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Retreat
Reflections
Two wonderful
testimonies from the Israel 2007 Retreat |
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Dear MET supporters,
The MET retreat has greatly impacted my life! After 8 years
in the former Soviet Union,
with my holidays normally taking place in my home country
where other responsibilities inevitably pop up, I went to
the retreat with the hope of getting some refreshment and a
renewal of my spirit. God had that, plus much more in store.
The MET team provided such a beautiful loving environment
where all barriers could come down and we experienced the
love and encouragement of the Lord in a very special way. A
place where I could get back to a deeper relationship with
my Lord. No distractions. A chance to still myself and let
my heart listen.
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The staff modeled love and encouragement like I have never
seen before. Oh how wonderful to be made to feel so special.
No problem was too great for them to help with. The honest,
open and impacting truths taught from God’s Word were
fantastic. The fellowship, incredible. You have never met
me, or the 30 others at the retreat, yet you prayed for us,
sent gifts for us, encouraged us. This is the body of
Christ at work. Thank you.
For various reasons, I had been holding back some of my
heart from letting God have His way. During the retreat God
broke through and I have no doubt whatsoever that as a
result the ministry I am involved in will benefit greatly.
It was as if God had orchestrated every little thing at the
retreat to fit my needs. No small feat I assure you. Your
prayers made a huge difference. May God bless you
abundantly. At the retreat, I witnessed the face of God in
the hearts of His people. What an awesome God we have.
Blessings to you all,
Joanne
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Here's my short testimony during
my MET Single's Retreat
at Notre Dame de Sion, Jerusalem, Israel in November 2007 |
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| Proverbs 8:35 (NLT) "For whoever finds
me finds life and favor from the Lord" |
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As a 5 years full-time staff in Intercessors for the Philippines, a national prayer
movement and 12-years missionary in various Asian countries,
this year 2007 was a tough time for my health.
Beginning this January, it was a crisis year for me when
it comes to my physical body. Despite my regular work out
that I loved to do, tae-bo (taekwondo-boxing) exercise,
regular diet, I got some health problems for almost the
whole 10 months (January-October).
I remember my missions team, Torch, went to Thailand last
April-May 2007 to do a medical short term missions in which
I can't join them because I have to undergo a physical
therapy for my both knees due to osteoarthritis. For 18
sessions even though it was Holy Week, I have to go to the
hospital for my therapy for 2 times a week. I'm getting
tired of going to the hospital for consultation, therapy and
so on. Then after my physical therapy, I got some severe
back pain (myofascial syndrome) due to hormonal changes so I
have to go to the doctor again for sometime. Then after my
back pain, my blood pressure went up to 154/100.
At that time, I asked God, why all these things were
happening to me. I thought I am old enough at the age 44
that I cannot join any missions trip or I feel very
unproductive to serve God.
As I'm asking God for His plan in my life this year
2007, last August 12 at 9:00 a.m., He revealed to me that
I'm going to Israel for He
will show me His revelation and power in my life. I told
Him, Lord, I don't have budget to go there. But He said,
it's not your money that will bring you in
Israel, it's your faith.
God revealed to me that He will do the possible things in my
life and not to limit His power over my life because He is
God who created the heavens and earth and He owns the whole
universe. So I said, okay God, please confirm to me if You
are the one who have spoken to me.
It was August 15, my missionary friend in China forwarded to me the email of Mission
Encouragement Trust (MET) about the Single's Retreat for the
fulltime Christian Workers in
Israel. So the Lord
revealed to me again that it was the opportunity that He has
given
me to go. So I emailed and applied to MET and Praise God
they approved my letter of application and they gave me a
letter of invitation.
In the process, God provided my financial needs very
smooth. I thank the Lord for all the people He has used to
be an instrument in one way or another. I thank the Lord
for the confirmation of His Word to me that I will go to
Israel
this year and it happened.
MET Single's Retreat last Nov 8-15 was really great,
powerful and anointed. I had a personal encounter with God
almost everyday during my devotion, meditation of His Word
and prayer time. It renewed my covenant with Him during our
sessions. |
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The best thing that happened to me during our MET
retreat was the physical healing from God of my whole
body. I believe it was a miracle and until I don't
have any pain on my both knees, no severe back pain and
my blood pressure is normal.
My personal relationship with God is getting closer and closer each
and everyday since then up to now. I feel His
presence and I really cried that God is always telling
me that He loves me, He cares for me and He will fulfill
His promises to my life in His time. My life is
never be the same again after my personal encounter with
God. To God be the Glory.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to
Ms.
Ann and
Mrs.
Chris who sponsored me to come to
this MET retreat. I would like to thank
Jan
and Mintie for giving me the chance to be part of this
retreat. I thank God for everything and for
everybody who is part of this MET Single's Retreat in
Israel.
I would like to bring back all the glory, honor and power in the
Name of Jesus
for all the things He has done to my life. Now, my
life is normal when it comes to my physical health, no
more pain and I'm happy as I'm serving Him now and
forever.
In Christ,
April
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