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Mission News Update November 2006

Dear Praying Friends and Faithful Partners,

"The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them." Psalm 145:18-19

How reassuring it is to know that before we call on the Lord, He is ready to answer our cries - that He knows our needs even before we come to Him (Isaiah 65:24). For us in the mission field, when we feel like giving up, when it feels that we are so alone, that no one understands what we are going through, when the life-giving message we bring to the people we serve does not seem to make an impact in their lives, God’s nearness and His care is a great encouragement that keeps us going. Everyday is "Thanksgiving Day" for me as I give praise and thanks to our God who is mindful that we are but dust, and that He gives grace and strength when we are weary, and gives us the focus to keep our minds and hearts to what is eternal.

I also want to thank you dear faithful friends - praying and financially supporting us through the years... never giving up through tough times and good - persevering and standing behind us because you know that what you do is not in vain in the Lord. God bless you richly for your ministry to us and to those we serve. Though they don’t know you, you are very much a part of everything we do!

GUAM
We are thankful for Barbara Pace who has come to serve with us here on Guam for a term of one year. For those of you who have been with the PMA family, you know that Barbara and her husband Harvey Pace served with us several years ago in the islands of Pohnpei and Yap. They left the mission field after nine years of service and returned to the mainland. Harvey, our missionary pilot has since passed away and Barbara has moved to Hawaii. Though she has left the mission field, she continues to be a great part of PMA - as support, her home in Hawaii, has become home for visiting or transiting PMA missionaries, she assists in editing our News magazine, "Island Echoes", and assists us in raising awareness of our work in the islands. Now she is helping our founder and first president, Edmund Kalau on a project that is important to all of us - that is, putting in print his memoirs. Pray for them as they work together on this project, for the Lord to be honored and magnified.

PHILIPPINES
Praise God for the successful training seminar undertaken by Gina Aceremo and Mercy Burata, two of our missionary teachers from Naujan and Patnanungan, respectively. They have learned new ideas and teaching techniques which would make them effective in teaching children at our Learning Centers. In Patnanungan, parents of graduates of our Learning Center came back to Mercy and thanked her for what the children have learned during the year. God’s word has been planted in the hearts of the children and the parents see a great change in their children’s lives. Continue to pray for these children that the word of God will be a firm foundation for their lives.

BAHAY KALINGA ORPHANAGE
We thank God that the documents for Angelo and Jess are complete. Please pray for Christian families to adopt them. Angelo is a special needs child with cerebral palsy, while Jess is ten years old and may be harder to place. However, we trust the Lord for a family for him.

PALAU
Praise God for the sports outreach ministry we have with twenty badminton players who come to the Kalau Gym every Tuesday evening. For three consecutive Tuesdays, our PMF staff has been going through the topic; "Sin and Salvation". On the fourth Tuesday, an invitation was made for them to receive the Lord and ten of them prayed to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Please pray for the spiritual growth of these new believers. Pray for the others that they too may have the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

YAP
John Malimai praised God for the good news that Peter H. and wife Queentina are in Woleai right now. Both of them have been discipled by John, and now he has the joy and privilege of seeing them putting "feet" to their faith. They are leading two Bible studies in two different homes. The people that John and Johanna have witnessed to during summer are back on that island, and so Peter and Queentina’s presence is timely as they follow them up and continue to share God’s word with them. John says, "The enemy is working hard to stop the work in this island, but Jesus Christ is victorious and nothing will prevail against God’s Truth!"

POHNPEI
"We are so blessed to have great volunteers serving with us here," shares Sylvia Kalau. Achim Seidel is here helping in the studio. PMA has been asked to host the "National Prayer Day for Veterans" and he is at work preparing for this. The worship team, including three young boys (Alex, son of Nob and Sylvia, is one of them), will be playing for this occasion, and again tonight as it is our last night for the Leadership Conference which began Monday evening. We will really miss Achim when he leaves next month. Sabine Musselwhite, another volunteer has been a great encouragement to us all. She has a genuine interest in people and is spiritually mature and eager to contribute wherever she can. She is a good office manager and a great help here at the Field Office. The Leadership Conference is going well. The books we are going through are loaded with information and Pastor Nonon Punzalan has been a great blessing as he shares with a hundred conference attendees principles of godly servant leadership. We are thankful for his help. Volunteers contribute a lot to PMA’s ministry and we are thankful to God for bringing godly, servants with willing hands and hearts to help us serve the island peoples.

The Lord is indeed at work and He answers our prayers when we call on Him. He is able to show great and mighty things that we have never thought or imagined. Praise be to His Name forever!

In Him we move and have our being,

Melinda R. Espinosa
PMA HEADQUARTERS