Philippines July 31, 2008
Posted by LaWanda in Medical Team, Philippines, Travel, Women's Ministries International.add a comment
Dear Friends, Family and Prayer Partners,
What a tremendous time God gave us at the Women’s Ministries International (WMI) conference and medical clinics, Wed – Sun., July 16-20, in Butuan City, an island about two hours flying time southeast of Manila in the Philippines.
They were expecting and prepared for 200-250 WMI officers and guests but had almost 400 ladies register. God met with us and worked in hearts and lives bringing hope, encouragement and renewed vision for God’s Kingdom work. Bishop Jim and Ruth Tuan, National WMI President Josie Castillo and the leaders there are godly people, doing a tremendous work in Butuan City, Manila and surrounding areas.
I wish you could have been there and met these wonderful ladies, ladies like Neiva, a pastor in an area where the communist NPA, New Peoples’ Army, is active. Neiva is an amazing woman of God, glowing with His power and presence. She and her husband have 9 children, ages 3-21 and all but the eldest are still at home. She owns and operates a ‘glass’ factory besides all her other activities as she reaches into the hearts and lives of the neighborhood with the message of deliverance from sin through Jesus Christ.
A year ago, the Lord came to Neiva in a dream, three times, showing her bodies in the water and a voice said, ‘You help them.’ So Neiva and this group of believers are boldly enlarging their borders, going further into NPA held territory and need God’s Hand in Power as they walk in obedience to the Father’s call. This year they brought over 100 people to the Lord, including 3 ladies she brought with her to the conference. One was the wife of a NPA commander who’s been converted after serving the military for 14 years. Another was a previously demon empowered woman who made bullet proof ‘banners’ for solders’ protection. The third lady was deep into witchcraft. These women have burned their banners and witchcraft works, turned to the Lord, been gloriously converted and baptized and are now active solders in the Lord’s army.
They traveled 7 hours to get to the conference and slept on mats on a cement floor during their stay. But you’d never know it to talk with them and see them, they are ‘glowing’ with Christ’s Light. They asked Rex and I to pray for them Sat. night after the service and what a privilege it was to pray for and with each one, asking for God’s continued power, protection and blessing on their lives. Honestly, I felt that they should pray for me/us rather than the other way around. Please join us in praying for these wonderful saints of God as they face hardships and the front-line enemies of Christ and His Kingdom.
Our medical team treated over 300 people, including the street children who live in ‘the dump’…huge mounds of trash and garbage that smells worse than you can ever imagine. As you might know, there’s much TB, malnutrition and disease. One of the clinics was set up in the Free Methodist church about 1/2 mile from ‘the dump’. That local congregation is daily assisting many children and adults who have no family and nowhere to call home but ‘the dump . ‘ The second clinic was set up on the conference campground.
Pray with us to be able to follow through on plans to build an orphanage as well as other social needs we are trying to address there as the Gospel of Christ is taken to the people.
All the ladies were so appreciative of our coming and caring for them in body and spirit, expressing their gratitude over and over. But the privilege was ours, we were blessed to serve with them and for them. They’re literally begging us to return next May 1-4 for their National Conference, so help us pray to discern God’s plan regarding this.
Will you consider going with us on our next mission trip/women’s conference this year, Sept. 11-21, to Amman, Jordan.? You would be a tremendous blessing as well as experience a life changing few days. If you cannot go, perhaps you will give toward necessary financing for this trip. You can mail your tax-deductible gift to
Women’s’ Ministries International
P O Box 535002
Indianapolis IN 46253-5002
Be sure and in the ‘memo’ section of your check, print, ‘Women’s conference expense.’
We also need a doctor to go with us to Amman so that we can minister to the ladies there physically as well as spiritually.
Your prayers are a must as our strength is limited, His strength is imperative and we are going in obedience to Him. Thank you for praying, God has done wonderful things for which we praise Him and lift His Name in Honor and glory, thankful for the awesome opportunity to serve in His Kingdom’s work.
