shortly after I arrived here, I was under attack by the enemy, but God reminded me of a word He had given one of my boys at Green Oak Ranch in California, when he was under attack. The word was that God has reversed my captivity. I am standing on the Word and God is strengthening me daily. Yesterday we were singing in church that old hymn, The Od Rugged Cross. One of the verses says “I will cherish the old rugged cross, til my trophies at last I lay down.” I have always felt that our trophies were the sheaves or works we had to offer Him. I know that these things are a part of that, but for the first time, I realized that trophies are something we earn when we run a race or win a battle. Our trophies all go to Him because it is through Him we win at all. I received my victory when God made this real to me. We have decided to stay here in CDC, a conference center here in Tagaytay, instead of renting a house. We have internet access here, so we will be writing regularly. Also, we will post pictures as soon as we can!