Joyce Post-Surgery Update - Aug 10, 2014

So, it has been a couple of weeks since Joyce’s surgery.  She is doing fine.  The incision is healing up nicely.   We went to the doctor’s in Manila last week and had the stitches removed and learned the results of the pathology report.  All is good.  Her calcium levels are perfect, which means that her other parathyroid glands are functioning well.  So we are thankful. 

She is still having headaches however.  All the other symptoms seem to have disappeared, but the headaches seems to be lingering on.  We are a bit discouraged about that but rejoicing that all the other issues that were causing her much discomfort seem to have dissipated.  

Thank you for all your prayers, kind notes of encouragement and support during this time.  Please continue to pray as we continue to seek a solution to the headaches.

Update on Joyce - July 15, 2014

We just arrived back from the doctor’s office and Joyce is scheduled for surgery next Thursday the 25^th.  She will go in early in the day and have surgery in the afternoon and perhaps be able to go home on Saturday if all goes well.  Please be praying that this surgery will ease the suffering that she has been enduring for several years now.  Thanks to those who were praying that the scan test results would be ready for the surgeon’s appointment this evening.  While sitting in the office waiting for the doctor to come we got a call that the results were ready to be picked up. I walked down the hall, picked up the results, and was back to the office before the doctor arrived. 

The typhoon is expected to be overhead here in Manila sometime in the early morning hours and by the end of the day exit Luzon and head out into the South China Sea.  We are planning, Lord wiling, to travel back to Baguio on Thursday for the week.

We certainly would appreciate your prayers.  We know the Lord will take care of us and are resting in His faithfulness.

News From Baguio July 13, 2014

Greetings to you all from the mountains of Central Luzon,  It sure has been nice to be home for the last few days.  It was great to be with all the saints at the Navy Base assembly this past Lord’s Day. We received such a warm welcome back with hugs all around.  However we cannot stay long.  We must make the trip back down to Manila on Tuesday (July 15^th) for another doctor’s appointment for Joyce.

Since we arrived in Manila on June 27^th we have made multiple trips to Cardinal Santos Hospital in Greenhills Metro Manila for doctor’s visits, tests, scans and ultra-sounds.  The blood work-up definitely confirmed the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism and the high calcium levels in her blood.  It also revealed a very low vitamin D level and the two are related.  The ultra-sound revealed that she has no kidney stones or disease, which often accompanies hyperparathyroidism so for that we are deeply thankful.  Her mammogram also revealed that she remains cancer free, which was a blessing as well.  The bone density test revealed that as a result of the parathyroid glands leaching calcium out of her bones, teeth and fingernails she now has sever osteoporosis, which will need to be dealt with at a later time.  She also had a nuclear scan of her parathyroid glands and that is what causes us to return to Manila on Tuesday.

Tuesday evening we will learn the result of the nuclear scan.  If there is a tumor or enlargement of one or more of the parathyroid glands surgery will be the only option, which also brings immediate relief to most of the symptoms.  If they are no tumors or enlargements then another course of treatment will begin, which will give relief as well but over a period of time.  We are praying that this is indeed one of the causes of Joyce’s daily headaches.  Others who have had this surgery have been relieved of the headaches associated with it and it is our prayer that this will be the case with Joyce.  The bone density scan did reveal a problem with her neck, which we were aware of, and it may also be a cause of some of her headaches.

So currently our central focus is on getting Joyce well again.  Please be praying with us.  We will try to keep you updated via this blog, or on Facebook.   It has been a long haul, but Joyce is staying strong.
 

Currently there is a typhoon swirling in the Pacific and coming right at us.  It should be making landfall somewhere in Central Luzon pray for us as we travel on Tuesday when, in all likelihood, the rains associated with what will intensify into a Cat 2 storm, will begin to be felt.  We may have to stay in Manila an extra day while it passes and the flooding recedes. 

A Ministry within a Ministry - June 24, 2014

Our lives both as humans and as Christians are always in a state of fluidity.  We have certain anchors that moor us to pilings that do not move, yet although as believers we have a firm foundation the superstructure above is continually being altered.  Having Christ in our lives and having the Holy Spirit as a constant in our lives produces changes for the glory of our Savior as we learn to yield to His work in our lives.

I have often told my children as they were growing up that “You can never go home”, in the sense that when you return to that which in your memory has been classified and codified as “home” will not be the same when you return after many years.  The people in the neighborhood will have moved on, the school will be filled with students you do not know.  The buildings, roads and stores you once frequented will be different.  For better or for worse you simply cannot expect things to remain the same.

