We wanted to say thank-you to all of you that have prayed specifically for our recent visit with the southern Isnag located in the mountains of northern Philippines. Some hightlights from this six day visit includes being treated to a demonstration of tribal dance and song as organized by missionary Robbi Padernal, viewing the Jesus Film in a neighboring dialect with some 200 people in attendence, witnessing young believers teaching at a neighboring village (a one hour hike down-river) and then seeing believers in the village we were visiting gathering on Sunday afternoon beneath the home of missionary Vicky Martin to sing praise to God in their tribal tongue and then to hear teaching from the book of Romans by missionary Jonathan Bamford.
So why the need for additional team members in this village where God has obviously already begun a great work? The truth is there is no one answer but the short answer is that the untimely death of their original Bible teacher, Galen Martin, who passed into glory on May 27, 2004, has left a void that has yet to be filled. Current teammates, including Vicky Martin, the spouse and widow of Galen, and the Isnag believers themselves have all prayed faithfully for this gap to be filled so that the Isnag people might continue in the process of discipleship to maturity in Christ.
Praise & Prayer Points:
1) Praise God that 100% of our need for this trip has been provided. God is indeed faithul & we are extremely grateful for all that have participated in this ministry opportunity with us.
2) Team member Robbi Padernal will be retiring from tribal ministry in March of this year. Her seven month commitment early in 2003 turned into seven years of faithful service. Please pray for her transition to ministry outside of the tribe.
3) Robbi’s retirement will leave Vicky without a partner & so she too will need to leave the village until new partners are raised up. Please pray that she can return as often as she is able to encourage the believers.
4) Please pray for team members Jonathan & Heidi Bamford as they fullfil certain administrative & leadership duties from Manila while Jonathan continues the process of translating the Bible to the southern Isnag dialect.
5) Pray for our family as we continue to seek the Lord as to whether or not this is the work God has for us. What is sure is that already He has given us a great vision for the Isnag people & we are extremely humbled at just the prospect of being used by God in such a way. For now, I have a great deal of work ahead of me still with Tagalog language study and so please pray that we will remain focused on the current task God has for us.
Psalm 67:1-2
1. God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us. 2. That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. (NASB)