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Mission News Update May 2008

Dear Praying Friends and Faithful Partners,

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ… Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should." Colossians 4:2-4

Wednesday is the day of the week that I look forward to. At 6:30 PM, a handful of believers from the PMF church here on Guam, meet for prayer, Bible study and fellowship. A great assurance to all of us is His promise that where two or three are gathered in His Name - He is present! The devotions led by Brother Mel Pelayo, always gives us the encouragement we need for that particular week. Somehow God always knows where we are, what we are going through and provides the needed nourishment, enlightenment and upliftment through His Word. He indeed is a God who cares. And of course just listening to praises from God’s people, for His sustaining grace, and answers to prayers, also provide the needed courage for each one of us to press on for the Lord and not to give up in doing good. Prayer time of course is the core of our meeting - very powerful as we pray for one another, for PMA and PMF, its ministries, our mission staff, members of the island churches and those who partner with us in our work in the islands. As we bind our hearts together in praise, worship and prayer before our Lord, Creator of all things - everything else seems to dim as we focus on Him alone. This is such a rejuvenating break for us after Sunday’s high. What a great way to keep in touch with our brothers and sisters. I praise God for this time well spent.

GUAM
We are so very thankful for the successful procedure Elizabeth Kalau underwent in San Francisco for her Parkinson’s disease. She now has a better quality of life and very thankful that her tremors have been alleviated. We praise God for the visit of Pastor Charles Wright from Iowa. Although he was scheduled to visit all our island stations in Micronesia, he was only able to visit Guam and briefly Pohnpei. His flight schedule did not go as planned - first, a flight in the U.S. got cancelled, because the Airline filed for bankruptcy, then the flight in Pohnpei was delayed for about 12 hours. These had a domino effect in his schedule. However, we knew in our hearts that man’s delays, are not God’s denials, and our disappointments are His appointments. In Guam he greatly encouraged and ministered to our PMA staff, PMF church Core Group and the PMF church members as he preached and taught at various occasions from the Word of God. We are thankful that Pastor Charles did not give up and that he allowed God to use him mightily here on Guam. To God be the glory!

PHILIPPINES
I thank God for being able to attend the first quarter Pastors’ and mission staff Retreat held in Antipolo Rizal. I was in the Philippines for a ten-day vacation and glad that I could be there for that event. It was a great privilege to share with our staff and also meet with them one on one. The Praise time the first day of our meeting was such a great blessing. Listening to what the Lord is doing in their lives and in the islands greatly encouraged me. Although they shared about the difficulties and challenges they encounter in the islands, their joy in serving the Lord and being used by Him was unmistakable. Praise the Lord!

BAHAY KALINGA ORPHANAGE
We are so very thankful that our only older boy has now been successfully placed in a Home that focuses in the life-time caring of children. Lito (not his real name) is so happy to be in that home as he is with other children his age. Here he can learn and grow together with them and hopefully still find adoptive parents. Please pray for his adjustment and over-all growth.

PALAU
"Many of our Filipino members have completed their work contracts here on Palau and we are experiencing a decrease in attendance. Nevertheless, we are thankful that there are new visitors coming and we pray that they may come to know the Lord and would make PMF Palau their home church. God is good and we are trusting for His provision for our needs. We are doubly blessed by the growth of our Palauan members and their commitment to walk faithfully with God. Please continue to stand with us in prayer." By: Ruth Fulguerinas

YAP, MICRONESIA
On his way to Germany and Switzerland, Peter Reichert came through Guam and underwent a Flight Physical Exam. We thank God that he passed it. Pray for Peter and Michael Lange (our PMA Germany Manager) as they travel all over Germany, visiting PMA friends and partners, sharing about the work in Micronesia, encouraging and challenging them to continue to pray and support our work. Pray for traveling mercies, protection from harm and danger and for good health.

POHNPEI, MICRONESIA
We are so very thankful that Rahel Lutz and Larissa Arnold have successfully completed their service in Pohnpei. They have been a great help and blessing to our PMF church as they served in the children and youth ministry while Pia Kaufmann was on furlough. From Pohnpei, they came through Guam and continued on to visit our mission stations in Yap and Palau. Rahel will then travel back home to Germany, while Larissa will stay for a month in Guam, serving at the PMF church here. Continue to pray for their future plans that God’s will may be done in their lives.

Someone once said that Satan trembles, when he sees even the weakest Christian pray. Yes, indeed Prayer is Power as it brings us to the very throne room of God. It allows us to surrender our will to His and enables us to be one with Him. Pray for us in the Mission Field that we may have good courage, and persevere in proclaiming the Word of God – that there will always be an open door for us to share and that we may be faithful.

God bless you for your partnership.
In Him we live and move and have our being,

Melinda R. Espinosa
PMA Headquarters, Guam