I am one personally who does not like change.  I want things to always remain the way they once were, except for in my personal walk with the Lord.

My thoughts this morning have been on a place called Faith Academy in Manila Philippines.  It was for so very long a central part of our lives.  My wife graduated from there, all of our children attended school there.  We knew all the people up there.  We knew all the teachers by name, all the staff members both Filipino and expatriate.  When we go up to Faith Academy these days there is that strange feeling of not knowing anyone. I wander around the campus from time to time and I remember.  I can hear my daughters cheerleading in the gym.  I can see them on the playground. I can see teachers and staff members that I grew to love.  I can see my daughters getting off the buses from Outdoor Ed. completely exhausted from a long week of adventures.  But things change.

Faith Academy has always been a ministry within a ministry.  There was the overall ministry of working with the national work, seeing men and women coming to know Christ and growing in their lives for Him. Seeing new churches established, orphanages built and schools organized.  But within that ongoing national work there was a sub-culture, if you will, a ministry within a ministry always going on up on that hill.  It was a school which was started for the education of the children of missionaries who were serving the Lord both in the Philippines and throughout the Pacific Rim or in all surrounding the Republic.  Here our children were given a world class education all the while being cared for and nurtured by a dedicated faculty and staff.

But things do not stay stagnant.  Over the years Faith Academy has grown.  Not only has the campus expanded and the staff requirements enlarged, but its ministry has expanded along with it.  It is more than ever a ministry within a ministry.  It has been transformed into a world class international school.  And in the transformation has become an opportunity to see the word of God be planted in the hearts of those beyond the missionary’s child’s hearts.   It is an opportunity to share the love of Christ and the wonderful salvation that He has provided to a new and growing group of individuals. Our eyes must be open to the wonder of the opportunity that the Lord is bringing in this new stage of life, for the school.

Some things however have not and will not change. One is the dedication of the teachers and staff who still come to Faith Academy short term or long term to serve the Lord.  They still come as those looking to the Lord alone to provide their needs.  No salaries are paid to faculty or staff, they trust the Lord to provide their month to month needs. And as costs rise in the Manila area and the availability of housing shrinks significantly we need to keep these dear servants of the Lord in our prayers.  Some are looking for affordable housing and are finding none.  Some are often forced to be in competition with other brothers and sisters in the Lord for the same housing as it comes available.  Pray for them as they look to the Lord for His provision and direction for their lives and ministry. Gone are the days when there seemed to be many homes available for rent at 300-400 dollars a month.  Time and demand have driven the prices to double that over the last several years.  Pray.

For those of you reading this who pray for those in the CMML handbook, remember those at Faith Academy.  A wonderful opportunity to serve the Lord is present at this school in the Hills of Valley Golf and as this ministry continues to grow and expand in many different directions, the Lord is using special men and women to bring His gospel to many and to help shape the lives of multitudes of future leaders in our local churches.  Uphold them in your prayers, support them in their efforts.  Call them, encourage them. At times they feel alone and vulnerable and a word of encouragement will go a long way.

I am so very thankful to the Lord for the ministry of Faith Academy.

Pictures

May 8, 2014 Greetings and Update from New Jersey

Well it has been a busy year, for which we thank the Lord.  Our travels this year have taken us from Connecticut to Chicago three times, Kansas City twice, St. Louis twice, Atlanta twice, Augusta, Several locations in Florida twice, Richmond Kentucky, Several locations in New Jersey while staying at CMML, Chambersburg PA, and Cincinnati.  We enjoyed a conference in Kansas City, Southern Florida, York and Cincinnati and one on Saturday here at CMML.  All of this was driving miles with the exception of the conference in Cincinnati.  While I was in Cincinnati for the weekend Joyce spoke at a women's conference at Greenwood Hills.  So it has been a busy and productive year.  Thanks to all who invited us to visit, it was such an encouraging year for Joyce and I.

Next week we will begin the trek that will eventually bring us back to Manila in about 49 days from the writing of this update.  We will finish up here in New Jersey next Thursday and then head up to Connecticut for a couple of meetings then over to Chicago for a couple of meetings, then down to Springfield IL for a midweek, then off to St. Louis for a visit with some friends, then finally back to Kansas City where we will drop off the car we leased this year from Missionary Motors and fly out of Kansas City to San Francisco and visit with some friends and speak on the Lord’s day there.  Then on the 26^th we will board a plane that will take us back to the Philippines.  I am tired just thinking about it.

