As some of you would be aware, from 10 to 23 April, I had the privilege of ministering the Lord's Word in the Philippines. A number of people have contacted me to enquire about the trip, so what follows is a brief report on my time in that nation. This was my first venture into Asia and though I normally prefer to travel internationally with a small team, on this occasion that was impossible, so I travelled there alone. Originally, I had hoped to undertake this ministry trip in February, but when the planned time arrived, the necessary funds had not become available, and I sensed the Lord was saying "wait". Then, unexpectedly in mid-March, He said "I want you to go to the Philippines in April", with one month's notice! Life with Jesus is indeed unpredictable and never boring! Checking the ministry bank account we found just enough had been provided for one return airfare. The GSLM leaders and I agreed that I should go on an initial "scouting" journey, with a view to returning with a team of women ministers at some time in the future. In the days following, we received just enough in donations to cover basic accommodation costs - the Lord is good! (Most of you would be aware that GSLM operates entirely on faith in regard to financial provision and we welcome donations of any size at any time!) Several people were praying for me during this trip, and I want to acknowledge and express my appreciation for your valuable commitment to prayer for me!

Pangasinan, Luzon
After arrival in Manilla on April 10 I was met the following morning by Pastor Remegio Blanco and his son Joseph of Harvesters Christian Ministries International located in the province of Pangasinan, on the northern island of Luzon. Remegio shared with me his testimony of having been a wealthy businessman who the Lord called to lay aside his successful business and live by faith as an evangelist and church planter. In the early days times were tough for Remegio, Siony his wife, and their two sons Joel and Joseph, with the family often having to go without adequate food and other needs. However, Remegio and his family remained faithful to the Lord's call and he now oversees several pioneer churches in Pangasinan and surrounding provinces. The vision of the ministry is to reach into the rural and tribal areas of Luzon where the gospel has not yet penetrated.

During the following 4 days I visited several remote village churches with Remegio and Joseph, fellowshipping with brothers and sisters in the Lord and strengthening them in the Word. I was told in several of these rural village churches that they had never had a foreign missionary visit them. The weather was intensely hot and sometimes we journeyed for miles to reach these Christian communities, but I could not help thinking how blessed I was to be allowed to meet with the Lord's precious children in places few other foreign ministries have ever seen. In a tiny little church constructed from woven grass in San Leon, with a canopy of palm leaves for a roof which leaked when it rains, I spoke to the believers about the Power of the Blood of Jesus to overcome sin and all its effects. Some of these people had left their important daily chores, or had come in from the fields, in order to hear the message the Lord had given me for them. Even a small kid (of the goat variety) decided to join us! That evening I met with a crowd of believers in the village of Laeg, Neeva Ecija, where I was welcomed with a delicious meal by Pastor Daniel and his wife Gloria. I taught on how we are to Put on Christ, our only righteousness, like a wedding garment, and prayed for several people with physical ailments.

The next day I ministered at Manicla, teaching on the Holy Spirit, and later met with about 50 to 60 believers squeezed into a remote jungle church in a place called Saranay. Again, as I laid on hands and prayed for these believers, I marvelled at the rare opportunity and privilege of fellowshiping and ministering to Jesus' beloved Bride in such a remote location! The following day we drove again many miles, arriving at a church with walls erected halfway and as yet no roof, in Agupalo Este. Churches in such impoverished areas are constructed piece by piece by the people only as funds become available. A family of goats wandered around on the pebbled ground outside as I spoke to the people from 2nd Chronicles 34 and revival under King Josiah. Returning in the air-conditioned van to my hotel (thankyou Lord for airconditioning!), an eerie blood-red sun burned in the sky above us as we drove past rice fields, buffalo, and village houses covered with brightly coloured bougainvilleas. It reminded me of the promise in Joel 2: "I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and fire and pillars of smoke, the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved...." and I felt as if the Lord was confirming to me that He was here with me in this remote and lonely location in the middle of Asia.

A women's conference had been arranged for my final day in Pangasinan in the town of Santa Maria. I was delighted to see so many women arriving from the rural areas I had visited during the week. They came in by jeepneys, vans and motor bike, accompanied by several male leaders who were not going to be kept away merely by the words "women's conference"! A dear elderly Filipino woman shared with us how the Lord had healed her from several physical infirmities, including diabetes, and I then taught on Jesus, the Healer of Women, followed by much laying on of hands and healing prayer. It was indeed a deep joy to share the Word and minister to these servants of the Lord. Later in the day the Holy Spirit had me share some of my own journey and testimony with these women in order to stir them to being available to serve Jesus in whatever way He chooses to call them. I was blessed to teach them and leave with them one of the songs given to me by the Holy Spirit in recent years - "Beautiful God", which was copied out by some of the young people to be sung often after my departure.

