Hello and Happy New Year!
Jen and I apologize for the long delay of our praise letter. We had one in early December 2023 but somehow it never made it to the press. So, we will combine last December's letter with January's, hope and pray you are encouraged, stirred up into His image and love.
Please keep praying for us as we forge ahead into 2024.
Tarlac Talkers Expat Group (TTEG)
Back in October 2023, I started a group of expat/foreigners called the Tarlac Talkers Expat Group. This group of men meet every week to eat and talk English, plus to support one another in our life, frustrations and adjustment to living in the Philippines. The group is about 10 men right now. 5 of us are followers of Jesus, the rest not yet, but will in the future. Pray sometime in the future I can start a discovery bible study with these men. I just need God's timing.
October 27, 2023 | First meetup of Tarlac Talkers Expat Group at Contis Cafe.
TTEG | Group Objective
This group caters to English-speaking foreigners who wants to live (for good) in the Philippines. It is our desire to help you acclimate to the culture, make new friends and contacts.
Tarlac Talkers Expat Group 1st Thanksgiving Dinner
TTEG | Welcoming new members
12-29-2023 | Welcome Dr. Kevin Martin, Larry Munnick and Crest.
TTEG | Welcoming new members
01-11-2024 | Welcome Hal Vorsen
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Wonderful God Stories!
A Full Day's Wage -
Last November I think the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Jen and I were invited out to dinner by a young lady named Princess. Princess had moved away and was busy working, she wanted to see us and catch up on our lives. We decided to meet at Urban Brew for dinner. While we were visiting in the Cafe an American came in with his girlfriend. Tom had flown in from Minneapolis Mn. for a two-week visit. I asked Tom what was he doing for Thanksgiving? Nothing so I invited him to our 1st Tarlac Talkers Thanksgiving meal on Thursday. Tom and Lori attended, however, Lori left her phone at the home we were visiting. I pick the phone up and posted on our group chat that I had found a phone. It was Lori's so they came by my home to pick up the cell phone. I was able to give them the gospel and both called upon the name of the Lord. Two days later Tom flew back to Mn. We exchanged info and committed to stay in touch.
Tom and I were talking weekly and last week he informed me of a friend named Tim who has been struggling with health issues and the doctor had informed him that he only had 10 days to live. I asked Tom to please talk to Tim for I deeply desired to speak with him. So, the meeting was arranged via Messenger video chat. It was 7:30am my time Monday morning 5:30pm Sunday in Minneapolis time. I had gotten up about 4 am and was praying Lord what do I say to this man who has only days to live?? I heard by the Holy Spirit Matthew 20:1-16 about the Kingdom of God and a land owner who paid the last workers a full day’s wages even though they worked only one hour. So, the phone call came from Tom as Tim was in the last hours of his life. By now Tim was 99% unresponsive but the family said he could still hear and make small hand movements. I introduced myself, told him the great promise of full kingdom payment if Tim would like to give his life right now over to the Lord Jesus. At that moment Tim opened his eyes and looked at me!! I smiled and said pray this prayer. Tim turned his life over to our Lord just like the man on the cross. I then prayed for healing of his body, over his family who were standing around listening to me share the gospel. I said goodbye and that I would stay in touch. One hour later Tim went into the presence of the Lord with a full day’s wages in the Kingdom of God. Thanks for giving and praying for Jen and I so that we can have these type of God encounters.
A New Believer -
Last week I was able to visit Larry one of the Tarlac talkers, he is 78 years old, He lost his left leg about 10 years ago from a work accident. So Larry is part of our group but does not attend our gatherings because of his leg. I was visiting with Larry and his wife of 30 years Nida. As we talked, I found out Larry is a Southern Baptist and Nida is a Catholic.After a few questions and explanation of the scriptures I asked Nida if she wanted to be born again and have Jesus make her holy? Life for life. All that she does not like about herself and her troubled past of trying to be holy and good on her own. In exchange for all of Jesus's life making her acceptable to God and holy forever? As we prayed Nida began to weep as the truth and free gift came upon her in love and power. Oh, what Joy it is for me to see such things in this life!! Many times, as I share the great news of Joy here in the Philippines, men and women began to weep. They have never heard such wonderful things of total forgiveness and love apart from their religious works. Thanks for praying for them and us.
An Open Opportunity to Share Love -
I was able to attend a special church service two Saturday's ago. The whole church had been fasting for 7 days and ended their fast with a worship service, The church is called Christian Community Fellowship (CCF).
I was asked to tell some love stories on how God was touching people. I told one about my son Gaius who stopped to help a broken down tricycle who picks up our recyclables from our home. This man was stuck in the middle of the Highway, Gaius helped push the cycle to the side of the road and then handed the man 10 dollars to fix the problem. Wilson began to weep. He had never encountered such love before. I was able to lead Wilson and his wife to the Lord weeks later. I also told the story of the Muslim young man who was being yelled at in front of his shop by a Filipino woman while a crowd of about 10 people watched. I stepped in released peace upon the situation followed the women back into the store prayed for her and helped her with the problems she was yelling about. I then went out to Yousef and comforted him. Two weeks later Yousef was smiling at me and took me to meet his fiancé. I was able to give them the gospel thru their Qur’an and they too called upon the name of Jesus.
The Challenge -
My challenge here in the Philippines and also in the USA is to convince believers they can also walk in the Holy Spirit and give Jesus to whoever needs Him at an appointed time. In Ephesian 6, Paul wrote, we need to shod our feet with the readiness of the gospel of peace. Also, in Chapter 6 he asked for prayer that he would be bold have the right words at the right time to give to people and then again he asked for more boldness.
I am not a super spiritual person or gifted in being light and fruit to the world. Not at all. I am scared many times and do not know what to say or do. BUT I pray all the time to take away fear, give me love with boldness and then step out to see what the Lord is doing. If believers will not share this good news of great joy then who will? Many, many times people have said to me "Oh you do not know how bad I needed to hear that today" I am praying that you start to pray out your fears and boldness and right words at the right place at the right time so that many will believe and be saved.
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Wendell and Jennifer SchultzZoe Perissos MinistryDonate Page: www.WorldOutreach.org/692Email: [email protected]Website: https://zoeperissosministry.com/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ZoePerissosMinistry/Twitter: https://twitter.com/zoeperissos2014Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoeperissosministry/