tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18609738561580569112024-03-14T08:28:24.021+08:00Garden of GraceThis blog is dedicated to sharing what God has done, and is doing, in our lives. We desire our lives to be a place where we grow to be more like God: full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This is not a one time, red letter day on the calendar. No, this is a process. This is a journey we are on with Jesus.Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.comBlogger695125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-15418334281714361022014-08-29T16:26:00.000+08:002014-08-29T16:26:25.266+08:00Happy Birthday!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Birthday to Annalise and Alayna!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three weeks ago Annalise celebrated her 12th birthday. Today Alayna celebrates her 15th.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here is a little walking and skipping through the last year.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cLakT97wlEkA50AWVCWy3p6ieZ_ffS-7cV0y7Iy82x2P9XoNcocWDT2b5OYBKyJ0mGQgDSXCIGFRNX4MXQrUp9rXyLwT3nWYk0h1mwJV9beMrwNkijO5SfKaNrWRSrArk9l_wsppYlA/s1600/2013+08+09_20D_0172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cLakT97wlEkA50AWVCWy3p6ieZ_ffS-7cV0y7Iy82x2P9XoNcocWDT2b5OYBKyJ0mGQgDSXCIGFRNX4MXQrUp9rXyLwT3nWYk0h1mwJV9beMrwNkijO5SfKaNrWRSrArk9l_wsppYlA/s1600/2013+08+09_20D_0172.JPG" height="353" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Back: Alayna, Josiah, Alexie<br />Front: Jordan, Annalise, Adriana</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8hyphenhyphenkqAE-msBJZ8alrHL66UWjFdKaBwnFTH5zmiRND8NesXd9agRTzW8aZJqMxTZPOu1p2k5gdNn7p3zK9PpiISbGS7dzBR5qMkZZpzzRqVT8ikkhU6WXX83pzOgfqMadKafZIaDLZVw/s1600/2013+08+17_300hs_0111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8hyphenhyphenkqAE-msBJZ8alrHL66UWjFdKaBwnFTH5zmiRND8NesXd9agRTzW8aZJqMxTZPOu1p2k5gdNn7p3zK9PpiISbGS7dzBR5qMkZZpzzRqVT8ikkhU6WXX83pzOgfqMadKafZIaDLZVw/s1600/2013+08+17_300hs_0111.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Getting ready to send Adriana off to college</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshSqnvRK7MIS1w9X7waxLd2fEAzjBYm0LJwGccIch91jy9WDITrCp09nflzVbjy-Tg51dfioivWRCsRypS4G08POuOQ33pyJecEeQ6EwwYLVOhxRoj79EM9U0WjzZ1FVUB1oFUXWPPJo/s1600/2013+08+23_300hs_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjshSqnvRK7MIS1w9X7waxLd2fEAzjBYm0LJwGccIch91jy9WDITrCp09nflzVbjy-Tg51dfioivWRCsRypS4G08POuOQ33pyJecEeQ6EwwYLVOhxRoj79EM9U0WjzZ1FVUB1oFUXWPPJo/s1600/2013+08+23_300hs_0003.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The first of many summer catches</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMTHQvLyy6yV3Bq8n3brdBU-coaq-Yc2zwiDNNHYal_jmQwgBcRx76NmSS_vWAMJXDNvVThGaBqlIhKy133hdlRtpT_T6DJyYujt7LqzurVHqNBD9XO39M2pQ6gEomjxJ_pLGVSzJh8M/s1600/2013+08+29_300hs_0043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMTHQvLyy6yV3Bq8n3brdBU-coaq-Yc2zwiDNNHYal_jmQwgBcRx76NmSS_vWAMJXDNvVThGaBqlIhKy133hdlRtpT_T6DJyYujt7LqzurVHqNBD9XO39M2pQ6gEomjxJ_pLGVSzJh8M/s1600/2013+08+29_300hs_0043.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Alayna celebrating last year</span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJDOOzrAtPMNOnThXBWk6USEdWJ2Xy0bU5zZP1ZjC7o9dQaA31eYYGB5aM7uKf6wzEyEkeMbydFIUoGto_iKzHAIdIsrqTB1X9Zjf9rkDfeT7SiDp9-mxOsLuMguA9yHpIhbyWCDwKms/s1600/2013+08+30_20D_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJDOOzrAtPMNOnThXBWk6USEdWJ2Xy0bU5zZP1ZjC7o9dQaA31eYYGB5aM7uKf6wzEyEkeMbydFIUoGto_iKzHAIdIsrqTB1X9Zjf9rkDfeT7SiDp9-mxOsLuMguA9yHpIhbyWCDwKms/s1600/2013+08+30_20D_0048.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Sisterhood of MudLove</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QU5AZSp5Tukl3uG7UWWUg4t-wPOuNImjghjL-YhQhMzffNLw8P0pGK2WpPxBMNssWpJuhNawR5tb5PAvGfgS73qPMY43MtR5aOyT7HkUYbRdk6tNtDPvcojgc71_ZCd0Xt5qrpW2yzE/s1600/2013+08+31_300hs_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0QU5AZSp5Tukl3uG7UWWUg4t-wPOuNImjghjL-YhQhMzffNLw8P0pGK2WpPxBMNssWpJuhNawR5tb5PAvGfgS73qPMY43MtR5aOyT7HkUYbRdk6tNtDPvcojgc71_ZCd0Xt5qrpW2yzE/s1600/2013+08+31_300hs_0031.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A lunch date with Adriana near her college</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjAPXkQ0HzcH85HANGyq_klVLVLXGb6Re02e4WC2ezHxi4CZASUDTiLGw8jbhkNsFzqNMf8Cjkbki_B6tQ9xMUxE8WTb69qo2V5vlYhXA37JYykjYrJzYn84-boMqk7mEbfc3nrinZGQ/s1600/2013+10+11_20D_0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjAPXkQ0HzcH85HANGyq_klVLVLXGb6Re02e4WC2ezHxi4CZASUDTiLGw8jbhkNsFzqNMf8Cjkbki_B6tQ9xMUxE8WTb69qo2V5vlYhXA37JYykjYrJzYn84-boMqk7mEbfc3nrinZGQ/s1600/2013+10+11_20D_0041.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Enjoying fall and playing in the leaves</span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfnssC6KgYoUBmrLbWMK6ZwQCNzqjySP3ipfdDe4TlSNxZ-UyDqaPzPeWs450qlZVbqfCXYIRcLhvVo3S00374wTB_nw1zvmtjRbqgEMGHjcOp1ZeHeUSMr55WHpP_UdsPucN8KGjIY0/s1600/2013+10+12_300hs_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfnssC6KgYoUBmrLbWMK6ZwQCNzqjySP3ipfdDe4TlSNxZ-UyDqaPzPeWs450qlZVbqfCXYIRcLhvVo3S00374wTB_nw1zvmtjRbqgEMGHjcOp1ZeHeUSMr55WHpP_UdsPucN8KGjIY0/s1600/2013+10+12_300hs_0119.JPG" height="361" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Fierce competition</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Back to the Philippines</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rYj0BgdIcTEPIjrqppofSZa41NrlDw1iZAJ4Hwd8M-VNc9zxbtryFU7cjpFvXHklOebkXKwbpkTu5R1LHJWG5YmRCnY-bcoF_d3sKC2nIL_YwRvSsDjwZ-Pm-juFLZ0K-0cqRAXqKMA/s1600/2013+12+24_300hs_0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3rYj0BgdIcTEPIjrqppofSZa41NrlDw1iZAJ4Hwd8M-VNc9zxbtryFU7cjpFvXHklOebkXKwbpkTu5R1LHJWG5YmRCnY-bcoF_d3sKC2nIL_YwRvSsDjwZ-Pm-juFLZ0K-0cqRAXqKMA/s1600/2013+12+24_300hs_0196.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Dinner on the roof</span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarHr4-UaBU1ZAELrCAdvFfhbUgLHQ0VtQ9Ua8QABl0x-ClN8ztDW93j5tdmdjHKjlpoYp-gaf8VWu1oQ-ofTtSDxdAvPn9hlffFy0RgbqgcrEygxDheN1R-0J1B6Xl_fyT84nuIiMNL0/s1600/2013+12+24_300hs_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarHr4-UaBU1ZAELrCAdvFfhbUgLHQ0VtQ9Ua8QABl0x-ClN8ztDW93j5tdmdjHKjlpoYp-gaf8VWu1oQ-ofTtSDxdAvPn9hlffFy0RgbqgcrEygxDheN1R-0J1B6Xl_fyT84nuIiMNL0/s1600/2013+12+24_300hs_0214.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHHnPqqlmzMVfGOHeoJ5nYSoaWENLcoviUG3zlCqsKqLOtIQpCenWrysnctnZwKyL4K0yKjf-cvYEf6tRKFDtFemXSXltHoOOZei9fN3ROguseIaVabE-AZCTH6Gmvl3tPoEvpNhYo7A/s1600/2013+12+24_300hs_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHHnPqqlmzMVfGOHeoJ5nYSoaWENLcoviUG3zlCqsKqLOtIQpCenWrysnctnZwKyL4K0yKjf-cvYEf6tRKFDtFemXSXltHoOOZei9fN3ROguseIaVabE-AZCTH6Gmvl3tPoEvpNhYo7A/s1600/2013+12+24_300hs_0217.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">It's more fun in the Philippines - even when your companion is Vietnamese</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Ready for Camiguin Island</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Annalise working on her sand castle - before the tide came in</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzoliYV2yfECsA3qmVlse9TB6RhviaFAJ65D_Qvj21R2mjl7GSngRorGmEXgWvJ6foB9th-fhFrZtbtekuB_aq3KL7KQA7bQiLarZYOjQoF-imj5X7ggrwhzyEJIcA4FQbAMWYI9vSgg/s1600/2014+04+15_300hs_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzoliYV2yfECsA3qmVlse9TB6RhviaFAJ65D_Qvj21R2mjl7GSngRorGmEXgWvJ6foB9th-fhFrZtbtekuB_aq3KL7KQA7bQiLarZYOjQoF-imj5X7ggrwhzyEJIcA4FQbAMWYI9vSgg/s1600/2014+04+15_300hs_0139.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Taking a break between villages</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxWhhx1R9ZPvjnML7P05Mn9fxqOC3VMocH7XzCfaeaDQ8NtRBluOM4eaoREg51_NM5pwFwjZqQ5y1ep1Vr-iXgJvjEBunxh5MC1EbsCehcL27hiKEaUbRdf7-GVfAtW9qTfMhPpEK2DA/s1600/2014+04+15_300hs_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxWhhx1R9ZPvjnML7P05Mn9fxqOC3VMocH7XzCfaeaDQ8NtRBluOM4eaoREg51_NM5pwFwjZqQ5y1ep1Vr-iXgJvjEBunxh5MC1EbsCehcL27hiKEaUbRdf7-GVfAtW9qTfMhPpEK2DA/s1600/2014+04+15_300hs_0154.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmVuVzz-hPcxFlJmJJrBjfbzqbBiVzgtJLT2uqerhxnh5quFT04XVTxEKF5-lj6QAxx0gKS0jOnRKi4aMLJZwz934m2VQHQ91o6rt-H1N2YLvS5IuIKaXjmL-cxlnk3BeqtER1E5vt6g/s1600/2014+04+20_300hs_0039-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmVuVzz-hPcxFlJmJJrBjfbzqbBiVzgtJLT2uqerhxnh5quFT04XVTxEKF5-lj6QAxx0gKS0jOnRKi4aMLJZwz934m2VQHQ91o6rt-H1N2YLvS5IuIKaXjmL-cxlnk3BeqtER1E5vt6g/s1600/2014+04+20_300hs_0039-1.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Camiguin friends</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPEyVHvKglPkjAbaGeTG2YitNUbhBJkQDtWuCp2Q31Y7QRZ-JSROIYSoN8iLstdS5ifIk1R4OsmlQaIdm1U7Pqjv7cea5Kx0Vb_2g2OTeLgQOQdh4R3ustAHHHTmE44ZBWhNkAhBTx4Q/s1600/2014+05+08_300hs_0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPEyVHvKglPkjAbaGeTG2YitNUbhBJkQDtWuCp2Q31Y7QRZ-JSROIYSoN8iLstdS5ifIk1R4OsmlQaIdm1U7Pqjv7cea5Kx0Vb_2g2OTeLgQOQdh4R3ustAHHHTmE44ZBWhNkAhBTx4Q/s1600/2014+05+08_300hs_0333.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Annalise being a "victim" during PHILEO Response Team training</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0yqa9tG89YLOf6Mwm9Ai0atPAPkfPGqwGcU_udLwopXEtP6zCxj96TCT0JFppwQHWKW3Fh3iw30ec-4reCtDhP_VjCNtGhxvJXaf_3B2PDeXGxtZQbZuS5GWyJf1dOiMVn-cBT8Iou4/s1600/2014+05+09_300hs_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0yqa9tG89YLOf6Mwm9Ai0atPAPkfPGqwGcU_udLwopXEtP6zCxj96TCT0JFppwQHWKW3Fh3iw30ec-4reCtDhP_VjCNtGhxvJXaf_3B2PDeXGxtZQbZuS5GWyJf1dOiMVn-cBT8Iou4/s1600/2014+05+09_300hs_0213.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>We need to lift the backboard all the way up there!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpzkRFV3Ck1bPHIaf3dkYmNnMZyZzU-SRWl0ZD4IqL8jAn9Ylvevkpmswxro49csA9WKBs9AoslpavGwfSKlMdhAJmVf_Xf1ZBiGaIL2Tm-lhjFLgjDMZz1wE9ce_Lg7B1G67fdEo56E/s1600/2014+05+14_20D_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpzkRFV3Ck1bPHIaf3dkYmNnMZyZzU-SRWl0ZD4IqL8jAn9Ylvevkpmswxro49csA9WKBs9AoslpavGwfSKlMdhAJmVf_Xf1ZBiGaIL2Tm-lhjFLgjDMZz1wE9ce_Lg7B1G67fdEo56E/s1600/2014+05+14_20D_0016.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Alayna performing during the YWAM Northern Luzon regional conference</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8raB9V1la8yYLvyS2-WJgbGYBO_bd04tjufNQ_xk1QHXKqXd4980EswCvLAYBpsodAbt_ZCN3YU87_-8S4j_AVGRz1y_zxsgZ4vXZaVQl9lVTcjmwsDp14DIB5342vd4De3sMEpwwA5Q/s1600/2014+05+14_20D_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8raB9V1la8yYLvyS2-WJgbGYBO_bd04tjufNQ_xk1QHXKqXd4980EswCvLAYBpsodAbt_ZCN3YU87_-8S4j_AVGRz1y_zxsgZ4vXZaVQl9lVTcjmwsDp14DIB5342vd4De3sMEpwwA5Q/s1600/2014+05+14_20D_0019.JPG" height="321" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I can praise Him! You can praise Him! Everyone praise Jesus!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqONRxZoH1f0gr3Hqcg31ecQD1adNgu7-WxJjvn_dngIcZKVqdHrGn2LNfRSOq5HQdThaHyecrQ0rS7yPqHzaePQbmr3gLCOwILcfefxu4E8pg1ZyGiVGrJtHrQi9wAE1MVFwJtlHg5Sw/s1600/2014+05+14_20D_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqONRxZoH1f0gr3Hqcg31ecQD1adNgu7-WxJjvn_dngIcZKVqdHrGn2LNfRSOq5HQdThaHyecrQ0rS7yPqHzaePQbmr3gLCOwILcfefxu4E8pg1ZyGiVGrJtHrQi9wAE1MVFwJtlHg5Sw/s1600/2014+05+14_20D_0063.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Alayna doing what Alayna does so well</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ywqDQHfO6jl2OeMe35O0eHlJo6zyvr2zPO4HIeCe8qVg_6HTkxonHZ0PhJLf4XmJBROZ4pLAi9hAR9w8P3T75Bi08HaOyfFke9XIhWyhOqddjhRCnOYVgCkAyiZFU4uYw2aKjFkZ5KE/s1600/2014+06+02_300hs_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ywqDQHfO6jl2OeMe35O0eHlJo6zyvr2zPO4HIeCe8qVg_6HTkxonHZ0PhJLf4XmJBROZ4pLAi9hAR9w8P3T75Bi08HaOyfFke9XIhWyhOqddjhRCnOYVgCkAyiZFU4uYw2aKjFkZ5KE/s1600/2014+06+02_300hs_0231.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">14 hours on the bus, 5 hours on the boat</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_G8OXwArOxrJv-OB8DV_1opELtLLRB981YgYLsbD1J9o30ZuX8lsJbnsWvwvn6h7jUNhF4rDnYJp2wAvEsLUPQ3-MkGbgMeFdFRwFUk62h1cK9fpj0EjnL6ryxMJ1G5DX_TA8wVYXxs/s1600/2014+06+10_300hs_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_G8OXwArOxrJv-OB8DV_1opELtLLRB981YgYLsbD1J9o30ZuX8lsJbnsWvwvn6h7jUNhF4rDnYJp2wAvEsLUPQ3-MkGbgMeFdFRwFUk62h1cK9fpj0EjnL6ryxMJ1G5DX_TA8wVYXxs/s1600/2014+06+10_300hs_0147.JPG" height="257" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Friends on Camiguin Island</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkeaZ4_MwG0zthyphenhyphenwsBlr4iBUIQLi9CerBlBImyfeutv2HnD_idriIUWbYDuKmj16PNUqlA5aetCzaqIZpUQdhd9GjsL53Y4reaY3niAGg8xx_kBNsnOr7OrEH-lpzTeA_WG0TIAuB49Y/s1600/2014+06+13_iPod_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkeaZ4_MwG0zthyphenhyphenwsBlr4iBUIQLi9CerBlBImyfeutv2HnD_idriIUWbYDuKmj16PNUqlA5aetCzaqIZpUQdhd9GjsL53Y4reaY3niAGg8xx_kBNsnOr7OrEH-lpzTeA_WG0TIAuB49Y/s1600/2014+06+13_iPod_0001.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Best friends</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaAIEUwFAQExBra1-dVp-puc9Wzcrw7pYF-TZu7Dt92d2gkMzDacs-AIq27R8ZnhC9uPx2tfQ8PajRQ8PbYrrWNsJ6W86PDkcW819-hEY5wV37wH4rviqf1BypTl1dCptmKnrRJ7Yu1o/s1600/2014+06+14_300hs_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaAIEUwFAQExBra1-dVp-puc9Wzcrw7pYF-TZu7Dt92d2gkMzDacs-AIq27R8ZnhC9uPx2tfQ8PajRQ8PbYrrWNsJ6W86PDkcW819-hEY5wV37wH4rviqf1BypTl1dCptmKnrRJ7Yu1o/s1600/2014+06+14_300hs_0120.JPG" height="311" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">New friends</span></i></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started to do this as separate posts, but too many things conspired against that plan. First, I have not been so good about making any posts on this blog recently (although I am trying to improve). Second, they celebrate their birthdays only 3 weeks apart, further aggravating my blog lethargy. While the first 2 are shaky reasons indeed, I am happy about the last reason: our daughters, all 4 of them, are close to each other so it is difficult to separate each of them from each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grace,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom</span></div>
Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-27315164170265358542014-08-01T11:48:00.000+08:002014-08-29T14:50:58.971+08:00Where did you do your DTS?"Where did you do your DTS?" If you have been in Youth With A Mission, you have heard that question before. But it is usually not a one-word answer. A Discipleship Training School intentionally, physically and spiritually moves you. For three months you leave home to live on a campus with the other students in the school. That campus may be in your home town or across the country. In <a href="http://garden-of-grace.blogspot.com/2007/04/blog-post.html" target="_blank">2007 </a>we left our home in the midwest and traveled to Salem, Oregon. For some, the campus where their DTS journey begins is in a country far from home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfo4pPvdwyp0g9W3OdizNoLE9puJ-QjGTNtnIg5P19nkRkl_sh8ihsFfBkDKdhOFlk-4bUpMS9k1j6aEV2RhDpFRhTPBz-5qdNAVSafbMQZ9L1W_eg7iLzGNkhqH8E7LrQz1Wbkktf1U/s1600/2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfo4pPvdwyp0g9W3OdizNoLE9puJ-QjGTNtnIg5P19nkRkl_sh8ihsFfBkDKdhOFlk-4bUpMS9k1j6aEV2RhDpFRhTPBz-5qdNAVSafbMQZ9L1W_eg7iLzGNkhqH8E7LrQz1Wbkktf1U/s1600/2007.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Heading out for our own DTS years ago.</i></span></td></tr>
