Called to Serve

Project Destiny VISION Update.

2009-11-25T16:36:00.002+08:00

This was written by our leader Teresa Woodard. In this note she shares what's been going on with PDK as a whole and also looking toward the future at where God is leading this ministry. Please take the time to read it...the links for the ministry blog and website are on the right hand side of the screen...just scroll down.

Check back tomorrow for NEW PHOTOS...and for what God's been showing me about my next step...

"Things seem to be going very very well. We have 5 kids now in the Shelter House. And we have 9 staff. All are happy and content and seem to be enjoying everything. Today we are taking in a possible 3 more new kids all the siblings of one of the boys. We have 1 staff and Susan who will be leaving soon, and another leaving end of January....so we are really praying for replacements.

We have started girls night and boys night every Sunday night. Our one girl and her baby come to the staff house will all the girl staff and the two boy staff go to the Shelter house. We do girly things like, watch girly movies, crafts, cook, and we started a Bible study on the life of Sarah. The boys on the other hand, throw colored water balloons at each other, run around like wild indians and watch funny PG action movies and eat snacks. We are working on getting the Bible study on Wild at Heart started for them.

All the kids were baptized 2 weeks ago, and continue to grow and change in their attitudes and behaviors. We are so proud of them all. We are starting a new school arrangement which everybody likes. It's called A.L.S. (Alternative Learning System). It is a modular system created and set up for out of school youth to complete a high school equivalency test. One of our board members has been a high school principal for years and is an incredible educator. She was recently promoted to Dep Ed office which allows her to have weekends off. So she is coming every Saturday to test the kids on the modules they complete during the week. We have had one week so far and everyone LOVES it. The staff are learning to be teachers now and love it! After the kids finish the A.L.S. and pass the final test they can then enter TESDA which is a vocational school where they can learn cooking, restaurant/hotel management, welding, carpentry. auto mechanics etc....

My heart has been heavy with vision...

I really want to open a girls home. There are so many girls and new ones every day. We just can't take in any more girls in the one house, we really need a separate house for girls. Which means a separate staff for the girls. It takes 7 people to run one house.
I also want to re-open the drop-in center NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need 5 people to run that.
I am also dreaming of an alternative school for all the street kids not just the ones living in our shelters. So for that we would need a whole teaching staff M-F.
I also have thought about the possibility of starting a business here where the kids could work...thought is a coffee shop where live bands would come and play and board games would be on the tables sort of a family place but definitely a place where street-people could walk in and be welcomed and ministered to.
I also want to start "Frontline"; their ministry would be strictly to the streets and those who are still in and on the streets. The Frontline team would go out nightly and witness, pray for, bring food and medical help to those on the streets.
I dream of one day having a YWAM Children At Risk School here in Project Destiny Kids, where people form around the world will come and learn how to do street kid ministry.
I will be asking one of the local Bible Colleges to partner with us. I would teach a course in the college on street kids then the 5th year Bible College students would intern by working in either the drop-in center or one of the Shelter houses or be part of the Frontline team

All of these dreams will happen in God's timing, it's just that they are burning in my heart now. And kids are literally dieing in the streets now. So we are praying and belieiving for more staff, buildings, and increased financial support."

A Day in My Life

2009-11-17T19:46:00.003+08:00

how can i explain what life looks like here? this post will share a bit of the reality of life here. if you're not interested in reality, please stop reading...you can scroll down to the photos in the next post. i wrote this last week.

"yesterday i drove the kids and staff to church and 10 little street kids showed up there, aged 6 to 15. teresa and i ran into them at the mall early last week and invited them. i really doubted if they would remember our invitation.

but right after we went in, they showed up at the door. hovering outside. waiting for someone to see them and usher them in. i sat with them in the back. they were so dirty. and skinny. and full of skin disease. they really smelled like street kids. but they were there. one of them fell asleep in his plastic chair immediately. the others looked nervously around, wondering if it was ok that they were there. half of them left after worship. it's too hard to be inside for so long.

the little guy sitting next to me was tiny, and i found out later that he was 13. he was reading my Bible while i held it and then when i passed it to him to hold, he looked up, shocked. after 20 minutes he passed it back and said thank you. he fell asleep at the end. the little guy smelled so bad...made me wonder if he had a digestion issue...it really was like a poop smell, different from the other kids. i asked him if he was coming back next week. he said he would. i'll be looking for him. one of our kids asked him why he was so skinny...and if it was because he sniffed glue. the boy said no. it's cause there's no food.

i wanted to bring him home. he was so small. he wouldn't take up that much room.

tonton, who has all ready ran away twice from the shelter house was there. skinny. full of scabies. probably has worms again. he's so hard headed. and not ready to really break away from street life and make a change. i just hope that he decides to change before he dies.

another boy, wilbert, was there. our social worker sat with him, asking him about his life. asking if he's ready to change. he said yes. we're wanting to bring him into the shelter. but it's not the right time yet. we hope soon.

when i drove the kids back to the shelter, the police were driving into our barangay. we watched them drive over to the river. they were retrieving a body. a 18 to 20 year old male. with his hands tied behind his back. he was found floating down the river. street kid. he was a "salvage". that means the authorities caught him, tied him up and killed him. then floated him down the river as a warning to all the other kids. don't mess with us. we will kill you. that's the best way to deal with street kids. round them up and kill them. solves the problem. cleans the streets.

then last nite, in a huge contrast to what happened all day, we had nina and banban, her baby, over for girls nite. the boys and the male staff all stayed at the shelter to play boy games. the girls all stayed at the staff house for pedicures and movies. nina laughed so much, and so freely. banban slept peacefully on the foam. the boys had a glorious time being boys.

3 months ago they were street kids. smelly. wormy. hungry. desperate. today they are finally detoxed to the point that they can begin to heal.

right now there are 4 kids, plus a baby. that's not so many. but it is a beginning. they are the first batch. there are so many more to come. God is faithful.

my heart is starting to bleed."

and now today...

one of the street girls we know is a prostitute. she's 13 years old. she was in the shelter in the beginning, but chose to run back to the streets. her older sister nina is still with us. the girl dropped by the shelter today for 10 minutes to talk with her sister for a while.

her face was painted, and covered in white powder. she and the girl she was with had a job they were on the way to. at the barracks.

please pray for the children in the streets tonite. please pray for their families. please pray for God to move in to rescue and to save.

faces of Project Destiny

2009-10-13T12:24:00.000+08:00

faces of Project Destiny

2009-10-13T12:21:00.000+08:00

Vroom- vroom!

2009-10-13T11:59:00.001+08:00

Teresa asked me to come down to Project Destiny for a couple of months while she went to the states for furlough. Due to a series of unfortunate events, which have resulted in knee surgery, Teresa didn't end up being able to leave. However, I am still here and still going to be fulfilling my role as assistant to Ate Sonia and driver and go-fer and common senser and problem solver and .....whatever else might come my way. :)
For now the plan is that I will be here until December. There are several options I'll have at that point and I'm still praying about what that will mean. The CDTS will be taking a year off of the school, so we don't start until January 2011. However, we do have a China trip planned for March or April. Anyone wanna join??
For now, enjoy these photos...I wanted you to see what I'm up to....:)

This is the handy dandy van...I spend alot of my day in this trusty little guy...toting staff and kids to various locations in the city.

We can get like 10 people in it...wanna come over? There's room for you!!

These orange trikes are like little frogs. They just JUMP in front of the van while it's moving down the street. FREAKed me out the first time. I've learned though. I'm now an excellent driver in the Philippines. :) ;)

Here's the kids and some of the staff. Aren't they a good looking crew?

2 more photos. why won't picasa upload more than 4 at a time?

2009-10-13T11:08:00.000+08:00

This photo is a bit more realistic than the one at the end of the other post. :)

Sweet Rachel. She's so much fun and I'm looking forward to knowing her more.:)

Girls Nite Out in Baguio

2009-10-13T11:03:00.001+08:00

So, the nite before i left Baguio the DTS girlies and i went out for some stress relief. They were like 8 weeks into their 12 week school and i was leaving early for my trip to Butuan. We decided to take a taxi to the Manor in Camp John Hay for coffee and dessert. :)

(L -R) Katlea, from Manila, her family's home was flooded during the typhoon last week. Rachel, from Malaysia, so funny girl. Sarah, from Canada, firecracker. Hazel, from Manila, i just love her. lots.

