Journal Entry: January 11th, 2012
I haven’t been able to put up pictures of the trip because the internet is too slow here and my computer keeps crashing. So, I guess the best way to update you with all that has been happening is with words! Don’t worry, pictures to come!
So what has God been doing in my heart during this trip? To make it simple: He has been getting rid of self and pride. There has been a lot of “letting go” of my plans and surrendering to God. One example is the possibility of teaching here in Valley Cove with the Epps and Majors. God showed me that He needs to own it, not me. I don’t have to be grasping or striving, which brings worry, but just surrender and go with His plans! And if He does show me that He wants me to come, then I need to go, and not hold back with fear. The missionaries here are rubbing off on me: they are so relaxed about changes and not worried about things, because they have been stretched and challenged beyond what they are able to handle so many times (and the kids too!). Psalm 139 has also been a huge encouragement to me. This was the theme chapter for the kids’ program (and I read over it a lot because I was the Bible teacher). This chapter spoke right to my heart and has been a theme for this trip. God wants us to know that He loves us and desires to know us personally in every…EVERY way. Nothing is a secret to Him and nothing should be kept from Him. It is a simple truth but still baffles my mind to think that God wants to know me so deeply and personally! Wow.
Thank you for praying for future direction with the possibility of coming back here to teach. This trip has been so eye-opening, and, even though I am not going into Valley Cove this time, I have experienced so many other things that have given me clarity of mind and direction. So many questions have been answered while being here, although I still am very new to this culture and have lots more questions! I praise God for the chance to get to know the Epp family, who lives in Valley Cove, where Jared and Bana plan to build their house, and who are looking for a teacher as well (Please pray with me about teaching singly-handedly or that God would bring in another teacher as well.). I admire the Epp family, and have enjoyed getting to know my new sweet friend, Charla Epp!
While chatting with so many missionary families over here, I have seen the need for a teacher in the tribe. These people do so MUCH in the tribe: medical, language, culture, as well as teamwork and time for family. Usually, when a mom has to home school her own children, she has to give up language study (which take 6+ hours per day). Mothers want to be a part of the work in the tribe. Having teachers in the tribe has been more of a trend in the Philippines with NTM than any other country, but seems to be able to work out really well. I was talking with one mom who asked me to find a friend back home to come teach her kids…even for 6 months, would make a big difference. Anyone interested? The missionaries almost have Allie, my new side-kick, about coming back for at least a year. This particular family looking for a teacher lives in Palawan, which I’ve heard is the most beautiful Island in the Philppines (except for Valley Cove, right?). My friend Rebekka (from Germany) have been teaching for 1 year in Palawan with a German family, and has been a huge help to their family and ministry. Another girl, Rosa, just got here the same time we did from the Ferro-Islands off of Norway. She is 18 and right out of high school, never met the family before this trip, but will live with them and teach their 3 beautiful daughter also in Palawan (the southernmost, long island). What’s also cool is that by living in a tribe, you cannot help but be a part of the ministry (unless you really don’t want to).
So what has my team been up to the past few days?
On Monday: My team visited a local market (along the roadside) and bought ALL of the items needed for our lunch meal. With the help of Beth (a missionary’s house helper – which is very common in the Philippines), we all made chicken adobo, a bean/squash/shrimp dish in coconut milk, a rice noodle dish, and lots of fruit for dessert: mango, papayas, melon, fried bananas, and pineapples. It took us from 8am-1:00pm to buy, prepare, and cook this meal as a team. What a great experience! Now we hope we can remember the recipe when we get home.
At 2pm we all drove to the Shangra La Mall for a Ladies Tea. It was a sweet time of fellowship getting to know other missionary ladies. Two of the ladies I sat with were younger than me (23 and 24), young moms who were just beginning their language study, who were both expecting their babies in May. Naomi was also at our table: she has become a good friend already! She reminds me so much of my college Bible study leader’s wife in Dallas, Dena Jones. Her husband has been working on convincing Allie and I to come back and teach MKs somewhere in the Philippines. After the Tea, we walked through the Mall, which was the first time I’ve felt a sense of home here in the Philippines (most malls are stinky and swarming with people, but this one was clean and had lots of stores like back in the States (Another thing is, you have to say “back in the States” here because everyone is from another country. Speaking English clearly is also a challenge, and I’m asked to repeat things a lot – this is just with the missionaries! Haha).
This evening I had a good time laughing and chatting with new friends.
Tuesday:
We left for Bataan (Ba-ta-An) after breakfast. It took us 2 hours by taxi to get there. It was so good to get out of smoggy Manila! We enjoyed meeting the NTM staff and students at the NTM training center in Bataan, and had a real Philippino lunch with them. Then, we drove up the road a little ways to a small tribe/village. There was a school in the center of the village that was in session. All of the men left to go gather food in the mountains before we got there. It’s a little sad because they left because they heard we were coming. The poor kids who were not in school, young ones, and mothers followed us around from house to house as we took pictures. I learned that if you take pictures of a kid, you have to show them right away! They love it. I taught some kids to do high fives and fist fives, and they walked around copying me as I sang a little tune☺. Others from my team were able to go in the missionaries house there and were offered treats (which they don’t have much of). Some were able to talk with men and women, but most of us were taking pictures with the little kids. I met a mother of 9 kids who goes to the local church a couple times a week for Bible studies. 4 of her 9 kids have passed away. I asked the kids their names and ages and they could tell me in English. They looked way younger than their actual ages! A 13 year old girl looked like she was 9, etc. It was sad to say bye so quick. We prayed with them as a group and were on our way: the people were waving as we left.
