Small weather update...

Some blue sky today! Please pray that it will continue.  They just had a seminar on faith with agta church here.  Then they had lunch of monggo beans and...

that's all I received.  I'm sure there's more message that I'm missing!

Week 3...

I did not receive an update for week 2!

Susan sends her greetings!  She says it's been raining there for about a week, and that the river is up by about 15 feet.  The farms around them are under water, as is the runway!  Please pray for safety for the people of Pananan.  She wants everyone to know that SHE IS SAFE because she is on a hilltop.  Her flight out is on December 1st, so pray for the weather then, too! :)

The school is amazing.  God is doing mighty things!  Last week, the topic was "humility breaks pride."  Next week is their final week, and it will end with a "graduation."  The topic is still being prayed about!  God is so good!

First week back!

Susan and the team had a great first week back.  They started with a time of reviewing the content of the first six weeks.  The students all participated in presenting the topics after having a time of group discussion.  The team is really learning about this walk in faith.  They can't see farther ahead than 1 or 2 days.  God is telling them that there is still more and that they aren't finished yet.  

This week, the plan is to teach on dying to self. Susan begs for your prayers, reiterating that they are very much needed. Specifically, Susan is dealing with some sort of digestion issue this week, and she asks for prayer that it will clear up quickly.

Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and support!

The First 6 Weeks..only 4 to Go!!

Wow! it’s been a blessing! A mind boggling experience! A once in a life-time adventure to be a part of what GOD has been doing with the people of Isabela Province on the northeastern coast of the Philippines. I have no other words to describe how grateful I am to be used by GOD for the discipleship and training of these 46 precious students. It’s so humbling.

For the past 6 weeks, our team of 9 has been discipling 46 students. Some are pastors, some are tribal villagers, some are youth and new believers, some illiterate, some highly educated and multi-lingual, and all are eager for a deeper relationship with their Father. Even some of our students have more missions experience than we do! These Christians know how to live on the edge. They know frontier missions! It’s so humbling that they asked us for a Discipleship Training Course. And it’s amazing that GOD asked us to go and be used for this exact purpose.

Through the 10 week course here are some of the awesome testimonies we're seeing:
· dad's learning how to be fathers by modeling their Heavenly Father,
· students recovering their true identities,
· deep forgiveness being extended,
· husbands affirming their wives for the first time and wives practicing the same,
· worship moving beyond the norm
· our team experiencing the grace to go through this process
· and unity inspired only by the Holy Spirit.

Many times we as Christians, take the basic teachings in the course for granted. We have all heard these messages many times but can easily forget the power in living them out. When the Holy Spirit brings inspiration to these simple teachings revelation is established in the student’s lives so deeply. We have seen this week after week. Through topics and discussion groups on Hearing GOD’s Voice, Recovering True Identity, Father Heart of GOD, and Forgiveness the students eagerly seek the Holy Spirit on how this is applicable to their life! It’s a beautiful process and again we are humbled so see that GOD has brought us to this particular mission.

We have been in the city for one week on a bit of a break. We will fly again on the Wycliffe Plane to Palanan in the morning.

This is not easy...being so far away with little access to things we call "normal"...but what is so cool is to see these peoples' lives changed to the core. GOD really loves these people; our team just can't get over that. : ) Every time we bow our heads or have a team meeting we know for sure this is what this remote place needs at this exact time and that we are supposed to be there. Duane, our leader, even said that he was sure we wouldn't be able to accomplish or finish or endure if it hadn't been for such a strong team that GOD put together for this assignment. That was affirming and encouraging of him and I KNOW that I'm where I'm supposed to be! : )

So, we send this to ask that you please pray with us for the students to respond deeply to the Holy Spirit with the revelation and conviction to change, to pray that our flight out on Dec. 1 will be on schedule despite the typhoon season, to pray for our team, and for the small amount of donations still needed to cover the operational expenses of the training course.

Many thanks to my beautiful cousin for posting on this blog AND texting me throughout the 6 weeks....check out her blog and meet her 4 adorable munchkins...one of whom is a miracle baby...:)

Photos

Speaking in the night service...Hazel is translating for me...

Travel Scrabble...a relaxing Saturday afternoon...

My friends Loida, Bethel and Jacilyn.