Even though it was 2 weeks early, we celebrated Sarah's birthday....:)

Isn't that cake gorgeous? Come visit me here in the Philippines and I'll if we can get you some.

4 sweet and innocent looking missionaries sitting in front of the fireplace in the lobby. We don't look like we could cause trouble, do we? Ok, the one on the right does, but the rest of us are pretty innocent i think. :)

photos for next post...

2009-08-09T00:48:00.000+08:00

hey it's late and i'm sleepy. but when i look at my last post suddenly the photos aren't there. so here's the photos. if they're a repeat sorry. if they don't work again, sorry. if you don't like them, sorry. :)
i'm going to sleep. i'll fix it in the morning.
:)

:) i don't know if you'll ever need to know this, but just in case you do:)

2009-08-08T21:58:00.007+08:00

I'm going to show you what you need to know should the occasion ever arise that you need to take a bucket shower and are unsure how to proceed.

Step # 1: Make sure you have the essential pieces for your shower. The 3 items in the photo, plus the usual cleaning products should all be nearby.

Step #2 Locate the bucket. In this case, it's a lovely bright blue color, very cheery. Fill the bucket about 2/3rds of the way with tap water, or pumped water, or rainwater...for best results it's try not to use the toilet water (though it might be tempting if you're having to go far to collect this important ingredient).

Step #3: When you've accumulated enough water, locate the water heater- in this case the bright yellow plastic thingy with the fashionable brown cord. <Please read all of step 3 and 4 before plugging in this stunning piece of technology to avoid being electrocuted in a cartoon-like moment you'll be embarrassed to admit later.> Place the heating element (the yellow part) into the water to the point that it is submerged, but not all the way to the bottom of the bucket. This ensures optimum water circulation. Using your best girl/boy scout technique, wrap some of the brown cord around the faucet to hold the plastic in it's position. Now it's time to plug in the water heater and then go make some coffee, check your email, pick your nose...

Step #4: After about 30 minutes return to check on your bucket. Please do not thrust your hand into the bucket to see if it's hot enough. You will die. Or smoke. Or at least it will hurt. Alot. Simply feel the outside of the trusty blue bucket. If it's warm, you're ready to unplug the heater and move on to step 5. If not, wait longer. But remember: a watched bucket never boils. :)

Step #5: Check to make sure the water heater is unplugged.

Step #6: Now you're almost ready to take your nice hot shower. Locate the dipper, in this case a marvelous, ladylike fuschia pink plastic scoop. <Please note that anything that scoops can be used if you can't locate this exact item. Things I've used: coconut husk, bottom half of plastic liter bottle...my friend Susie tried to use a live turtle, but that's another story. :)> It is imperative that you check the water temperature before dumping water on your head. Start by touching the water with your finger. Then mix it with the scooper, assuring that the heat has been thoroughly distributed. Add cold tap water as needed to get your preferred temperature.

Step #7 You are now ready for the actual shower. Squatting works best, since the water is limited. Soap up. Rinse. Wash hair. Rinse. Condition. Rinse. Rinse. Rinse. Rinse. Please note that at the bottom of the bucket you might find chunks of what looks like clay. It's gunk from the water heater. It's best to not use that for rinsing. Cause you just end up full of chunkies...which is I think what might have started this process in the first place. So, as tempting as that warm water looks, don't be drawn in...walk away. Find your towel. You've just accomplished your goal. Congratulations!

At this point I think you should know that tonight, after almost 5 years of bucket showers, for the first time I stuck my hand in the bucket to test the water while the heater was still plugged into the wall (220volts). It hurt. I didn't like it. But I did laugh at myself. And I thought maybe some of you would laugh at me too. Which led me to this post. :)

Little Man

2009-08-04T19:19:00.000+08:00

today was one of those days....

where nothing "bad" happened...

but. it was hard. just because...

and then i went and played with Andrew Hull for a few hours while his parents went on their second anniversary date.

have you met that kid yet??

he's very cute. and has a pile of personality.

he makes me smile.

and Tom and SoonIm are so happy! that makes me smile too.

how was your day?

ungrateful

2009-08-03T20:45:00.003+08:00

for the last few weeks i've been struggling with food. i've had no appetite, no desire to eat. the truth is that i've been thinking about all the food i can't have. i want mexican food... tortillas... i want pizza factory... i want summer fruits...like blackberries and peaches and nectarines and melons... i would kill someone for arby's (ok that's a little drastic...but i would slap someone real hard...:)) i haven't been really dwelling on the foods, but my attitude in my heart was changing towards the foods here. nothing sounded good. it was all blah. i was having to force myself to eat...

and then i accidentally went to the base worship last wednesday morning. (ok, it wasn't really an accident...we have staff meeting every wednesday, and before each meeting we spend an hour worshipping...) the worship leader, bamshak, from nigeria, began sharing what God was speaking to him about... which was how ungrateful bamshak had been being about the cross, taking for granted the sacrifice of Jesus...

stay with me....

i asked God if i had been ungrateful... and He gently kicked me in the head and said YES. that i had been ungrateful about food...

i realized that i COULD walk into SM (the largest supermarket in Baguio) purchase whatever i wanted. i COULD go to any restaurant in Baguio and order anything i want off the menu, and pay for it. but there are people TODAY who haven't eaten because they have nothing. and they won't eat tomorrow because they don't have the money.

BUT my Faithful Loving Father has abundantly supplied all my NEEDS according to His riches in glory. so who am i to complain or grumble about not getting to eat the things i really am craving right now? i have food to eat. a place to sleep. and people who love me.

i have been ungrateful, and i repented. last week i made a choice that i would be grateful because i want to honor God with my attitude and praise Him for His faithfulness to me. and you know what? the food tastes so good right now.

i found some black plums at the store. tonight i had a sort-of taco salad that was amazing (lettuce and ground beef and cheese and olives). did you know that since i live in the mountains that we have amazing produce? piles of cabbage and green beans and broccoli. and so many fruits (some imported).

my God has supplied all my needs, according to His riches in glory.

ps. don't worry, i would only slap someone's hand and give them a high 5 (referred to in the Phillipines as 'apir' which sounds like 'appear', for those of you who are wondering ) for the Arby's. i'm a missionary, we aren't supposed to be violent. :D

2009-06-20T13:38:00.002+08:00

Sometimes VBS is Hard.

2009-06-18T12:56:00.000+08:00

We were asked to do a VBS for the Agta kids in the village we were staying in...there we about 20 of them...ranging in age from 2 to 15...and no one on our team spoke their language...the person who was supposed to run the VBS had gotten sick and was resting in another village many hours away, so we were starting from scratch. So the 4 women in our team prayed and asked God what in the world we should do...

Our supplies were: some colored chalk, 2 packs of crayons, some lined paper and one very sassy Tagalog speaker (Hazel, she's on staff with me..and she speaks the closest dialect to what the kids could understand..but for those kids not in school yet, they were lost....)

"Mga Anak ng Hari" means "Children of the King." We used the week to teach the kids about their importance to God, and how as princes and princesses in His kingdom, they could talk to Him (intercede, pray) about their country and their concerns, also that He loved to hear them worshipping Him.

We ended up buying about 20 manila folders and tiny little vials of glitter in town, borrowing some broken scissors and making crowns together. We cut out the folders into fancy shapes and then had the kids design their own crowns...even the teenage girls were so excited and wanted to fully participate in the event. The moms that had gathered with us that day, each got to make one too...for the tiny babies they had swaddled to their chests, and for the toddlers who were too young to make their own. I wish you could have seen the joy and excitement on their faces as they wore the crowns that night at the closing graduation. They all marched proudly in wearing their mark of royalty.

Understanding that what we did in those days was impossible, we were simply walking in obedience to what God had shown us to do. It was hot, frustrating and felt pointless at times. But I believe that if even one child or one mom understood their importance to God and that their identity has nothing to do with the poverty they live in, but in the fact that they are children of God, then it ALL was worth it.

