The Sabbath services on May 19, 2018 began with a song service led by Mariangela (junior) and Abril (sophomore), accompanied by Samantha (sophomore) on the piano. The opening song was “So Send I You”.
Jacqueline Miller welcomed everyone, had prayer, and read the scripture reading – Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here [am] I; send me.”
She then called for the Laurelbrook Missions Offering, which was collected by Oliver (junior) and Jakob (sophomore) and which goes to support Laurelbrook mission trips.
A missionary on leave from one of the world’s mountainous regions took most of the program to explain his work. Due to the sensitivity of his work, many details in his report are not reported.
Jacqueline Miller had the closing prayer and explained the classes. Clifton Brandt led the lesson study in the main sanctuary, Rich Sutton the class in the nursing home, Ricardo Reid in the CNA House, and Dorka Ellis “behind the glass” in the rear of the church sanctuary.
Following are a few notes from the missionary’s presentation:
- Habakkuk 2:3 “For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
- The time is now to work for souls. Joshua 1:3 “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”
- Students at Laurelbrook are getting good training in dealing with the sick, Bible work, and agriculture.
- Soon the U.S. will be the focus of a terrible Time of Trouble.
- These missionaries deal with T.B., dysentery, and sores and problems dealing with the lack of sanitation. They use a lot of charcoal.
- Many times the Bible workers have to ask the family to repent and then ask the Lord for healing.
- One little girl had a cleft palate, and for a single time a doctor worked on her and cured her, all directed by the missionaries in America who were on leave at this time. The doctor refused further patients recommended by Adventists.
- Matthew 25:45 “Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.”
- There are people waiting for you to carry the gospel to them.
- One family wanted the gospel but couldn’t give up their addiction to drugs and pornography.
- Sometimes you have to abandon a work you have begun because the devil is active and well.
- At one VBS, the group had to end early due to the rain and rising river water with its challenge to the bridges.
- One village gets all its water from a trickle from a rusty pipe and uses the same area to take baths.
- Mission service isn’t one or two years but a lifetime of service.
- Matthew 28:20 “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Personnel Other Than Students:
Clifton Brandt – works with Laurelbrook’s sewer, water, and boiler systems
Dorka Ellis – wife of Daryll Ellis, who works for nearby Majestic Stone Company and is a local church deacon
Jacqueline Miller – semi-retired nurse living on the Laurelbrook campus
Ricardo Reid – head local church elder / works in the nursing home
Rich Sutton – Laurelbrook president