Last night we watched a movie in the cafeteria with our new friends and team.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Facts about the Philippines:
Facts about the Philippines:
I am realizing that the Philippines is a great country to come to from the US because: Philippinos love Americans, and so many things are the same here! People drive on the same side of the road, most things are written in English too, numbers are the same (although money is hard to figure out! A bill of 20 pesos = 50 cents, which is ridiculous! Makes you feel rich with a wad of bills that should be coins). Everywhere we go, people stare, and love to have their pictures taken!
People – laid back, gracious, non-confrontational. If you want something, you have to appear that you don’t want it and make a round-about way of getting it.
Manila: This place has the worst pollution ever. In fact, I’ve heard that Manila is 17 cities put together, and has the smoggiest intersection in the world, which we walked through yesterday.
I am realizing that the Philippines is a great country to come to from the US because: Philippinos love Americans, and so many things are the same here! People drive on the same side of the road, most things are written in English too, numbers are the same (although money is hard to figure out! A bill of 20 pesos = 50 cents, which is ridiculous! Makes you feel rich with a wad of bills that should be coins). Everywhere we go, people stare, and love to have their pictures taken!
People – laid back, gracious, non-confrontational. If you want something, you have to appear that you don’t want it and make a round-about way of getting it.
Manila: This place has the worst pollution ever. In fact, I’ve heard that Manila is 17 cities put together, and has the smoggiest intersection in the world, which we walked through yesterday.
Tuesday, Jan. 10th:
Got to visit the small village near Bataan yesterday with tribal people. They loved having us there and the kids followed us around giving us high-fives and copying us:) Very poor village, but not as poor as Valley Cove. There was a church in the town and I met a mother of 9 children (4 had died) that go regularly to the church. We had lunch with the NTM Bataan training center Staff and students before visiting the village. It was a 2 hour taxi-drive there and back ...and the taxi's here are really small! The driver slams on the brakes all the time in traffic. I'll put up video's later :)
Monday, January 9, 2012
Monday, January 9
Ok, its late! But I will really try to put up photos and more info tomorrow! Just a quick note: We went to the market and made a traditional philipino meal today: Chicken Adobo with a coconut milk/bean/squash/shrimp dish, rice, fried bananas, mangos, guavas, melon, pineapples, and strawberries - yum! Then to a Ladies Tea with the missionary ladies near the mall, coffee with a new sweet friend Charla Ruggles Epp, and a long chat with Bekka Fakner, Rosa, Andrew, Cathy, and Paul. Tomorrow we are headed to Batan to hike out to a nearby tribe. That will be quite different than the metro-city we are currently in (Manila is really 17 cities put together. We walked through the smoggiest intersection in the world today and got on our own Jeepney...well almost. I kinda am liking their transportation system here:)
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I just wrote this on FB:
Doing well at the NTM Conference! I'm loving getting to know these amazing kids from so many different cultures...and families too! I have to pinch myself sometimes to really believe I am in a tropical paradise hanging out with people who love Jesus enough to reach the lost, from all over the globe (Germany, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Philippines Islands, and the US:) My kids team is doing awesome:) Allie Tibbets and i went down a big water slide with the kids today, which made us look even cooler in their eyes.
The first day of VBS went pretty well, but we definitely had our kinks to work through as a team. Today went wonderfully! We have had the kids in the morning from 8-12 for our VBS program and then again in the afternoons so that their parents can attend a session. Tomorrow we will have a free afternoon. Some of the team has been volunteering to help out with childcare in the evenings so the parents can go to the Session together.
The evening sessions have been a huge blessing! Sitting in under Pastor James' messages have been SO much of an encouragement as well as Freddy's worship leading. I know this is a spiritual time of refreshment to be here with these people...and not necessarily a realistic perspective of life in the Philippines, but nevertheless, Im super grateful!
This afternoon Allie and I finally had some time to hang out with the kids and missionaries during free time. We've been planning for the next day in VBS so much, getting ready for the next day, having meetings and tweaking things, that the only time we've had to mingle with these people has been during meals and the evening session (which is like church). So free time is very accepted!
Yesterday during free time, the men and a few brave women played soccer in the MUD!! Its been raining for the past 2 days and there is LOTS of mud. In fact, when we were taking the kids over to snack time today, we made the mistake of going through sloshing mud hidden under green grass. We were all covered thick and were grateful for a hose nearby.