When we arrive back in Manila we want to immediately begin preparations for a surgery that Joyce needs.  Please be praying with us that the constant headaches that she has been enduring for so many years now may be relieved by this procedure. 

 

Then we will head up the mountain to our home in Baguio.  It will be good to be “home” for a while. 

 

Thank you all so very much for your prayers and support of the Lord’s work among us.  May he richly blessed you all. 

Sep 1, 2013 Ministry Travels and Family Visits

Greetings to you all this time from the shoreline in New Jersey!!

We arrived home in the States on June 23rd and enjoyed being here for the birth of our newest grandson Lucian who arrived on July 11th to our daughter Rachel and her husband Ian.  It was so nice to be able to be here to hold him and be around for weeks afterwards to bond a bit with him.

I was also able to visit and share at several of the assemblies in the Connecticut area during that stay as well.  We visited the saints at Branford four times and were able to do a series on Psalm 1 which I enjoyed very much.  We also had visits at Westville, Wellspring, Waterbury and Cheshire.  It was such an encouraging time for us. It was so good for us to have that time with good friends and family.  A special thanks to all of you who had us over for meals and great times of fellowship.
 
Currently we are at CMML in New Jersey and enjoying the quiet of this wonderful place the Lord has provided.  It is a great time to be refreshed.  We will be speaking at several assemblies in and around NJ for several weeks and plan on being here until the middle of October.  Yesterday evening I was able to join a group from CMML and the Belmar 5th Ave assembly to visit the Auditorium in Ocean Grove where Luis Palau was speaking for the last meeting of their Summer Sessions.  It was a nice time with a good devotional message followed by an old fashioned Hymn sing accompanied by the huge pipe organ.  A good time of fellowship and encouragement was enjoyed by all.
 
Joyce is visiting with her parents in Florida this week to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary, and is enjoying her time with family there. She will by flying back here to NJ on Thursday the 5th.

From here we plan on returning to Connecticut for a couple of days and then head out to Chicago. We will be in Chicago for three weeks speaking on Sundays at  Warrenville and Palos Hills, two assemblies that always feel like home to us. From Chicago we will head to Kansas City and visit with an assembly there, pick up a car from Missionary Motors in KC and drive down to Florida to be there in time for Thanksgiving with the Ken Brooks family…it will be the first time all the children of Ken and Elaine will be together for Thanksgiving in over 30 years.

Please keep our travels in your prayers.  We will be home this year for a number of months.  Thanks for all your kind notes and support.  Our Lord is great, and greatly to be praised.

Update April 30, 2013 Korea Trip and Return

Greetings to you all from Baguio.  It is nice to be home. 

We enjoyed a very nice ten day visit to South Korea from April 12-23.  It was nice to be with our friends Tim and Yolly Stafford and to experience what special things the Lord is doing in their lives and ministry in and around Seoul.  

    We enjoyed a very warm welcome from many Filipinos and had the privilege of teaching a couple of Bible Studies with them at the home of Tim and Yolly.   This is a ministry that Tim and Yolly did not expect when they moved to Korea last year to begin a work for the Lord, but the Lord had other plans and He has used their warm and welcoming hearts to reach out to this group.  One night we had over twenty filling their small apartment. It was a special treat for me to teach this group in Tagalog and to speak to them as well in Ilokano, since some were from the Ilokano speaking regions of the Philippines.  At times I felt like I had not even left the Philippines, the smells of Filipino food cooking and the sound of Tagalog being spoken around me, made me feel right at home.    
  I was also given the opportunity to share from the word at two local Korean churches on the two Lord’s days we were there.  I have found the Korean brothers and sisters to be so very warm and welcoming and I have enjoyed their fellowship.  Tim translated for me at one of the gatherings and another dear brother took on that challenge the following Saturday and Sunday. We just continue to pray for Tim and Yolly and look forward to visiting again as the Lord allows.   We pray that the things shared will produce fruit for the Lord and His Kingdom.

    Here in Baguio the work continues on.  We are in the middle of the school break, which is vacation time here in the mountains.  May 1^st is a holiday here and we are planning a tract distribution in and around Baguio for that day since many will be in town.  Normally it is the day of our assembly outing, but the elders decided this year that it would be profitable to use this day as an outreach.  We are praying that many will be convicted of their need of a Savior and that the Lord will use this activity for the furtherance of His Kingdom.

