Gigutom Sa Ginoo--Hungry For God

 At 3 a.m. these faithful women began their prayer walk to the wharf.  I was still sleeping (only my camera went that early).

 Later, when the sun was up, I joined the other ladies on the boat to Samal island.  What a perfect day for a retreat!

 50 Cebuano women were invited to hunger for God: "Gigutom Sa Ginoo".  The Lord gave me a song and a message for the ladies in Cebuano.  Thank you, Lord, for the tongue to speak to their hearts!  Can you see me way up there playing mandolin? 

 One of my friends personally sewed each lady a unique cover for her journal.  What a gift!  The ladies love them and will treasure them their whole lives, I'm sure!

 Here's the song I wrote--straight from Salmo 63:1 & 5.  "Oh God you are my God, earnestly I seek you.  My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you....My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods."

 Here is Emi, my sister.  I cannot do anything without her--we are like David and Jonathan!    After I spoke in Cebuano (the message she helped me write and translate), then she cleared everyone up about what I was trying to say!  Haha!  Thank you, Lord, for Emi!

 The ladies had two "dates with God".  I loved finding this lady up in a tree seeking the Lord!

 The ladies are pouring out their hearts to the Lord together.  We were so thankful it was also Good Friday, so we could have communion together and remember the body and blood of Jesus.

 Feasting on the Word of God: "Pulong Sa Ginoo".

"This is my body, broken for you...."  Hands to receive the bread and hearts to receive the Word."

 Emi serving again!  This picture is special to me because Sharon is there receiving the communion bread for the first time.  She is Kuya Jun's wife, who we reached out to in the fire incident.  Now she is part of the body of Christ!  She enjoyed the day very much, and learned so much!  Thank you, Lord!

 I like this picture: body, blood and you can see the notebook my friend sewed.  Lord, let us receive your Word.

 Ladies enjoyed the small group discussion time.  The questions helped to challenge the women to go deeper in their hunger for God.  Many fresh tears were shed, and many ladies were blessed and refreshed.

 The theme for the retreat: Hungry for God.  I think it is interesting how God used that story with Malachi to spark many different opportunities to challenge such a variety of people, especially me!  Wow, you never know how the Lord will use something like your son falling off a bike, for His glory!

 That afternoon we had a time for "praying the Psalms".  It was the first time for many of them to practice praying the scriptures together.  This was my favorite part of the whole thing.  I remember being a little girl and imagining myself sharing the Word of God with people in another country in their own language.  There I was!  Hearing them praying the Psalms in their language, to the Glory of God!  I get chills even now to remember hearing their voices in prayer.

 Ladies really enjoyed a craft time to get their hands on the Word in a tangible take-home way.  Thankfully, another friend helped me to gather these materials--the body of Christ in action again.

This is an example of our craft.  It is fun to see them hanging in the homes of these women--one of the most colorful things in the house.  What a way to honor the Word of the Lord and to remember the scripture verse from our retreat.

 Here we are--all 50 of us, plus the babies.  We are holding our finished craft. 

Time to return home!  In January I remember leading worship at our "foreigners" ladies retreat.  We went to this same resort, which was my first time to that one.  While I was there I had the dream and prayer that one day I would bring the Cebuano ladies with me.  My eyes welled up with tears as I took the boat home with them--indeed the Lord answered my prayer that I could really bring them with me.  That is how I also feel about heaven--that I will not just go alone but will take many people with me, by the grace of God through Jesus!

Thanks for all your prayers--and thank you, Lord, for answering!