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...:)