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But getting to the campus where you live and learn together is just the first step. After three months, just about the time you are getting comfortable with finding your way to buy toothpaste and laundry detergent, another, more drastic change of your situation occurs.<br />
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Commonly called outreach, it is the MAKE HIM KNOWN portion of the training. (YWAM's mission is to know God and make Him known.) At this point you have been challenged to listen for God's voice, trust Him in new ways, see His heart for every tribe and tongue, and seek to know Him more deeply than you ever have before. Outreach is the living classroom where you learn by doing. For us, that living classroom was the Philippines - Manila, Naic, Kakabay, Baguio, Bontoc, Can-eo, Sadanga, and Sacasacan.<br />
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Did we do our DTS in Salem, Oregon? Partly. Did we do our DTS in the Philippines? Partly. We did our DTS in Salem <i>and </i>the Philippines. Without the combination of KNOWING GOD and MAKING HIM KNOWN, the DTS would be incomplete. Discipleship is not just to know God. In following Jesus, we have the privilege and responsibility to make Him known. Of course a DTS is just a step in the journey of a life of discipleship.<br />
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Beginning in January this year, we helped to staff a DTS which began at YWAM Baguio Training Center. We were (and still are) excited to help others on their journey to discover more of who God is and His plan for their life. Our students came from various places throughout the Philippines as well as Vietnam and Australia. One exciting aspect of our work with YWAM has been the opportunity to meet people from so many countries and cultures around the world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6w__DQ44rjobjfTdNdozC9lk5XlFMtkSbdfLy7QKU8LJA5PdnbayUdH-ppEpq810UyEro0cD6YwrZs7eFDtIypxe65RhryyeuS6b-8pjemvu7yA6WN8f41yQZ1gGrjqNR6GI2biqkNA/s1600/Vietnamese+Daughter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6w__DQ44rjobjfTdNdozC9lk5XlFMtkSbdfLy7QKU8LJA5PdnbayUdH-ppEpq810UyEro0cD6YwrZs7eFDtIypxe65RhryyeuS6b-8pjemvu7yA6WN8f41yQZ1gGrjqNR6GI2biqkNA/s1600/Vietnamese+Daughter.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Our family with my Vietnamese DTS "daughter", Faith</i></span></td></tr>
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The first three months were at the YWAM Baguio Training Center. During that time, we had one-on-one discipleship and mentoring with students, small groups, community activities, evangelism, and much more in addition to the lectures. I really enjoyed my one-on-one times with James and Junior. We would discuss what was going on in the lectures, their families, and their hearts. It was exciting to see the changes that God was bringing about in their lives. It was a privilege to be invited to be a part of the process.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKFqxqlGXJSO8MzlIXMKm4omVTGnLJZgspcxot6r5mtzZo3GkETeteau1DuTHLOzM2T1wJHC3U7CVL3_FeNmVVYW_CXCbOJSK3jzYD4n9lkOtDtrlxvJGOs5_-tRaOcIFU6jGTiRIAkA/s1600/Junior+and+Family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKFqxqlGXJSO8MzlIXMKm4omVTGnLJZgspcxot6r5mtzZo3GkETeteau1DuTHLOzM2T1wJHC3U7CVL3_FeNmVVYW_CXCbOJSK3jzYD4n9lkOtDtrlxvJGOs5_-tRaOcIFU6jGTiRIAkA/s1600/Junior+and+Family.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Junior with his wife and daughter on Camiguin Island</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sZgQRxbgNl4iYSRRGxU0KByo1vFAnULwy36SZWiNCfjaSHoc4h-oqBQURXOHatUQnndsZ9yVnmRxuA5kxF16b2-d7MjN9jO-mD3vhofbhYz_IHGfwJcEvnDnFZVgTOOETvGFVQH1XGY/s1600/James+and+Lunch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sZgQRxbgNl4iYSRRGxU0KByo1vFAnULwy36SZWiNCfjaSHoc4h-oqBQURXOHatUQnndsZ9yVnmRxuA5kxF16b2-d7MjN9jO-mD3vhofbhYz_IHGfwJcEvnDnFZVgTOOETvGFVQH1XGY/s1600/James+and+Lunch.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>James with a Camiguin lunch - or is it breakfast or dinner, hmmm?</i></span></td></tr>
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After the on-campus time was complete, it was time to step out and help the students learn to make Him known. I had the honor of taking Annalise with me as I led part of the team to Camiguin Island at the far northern end of the archipelago. (There is another Camiguin Island further south known for being a tourist destination...that's not the one we went to.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdAM8NkOxCY6GrDi6BxcQAJQ8bT6xEtPorQbQajee9yZjC5uxulUkGNjQHw8xc4OgKAZKdXYT9CBckasLg5whpX-z-eIvzj0xBlz1X18rSRoRDex6HBqhf8tXdg0UD4gr78n1s6KFw74/s1600/Naguilian+Shore.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdAM8NkOxCY6GrDi6BxcQAJQ8bT6xEtPorQbQajee9yZjC5uxulUkGNjQHw8xc4OgKAZKdXYT9CBckasLg5whpX-z-eIvzj0xBlz1X18rSRoRDex6HBqhf8tXdg0UD4gr78n1s6KFw74/s1600/Naguilian+Shore.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Naguilian shoreline on Camiguin Island</i></span></td></tr>
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Camiguin Island has three communities. For those places with electricity, it is supplied by a generator that runs from 6:00 - 10:00 pm. Fuel has to be brought over on a boat. It is 4-5 hours to the mainland in good weather and in bad weather, no boats make the trip for cargo or people. Hand pumps are the source of water, and many wells are somewhat brackish (imagine unflavored Gatorade). There is no hospital and only 1 high school on the island. Only one of these communities has an established, functioning, biblical church.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HmepXHG7NdY3tMrTbSSv3VWylFnn5vPI7O47K9e6P-5rikQt94pwricnEp5czpdk7QHSIyK6eOfh5q9aBcJtmAxgCSQRJTD1_-yTlA09Y7S_M6s_NBD0G02zcec7P1U8V-mmwBcz0wE/s1600/With+the+Gang.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HmepXHG7NdY3tMrTbSSv3VWylFnn5vPI7O47K9e6P-5rikQt94pwricnEp5czpdk7QHSIyK6eOfh5q9aBcJtmAxgCSQRJTD1_-yTlA09Y7S_M6s_NBD0G02zcec7P1U8V-mmwBcz0wE/s1600/With+the+Gang.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thomas, Annalise, and friends on Camiguin Island</span></td></tr>
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Annalise and I spent two weeks on the island with the team. During that time we enjoyed the peaceful, slow pace of island life. There was plenty of time for talking with people. One day I spent a long time talking with one man as he relaxed in his hammock under a thatched shelter with his fighting rooster on a leash nearby.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAQ2vxVnH5I5dnt6RCXBxpKI1_BrNpUeqmgf05XV9YONDR-EyYZLDNns1avIQ0TvOcr03KFLH77nvbhc4Nz8iTSaRwLyvshp6Hs3bi4EOwOzt4vaofjQQOUOwaJUgUmvfxS_v5HRx5X4/s1600/Hike+Fix.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAQ2vxVnH5I5dnt6RCXBxpKI1_BrNpUeqmgf05XV9YONDR-EyYZLDNns1avIQ0TvOcr03KFLH77nvbhc4Nz8iTSaRwLyvshp6Hs3bi4EOwOzt4vaofjQQOUOwaJUgUmvfxS_v5HRx5X4/s1600/Hike+Fix.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>How do you solve the problem of a disintegrating sandal on a hike between villages on a small island in the Pacific? With duct tape of course!</i></span></td></tr>
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As a team we went from village to village, doing open air evangelism, dramas, and Gospel film showings. People were so open to hear what we had to share of God's great love shown through Jesus Christ. I remember one night, at the beginning of our presentations, only a few had gathered. But more and more came as dramas and testimonies were shared. Afterward the team sat with different groups talking and praying with them. We still had an hour's hike in the dark to return to the place we were staying that night and when we had to say good-bye, the people were sad and reluctant for us to go.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTTW9Ya3jBpVJAJ90vXrI3wOIWm1dZhuKnVcaXFGsOnoO6L2_EVLUrgiuq5roAurZ3qvMD_4ZRdzdW-nmmEyXN-zFgRCgdr1MSMhpx5HzYumPWi1a67cnOe1YswQbr5O2bgzcdZoCwxk/s1600/Annalise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTTW9Ya3jBpVJAJ90vXrI3wOIWm1dZhuKnVcaXFGsOnoO6L2_EVLUrgiuq5roAurZ3qvMD_4ZRdzdW-nmmEyXN-zFgRCgdr1MSMhpx5HzYumPWi1a67cnOe1YswQbr5O2bgzcdZoCwxk/s1600/Annalise.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Annalise - fresh fish, rice, and noodles</i></span></td></tr>
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It may seem silly, but perhaps one of my fondest memories of my time on the island with Annalise comes from a funny thing she said. Before the trip we were talking with her about how she would not be able to be particular about food. She had been adamantly against eating fish for many years and since there is no market on the island, it was obvious that fish and rice would be the primary foods. (Yes, rice and fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.) Well, one day we were sitting in the shade after swimming in the clear waters around the island and she dreamily states, "I could live here forever - fresh fish, rice, and noodles."<br />
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After two weeks, Annalise and I took the team back to the mainland where they continued ministry for another week or so. I had to get back to prepare for the first session of <a href="http://garden-of-grace.blogspot.com/2014/07/phileo-do-you-know-what-it-means.html" target="_blank">PHILEO Response Team</a> training.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_Y9GKZkpFCydvwnKgv3YO0uQrP0I9wlWMv3LRI1Uej5UwAWiSYOHScdJGjaWDwmiPwRtcaMX0MwtY-GzrsPXVes7jv_L2ZcHsoQmE_n16_YW5r3vprrfWVp7uTmCTxfNmRZPcyJSXmo/s1600/Bus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_Y9GKZkpFCydvwnKgv3YO0uQrP0I9wlWMv3LRI1Uej5UwAWiSYOHScdJGjaWDwmiPwRtcaMX0MwtY-GzrsPXVes7jv_L2ZcHsoQmE_n16_YW5r3vprrfWVp7uTmCTxfNmRZPcyJSXmo/s1600/Bus.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Alayna, before the 13 hour trip so where you catch the boat to Camiguin Island</i></span></td></tr>
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Later, the team returned to Camiguin Island to follow-up with the work that was begun there. On the second trip, I had the pleasure of Alayna's company.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRXhdn3lJgnkx0C3LdsnoNwuJTn0urhVY8GaistJidk_zO0EkBN5A7yTmSAnZ5AxBiHZ8rIC8v47JBDUzTPv2ahzdip33dJrtZEjgvsDrlMR8teyUJMbxMTOnUxcP9ZXKXZBUjHwFLX0/s1600/Ezra+Alayna+AnnAnn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRXhdn3lJgnkx0C3LdsnoNwuJTn0urhVY8GaistJidk_zO0EkBN5A7yTmSAnZ5AxBiHZ8rIC8v47JBDUzTPv2ahzdip33dJrtZEjgvsDrlMR8teyUJMbxMTOnUxcP9ZXKXZBUjHwFLX0/s1600/Ezra+Alayna+AnnAnn.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>3 smiling MK's - missionary kids</i></span></td></tr>
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Alayna and I were separated during the first week of our ministry. She went to the village of Minabel to spend time with a local missionary's family. I continued to lead the team in Naguilian. By this time in the outreach, the students were really doing a great job. My "leading" became more of an ongoing process of one-on-ones with the students and younger staff.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aHUsTjp9dFJWHW5Bbbu2_0_VCgeudHIQxdwQ7RZkmjbP9Vw5xHXZ_PikVj3x-Tx6OAVfCjpAYbr3sAftSQ-XpnTxjuakwqY6cJ8wz5SoODm8NKTpbPxCGqMMJQ9AIaDN6qDiOaI6XEc/s1600/Sea-vangelism.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aHUsTjp9dFJWHW5Bbbu2_0_VCgeudHIQxdwQ7RZkmjbP9Vw5xHXZ_PikVj3x-Tx6OAVfCjpAYbr3sAftSQ-XpnTxjuakwqY6cJ8wz5SoODm8NKTpbPxCGqMMJQ9AIaDN6qDiOaI6XEc/s1600/Sea-vangelism.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Alayna, Analo, and Faith doing sea-vangelism</i></span></td></tr>
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We talked with people along the road and in their houses. This led to starting a Bible study with a couple families. We also distributed Bibles in the Ilocano language so people could continue to learn more about the magnificent salvation we have been offered.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xKYBLXUCwkjdvghGTx9qY4iLZi-AS5wk1ewzqztiOoWGZNNidcZm3laUNbl3d8ZmWT31j4E2uDkXzNqifN7dD11XeOIW-YlNm044KIN1TKecrxa1ZeM9P5HferiuF1x5rQjtaDHOk_8/s1600/Drying+Octopus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xKYBLXUCwkjdvghGTx9qY4iLZi-AS5wk1ewzqztiOoWGZNNidcZm3laUNbl3d8ZmWT31j4E2uDkXzNqifN7dD11XeOIW-YlNm044KIN1TKecrxa1ZeM9P5HferiuF1x5rQjtaDHOk_8/s1600/Drying+Octopus.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Octopus was sometimes on the menu/table also...chewy</i></span></td></tr>
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At the end of June, both parts of the DTS were complete and it was time for the students to graduate and move on. "Where did you do your DTS?" I don't know if they would answer Baguio City or Camiguin Island - probably both.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVFg3sJXcLvTC59eZ1XIX8jRxoxeQpYRVB7aq2NogcJFQCY2kKlz-HHIXc8DKDfvifzGQJ3OfoC0O_9uQp8_UvkLGA2_iBZyYyjMa7auFQ63bVjtIhHpVqTmssFUbMUjLvJSfs8YYz2I/s1600/Graduation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVFg3sJXcLvTC59eZ1XIX8jRxoxeQpYRVB7aq2NogcJFQCY2kKlz-HHIXc8DKDfvifzGQJ3OfoC0O_9uQp8_UvkLGA2_iBZyYyjMa7auFQ63bVjtIhHpVqTmssFUbMUjLvJSfs8YYz2I/s1600/Graduation.JPG" height="173" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Congratulations!</span></i></td></tr>
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But that was just one step in the journey. "Where are you going?" is now the question to ask. Several of the graduates have already entered into some sort of missionary work with YWAM. We pray that each student who completes a DTS, like all disciples, can answer without hesitation, "Wherever HE leads me!"<br />
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Grace,<br />
TomThomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0Camiguin, Philippines18.885335239772449 121.9116501510143317.920202239772447 120.62075665101433 19.85046823977245 123.20254365101432tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-51842980535025054162014-07-19T14:46:00.000+08:002014-07-19T14:46:21.436+08:00PHILEO - Do You Know What it Means?PHILEO - a Greek term meaning brotherly love.<br />
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After the destruction of Supertyphoon Haiyan/Yolanda, the leaders of our ministry here in the Philippines decided it was time for us to create, train, and equip a response team. Along with a former US Marine who has now served with YWAM Philippines for a couple of decades, our family has worked hard to establish the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PHILEOResponseTeam?ref=hl&ref_type=bookmark" target="_blank">PHILEO Response Team</a>.<br />
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The PHILEO Response Team is a group of trained volunteers. Our heart is to be hands of mercy in times of need.<br />
