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Typhoon Update – 10 November 2013

Dear Friends,

For those that may have not heard, what was said to be the “strongest typhoon in history” hit the Philippines last Friday. The major typhoon passed with not too much damage to the school campus or the city we live in. We still haven’t been able to contact several of our churches in other areas to find out how they fared. The churches in the Leyte, Cebu area and the northern part of Palawan were directly in the storm’s path. We have heard that there have been over 1200 deaths and some reports say it is in the thousands. In some of these locations all communication is out.

Please continue to pray for the Philippines. We are told another typhoon is heading this way but we do not have any details at the moment.

Nels and Lorrie

Newsletter – October/November 2013

October/November 2013

Dear Friends,

Colossians !:9 “… we do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and understanding….”

Last month Lorrie and I were the speakers at our annual Pastor’s conference in Virac, Catanduanes. The theme this year was, “Hearing The Voice of God.” It is interesting as you study the Bible, to see God spoke many times and in a variety of different ways in both the Old and New Testament. He called to Moses out of a “burning bush” and spoke to Paul, before He was even a Christian, while on a journey to persecute Christians.

The scripture tells us that He wants us to be filled with the knowledge of His will. How can we know His will if we do not hear Him?

I have listed below seven common ways we can hear the Lord today:

1. Bible, the written word
2. Circumstances
3. Audible voice
4. Dreams and visions
5. Internal voice
6. Authority figures in our life
7. The body of Christ

In John 10:27 Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me….” We are His sheep and need to hear and recognize his voice in our lives today.

I am convinced we do not “hear His voice” as much as we could because we are not setting aside time to listen. Today, as much as any time in history, we need to know God’s will for our lives.

This week we started building a small cottage at the school in Virac for Lorrie and I to live. It is our plan to spend more time living and teaching at the school. As time permits, we will continue to travel and speak at churches on other islands as well.

Please pray for us that we will not only hear His voice, but we will have the strength and courage to do whatever He would desire us do.

Your friends,

Nels and Lorrie

Newsletter – June/July 2013

Dear friends,

In the past months the Lord has been reminding me that, no matter how young or old we are, our time on earth is very short compared with eternity. In Psalms 90:10 we are told we have 70 or 80 years and then “we fly away.”

Genesis tells us, “….Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” And then in Hebrews we are told that God took Enoch, “for he pleased Him.” What a beautiful word picture, to think of Enoch walking along and one day just walking into the presence of God.

In Colossians 3:2 we are instructed to “Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth….”  It is my desire to conduct my life in a way that is well pleasing to God prepared for the day when I walk through eternity’s door.

This July we began the seventeenth year of the Bible school in the Philippines. We continue to be blessed as God brings young men and women with a desire to serve Him with all of their life. We have the privilege to see them mature and become useful vessels in His kingdom.

Though it is exciting to see what God is doing in far away places, it is just as important to realize we are all part of God’s team. You are praying and giving of your resources so that others can go. In June, As one example, Larry and Annie Colp again hosted the annual Reap garage sale at their house in Fairbanks, Alaska. Together with others, they spent countless hours collecting, setting up, selling, and taking down items that people generously gave.

On a personal note, Lorrie and I were very blessed to go to Ireland this month and see our first grandchild!!!! Our daughter Heather and her husband Noel are serving there as missionaries. We were honored to pray and dedicate Jewel Rose and then to speak the Sunday message at their multicultural church. As an added blessing, Noel and Heather took us to many of the beautiful sites, including some castles dating back to the twelve century.

Our youngest son, Jeremy flew from his YWAM base in Sweden to Ireland to see the new baby and to visit with us. After Sweden, he is planning to travel to Spain and Morocco as part of his outreach. Please pray that God would give him the contacts and protection in his travels.

Thank you for praying for Pastor Homer’s health. He is doing much better. Thank you for praying for the work in the Philippines and for praying for us personally.

 

Your friends,

Nels and Lorrie

Poem – 10 April 1977

A poem I felt the Lord gave me many years ago. – Nels Church

Ah, oh yes my son, I see the road you see –

It’s a road of laughter and excitement filled
with joys unending and pleasures evermore.

It’s a road of happiness and mysteries –
oh yes, I see the road you see.

I see the road you see,
but let me share a glimpse of the road I see before you.

Oh yes, the sun and flowers are still there

and yes the laughter and excitement have not gone away.

But the road is really not so straight and narrow

and the pathway not near so smooth.

No my son, it has many curves that only I can see around

and many valleys to broad to walk around.

It’s a road so rough it’s often filled with tears and sorrows.

It’s a road that speaks of heartaches and fears of tomorrow.

I see the road you do not yet see, the road with sun and flowers, fears and sorrows.

I see the road you do not yet see – and yet the victory is ours.