1000s of words about outreach :)

2009-06-18T12:35:00.000+08:00

My dad brought me an animated singing frog...Jeremiah was a Bullfrog was heard throughout the land...the kids loved it.

Duane deserved it. We promise.

An interesting perspective of travel on the river...in this case we're being towed by the boat in front of us...eventually our driver was able to fix the motor...and then it broke again.

Can you see the team walking on the path? We spent 3 days in this village...where I was able to spear my foot with a fishing spear...but the view was amazing. :)

We're Out.

2009-06-04T14:59:00.002+08:00

After an exciting landing here in Bagabag, I am happy to report that our team has safely completed the Palanan phase of our outreach. We spent three weeks serving the churches of Palanan. We held a family camp, spoke in church seminars, ran a VBS for the Agta kids, helped build a medical clinic and walked miles to visit and encourage people in their homes. It was good to be back in a place that feels like home...even though it's so different there.
Since I've gone so many times, I'm starting to understand more of the place, and can really see the impact the gospel is having in this remote location. The missionaries serving there full time are truly a faithful bunch. They are translating the Bible, pastoring, mentoring and raising up young people and still working on things like farming and fishing in order to provide for their families. The joy of the Lord is present in their faces. I love to spend time with them.
It was an interesting experience to be the team leader this time. Although Duane was there, I was the one primarily in charge with the help of the lovely Hazel. I learned things about myself and can really see how God has grown me and changed me in my years of being here in the Philippines.
Thank you for praying. I'm in an internet cafe right now so I don't have access to any photos to share with you. But when I can, I will. :) (I"ll tell you the story of the plane landing in person. OH my lanta that was an experience. Cause of the typhoon that is headed our way....)
We're in Bagabag for one week before we leave for Baguio. We'll be serving a group of churches here...our team is doing well...but I can see that we're tired. The students graduate on the 20th of June and I know they will be happy to have completed the course.
Love and blessings.

Update from Susan!

2009-05-24T05:15:00.002+08:00

Hello everyone! This is Tricia, Susan's cousin. I received the following text message from Susan yesterday afternoon. I apologize for not getting it on here until now. Here it is:

I am in Palanan. We finished a family camp a few days ago, where about eight families attended their first seminar together. They were so encouraged by the Father, and we were excited to be a part of it all. Right now we are in a remote village where we are going house to house. Then we will be having a church seminar on Sunday.

In addition for praying for these families, please pray for my foot. Last night I speared it with a fishing spear in the ball of my foot. It went in about ¾ inch. Pray that there is no infection. God bless You, and I'll text again soon!

10 Things You Might Want to Know About Me.

2009-04-21T17:28:00.005+08:00

1. I think I should be nominated for worst communicator for the first portion of 2009. Please forgive my lack of information. My brain is all muddled and I'm finding it hard to put what's going on into words.

2. I've never known that I was an internal processor, but it's becoming clear to me that I am. Every time I arrive in the US it takes me like 2 weeks to be able to express, with some sort of clarity, the things that are in my heart regarding life here. So sometimes when I'm here in the midst of things, I just can't seem to be able to get my brain wrapped around it enough to share it. This seems to be especially true right now.

3. This school has been......interesting, a challenge, exciting....WAY TOO FAST. We're in week 12 of the lecture phase. Graduation is on Saturday and outreach will start on Sunday. Partway through the school, one of our students chose to leave, which was a very hard thing for Tom, who is leading his first school, and on the rest of the staff team, and especially for the other students. We continue to honor the student by not sharing openly with everyone what the issue was, but we also continue to speak blessing to him and his walk with God. Our prayers in this school have focused on a need for unity and willingness to be open...so....

4. The staff have taken turns throughout the school to share their testimonies openly with the whole school and my turn is coming on Thursday. I'm struggling to figure out what portions to share and how to best give God the glory for the things He has done...and be open. oh dear.

5. As it turns out, I'm leading outreach this year...and I seriously need your prayers for this time. For some reason I'm really struggling about this...and I haven't been able to specifically identify WHY...I'm praying through it and asking for HELP.

6. My Dad came for 10 days last month. It was great having him here and showing him the place I've been living the last 4.5 years. :) I think I even heard him mention that he wants to come back... ask him the next time you see him...maybe he'll bring a group!! :)

7. I'm learning ALOT about patience these last few months. It's coming in many different areas, both personal and in ministry...I'm not very good at it...At times I do ok, and at others I throw little fits that show how far I have to grow in this area....Last week we had a discussion question that asked if we ever try to shortcut the pain of God's dealings with us....and my answer was that sometimes I wish there was a pause button that would give me a short break from the process, sort of a time to gain perspective and catch my breath...and that's true in this whole learning the patience thing too...actually if I did find that pause button and press it, I think I would miss what He's teaching me in this moment....and I most certainly don't want to relearn this one. :) Am I being clear as mud?? Sorry. I'm giving the best I've got so far...:)

8. Have you read 2Corinthians 4 lately? How about Romans 15:5? They're amazing. Really amazing. The first one says "do not lose heart" twice. The second one is our prayer for this school and now for the outreach....

9. There is a school starting at the end of August called Introduction to Primary Health Care. It will be held in Manila for 3 months and then 3 months of outreach. It's a second level YWAM school....one of hundreds that can be taken after CDTS. (Other examples would be a biblical studies school where they study the Word in depth for 9 months and an intro to Biblical counseling school where they teach counseling from a Biblical perspective.) So this school will teach practical skills needed for primary health care...things like immunizations, skin care, delivering a baby, clean water issues...and the list goes on. I'm praying about this opportunity. I'm excited about the prospect and can see how the skills this course teaches can be used in any place that God may call me...:) Will you pray with me?

10. God is moving. Teaching. Speaking. Gracing. Loving. Calling. And I need help. I'm exhausted. Overwhelmed. Desperate. Frustrated. And I have a not so nice ear infection. I need you. To pray. I'm so not able to do this without you. And I've done a terrible job telling you that recently. But it's still the truth. Please love me in spite of my weakness.

Nope, I'm Not Stuck in the Jungle Anymore :)

2009-01-28T14:26:00.004+08:00

I have been slacking on this blog. And because the time has been so long I keep feeling like I have to have an amazing post with fantastic information... Which makes me put it off longer... And so now here I sit... happy to look back all the way to November, but unsure of what exactly to say... So here goes... Hopefully I'll be sharing more soon....:)

I went home for six weeks to spend the holidays with my family and friends. It was so nice to eat pumpkin pie and drink egg nog for the first time in 3 years. My parents and I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together in Mariposa. And it snowed just after breakfast just enough to make it a white Christmas for us. Beautiful. Peter called in the morning from Gibraltar and we were able to all talk together for a few minutes wishing each other a Merry Christmas. We missed having him and Janice with us, but I am hoping that we will be able to be all together sometime in the future. :)

I'm back in the Philippines and today is arrival day for the students of the 2009 CDTS. We have 13 students from all over... Korea, Philippines, USA, Malaysia, Japan and Australia... Our team is excited to get the school up and running. First day of class is tomorrow...

Small weather update...

2008-11-24T09:02:00.000+08:00

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...

2008-11-21T07:54:00.002+08:00

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!

2008-11-11T06:25:00.002+08:00

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!!

2008-11-02T15:53:00.000+08:00

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

2008-11-02T15:06:00.001+08:00

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

2008-11-02T15:01:00.001+08:00

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

2008-11-02T14:57:00.001+08:00

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

2008-11-02T14:54:00.003+08:00

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

2008-11-02T14:52:00.003+08:00

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

2008-10-23T03:57:00.002+08:00

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!

2008-10-14T12:56:00.003+08:00

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:

2008-10-08T00:59:00.002+08:00

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!

2008-10-04T08:45:00.002+08:00

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!

2008-10-01T09:33:00.002+08:00

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!

2008-09-19T00:00:00.003+08:00

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!

2008-09-15T23:32:00.002+08:00

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....

2008-09-07T13:52:00.004+08:00

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

2008-09-01T10:00:00.012+08:00

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.:)

2008-08-19T21:51:00.002+08:00

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!!

