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Mission News Update July 2008

Dear Praying Friends and Faithful Partners,

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength." Isaiah 40:28, 29

As we read the familiar verses of Isaiah 40, and as brother Mel Pelayo expounded on the word of God during our PMF Sunday worship, I could not help but thank God for His goodness and faithfulness - His Word brought encouragement and strength. God is indeed aware of what we are going through every single moment of our lives. We cannot say that our plight is hidden from Him - He knows, understands and is able to help, strengthen and provide. After all, is He not the Everlasting God, the Creator of all things, who neither slumbers nor sleeps, and never grows weak and weary? What a great God we have! There is nothing we go through this side of glory that He has not gone through Himself. He can empathize with us and more important help us in our need. Praise God He is always available when we call upon Him. As we serve Him in the mission field, it is indeed a great assurance that: as we wait on Him, as we rest on Him, as we abide in Him, He promises that our strength will be renewed, we can soar like the eagle, and we won't grow weary in well doing.

GUAM
One of our Worship Team members, Leeman Sebastian, a Bible school student and doing work study with PMF Guam is off for the summer, back to his home island in Palau. But this is not just a vacation for him. Along with a team from the Bible school, Leeman will be working with the Palau church, doing outreaches in the community. We are so very thankful for the opportunity God has given him. Pray that the experiences he will have will enable him to learn, grow and be more like Jesus. He will also be serving at our PMF church in Palau starting July, pray for a special time with his family and church family as well. Meanwhile CJ Misajon, one of our young people from PMF Palau is on vacation here in Guam. He now serves in our worship team as he is a good guitar player. Seems that God anticipated that we will be without Leeman and gave CJ to us this summer. God is truly good!

PHILIPPINES
The third week of June I was in Manila once again for an internal audit. During those times I was at the office, we had devotion and prayer times. It was good to be with our mission staff once again. Mercy Sulad from Patnanungan Island was present in one of our meetings. She shared about the VBS that they conducted with 150 children in attendance. She thanked God for the theme "Growing the Fruit of the Spirit", and how each child learned to allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. She also shared about the celebration they had with all PMF church pastors, workers and members (from Jomalig, Katakian, Patnanungan and Amaga) that got together in Kilogan to celebrate their 9th Anniversary. Pastor Jorie Bonggoyan from PMF Katakian was the guest speaker. The worship and fellowship was a great blessing and encouragement to everyone.

BAHAY KALINGA ORPHANAGE
The adoptive parents of Jennylyn wrote to Guam and gave permission to share their news: "We have been home for 6 months now. It is hard to believe. Jennylyn is doing really well. She has settled and bonded beautifully. She has started to talk - and often does not stop! She loves playing with her dolls - putting them to bed, on her high chair and even takes them out on her toy stroller. She is a wonderful person. She and her brother keep us laughing. They are a wonderful blessing. We cannot thank everyone at Bahay Kalinga and PMA enough, for all the wonderful care they took of Jennylyn while she was under their care. We are happy to help and pray that the wonderful work of Bahay Kalinga can continue".

PALAU
"Mel Modales, a PMF member who has a work project in Peliliu Island started to have a small gathering of Filipino workers and conducts Bible studies with them once a week," shares Ruth Fulguerinas. "Two of those who have joined the group visited our Sunday worship when they were in Koror Island. It is indeed a joy to see the fruit of what God is doing in Mel’s life. His work contract will soon be over and he will be returning to the Philippines. Please pray that God will raise up another person who will commit to continue the good work that has been started."

YAP, MICRONESIA
Simon Hämmerling thanks God for the Youth Retreat this summer. "This year’s youth retreat was centered on 'Being a Servant', with Jesus as the example of servant hood and learning how to apply what He taught in everyday life. Youth from all churches were involved: Palauan Fellowship, three Yapese churches and PMF church, with approximately 100 youth in attendance. The days were filled with morning devotions and Bible studies, games in the afternoon and every evening a different youth group led the program. Some performed skits, others action songs, and many shared songs. The PMF youth sang an English song and performed a worship dance. I really enjoyed seeing how creative each youth group was. On the final evening of the retreat, many shared testimonies on what God had taught them during the week and encouraged others to be strong in their faith. Others shared how they came to know the Lord Jesus. I praise God for the young people who made public commitment of their faith in the Lord Jesus in front of their peers. It was truly a blessed week!"

POHNPEI, MICRONESIA
"Thanks for all your prayers, we had a good trip and arrived safely in Pohnpei on May 28," thus began a short email from Waldemar Rakowski, who together with wife Irina, children: Simon and Lucas, have began their first term of service with PMA. "We were welcomed in Pohnpei in the same loving manner that we were sent off in Germany. The first evening we were surprised with a dinner of fresh coconuts, local food and local dances. It was organized and prepared by the youth, some of whom I still remember from my last visit in 2006. In the meanwhile, we have adjusted well to the unpredictable weather, high humidity and little critters in our house. Irina is learning how to cook with the local ingredients she can find in the island. We are slowly getting involved in the ministries and two upcoming ones are: the Youth Retreat and Vacation Bible School. All in all, we are doing well here on Pohnpei and know that this is the place where God wants us to serve. It is our desire to faithfully serve the Lord and share His glory in the islands (Isaiah 42:12)".

Praise God for what He is doing in the islands through our faithful missionary staff and through your committed prayers and support. Indeed, the Lord strengthens, empowers and enables us to serve the island people, bringing them His wonderful Words of life, and providing needed help and hope. To Him be the glory!

Thank you dear friends and partners - you are a great encouragement to all of us because we know we are not alone. The Lord continue to bless you abundantly.

In Him we live and move and have our being,

Melinda R. Espinosa,
PMA HEADQUARTERS