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We have held two sessions of initial training so far. In May, we held the training here in Baguio City. Just a couple of weeks ago Alexie and I traveled to Talisay on the island of Cebu to facilitate the second session. During the course, participants are stretched physically, mentally, and spiritually as they learn the basics of first aid, water rescue, search and rescue, rope rescue, relief distribution, and living in disaster zones. At the end of the week, everyone is looking forward to sleeping in a bed, eating something that wasn't in a can, and taking a bath. But at the same time, they feel they have gained a lot of skills, made some new friends, and learned more about themselves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dD8v9qd6NTvkKpguNHof5GuSzz8qHx7Qjt6TjLzsqDxubR4IzeX24TCeHVJeRMzwlOtYE1-woVZ2aE2qXfB6rr2ub0hkoGjGqKNZJIfJd1ByVV9xZ22mjULyXb1SzjRo6Niifm154b8/s1600/IMG_5943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dD8v9qd6NTvkKpguNHof5GuSzz8qHx7Qjt6TjLzsqDxubR4IzeX24TCeHVJeRMzwlOtYE1-woVZ2aE2qXfB6rr2ub0hkoGjGqKNZJIfJd1ByVV9xZ22mjULyXb1SzjRo6Niifm154b8/s1600/IMG_5943.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lauren, Tom, Mitch, Marvin, and Em - PHILEO's first batch<br />Baguio, May 2014</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGZ1KHwKXdOAwCyaKMtEJdXQYFRbzb94L3SVC3RoOKxWpKV3327-1NYemuS4fk76WDzmCu4GzMDDV3tlqkAaEYzGgJnwDMtx9B8S8l3A0cNB5Ca0PIrbYgzLQr4jq_g6CggQqPOcb5vc/s1600/2014-07+Initial+Training.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGZ1KHwKXdOAwCyaKMtEJdXQYFRbzb94L3SVC3RoOKxWpKV3327-1NYemuS4fk76WDzmCu4GzMDDV3tlqkAaEYzGgJnwDMtx9B8S8l3A0cNB5Ca0PIrbYgzLQr4jq_g6CggQqPOcb5vc/s1600/2014-07+Initial+Training.JPG" height="243" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Front Row: Rey, Mark, Em, Charles <br />Back row: Ramon, Beinne, Doug, Marlon, John, Peter, Tom, Alexie, Mitch, Melanie<br />Talisay, July 2014</i></span></td></tr>
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When we were in Talisay, we had our first official PHILEO response. As we were hiking, we came upon a motorcylist who had several cuts and abrasions after falling trying to avoid hitting some dogs in the road. We cleaned and bandaged his wounds and prayed for a quick recovery.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEMQp6LFbXRXcmOPwGkIDg87rKumHXPCjSFgfuvQVPHcpI3bjX2IbOu1oZZ1atohbfSSDUkciuB5i1xb784X8_M8yJsKDhSO43SnBbzJAHXaZvLNzQFWTcsgPetKqE8-EOPzoC-ubyZY/s1600/IMG_6318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNEMQp6LFbXRXcmOPwGkIDg87rKumHXPCjSFgfuvQVPHcpI3bjX2IbOu1oZZ1atohbfSSDUkciuB5i1xb784X8_M8yJsKDhSO43SnBbzJAHXaZvLNzQFWTcsgPetKqE8-EOPzoC-ubyZY/s1600/IMG_6318.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Tom cleaning and bandaging wounds during a training hike.</i></span></td></tr>
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The Philippines regularly experiences earthquakes, landslides, volcanoes, and storms. Just this week Typhoon Glenda threatened the southern portion of Luzon, which includes the densely populated region of Metro Manila.<br />
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If you are interested in helping equip the team, please check out the equipment registry we have established at <a href="http://www.myregistry.com/organization/PHILEO-Response-Team-Baguio-City-Benguet/644434" target="_blank">myregistry.com</a>. Consider purchasing one, or several, items to equip us to be hands of mercy in times of need.Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0Philippines12.879721 121.77401699999996-2.8284714999999991 101.11971999999996 28.5879135 142.42831399999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-41088404496471997782014-01-09T12:00:00.000+08:002014-06-21T15:37:05.382+08:00Dulag for the New Year<div class="MsoNormal">
Just after Christmas I made another trip to the area affected by Supertyphoon Haiyan. This time I had the privilege of bringing my daughter, Alexie, with me. We went to Dulag which is about 45 minutes south of Tacloban. We assisted a group called "Mercy in Action", a group of midwives who had established a temporary clinic at an elementary school.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD-nGwa7jD2hVrQ8P5cpjwhrtVSHEJOdza-Ytdm8Ts30JyJflQpjkleFJZIpkouDLrSG_5W8wTAJlA7nRgdMZusYSxq18RUYCFLwfR016RhEmXvhUwFNUiTSf9I_3QC0yu54HYYlGrsM/s1600/00+Signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD-nGwa7jD2hVrQ8P5cpjwhrtVSHEJOdza-Ytdm8Ts30JyJflQpjkleFJZIpkouDLrSG_5W8wTAJlA7nRgdMZusYSxq18RUYCFLwfR016RhEmXvhUwFNUiTSf9I_3QC0yu54HYYlGrsM/s1600/00+Signs.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></div>
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Since I have done a poor job of updating this blog, I am going to cheat, while at the same time giving you a better experience, by publishing Alexie's report of our experience.</div>
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By the way, "Ate" and "Kuya" are respect terms for "big sister" and "big brother" expected to be used when talking to or referring to someone older than you in the Philippines.</div>
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Dec. 26<o:p></o:p></div>
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The day after Christmas, Dad and I got up really early so
that we could get the 6 a.m. Joy bus to Manila. This trip is about 7 hours.</div>
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When we got to the airport, the guy from The Philippine
Bible Society met us with the 50 Wari Bibles Dad had ordered. We had a lot of luggage. We checked
in. The line was quite long to go to Tacloban. This actually surprised me. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXsYtT7Ztid1EaPJcFO2ThkvCDqvKW994GqcqK_hbZOltjheqNaD3JRSbinW8qE-0A-Mheg_wCXpaP-YWoN4GkLEM40XN2k3wmVyL2N6hGwgmfe7nCXit1Exsg_x5rrxKYPDZnWUz114/s1600/01+Baggage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXsYtT7Ztid1EaPJcFO2ThkvCDqvKW994GqcqK_hbZOltjheqNaD3JRSbinW8qE-0A-Mheg_wCXpaP-YWoN4GkLEM40XN2k3wmVyL2N6hGwgmfe7nCXit1Exsg_x5rrxKYPDZnWUz114/s1600/01+Baggage.JPG" height="263" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Bunches of baggage</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We sent a text to Pastor Duane and Ate Christina. They are Ate
Norlyn’s friends that work with Hands of Hope. We were meeting them at the
airport and Ate Norlyn would come the next day. Buses took us to the plane. It was only an hour trip. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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We circled twice before actually landing at the Tacloban
airport. The airport is right by the ocean. They brought the luggage in big
carts and everyone grabbed their luggage. </div>
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Kuya Tanno brought the “Mercy in Action” ambulance to take us to Dulag.We stopped at the MacArthur Monument. It was very cool. There
were statues of soldiers wading in water. They were in good shape but the rest
of park was not.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBMK9m-X7UIj-YkWYfwcXFXkhpCZeeyWfTvwIWWBE4Ipf0pyqfu7mrI2OgnDatwo_18aF9N2ClrUxMSbpHGCvOi9Uf0IjKcDLTUNjHDIRikRcGjm6SwOAn6KBmSIoHkrvvCjVYjcgu6M/s1600/02+MacArthur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBMK9m-X7UIj-YkWYfwcXFXkhpCZeeyWfTvwIWWBE4Ipf0pyqfu7mrI2OgnDatwo_18aF9N2ClrUxMSbpHGCvOi9Uf0IjKcDLTUNjHDIRikRcGjm6SwOAn6KBmSIoHkrvvCjVYjcgu6M/s1600/02+MacArthur.jpg" height="400" width="377" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">MacArthur Landing Memorial Park</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All along the way, I looked outside. Everything was broken.
There were big piles of debris. The sun, the sea, and the palm trees made
everything look beautiful despite of everything. But the smell was not often beautiful.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think that the people are very strong. They are
resilient. And they have hope. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When we arrived, Ate Vicky (director of Mercy in Action) met us and showed us around. She
asked what we saw ourselves doing. I was too shy to say. I was so glad that Dad
did. I wanted to help medically. Pastor
Duane, Christina, and I were assigned to cook. Dad was going to help in the
Medical Clinic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We set our tents outside on the cement below the overhang.
There were holes in the overhang. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We ate dinner with them and started to make up the packs for
the new mothers of supplies we had brought with us. These packs included a Bible, a package of 12 diapers, a baby
shirt, 2 diaper wraps, a water filter, and a mosquito net. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw4cxxFCvvgX-dsWpa7dQpq2pz6RwnXe2P6ZPmWpHlLxMJ8o94UgisEzYtwstgq-7fhugQFnJtpe-rLJ38IdJD1LbbbbU0jriTTF_RSE5Xv9tDNqxSLNHMYGFEZSFVpvAeS9pHwEDHJI/s1600/03+Mom+Packs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw4cxxFCvvgX-dsWpa7dQpq2pz6RwnXe2P6ZPmWpHlLxMJ8o94UgisEzYtwstgq-7fhugQFnJtpe-rLJ38IdJD1LbbbbU0jriTTF_RSE5Xv9tDNqxSLNHMYGFEZSFVpvAeS9pHwEDHJI/s1600/03+Mom+Packs.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A sample of a gift pack for moms</span></i></td></tr>
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Dec. 27 </div>
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The next day, Pastor Duane, Christina and I took a
motorcycle to the market or palingky.
They wanted to get some balls and I wanted to get buckets for the water
filters. We found buckets easily but not balls. Not many shops were open.</div>
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In the afternoon, one of the midwives, Ate Michelle, was
going to get load for her phone invited anyone who wanted to go to go with her.
Dad wanted to. About 5 minutes later, she came rushing back asking for Dad's EMT bag and
then again for the ambu bag. I was frightened and went out to see what was
going on. There was a big crowd of people around the lady who was down. When
she became conscious, she resisted help. Finally they got her into the back of
a big truck. Kuya Nick, who is an ER nurse, Dad, and Ate Norlyn went in. Ate
Norlyn had just arrived when she jumped in to translate. I had struggled with
starting to cry earlier but once we made it back in the clinic, I really did
start crying because I was so overwhelmed and Dad was gone.</div>
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Later, I went with Pastor Duane and Ate Christina went
to a Sari-Sari store and got tomatoes, eggs and onions for dinner. All the kids
followed us.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Wlxi3Ajef4gnW5xGsRZNdECPOVCafL1X3mm3rOlCcZcqzTpcXCyv69JJm9xrW1QullMwSE3UpGDrEQS5usnD8z7dd3BaysHdeEhQ470cMP_2QCuqkt4s16G3s2Ig2J2FkJATDNb-Mg0/s1600/04+Baguio+Cooks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Wlxi3Ajef4gnW5xGsRZNdECPOVCafL1X3mm3rOlCcZcqzTpcXCyv69JJm9xrW1QullMwSE3UpGDrEQS5usnD8z7dd3BaysHdeEhQ470cMP_2QCuqkt4s16G3s2Ig2J2FkJATDNb-Mg0/s1600/04+Baguio+Cooks.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The Baguio Cooking Brigade: Ate Christina, me, Pastor Duane, and Ate Norlyn</span></i></td></tr>
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Dec. 28</div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I also got to experience a birth.
Kuya Tanno said that there was a labor so Ate Jenny, the nurse that I was
following, and other people rushed in there. I followed. I was unsure of what
to do but Ate Vicky said that if I was going to be in there to get some gloves
on and help so I did. She asked me to hold the mom’s hand. She did not scream. Her
water broke and there was also some blood on the floor. It happened really
fast. I was asked to take pulse every five minutes but I could not and it was
too much pressure so someone else did. I put the baby hat on the baby girl. I spent the next few hours with her. Ate Christy was with me most of the time. We checked her pulse and did a fundal
check every so often. We also did some paper work. The baby was nursing and the
mom resting. Then 2 hours later, we clamped the cord on the baby’s side and I got
to cut it. When the mom went to the CR (comfort room, or bathroom), I got to hold the baby. She had to
change her clothes which were sweaty and bloody. Later the baby had her check-up. They gave her a shot of vitamin K and
something else.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo_mhnEZrMQfFgaiG4g1Dt_IsQPkkahyphenhyphen_ob3Ja4DddBUPElrRQwP7Q16IscDVHFh-bzhb6UzUHvCuNqkf7g3ukdr7Ozf06igpneNiitDbKv1hMyGYOOkCk0lk4tmIboQKXPR8bjA7wbM/s1600/05+First+Birth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo_mhnEZrMQfFgaiG4g1Dt_IsQPkkahyphenhyphen_ob3Ja4DddBUPElrRQwP7Q16IscDVHFh-bzhb6UzUHvCuNqkf7g3ukdr7Ozf06igpneNiitDbKv1hMyGYOOkCk0lk4tmIboQKXPR8bjA7wbM/s1600/05+First+Birth.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">My first delivery</span></i></td></tr>
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Dec. 29 </div>
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Ate Norlyn, Ate
Christina, and Pastor Duane left. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Pastor
Duane’s nickname for Dad: MacGyver! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Sorry I can not divide it up by day much anymore. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Soon
after, I was able to follow Ate Tara around. She was doing prenatals. She would
feel the position of the baby and measure the fundal height (height of uterus). I took some blood pressure. Also they checked her hemoglobin. I got water if
they needed to take some medicine. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I also
had to cook so I left early to cook. It was hard to cook by myself.</div>
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I
decided to start working in the medical clinic. Kuya Nick was amazing. He let
me listen to lungs and then he told me the sound. He always would let me do
stuff and include me. I learned a lot. I got to put on steri-strips. <o:p></o:p></div>
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One
time we made crab grilled cheese sandwiches together from the crab a patient brought. They were amazing
and fun to make. Kuya Nick said that how I could make money for college would
be to sell these from a van in dreadlocks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvNIg7ZrNG_AcCm_P3NDvBr2gZ_ShBkyHnsIBD88ODJfPqbHz_dgO9KA_Ax5Kb5EJAanENjVzdsyEWftwIeCKqbZeZVOlhCnlNnRVllR-5P8UFLEN0ZnkhM7tJx_Q9oqbXeZGT2bT0nc/s1600/07+Meat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvNIg7ZrNG_AcCm_P3NDvBr2gZ_ShBkyHnsIBD88ODJfPqbHz_dgO9KA_Ax5Kb5EJAanENjVzdsyEWftwIeCKqbZeZVOlhCnlNnRVllR-5P8UFLEN0ZnkhM7tJx_Q9oqbXeZGT2bT0nc/s1600/07+Meat.jpg" height="400" width="393" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The usual and the treat</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dec.30</div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">A 14-month old came to us with burns
all over her chest and side. They had been boiling vegetables and she had
tipped them over on herself. She cried herself to sleep. They dropped I.V.
liquid over the burns while Ate Jenny de-brided (cut off the dead skin). She
woke up as they were dressing her burns with ointment and gauze. She was crying
so hard that I started to cry. Her eyes pleaded me to help her but I could not.
She even reminded me of Kiera, a little girl from Bontoc, so it was so much harder. We heard later that
she is doing well.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Working at the medical clinic, I
usually signed people in. I would get their name and age and see what was wrong
with them. We had people come in for so many reasons. Most came for cough and
cold. Puncture wounds were not uncommon. Several times we also had motorcycle
accident victims come in. One guy had a snake bite. A little girl had drunk
kerosene. We also had asthma patients come in which was usually small children.