2008-08-04T14:26:00.003+08:00

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

2008-07-07T14:46:00.001+08:00

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

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

2008-07-07T14:11:00.003+08:00

2008-07-07T13:32:00.001+08:00

Ferry and Typhoon

2008-06-29T13:14:00.000+08:00

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.

So Where am I and What am I up to?

2008-06-22T14:47:00.000+08:00

I'm not in California... I just found some photos I wanted to share...:) Last summer in Yosemite with my leaders, Duane and Lois, and friends and teammates, Tom and SoonIm.

I'm not in Palanan either...but her I am cooking in a jungle in the Philippines in 2005. Ya baby. :)

I'm not in China either....but this was in 2004...first time in China...carrying TOO MUCH STUFF!!! This is why I tell people I'm traveling with to PACK LIGHT!!:)

I'm not in Butuan either...but this was last fall...hanging out with the street kids...um. I'm so weird....

After the surgery I stayed in Baguio to recover and then to begin preparing for the Mobile CDTS. I've been learning accounting for YWAM, spending hours in the office learning to love Quicken and Excel. (I'm still working on the love thing.) I'm also coordinating the housing and registration for the DTS workshop we'll be having next week. People coming from all over Philippines and even from Malaysia.

In the beginning of July a team from Mariposa will be coming for 10 days in Butuan, and I'll be leading them down there. I'm really looking forward to that.

Then a few days later, once I'm back in Baguio, the staff will be gathering for MCDTS staff development. And in August we'll have the school.:) There is still lots of room in the school, so if you or anyone you know is interested, just email me!!

Now for the weather report:
We're having a typhoon right now in the Philippines. It's headed toward Baguio....signal #3...so please just pray for the safety of those in the path of the typhoon...and that we won't lose electricity for too long...:)

I didn't have new photos so.....

2008-06-22T13:57:00.001+08:00

2006. Mainit, Mountain Province. with Tracy and Florence. dental outreach.

2005. Palanan, Isabella. with CDTS students and kids. crossing the river to walk to town.

2006. Baguio City. Baby goat outside our apartment. on a mission...:)

Below: 2005. Palanan, Isabella. everybody's got a water buffalo...

Sometimes Life is a Bit of a Struggle....

2008-06-05T16:52:00.000+08:00

and then I realize I'm trying way too much... trying to do it myself... trying to pick up what's not mine to carry... it's not a pretty picture, is it??

it's time to let Him be the One... to take care of me... to give me just what I can handle... it's time to sit with Him and just BE...

...sometimes I get frustrated with myself about this blog... I don't know what to say... don't know how to say it... don't know where to start....

so, I've decided to start again with this photo.

cause it made me laugh.

it was taken in 2005 somewhere deep in the heart of China... with a group of people that I love... doing what I love to do...

:) hee hee (doesn't it look like it could cause some sort of rupture somewhere?? :O)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!:)

2008-05-11T21:56:00.003+08:00

I love you!!

Mom in the Philippines...the photos

2008-05-08T11:05:00.010+08:00

so, Mom got to come to the Philippines after the surgery to help take care of me....and we were able to do a few things....slowly and for short periods of time....but we did make it out a few times:)...
on the street in the city....
Notre Dame Hospital...we went back for a check up and Mom took a lot of photos....
the Head Sister of the hospital...she gave us a tour and told us the history of the hospital...
my favorite nurse....:)
the ER staff...
the "sari-sari" store outside the YWAM base...a good place for Coke drinkers to sit...
at Camp John Hay Manor.....
with Lois...Duane was there too...but he was on a walk at picture time.:)

A Trip...With an Unexpected Adventure...

2008-04-28T15:43:00.005+08:00

Teresa, Ate Sonia and I at Camp John Hay Manor.

Enjoying dinner at one of the finest restaurants in Baguio with Duane and Lois.

The unplanned adventure that came up suddenly...:) (having nothing to do with the food at the Manor, read the next post to understand...)

An Unplanned Adventure

2008-04-28T13:28:00.005+08:00

WARNING: long, detailed...

Sometimes life just stops. And everything that had been planned changes. Appendicitis is one of those sometimes. I had planned on a week-long trip to Baguio with Teresa and our friend Ate Sonia. We were coming up here to participate in a teaching "Counseling" and to be refreshed through relationships with friends.

We had an amazing time. Heard the teaching, and were blessed by it, encouraged by the speaker to step back into the Drop-In Center better equipped to handle the challenges we were facing. And blessed by friends who simply sat and listened to what we're going through and served us coffee.

I had purchased our bus tickets back to Manila for 1115pm on Friday. We would ride the bus overnite, arrive in Manila in the morning and then fly to Butuan, arriving there by Saturday afternoon. Friday evening I began to not feel so wonderful, but we pushed through and were able to attend the Children's Bible Study some of you may remember me talking about. By the end of the evening I was so miserable, we had to leave early. The taxi ride back to the YWAM base was interminable. I was totally unfit for travel. So Teresa and Ate Sonia left for Butuan, as I was curled up in a ball in bed, wondering what in the world was happening to me.

Saturday and Sunday found me still huddled up in bed, staring blankly at the walls, with a strange pain in my abdomen. Monday I dragged myself to see Doctora Faith (from now on Dra Faith), wondering if one of those nasty ovarian cysts had developed again. She ran a bunch of tests, and decided to treat me for a UTI, there was no cyst present. Encouraged, I dutifully took the antibiotics and drank what seemed like gallons of Gatorade, but had no appetite to eat actual food.

Tuesday I forced myself to get out of bed, determined to go to the travel agent to rebook a flight to Butuan. However, I found myself almost in tears in the taxi on the way, and amazed at the UTI pain. I dragged myself around the mall (where the travel agent is) and almost purchased the ticket, but my ATM card wouldn't let me get money. Dra Faith (LOVE her) saw me and greeted me, a look of concern on her face. She asked me how I was, and I said I was FINE, with a big smile on my face. And that's when I started bawling in the mall. (There's a first time for everything and this was just the beginning of firsts that week.) She ordered me not to buy a plane ticket and that I needed to come see her in her office that evening, she was concerned about my appendix. Meekly, I complied.

She wanted to send me to the hospital that nite for observation, but I didn't want to go. For some reason, I was concerned that people would think it was silly if there was really nothing wrong, so I suggested that we wait until the morning, just in case I was going to be amazingly better and the antibiotics for this UTI would have a miraculous effect. With strict instructions to go directly to hospital if anything got worse, I went home. (Poor Dra Faith, she was so concerned and I was so determined not to go to hospital...come on, let's face it...I'd never been in the hospital overnight...and I live in a third world country...and...)

Wednesday afternoon I was in a taxi on my way to Notre Dame Hospital, a private, well run, well equipped hospital staffed by nuns. Dra Faith had wisely emphasized that I would merely be spending a couple of days getting rehydrated, and making sure I was ok before she released me. Around 230 the surgeon came to examine me and immediately announced the he was scheduling me for an appendectomy at 530. (I thought I was just gonna have an I.V.!! Now they're doing this?!?! I did not sign up for SURGERY!!)

A few things about hospitals in the Philippines:

1. Each patient must have their own "watcher". In a regular hospital this person is responsible to pre-purchase all the medications for the patient, and to purchase the patient's food, sometimes outside the hospital where the food is cheaper. (As it turned out, the hospital I was charged the meds to my bill and food was part of the cost of staying there.) This person is also responsible to watch the patient at all times, taking care of what needs to be done for them, even through the nite. Ate Adeline was my watcher. She was amazing. At the end of the whole ordeal, I told her I didn't know if I could have done it without her. Amazing woman. Amazing testimony. Amazing love.

2. There are wards. At first I was put in a 6 bed ward, with curtains separating the spaces. Ate Adeline told me that in many hospitals there aren't curtains and that when her father was dying, he was in a 40 bed ward, where the watchers only had a wooden bench to sit on. People of all ages were crowded into that long hall. Very old, very young. Some very sick, others sitting in their beds, waiting. There were many visitors crowded in, trying to cheer up the patients. Loud. Bright lights.

3. The nurses still wear their cool hats, do charting by hand, in gray metal chart holders. The equipment made my mom smile in wonder, thinking she had gone back to the 50s. :) (Since I've never been in the hospital in the US, I didn't really notice alot of things, but my mom did.)