Below: English lesson, Day 1.

Photos

One of the local churches...that's sand for a floor...one of our weekends we traveled to this village and had a seminar....then slept overnite...so peaceful...

3 missionary friends...:)

My friend Diyele praying for me as I started my week speaking on Forgiveness...

Below: Lunch time!! Diyele and her husband with 3 of her 10 kids...the oldest is about 26.

Photos

teaching English..."How are you?"

Amay Bulol and I showing off our bolos...scary, huh??

Yep...we're watching a movie...somehow we had electricity during the day (usually it's just at nite for a few hours with the generator...)

Below: Lunch outside...too hot inside...

Photos

My small group...we meet twice a week to process the lecture and support each other through the school....it's done in the Palanan language...and then paraphrased in English for me by the woman on the left....challenging to really understand what's going on....leaves me lots of time to just listen and trust that God can work beyond language barriers.

a family down by the river for a few days...they'll sleep in that shelter and cook their rice too...like camping....with no amenities.:)

The two beautiful women with Laura and I are missionaries in Palanan. They are so happy to be able to participate in this course....God is refreshing them....

Below: The whole class....all 46 of them plus 9 staff and about 10 kids...

Photos

I borrowed a little baby girl for just a few minutes....no, I didn't keep her...:)

May-Ann...soooooooooooo cute and sweet kid...

Below: Stones representing things in our hearts that we are holding against another person...things we need to release in forgiveness...

Weeks Five-Six

Wow! Six weeks of Susan's school is almost finished! This week, Susan is speaking on forgiveness. They've finished two days and have been able to really see God moving . Please pray for them tomorrow (I think that's Philippine tomorrow, so maybe that means today?) as they lead the students in releasing forgiveness. Pray that God will bring healing. On Friday, weather permitting, Susan and the team will fly to Baguio for their one week break. Susan will plan to share more with all of us at this time, time permitting. She sends you her blessings!

Week Four!

This week ended with an amazing ministry time. After teaching on the Father Heart of God, we had a time of praying the Father's blessing over each of the students. They each received three items that represented something from the prodigal son story. They each received a ring, representing the authority of a son, a shirt for the robe representing love and protection covering them, and sandals, showing son status rather than the bare feet of a slave. These together gave a physical picture and reminder of what God gives all His children. Susan feels so blessed to be there and be part of what God is doing. Praise the Lord.

Update:

Got this this morning!

We got back last night from their adventurous weekend. It was completely amazing. I spoke for part of the seminar in the fishing village using a fishing net as a picture of a relationship. The Lord showed me how to show them that unless their relationships in their body are intact, bound through love and communication, with the holes and tears repaired through forgiveness, God can't use them as effectively to bring others to Himself. I was excited to use such a practical life example. This week, the teaching is on the Father heart of God. Please pray for His heart to be revealed!

Blessings to all of you!

Week Three!

Susan just gave me this message!

I am now on a boat on the way to a coastal AGTA village two hours away. We will have a church seminar in this very remote place and then tomorrow morning, travel to another village where we will have the service and a seminar afterwards. Please pray that we will be culturally relevant and that God will speak clearly through us. Also for safety. ☺ Thanks for your prayers. We need them, and are really seeing God move! ☺ Blessings!

I have passed the comments on from the previous entries. Please continue to uphold Susan and the team in your prayers! ☺

Week Two!

The second week of teaching went well. The topic was "identity," and they explained who we are in God. It was transformational in the lives of the students as God revealed to them who He says they are. Susan said, "It was beautiful!" This week, they will be covering the topic of "Foundations of a Healthy Family." Please pray for good weather so the speaker is able to fly in! The team is doing well. As for Susan, she is enjoying the time there, but it has been a challenge!

Please keep praying!

Update!

Susan and the team just finished their first week of school.  They shared messages from our theme verse, Isaiah 62: 10-12, during this time:

10 Go through, go through the gates;

prepare the way for the people;

build up, build up the highway;

clear it of stones;

lift up a signal over the peoples.

11 Behold, the Lord has proclaimed

to the end of the earth:

Say to the daughter of Zion,

“Behold, your salvation comes;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him.”

12 And they shall be called The Holy People,

The Redeemed of the Lord;

and you shall be called Sought Out,

A City Not Forsaken.