We did a lot of wound care too. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I also
did a lot of wound care. It was nice to do daily dressing changes as we got to
get to know people and their names. One was Kuya Michael. He had a
wound on his head and his arm from a motorcycle accident. Then there were
siblings, Ray Gerald and Alyssa Mae. They had been involved in the motorcycle
accident that had happened the first day. Ray Gerald’s foot was raw on one
side. Alyssa Mae had some cuts on her face and shoulder. There was some concern
for her shoulder. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6gleMdm0Z7aqgY3Gg8CAEaXV-mWgltHxA0h4LD1Lb38w20XY18us7W-ltOU2cNIAPDxYFU8vVX2KxMitlPq-0fkqSAxvK1-zcSGfEXfbEj8dXC-SNlcL6RGQ9AcAeyAHbEht7WgopOM/s1600/06+Clinic+Action.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6gleMdm0Z7aqgY3Gg8CAEaXV-mWgltHxA0h4LD1Lb38w20XY18us7W-ltOU2cNIAPDxYFU8vVX2KxMitlPq-0fkqSAxvK1-zcSGfEXfbEj8dXC-SNlcL6RGQ9AcAeyAHbEht7WgopOM/s1600/06+Clinic+Action.jpg" height="400" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A look at the medical tent, Ray Gerald, and Kuya Michael</span></i></td></tr>
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It was
so cool because, while I was there, I was kind of in charge of giving out A-20.
This was a food supplement from America. Whenever someone came for it, I would
measure their MUAC (measurement of their upper arm), get the mother’s name, age, how many times she had received
aid, the age and gender of her nursing baby, her barangay, and cellphone
number. Then I gave the aid. It was also for the pregnant ladies.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDhymUrKxmnD-wl1XoloJeS5GXkFYvTZQCmCV82iUZU3z9JHiti_JxYxdgLk5X1HHPZ19iv9PNxb82v6kc2v6XJ9ibyD5GCbq2KHwX7h2MXFkigcZEu1Qp3-Nqq8cnbItjS0Y58zqU5M/s1600/08+US+AID.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDhymUrKxmnD-wl1XoloJeS5GXkFYvTZQCmCV82iUZU3z9JHiti_JxYxdgLk5X1HHPZ19iv9PNxb82v6kc2v6XJ9ibyD5GCbq2KHwX7h2MXFkigcZEu1Qp3-Nqq8cnbItjS0Y58zqU5M/s1600/08+US+AID.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I took pride in handing out American aid.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had
to move because the wind was so strong that it would blow our tent which was
scary. We moved into the medical tent. We would set up at night and take down
in the morning. We moved once more inside the building because they needed room
in the tent.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCJV2c9GuBzp1jRXRkyL9JJu9p9Xz-8nUQND6xhcgdQnqXzGzBDapuFE6MINJ2zbd0A33pjqxcd4k2X1yVgBAsR1xZHJI7AjRTX3mr1Qm98uaipoutbtH_xroNoRm8m4N1ZbRqNSdCEw/s1600/09+Final+Address.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCJV2c9GuBzp1jRXRkyL9JJu9p9Xz-8nUQND6xhcgdQnqXzGzBDapuFE6MINJ2zbd0A33pjqxcd4k2X1yVgBAsR1xZHJI7AjRTX3mr1Qm98uaipoutbtH_xroNoRm8m4N1ZbRqNSdCEw/s1600/09+Final+Address.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Our final address, 2nd tent on the left</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One
time a little baby came in who had reached for some rice. She had burned all
her hand. She was such a cute baby. Usually as long as she was nursing, she did
not cry when she came back every day for dressing changes. I got to hold her
some.</div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">One time, a little boy came with
asthma.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The treatments did not work and
we could not understand each other. It was so sad. I was glad that I could
understand some of what he said like when he asked for water or to use the CR.
The family did not have money. Kuya Matt gave them money so that they could
take the ambulance. But they had to go the opposite way to get the ambulance.
This was so hard for me.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Once school started, we took care of students whenever they got injured. One little boy was very scared. I was
trying to stop his arm from bleeding and he would pull away. They had to hold
him down for a tetanus shot and to clean it and put on steri-strips. It was
very hard to see us have to force him to let us help him. His mom came while we
were cleaning it.</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 48px;">I learned so much from my time especially with the three nurses in the medical tent: Kuya Nick, Kuya Matt, and Ate Jenny. They all taught me so much. </span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I loved playing with the kids. They
all knew my name. I gave high-fives as I went in and out. They also gave me
some flowers. One day I did some gymnastics with them. It was fun. They were so sweet.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Chilling out at the school flagpole</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Katrina was a sister of a new
mother. She is eleven. She slept in the big tent and we did too for a while.
She swept the tent especially after she saw dad sweeping. She was very
interested in medical stuff. Dad showed her how to use a stethoscope. She
helped me with A-20 some too. She is very sweet. She and I spent some time
together. When Dad showed the Jesus film in Tagalog, she and I watched it
together. We got to take pictures together.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Jesus film for the community</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Trisha was one of the triplets. She and Nicole were so sweet and we spent some time together. Trisha's brother hit his toe when he was
playing soccer with Dad so we changed his dressing.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Christian was one of the boys. His
parents are not together. He lives with his Grandma. He speaks English very
well and is very bright. We also talked and spent some time together.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Front row: Christian and the triplets. Kuya Tanno is with me in the back</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">There were NAVIS doctors from
Germany that came in the afternoon. They were a great resource to us and gave
us a break.</span><br />
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Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0Dulag, Philippines10.986862925109747 125.038683463229410.985888925109748 125.0374229632294 10.987836925109747 125.0399439632294tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-6566285124900759122013-12-02T20:18:00.001+08:002013-12-04T07:48:48.753+08:00Back from HaiyanMy friend and YWAM coworker, VJ, and I spent the last two weeks in the region of the Philippines where Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda left a path of devastation.<br />
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YWAM Cebu staff has been tirelessly serving the incoming/outgoing teams with good food and clean beds. While there I met a Discipleship Training School outreach team from Mexico who arrived to do ministry in the area of YWAM Cebu. When the earthquake happened, they adapted their ministry to assist with recovery. Then they had to evacuate due to the typhoon. They finished their outreach assisting with relief efforts for the typhoon. What a great group of students - what an incredible outreach experience! I also had the privilege of meeting others who were on their way to apply their skills and resources to assist with relief and recovery efforts.<br />
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While staying at YWAM Cebu, I instructed several teams so they could make rocket stoves where it may be helpful. We also made a day trip to Bogo at the northern end of the island of Cebu to assist with food distribution.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3_OeePWmxdbyJ7LZ9Xq-msf02h9mXSHdQtcxL0wgODsNjEy9M9T1E3GtLCkVfEDNbkFhyphenhyphen9Xnq_l-Gr59GKc2F_ZSrELoJyygU7ip6jKbxX1rPbs8Q5QaO2WqpiGWogdYJJ_g5PV1zR4/s1600/01+Preparing+Relief+in+Cebu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3_OeePWmxdbyJ7LZ9Xq-msf02h9mXSHdQtcxL0wgODsNjEy9M9T1E3GtLCkVfEDNbkFhyphenhyphen9Xnq_l-Gr59GKc2F_ZSrELoJyygU7ip6jKbxX1rPbs8Q5QaO2WqpiGWogdYJJ_g5PV1zR4/s400/01+Preparing+Relief+in+Cebu.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Preparing relief packs for distribution in Bogo.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Bound for Bogo...</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iPvpWWLu_3jtDIcRoYuqFyhMLMBeVFRZotk04OcfVnDjUD1u3VvBjh08FwmUAgPeT2bzJ9xpRbja3jhoHLAYwCcoMkOUOHB1DaojwhrwfIQhp5mCkLUylT4vnEegn3RgmZcHiJW8S38/s1600/03+Bogo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iPvpWWLu_3jtDIcRoYuqFyhMLMBeVFRZotk04OcfVnDjUD1u3VvBjh08FwmUAgPeT2bzJ9xpRbja3jhoHLAYwCcoMkOUOHB1DaojwhrwfIQhp5mCkLUylT4vnEegn3RgmZcHiJW8S38/s400/03+Bogo.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Church in Bogo</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3xjuoWKgD_tS840Av6ccaOUjIg9jYgX2mG0YfoGMuur5bIvCogWERzK7hydGdacdrSKmDe6r-vvR0mVO8cCdEKwp2Pg0CJ6w6R3izEaaXBuvZrUb5uHeozRM02Zr-RTH8bbwdo4axXg/s1600/04+VJ+Praying.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3xjuoWKgD_tS840Av6ccaOUjIg9jYgX2mG0YfoGMuur5bIvCogWERzK7hydGdacdrSKmDe6r-vvR0mVO8cCdEKwp2Pg0CJ6w6R3izEaaXBuvZrUb5uHeozRM02Zr-RTH8bbwdo4axXg/s400/04+VJ+Praying.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">VJ praying with a victim of Yolanda in Bogo.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAvJiLWOMvqG-hGltYr46TpxIq2bVJrkh4NdJajx-9GwEbnZVPB3SoUYIeTeqmm85ou2Viy6JzKCmPyQHCwSjSu_zYCOla8B8DXEf9fBJ6oZag0QQjFoRS5wG0u72lAS2acxpd_ADqaU/s1600/05+Happy+Bogo+Baby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAvJiLWOMvqG-hGltYr46TpxIq2bVJrkh4NdJajx-9GwEbnZVPB3SoUYIeTeqmm85ou2Viy6JzKCmPyQHCwSjSu_zYCOla8B8DXEf9fBJ6oZag0QQjFoRS5wG0u72lAS2acxpd_ADqaU/s400/05+Happy+Bogo+Baby.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Isn't she adorable?</span></i></td></tr>
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We also met with two other coworkers from YWAM Baguio to spend a weekend ministering on Bantayan Island. There was so much destruction there and we heard that many of the smaller islands surrounding Bantayan Island were much worse. We surveyed the area and distributed tarps to about 45 families; it was more than two weeks after the storm and people still did not have roofs to protect their families from the rain. We had the honor of helping install tarps on a few of the houses. At one point I was waiting for my coworkers to come with supplies and had a great time playing games and singing songs with the children who had gathered to watch the "Americano" stand in the downpour digging post-holes with a tool resembling a flattened pipe.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjIi0vJI_hieBSn50rbksEooFzhDEIeySJ2zlrNz2qKJ-VRTVUtji2G5P-kj9u8DSSlh89KdpupjT4u9pikledd6Yh1vRwRlDfQN6b-Ty7Z9XVieugJoKPfXEPh1EoNYFtsBiBk4D314/s1600/06+Bogo+Boat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjIi0vJI_hieBSn50rbksEooFzhDEIeySJ2zlrNz2qKJ-VRTVUtji2G5P-kj9u8DSSlh89KdpupjT4u9pikledd6Yh1vRwRlDfQN6b-Ty7Z9XVieugJoKPfXEPh1EoNYFtsBiBk4D314/s400/06+Bogo+Boat.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Recovering a boat sunk during the storm.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblYmU253AV3JHEVCX03ogeMbJlm2qPzhkhav0vsVxmpwcyW3ULd4Ep5bXioGzfWO9Ocu0Ggs4jpEImYoKmcAjaC8PIR2p2n6yFUwXZDJEewcOrGuQrOIo3d_YD_BPN51mhkE8lvZOOnY/s1600/07+Bantayan+Island.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblYmU253AV3JHEVCX03ogeMbJlm2qPzhkhav0vsVxmpwcyW3ULd4Ep5bXioGzfWO9Ocu0Ggs4jpEImYoKmcAjaC8PIR2p2n6yFUwXZDJEewcOrGuQrOIo3d_YD_BPN51mhkE8lvZOOnY/s400/07+Bantayan+Island.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Bound for Bantayan Island</span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofrQUgHo14y1nefxf9JQHsquGoiORg741G4X3ZBFDYnExGerJp_wjnqlRp7E9holLH-8-nC0wcJbfOWWNcBTrdx2mrKgv3T0mmlksrIoPeCrgD0syMTejvoZslW7_FDWzJPCRYZdvpjg/s1600/08+Bantayan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjofrQUgHo14y1nefxf9JQHsquGoiORg741G4X3ZBFDYnExGerJp_wjnqlRp7E9holLH-8-nC0wcJbfOWWNcBTrdx2mrKgv3T0mmlksrIoPeCrgD0syMTejvoZslW7_FDWzJPCRYZdvpjg/s400/08+Bantayan.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxkqSOQFKImdoR3V5AaboZ9QKYCWOx4C_rcfWOWVHaWz3120DvidsHZBpLHtdEPItUEQB_t8BsXTRBk4EffSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<i>In the video above, the children are singing a song about their "sparkly" house above the clouds. </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Preparing one of the 45 or so tarps we distributed.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Morten, me, and VJ with Moises and part of his family whom we helped by installing a trap on his roof. Their house was shifted about 6 feet backwards due to the storm.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">YWAM Baguio Training Center team enjoying dinner. There was no electricity, but the flash lit up the room.</span></i></td></tr>
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Then we spent nearly a week in Tacloban, one of the areas most affected by the storm. Here the damage was unbelievable. On Bantayan Island, houses were damaged, moved, and sometimes utterly destroyed. But in Tacloban not only was the damage to structures so much worse, but the storm surge also washed away their belongings. When we arrived, no businesses were open. No food or other goods were available for residents or workers unless it was brought in from outside of Tacloban.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjnxpzLX4sHCS6lxE3WmCKyF7yN3YNKBKKcr3ddIU-VWSUgpMcuziY_kwJoVM52eVCBAYcHdo4OIS7Pf9FBzewcWmVk1HevBkHjuq4EH8hXtHuJf1rw3cLAGvOOSGQ-1dN8-qNR6fces/s1600/14+Yolanda+Tacloban+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjnxpzLX4sHCS6lxE3WmCKyF7yN3YNKBKKcr3ddIU-VWSUgpMcuziY_kwJoVM52eVCBAYcHdo4OIS7Pf9FBzewcWmVk1HevBkHjuq4EH8hXtHuJf1rw3cLAGvOOSGQ-1dN8-qNR6fces/s400/14+Yolanda+Tacloban+Collage.jpg" width="363" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Just a few scenes around Tacloban</span></i></td></tr>
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We did our best to minister to people, but a week will not accomplish much in a place where recovery will last for many years to come. The first morning we went out at low tide and our group recovered or buried 13 bodies. One day we cleaned the building we were allowed to base our operations out of; the men cleaning the muck and destroyed appliances out of the lower level restaurant. On other days we cleared the rubble and muck from the house, yard, and street at the home of a resident; assisted a neighboring fisherman build a shack over the water near his boat; distributed water filters to neighborhood leaders; charged phones with our generator and showed Gospel films at evacuation centers; and distributed tool kits so people could begin building shelters for their families.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMKGkIUP0hc9xlGcrvdxOL7V0QttGH5-LQCQCOXEDZaL_gMd6eJlBhM-keYo6dBEK9ZnESD50VFOHCkYaGdd2i20WMLDANDpO3vleSJV9DZUZqM7NuO-lFANgoHCKPj-8rQcZ8Q8Iynw/s1600/15+Charging+Ministry.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgMKGkIUP0hc9xlGcrvdxOL7V0QttGH5-LQCQCOXEDZaL_gMd6eJlBhM-keYo6dBEK9ZnESD50VFOHCkYaGdd2i20WMLDANDpO3vleSJV9DZUZqM7NuO-lFANgoHCKPj-8rQcZ8Q8Iynw/s400/15+Charging+Ministry.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Charging phones, lights, etc. for residents at an evacuation center.</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuK_buqnlMN1zYzmKiqOntHmREwTJnT_xYXsj5IB8GxKurVAXdg__YphIH9P7rcvJLT67Upndx0jerf0Bg6NJvORMkbkXWBXBdYH74dl51re692fmpAJXETD0snySnCMtynjSRIyVoae8/s1600/16+Yolanda+Tacloban+Water+Filters+Collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuK_buqnlMN1zYzmKiqOntHmREwTJnT_xYXsj5IB8GxKurVAXdg__YphIH9P7rcvJLT67Upndx0jerf0Bg6NJvORMkbkXWBXBdYH74dl51re692fmpAJXETD0snySnCMtynjSRIyVoae8/s400/16+Yolanda+Tacloban+Water+Filters+Collage.png" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Setting up water filters in different neighborhoods</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuf5Wp681Xv1EnmuSQZSRA45IflO66KZrvgHPXOVgQsmJb9Ut4FoAw5HeS4R0mdJ7SZ8UGL11IYxLcYIOEVG9jBse5FkD1Q2uzuuRf-4EBADYw7j8O-VUlFv9CjIbn9KvOHd0nBdyiYk0/s1600/17+Tool+Kits.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuf5Wp681Xv1EnmuSQZSRA45IflO66KZrvgHPXOVgQsmJb9Ut4FoAw5HeS4R0mdJ7SZ8UGL11IYxLcYIOEVG9jBse5FkD1Q2uzuuRf-4EBADYw7j8O-VUlFv9CjIbn9KvOHd0nBdyiYk0/s400/17+Tool+Kits.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">VJ writing messages of hope</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtc3vqP6bkAa7GF_roDMStdUoGp6GQv9gfvVyCAF1UpV1prR7pBRsQ36G2IcOhPfiLivLp7geg9RbleKstKq006Tun9fXio2L231D2nkXdl8BeuH7XM9Pq4yakdA2R13c-kSLE5vqyoo/s1600/18+Message+of+Hope.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtc3vqP6bkAa7GF_roDMStdUoGp6GQv9gfvVyCAF1UpV1prR7pBRsQ36G2IcOhPfiLivLp7geg9RbleKstKq006Tun9fXio2L231D2nkXdl8BeuH7XM9Pq4yakdA2R13c-kSLE5vqyoo/s400/18+Message+of+Hope.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Mahal ka ni Hesus - Jesus loves you!</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4gDDN26g76wC5NeqKEH5bySClUvIwvEYnaqvOxgzW5C0WhEj9PK8BlXewEVAo2X_qkCuIuBykHTeOykySlm3f6ILVIoDYFizD_uYAWzfbeUe5lHx6O_tMAvSdWkVptICIxMOL9qoLBY/s1600/19+Clothes+Packs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb4gDDN26g76wC5NeqKEH5bySClUvIwvEYnaqvOxgzW5C0WhEj9PK8BlXewEVAo2X_qkCuIuBykHTeOykySlm3f6ILVIoDYFizD_uYAWzfbeUe5lHx6O_tMAvSdWkVptICIxMOL9qoLBY/s400/19+Clothes+Packs.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Sorting clothes for distribution</span></i></td></tr>