4. Patients are not allowed to leave the hospital until the bill is fully paid. If you don't have the money, you have to stay until you find it. When you pay, the billing department gives you a little slip that you have to give to the security guard on your way out the door. (Secretly I wonder what would have happened if I had tried to leave without the little paper...)

...back to the story....

So after making a deposit of 1000 pesos (US$25) to reserve the operating room, I was taken to the ward, where people were fascinated to see an Americana wheeled in and placed in a bed alongside them. An hour later they came in to take me for the surgery. They gave me an epidural (I guess that's what it would be called, numbing my lower half by an injection in my spine), followed by a sedative. (Thank the good Lord above for that sedative, I was not so very pleased with the feeling of the epidural.) After the surgery and a few hours in the recovery room (where i was covered up with a thick sheepskin blanket and a warming light was put on me, like a box of newborn chickens), I was taken to a private room (again, praise the LORD!!).

....(if you're getting tired of reading, I'm sorry... I know there are people who will want the details and others who just want the jist of it... Feel free to stop at any point :)....

Tom and SoonIm Hull were there with Adeline to greet me. (I guess I never mentioned that Duane and Lois, my leaders, were about 15 hours of travel away from Baguio, so they weren't able to be there.) For the next 8 hours I wasn't allowed to have a pillow, because of the spinal puncture I had to lay perfectly flat. I was in SO MUCH PAIN, it was virtually impossible to sleep. So I waited and waited for 4am, when I would finally be given a pillow. Hallelujah!! Around 6 the nurse came in and gave some pain medicine and something for nausea.

After a while I was completely anxious. My hands and feet were clammy, I was kicking and squirming under the covers, unable to find a comfortable spot. I was wringing my hands and pulling out the hair on my head. I told Adeline I felt like I was going crazy. (She told me later that she was really scared and didn't know what to do). I was clutching at whoever came near the bed, holding onto them, tugging at their clothes. Scary. Dra Faith came in and I explained what was happening. The nausea medicine should have been given over a period of 20 minutes, and since it had been given in about 5 minutes, Dra Faith said that it would cause the reaction I was having. WHAT A RELIEF!! Since there was now a reason and she told me how long the feeling would last, I was able to deal with the situation more logically. Although I was still having a VERY hard time for several more hours, I knew that it wouldn't be forever.

Unfortunately, what I didn't know was that the pain medicine had been stopped also. So by 2pm I was having another very uncomfortable episode, and I was (quite illogically, though understandably) scared of anything being put into the I.V. Finally they figured out what to give me, it look a while for them to figure it out, and then I agreed to the shot. Oh, I don't know what it was, but I still remember the relief flowing through my veins, calming me. After a while the nurse came in and asked if I was still in pain. My answer? "Yes, but I don't care anymore." I felt GOOOOOD.

A friend that was visiting reminded me that it would be better the next day. And it was. Friday they said I could go home. But I chose to wait until Saturday because I knew I would never make it up the three flights of stairs to the room I was supposed to be staying in at the YWAM base. Duane and Lois arrived back in town Friday nite and came to see me at the hospital. It was so good to see them. Lois agreed to make me her vegetable soup, which was the only thing that sounded good to me. (I hadn't eaten hardly anything since Tuesday.)

Saturday another friend came and drove me home in his car. Such a relief to not have to come in a taxi, not knowing what kind of driver or car we'd get. (At this point I'll just say that the pain medication they were giving me was equal to ibuprofen, but is normally prescribed in the states for arthritis....and they had given me the minimum dose. Not so very effective.) So the ride home was a challenge. But I thought I was holding up ok. Until we got out of the taxi and were walking towards the base. My chin started shaking and it was good Duane was standing there, cause I would have fallen over if he hadn't been. After crying on his shoulder for a while, we kept walking and we somehow made it up the stairs. I think alot of it had to do with the grace of God and the two strong men who almost carried me up the stairs.

So, that's the long story of my unplanned adventure...there was a big blessing that came out of it and that is that my mom got to come stay for 2 weeks, which was a huge blessing and needs to go into another post, so that you can get a break from reading the drama in my life. :)

Thanks again for your prayer during that time, and that I know are continuing even now. You are a blessing to me.

THANK YOU

2008-04-09T10:56:00.003+08:00

thanks to everyone who was praying during my adventure in the hospital...and for those who didn't know, i had an emergency appendectomy last wednesday nite...quite an adventure...not one i would recommend....more on that when i have more energy.:) love you guys.

ps. my last entry was an oops. i was teaching someone how easy it is to do a blog....and forgot to delete...:)

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2008-03-28T15:06:00.001+08:00

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She

2008-03-21T18:05:00.003+08:00

She came in today, the first time in a while.
She didn't want to take a bath.
She hadn't slept since Monday.
She just wanted to sleep.
Please.
Sad eyes.
So dirty little girl.

She said there were so many men in her house.
She was scared to fall asleep cause they might come to her.
She was unprotected.
She said, "He hurt me."
Please.
Sad eyes.
So broken little girl.

She said, "He hurt me."
She ran, torn open.
She came to us and all we could do was hold her.
She slept for hours.
Please.
Sad eyes.
So desperate little girl.

She has little cuts all over her wrist.
She tries to drain the pain.
She needs hope.
She's thirteen.
Please.
Sad eyes.
So little girl.

Once again...

2008-03-10T20:35:00.002+08:00

...I have no words to explain what my life is like. I find my thoughts jumbling through my head and rolling around, but they aren't really forming into sentences that I can speak, let alone communicate in writing. But that is no reason not to try. So here are a few thoughts.

we're at the beginning of our second week. in the first week we mostly were amazed at how much we didn't know that we didn't know. but now we are fully aware of how utterly dependent we are on GOD. we're open from 10-3 for the first month. we'll evaluate after one month and see if we need to adjust our times and length of being open. this is such an incredibly challenging ministry, we need to go slowly and build relationship with the kids.

the kids coming to the center:

30 kids, so far. only 5 are girls. age range 6-22 (we are aiming at a cut-off of 18 years old...we'll see what happens.:))

a 12 yr old girl and a 13 yr old girl, both prostitutes. one of them is cutting herself to let the pain leak out of her body instead of being trapped inside.

a 7 year old boy, covered literally head to toe in scabies. last Friday he showed up with a terrible dog bite on his ankle. he had been sleeping in the street and a dog broke away from the owner and charged the group of street kids. the others ran away, but this little boy was asleep and the dog bit through to the bone.

a 20 year old boy, addicted to sniffing glue, still acts like a 12 year old.

a 6 year old boy, some scabies, sleeps on the street is the one all the kids pick on all day. punching, kicking, slapping, standing on his neck. of course we prevent this happening in the center, but Teresa observed this kind of treatment the other day outside the mall.

a 16 year old girl, former prostitute, we're unclear on what she's doing now.

and that's only a few of them.

most of the boys have been the victim of sexual assault from men who pay with a bottle of coke, or maybe a meal. some of the men are foreigners. others are locals.

most of the boys are addicted to rugby, a glue...they carry small amounts around in plastic bags and cover their noses with the bag, inhaling the fumes and gaining relief of the persistent hunger and terror of life on the street.

almost all of the kids who have been coming to the center are members of the Bloods, a gang. their leader is one of the ones coming and he is so very respectful of us. it's incredible.

All of this is what I am seeing everyday. We're learning all day long everyday about what life is REALLY like here in Butuan. It's just not pretty.

Have you read Romans 8 recently?

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the LOVE OF GOD that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

How can it be that that verse fits in the same post as the list I have just shared? How can both things be true?? NOTHING can separate us from the love of God?? God loves those kids? The ones that as I type are sleeping on the street? Or being sexually assaulted? Or beat up? Or sniffing glue?? REALLY???

reaLLY???

really.