    We will begin the third “semester “ of Bible school at the assembly at Navy Base in a couple of weeks.  We are continuing our study in eschatology.  We will have five more sessions this time around and plan to cover chapters 12-16 of Revelation.  We pray it will be an encouragement to the saints.

    The home Bible studies will be starting up again this week after a brief break for VBS and for my Korea trip.  We pray that these studies may continue to be used of the Lord as a way of encouraging His people and also as a means of sharing the gospel with those who still do not have a saving knowledge of the savior.

    Thank you all once again for your kind prayers and support of the Lord’s work here among us.  May the Lord bless you as you labor for Him in your part of the vineyard.  

February 5, 2013 Update

Greetings to you all, once again, from the mountains of Central Luzon. It has been a while since our last update. The busy holidays are now behind us and the new year is already over a month old, the time just seems to fly by.

The work of the Lord here is going along well, for which we give Him thanks. The Men's Conference in December went very well, there were several hundred men in attendance and the word shared was well received.

The daily home Bible studies are still producing some nice fruit for His glory and we are so thankful. We began the third Semester of Bible School at the Navy Base Assembly this past Lord's Day afternoon and attendance is still very good. This will run now until the second week of March. My preparations for Special Studies are all complete and Joyce and I will be heading down the hill for that week of classes on the 18th of February and returning home on the 22nd. They are expecting over 100 men and women for these classes this year since they are offering them free of charge to any full time worker and their wives. With that in mind I had to limit the amount of handout material I will be bringing. I plan on giving them a simple outline for each class. My subject this year is Expository Teaching, something near and dear to my heart.

 The Lord provided, through the women's conference in Chicago, funds which were used to help a poor family from the assembly in Baguio Gold. We were enabled to purchase materials for his family to build a new structure to live in. It is about double the size of the small shanty that they lived in for many years. Their home now has windows and a new roof that will not leak when the rainy season begins. It also has a concrete floor and new wood and siding for the walls...such a blessing. This man and his children have been faithful at the assembly there for many years. A special thanks to all who had a part in providing these funds for Habitat and Health. The funds also allowed us to help a woman with some medical work she needed done. So we are very thankful to the Lord.

 I am now beginning my preparations for our visit to Korea in April. I will have a rather full schedule while I am there but we are looking forward to spending time with Tim and Yolly Stafford, and to visit with the saints both in the Korean and Filipino assembilies.

Please keep Special Studies, the Bible School, the Home Bible Studies and the preparations for Korea in your prayers.

 Thank you all for your prayers and kind support of the Lord's work here among us. May He be glorified.

November 29, 2012 Update

Greetings to you all once again from Baguio.

 The Christmas season is upon us and it causes our hearts to remember the greatest of all gifts.  What a wonder it is that God would become a man in order to pay the penalty for our sin and redeem those who would put their faith and trust in that finished work.  It is good to remember.  It is good each week to sit around His table and remember who He is and what He has done. 

We are thankful to the Lord for providing us with a newer vehicle for the ministry here in the Mountains.  We were enabled by Him to purchase a 2009 Ford Everest 4X4.  So we went from a car that was 21 years old to a car that is just approaching 4 years old!!  Quite a difference.  We are so very thankful to Him.   

Tomorrow we make the drive back up to Kayapa and the three hour hike across the mountain trails to hold the Bible Study.  This is truly fertile soil and we pray as the seed is scattered that it would find the good soil of hearts prepared to receive the gospel, and that fruit would be borne.  Please pray with us.    I am a bit concerned about the drive so pray that the Lord would settle my heart.  We will be driving up in the early morning darkness and coming back in darkness as well,  across mountain roads that I am not real familiar with.  It is a hard drive, please be praying.  

The home Bible studies continue to be a source of encouragement to me.  Fruit is evident in the lives of those whom we have been teaching and to a teacher that is a tremendous source of joy.  

We finished up the second semester of Bible School a couple of weeks back.  It was quite a profitable time.  Many attended and we trust the Lord will use those things taught to build up the saints and lift their up their eyes, for their redemption draws near.  

In a few weeks I will be teaching at the Men’s Conference in the lowlands.  This will be my second time to be invited to speak to this gathering of men from all over the islands.  It is a wonderful opportunity for which I thank the Lord.  Continue to pray as I put the final touches on the message and as I prepare my heart before the Lord to deliver it.

