Fire Update

This morning, no fires can be seen from our apartment. Parts of the mountain are scorched, but it does not appear that any houses were affected. Thank God for his protection!

Fire on the Mountain

The fires on the mountain near Samoki proper.

Fires on the mountain above Bontoc.

After excessive rainfall during the numerous typhoons that swept through our island of Luzon during September and October, we are now experiencing drought. We have not had measurable rainfall since November. Large dust clouds now follow every vehicle that travels on the roads because the soil is so dry.

Of greater concern are the fires that seem to be burning on every mountain. As we have been traveling these past weekends, smoke can be seen in the distance in every direction. Usually, the fires are high on the mountains and away from villages and houses. The fires seem to be burning mostly small plants while the trees tend to be unaffected. But tonight, we noticed that things may be a little more serious now. Our barangay, Samoki, is experiencing some fires that could imperil a large number of homes on the side of the mountain. There is a fire on the mountain that is not higher than the homes and could easily spread into homes that are much too close together to prevent a large scale situation. Additionally, the part of the village that is most at risk is not accessible by either fire engines or water delivery trucks. Narrow foot paths wind between the houses with numerous steps and other obstacles that prevent anything but foot traffic. To make matters worse, the water shortage limits how often municipal water is available to the pipes used to supply households; there are no fire hydrants or other such considerations.

Looking the other direction, across the river into Bontoc, you can see fires burning on the mountain there also. Fortunately, these fires are well above most of the houses. There are still several houses in that area however. At the top of that mountain are the communications towers. If affected, the area could be isolated from internet and phone communications.

Please pray for our community as we await the return of the rains. Municipal water is scheduled. (We have water supply for 1 hour a day.) Springs that water delivery services are using are beginning to fail. Then, of course, there are the fires.

Calvary Gospel School of Ministry

Continuing with their mission to train God's people to study His Word, I escorted the Titus Project team to the nearby village of Talubin to teach inductive Bible study to the students at the Calvary Gospel School of Ministry. I really enjoyed talking with some of the students who were there when I taught a course there in 2008. In fact, one of the students who was there when I taught is now the pastor at Mount Praise Assembly of God in Sagada.

As the team taught the students how to study using the inductive method, they used Colossians as their text. In order to illustrate a portion of the text which talks about getting rid of the old and putting on the new, Victor went all out. As a surprise to both his teammates and students, we broke out the clippers and got rid of the old - hair. He then clothed himself with a new shirt and continued his lecture. He did need to put on a hat because the lack of hair was a little distracting to the class and himself. But I am sure it is a lecture that will be remembered for a long time.

Victor half-way through his new hair-do

That same evening, we celebrated Victor's 30th birthday with the SSM students at the base.

The finished project - with birthday cake

Mount Praise Assembly of God

Last weekend, we escorted the Titus Project team to the village of Sagada. Lisa was sick and could not accompany us so Annalise stayed home to nurse her mommy back to good health. I am not sure all of the plans she had for caring for Lisa worked out, but her heart was golden.

Our ministry was coordinated with the pastors of the Assembly of God church in Bontoc who have an outreach in the village of Sagada. They are working to re-establish a church there and were having a crusade there during the weekend.

In addition to Bible overview teaching and a seminar on Bible study methods, the team assisted with prayer at the end of a Saturday night concert at the local school yard. It was incredible to see so many give their hearts to God and cry out to him at the conclusion of the concert.

Mount Praise Assembly of God

The church is located about a hundred yards off the road in a stand of pine trees.

The path to the church building.

While Victor taught a Sunday School upstairs to the adults, our girls and the children from the team assisted with the lesson for the children downstairs.

Elise, Kenna, Alayna, and Alexie act out Max Lucado's You Are Special for the kids at Sagada.

The kids were proud of the hut they built among the trees near the church building.

Unfortunately, Lisa was not the only person who dealt with sickness through the weekend. While we were in Sagada, Alayna and Nathan developed fevers and sore throats. Often during the teaching, they slept on the floor.

Nathan, under the pink coat, and Alayna trying to rest through their sickness on the floor of the church.

Bontoc Bible Seminars

The Titus Project team's focus is on Bible teaching, especially teaching the inductive Bible study method. Their focus is preparing leaders in the church to be able to share the Word of God with others. On the weekends we have been traveling to villages and holding seminars for the people of the village churches and speaking in the Sunday morning service. During the week, the YWAM Mountain Province is hosting seminars for the people of Bontoc. On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, our SSM students and young people from local churches are gathering to learn the inductive Bible study method as we study the book of Philemon. Wednesday mornings, church pastors and leaders are gathering to learn the same techniques as we study the book of Titus.

Joel and Irish studying during the Youth Bible Study Seminar.

Some of the pastors and leaders listen to Amy during the first Pastors/Church Leaders Bible Study Seminar.

Community Leaders

The Titus Project team has been very busy during their visit to YWAM Mountain Province and we have been very busy trying to keep up with homeschooling and our responsibilities for the team.

One of the activities they have participated in is sharing with the Philippine National Police during the Moral Recovery Presentation.

Victor teaching that God is the Source of Wisdom to the Municipal Philippine National Police

After the MRP presentation, we visited Mayor Odsey in his office to pray for him in his leadership of Bontoc.

Brittnay, Victor, Mayor Odsey, and Michael

I am thankful for the opportunity to share God's love and righteousness with leaders within our community.

Sadanga Lolo

In 2007, Annalise was adopted as a granddaughter by a man at the Sadanga church we visited during our outreach.
When we went there last weekend, it was her first time back to the village since then. Her lolo (Ilocano for grandfather) brought his traditional outfit to the church when he heard she was coming. He asked for his picture to be taken with her and with our family. How can you turn down such a request?

This time I was not preaching but instead we are escorting the the Titus Project team as they spent the weekend teaching about Ephesians and giving a Bible overview on Saturday then teaching again on Sunday morning.

It was good to be back in the village, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.

Grace,
Tom