Day 4

2008-03-08T10:16:00.004+08:00

Here's what Teresa had to say on Thursday nite:

What a mind-blowing, astounding first few days. I’m absolutely numb as I sit here and type. I’m still processing all the events of the past few days. My heart breaks for the despair and longing I see in their eyes. Today was the 4th day…we had 26 children today. They were so happy to take baths and wash their clothes. We had our first girls today, they are 13 and 14 years old. All the kids are just so adorable. They range from 5 to 20 years old. We have come to realize that all the children who are coming are part of the same gang. Today they were drawing pictures with their gang sign and Project Destiny together….so we are now one big family with the gang. So far they are really so respectful and thankful. We are focused this first month on just relationship with them and gaining their trust. We spend the morning with baths and washing clothes, then we eat and wash plates, then we play, draw, and sleep. The children come at 10:00 a.m. and leave at 3:00 p.m. Next month we will add in worship and Bible stories. For now they love being loved and hugged. Our staff is just the best. Today we had 2 staff and 2 staff in-training. We really need more staff...like tomorrow. We will start training next week. We will train at least 8 new people 4-7 p.m. We are continuing to have feeding outreaches to children still in the streets 4-5p.m. Today we canceled the outreach due to rain...it's been raining a full 30 hours!!! In fact when the kids arrived this morning they we soaked from head to foot and inside out.

Today was the first day that the kids washed their own clothes. They were so cute! One of the older boys was too funny...he brought a whole bag of torn up clothes to wash. We realized we really need to buy a washing machine to help out. We want the kids to learn responsibility by washing their own clothes but we want to help them out by spinning the clothes so that they will dry by the next day. When we took the clothes home tonight, we discovered that they were still so smelly and decided to re-wash them. The water was completely BLACK with dirt as the washer cleaned away. Now our house looks like a village of street children exploded all over our walls! Their clothes are hanging in almost every room with fans blowing to try to dry them. We're praying God's anointing will soak into those clothes as the dry here

Well, sorry for the ramblings today...here are a few things to pray for....(thanks)

Please pray for:

More staff
Wisdom and discernment for us all
That we all hear God’s voice moment by moment in all situations big and small
Safety, protection, and provision for the street kids
Teachable spirits for the kids
They really see and feel God’s love through us for them
Provision for our monthly budget for the center

Today we will buy...

2008-02-25T10:08:00.004+08:00

80 plates
80 forks
80 spoons
1 GIANT rice pot
1 GIANT wok
60 towels
material to make 60 storage bags for kids' stuff (plate, fork, spoon, toothbrush, soap, washcloth)
material to make aprons for our staff

so that we can OPEN this Friday!!

Just Some Info 'Bout the Blog

2008-02-24T14:29:00.003+08:00

So, I just added a new list over on the right hand side of this blog called "Links."

Just as the title suggests, they are links to things that you might find interesting.

The first one is the link to my page on YOUTUBE, where I've uploaded all the ministry videos I've made...you can go there and catch up if you've not seen them yet....(if you scroll down on the youtube page, you'll find videos that I've marked as favorites...some are just cute and others are impacting...and others are YWAM related...I am in the Get Involved video, which is a YWAM promotional video)

The second and third are links to YWAM international and the YWAM Philippines websites. I am a YWAM missionary, and just thought I'd put that up so you can see more of what YWAM is up to in the world...and perhaps get a better understanding of why it's so hard to describe exactly what YWAM is....:)

Scroll down on this page for lots of photos and info about what's been happening in Butuan!!:)

We're getting CLOSER...one more week!!

2008-02-22T12:46:00.005+08:00

The sign reads "Padayona ang maga bata"..."Let the children come"....The sign can be seen from the street, welcoming the children to come with the words Jesus spoke. It's something of a reminder to me, that we aren't the ones calling the children, it's Jesus.

The opening of the drop-in center is scheduled for March 1st and there has a lot of work going on the building for us to be ready for the kids. Just in the last three weeks, the bathroom and kitchen have been built...and are still in the process of being finished as I type this.

We are planning to take all of the volunteers on an overnite trip one nite this week for a celebration/thank you/bonding time. We have an incredible group of volunteers that we've been blessed with and I look forward to seeing them participate in this ministry. They've gone through 5 weeks of training in preparation for this and now it's time to put the knowledge into action.

The photo above shows the freshly built bathroom (CR is what they're called here..comfort room). I'll be sharing what it looks like complete too, but here it is in process.:)

The photo above shows the new kitchen....we'll be adding tiles to the cement counter tops...and the floor is being covered in concrete....people who know anything about construction would have been fascinated by this process...I'm excited to see what it will look like when it's finished.:)

Here's one of our handy new bookcases and some new decorations for the windows. There are some people around who have tried to break into the building in the middle of the nite, so we've had to have iron bars built to be put on the windows (obviously this is still in process also)...hopefully as a deterrent to those with thievery on their minds...though I don't know what they would want that we have in the center...unless they really want to finger paint or play with glitter. No, I know! It must be the playdough!!

:)Thanks for your prayers and for you financial support. We wouldn't be able to do what we do here without the support we get from the body of Christ around the world...:) Blessing on your heads!!

Hmmm.

2008-02-19T17:10:00.011+08:00

So. It occurred to me the other day as I was pondering what to post on this blog that even common things that happen here could be interesting to the people who read this...

I've posted several photos below to share some common things...things like what I see when I walk to the road to get a tricycle (in New York they would say "hail a cab")...a tricycle...a street scene...

in the above photo, my house is the one with the grey fence...and a coconut tree in front...(if you enlarge the photo by clicking on it, you might be able to see all the papaya in our tree just inside the fence....

here's a couple of the local alarm clocks...oh, I mean roosters...it's very common to find roosters tied to trees by a piece of string or rope...they're kept for "cock fighting"...the *lovely* sport where you strap a small blade to the ankle of two roosters, then throw them into a "cock ring" and let them try and kill each other...people bet on these fights and lose all their money...One more thing to notice, on the left, a fantasmic papaya tree with a lovely papaya almost ready to be picked...

no need to adjust your monitors...the colors on the building above are accurate...these lovely one room apartment were just completed recently and there are large signs advertising them as "Bachelor Pads"...secretly I think it would be really fun to live in the purple one...:)

our road...the tricycle drivers won't come down it anymore...WAY too bumpy...we've almost tipped over a few times...

here's Lota (our college student who lives with us) and I inside the back of the trike...as you can see, they weren't really built with foreigners (me and Teresa) in mind...

The little orange trike...the main transportation here...there's a bench next to the driver and in the back, one seat on either side...powered by a motorcycle...costs 6.5 pesos (15cents) per ride, which takes you anywhere in the city...I've taken a half hour ride to church with seven people in one of these little guys!!...in the Philippines there's a saying- "There's always room for one more!!" :)

And finally, I'll leave you with a look at a smooth, beautiful, uncongested part of Butuan City roads...This is just around the corner from our house...the vehicle on the right is called a multi-cab...it goes for longer distances...it you come visit me, I'll pick you up from the airport in one of them...:)

That's all for now...leave a comment and let me know you're reading this blog...:)

Mobile Crossroads DTS Coming August 2008

2008-02-15T13:05:00.003+08:00

I just finished this video for the school coming up this August.

I will be working in Butuan for the first part of the year, and then going up to Baguio City to staff this school. Hopefully this video will give you a better understanding of what the school will be about. If you are interested in being a student, please email me or you can send an email to the address at the end of the video....

Enjoy..

One Child**

2008-02-15T10:25:00.010+08:00

I'd like to introduce my new friend, E...I met her a few weeks ago in the Plaza (town square). She was outside of a bank looking through the window and the guard came out to shoo her away, so she wouldn't disturb the customers by begging as they came out the door.

I happened to have a bag of sweet breads in my hands, so I called to her and got her attention. She crossed the street to where I was waiting and thankfully took the pieces of bread I offered. As she ate, I asked her about her life, with the help of my friend Dahlia, who translated.

E is 12 years old and was abandoned on the streets of Butuan, along with her siblings, by her mother when she was only six. Her father had all ready died. After some time, she was "adopted" by an American and his Filipina wife. Apparently she was well taken care of in that home and was happy. However, after the American died, she was thrown out of the house by the wife's mother, because of money issues. So she went back to life on the streets.

On the day I met her she asked me if she could come home with me. I can't explain what went through my mind at that point...but I knew I couldn't say yes. Praise the LORD, I all ready knew what hope I could give her. I told her about Project Destiny Drop-In Center. I told her about what kinds of things we'd do there...that we would feed her there...that she'd be safe there.

