I have just returned from a two month mission trip to Nadi, Fiji where there is a move of God in the people! Worship was wonderful, the prayer meetings were awesome and the anointing is truly evident in that place. When I first arrived, Pastor Robert Westberry and Pastor Gary Ladd were conducting a crusade for Shiloh. There was a good turn out for this crusade, with different churches participating, several items presented and good worship and fellowship.

One of the first things we accomplished was moving the mission house. Our landlord had taken over the downstairs area that we were using for church and school, and added an apartment which he rented out, so we were forced to relocate. We were able to rent a home on the same street which had a cement slab that we had originally thought we could build a shed over. But God had different plans!

He had spoken through prophets and separately to Simeli and myself of widening us out - of bringing others to us and He had recently repeated the statement “I will add others to you”. Early one morning, Pastor Joseph from Sigatoka called us and asked if he could meet with us along with his supervising pastor and some elders from Life Christian Church in Nadi. When we met, they asked us if we would be willing to take into Shiloh Ministries another church down the road from us and also their sister churches in Sigatoka, Suva, and Levuka. Well, glory to God, for I never thought of becoming an organization, but what God gives, He can maintain. Additionally, another church in Labasa, unrelated to these churches, is praying about becoming a part of Shiloh Ministries also! The beautiful part is that the people are so willing and laborers come with them. They are interested in what we are doing - training and equipping workers.

We immediately began holding meetings, training sessions, combined meetings for people to get to know one another. It has truly been one of the most exciting missions I have been on in awhile! There are more than 40 young people at Shiloh now, 60 to 70 in church regularly, with over 100 if all were able to attend at the same time. There are more of us, but many work shift work or are on a flight somewhere as many of them work for the airport, airlines, or flying school. We held a 3-day seminar, “Building a Bridge”, which was a huge success. Although many had to work during the day, they came out every night and at the end of the meetings pleaded with us not to stop! Simeli has begun a new series, “Open Heaven’s Blessings”.

In addition to all of this, Pastor Simeli and myself participated in four weekly Bible studies at several different colleges in the city of Nadi, including two flight schools and a vocational school. We have been invited to begin a weekly study at FIT, Fiji’s Institute of Technology. There is a large home church in Malolo which is also asking to be a part of Shiloh Ministries.

I am here in North Idaho for a short while. My daughter-in-law passed away and one of my granddaughters was involved in a car accident. Please keep me and my family in your prayers.

The Philippines are waiting and Fiji has more ministry than Simeli can handle alone. Lord, what do You want? That is the cry of my heart. Also, please pray for the finances to accomplish all of these incredible developments. We need a building big enough to hold all these people, as well as Sunday school rooms for our growing bunch of children.

Simeli has met with Pastor Joseph, but needs to go to Suva for a meeting with the church there. And as soon as I return to Fiji, we will go to Labasa for a meeting with the man there. He has a house of his own and land for a shed to be constructed as a temporary church. Please pray for me as I wait for answers and for funds to purchase a ticket back to Fiji and/or the Philippines.

What an awesome privilege it was to minister to the beautiful children of the Philippines! Last week, through the ministry of Shiloh Bible Training Ministries, we brought SonForce Kids Vacation Bible School and touched the lives of over 70 children.

We began first with a VBS for Pastor Millet Buenafe at her pioneer church at Christian Development Centre. Although this church just began 2 months ago, about 20 children participated in this 3-day VBS.

Our second VBS for Pastor Mao Hernandez’s church was a 5-day VBS. Pastor Mao sent his jeepney out and brought in children from all around the city, and each day they came to sing songs, play games, make crafts and listen to God’s Word. Through the lives of Moses, Esther, Daniel, Jeremiah, Joshua and Caleb, our Bible times ’special agents’, they learned to 1) Trust in God’s plans for their lives, 2) Unite with God’s people, 3) Train for God’s service, 4) Follow in God’s path, and 5) Lead others to God’s promises! Each day they came, not wanting to miss out on their badges and shiny ID tags displaying each day’s mission and memory verses. I will never forget the sound of their voices singing, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise” (Prov. 19:20), or repeating their memory verses one at a time to Mama Opal! The joy and delight on their faces as they sang and danced (hmmm…maybe they were laughing at my dancing!) is something that will remain with me always, as well as their faces as they said goodbye, they will miss me, touching my hand to their foreheads in blessing (a filipino sign of respect). Please pray with me that the seeds that were planted in their hearts will bear good fruit and that, God willing, I will return to the Philippines and see them again!

As soon as Pastors Simeli, Junior and Phil arrived here in Tagaytay, we began our leadership conference at Pastor Mao’s church. The presence of the Lord was obvious from the beginning. Worship was good and most of our graduates from Shiloh Bible Training Center were present, coming from Manila and Marikina and even further. The new students were also there. Pastor Phil began the conference speaking on fatherhood ministries. Pastor Junior taught on the kingdom and leadership, encouraging the leaders to continue in their ministries. Pastor Simeli also taught on leadership. On Saturday morning, we prayed and laid hands on each of the leaders. It was an incredible presbytery! Personal words were given for each and every leader, and there was much emotion as we prayed and rejoiced together. Our people were built up and encouraged and there was much excitement that day as we prayed and God was with us. There are many discouraged leaders here and it is good and very necessary that we encourage and lift up one another in these kind of conferences. Thank you to the men of God from the US and Fiji who are willing to come and share their gifts of encouragement and bring the Word of the Lord to the filipinos!

It was especially rewarding to me this last month, to have my daughter Judy come with me to this country. God used her to teach on prophecy to our students here and I truly love having my family minister with me!

Our eyes have seen it! Since Judy and I arrived here in Tagaytay, it seems God has blessed every where we have been, starting in the classroom of the school here in Tagaytay, where our students listened as we shared God’s Word, and enjoyed fellowship with them. On Sunday, we saw the pleasure of the Lord in Pastor Millet’s brand new church at CDC (Christian Development Centre). We praise God for a growing group of her workers and their families. And then, we have also seen it in Pastor Mao’s church here in Tagaytay.

This past weekend, we flew to Baggio City where we ministered in Pastor Ric Chen’s church. I was so happy to see them! We missed them last October because of a typhoon in that area. I have heard “Go” from God about the school in Baggio. They are saying that ‘08 is the year of new beginnings. Is it a coincidence that this word came on the 8th day of the month of the 8th year of 2000?

Before I was awake this morning, I heard the Lord say, “You are beginning this work here. Take heed how you build. See that you make it according to the pattern.” He is letting us know that we are instructed to begin with prayer…..community prayer once a week, and daily prayer in the house.” Of course, the school is coming, but we begin with prayer.

God is also speaking to us about surrounding countries and pastor seminars…..lifting up the hands that hang down. One of the major words we hear here is ‘discouragement’. My heart hurts for the pastors because many are discouraged. I don’t want to see them quit. I want to give them materials, strengthen them and equip them for their ministries.

We are in the middle of ministering to the children in the churches here in Tagaytay and will write a report of this ministry in the next post. We will also report on the recent Pastors’ Conference here in Tagaytay with Pastor Junior, Pastor Phil and Pastor Simeli soon!