Palau Trip

Hi friends, it has been a while since I last posted on our blog. Just wanted to give you an update on what God is doing in our life so that you can continue to pray for us.  Beginning of last month God gave us, Pastor Scott and my self and opportunity to go to Palau to visit the new Church where we are going to serve beginning next in July.  The trip only lasted 11 days however God made it crystal clear that we are called back to the Island of Palau after finishing seminary. It was a busy 11 days and the weather was fairly cloudy and rained all the time but it never hindered us from accomplishing what we planned to do on the island.  The Church is called Omkulel a Biblia ra Belau (Anchored in the Word) with members of about 50 people ranging from youth all the way up to older adults.  It was started about 6 years ago by a missionary and his family from Wisconsin.  The Zimmer family (John, Jamie, Ashley, Ali, and Emma) are learning the language as they minister to the palauans.  I was amaze that first Sunday morning when we were singing because they (the Zimmerz) were all singing palauan songs with the congregations.  There is another missionary family there serving with John and his family. They are the Clapp family (John, Heather, and three boys I cannot remember their names). They went to the island a year after the Zimmers and have been a valuable asset to the ministry on the island. While we were there, I had the opportunity and privilege to preach one Sunday morning as well as going with John to visit a family who were grieving for their diseased mother. I shared a Word from the Scripture and prayed with them. Though the name of Jesus is not foreign to most people on the island, it is evident that most of them do not have a personal relationship with him. I could tell by seeing the way they live and how they talk.  It is worst then people who have never heard the gospel or the name of Jesus Christ because the gospel is right in front of them but they are blinded by the power and influence of sin.  Though natural disaster can be devastating, sin is the most deadliest of all.  It has killed and separated man forever from God and without God's intervention it will never be destroyed.  There is a good news that Jesus Christ brings into man and extends living hope to him. Without it no one can be set free from the power and presence of sin. It is this living gospel which has changed my life that I am compelled to go back to the Island. They do not need to just know Jesus, they need Jesus to be in their heart permanently. My wife and I are both excited to go home and be used by God to reach out to people for King Jesus. There are many different religions on the island which gives us the more reason to go home and tell people to trust in Jesus instead of trusting in vain teachings.  From Roman Catholic to Jehovah Witness to Mormons, to Islam, people are confused to know what is the True way, the True Light that brings hope to all man.  I am encouraged that though the island has been exposed to so many false religion (like many other places), He still loves them and continues to send his messengers to tell them about THE GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST. Since this is my actual first time, I will be doing an internship with John call Pastor-in-Training for the first year. However I am looking forward to really serve the Lord amongst Palauans for his glory. Pray that my wife and I will continue to TRUST AND OBEY.  Trust that God will provide everything we need to start fresh our new life on the island. Obey when he tells us to sacrifice our wants for his glory. We have committed our lives to Him, pray that obedience would flow out of our hearts freely and lovingly towards him since he is our Lord.

I will post some pictures later for your enjoyment as you see what God is doing on the Island later. God is Good all the time. I pray that you see his faithfulness in you live as well so that it motivates you to be faithful for his sake.

Serving King Jesus with a joyful Heart,
 Hefflin, Susan, Joshua, Maya, and Sarah