Before I left, with the help of Dahlia, I told her that I would look for her when I was in the city, and that she should look for me...that I would love to talk to her more.

The next day Teresa and I were doing errands in that part of the city, and we ate our lunch at Red Apple. (If you ever come to visit, I'll take you there...it's an interesting experience.:)) We had leftovers we were leaving the restaurant with, and Teresa was so excited about what I had told her about E. So we decided to look for her in the Plaza. She wasn't there, unfortunately, but we met some of her other friends...so we gave the chicken and rice (and brownie) to them and asked them to please tell E that Ate Susan would be back tomorrow around lunchtime to see her.

So I bought one loaf of bread, two cans of tuna, some sandwich spread and a can of juice. The next day, I made baggies of diluted juice (they probably don't drink enough water) and a bag of tuna sandwiches.

I looked at the small little pile of food on the table and wondered if it would be enough for the kids that might be there after it got around that an American was coming for lunch. But I just decided to trust that God knew who would be there and how much was needed, and that I was just going to be faithful with my "loaves and fish."

So off I went, alone. (We were having about 12 lunch guests in our house, so Teresa was needed there to serve them.) When I got to the Plaza, I was relieved to see that there weren't 50 kids waiting for me. The number was closer to 15... E was happy to see me, and a little bit shy, while she watched me the food away. I was amazed to see that there were more than enough sandwiches (one kid got 3!) and at the end, there was enough juice for every child there (plus the 2 adults), with one bag leftover.

I didn't preach, I didn't mention church or the Bible. I just simply passed out smiles, kind words and a bit of food. I remembered Jesus words about giving someone a drink of water...that it is like giving Him water. So I thanked Him that I was able to love these kids in His name. I told them about the center...and I hope to see them there one day. Relationship has been established.

I haven't seen E since that day. But I do look for her. I wonder if she's ok. I wonder if she ate today. I wonder if someone is hurting her. (It's well known in Butuan City that if you want sex with a child, you go to the Plaza.)

Please pray for E and her friends. She is one of more than 2,000 street kids in this city alone. Please pray for Butuan City. Please pray for the street kids all over the world today.

**edited to change her name, for her protection.

Fried Chicken with Friends

2008-02-14T21:02:00.005+08:00

My friends, who also happen to be Project Destiny volunteers, Joice and Inday, were just here for dinner. We had fried chicken and rice...with a bit of chocolate for dessert, since it IS Valentine's Day... Joice was telling me that she would love to learn how to make a video on the computer, so I offered to show her how I've made the other PD videos. She thought that was a lovely idea, so we sat down together and made this video about the Christmas party we had last month.

Even though it was a month late, we were still in the Christmas season here in the Philippines, which lasts until February first. We invited the street kids who hang out in the bus terminal to come to the center on a Saturday afternoon. About 40 kids came and filled up the downstairs of our building. It was the first time we'd had kids in the center....what an amazing sight to see. We played games, sang songs, the New Caledonians performed some dances, and we ate.

At the end we were able to give each child a Christmas present in the form of a Ziploc bag full of amazing stuff. Each bag had: one washcloth, one pair of socks, one hairbrush (with hair ties for the girls), one toothbrush and toothpaste, a bar of soap and one toy. What treasures!!! The video shows the looks of glee and amazement on the faces of the kids...beautiful. Special thanks to Calvary Chapel Fremont for making the gift giving possible.:)

Hope you enjoy the video...
God bless you!:)

We've Hosted Our First Overseas Team!!

2008-02-13T18:29:00.000+08:00

So have you ever hung out with a group of people who speak a completely different language, yet somehow through you common love for Jesus, relationship is formed in a beautiful, only-God-could-have-done-it way?

I live in a place where all around me everyday is a language I don't understand...yet. But somehow it's become a familiar unknown. Last month we hosted a team from New Caledonia, which is a French territory.

For two weeks I kept thinking, "WHY didn't I take FRENCH in high school?!?" The team was made up of 4 YWAM Discipleship Training School students who came to the Philippines for their outreach, and their staff leader, Aza, the translator.

We are so thankful they came. They were able to complete the painting in the drop-in center, help build a parsonage for a local church, participate in an evangelical crusade for children (which resulted in a children's Bible study group being formed), help us with our Christmas party (a month late) and prayer walk through parts of our city.

In the short time they were here, God formed a beautiful relationship between us. They prayed over us and over our volunteers, and as they prayed, they wept. God delivered a message to them about what He's doing here that didn't need to be translated. Through His revelation they understood how to pray, and how to encourage, and how to be a blessing in this place. It's my prayer that they were blessed beyond measure through spending time here in the Philippines, and that one day they will be able to return and see the fruits of their labors here.

Andy and I on the way home from church, in the jeepney.

Valery painting the face of some kids during the crusade.

Aza, their leader and amazing translator.

All of us. originally this was the nice group photo, but with a click of the button, I deleted the nice one. So here's the goofy one. Who ever said missionaries are SERIOUS?!!??!

Project Destiny Drop-in Center

2007-12-12T23:00:00.000+08:00

We're working on getting our new building ready for the opening of the Drop-in Center. This video shows the progress we've made so far....and leaves room for you in the end...:)

Blessings on your heads today.

Yep, I was in Thailand TOO!!!

2007-12-12T22:32:00.001+08:00

From Hong Kong, where our other trip began and ended, I flew to Bangkok for the Cutting Edge conference on "Invisible Children". It was my first time in Thailand, and I spent the majority of my time at the conference location. One evening we were able to take a trip into the city to spend a few hours at a night market...super fun!!

The conference was excellent. It's quite a sensation to be in a room with 300 other people who have a heart for Children at Risk...The conference was for leaders of Christian ministries to children in Asia. It's put on by the VIVA network. www.viva.org Since I am fairly new to working in this type of ministry, this conference was a valuable experience for me. I was exposed to all kinds of things that were new to me. It was also quite overwhelming, and I just did my best to SOAK up all that God had for me, and remember that I couldn't learn it all at once. It was definitely another one of those moments in life where I wish I could implant the chip in my brain and then be on the same page as everyone else...wouldn't that be a marvelous invention??

There are so many children in such tragic circumstances around the world.The theme of the conference this year was "Invisible Children," meaning the children in our world who are unseen...who slip through the cracks and don't end up being noticed. I learned about "grooming" children for web porn. There are thousands of internet cafes in Mindanao (the island I live on) alone, and there are people who will get street kids and have them chatting with foreigners in exchange for a meal and then doing things that the child may not even understand. Sometimes the child even ends up in a slavery situation, where they are unable to break free from the perpetrator. The foreigners have to pay money to view the child, so the easiest way to spot a cafe where this is happening is to look if there is a Western Union next door. It's so heartbreaking to know that children are caught in such a filthy trade...

Please pray for the children who are on the streets right now. They need hope.

Our God is a GREAT BIG GOD!!!

2007-12-12T21:35:00.000+08:00

I realize that it's been quite some time since I have posted. I've been off on an adventure around Asia. I just got back about 2 weeks ago, and as usual it has been pretty busy around Butuan and, as usual, my brain needed some time to process what happened before I could write about it coherently.

During the first 3 weeks I was gone, I was leading a short term adventure in C (for security reasons let's refer to it here as C). Our group of 9 was comprised of church members from churches in California, Wisconsin and Washington. We traveled by ferry, train, bus, tricycle (motorcycle with box on the back for passengers) and airplane during our time together. We were able to encourage and bless the people we met along the way. We prayer walked through cities. We met many people in English corners in places. We laughed and cried and laughed again.

This was my favorite trip to C so far. Father was so faithful to each one of us in our time together. He spoke clearly to each of us in personal ways. One of the team members even saw a picture of an old man- quite specific detail was given in the picture about what he looked like and what he would be wearing. She really felt like God was saying that she needed to watch for that man. About 2 days later she met him on the street. She didn't know exactly what to do, but she ended up praying for him right there on the street. We may never know the outcome of this encounter in the life of that man, but I know that Kari was so encouraged, knowing that God spoke to her and she heard Him so clearly...

