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Mission News Update December 2009

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Friends,

Has this year brought you hardships and trials? Have you wondered how you would make it through? With wars, tsunamis, terrorism, floods and typhoons, in our part of the world, what should our response be? This Christmas, each of us has the opportunity to pause despite the uncertainties of our world, and express our gratitude to God for the many blessings in our lives: Family, health, friends, and finances - to name a few. And one more thing, thank God for your trials as well. 1 Thessalonians 5:28 sums it up, "In everything give thanks: for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Despite the challenges and trials of weather, machinery, technology, governments, logistics, and yes... people, we at PMA have experienced God to be faithful again this year. He has taught us through the trials to remain thankful, to know that He is in control and to make it a habit to give thanks in all things.

We thank God for the safety of our pilots and planes. We are thankful for each pastor teaching at our mission churches and raising up faithful disciples. We are thankful for our radio ministry that continues to teach and sing praises 24/7, bringing hope to the lives of those who listen. We are thankful when an orphan finds adoptive parents through our orphanage. We are thankful that the Sea Haven medical ship was able to provide eyesight for those in need and bring solar water stills, text books and medicines to isolated islands. We are thankful for our children's ministries and clubs that teach kids to love God. We are thankful for the volunteers that have visited us and come alongside to help us with the daily tasks before us. We are thankful for you, our supporters, around the world who continue to make missions a priority in your prayers and in your giving.

As you reflect back on this year of your life, give thanks for all things-circumstances that brought you happiness as well as those which caused you heartache and pain. Understand that God is in control of and involved in every area of your life. You may not understand the purpose for your trials, but remember that God does nothing without a divine purpose motivated by His matchless unconditional love.

Thankfully, serving together with you in the islands of Micronesia and the Philippines, and wishing you a Christ-filled Christmas,

Norbert J. Kalau
President

MISSION NEWS UPDATE

GUAM
We said farewell to Tamara Haller (Swiss Volunteer) after serving with us for close to three months. We thank God for her servant attitude and love for the children. She joins Christine Walser, another Swiss Volunteer in Pohnpei where they will both serve until June 2010. We welcomed Selena Landauer to Guam once again after her service in Palau. She also has been a great help there. She has gained new friends and blessed by the experience she had. She shares: "The Lord taught me to always be ready to serve and to be flexible. The Bible studies, prayer meetings, the youth meetings and worship services allowed me to learn and grow. I will not forget the Concert with the Youth and how they really desire to serve the Lord."

PHILIPPINES
Throughout the third quarter, the Philippines have been hit by bad weather and typhoons. Although the Polillo islands were in the Typhoons' path - these just passed them overhead and did no damage, unlike other areas in Luzon. God has been faithful in answering prayers and has protected the islands from any disaster. Praise God!

BAHAY KALINGA ORPHANAGE
After an extensive evaluation by an independent Psychologist, one of our children was found to have ADHD, and not borderline mental retardation as what was the original findings. We are so thankful for this because now we can truly help this child learn and grow. More importantly, this increases his chances of being adopted.

PALAU
We can say that someone is of God by the fruit he/she bears. We praise God for what we have been learning in our Bible studies and Sunday sermons. In our Ladies' Bible study, the Lord has been teaching us to love one another by contributing to each one's lives to reach their potential - and by so doing honoring God. Our next topic is "Maintaining Unity - Upholding the oneness God gives me with Others". Pray for us that we would truly learn and grow to love one another as Christ has loved us. (Joy Balayo)

YAP, MICRONESIA
We thank God for Simon Weibel (Swiss Volunteer) who has been serving in Yap since September. He has enjoyed his stay there and is thankful for our PMA Team who have become his family and made him feel at home. Simon Hämmerling wrote recently that Simon has a way with him that encourages people and makes them smile when he is around. His trumpet playing at church is a great blessing and a new experience for our outer-island church family. He will return to Guam in December and spend time in Palau in January/February before he returns to Switzerland. Pray for a joyful and fruitful time in Palau. Pray for the Lord to provide guidance for God's best for him when he returns to Switzerland.

POHNPEI, MICRONESIA
What an enlightening 4 days we had at the PMF church in Pohnpei as 40 couples joined the "Let's Talk about Marriage" Conference led by Nob Kalau. Every marriage has the need to become better and our people were asking for teaching to help them address the marriage issues they face here in the islands. We learned that cracking the communication code between husband and wife involves understanding a very important principle: The role of love and respect in marriage. Unconditional respect is as powerful to him as unconditional love is for her. It's the secret to marriage that every couple seeks and can be realized when we choose to apply God's advise in Ephesians 5:33. One man said, "I wish I could have learned these 40 years ago and applied it to my marriage in so many ways." One woman commented, "this is my first year of marriage and I have learned so many things that I can put into practice right away. I want to do marriage the right way." At the close of 4 days, the questions kept streaming in so we decided to have follow-up meetings in the New Year. From Sylvia Kalau

Dear Friends and Partners, we truly praise and thank God for your faithfulness throughout the year in praying for us and supporting our Missionaries and ministries. You have been a great encouragement to all of us and a great part of all we do in the islands. As we celebrate Jesus this Christmas - let us be thankful for the GIFT that keeps on giving!

In Him we live and move and have our being,

Melinda R. Espinosa
CFO/Administrator