SouthEast Asia Update (day 6)

Day 6 - yesterday finished extremely well with great conversations with the three university students with whom we had scheduled to meet.  Conversations were finally turned to spiritual discussions and two of the three eagerly accepted Books.

Plans were also made to have them connect with a small group gathering of young people the following Sunday.  One of the local M's will also follow-up with them.

Praise the Father for His favor on these meetings.  Please pray for our three meetings scheduled for today and the 10 hour train ride to our next destination.  Pray for good connections with the Unreached/Unengaged people group that our church has adopted and for the advancement of the Good News!

We may not have very good Internet service for the next five days but will try to update to the best of our ability.  Thank you prayer warriors!!!!

SouthEast Asia Updates (days 1 - 5)

Day 1 - arrived late afternoon today (4/18) but had time to do some pr walking and attempted to connect with some key personnel for this region.  Unfortunately, our attempts failed for this meeting but will attempt another day.  Now after a long trip, we hope to get some rest for the next steps in our journey.

                                                                 

Day 2 - a necessary part of our schedule must be sightseeing excursions so our morning included a very important museum, a prison with a long and memorable history, and a significant university.

The afternoon was spent in preparation for our evening coffee house meeting with university students.  It seems as if the enemy continues to present obstacles as we have just found out that this weekend is an important holiday and students are out of school and offices are closed as well.

Day 3- last evening was one of those moments when you wonder if you listened and followed the will of God.  The day was filled with one student after another notifying us that they would be unable to attend the coffee house talk.

Several continued saying they would attend but we spent the evening with one of our M's and two shop workers.

Not always sure how the Father is working but we know, of course, He is always at work.  We have to trust in His sovereignty and make ourselves available for our small part.  Perhaps our mission was to encourage the M and these two student workers.

Day 4 - many of the students who cancelled on Friday evening indicated they would be attending the Saturday coffee talk.  It was still the holiday weekend so we were not sure how many would show up. 

During the day, we had one-on-one meetings with two key members of our "group," here in this city.  They both are new members and we have been training them for the past three years and two years, respectively.  We were very pleased to see and hear how one, in particular, is growing in her walk.  Both are highly-skilled professionals and can have a significant impact in their hometowns and provinces.

There were only seven students who came this evening but the advantage was that we could spend quality time with each one.  Plans will be developed to connect with most of these during the coming week for individual time in hopes of having more meaningful discussions.

Day 5 - last member of our team arrived late last evening safe but tired.  She was, however, up early to start the day's activities.

Plans have been made to meet three of the students from last evening during the day today.  These meetings will be interspersed with a meeting with another of our M's as well as a team of volunteers from our home area!  What a pleasant surprise to find they are staying in the same hotel.

 Visited another museum this morning and anyone who knows me, knows how much I REALLY enjoy spending time in museums, ha.  It is a necessary part of our plans.  Attempted to visit another museum complex but it looked like the line was hours long because of the holiday.  Saved by the lines!

Philippines Update

      It has been a great journey so far and looking forward, with great anticipation, to what The Lord is going to do over these next 10 days.  Especially pray for the meetings with university students over the next two nights.

Philippines Update Day 4

Day 4 - Today was a very busy but productive day for our team. We held VBS from 9 a.m. to about 1 p.m., and then had lunch with the church volunteers.  Then there was time for practice of skits and songs for the evangelistic service in a different squatter village in the late afternoon.

We were able to get back to the hotel and get cleaned up and have a short rest before heading back out again. Even this short period of time provided a much needed respite from the heat.

We had a wonderful street service with songs by the local church (New Hope Fellowship) as well as by our team. We presented one group mime and then had additional songs followed by another group mime - both powerful messages where language was not a barrier. Finally, Bryan presented a clear Gospel message tied in to the last group mime.

The children and families seemed to really enjoy the evening and no one seemed to get disturbed that we were basically blocking the entire street. Many paused to join in the celebration service!

The team is still maintaining good health and great spirits! It is such a joy to serve the children of these villages and work alongside amazing servants of our Lord. Continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to draw many children, especially the older children, to a saving faith in Jesus this week and will be bold witnesses to their families and neighbors in these extremely poor squatter villages.

Philippines Team

Philippines Update Days 2 and 3

Day 2 - our day began with 350 - 400 children for Super Kids Bible Club.  This is a Saturday ministry for street children and children from several squatter villages.  They receive Bible teaching, academic tutoring, games, and are fed a hearty lunch!  So much energy in one place it was a little overwhelming, ha.

The children welcomed us as if we were their best friends in the whole world and loved on us far more than we could ever show them.  It was great to see many that we have known for the three years we have served with this ministry.

Day 3 - we enjoyed being in worship with our brothers and sisters-in- Christ on this warm, Sunday.  It is such a joy to see people pouring out their praise and love for The Lord without any inhibitions.  Bryan preached on Ephesians 2 and God spoke clearly to our previous condition and what God has done for us through His grace and love.

 

This evening we participated in the youth service and wow, what a wonderful, energetic group of young people!  Again, it was wonderful to just watch these youth worship unabashedly, pouring out their love, praise, and worship to their King.  What a blessing for our team as we prepare for this next week of VBS, ministry in the squatter villages, and a couples night on Tuesday evening.

The team is healthy and excited about this partnership and praying for many children to come to faith in Christ.  We desire your prayers that we will be a good reflection of God's love with everyone we meet this week.

Philippines Update

We made it into Manila about 11 p.m., Manila time, without any delays or other problems.  By the time we got through customs and picked up our bags, we didn't get to our hotel until 12:45 a.m., only to find no one there to get us into our rooms.  Had to find another hotel and finally got to bed around 2 a.m.

Please pray for our hotel arrangements to work out better today and we can transfer to the correct location.  Pray for the VBS program as we begin the ministry to the street children and families from two squatter villages.

Everyone appears to be healthy but very tired.  Pray for strength and that we are able to find the rest we need in The Lord.

Blessings,

Team Philippines