Greetings from Tagaytay!
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!
March 6th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
I believe that this year is an year of increase and I thank God that He is always before us and nothing shall come against His servants. Thank God for faithfull servants who are zealous for God and will do anything to fulfill that great commisssion that He has sent us to do. My prayers will always be with you and Simeli. God bless, till we meet again.
March 6th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
A word of commendation for Meraya Kenawai! She is the faithful one who continues the ministry of Shiloh Bible Training Centers in Fiji while her husband Simeli and Opal are in the Philippines. She is the one who continues the school there in Nadi so that the students there may finish their course and graduate in June! She personally handled the loss of both her father and Simeli’s father during the last trip to the Philippines, ministering to both their families and caring for them in the time of their grief. All this, and mothering a 4 year old at the same time! What an able, faithful servant of God. Thank you, Meraya!
March 19th, 2006 at 4:43 am
Pastor Matt and I and our church are praying for you dear Opal, and all the precious ones and for the work. He is watching over His Word to perform it. He will never leave you nor forsake you and is a God who answers prayer. He dwells in you, He goes before you, He comes behind you, He is on your right and on your left, He places His hand on your head to bless you and upholds you from beneath. You cannot, you cannot, fail for with our God, all things are possible. Eye has not seen nor ear heard what God will do on behalf of those who wait apon Him. Check out Psalm 27 today, it will bless you greatly. We love you We love you We are thinking of you continually and praying for you continually. Amy Stoehr