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It was an honor to be able to work alongside such a great group of compassionate servants. We had no electricity. Our drinking water was from a water filter. Baths were with cold water and a flashlight. Sleeping was done on the floor with whatever mat you may have brought. Foul smells were everywhere. The work was often filthy and disgusting. Yet there was excitement and joy as we helped the people of Tacloban in any way we could.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgAApl0EZjOhoSbAGw2DajD5N_SA689g2H5R2wxVw7WrzfUVJDg2zIM9j4Mxd6R_GE1nbW-r3LGl8RpqHkob-VI7zUFkRXvej9uVr3jMFTYpwSvqj4oRCvrgWFO5TgL72Lwbmz83CCqk/s1600/IMG_3921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgAApl0EZjOhoSbAGw2DajD5N_SA689g2H5R2wxVw7WrzfUVJDg2zIM9j4Mxd6R_GE1nbW-r3LGl8RpqHkob-VI7zUFkRXvej9uVr3jMFTYpwSvqj4oRCvrgWFO5TgL72Lwbmz83CCqk/s400/IMG_3921.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Part of the team of YWAMers after cleaning a local believer's home, yard, and street of muck and debris.</span></i></td></tr>
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In the end, I believe that we were able to reach out to sojourners as they explore faith as well as encourage disciples as they follow Christ. May God be glorified!Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com2Cebu City, Philippines10.3156992 123.8854366000000510.0657982 123.56271310000005 10.565600199999999 124.20816010000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-3206880176995446742013-11-17T12:00:00.000+08:002013-12-04T07:32:11.433+08:00Heading to Help after the Havoc of Haiyan/Yolanda <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoIwvTkKnbUcUmHN5yl_dNg54ghra9_lg19Rnc2KwJUGEWv4jcsEKEnf-6_0KPLvbN88AO1HUsGMJ_ffymDj5FocuEEeEtZTuXJjGjCpqTCIDyxJek6FkBHGko2qNX9HjK6oNUxSqF7E/s1600/2013-11+Typhoon+Haiyan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoIwvTkKnbUcUmHN5yl_dNg54ghra9_lg19Rnc2KwJUGEWv4jcsEKEnf-6_0KPLvbN88AO1HUsGMJ_ffymDj5FocuEEeEtZTuXJjGjCpqTCIDyxJek6FkBHGko2qNX9HjK6oNUxSqF7E/s400/2013-11+Typhoon+Haiyan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image of the path of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda which hit the Philippines November 8, 2013.</td></tr>
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Arrangements have just been completed for me to travel to the area devastated by the recent earthquake and typhoon. I will begin traveling Monday morning (Sunday evening for most reading this email). My friend and coworker, VJ, will travel with me to Manila by bus then fly to Cebu City to join with YWAM Cebu, which is coordinating relief efforts for all of YWAM. Besides being a faithful follower of Christ, VJ is Filipino and speaks the language used in that part of the country. (He is also a fantastic cook; I look forward to seeing what he can do with tuna and ramen noodles!)<br />
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Once we are there, we will be assigned to a task and location. Currently it looks like we will be sailing over to Tacloban and joining other YWAMers already working in that place. The building has no electricity or water, but does have cell phone coverage.<br />
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We are packing a selection of hand tools, my emergency medical kit, some donated medicines, safety gear, a sleeping mat, and a mosquito net. Before leaving YWAM Cebu, we will need to purchase our food since there is no functioning market and all of the crops have been destroyed so no food is available. Not long ago, this area was known for the tourists who flocked to its beautiful beaches to unwind. It is amazing how quickly things can change.<br />
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Please keep us in your prayers. Although the stories and images are beginning to fade from the headlines, the situation there remains dire. Pray for our safety throughout the journey and while doing our work there. Pray that we will be an encouragement to those who have been at work there already, many of whom were responding to the earthquake in early October when the typhoon struck. Pray that we can bring comfort and hope to those who have lost everything and live among those who have lost everything in a place that has lost everything. The Filipino people are strong and resilient, but this is a heavy blow for any people.<br />
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YWAM Philippines is committed to walking through the recovery over the long term. Prior to the disasters we already had a network of ministries partnering with local churches in the areas of training, mercy ministry (like what is going on now), and evangelism. YWAM has been in the Philippines for decades and we will continue to serve as God provides opportunities.<br />
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TomThomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0Cebu City, Philippines10.3156992 123.8854366000000510.0657982 123.56271310000005 10.565600199999999 124.20816010000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-76033152252298551342013-08-30T12:00:00.000+08:002013-08-31T09:28:01.227+08:00Welcoming a Precious 14yo Into Our Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With joy we welcomed a precious 14yo into our family on August 29.</div>
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Alayna quickly discovered the beautiful earrings her sisters had given her. But our gift to her was another story. Those were hidden inside 14 balloons.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwE2FtIMpC4l3qIPNAnKBAgveufBU_MHojYz7VqGaWvGhR1CwZ5MHV92gvIlpVo_xA80Gvz-sBYEj93UCQMr9Njk2fZS6EcohAs0bsvw1gtyfik6W5jx9qvtwTSZOGwisCHcgz_8yfiw/s1600/Happy+14th+Alayna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwE2FtIMpC4l3qIPNAnKBAgveufBU_MHojYz7VqGaWvGhR1CwZ5MHV92gvIlpVo_xA80Gvz-sBYEj93UCQMr9Njk2fZS6EcohAs0bsvw1gtyfik6W5jx9qvtwTSZOGwisCHcgz_8yfiw/s400/Happy+14th+Alayna.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
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Besides an animated opening of gifts from us and her sisters, her birthday included Belgian waffles with whipped cream for breakfast, sushi for lunch, relaxing with her dad in the hammock, sisters making cookies together, then painting their nails, homemade personal pizzas, ice cream, and cookies before getting settled into sleeping bags for a fun sister slumber party.<br />
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Happy 14th Birthday, Alayna Marie!</div>
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<br />Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-81442671937286503272013-08-18T22:00:00.000+08:002013-08-30T05:51:41.442+08:00Adriana's New Adventure<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">The
past several months have all been leading up to a major transition for our
family: Adriana leaving for college. There have been many forms filled out, still more emails sent and responded to, appointments scheduled, and even a couple of flights between the US and the Philippines.</span><br />
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Saturday morning a new journey began. Adriana said "See you later" to her sisters and grandparents.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>One last shot</i></span></td></tr>
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Then we were off to Grace College.<br />
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The <i>Welcome Weekend</i> was a busy time for all of the incoming freshmen. There were activities for students with their parents, students only, and parents only.<br />
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Of course, getting settled into the dorm room is very important also. Adriana will be staying at one of the most beautiful buildings on campus.<br />
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But a dorm room is still a dorm room. With a few modifications, the beds were lofted and there was a lot of space available. Adriana had just fallen asleep when her room mate arrived at midnight on Saturday. (She and a few other students had just arrived from South Korea.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Home" in "Westy"</span></td></tr>
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Lisa and I did not get to meet Adriana's room mate, Yelee, until Sunday afternoon during a last minute Walmart trip.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yelee and Adriana</i></span></td></tr>
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During Chapel service Sunday morning t<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">he three of us did have a time of tears as we held each other and prayed
remembering God's faithfulness, reflecting on His promises, and looking forward
to what was ahead of us. </span></span><br />
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Sunday afternoon we were doing some final touches on her dorm when her floor mates came and pulled her away so they could all have dinner together. So our "See you later" was without tears - no prolonged goodbyes, just one more hug and a quick prayer of blessing and she was out the door. But as Lisa and I were driving home, we were comforted by the many assurances God gave us that Adriana is where she is supposed to be. <span style="line-height: 18px;">We look forward to what God will do in her life in this new adventure of college.</span></div>
Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-47939041331411282712013-08-11T22:00:00.000+08:002013-08-30T00:04:02.129+08:00Celebrating Adriana's High School Graduation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just days after our arrival in the United States, we gathered with family and friends to honor the high school graduation of our oldest daughter, Adriana. Through the efforts of many loved ones, we were treated to a wonderful time of celebration with plenty of food, conversation, and hugs. This opportunity to gather together was such an encouragement to Adriana.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coconut, raspberry, and lemon flavored cakes tasted as good as they looked.</td></tr>
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Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-22854346990549105982013-08-08T22:12:00.000+08:002013-08-29T05:03:57.133+08:00Introducing Our Favorite 11 year old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The clouds prevented us from stargazing but it was such a joy to celebrate Annalise's birthday with family.</div>
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Happy Birthday, Annalise!</div>
Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-13752310727673884922013-08-06T15:00:00.000+08:002013-08-22T00:14:58.587+08:00By Boat or Plane?Before we left the Philippines, we were blessed to share some time together with friends.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dinner with Patrick and Rufina's family</i></span></td></tr>
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Our journey began with a long drive to Manila. We stayed at the UCCP Shalom Center like we usually do when traveling to the US. They only have a few rooms in which we can all fit. This was our first time in this particular room though. When we noticed the painting on the wall, we began to wonder whether we would still be flying or whether our voyage might be on the <i>Dawn Treader</i>. (If that sentence made no sense to you, may we recommend <i>The Voyage of the Dawn Treader</i> by CS Lewis or the recent movie of the same title.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dawn Treader?</i></span></td></tr>
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Well, the room did not flood, but the alarm went off at 1:45 am so we could all get a shower before heading to the airport for our journey across the Pacific and North America.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Did you ever notice that people look happy at the <b>beginning</b> of a flight?</i></span></td></tr>
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Actually, all of our travel went very well; everything departed and arrived on-time. Although we would have welcomed a voyage on the <i>Dawn Treader</i> we were thankful for the much quicker travel available on modern jetliners. We also appreciated the individual touch screen entertainment monitors installed in each seat back. They helped to distract us during the long flights.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Friendly faces at the airport-the best part of our trip!</i></span><br />
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Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-53261302647459022852013-07-27T20:17:00.000+08:002013-07-27T20:17:21.158+08:00The Family that Plays Together<div>
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This week our entire family worked together to facilitate team building for YWAM Baguio's Family Discipleship Training School (FDTS). It was a great opportunity for us to demonstrate the very principles we were sharing. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Helium Hoop Central</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Preparing for Landing</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFq7p2_WQ2qwj_pSa_ENavQzjo8Ovp4K-t2PatRjX_POvF3DVjWsBCyv5FZyjdkmjlffpH2RnIVzRgAI72Y16okYD1oVZLicWlifBGbwRqQi0EjDrnvwPqCj1Lx7Fmv1aiXTNDebmWzs/s1600/04+Marble+Pipeline.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFq7p2_WQ2qwj_pSa_ENavQzjo8Ovp4K-t2PatRjX_POvF3DVjWsBCyv5FZyjdkmjlffpH2RnIVzRgAI72Y16okYD1oVZLicWlifBGbwRqQi0EjDrnvwPqCj1Lx7Fmv1aiXTNDebmWzs/s400/04+Marble+Pipeline.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Marble Pipeline - the calm before the storm</span></i></td></tr>
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Together we led activities, debriefed activities, and presented teachings to the group of 30 or so members of the FDTS. For Alayna and Annalise, this was their teaching debut. Alayna surprised herself with how well she could do and Annalise, perhaps, surprised everyone else.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Four lovely instructors</span></i></td></tr>
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Not only did we get to work together as a family, we also had the privilege of making new friends. Students came from different places in the Philippines, Canada, Spain, and the US. The girls really enjoyed having others their own age at the Training Center.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A Blind Hexagon taking shape</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Saving the world from nuclear waste, one soda bottle at a time </span></i></td></tr>
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Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com1YWAM Baguio Training Center16.375942213748246 120.6124544056792716.374990213748244 120.61119390567927 16.376894213748248 120.61371490567927tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-13851779246198900602012-12-19T18:00:00.000+08:002013-02-04T18:25:31.962+08:00Mountain-Top ExperienceContinuing the journey of working together with our Crossroads Discipleship Training School staff, Pastor Marvin (one of our CDTS coworkers) invited Alexie and Alayna to join him in a ministry of his church. Every Wednesday they have Bible studies at Pinsao National High School. Alexie and Alayna were asked to present an interpretive dance during a crusade planned after school.<br />
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When they went in front, everyone pressed forward to see. Even students who had been in the back talking with each other came forward and watched intently.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pinsao National High School courtyard under a canopy of feed bags. There are no mountains in the background because we are on the peak of the mountain.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Alexie and Alayna presenting interpretive dance to the song, "This Man" by Jeremy Camp</i></span></td></tr>
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Besides Alexie and Alayna, the CDTS director gave a challenging Gospel message, and members of the church presented dance, song, and worship.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibY-z-67EgJYO8Bup9zCdyL5I8KFcxOrc8cocqgxDkxqjFHLQAzKNPyl_sbn3CdIxVNpWn8IaSnNBDzwQhcPPM13NUHEBTgOKtU_pL3B5acIRiWvFCnkI8yOAFa_8CLCemRDNJObEOA04/s1600/03+Pinget+High+School.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibY-z-67EgJYO8Bup9zCdyL5I8KFcxOrc8cocqgxDkxqjFHLQAzKNPyl_sbn3CdIxVNpWn8IaSnNBDzwQhcPPM13NUHEBTgOKtU_pL3B5acIRiWvFCnkI8yOAFa_8CLCemRDNJObEOA04/s400/03+Pinget+High+School.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Singers, dancers, speakers, and stage-hands with Pastor Marvin in center front.</i></span></td></tr>