We arrived home in Florida, Saturday evening and are trying to ‘catch up’ in many areas; for one thing, our bodies seem a bit confused, we’re wide awake in the early hours of the morning and sleepy in the afternoon. Friends who’ve made the trip told us it took them about 3 weeks to ‘get back to normal’…whatever that is, we’re looking forward to getting there.
With love, prayers and appreciation for you and Christ Jesus,
LaWanda
Financial gifts are tax deductible, should be made payable to WMI, marked ‘WMI Mission Trips’ and mailed to:
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
P O Box 535002
Indianapolis IN 46253-5002
Nicaragua July 12, 2008
Posted by LaWanda in Medical Team, Nicaragua, Rex, Travel, Women's Ministries International.add a comment
Dear Family and Friends,
I just wanted to give you a bit of an update on what’s going on in our lives recently, as well as thank you for your prayers and support. Wednesday June 11, Rex and I, and three others flew to Managua, Nicaragua, meeting up with four other team members for five days of medical clinics, a 3 day women’s conference and a pastors’ leadership conference.
Early Thursday morning everyone went to one of the churches for the first medical clinic, except me…I stayed at the hotel, resting, walking, praying, studying, ‘fuming’ and feeling so guilty for not being out there with the team. Because of extreme physical issues I’ve faced the last couple of years, I knew that I had to be faithful to continue to keep ‘balance’ with rest and exercise in my life, even in Nicaragua, if I was to have strength for speaking each day at the women’s conference. So I made the hard decision to do what I needed to do. On the other side of that ‘coin’, it was thrilling to experience more strength each day and was wonderful to sense God’s pleasure, affirming my obedience and ’stepping’ out by faith in taking this trip.
The medical team saw over 100 people that first day at a clinic they set up in one of the Free Methodist Churches in the poverty stricken inner city of Managua. They came back to the Provadenic hotel that evening very tired but thrilled for the work God had allowed them to do. Our entire team met with the pastors, their families and leaders (60 of us) for a meal together and a ‘planning’ time. Friday morning all of us headed out to one of the churches for another medical clinic but about 1:00, Rex and I came back to the hotel, he was sick. Being the generous person he is, Rex unselfishly gave ‘the bug’ to Dr Enrique and then to me. Thankfully, it seemed to be a 24 hour ‘thing’ for which the doctor had medication. Two other team members both ‘fought’ with the ‘bug’ but continued working.
Three years ago when Rex and I went to Nicaragua with another team from our church, I had a women’s conference, expecting 7 pastors’ wives and had over 10 times that many women; we also had children’s workers and a VBS as well as a pastors’ training conference. It was terrific to meet the wonderful people and their families who so cheerfully follow the Master while living in such dire poverty, drugs and violence.
One of the ladies I met on that trip was Connie. She attends Pastor Miguel’s church and helps with church ministries. She and her family live behind the church in a very small aluminum tin building with a dirt floor that she sweeps clean each day. Her youngest son, Jason is now 10 and his older brother is about 15. Jason is deaf and therefore doesn’t speak; he’s such a pleasant child and enjoys being helpful. Two years ago, Connie’s husband, and the boys’ father, died so now she has the load alone.
The last day of our women’s conference Connie told us that she had earned $600 and had all the preliminary testing and work done in preparation for an ear implant for Jason but did not have the final $120 for the implant. We wept and prayed in each other’s arms; others also told heart-rending stories. Many of the ladies shared how God used our time together and spoke to their hearts, encouraging them in the midst of their extremely difficult days and thanking the team for coming to be with them.
I told Connie that we would be praying for she and Jason as well as tell others; together we would ask and believe God to move on the hearts of people and work out His purpose. When we were there three years ago, we bought a large print Spanish bible for her mother and father and they’re still reading it and so thankful for the generosity of their church family in the U.S.