My preparations for Special Studies are coming along well.  I am now in the process of organizing all my notes and putting them into a syllabus of sorts from which the lessons will come.  This year they have offered to pay the tuition for all full time workers and their wives to attend.  So we are expecting well over 100 students.  So please pray as I make decisions regarding notes and handouts for such a large group. 

Again I thank you all for your prayers for us and the Lord’s work here in the mountains of Central Luzon.  May the Lord continue to bless you….

The Latest from Baguio - October 31, 2012

Greetings once again to you all, and thank you all for your prayers for the Lord’s work here in the mountains. 

The work here continues to go well.  The home Bible studies are producing some fruit for the Kingdom and we are so thankful to the Lord for this encouragement.  On Friday evenings we have three studies at three different homes up at Tip-Top.  They are three lovely families and I enjoy visiting with them each week.  Two of those families have started coming out on Sunday mornings for the Sunday School time and the Family Bible hour, which is such an encouragement.   The Tuesday night study continues to be a blessing to me personally.  That family always enjoys the study time and consistently are learning and growing, as anyone who teaches the Word of God knows there is no greater blessing than to see folks eager and hungry for the Word of God. 

Our trip to Kayapa had to be postponed due to heavy rains.  The barangay captain texted us and told us that the roads were too slippery and that we should not come at this time.  So we are praying for the Lord’s guidance as to when we will be able to return to that area to share the gospel. The fields there are truly “ripe unto harvest.” I was a bit discouraged that we had to cancel, but the Lord has a plan in all these things so we will wait on Him and trust in His leading.  Keep this in your prayers.

This week the assembly at Navy Base will be having a Family Day at Camp John Hay.  These times are always so good for the assembly family as it builds bonds between us all.  We are praying that some of the new families will join us so that they can begin to feel a part of the assembly and not just “visitors”.

I continue in my preparations for upcoming conferences and seminars for the end of the year and into the New Year, so please keep these things in your prayers .  I have been spending many hours at my desk trying to prepare in advance since my regular studies keep me quite busy as well.  

We are going to have our fourth session in this “semester” of our Mini Bible School at Navy Base this coming Lord’s Day.  The turnout for these studies has been very good, and we are thankful to the Lord for that.  We pray that what is taught would bring honor and glory to the Lord and be an encouragement and challenge to the Lord’s people.

On another subject, I was wondering if any of the assemblies that you are in fellowship at have over the past couple of years upgraded your sound systems and you have tucked in a file cabinet somewhere an old wireless lapel mike system that you are no longer using.  If so, and you would like to donate it to the work here I would certainly appreciate it.  There have been many times I wish I had one to take along with me to different meetings.  It is a bit cumbersome sometimes to try and hold a mike and speak for me, since I have a hard time standing behind the pulpit, as many of you know.

Also we are beginning to realize that we will need to replace our 1991 Mitsubishi vehicle in the near future.  She has been a real work horse for us but her age is catching up with her and her maintenance is a regular on going situation.  We need a vehicle I can depend on when taking trips up the mountain trail, and not have to be worrying about whether or not it will break down and strand us.  We are so thankful to those who have helped us keep her on the road, but her days seem to be numbered.  Please be praying with us regarding this ministry need,  that the Lord would provide a newer vehicle for His work here.

Again, thank you all so very much for your prayers for His work here among us.  May the Lord continue to bless you all as you serve Him in your part of the vineyard.

Update, September 19, 2012

Greeting to you all from Baguio, I pray that you are all doing well and rejoicing in our wonderful Lord.     A couple of things to report for your prayers:

Please pray for the various on-going home Bible studies.  We are seeing good fruit from a couple of them, and two families who have come to know the Lord are now in fellowship at the assembly, for which we thank the Lord.  We pray for consistency and growth in their spiritual lives.  In another study we are encouraged to see the hunger that these saints have for the clear teaching of the Word.  Pray that they may continue to grow in grace.  

Secondly, please be praying for the upcoming Bible school session scheduled to begin on October 14^th.  It is the second “semester” of classes on Eschatology, and we will begin our look at the book of Revelation.  The first “semester” of classes was well attended by young and old alike and I was much encouraged by their desire to learn.  We are praying that they will all be able to return to continue this study.  

Thirdly, please be praying for the assembly down in Baguio Gold.  They seem to be struggling a bit and could certainly use your prayers.  Pray for wisdom and guidance for the elders as they deal with some recent issues.    