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The neighborhood in which the school and Pastor Marvin's church is located is called Dreamland; perhaps because it is so high that it is often shrouded by clouds.Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0Pinsao National High School, Baguio City, Philippines16.431717 120.5830396999999716.431241 120.58240919999997 16.432192999999998 120.58367019999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-56085727170536796642012-12-14T20:36:00.000+08:002012-12-14T20:36:06.279+08:00How to Bind a Team Together Without Ropes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As a way to keep us focused on our purpose of <i>knowing God and making Him known</i> and getting to know each other better as staff, the staff and families of the Crossroads Discipleship Training School went on a short-term outreach to the Rizal Province of the Philippines.</div>
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First we took a 7 hour bus trip to Manila. From there we had a 2.5 hour trip in the back of a jeepney to the small town of <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Jala-jala,+Philippines&hl=en&ll=14.372164,121.272583&spn=0.824787,1.352692&sll=14.32959,121.413345&sspn=0.206238,0.338173&t=h&hnear=Jala-jala,+Rizal,+CALABARZON,+Philippines&z=10" target="_blank">Jala-jala</a>. It was my first opportunity to spend much time with Tom and Soonim's children. Andrew, their 4 year old, and I quickly established the boundary of the "Boy Zone" and enjoyed thumb wrestling, counting anything, and checking our status as our jeepney "raced" the vehicles around us. The trip went well and the <strike>adults </strike>kids kept the <strike>kids </strike>adults entertained so they did not get too grumpy as <strike>kids </strike>adults often do on long trips.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAML7dxZryBtcx0vcrFHX8Q_X4XDKQ-eZdQamS-CJ8C-821ePVUDokizPQPu9-d1lC4QlKUF1g6W0bJpdNsI_tjZFnlv6f4QTltPrbL9fByPUMu6DQGSKlYRNiP4Ls6shyNgE8PfaHfE/s1600/01+Jeepney+to+Rizal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAML7dxZryBtcx0vcrFHX8Q_X4XDKQ-eZdQamS-CJ8C-821ePVUDokizPQPu9-d1lC4QlKUF1g6W0bJpdNsI_tjZFnlv6f4QTltPrbL9fByPUMu6DQGSKlYRNiP4Ls6shyNgE8PfaHfE/s400/01+Jeepney+to+Rizal.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">From upper left corner: Soonim, Tom, Amie, Marvin, Merly, Alayna, Adriana, Lisa, Annalise, Andrew, Alexie, Andrew, me</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sunday morning the team divided into 3 parts so that we could preach in 3 different churches. Our family stayed in Jala-jala and I preached at the church in the area our team's ministry was focused for the first few days.<br />
<br />
In the afternoon, the church held a youth gathering and our team was united once again. Merly taught about the heart of worship. Lisa then taught about leadership, using Jesus as the perfect model. After Lisa's teaching we divided the 40 or so teens into groups to further discuss the topic. It was great talking with the students in the small groups.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtObxlPpk_uyGk0bguDRX4nA900YGJ2xR1Yj5iRtD3SrrtkK49WehcfIT3ze_K-JZn7CirN_6wj32bcOZy6p6NbvrPnonFzfeWScIFyPwOYTIXJF4CjdKDq76Zb1-L1FLNErb-_JSfYjA/s1600/02+God's+Heart+Mission+Rizal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtObxlPpk_uyGk0bguDRX4nA900YGJ2xR1Yj5iRtD3SrrtkK49WehcfIT3ze_K-JZn7CirN_6wj32bcOZy6p6NbvrPnonFzfeWScIFyPwOYTIXJF4CjdKDq76Zb1-L1FLNErb-_JSfYjA/s400/02+God's+Heart+Mission+Rizal.jpg" width="381" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>God's Heart Mission in Jala-jala.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Monday we returned to the church to meet with others who would lead us on house-to-house visitation. For several hours we went throughout the area neighborhoods inviting people to come the next day to a seminar about the rocket stoves in the afternoon and a showing of the <i>Jesus</i> movie in the evening.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHfBEun7KB9_42UEx45g_B4VY0G1iERN7zv-1IKx33ZUz-ZlfGyGpifM5rLB-OXkfJ3-9drdO4_EOfzz49fSoxkMc2aymjofjt48e3WQScVFgSoRENPLfwS31muursvSMxf_xm1_Cauk/s1600/03+Jala+Jala+Rizal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHfBEun7KB9_42UEx45g_B4VY0G1iERN7zv-1IKx33ZUz-ZlfGyGpifM5rLB-OXkfJ3-9drdO4_EOfzz49fSoxkMc2aymjofjt48e3WQScVFgSoRENPLfwS31muursvSMxf_xm1_Cauk/s400/03+Jala+Jala+Rizal.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jala-jala is a small fishing town on Laguna de Bay, one of the few large lakes in the Philippines. Talim Island is the land in the background.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Monday night, the men from the team went to the nearby town of Tanay. There, we encouraged those attending a prayer meeting of community pastors.<br />
<br />
Tuesday afternoon we returned to the church in Jala-jala for the rocket stove and solar bottle-light seminar. The kids in the photos are students at the school the church has. They participated in the seminar also. They were really interested in the rocket stove but with so many hands eagerly trying to help, it took a while to get the fire going.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yYUE-Ylm-FhWyTS-CPfKvzqRGwRg4P84mM-_6ztqyesz44VIcGdhRRSAIooViV5l_4gXe2_m3lBCD5WrL_26cY6D14jyUoZa3oxA4H9oTjwlYtyz0RPcVz7z4xL-lbL00F-6EhRH9vI/s1600/04+Rocket+Stove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yYUE-Ylm-FhWyTS-CPfKvzqRGwRg4P84mM-_6ztqyesz44VIcGdhRRSAIooViV5l_4gXe2_m3lBCD5WrL_26cY6D14jyUoZa3oxA4H9oTjwlYtyz0RPcVz7z4xL-lbL00F-6EhRH9vI/s320/04+Rocket+Stove.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the highlights of the trip was the film showings. Our first, was Tuesday night in Jala-jala. We had obtained permission from the barangay officials to show the movie at an intersection. (Although we still had to allow traffic to pass along 3 of the 4 spurs of the intersection.) The intersection was full of people watching the movie throughout the entire 2 hours - no chairs, no popcorn, no soda provided.<br />
<br />
At the end, our hostess, Margie, talked with the people. She spoke in Tagalog so I could not understand the words. But her heart and the effect it had on the people was clear as many responded to her sharing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYvL2AaBsGIRM0ig4gdgNpFNj_t8LUGZc1m3MXJnQ6lHGSmSb10imBqeOK83r78-2Tk0wIpoyzGxkv3t7HmfvswM8M0GRiq1c2EL8lwreulyQaIS_MDmObWzmXD0XBtclcYe2YWFLwao/s1600/05+Jesus+Movie+in+Jala+Jala+Rizal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYvL2AaBsGIRM0ig4gdgNpFNj_t8LUGZc1m3MXJnQ6lHGSmSb10imBqeOK83r78-2Tk0wIpoyzGxkv3t7HmfvswM8M0GRiq1c2EL8lwreulyQaIS_MDmObWzmXD0XBtclcYe2YWFLwao/s400/05+Jesus+Movie+in+Jala+Jala+Rizal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jesus movie on the streets of Jala-jala, Rizal.</i></td></tr>
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The rest of the week our focus was on Tanay.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweuqhqFMoN7n8kbcxndo7jYRiJLXkO1rBya_5FJQQ4HEh1KSDkX_ZbdC238gf8zAo-PsYnC7Vf3ycItrWAuKGfsaJDRoo_rWnLMxL6KILrXe9kkRfj7YnmHrblBlCWSQLihSnf5hXg10/s1600/06+New+Hope+Christian+Church+Tanay+Rizal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweuqhqFMoN7n8kbcxndo7jYRiJLXkO1rBya_5FJQQ4HEh1KSDkX_ZbdC238gf8zAo-PsYnC7Vf3ycItrWAuKGfsaJDRoo_rWnLMxL6KILrXe9kkRfj7YnmHrblBlCWSQLihSnf5hXg10/s400/06+New+Hope+Christian+Church+Tanay+Rizal.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>New Hope Christian Church in Tanay, Rizal.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pastor Eric from New Hope was excited to have us help him establish an outreach into the relocation area being built not far from Tanay. Southville is a government housing project where people displaced due to flooding and other disasters can go. The units are small and numerous in the project. Our first task was to go house-to-house talking with people and inviting them to a rocket stove seminar and a showing of the <i>Jesus </i>movie later in the day. While we talked with people, we had them fill out cards for follow-up later from Pastor Eric and his church.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidtQlQajZ2da5Ik1gnYCMDZLHnOEjpzrNU0DGjU1n59daKQC7PgZMF38dgar_0DOzkp0jSyzRYFl3ws4HvvsjjUzs_AGDZKPsIpJSGOIP8qhuQfM6Rw0d_qGpOlDFdhNAwzFM0N_2iVc/s1600/07+Southville+Relocation+Area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidtQlQajZ2da5Ik1gnYCMDZLHnOEjpzrNU0DGjU1n59daKQC7PgZMF38dgar_0DOzkp0jSyzRYFl3ws4HvvsjjUzs_AGDZKPsIpJSGOIP8qhuQfM6Rw0d_qGpOlDFdhNAwzFM0N_2iVc/s400/07+Southville+Relocation+Area.jpg" width="306" /></a></div>
<br />
We met in a clearing under a spreading mango tree. There we taught the many who came how to make a rocket stove. This was excitedly received as most of these people moved here with few possessions, little money, and almost no livelihood prospects. This simple and reproducible technology will certainly be beneficial in that place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfcF6O4xxi7DyJl8nepWVzuXNO1wE__nMO55A7KsZ9wPeDvOKR0w1WwZUpzDXzv4AP6VmAlmEZLLP1zSzsX5syWB9YDXcdKjElN0lR1tZ967XpTxiKGtbFXJTJ4nkyBDCJxurIkemqnM/s1600/08+Rocket+Stove+Under+the+Mango+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfcF6O4xxi7DyJl8nepWVzuXNO1wE__nMO55A7KsZ9wPeDvOKR0w1WwZUpzDXzv4AP6VmAlmEZLLP1zSzsX5syWB9YDXcdKjElN0lR1tZ967XpTxiKGtbFXJTJ4nkyBDCJxurIkemqnM/s400/08+Rocket+Stove+Under+the+Mango+Tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>In the center: Pastor Eric telling the people about the love of God and inviting them to the </i>Jesus<i> movie, while holding the completed rocket stove up for all to see.</i></td></tr>
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After a busy morning at the relocation area, we had a relaxing lunch at the beautiful Daranak Falls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvaGvS-yCpxrYNeq19yAR9mcb28nRmbwYR_i-QXrxl8lQtXPECwE_ARjHrfEfNaKmfOj8tF9l2newwSMfWGivyrmO4m7eVX3JQa-D8gSJ3IPaYkuuaEGHJkjg-BD0PrH-KR0_Kh1Rupk/s1600/09+Daranak+Falls.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvaGvS-yCpxrYNeq19yAR9mcb28nRmbwYR_i-QXrxl8lQtXPECwE_ARjHrfEfNaKmfOj8tF9l2newwSMfWGivyrmO4m7eVX3JQa-D8gSJ3IPaYkuuaEGHJkjg-BD0PrH-KR0_Kh1Rupk/s400/09+Daranak+Falls.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Adriana at Daranak Falls</i></td></tr>
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Back at the church, we held another rocket stove seminar for people from the neighborhood there. This time, I still did all of the talking, but I had Tom and Marvin do the cutting and fitting of the parts. As you can see in the picture below, they did a great job.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFVi8yhys3FVm4PWxSuDHdBmF-Dw-0fpPfkPIbTbkdRzc_DR2-BDVTaNziYAzxux38juw88abSIilH4ifD28N0WFOysNWJnr6fAzrkwW-FG38mH1wryUZgrftsYeiFvAzQPCud1KUVSA/s1600/10+Rocket+Stove+at+New+Hope.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFVi8yhys3FVm4PWxSuDHdBmF-Dw-0fpPfkPIbTbkdRzc_DR2-BDVTaNziYAzxux38juw88abSIilH4ifD28N0WFOysNWJnr6fAzrkwW-FG38mH1wryUZgrftsYeiFvAzQPCud1KUVSA/s400/10+Rocket+Stove+at+New+Hope.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Marvin showing off a hot rocket stove with everyone from the seminar.</i></td></tr>
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Then it was back to the mango tree at the relocation area. Again we were amazed at how many people showed up and stood or sat on the ground for the duration of the movie. (I was so excited about how God was using the equipment that as the movie was playing, I sent a text to one of those who provided it asking her to share our thanks with the rest.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHWMhK1iEbhjdqkQ0kYsa2gTjr7YDSlAyF3sQrYtmnYW55EiBDUSQoSXogqeMPQ_aDTe3T3smWFLPlVSLXqdZI5R27d8nC8Tm-Kaf-pWdW9o7n-TWgxEm-YHlSzlKDMIi1eAfVD85Ss4/s1600/11+Jesus+Movie+Under+the+Mango+Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHWMhK1iEbhjdqkQ0kYsa2gTjr7YDSlAyF3sQrYtmnYW55EiBDUSQoSXogqeMPQ_aDTe3T3smWFLPlVSLXqdZI5R27d8nC8Tm-Kaf-pWdW9o7n-TWgxEm-YHlSzlKDMIi1eAfVD85Ss4/s400/11+Jesus+Movie+Under+the+Mango+Tree.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesus<i> movie in Southville relocation area.</i></td></tr>
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Thursday morning we had a surprise visit. The mayor, vice-mayor, and barangay captain, hearing of our ministry in the community decided to pay us a visit. The mayor was especially interested in the solar bottle-light and rocket stove. We had a nice visit then prayed for them in their work before they left.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KoozzzNr01o-r5slE09_L6XpOUQeCNONxPi3lab_2ST43cd6_Rbw30gyayGNb1NZQLJPo9UPN821SKpMpD_L7fMqhZzcnpFYQ11YcU0_xh6QBvFSdIFu65rELFEwnxszCi6xl_Gmst4/s1600/14+Praying+with+Mayor+Vice-Mayor+and+Barangay+Captain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8KoozzzNr01o-r5slE09_L6XpOUQeCNONxPi3lab_2ST43cd6_Rbw30gyayGNb1NZQLJPo9UPN821SKpMpD_L7fMqhZzcnpFYQ11YcU0_xh6QBvFSdIFu65rELFEwnxszCi6xl_Gmst4/s400/14+Praying+with+Mayor+Vice-Mayor+and+Barangay+Captain.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Praying with local government officials</i></td></tr>
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Pilgrims and Indians don't mean much in the Philippines, but food and celebrations do. Our family and Tom were the only Americans but Thanksgiving did not go unobserved, thanks to Margie, our hostess. But instead of turkey, football, and parades, it was more "outreach style". We had grilled pork chops (not traditional, but delicious), mashed potatoes, carrots, beans, and...rice.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZDi9Bh38Y-AMpRP8eD6lFr0qYLAnPl04TeyL77H4sj4DTUCuMS-pNiIQF4LgkM4obtntCICcYs42NITiZyi7ravckCC9Qe2KWytEQfn22F5Vad0dyRAblJDpHWXM23Gk4UkQM5qjHgU/s1600/15+Thanksgiving+Jala+Jala+Style.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZDi9Bh38Y-AMpRP8eD6lFr0qYLAnPl04TeyL77H4sj4DTUCuMS-pNiIQF4LgkM4obtntCICcYs42NITiZyi7ravckCC9Qe2KWytEQfn22F5Vad0dyRAblJDpHWXM23Gk4UkQM5qjHgU/s400/15+Thanksgiving+Jala+Jala+Style.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thanksgiving pork chops, potatoes, veggies, and rice</i></td></tr>
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<br />
After lunch we returned to Tanay, this time to a garment factory behind the church where the owner allows all of the employees to participate in a Bible study (with pay) once a week. Alayna and Alexie performed an interpretive dance before Marvin shared a message with the employees. Many stayed right at their sewing machines while others crowded into the open areas on either side of the main room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQUmPWfq0D3gnC6SQR9nh5jCiRZoF3cCSqnBqoawOtQn-slEWKWEoMSVGZ1FLBJ_n6oqU2Khzfe1IO63nWn30VguNX1SihJTZy8lSJ0IF37MLqWlSy7FyDfvuTe_1cDi3zBmOn-A6_2M/s1600/12+Tanay+Garment+Factory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQUmPWfq0D3gnC6SQR9nh5jCiRZoF3cCSqnBqoawOtQn-slEWKWEoMSVGZ1FLBJ_n6oqU2Khzfe1IO63nWn30VguNX1SihJTZy8lSJ0IF37MLqWlSy7FyDfvuTe_1cDi3zBmOn-A6_2M/s400/12+Tanay+Garment+Factory.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Garment factory in Tanay</i></td></tr>
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Our final film showing was later that night at the church. We decided to continue with the outdoor set-up as that seemed to be more inviting to people just passing by. We had to get a little adventurous to hang up the screen, but after both Tom and Marvin had climbed the tree to make adjustments, the screen was taut and at a good height to be seen from the street. This time, we had chairs but not as many people. But we trust that God brought those He wanted to hear the Gospel that evening.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmTSSr8VsCAD1wUEyKyTOqHQi5fUdhHbwZjCjCu9Qs6qV9pSQ5bjswAUmIOQZm4Dxd5-coy4jEqkGLFA-x5zn4jFcEjZCbwqhxPsszLW8DX5rPo1cTWbs-Sy5i3XyhZug72aBnTRPMis/s1600/13+Jesus+Movie+at+New+Hope+Tanay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmTSSr8VsCAD1wUEyKyTOqHQi5fUdhHbwZjCjCu9Qs6qV9pSQ5bjswAUmIOQZm4Dxd5-coy4jEqkGLFA-x5zn4jFcEjZCbwqhxPsszLW8DX5rPo1cTWbs-Sy5i3XyhZug72aBnTRPMis/s400/13+Jesus+Movie+at+New+Hope+Tanay.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesus <i>movie at New Hope Christian Church in Tanay</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCSU0gZ6_I7i9YMxbuIj3LsJ09-Pg3s85cJ-IXnAJ1Pxw6-urKMNb7v6R7Fsf8XS95iVlt_hjsao3u99miY8MkGlDkaP1vh6ZXGKJXF5iHYrdzfBp1_s9ALQKb6sZRLSavAvtQXeljcE/s1600/16+Blessings+and+See+Ya+Laters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCSU0gZ6_I7i9YMxbuIj3LsJ09-Pg3s85cJ-IXnAJ1Pxw6-urKMNb7v6R7Fsf8XS95iVlt_hjsao3u99miY8MkGlDkaP1vh6ZXGKJXF5iHYrdzfBp1_s9ALQKb6sZRLSavAvtQXeljcE/s400/16+Blessings+and+See+Ya+Laters.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our team with Pastor Eric's family and our hosts</i></td></tr>
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Finally, the week was over and it was time to return to Baguio. It was a great week of ministering together. God really opened doors and we are confident that there will be follow-up by the local believers to the work we were able to do. We also got to know each other better and draw closer as a team, something that will be helpful as we work together for the Crossroads Discipleship Training School.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTct5VWKrX8L-MvDxxxUhWHnMjQxrler8w1ULXe4_WAsaEvUZHcvDRcgIknHthvHMixXSuh9WeFlR-ogvI0IX2noL64FVEb0vvjPpmjv5NAM410nBERB1q4JPB9WF2KtDGkSi4fSTlML0/s1600/16+Bound+for+Baguio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTct5VWKrX8L-MvDxxxUhWHnMjQxrler8w1ULXe4_WAsaEvUZHcvDRcgIknHthvHMixXSuh9WeFlR-ogvI0IX2noL64FVEb0vvjPpmjv5NAM410nBERB1q4JPB9WF2KtDGkSi4fSTlML0/s400/16+Bound+for+Baguio.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Andrew, "See ya later!"</i></td></tr>