They also prayed individually for most of the 44 students, and each of them received a Word from the Lord.  They are very eager to hear God's voice and receive what He has for them. Susan sounded very encouraged.  

She asked that you please pray for safety, unity of the team, cultural relevance, the flight schedule, and for them to be a blessing to the believers they are working with!

Introduction!

Hello!  For most of you, I'm a new face around here.  I thought I'd do a little intro so you aren't wondering, "Who on earth is this person?"  I'm Tricia, and I am Susan's older, wiser, and smarter cousin! (Just kidding about the wiser and smarter! LOL)  I live in Southern California with my wonderful husband and four beautiful children.  You can read more about us on our family blog!

She has asked me to keep everyone updated while she is in the jungle.  I will be posting updates as they come. If anyone has any questions of her that would be simple to relate via text message, feel free to post them in the comment section.  I won't promise to ask her every single thing, but I will do my best!

Google Earth....

i have that song stuck in my head "Where in the world is CARMEN SANDIEGO?".... people of my generation might remember that game show....something about geography.... i don't know....

some of you may be wondering where in the world is PALANAN, ISABELLA? if you have Google Earth (and if you don't, it's FREE, and really cool and i'd recommend it...just search online for Google Earth and the site will come up, click to download and follow the instructions) then you can type in the coordinates : 17° 3'55.32"N 122°26'36.81"E and you will see the place I'll be staying. you can also search for Palanan, and the teeny tiny town will show up, then you can float down the river on your imagination and arrive at the coordinates above and you'll see the same thing...

Thought I'd share for those of you who are interested....i know my Dad is one of them...and there may be others...

something to note is that there are NO roads connecting this valley with the rest of the world. people from palanan say "outside" when they talk about leaving the valley whether by plane, foot or boat....if you are in Palanan, you are "inside". People from Palanan call anyone who's not born there and comes inside a "foreigner" even if they're from just over the mountains. isolated. they're isolated.

and God is building His kingdom there. and they are reaching out. they have a vision to become international missionaries. they want to tell people what He's done inside. they want the foreigners to have relationship with their Father, and so they pray and learn and grow. And it is beautiful in His sight.

will you pray? continue to pray? we leave Thursday for our adventure there....wow. that's soon. I'll tell you my honest how I'm feeling soon......

Back for 2WEEKS

photos: The village we will be staying in... there's a building we stay in, but this is what the village looks like. :)

the Bible School students, 17 of the 44 particpants in the Discipleship Course in their classroom, which is also the church in the village. The students range in age from 16 to 26, approximately. Some have not finished high school due to lack of funds and accessibility to the school in town.

the school is using the ISOM (International School of Ministry) videos to run their Bible school. The instructor speaks in English and is then translated into Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines. the TV is running off of a generator, because there is no eletricity in the village.

Left to right: Nora, a CMU missionary, Adeline, my co-staff (and watcher when i was in the hospital) and I. Nora will be one of the students in the Discipleship course.

fresh ocean fish and rice for lunch, followed by a dessert of fresh bananas (there are more than 70 kinds of bananas here!)

boat trip from the village into town..about 20 minutes...40 minutes if we walk.

the view looking from the village down into the river below...might be where we wash clothes and bathe if we run out of water in the wells...do you see Duane and Lois in the waiting shed?

So. We went for the week and came back safely after an exciting ride in the little 5 seater airplane. (The pilot almost had to turn around because of the turbulence and how low the clouds were...it was a bit like a roller coaster at the end...except this one had no tracks...but praise the LORD we were able to land safely back in Baguio...with slightly greener faces than normal...:))

The time in Palanan was beautiful and we were able to accomplish our objectives. We trained the 3 graduates of CDTS who will be staffing the Course in how to run a small group and what discipleship is all about. An added blessing was that several of the CMU missionaries were able to sit in and were visibly encouraged by the teaching. It's not just something that applies in the YWAM context. It is basic principles in building relationship between mentor and mentee (is that a word:))

We were also able to take a good look at the logistics of being there for 12 weeks and were able to come up with some solutions that will make our time there a bit easier than when we are there for 4 weeks of outreach. For example, we won't be cooking on wood...which can take 2 hours per meal cooking time...we were able to find a little 2-burner stove and will be bringing in propane with us on the airplane, since it's not available there. Also, we are planning, weather permitting, to come out for one week in the middle for a break time together and to get more supplies. The place is so isolated, and since we aren't used to it, it could be way too stressful to be out for that long.