We would also appreciate prayers for Joyce.  She has been having some health issues which we are trying to get diagnosed.  She has had some heart problems and has gone through a battery of tests.  We will be finding out the results today (Wednesday September 19, 2012).  She has been quite fatigued and has been experiencing many heart palpitations, please keep her in your prayers.

We are preparing for the Men’s conference in December on the topic of “Protecting the church from modernism” and for the Special Study classes in February on the topic of “Expository Teaching” Please keep these preparations in your prayers as well.

We will return later this month to Kayapa which is a new outreach about two hours drive Northeast of Baguio on the Mountain Trail.  The last study there went very well and there were many questions regarding salvation by grace through faith without works. It was our third visit to this remote village. Now that the rainy season is coming to a close we hope to make monthly trips up for studies, often times this requires hiking three hours on the trails to reach the homes where these studies are taking place.  Our goal is to eventually see a new assembly started in this town. 

This week we head down to Manila for a visit.  Joyce has a weekend conference to attend with our daughter Kim this coming weekend.  I will be speaking at one of the local assemblies in the area. Next week Joyce’s brother Dale, his wife Lois and their daughter Dorothy along with her husband Aaron will be arriving for a two week visit.  Dale will be the speaker at our expat missionary retreat the first week of October.  The retreat always is a time for us to reunite with fellow missionaries and learn of what the Lord is doing in different parts of the Philippines.  Good teaching that feeds our souls is also much appreciated.  We will return to Baguio on October 8^th.
 

Well, I have given you a lot to pray for!!  I trust you will continue to support us by your prayers.  Pray for the Lord’s provision for the needs of the poor among us.  We love you all and give thanks to our Lord for you.  God bless….

Nice to Be Home - Update - August 12, 2012

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

     These verses were on my mind this morning as we begin to settle in once again here in Baguio.  It is nice to be home.  We spend a wonderful morning yesterday with the saints at Navy Base remembering the Lord and hearing from His word.

     The trip home was fine and without incident as there was no flooding on any of the roads that we used.  The roads were in pretty bad shape and my poor car got knocked around quite a bit by all the pot holes, but survived.  Kennon Road, the road up the mountain to Baguio, was open as well to light vehicles, and we were able to pass without any problem.  At Camp 4 a bridge was washed out but we were able to skirt around it and still pass.  It is raining again this morning and talk of a new storm approaching.

     We are now beginning to focus our eyes on the next several months and what the Lord would have us do.  I am now scheduled to speak at the Men’s Conference in Bulacan in December and to teach at Special Studies in February, also at the camp site in Malolos.  I am also beginning preparations to teach the next Bible school session here in Baguio, continuing our lessons in Eschatology.   We will begin the home bible studies again next week , Lord willing.  So in very short order we will be back to the regular routine, which is always comforting to me.  I enjoy and need regular routine.  I love and thrive in the “rut”.

     Continue to pray for those of your brothers and sisters in Manila who have been affected so severely by the floods which plagued the lowlands once again.  Some close friends from San Juan had to be evacuated from their homes as the flood waters were reaching up to the second floor. We thank the Lord that all are safe, but several of the chapel buildings and many families from those works in various parts of Luzon have been affected once again, so please keep them in your prayers.  And be praying for Dave Harvey and those handling the relief efforts that the Lord would give them wisdom as they use the funds that the Lord will provide.

     The outreach up in Kayapa is currently on hold due to the heavy rains, so be praying that we will be able to return there, once the rains have subsided.  The last time the brothers were able to go up they had a study that lasted past mid-night because those hearing the word had many questions regarding salvation by grace through faith alone.  So keep this outreach in your prayers.

Thank you all for your prayers and for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read this update. 

     May the Lord continue to bless you all for His glory!!

April 27 - Kayapa Ministries

We arrived back from Kayapa safe and sound yesterday afternoon after smoking brakes and cars that had the water boiling in the radiators.  It was a hard drive both ways, but after a few stops to let the cars recover, we made it safely back to Baguio.

The time spend in Kayapa was profitable. There were over 30 kids out to the VBS programs and close to 40 people out for the film showing.  I was amazed to see them intently watching the movie on Thursday night.  All eyes were glued to the screen, even to watch the credits at the end. 