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Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com1Jala-jala, Philippines14.35099 121.32849914.2894575 121.249535 14.4125225 121.40746299999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-84485333171137183502012-11-12T16:09:00.001+08:002012-11-12T16:09:36.248+08:00Illegal ImmigrantsAs of today, we no longer hold valid visas for our stay in the Philippines. Does that makes us illegal immigrants? Illegal immigration is a matter of great argument in my home country. I will skirt around all of that for now and just say that our situation is a matter of prayer and not contention.<br />
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Technically, we are not illegal. We have submitted our applications for extension and are awaiting a response from the Bureau of Immigration. This makes us legal, on a technicality.<br />
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So what do you call someone in a foreign country that does not have a current visa? Invalid immigrants? Overdue immigrants? Naughty nomads? I don't know.<br />
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For now, I will refer to our situation as interim immigrants. By God's grace, we have never had any problems having our visas approved or extended, aside from the joys of bureaucracy and the confusion that it mandates. But as we wait, we pray, and ask you to pray with us, that we will soon hear that our visas are approved so that we can continue to minister in the Philippines.<br />
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Grace,<br />
TomThomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-34928162964006052602012-10-31T09:57:00.000+08:002012-10-31T09:57:56.472+08:00Dance to the LordIt is such a blessing that we are a family of missionaries rather than a missionary family. Not only do our girls participate in ministry with us, they often have ministry of their own. The following two videos are interpretive dances that Alexie and Alayna did at our church.<br />
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This second dance was completely choreographed by them. What a joy to see our girls using their giftings to bring glory to God!Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com2Agpaoa Street Camp 7, Baguio City, Philippines16.392963564491762 120.6007647514343316.391059564491762 120.59829725143433 16.394867564491761 120.60323225143432tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-75373134199560362862012-09-26T19:49:00.000+08:002012-09-26T19:49:21.274+08:00What About the PhilippinesThis summer at the World Pulse Festival, we asked a few people what they knew about the Philippines. Here is the result. Based on the laughs we heard when we showed it to our friends here in Bontoc, they certainly enjoyed it.<br />
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<b><i>What About the Philippines?</i></b></div>
Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com4South Bend, IN, USA41.6833813 -86.250006641.5885123 -86.4079351 41.7782503 -86.092078100000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-27580279728036945242012-09-10T19:29:00.000+08:002012-09-15T06:53:41.356+08:00Traveling Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While we were on furlough in the US, friends answered a prayer of ours by providing the equipment we need to be able to take Gospel movies to the people to whom we minister. The equipment is lightweight, portable, and battery powered.</div>
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This weekend I had the first opportunity to put it to use. I traveled with Pastor Rudy to the village of Chapyosen to show the Jesus film. In the picture below you can see the equipment that is lying at the turn-around in Can-eo which will bring electricity to Chapyosen in the months to come. But as for now, it is a place without electricity.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufUkZQgS4fwUm8Uk5u7di9f7R2wJdwAIlllEYSfTlHb9CfC4LOEE1SFRtprACZCFAfvA-k1YUusc2mHkMC1SyCCtelaXI-KlAIVwXr55_LpW7TedJTGALunXMnHjDyAI2dgyESj46MQ8/s1600/01+Power+On+Its+Way.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufUkZQgS4fwUm8Uk5u7di9f7R2wJdwAIlllEYSfTlHb9CfC4LOEE1SFRtprACZCFAfvA-k1YUusc2mHkMC1SyCCtelaXI-KlAIVwXr55_LpW7TedJTGALunXMnHjDyAI2dgyESj46MQ8/s400/01+Power+On+Its+Way.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Utility poles and cables staged to take electricity to Chapyosen</i></span></td></tr>
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We drove from Bontoc to Can-eo which takes about 45 minutes when the road is good. From Can-eo, the only way to Chapyosen is to hike down the valley along a narrow path. (You can see more images or Chapyosen from other trips by clicking <i><a href="http://garden-of-grace.blogspot.com/search?q=chapyosen" target="_blank">here</a></i>.) This time the trip was unique because it is the first time I made the hike after dark. Thankfully, it did not rain as it has nearly everyday since our arrival in the country and we were able to make the trip in about an hour.<br />
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It was a moonless night, almost. When we arrived in the village, several of the children were saying, "Look at the moon," or "See the moon." It took me a minute to realize that there was no moon in the sky and that I was the only white thing out in the night.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoqBspkYPZSH1V7kt3Kh6blOxlVC8modgrIbvmJdJRHSBm2622aCcU0IIx_u8OGkK2GLvqT7uRWDwK7T66LOaBgeN5SB1DYduNCJnYkSIvKoCNNsabFxqoQLT1XUdvTAuJI8dglzHMVM/s1600/02+Chapyosen+By+Firelight.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJoqBspkYPZSH1V7kt3Kh6blOxlVC8modgrIbvmJdJRHSBm2622aCcU0IIx_u8OGkK2GLvqT7uRWDwK7T66LOaBgeN5SB1DYduNCJnYkSIvKoCNNsabFxqoQLT1XUdvTAuJI8dglzHMVM/s400/02+Chapyosen+By+Firelight.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Watching the movie; the projector and speakers are in the foreground.</span></i></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg63GH_iEHXO_NCqVfYpJoDVb9SOrdNnEz7a9JZcL_zjciQHhMq5sNPeOBmh394OEx8a3zEkpp_OVtXTIWHPt696uXzryB0LibfzSCGO0qFTwgwIFLNVzbjEEY_62esv6hANPOsVqwnRI/s1600/03+Chapyosen+Jesus+Film.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg63GH_iEHXO_NCqVfYpJoDVb9SOrdNnEz7a9JZcL_zjciQHhMq5sNPeOBmh394OEx8a3zEkpp_OVtXTIWHPt696uXzryB0LibfzSCGO0qFTwgwIFLNVzbjEEY_62esv6hANPOsVqwnRI/s400/03+Chapyosen+Jesus+Film.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
We pushed aside the loom (the wooden frame in to the left of the screen), quickly set up the projector, and were soon watching the movie in the space below someone's house. I counted more than 40 faces sitting in the darkness. What was amazing was how quiet and still everyone was throughout the movie, especially the children.<br />
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Afterwards, Pastor Rudy and I shared how the events of the movie are true and give us hope of God's love and forgiveness. Then it was time to hike back. We were prepared to spend the night, but our guides wanted to get back to their families in Can-eo.<br />
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The next afternoon, Pastor Rudy had a meeting with the leadership of Can-eo Station Church. He has been teaching the leadership about commitment and the purpose of the church. By <i>coincidence,</i> I had a short video about the purpose of the church with me. We showed that video in segments, translating and discussing the various ideas as we went along. That was not a presentation we had planned on, but it was good to be able to help.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Church leadership meeting - there were more than shown in the picture</i></span></td></tr>
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During the time for the Saturday night Bible study in Can-eo, we presented the Jesus movie to a group of 30 or so. <br />
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Just for fun, Sunday morning after service, we showed a video I had made about <a href="http://garden-of-grace.blogspot.com/2008/02/ice-fishing.html" target="_blank">ice fishing</a> and another about our ministry here which includes several scenes of Can-eo. It was fun to hear people's excitement as they saw photos and video of them and their friends.<br />
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I am so thankful for the opportunity to bring the Gospel to people through various methods: Bibles, Proclaimers, video, and teaching. God's Word does not go out without effect. Thank you to all who partner with us and make this possible.Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-47746632033230974402012-09-08T16:03:00.000+08:002012-09-12T16:07:32.543+08:00Friends at the RHU<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friday we resumed the YWAM Mountain Province Health Clinic at the Bontoc Regional Health Unit. Even though it was only a few days since arrangements were made, many of our regular patients were eagerly waiting for us when we entered the room.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtzcC5xWJ5k1r75oMLRxrRW6t72A4E6kzOXYBVgo-2dptpOtwC2CQYZavlc8vB8K7kzT3C-1xThZl5L5_vzpWoLzqCyo2vImMVadD2jycbblOwLP3amWSxki5ZvVYHh3fm_9i7Ih8Pls/s1600/01+Health+Clinic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtzcC5xWJ5k1r75oMLRxrRW6t72A4E6kzOXYBVgo-2dptpOtwC2CQYZavlc8vB8K7kzT3C-1xThZl5L5_vzpWoLzqCyo2vImMVadD2jycbblOwLP3amWSxki5ZvVYHh3fm_9i7Ih8Pls/s400/01+Health+Clinic.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJC1wc8Pvxgzi26649bMMV-9ufyWnKTs8cS3S0wasd22wbfVzLXkmwUnEGkWXqSBFeNgUSdQh0fhl4v0dJMJ9FB5o149Efdi2ba9e1KNQYLjIRgj7RqGeXUm4N0lPNgpsLa-kfojthho/s1600/03+Thinking+About+Smiling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJC1wc8Pvxgzi26649bMMV-9ufyWnKTs8cS3S0wasd22wbfVzLXkmwUnEGkWXqSBFeNgUSdQh0fhl4v0dJMJ9FB5o149Efdi2ba9e1KNQYLjIRgj7RqGeXUm4N0lPNgpsLa-kfojthho/s400/03+Thinking+About+Smiling.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was good to talk again with the patients who have become our friends.</div>
Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0Bontoc, Philippines17.0872222 120.975555616.9658002 120.81762710000001 17.2086442 121.1334841tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-64968630635653281912012-04-12T12:00:00.000+08:002012-05-26T04:38:39.480+08:00Journey Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We were off to a great start. When we moved to the Philippines back in 2008, we were still frantically packing until the very last moment. This time, we had all of our bags packed and were ready except for shutting down the utilities. The van showed up early and we were packed and on the road before he was even scheduled to arrive. The blue sky was perfectly clear and the temperature was pleasant as we drove through Bontoc to begin the journey to Baguio and, ultimately, our family and friends in the USA.</div>
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But within 2 kilometers of Bontoc we ran into a problem, a problem that did not exist 45 minutes earlier when the van passed that way going to our apartment. A landslide blocked the road, holding up traffic going both ways for nearly 5 hours. We could almost see our apartment looking across the river from where we waited with so many others. Due to the mountainous terrain, there are few roads so when a landslide occurs detours are rarely available. So we waited and watched the loader move bucket after bucket of rocks. We did need to move when they cleared the area so they could use dynamite to blast some of the rocks which were too large for the loader.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmPXE5-QK5Lxoupl8-FZRQNCuAu5mXHVT36i_aD9jMF94TS_QyWLe3F-PDC_MwQSirhpwiDGoDmpGUhGYwuLMhklMqdvyKjuMZ4MpTGsNC52qbckT1qOO6LRObs3aY3QEKOyTbKtbL2M/s1600/02+Hold+that+Thought.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmPXE5-QK5Lxoupl8-FZRQNCuAu5mXHVT36i_aD9jMF94TS_QyWLe3F-PDC_MwQSirhpwiDGoDmpGUhGYwuLMhklMqdvyKjuMZ4MpTGsNC52qbckT1qOO6LRObs3aY3QEKOyTbKtbL2M/s400/02+Hold+that+Thought.JPG" title="Landslide outside of Bontoc" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The hero of the day</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorac8A7XsddYIY1p65oTdduq7d5BaqbAZE73pIwBVHEu8OSbdvGqYm-Q1_5ec4usKbb6GEk-bcDvSUOj5Vuzx3oPE9HmS0Ok4LqGdj8p1Y1o0RZtExXQpgx16Fow9MhPOMGosFUCQbXo/s1600/01+Ready+to+Go.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorac8A7XsddYIY1p65oTdduq7d5BaqbAZE73pIwBVHEu8OSbdvGqYm-Q1_5ec4usKbb6GEk-bcDvSUOj5Vuzx3oPE9HmS0Ok4LqGdj8p1Y1o0RZtExXQpgx16Fow9MhPOMGosFUCQbXo/s400/01+Ready+to+Go.JPG" title="My 5 beauties" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Waiting for the slide to be cleared</span></i></td></tr>
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While we waited we thought we would get a picture of the 4A's in front of some of the terraced rice fields that are iconic for this part of the world. Whenever you visit us in Bontoc, you will see these fields on your right and then you will know you are driving through the place where many landslides have taken place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSRzmo_Tk4gWbpIuASTD1bAN6uJOqnrxVQ6hRBAXD250xwUqSygS4hTOHNLRE-bzr8Ymo0NDGHsfLif7e516PMk7wU8yl9TaTBluwiYqyG7pP1RfhLij2gtgMfPG5ZS8nwfWnsyVXEgY/s1600/03+Enjoying+the+Sun.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSRzmo_Tk4gWbpIuASTD1bAN6uJOqnrxVQ6hRBAXD250xwUqSygS4hTOHNLRE-bzr8Ymo0NDGHsfLif7e516PMk7wU8yl9TaTBluwiYqyG7pP1RfhLij2gtgMfPG5ZS8nwfWnsyVXEgY/s400/03+Enjoying+the+Sun.JPG" title="Rice terraces just outside of Bontoc" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Back: Alayna, Alexie, Adriana Front: Annalise</span></i></td></tr>
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We arrived at YWAM Baguio without any more problems, just in time for dinner. The next morning, we hit the road early. Along Kennon Road just outside of Baguio on our way to Manila, we stopped to snap a few photos at Lion's Head.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiiCrit2Ilv75gBzjwl21U71KrfHqsmN1vmiuxikezs59jrqiJ6Jf4QEkueEpAZ83R7sy0nvqqopRTaNsMgVOlDgtc-Tg2053fZf74wFkBcbDBaAhnBLi6OgOgKQnh-VGSKdDfQpoJEg/s1600/04+Leaving+Baguio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiiCrit2Ilv75gBzjwl21U71KrfHqsmN1vmiuxikezs59jrqiJ6Jf4QEkueEpAZ83R7sy0nvqqopRTaNsMgVOlDgtc-Tg2053fZf74wFkBcbDBaAhnBLi6OgOgKQnh-VGSKdDfQpoJEg/s400/04+Leaving+Baguio.JPG" title="Lion's Head, Baguio City" width="266" /></a></div>
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At 2 a.m. Wednesday, we awoke to go to the airport in Manila.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssP8XwKDxtmu0zXyyZLMs0LJMZT3uUq_aOAapLcyENzFARVTnlTHXR8bOhUzBvl3Rk1RQbsoNnDl_nOoLdEHIS1-QhZOp41XUzSVtKm_S0BHfucZ2U4wplDL3NaYrfDy20_FErRxgSmg/s1600/05+Passing+Through+Manila.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssP8XwKDxtmu0zXyyZLMs0LJMZT3uUq_aOAapLcyENzFARVTnlTHXR8bOhUzBvl3Rk1RQbsoNnDl_nOoLdEHIS1-QhZOp41XUzSVtKm_S0BHfucZ2U4wplDL3NaYrfDy20_FErRxgSmg/s400/05+Passing+Through+Manila.JPG" title="Entering NAIA, Manila" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Entering the Manila airport for the beginning of a long journey</span></i></td></tr>
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At the Manila airport we were caught off-guard by an unexpected fee by Immigration. We did not have enough cash on us, but I was able to get to an ATM and resolve the issue without making us miss our flight. Stressed and a bit irritated, but still on time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp8G5snD1r2iWXalJJrxyP2GGKL1VH3ycgbEBoaI6lT754ojpbiFqD_mEM3oNy79Ogmf74fTXdvV8wMc7gDH-RTV5suCCGvqdrUnui0V4U100_Xm9CBn4CarwAbSDTj9TH5iFnydOp5k/s1600/06+Waiting+in+Japan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp8G5snD1r2iWXalJJrxyP2GGKL1VH3ycgbEBoaI6lT754ojpbiFqD_mEM3oNy79Ogmf74fTXdvV8wMc7gDH-RTV5suCCGvqdrUnui0V4U100_Xm9CBn4CarwAbSDTj9TH5iFnydOp5k/s400/06+Waiting+in+Japan.JPG" title="Layover in Nagoya, Japan" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Chillin' in Japan</span></i></td></tr>
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Even though our flight from Japan to Detroit was delayed by an hour causing the next leg of the journey to need to be rescheduled by an hour, everything went smoothly and many were there to greet us when we arrived.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiiv8Iyu-IHzDARnEZ0S0e31rKmT8MUFY6CHAkQ6F67-DPqxZrVervkuzjMNOzJ_Jd8Owiw9iZB9RL2TM_EN325LHyqQL8xhzoKCWWg19XQfvUcNt38dQzOoMsUJlCj28BlCdjT7UEyU/s1600/07+YAY.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiiv8Iyu-IHzDARnEZ0S0e31rKmT8MUFY6CHAkQ6F67-DPqxZrVervkuzjMNOzJ_Jd8Owiw9iZB9RL2TM_EN325LHyqQL8xhzoKCWWg19XQfvUcNt38dQzOoMsUJlCj28BlCdjT7UEyU/s400/07+YAY.JPG" title="End of the journey" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yay! We're Home!</i></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdExyWATLsGgqFKYPsi1WGHOzeHadGmTCwoRM9-HRPL6maCsg19Ua8-5e0UErZSB5JhCnNM_fzX_Ur9QxP34W10a_r3OkJA2-pkkIXHqh_RzKtGBKf2xUK1FxjgVcgIlOoLHZcVlhL34/s1600/08+Lots+of+Hugs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdExyWATLsGgqFKYPsi1WGHOzeHadGmTCwoRM9-HRPL6maCsg19Ua8-5e0UErZSB5JhCnNM_fzX_Ur9QxP34W10a_r3OkJA2-pkkIXHqh_RzKtGBKf2xUK1FxjgVcgIlOoLHZcVlhL34/s400/08+Lots+of+Hugs.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxvajMxPp5WhNfWVdXgyERl58QA8KR7Uzxn9BSuXxKaJR_NT_1-r_2QDFCwffEimGlMRV9lHuq0DYE1twnZ2EqBwW9d09vKBc-vfuiFmHYOk2y7YYmFjlVuzfxmX4SBN0WlnQPaFoLgQ/s1600/09+I+AM+BACK.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxvajMxPp5WhNfWVdXgyERl58QA8KR7Uzxn9BSuXxKaJR_NT_1-r_2QDFCwffEimGlMRV9lHuq0DYE1twnZ2EqBwW9d09vKBc-vfuiFmHYOk2y7YYmFjlVuzfxmX4SBN0WlnQPaFoLgQ/s400/09+I+AM+BACK.JPG" title="That's right, we're here!" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Alayna with a little, "That's right, we're here!"</span></i></td></tr>
