The Presence of the Lord

A letter to the congregation in Jaro, Leyte, Philippines

By Troy Husted

March 20, 2024

"The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he placed the man he had formed. The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." ‭‭(Genesis 2:8-9 CSB‬‬)

Good morning, my beloved family of Jaro! To my dear friend, brother and sister Pastors Nol and Diana, I give thanks and still honored to the blessings you two bestowed upon both Judy and I. Granting us the opportunity to see the wonders of God's mercy and blessings to our visit in November, 2022. It is through your love and dedication to our Lord Jesus Christ, welcoming us to your humble home to celebrate my marriage to my beloved and cherished wife, Judy.

Not only you, but to the entire CIK Jaro family, your congregation, who open there hearts and welcomed two strangers. To the twelve other Pastors who celebrated in our union of marriage, dedicated as a love offering to the Lord. It is your love and generosity of embracing us, that delighted my heart to each and everyone of you.

As you have known, through my testimony, my journey with Christ. Especially in 2018, a year of major setbacks, heartbreak and pain, that brought me to my knees. I was completely broken and had three choices to take. The choices to return back to the old lifestyle of drunkenness, impure sexual pleasures, debauchery, or to commit suicide, or to completely give up and surrender to Christ.

I refuse to return back to a sinful life, as I remember the pain, the violence, and the chaos. It only satisfied me for a short moment, but truly put me in a deep despair. I tried suicide, but simply could not do. Knowing my sins will place me in torment for eternity.

I finally, broke down and completely surrendered to the Lord, and delcare I needed a Savior. I was done being an adult. I simply wanted to be a child of God. To follow the teachings Christ taught us, to trust and rely upon the Lord. What a wild ride that was. Jesus set me free and began to expose the wrongdoings of my life, at first I denied, but then confess. I wept, I knew I had a Heavenly Father who loved me faithfully. I accepted and was born again. Born not of flesh, but of water and Spirit. (John 3:5-6) My heart transformed to seeking and loving the Lord.

Vision was given to me and God's teachings, His guidance, and instructions shaped me into obedience, love, and worshipping of the Lord. I heard Him speak, but long to truly to see His wonders. Did I see Him?

Yes, I did!!!

It was through your invitation, by brother and sister Nol and Diana, the opportunity for Judy and I to be married at Carmel Prayer Gardens on November 24, 2024. A day I picked to give thanksgiving to the Lord. A day in America we call Thanksgiving Day. I wanted to offer my wedding as a thanksgiving gift to the Lord for showing me what true love was and what the abundance of life is.

When we landed in Tacloban-City, I witness God's presence was throughout the city, but my heart wept as I saw no one recognized His works upon them. The next morning, as we were driving to Jaro to be introduced to Pastor Nol and Diana and to break bread for the first time, I sense a tragedy swept over Leyte Island from years past. On my journey to you, I witness the grand beauty of the mountains to our east.

The beauty of God's creation, just took my heart away. Judy explain to me the history of the island and came to understand why my heart wept for this land. Wept, with both sadness and of joy. To hear such tragedy, sadden the heart, but the joy of seeing God turn this tragedy into something beautiful. I was also told that on the mountain was Heaven's peak. O' how my heart rejoice in knowing God delivered me to the beginning of time to stand, with my new bride, in paradise.

When we arrived to Jaro, how your hospitality brought such joy to my heart. You and your wife, welcome as friends of long ago, but complete stranger till then. It is through our love in Christ, united in Spirit, that bound us all as one.

When we arrived at Carmel Prayer Garden, I felt a strong presence of the Lord. A complete calmness, peace, and a feeling of joy swept across my soul, echoing King David in Psalms 96:11-13:

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"Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound. Let the fields and everything in them celebrate. Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the Lord, for he is coming — for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his faithfulness."

The beauty of Carmel simply took my breathe away. The vision the Lord show me, taken back to the garden of Eden, represented before all our eyes at Carmel, with Heaven's peak looking down upon this piece of land, giving glory to God.