Are there things that don't make sense in what I'm telling you? Because this is somewhat normal for me, it's hard to think how to explain this so you get an understanding. Please ask me whatever questions you have so I can fill you in. Maybe you aren't the only one wondering. :) just click on the word COMMENT at the end of this post follow the directions to leave a comment. (it's pretty easy....:))

Heading off for 1 Week>> Please pray.:)

hi guys...well our adventure with the Palanan Discipleship Course is about to get started...we've been preparing for about 2 or 3 weeks...meeting every morning for worship and intercession...planning the logistics, inviting speakers...getting used to the idea of 3 months cut off from the rest of the world...

and now tomorrow Duane and Lois and I are headed to Palanan for one week of staff training there...with our former students who will be staffing the course...we'll also be making final arrangements and getting answers for our many questions...my personal prayer is that God will drop HIS vision in us, so that we can lead the staff and students with a fuller understanding of HIS heart for this time of discipleship and life together...

it is such a huge task put before us...overwhelming from this side of it...but one of those things that i believe we'll be able to look back and see what GOD did through us...

Please pray for us during this next week....that we'll hear His voice clearly, that the communication will be clear (most of the training will be translated:)), for safety and that we will have a fuller understanding of what lies ahead....:)

So how are you doing? What are you up to this week??

Change of Plans>> EXCITING NEWS!!! PLEASE PRAY FOR US!!

A few weeks ago we chose to cancel the upcoming Mobile school because we didn't have enough students. Although I was very disappointed that the thing I had been looking forward to was not going to happen, I chose to trust that God had something incredible coming. After canceling the school and praying about what the next step should be, we decided to look seriously at the invitation we had received from Christian Missions to the Unreached to run a CDTS in Palanan, Isabella.

Through 10 years of sending our outreach teams to Palanan, the strong, trusting relationship between CDTS and CMU has been a beautiful thing to watch God grow. Our teams have seen first hand the work that God is doing to bring His gospel to the people of the Palanan valley and beyond through the missionaries of CMU. We have been blessed every year by CMU and their hearts for the people.

Last May when our CDTS team was there speaking in a youth camp, 20 youth went forward to dedicate their lives to serving God. Afterwards the leaders of CMU asked Duane to run a CDTS in Palanan. A few weeks later an 18 month Bible school was formed using the ISOM curriculum. It is now running with 17 students, 3 days a week. Because God has cleared our schedule, and CMU has agreed that now is the time for the Palanan CDTS, we are starting a school there on September 16, 2008.

Doctora Mona, the current president of CMU says, “… Palanan is a remote town, one of the poorest municipalities of the Philippines, situated behind the Siera Madre mountains , where there is no existing road and can only be reached by air through small 6-seater planes or by motorboat ,more often through the rough sea. Palanan is the home of about 15,000 people, some 1-2 thousand of whom are Agtas, an indigenous peoples group, the rest of whom are lowlanders; each group has a distinct language.

The Lord's work started in this place way back in the 1980s, initially through bible translation and later a church was born. From a handful of believers then, the church has grown to about a thousand believers and there are about 17 local churches all in all, Agta and lowland. We believe God has called us to disciple the Palanan believers and we believe too that God has led us to ask help from your group in the discipling of this people group.

Presently, there are about 30 , who would like to enroll in the school if it would be held in Palanan, half of them are young people who are presently enrolled in our bible school and the other half are church leaders, church workers and members of our group. It is also a mixed group of Agtas and lowlanders. I have been informed that in your school, the students are required to attend school five days in the week. I would like to request for some modification regarding this matter; that is that the five days be reduced to 3 days since most of them have to work in the fields, or have to go out to fish and hunt or some other means of livelihood so that they could have food in their homes.”

I am so excited to tell you that we have decided to run a full course CDTS in Palanan starting on September 16 and finishing on December 8. It will be 12 weeks, and we will be inviting speakers to come in and share on topics like Identity, Fatherhood, Sonship, Pride and Humility, Hearing God's Voice and Fear of the LORD. For the other weeks our staff will be teaching...which means that I may end up teaching a bit....