In my case, I had a very specific dream about a baby with a throat problem (cleft throat...unheard of, but so clear in my dream), who was in front of a building with a green railing. I shared the dream in our morning meeting, unsure of what significance it had, but knowing that God was saying SOMEthing. There was a suggestion that maybe it wasn't a literal dream, but that the baby had something wrong in that area....maybe no voice. That day we got on a bus and rode into the countryside. When we got off the bus, I saw the building from my dream. As we walked in the area, we met a baby who was very sick. She had a throat problem...the translation from the parents was that she couldn't get the phlegm out and that she had a sore throat. So we prayed for her and blessed her to know the Father, and to grow into a mighty woman of God. Again, I may never know the outcome of what happens with that little girl, but I do know that I was in awe of my SuperFatherGod who spoke clearly to me that day. By the way, later I went to the building from my dream....it was a nursery school....so we talked with the kids...and of course we prayed for them too...(the top two photos are of the kids, with the green railing from the dream at the bottom of the photo, AND the baby...:))

Of course there were alot of things that went on in that trip, but if I share that all here, what will I tell you when I come home and see you all?!?!?!?

GO GOD!!!

Street Kids Outreach in Butuan

2007-10-22T22:26:00.000+08:00

After 5 successful days of training in the evenings during the week, the volunteers all came back to our house on Saturday at 8am for a full day of training and practise followed by a two hour outreach in two locations in the city.

The video is just to give you an idea of what the ministry looks like and to see some of our fantastic volunteers in action.....:)

At the end is a photo of OUR NEW BUILDING!! We have been approved by leaders to sign the papers to rent the building for one year and then buy it....to use for our Drop-In Center.....

GO GOD!!!!

And We're Off!

2007-10-16T11:07:00.000+08:00

Project Destiny has officially been launched. Last night we held our first night of training for 25 local church volunteers, who have been selected by their pastors. We will be having training every night this week from 6-9 and then all day Saturday we will have our first outreach. The training is being held right here in our sala (living room). In discussing the different venues for this time, we realized that we wanted to build relationship, so instead of a large, impersonal meeting hall, we chose to gather in our tiny sala.

Our scripture for the ministry is:

"HE lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. HE sets them among princes, even princes of his own people." Psalm 113:7-8

The next few paragraphs are part of the training manual... I just want you to know what our focus is....:)

Our theme for this training is "Knowing that HE is the God who does the work, HE has a plan and destiny for my life and HE wars on my behalf to see it come to pass." My job is to cooperate with Him in all that I do, keep my heart and motives right and continue to grow in Him, understanding that HE is the worker and I am onl a tool in His hand.

The training is not like other trainings, where the focus is achievement. This is a time of equipping and nurturing, and a time of revelation and tranformation in our lives. We believe that one of God's greatest purposes for us, as His children, is that we are increasingly transformed into His likeness. Our goal is that you would grow not only in understanding of street children and ministry, but most importantly you would grow in their relationship with God and continue to develop a godly character, resulting in changed lives.

So, please keep us in your prayers during this crucial time in our ministry... we expect that there will be more participants coming as the week goes on... and we are MORE than excited to see what God wants to do during this time...

So, What Does a Drop-In Center Sound Like?

2007-10-10T14:56:00.000+08:00

The bamboo flute in the background is being played by one of the youth who comes to the center for help…he is gifted in music, and in art…he even has some of his paintings posted in an at studio in the city… Also in the video you’ll see how relaxed the environment is there…a map on the wall reminds the kids how much bigger the world is than what they encounter everyday…Go God!!!

So, What Does a Drop-In Center Look Like?

2007-10-10T11:56:00.000+08:00

Even more than what it looks like, what does a drop-in center feel like? These are two of my many questions that were answered in our trip to Cagayan de Oro City. Monday afternoon we took a five hour bus ride to the city, where we were scheduled to attend the YWAM base staff meeting on Tuesday, followed by a visit to a drop-in center for street kids.

After the meeting with the other YWAMers associated with the base (nationalities represented in the staff: Filipino, German, UK, USA, Sweden) where we prayed, worshipped, shared an update on our ministry and heard from the others as well, we rode over to the ministry center.

And there it was there that I had my first encounter with ministry to street children. The pictures show you what the center looks like....the kids come in and can play pool, watch a movie, sleep and eat some much needed food. In the center they are in a place where they know they are safe, where they don't have to watch their back constantly making sure no one is coming to hurt them...there is peace, in room with staff who love them and want the best for them, where the name of Jesus is lifted up as THE hope for our lives...there is rest for the weary little bodies who struggle daily on the streets to survive...

We met kids ranging from about 6 to 21 years of age...it's startling to come face to face with a child is a STREET CHILD...after hearing that term for so many years, and seeing random kids on the street, in bus terminals and ferry ports is one thing. But to look in the face of a child and be able to talk, hug and listen to them, puts a whole new stamp of REALITY on the problem millions of kids are facing.

It was heartbreaking to hear the story of one boy, aged 16, who as result of being used at the age of 6 to dive into the ocean carrying dynamite used for fishing, was stricken deaf and now lives on the streets.

I'm still processing all that I saw and felt during our time in the center. We're talking about how we can be a blesssing to the YWAMers serving with those kids and how they can bless us with their wisdom and experience in working with this unique group of children. I'm excited to see what our center will look like in Butuan...and to see God transform a generation of children who don't know yet that there is a God who knows how many hairs are on their heads, who has engraved them on the palm of His hand, and has a DESTINY for each of them....

Safe Arrival in Butuan

2007-10-05T17:59:00.001+08:00

This is MAX, the guarddog and pet and friend and entertainment in our house....he dances, sits, and scoots backward when commanded to "STAY"........

After 22 hours of travel I arrived in Manila, Philippines, where I stayed for three nights visiting with friends who had traveled eight hours by bus to greet me before I headed on to Mindanao, Philippines.
Last Saturday, I took the one hour flight south from Manila to arrive in Butuan City. My friend and partner in ministry, Teresa Woodard, picked me and all my luggage up, and brought me to our house. We traveled by tricycle over the river and through the woods...or so it might seem...:)

The photo above shows our kitchen....and the photo below shows the view from the kitchen into the sala...

When I arrived at the house, there was a fiesta for my welcome party, where we had a feast...shrimp, BBQ pork, squid....cake AND ice cream!!!....and pizza too....and the kids had made a lovely sign outside and decorated everywhere with balloons.....so nifty!!!

This week I've been focusing on getting adjusted and settled in....going to local shops for supplies, waiting patiently for 6 days for the internet to be hooked up....visiting the "mall" (not what you're thinking) down the street and being thrilled to discover they sell cheese, and tomato, not banana, ketchup........

We also took the overnight ferry to Cebu City on Sunday, where we processed our Philippines immigration papers and I applied through a travel agent for my China visa...the China trip is coming up in less than one month!!!

PRAYER POINTS:

please pray for us as we prepare for the training of the church members for the Drop-In center
please pray for the people joining the tour in November, that they will be successful in all their travel preparation
please pray for the street children---that God will prepare their hearts for hearing His truth

Palanan 2007

2007-10-05T17:22:00.000+08:00

As an application of what has been learned during Crossroads Discipleship Training School, after 12 weeks of lecture we lead the students on an 8 week outreach into remote areas in the Philippines to serve in the name of Jesus. This video shows what part of that experience can look like through the eyes of one of the teammates....me.:)

2007-08-30T06:07:00.000+08:00

My favorite part about what I do is seeing what God can do when people are fully yielded to Him. He transforms lives, and continues to transform mine as I choose to serve Him. I especially love to see children have a powerful encounter with their Heavenly Father. As I look towards the future I am excited to see where God will lead as I serve Him...

How great is the lovethe Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God!1John3:1

Worship on the Mountain

2007-03-05T10:55:00.000+08:00

Last Saturday we went to Santo Tomas, the highest point in Baguio City, Philippines for worship and intercession. We prayed over the city, asking for God to move, bringing this city back to the truth of the gospel. Our Father desires the people of the Philippines, Asia and the world to join together in worship of the one true God.....Please take a moment right now to pray that God's glory will fill the earth, as waters cover the sea.......thank you...