His presence surround us that night. We broke bread and simply enjoyed the night before our Lord. Sunday, we were welcome to the family of Jaro. The people who brought us to the church and greeted us as the door, the meaning of their name declared that God has given and delivered us here. To bring joy and delight to our hearts. To speak freely our testimony to the Lord, for all He has done. The breaking of bread and coming into communion with a community so young, but seeking the Lord.

The Lord revealed Himself before, during, and after our wedding. To walk in the presence of God at Carmel, reminded me when Adam walked with God. His voice so clear, the sight of Him so grand. How wonderful, my brother Nol and your precious wife, Daina, that you and your flock have the ability to live in the great wonders of our King and Savior, Christ Jesus.

To the congregation of Jaro, do you not see the opportunity of blessings to receive? Turn your eyes away from the desire of the flesh. Rebuke the stronghold of the desires of the world, but open your eyes to the glory of Heaven. The blessings and the presence of God is before your eyes. Sow, reap, and grow in the presence of the Lord, walk in the teachings of Christ as instructed in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 13. Do not listen to men of the world, but listen to the voice of God! He is in your mist, waiting for you to see, so open your eyes and ears to the mejesty of God. He is there in your presence, waiting for you to embrace His mercy and grace.

When we surrender to God and commit to His word, we find new life, not of flesh, but of Spirit. A new life filled with abundance of joy, love, peace, and happiness fills our soul. No matter what circumstances we face, we are content in the presence of the Lord.

The Lord rewards those who are faithful and righteous (1 Samuel 26:23). He blesses the child that seeks with an open heart to surrender to Jesus, our Anointed Savior! Do you not see the blessings before you? God is in your mist and moves before your presence. Surrender to worship and seek with spiritual eyes to His wonders and grace. Sing a new song, upon your heart, just as I taught when I was in your presence in 2022. Your sang that day with such praises to the Lord, but held yourselves back to fully surrender to His glory.

Surrender and watch what the Lord does to transfer your heart to such love and joy. Our Redeemer is calling to repentance and forgiveness! To raise His children with great abundance of life. Paradise was created before you all, this I truly know.

Carmel is the paradise created by God, for you to come. To give praises and watch the stronghold of the world around to be broken.

Carmel is a special place, where God stood strong with David, Elijah and Saul. Breaking strongholds and giving victory to those who trust in the name of the Lord.

Carmel is where your spiritual journey of the heart begins. The Carmelite way of life is a prophetic vocation, which, in the light of the prophet Elijah’s example (1Kings 19), means living in the presence of God and bearing witness to him. It is a combination of a life of union with God and a life of apostolic activity.

Carmel is where I saw the Lord in deep reflective thoughts to His splendor, grace, and mercy. It is these deep reflective thoughts, surrounded my desire to prayer, study, community, and service, drawing me closer to stillness, peace and God.

This my brothers and sisters, I recognized before you all, and expressed my testimony to the sight of His presence before our eyes. It is this sight that brought our desire to be a blessing to Pastor Nol, Diana and to the ministry in Carmel. We know the plans of God, laid out upon the heart of Pastor Nol and Diana, what was given to both Judy and I, to see Carmel as a refuge for all who truly seek the Lord.

You are young and growing! Growth pains you all face, but we place our love and faith in God for the works He is doing in Jaro and at Carmel. Seek God first and let Him be your first love.

Grow and act upon the teachings of Christ. Eat upon the word of God and drink the cup of salvation that brings everlasting life and come sit before the feet of the Lord, and celebrate the abundance the Lord will grant to you.

To you all, our heart and prayers are always with you all. My heart continues to delight in the love, hospitality, and the joy you all did in sacrificing your moment in life to bless Judy and I. May the Lord continue to grant favor over your lives, and may your love always be true to the Lord! He is truly before your eyes!

Love dearly and deeply within my heart!

Pastors Troy and Judy Husted.

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