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April 11 will stand as one of the longest days in history; due to the many time zones we crossed, from midnight in the Philippines to midnight in Michigan, April 11 was a 36 hour day.<br />
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We are glad to be home and look forward to enjoying time with family and friends as well as the bountiful blessings of our homeland.Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-74298843035887511902012-04-04T12:00:00.000+08:002012-05-26T23:35:20.493+08:00Kevin and Charity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our friends, Kevin and Charity got married April 3. Lisa and I were asked to be sponsors and Alexie was asked to be a bridesmaid. The role of sponsor may not be familiar to most of those reading this blog. It is an honorary position which serves as a mentor to the couple through the journey of life. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg1ofYzF1VzfALdricNV81BTl1aqQyN5m9Ebeb6D9xYGm1NX_VVlIozEPgmJfLKlKYhrjkxHmNW1akOHlWMAkgkecDP1zKVjzGr9jf5IFYbf0RplgZn8CID41uTFunmiGJo3FuJmmbZk/s1600/Wedding+01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg1ofYzF1VzfALdricNV81BTl1aqQyN5m9Ebeb6D9xYGm1NX_VVlIozEPgmJfLKlKYhrjkxHmNW1akOHlWMAkgkecDP1zKVjzGr9jf5IFYbf0RplgZn8CID41uTFunmiGJo3FuJmmbZk/s400/Wedding+01.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS4aXj6z0l9wkHUIZ3SR5NhcHs3GGsbt5RfQzkC3D7QDIEWuJ3Bh1npK8Q5mO1eXd036v92rD2h07ZHJACo3tD99I1TIkcbOpZ5TAuYqjEOPxhcnue8JYw3WbV1mkWbQuIp_2P4xK5Fs/s1600/Wedding+02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtS4aXj6z0l9wkHUIZ3SR5NhcHs3GGsbt5RfQzkC3D7QDIEWuJ3Bh1npK8Q5mO1eXd036v92rD2h07ZHJACo3tD99I1TIkcbOpZ5TAuYqjEOPxhcnue8JYw3WbV1mkWbQuIp_2P4xK5Fs/s400/Wedding+02.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Alexie was beautiful in her lovely dress</i></span></td></tr>
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Several children were involved in the wedding as ring bearers, Bible bearers, coin bearers, and of course, flower girls. I have several pictures of them all dressed up, but I thought this one of Thea was especially cute as she converted the basket into a bonnet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi4Yij6V5bOklnY1VlsRXi7jgb0Z28lRvQ4RPYGUc7J95MnOcO_npeqXB2r4q9EvaAn367IykTRJvTD2vlc9-93baesNfvu8ZNEb2miuzqjZmQ1KNQgeWbu8doNwHP8XjkN97yUSvK3A/s1600/Wedding+03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzi4Yij6V5bOklnY1VlsRXi7jgb0Z28lRvQ4RPYGUc7J95MnOcO_npeqXB2r4q9EvaAn367IykTRJvTD2vlc9-93baesNfvu8ZNEb2miuzqjZmQ1KNQgeWbu8doNwHP8XjkN97yUSvK3A/s400/Wedding+03.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4mLIJIgSfMqLB3v8K9wWrde6ZbhPiilcaXA63dfKqQAKlBPXN6InUZ9fxp56zWaD1T0tUhpfUEO9UiYehKhGMlTGaSWXimfJEZFc-XcWxhoNrN1955HGn8yCbLXDNBMnZ4D4flEGYBc/s1600/Wedding+04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4mLIJIgSfMqLB3v8K9wWrde6ZbhPiilcaXA63dfKqQAKlBPXN6InUZ9fxp56zWaD1T0tUhpfUEO9UiYehKhGMlTGaSWXimfJEZFc-XcWxhoNrN1955HGn8yCbLXDNBMnZ4D4flEGYBc/s400/Wedding+04.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Alexie with Kevin and Charity</span></i></td></tr>
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Instead of throwing the bouquet, it was given to the lucky young lady through a hot-potato/musical chairs type of elimination. When it was all over, Alayna was the young lady with the bouquet. Perhaps because the tradition is different, the implications of catching the bouquet are as well, so we don't need to start making wedding plans any time soon - she is only 12 after all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Iyu0lJ7zz7rBJAP2TLe7WPeYvBj2TLkq0cRQGw_jqYKyjdZy0O46fVyAuq6hFKG65vfYO-k9VseBK3Qg9F84Nbthe9Rfu_xydh0hNdDRtpd0OJh53V8XIGE1hA8aVn24Ltqz-TjPqgs/s1600/Wedding+05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Iyu0lJ7zz7rBJAP2TLe7WPeYvBj2TLkq0cRQGw_jqYKyjdZy0O46fVyAuq6hFKG65vfYO-k9VseBK3Qg9F84Nbthe9Rfu_xydh0hNdDRtpd0OJh53V8XIGE1hA8aVn24Ltqz-TjPqgs/s400/Wedding+05.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Alayna and Charity with the bride's bouquet.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0Bontoc, Philippines17.0872222 120.975555617.0265007 120.89659160000001 17.1479437 121.0545196tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-16780515290704582802012-03-31T12:00:00.000+08:002012-05-26T04:32:49.983+08:00Last Health Clinic for a WhileMarch 30 was our last YWAM Mountain Province Health clinic before we return to the USA for a time. We look forward to resuming the clinic upon our return to the Philippines later this year. Many of the patients come regularly and have become our friends.<br />
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In fact, they honored us with gifts as we celebrated the good that has come from the ministry of the Health Clinic. We received a bag and backpacks made of the hand-woven fabrics this area is known for. They also blessed us with a song and words of appreciation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPuLENsRdFMyNDv-U2MfCcQerNJfeHxsRwr0ZhbanHQYbzjTg34xpYJkE2CXFoofcZv0cZUo20bueLLTd3c8mfXfkKdbckKrCVBRG4KN3mx7iClQxurOlqkgraauNiXWythjWP1FvU1M/s1600/IMG_0391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPuLENsRdFMyNDv-U2MfCcQerNJfeHxsRwr0ZhbanHQYbzjTg34xpYJkE2CXFoofcZv0cZUo20bueLLTd3c8mfXfkKdbckKrCVBRG4KN3mx7iClQxurOlqkgraauNiXWythjWP1FvU1M/s400/IMG_0391.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Receiving gifts from some of our patients</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">During this celebration we had a drawing for prizes. The grand prize drawing included an Ilocano Bible, a bottle of water, powdered milk, and all of the ingredients for a healthy meal of Taco Soup, complete with mangoes for dessert. This prize and the meal it represented were chosen to emphasize the healthy choices we have been teaching: trust in God, low salt, low fat, low sugar, and more vegetables.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since we began offering free blood pressure and blood sugar testing, we have served 1,040 patients with a total attendance of 3,601.</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Grace,</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tom</span></span></div>Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0Halsema Hwy, Bontoc, Philippines17.0872222 120.975555617.0568667 120.9360736 17.1175777 121.01503760000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-87386399128655583972012-03-21T20:16:00.012+08:002012-03-24T21:22:04.637+08:00Rememberances<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently I have been meeting with friends we made through our weekly Health Clinic. Manong (big brother) Dunstan and Manang (big sister) Esther have been regular patients for about 3 years now. They have been helping me understand the language and culture here. Esther is a patient teacher and Dunstan has a lifetime of stories to share. We have a lot of fun together. When I record Esther's pronunciation of an Ilocano word or phrase, the recording usually ends with her giggling. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week, I was surprised by gifts of Dunstan's handiwork. He does rattan weaving on bottles, knives, machetes, canes, and whatever else he can get his hands on. It is very interesting to watch him as we share stories and I learn Ilocano. As I was talking with Esther, he started bringing out bottles covered with his work. A couple of them even have woven geckos forming a handle. On top of all of that, he presented me with a handmade knife and sheath. I was torn between encouraging him to sell his work at a local souvenir shop and being overwhelmed at his gifts. They would have nothing to do with any option but my taking them as "rememberances".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG_1n8W_UiO6bLYMa-wRIy52LkUirTKXDFAKJsDu_aaRX-x0gO4G-dHsDxgV8BxBydMYrsnODlFGXHk6DqZUSdPJF8qWoj7E3Vg6WIhLqx72-WQUGm5nRUe-waXdR9l_UYtXWrGMyurw/s1600/20+Dunstan+&+Esther.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG_1n8W_UiO6bLYMa-wRIy52LkUirTKXDFAKJsDu_aaRX-x0gO4G-dHsDxgV8BxBydMYrsnODlFGXHk6DqZUSdPJF8qWoj7E3Vg6WIhLqx72-WQUGm5nRUe-waXdR9l_UYtXWrGMyurw/s400/20+Dunstan+&+Esther.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxo92pymy40pE8vqtv4dM7l61FgYdsGVaKy-Da3PSyHzupYnFGdNnKwW6bMFj-3_z3FNEE1fTd07xEyHp5-P58VFGQBkaz7lo5AAKNYFvxjLm8N96L2mZvYL7MyhdBh0eGj5hunabA4tU/s1600/21+Dunstans+Handiwork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxo92pymy40pE8vqtv4dM7l61FgYdsGVaKy-Da3PSyHzupYnFGdNnKwW6bMFj-3_z3FNEE1fTd07xEyHp5-P58VFGQBkaz7lo5AAKNYFvxjLm8N96L2mZvYL7MyhdBh0eGj5hunabA4tU/s400/21+Dunstans+Handiwork.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Manong Dunstan and Manang Esther, I would never forget you, gifts or no gifts!<br />
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</div><div>Grace,</div><div>Thomas</div>Thomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com1Bontoc, Philippines17.0872222 120.975555616.9784512 120.8740606 17.1959932 121.0770506tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-56677147139227077672012-03-20T15:08:00.009+08:002012-03-24T21:16:53.690+08:00Last MRP - Well, Almost<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Monday was the last day I was scheduled to meet with the local police before we return to the US for a visit. I took the opportunity to pour my heart out for them. One of the scheduled topics for the Moral Recovery Program is <i>Love of God - </i>how convenient! I assure you it is no coincidence that the topic for the day matched the most important message on my heart for the officers of the Bontoc Philippine National Police.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqyneJPTA9Ds2ek2euUljqTUk08_SLX9PuZW7KeI67TMXx9zoyYgAb4MuMaxSfAODzSo-8-7uuNkz5f15DZ-BDjjhYfYqNkL4Xdk9BhuyV0tbZ-KrUI-_llFVUmHYbv50XKweZOS8eSU/s1600/Last+MRP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqyneJPTA9Ds2ek2euUljqTUk08_SLX9PuZW7KeI67TMXx9zoyYgAb4MuMaxSfAODzSo-8-7uuNkz5f15DZ-BDjjhYfYqNkL4Xdk9BhuyV0tbZ-KrUI-_llFVUmHYbv50XKweZOS8eSU/s400/Last+MRP.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Having coffee with some of the officers of the Philippine National Police and Pastor Steve </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></td></tr>
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The next scheduled MRP session is April 2, which is the same time as the Lang-ay Festival (think State Fair, Igorot style). Usually during such events, the MRP session is rescheduled because the police are very busy. In spite of that, the officers which serve as liasons assured me they would have time for our gathering and asked me to come again before I leave.<br />
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This will give me the opportunity to re-introduce Pastor Steve to the police force. He and I partnered in the MRP before, but for the past couple of years he has been focusing his efforts in Saclit. In my absence, he will resume meeting with the Bontoc PNP for the Moral Recovery Program.<br />
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Grace,<br />
TomThomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1860973856158056911.post-21744651111603492332012-03-18T14:27:00.026+08:002012-03-24T21:12:45.526+08:00Method: Media - Message: UnchangedI was blessed with an opportunity to minister to a couple of villages when our friend, Greg, offered to pass through Bontoc on his way north. He and a friend have a film showing ministry with churches north of us. He graciously offered to take a few days in Bontoc to show gospel films in our area before continuing on his way.<br />
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We started by showing a film about commitment to Christ to our Student Sponsorship Ministry students the evening Greg and Arnold arrived.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Dg_0C0hVafwB_GUD2heU_4wwoG3RGnm1xGaks2L3-PbCkIZZdeCPglx3-qbjFA9c3K9r24aTaUEYZpXNnfkBqeKi0oUSTXNyqjVOAgbVr8_CxB-_PkJK__bZb0zAEHI608SRqkKepO8/s1600/00+Maligcong.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Dg_0C0hVafwB_GUD2heU_4wwoG3RGnm1xGaks2L3-PbCkIZZdeCPglx3-qbjFA9c3K9r24aTaUEYZpXNnfkBqeKi0oUSTXNyqjVOAgbVr8_CxB-_PkJK__bZb0zAEHI608SRqkKepO8/s400/00+Maligcong.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The freshly planted Maligcong rice terraces</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Our first trip was to Maligcong. A wedding was taking place the same weekend, so we were not sure how many people would leave the wedding festivities and hike through the fields to watch a movie. We were thankful when the church was full during the showing and Pastor Frederick was able to share with the people afterwards.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJ_zKcl5yZ8kitEKH8GoxHrzzTvn2IgdmXOuvIrOEgxXCA8AFdaQTs-VSIAG8F2THdyPWd-I2NDqHsGfpRK4iM8rmCYZxjG95YqlaI5i0QKwxiAkxxflgxrB39g0-Uoxib687QyWM0WI/s1600/01+Maligcong.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJ_zKcl5yZ8kitEKH8GoxHrzzTvn2IgdmXOuvIrOEgxXCA8AFdaQTs-VSIAG8F2THdyPWd-I2NDqHsGfpRK4iM8rmCYZxjG95YqlaI5i0QKwxiAkxxflgxrB39g0-Uoxib687QyWM0WI/s400/01+Maligcong.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Pastor Frederick, Arnold, Greg, Jordan, Jay-ar, and Pastora Cynthia in Maligcong</span></i></td></tr>
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The next morning, we left Maligcong and headed straight to Saclit, our next destination.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7ywa6gqsYR3mJWAL7OuktCEdPQioHuHkiv9nr9OzlU8DhGEyDgibFc7YzxDTxswxpijpsvsGjzA9cy6KGJNvm0SY2EKNJU2OlZaF938U2h-k_ckidyDFCDuNNVyJlMw7QQSn6PnnQNM/s1600/02+Saclit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7ywa6gqsYR3mJWAL7OuktCEdPQioHuHkiv9nr9OzlU8DhGEyDgibFc7YzxDTxswxpijpsvsGjzA9cy6KGJNvm0SY2EKNJU2OlZaF938U2h-k_ckidyDFCDuNNVyJlMw7QQSn6PnnQNM/s400/02+Saclit.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
We arrived in Saclit in mid-morning and had to wait for evening to show the film. In the meantime, I showed Jay-ar and Jordan how to make a rocket stove. They are both connected with our YWAM Student Sponsorship Ministry and wanted to join us in ministering in the villages for the weekend. At dinner, they were eager to use the rocket stoves to cook our meal - and did a great job.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzdOfFwvPDD3Oqlm-EdI6Jk8GP5n1WM66CzCz5O2aluxmvqVrXbrJDV5rKrq82_n2ZKyR7f8QNRH9E0SyagdTp0DtYvZXzaN-oLIq2wInVW7xDLHaFgYwq-w6rWnsCjikcs1hEFt71ns/s1600/03+Rocket+Stove.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzdOfFwvPDD3Oqlm-EdI6Jk8GP5n1WM66CzCz5O2aluxmvqVrXbrJDV5rKrq82_n2ZKyR7f8QNRH9E0SyagdTp0DtYvZXzaN-oLIq2wInVW7xDLHaFgYwq-w6rWnsCjikcs1hEFt71ns/s400/03+Rocket+Stove.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Jay-ar and Jordan cooking dinner on the rocket stoves</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Just before dark we set up the projection equipment in an open area in the middle of the village. We showed the <i>Jesus</i> film which tells the story of Jesus based on the book of Luke. There were people sitting on benches, stones, stairs, walls, and hanging out of windows as the movie played. Because there was no moon it was too dark to attempt counting how many people were there, but when flashlights and torches shone in different places you could see people gathered in every direction from which you could view the screen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3L5Hh68zCIf2LWrTXAaPNgt1GQKZtrEP8SQf9zChs9Hw5xhIWTXGPekrRuVusP3a_8UhFU3ZszhUafhMEGVA91tFtVkb6m2qcSFzOqEHiKEW2WSKZWeW0rhC4tn2o_7UiE9wEP0c5P7M/s1600/04+Showing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3L5Hh68zCIf2LWrTXAaPNgt1GQKZtrEP8SQf9zChs9Hw5xhIWTXGPekrRuVusP3a_8UhFU3ZszhUafhMEGVA91tFtVkb6m2qcSFzOqEHiKEW2WSKZWeW0rhC4tn2o_7UiE9wEP0c5P7M/s400/04+Showing.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">After the movie Pastor Steve talked with the people</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I was excited about the opportunities these days provided. First, it was great to share using media to help people in both villages understand the gospel. It also provided an opportunity to include Jay-ar and Jordan in ministry.<br />
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Grace,<br />
ThomasThomas and Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01904605569202390479noreply@blogger.com0Bontoc, Philippines17.0872222 120.975555616.9784512 120.8740606 17.1959932 121.0770506