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!

There Is Still Time

 A few posts below I shared about some of the people we met who lost their homes in the fire.  Last Saturday 69 of them, not including children, attended our church for an outreach we helped with.  We were so thankful that so many of the 84 families were present to hear the good news about Jesus.

 Our pastor's wife, Ate Gina, welcomed the visitors and encouraged them in the Lord.  You can see behind her the many donations we collected.

 Blankets, rice, soap, clothing and New Testaments!  They lost everything in the fire except their lives.  Many were still smiling because they were glad to have escaped with their lives.

 I preached my 2nd Cebuano sermon, though it was much shorter this time.  I shared from 2 Peter 3 and from Romans 5 about how there is coming a day when everything will be destroyed by fire, but that the Lord is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  I gave an example of Kuya Jun, who saved his girl from the fire.  I said he is like a hero, and Jesus is our hero, saving us from the fire by giving His life for our salvation. 

 People prayed with Pastor Brian, and I hope many put their faith in Jesus for the first time.  I'm so glad that our pastor also has such a heart for discipleship, because he knows that we can still build the relationships with them long-term and continue to teach them about the Lord Jesus.

 They signed their names on this sheet so that we can follow-up and also so we could share the gifts with them.

 Here is one lady receiving her gifts.  Thank you to those who contributed to this outreach!

 After our time together, Emi and I walked to the site to see what is happening.  Some wood lays quiet since the people are not allowed to build for a time.  Pray that the people will be able to re-build soon and that they will find a place to live in the mean-time and daily food to eat.

 "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40.8

This is a part of the Psalms that was found in the fire rubble. 

Here's the family that my heart is praying for the most--it is Kuya Jun's family.  You can see they were the first ones to re-build, and I'm praying they can become leaders and a light for Christ in this community.  Thanks for continuing to pray for them all!