Remegio has asked me to return soon bringing a team, for more leadership training and a women's conference. I invited you to join with us as we pray into these possibilities.

Lapu Lapu City, Cebu
The second week of my trip was spent with Pastors Robert and Sarah Cuenca of the Full Gospel Apostolic Church in Lapu Lapu City on the island of Cebu. The contrast between Pangasinan and Lapu Lapu City could not be more pronounced. Pangasinan is a country area highlighted by rice fields, plows pulled by Asian buffalo, and brightly coloured wild flowers. Lapu Lapu on the other hand is a bustling, noisy metropolis where jeepneys compete with one another for road space and the signs of poverty are never far from sight. Robert and Sarah are apostolic leaders, church planters and evangelists who oversee over 50 churches in Cebu and the southern island of Mindanao. From the start they made me feel welcome and part of their family. I was privileged to spend much time with them and in their church, getting to know one another and building relationship. I ministered at Robert and Sarah's home church on Sunday 17th April with a message entitled "What Do You Want From God?". We find several instances in the gospel accounts where Jesus asked this very question: "What do you want Me to do for you?". The message was confronting - challenging the Lord's people not to be satisfied with a mundane, lukewarm relationship with Jesus, because the Lord wants us to live in the fullness of the knowledge of Him.

Later in the week I was privileged to visit the town of Danao, about an hour's drive from Lapu Lapu, meeting and praying with Pastor My, a woman pastor who has been single-handedly pioneering a church in Danao for five years. I was greatly privileged on several occasions to meet with pastors and students at the Church Planting School established by Robert, to minister the Word and encourage them in their walk with the Lord. I exhorted the young people especially not to be satisfied with simply being called of the Lord, or even called and chosen, because according to Revelation 17:14, those who will be with Him at the end are called, chosen AND faithful. On another ocassion I spoke to them about what it means to be a bondslave of Christ. It was indeed wonderful and exciting to be given the privilege of speaking into the lives of these young servants of the Lord who are being raised up to serve as leaders in His church in the Philippines.

A very special highlight of my week in Lapu Lapu City was to accompany Robert and some of his young people to the city's huge dumpsite. Here they have begun an outreach to the children who live at the dumpsite in crudely constructed shanties. The dumpsite families are known in the Philippines as "scavengers", because they live by picking through the city's rubbish to find whatever they can sell. They have no other form of income and exist in severe poverty. In addition, smoke from the burning of rubbish at the dumpsite continually fills the air and threatens the children's health and growth. Robert and his young people visit the dumpsite to feed the children and teach about Jesus twice a week. I watched as scores of dumpsite children came running, some with toddler brothers and sisters on their young hips, when they saw the familiar blue van arrive bringing nourishing food, Bible stories and songs. Robert and Sarah have a vision to establish a school in an empty building they showed me on the edge of the dumpsite, where they can bring the children to live Monday to Friday and provide Christian education for some of them. Their dream is to break the cycle of a lifestyle of scavenging for some of these children so they will not need to spend their lives in poverty, sickness and often crime, as generations of "scavengers" have done before them. We will soon have photographs of the dumpsite ministry available on our website, along with opportunity to donate to this vital ministry for those who wish to - so keep checking.

Robert and Sarah have also asked me to return at some time in the future for further meetings and a possible women's conference.

As a result of this ministry trip, our recently established Nurture Network has two new additions, as we welcome both Harvesters International and Apostolic Full Gospel Church as associate ministries with GSLM Australia. I commend both these ministries and their faithful pastors to you for your prayerful support as I can testify first hand of their commitment to the Lord and His people in the Philippines. I do not know when the Lord will open the necessary doors for me to return to the Philippines for further strengthening of the church there, but He has given me a promise from Philippians 1:6: "...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.." In recent weeks, as our article "The Terrain Has Changed" has been blown by the Holy Spirit around the world, we have seen the Lord begin a mighty work of connecting us in the Spirit with His servants in several nations who have contacted us as a result of receiving that word. I am personally astounded and awed by the speed with which He is opening long awaited doors for fellowship and ministry. The vision He has given GSLM is substantial and we have need for intercessors, sponsors and labourers to assist in the work. If the Lord gives you a burden to support GSLM in any of these areas we would be very glad to hear from you!

In the meantime, exciting and dangerous days lay ahead for all of us. Daily we are witnessing growing signs of the end of the age, which we were exhorted by Jesus to watch for. It is time for all true servants of the Lord to be first and foremost about the Father's business. Let us all support and encourage one another with whatever we have, and trust Him to build and equip His beloved Bride-church as a city set on a hill that will stand as a refuge for the nations in the days to come.

Cheryl McGrath
Great South Land Ministries
www.greatsouthland.org
southland@greatsouthland.org

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