Duane and I will be co leading the school, and most likely be going in and out of Palanan for a break. The other staff will be Semi and Laura, who came originally for the Mobile school, possibly Tom for a while.... AND our 4 graduates of CDTS who are from Palanan. Duane and Lois and I will be heading into Palanan on the 22nd of August for staff training and planning for the school. Then we'll be back in Baguio for a few weeks before heading back to the jungle....

I am THRILLED with this...but absolutely terrified....in a good way....in a God way...in an "I can't do this myself, God please be the one to do it" kind of way....

Please pray for us, for the students, for the weather (let's just say it could get really interesting...), for the speakers, for the food, for health and wellness and for peace in the midst of all that's going on... (If as you're praying God gives you a verse or a word, please email me or post a comment...)

For a reminder of what Palanan looks like you can click on the link to my ministry videos on the right and select the Palanan video from the list. :)

Thank you for your prayer. For your love. For your support. For your relationship. For you. :)

DTS Workshop

77 people.
6 days.
18 meals.
unity.
vision.
communion.
generations.
exhausted.

Looking for Signs...(learning to appreciate a good translator)

Ferry and Typhoon

When I lived in Butuan we took the ferry about every other month overnite from Butuan to Cebu. Just a normal part of our travel. Bus, jeepney, motorcycle, tricycle, horse (not really) and ferry. They are all just a normal part of life. The photos above were taken last fall. When the ferry is ready to leave the port over the loudspeaker comes the voice of one of the crewmembers, repeating the Hail Mary...("Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death......."). And in the morning it is repeated again. I've often sat and listened, praying for us also, but speaking directly to the Father......It's relationship with Him that allows me to communicate with Him....approaching the throne of grace with confidence....

I've often wondered about the number of people on the ferry versus the number of lifeboats/lifejackets. As you can see in this photo, I had one in my bed area, easily accessible. ( I wanted to share these photos even though they are a bit goofy, just so you can see what the inside looks like....I mean no disrespect to the people who lost their lives in the storm. If I had more serious photos I would post them instead.)

One week ago there was a typhoon that many of you may have heard about. There was a ferry that left from Manila to go to Cebu, which is a two day trip. The ferry got caught in the typhoon (I think there was a problem with the boat) and it capsized with more than 800 people on board. There were about 50 people who were rescued...28 of them in a life boat that had drifted many miles from where the boat was overturned. Many hundreds were trapped in the passenger compartments.

I can only imagine the chaos and terror as the boat sat there listing in the water, being thrown from side to side by 100mph winds and thrashed by the waves. I can only imagine what it was like for the mothers with small children, not knowing what the best way to protect their kids was....to jump....or to stay inside and wait. I can only imagine the heartache of the relatives waiting for word from their family members on the boat.

The typhoon that knocked the boat over also devastated so many villages from the south to the north of the Philippines. Many homes are just gone, taken by the winds and leaving behind devastation. The rivers overran their banks and carried away homes and people. In Manila where there more than 10 million squatters living, there was widespread flooding of communities..... In Olongapo where Leslie, my boss from Hope House in Oakhurst, lives with her husband it storm reached signal 3 (out of 5) and caused many trees to fall and flooded their house. (She called me and told be she had a waterfall in her living room cause the roof was leaking so bad...)

The storm was headed for Baguio, but it only rained hard and was VERY windy before it head back out to the ocean and headed for Taiwan.

Typhoons are a normal part of the weather in the Philippines, but they aren't always strong. We had one hit Baguio several weeks ago and we lost power for a few days, but other than damaged trees (and windows in the base we forgot to close) we were fine. But of course there are these devastating storms that come, and there is nothing to do but wait and pray and ask God for His mercy.

Teresa and I talked after we heard about the ferry and really had no words. Just this overwhelming feeling of.........sadness, grief, amazement. Ferry travel is normal. It's part of life. And in this case, it was the end of life for so many.

Did they know that they were loved and cared about and treasured by the God who created them? (I read an article that one of the survivors just kept calling out to his ancestors and the saints for help......)

Was someone there on that boat who lost their life too, but was able to speak words of Life to the passengers and help them to meet Jesus?

I don't know.

But my heart breaks for them.