Fun Re-connecting with Co-workers

Just three days after arriving in Manila, we as a team headed out of town for a time of encouragement and fellowship.  This included a great time of testifying to Gods grace in ministry, seeking Him in regards to new endeavors, and also the challenges that are inevitable when serving the Lord.  What a great way to get settled back in to ministry in the Philippines and reconnect with co-workers.

PRAISE FOR NEW BELIEVERS

Absent from our time of meeting were missionary co-workers to the Agta but that’s because they were in the midst of finishing a series of teaching that culminated with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  We praise the Lord for new testimonies of faith among the Agta people that our co-workers have been ministering to for the past several years as they’ve studied the culture and language, endured hardships relating to sickness and health, ultimately earning the right to be heard as they taught this great message of salvation.

NEW ENDEAVORS

Other testimonies related to ongoing discipleship and the blessing of watching new believers move toward maturity in Christ, some taking on positions of leadership in the church and working towards seeing our missionaries have less and less of a need in some areas.  One set of co-workers after serving 10 years in one village have committed to relocating and assisting with a new church plant in another region.  Praise God for that.

TRUSTING HIM WITH THE CHALLENGES

Our challenges are varied from region to region. Some have caused our team to think outside of the box as to how ministry can continue despite the challenges.  One example of that has been one of our teams recording all of their discipleship lessons and preparing to have them sent into the village where they’ve not been able to return for quite some time.  The praise is that these lessons can be used over and over again for as long as necessary.  In some cases, the people we minister to are going to where the missionaries are since the missionaries can’t go to them.  Praise be to God for their desire to be fed and making the effort to see that happen.

Thanks for your prayers as we serve Him and for a GREAT home-assignment.  By God’s grace, many of you have played a huge role in allowing for our return to the Philippines refreshed and encouraged.  We praise Him for each of you.