We also had Bible studies with those who where around during the time VBS was going on.  It was a good time of study with many questions being asked.  We met some other brothers and sisters in Christ who have been hungry for teaching.  Next time they want us to come and visit their place and have a Bible study.  It is just a three hour hike across the mountains.  Lord willing we will be able to have a study in that area the next time we visit and we are praying to establish two more studies in the surrounding areas as well. 

The next we travel over to Kayapa we plan to visit families scattered around the mountain side and try to begin these new home Bible studies as the Lord leads, then to return,  initially once a month, to teach.  We are thankful to the Lord for what He is doing in the hearts of the people in this region. We were so well received by all.  

 Thank you all for your prayers…

April 25, 2012 The Lord's work in the Central Luzon Mountains

Greetings to you all and thank you once again for all your prayers.  Tomorrow, (Thurs. 4-26) we head back over the mountains to Kayapa for a two day outreach.  It is a rather hard drive for me on some very steep and windy roads through the mountains. We will be leaving Baguio at about 6 AM and plan to hold a VBS program in Kayapa both on Thursday  and Friday mornings.  In the afternoons we plan on doing visitation and some evangelistic Bible studies as the Lord opens opportunities.  Thursday evening we plan on showing a gospel film.  Please be praying for this new outreach that the Lord would save souls and establish a new work in this area for His glory.  Two assemblies are working together in this endeavor there will be 16 of us from the Navy Base assembly traveling over and 12 from another assembly in Nueva Vizcaya. 

Tuesday of next week (May 1) the Navy Base assembly will be having an outing down at the beach in San Fernando.  We will be having a baptism at this time as well.  Seven are planning on being baptized at this time.  What a blessing to see these dear saints desiring to be obedient to the Lord.

 Wednesday of next week we will be driving down to Manila and would appreciate your prayers. I will be speaking at the assembly in San Juan on May 6^th.

Continue to pray that the Lord would keep our car running well without any breakdowns over these mountain roads as well as on our trip down to Manila.

Thank you all once again for taking the time from your busy day to read this update on the Lord’s work here in the mountains of Central Luzon.  May the Lord bless you all for HIS glory.

Pictures March 20, 2012

Update - March 20, 2012

Greetings to you all in that name which is above every name, the name to which one day every knee will bow and every mouth confess that HE is Lord, to the glory of the Father.  What a wonderful day that will be!!   “What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, just to look into His face, this one who saved me by His grace…”

Things here are going very well, for which we give the Lord our thanks.  The weekly studies are moving along nicely and people are encouraged.  The Sunday meetings at the Navy Base assembly are packed out each Sunday morning.  We have run out of chairs for the Sunday School and need to purchase some new ones, what a wonderful problem to have!! 

The new “semester” of Bible school at Navy Base has about 25 who are studying this time around, I think it is the largest group since we started these sessions back in 2007.  We are currently studying the prophecies of Daniel and will finish up with that overview this Sunday and begin a look at the Olivet Discourse of our Lord.  It has been an enjoyable study to teach.

There are a few here that are going through some very difficult times of trial and testing.  Much of the suffering that they are enduring is not a result of their own personal sin and failure but that of those around them.  So they are suffering affliction, but are remembering that “….in Faithfulness you have afflicted me” Psalm 119:75.  Please pray that the Lord’s will might be done in the lives of these dear saints.

Joyce remains cancer free, for which we give our Lord praise. She had an ultrasound yesterday since the doctor had some concerns but it showed no irregularities and no problems.   It is just one of the many blessings that He allows us to enjoy.  My last tests have shown that all systems are go.  My heart is doing well, my body is tolerating all the drugs without a problem and there are no irregularities, again we give the Lord our praise for His unmerited kindness to us.

We will be returning to Kayapa next month to hold a DVBS program, have a film showing, hold some studies and do some visiting, Lord willing.  Please keep this new venture in your prayers.  We pray for the salvation of souls and the eventual beginning of a new assembly in this region as the Lord leads and allows.

Thank you all so very much for your prayers.  He is a wonderful God to serve!

Update February 25, 2012

Greetings to you all from Baguio, it is so nice to be home.  I was quite surprised this morning when I checked my web site and noticed that I had not sent out an update since the end of December.  Things have been a bit hectic these last weeks and the time has just flown by.   
We spent last week in Manila while I taught at Special Studies at the Bible school in Malolos.  We are thankful to the Lord that the time seemed to be quite profitable.  There were some good times of discussion and questions regarding families and their responsibilities in the local church as well as the responsibilities of fathers and mothers in the discipline and raising of children in the home.  We pray that the lessons learned my have a positive impact on the biological families as well as on the local church families as the principles learned are applied.

