Dear friends,

Last night (Monday) was Meeting #2. Many people told me they were really touched by the message. I, too, felt the great longing for Jesus to return as Don spoke on Why Is There Suffering? He laid the blame squarely on sin that was instigated by Lucifer and perpetuated when Adam and Eve chose to believe the devil instead of God. But Jesus will put an end to sin and suffering when He returns.

Translated to today, we think of our dear friend Glenn Lemon. You have likely heard the story of how he blessed Don and his family when Don was a boy. He was Don's Sabbath school teacher and had such an influence on him. At 102 years of age Brother Lemon has just been diagnosed with lymphoma. We feel so far away! How we would like to stop in to see him at home in Maryland! And how much we look forward to Jesus' making all things new!

Our ShareHim Coordinator, Benny Moore, is amazing. He makes sure Don's equipment is working. He just walked out of our room after we gave him an SOS call. You see, when Don opened the slide show he is supposed to present tonight, it was in Spanish! We checked to be sure he had opened the International English show. Yep! But it was still in Spanish. So we opened the International Spanish show . . . that, too, was in Spanish. Didn't think that would work. So Benny brought his portable hard drive and installed the English show . . . and Don is studying!

Last night there was a mix-up regarding which song would be used at the end of Don's message. The singer had practiced a different song; however, the message ends with the story of Tommy Dorsey's writing of the song Precious Lord, Take My Hand. "But we practiced My Jesus, I Love Thee." we were informed. "But that is for tomorrow night."

Benny pushed just enough. In fact, he said, "If you don't have someone who can sing the song, I will sing it." And we learned that he was the singing evangelist for Ken Cox for several years. Two young people sang the needed song. The appeal was really “appealing.”

Last night a number of people came to Don asking for his signature on a ticket that had his picture on it . . . first time he had seen one. Then he began to recognize that the same young girl had brought him several. "Haven't I signed this for you before?" he asked. "How many more do you have?" She giggled and showed him a small stack of tickets. She must have a lot of friends.

Yes, by the way, Don's new pants arrived in time for the meeting.

Perfect fit!

Since we are across town from where the rest of The Quiet Hour/ShareHim speakers are living and speaking, we don't get to interact with them regularly like we did in Nigeria. We are going to try to find out from Benny how things are going . . . another day.

Don just informed me it is lunch time . . . I'll pull out oranges, apples, bananas, bread and peanut butter, raisins and mangos. How is that for a meal?

Hope you have such a good one!

Our love,
Marti (and Don)

From: Marti Schneider
Sent: Wednesday, March 5, 2008
To: The Quiet Hour supporters
Subject: Schneider's Manila Update #4

Dear friends,

What beautiful smiles! And their "Good morning, sir . . . ma'am" has its own special lilt and cadence. The many young people working in all areas of our hotel are delightful. They wear business-like uniforms in the dining room. The "maids," if that is what you call the young men who clean the rooms, are so gracious.

We've spent a quiet day since breakfast with Don studying. He goes over the sermon a number of times, choosing illustrations, looking for just the right what-do-I-want-you-to-remember statement, planning the appeal. (By the way, when he asked them last night, the folks could still tell us what he wanted them to remember on the first two nights.)

Today I've focused on the Atlantic Union Festival of the Laity-SEEDS Conference that will take place in Stamford, Connecticut, March 28-30, 2008, at the Sheraton Hotel. We already have almost 400 registered and still several weeks before the registration deadline. Consider attending. Consider bringing a team. You can register at www.PlusLine.org.

You know, all of this is about reaching people with the story of Jesus and His offer to forgive our turning our backs on Him. It's about His invitation for us to live in Heaven, John 14:1-3. Why wouldn't I want to share such good news?

Many of you are aware of the close partnership between ShareHim, who is our on-site support team, and The Quiet Hour who have put major funds into the efforts here in the Philippines, especially during the three major date blocks of which our series is a part. The Quiet Hour is providing $1500 per site, plus they are helping sponsor the expenses of a number of the young speakers, totaling almost $200,000. In addition, the North American Division, the North Pacific Union, and the local organizations here are helping fund these campaigns.

During our stay here, Mike Ryan, one of the Vice Presidents of the General Conference, has completed an evangelism series in Central Philippines. The division president, Albert Gulfan, was translating for Ryan; however, in a few days Gulfan himself will begin a series in the south. Mike Porter, CEO of The Quiet Hour, e-mailed that he, too, will be in the Philippines with a campaign. We are so sorry that health issues for Jere Patzer are preventing his preaching a campaign. We will continue praying for God's healing to attend him.

Please pray for this major evangelistic thrust here in the Philippines . . . and add your donations to your prayers! The Quiet Hour is continuing to raise the funds, even as the efforts are in progress. Give now.

Here is an inspiring story I just heard this morning: A man spoke to the three girls from Fountainview Academy who are speaking at one of our sites in the North of Manila. He said, "The Lord gave me a dream. In that dream I saw a film of Jesus being baptized. And He told me there will be three white girls there-one with long hair will be preaching. And the word came in the dream, 'When you see this, you will know that this is My true church,'" Yes, that night the girls showed the Jesus video segment of the baptism of Jesus. And yes, the girl preaching that night was the one with long hair. Does God work when we work?

At the end of his message last night (Tuesday), Don invited anyone who wished to receive Jesus into his or her life and be baptized like Jesus was baptized, to come to the front where they would have prayer. A large group of people, many of them young adults, came forward. Though we don't have a record, I would guess there were hundreds. Don speaks his own heart: "When you are preaching and you see hundreds of people come in the appeal, it is overwhelming!"

After the meeting the people gathered in their small groups, small being 10 to 30. The groups were clustered all over the main floor as well as around the first and even the second tier of seats. They met any new people, shared the Bible text that touched their hearts, prayed for one another, and talked about inviting others to the meetings. I believe these groups are a blessing. Don completes his message by 8:30 pm . . . the small groups continue for 15-20 minutes.

It is 4:30 pm . . . and that means it is time to get ready to go. Our driver and Pastor Mangiliman, the Central Luzon Conference president, will be here by 5:30 or 5:45 p.m. Outside the window I see many umbrellas up to ward off the sun.

We have seen God working. We again invite you to pray!

Our love,
Marti (and Don)

Manila email reports: February 29 - March 3 | March 4-5 | March 6-7 | March 9-10 | March 11-13 | March 17

Bacolod email reports: March 10-12 | March 16-17 | March 19-23 | March 30