Back home in Florida, Monday, June 23, 2008, Vacation Bible School started at our home church Cornerstone Community Church in St. Petersburg. The week-end before, Rex and I talked about the program and a fund raising project for VBS. Nicaragua, Jason and Connie came to my mind; Rex loved the idea and so did the team. Each evening they had a special ‘game’ and brought in funds for Jason’s ear implant. By the close of VBS Friday night, the boys and girls had given over $222! Funds enough for Jason’s ear implant as well as for their extra expenses. Connie and Jason are going to rejoice with over-flowing joy, praising God and thanking Him for their Christian family in the U.S., who care enough to come to where they are, take their message to others who pray and give, putting God’s Love in action.
That’s really what these trips are all about, getting involved and involving others in caring and reaching out to those who need someone to care. They’ve done all they can with what they have and need you and me to come to their aid, to bring Light and Love to them.
I’m thankful to be a part of God’s work and right in the center of His Plan. Frankly, I did not have strength to take this trip and had so much work that needed to be done that I had difficulty determining whether I should ‘go’ or ’stay’. I planned and prepared to go on the trip but with questions, right up to the night we left. My heart was open and surrendered to God; I was comfortable going or staying but was so tired I wouldn’t have minded staying. Deep within, I continued to sense that inner prompting to go, to do my part and trust God to do what I could not. So Rex and I loaded the car and headed out. For me, it was like ’stepping into the overflowing banks of the Red Sea’, walking in obedience, knowing that I would drown without God’s special touch.
Surprise, surprise (or, maybe not), God was with me every moment. Each day I was stronger than the day before. Even when I was sick, it was only for a day and God gave me strength to speak at the conference the next 3 days. I was obedient and God was, as always, faithful! What a great God we serve! What a joy to serve Him and others!
Another high-light of the trip was organizing the first Women’s Ministries International of Managua; the women were so excited as they elected the officers and began planning and connecting with others around the world. Here’s a picture of the new officers, along with my fantastic translator, Naomi Velasquez, on the right. Naomi and their family attend our home church in St. Pete; she also serves on the South Atlantic Conference WMI board. Connie is to the left of Naomi.
The medical team treated almost 600 men, women and children in the 5 days they had medical clinics; three days in the inner city barrios and 2 days in out-lying villages. A Nicaraguan doctor who does social work there, told us that the price of rice and beans have gone up 60% since January and most people are fortunate if they get those basic staples in one meal a day. It’s difficult to visualize their poverty until you see it: ‘homes’ of very small ‘shacks’ consisting of aluminum tin, or black plastic garbage bag walls and roof held in place with poles, dirt floors and no bathroom facilities.
Rex worked with the medical team two days then had a 3 day pastors’ training conference at Pastor Felix’ church while I spoke for the three day women’s conference at Pastor Miguel’s church.
The choice is ours, we can say ‘yes’ to God and good and ‘no’ to satan and his devices. Thank you for saying ‘yes’ and being the valued team member you are.
Please remember to pray for the people of Nicaragua who suffer, as well as for others around the world. As you pray, remember to be faithful in your financial support of each of our missionaries and WMI’s Special Projects.
Rex and I and a medical team leave Monday, July 14, for the Philippines. Our flight from Portland to Tokyo is 10 1/2 hours. After a 2 hour layover in Tokyo, we take a 4 1/2 hour flight to Manila, arriving Tuesday night. We’ll spend the night there then Wed. morning take a 2 hour flight southeast to Butuan. At nearby Bancasi we’ll have a women’s conference and medical clinics, returning to the U.S., Wed., July 23. We actually leave Manila at 7:45 a.m. and arrive in Portland at 8:20 a.m., interesting, huh 
It makes me wonder how in the world others travel around the world and seem to look refreshed upon arrival…..
Please pray for the safety and health of each team member as we seek to be used of God in His Kingdom’s work. We need your prayers and support to make a difference in the lives of those where we minister. Perhaps you will consider a much needed donation toward the expenses of our mission trips.
Thank you again, for your prayers, love, care and support for God’s family at home and abroad. We love you and thank God for you and the privilege to serve alongside you in His Kingdom’s work.
Together in Christ,
LaWanda
Financial gifts are tax deductible, should be made payable to WMI, marked ‘WMI Mission Trips’ and mailed to:
WOMEN’S MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
P O Box 535002
Indianapolis IN 46253-5002 </blockquote>