Our car made the trip down and back, but there still are some more serious issues that need to be addressed.  Old Betsy, as she is fondly called, is in need of some rehab.  She has been a real work horse for us but she is beginning to show her age.  There are some reoccurring issues that need to be resolved and some new ones that came up during our time in Manila. We are so very thankful to the Lord that we were able to nurse her back home.  This week she will go back into the shop to have some things worked on.  Some things must be repaired before we can register her again in June or she will not pass inspection. Please be praying.  This car is so much depended on for ministry and right now my confidence level in her reliability is fading.  Please pray that the Lord would give us wisdom as to what our next steps should be. 

This week I will be completing final preparations for the next Bible school session that will begin next Sunday (March 4) at the Navy Base assembly.   I will be preparing the student notebooks, printing all the handouts and outlines as well as finishing up my personal notes and reviewing all the material for this semester.  We will be taking up Eschatology this time around and it should be a challenging subject for all.  I am looking forward to teaching it.  Please be praying that this would be a profitable time for all.

This week we get back to our regular schedule of Bible studies and meetings.  Sunday we are at Navy Base, next Sunday we will be down in Baguio Gold in the morning.  We will have home Bible studies on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday these next few weeks with a study also on Wednesday nights at the chapel.  Continue to pray for the continued effectiveness of these studies.  We desire to see those who attend these studies in regular fellowship at the assembly once they have received the Lord as Savior.  We have been seeing some good fruit in the lives of many, and are thankful to the Lord.

            Thank you all for your prayers.

December 30, 2011 Pictures

Update - Dec 30, 2011

Greetings once again, to you all, in the precious name of our Redeemer;

                 Happy New Year to you!  Perhaps this coming year we will hear the shout and be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.  But while we wait to hear His sweet voice may we be about His business for His glory.

                  It is hard to believe that another year is about to close.  It has been a challenging year in many respects, but also a another year in which the Lord has blessed and encouraged our souls.  This time last year we were anticipating our trip to Korea to minister to the saints there.  What a blessing that was.  It was a year full year of conferences, home bible studies, speaking engagements, and bible school sessions.  I just pray that the Lord will used His word in the hearts of those who heard, and that genuine change for good will be the lasting result. 

                 This week I was given the privilege to speak at a youth conference here in Baguio hosted by the Navy Base assembly.  Eighty five young people along with several elders and workers from assemblies in the North were in attendance.  It was a lively group of young people and we enjoyed hearing their special numbers and presentations.  I spoke on the theme of “Looking unto Jesus”. They were such an attentive group and I very much enjoyed sharing with them a few thoughts out of Hebrews 12.  I trust the Lord will use it for the encouragement and challenge of these young disciples of Christ.  The message was followed by a nice meal and then fun and games in the afternoon  I am told by the time the conference was over it was like no one wanted to go home.  Such a blessing. 

 

                On Christmas day I spoke at the Navy Base assembly.  We met to remember the Lord, and then went straight into the preaching time after a few songs.  I was a nice way to remember the “Word which became flesh and dwelt amongst us”.  It is wonderful to remember that He still dwells in our midst.  

                The week before the assembly at Navy Base celebrated their 36^th year in the building they now occupy.  That was a wonderful time of celebration of the faithfulness of God.  The youth choir sang, the children performed special numbers and the adult choir sang the Hallelujah chorus and did a wonderful job.       Then we all enjoyed a meal together and in the afternoon met together once more for a time of singing praise unto our Lord.  A truly blessed day.

                This week I will be speaking at the Anniversary Sunday down in Baguio Gold.  I plan, Lord wiling, to share some thoughts on the Faithfulness of our God, out of Lamentations 3.  This will begin a short series on that subject for the two Sundays a month that I speak down there.   Then next Lord’s Day we will begin that last semester of bible school classes on Ecclesiology there as well.  Once that is complete we will begin all over again with a new series of bible school lessons on Eschatology, beginning Lord willing sometime in February at Navy Base.  So please keep these things in your prayers.

                May the Lord richly bless you in the coming year. May He comfort and encourage us all through struggles that will come, may He cause our heart to soar with delight at gems discovered in His precious word, may He teach us and train us in righteousness, may He discipline us when it is necessary, and may we by this time next year have experienced  real growth in our walk and relationship with Him.