Hosea Ministry International
End of year news from the Philippines
Recently two powerful typhoons hit the Philippines, and Mindoro Island was caught between them, causing serious damage to our island's port of Abra, which is the only route to the mainland. However, we survived better than many other islands. There have been typhoons and floods for six months now, one after the other, so this kind of weather is already starting to feel normal. That's why I'm pleased to move on to happier news…
Hosea's adopted tribal girl Nicole has already learned to read and she now studies the Bible every day. She asked her teacher to always give her new Bible verses so that she could memorise them for the rest of her life. Nicole grew up in the jungle, where there has been no contact with the outside world, so even her applying to Hosea's school was quite an achievement. She has had a lot of new things to learn, starting with personal hygiene because tribal people don't wash.
Nicole is a hard working girl and we wanted to reward her diligence by taking her on a trip to Manila. The sea voyage was already a miracle for her, but she found Manila to be a little too busy for her taste: she told us that she enjoys herself best on our own island of Mindoro. But what did Nicole think was the most amazing thing on her trip? She answered: "That hand drying fan in the toilet on the cruise ship, where wet hands dry themselves." Hmmm, well indeed there are many reasons for wonder...
Our Hosea Malpalo Calinta church is also a real source of joy! The congregation was established in one of the worst terrorist areas. In the beginning there were many problems as we were working in the centre of the enemy’s sphere, and a couple of times we found ourselves in the middle of a battle between the army and the NPA terrorists. But the young couple who lead the church are brave in their evangelism. The congregation started its activities in a bamboo hut, and finally a real building has been completed.
At the same church in Calinta the first baptism ceremony was recently held for twenty believers. The interior of the church building was decorated as a 'wedding room', and the baptisms took place in the local river. Pastor Sonio taught a lesson on the meaning of baptism and faith.
When God seeks revival in an area, He doesn't look first to see if that area is dangerous. No, He prepares the right people for the task and moves them to undertake the new challenge, previously undiscovered. Such pioneers see the risks involved instead as opportunities to achieve the victory promised by God. The task of the congregation is not to run away from battles, because all these tasks and problems are simply preparations for what is to come. As we read in Psalm 84:6 "When they pass through the valley of tears, they turn it into a land of springs, and the autumn rain covers it with blessings.”
With my rich Christmas blessings to you all
Anne
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