The weather has been beautiful! Its been in the 80s and didn't rain until the second day. The people here are funny - they think you have to dress in pants and sweatshirts when the temp drops below 75. They also said the pool was freezing and it was an average pool temp.
The kids are so cool to get to know! They don't like to wear shoes, still don't like rain but don't mind the mud, are dare devils on the water slide, way good at soccer and sports (because they don't watch TV in the tribes), are really well behaved, say the funniest things and have CUTE accents (especially the little German kids who also know Tagolag).
Thank you SO much for your prayers for everyday! Everyone has been feeling better and getting sleep. We are having a blast and would appreciate prayer to take advantage of the moments and conversations left in these last 2 days at the Conference.
Doing well at the NTM Conference! I'm loving getting to know these amazing kids from so many different cultures...and families too! I have to pinch myself sometimes to really believe I am in a tropical paradise hanging out with people who love Jesus enough to reach the lost, from all over the globe (Germany, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Philippines Islands, and the US:) My kids team is doing awesome:) Allie Tibbets and i went down a big water slide with the kids today, which made us look even cooler in their eyes.
The first day of VBS went pretty well, but we definitely had our kinks to work through as a team. Today went wonderfully! We have had the kids in the morning from 8-12 for our VBS program and then again in the afternoons so that their parents can attend a session. Tomorrow we will have a free afternoon. Some of the team has been volunteering to help out with childcare in the evenings so the parents can go to the Session together.
The evening sessions have been a huge blessing! Sitting in under Pastor James' messages have been SO much of an encouragement as well as Freddy's worship leading. I know this is a spiritual time of refreshment to be here with these people...and not necessarily a realistic perspective of life in the Philippines, but nevertheless, Im super grateful!
This afternoon Allie and I finally had some time to hang out with the kids and missionaries during free time. We've been planning for the next day in VBS so much, getting ready for the next day, having meetings and tweaking things, that the only time we've had to mingle with these people has been during meals and the evening session (which is like church). So free time is very accepted!
Yesterday during free time, the men and a few brave women played soccer in the MUD!! Its been raining for the past 2 days and there is LOTS of mud. In fact, when we were taking the kids over to snack time today, we made the mistake of going through sloshing mud hidden under green grass. We were all covered thick and were grateful for a hose nearby.
The weather has been beautiful! Its been in the 80s and didn't rain until the second day. The people here are funny - they think you have to dress in pants and sweatshirts when the temp drops below 75. They also said the pool was freezing and it was an average pool temp.
The kids are so cool to get to know! They don't like to wear shoes, still don't like rain but don't mind the mud, are dare devils on the water slide, way good at soccer and sports (because they don't watch TV in the tribes), are really well behaved, say the funniest things and have CUTE accents (especially the little German kids who also know Tagolag).
Thank you SO much for your prayers for everyday! Everyone has been feeling better and getting sleep. We are having a blast and would appreciate prayer to take advantage of the moments and conversations left in these last 2 days at the Conference.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Pray for us...
Please be praying for us as we meet as teams today to get ready for our VBS program tomorrow. We don't know what resources to expect at the Conference Center but know God already has it planned out for us. Pray for us as we learn to work together with each other and travel to the Conference Center with all the missionaries today.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Monday:
We finally arrived in Manila (LANDED) around 10:30am. Our flight was originally scheduled to arrive before 6am, but because of the smog, we were held at the army base for a looong time! By the time we flew out of there, tens of planes lined the army base waiting to get into Manila...crazy! That means we were on the plane for about 20 hours. WAY too long!
Some missionaries from the NTM base here in Manila drove vans and a jeep-looking van thing to get us and our luggage to the guest house. Driving was crazy! Everybody honks and no one looks to the side of their car. There are just a couple inches of room between cars sometimes it seems like. Kids were sandwiched between parents on motorcycles zipping past busses, vans and jeepneys (sp?). On the way, we observed kids digging in the trash leftover from the New Year's celebration - so sad!
When arriving at the Guest House, we finally took a SHOWER!!! :)
PTL for a good night's rest! Tonya wasn't feeling well yesterday (sick to stomach) and many of us were super tired, so we definitely were praying for good sleep!
Yesterday we were able to meet many of the missionaries and families as many of them are staying at the NTM guest house in Manila with us. It is a huge 5 story building which looks like a really nice hotel. There's even an elevator. It is surrounded by a tall fence/gate with barbed wire. It was cool to see various missionaries arriving in jeeps and VW vas (well basically the size of these vans) packed full of people. All the kids were playing in the courtyard down below. Ben Shields was quick to make friends with some of the guys his age here. He and I played a game of HORSE with a little girl named Noa. We got to meet some of these missionaries and hear amazing stories over dinner. There were over 80 people here for dinner!
One interesting story was from a missionary couple who have been in Mindano for 25 years. They live in the town where the recent mudslide/tsunami wiped out 2000 people. As they shared, I could see the devastation of this tragedy on their faces. They said most of the people swept away and buried by mud were the poor who lived right along the river. It was an in-land tsunami. Most of the people are too poor to be buried. For awhile there was little help but now that it has reached national news, there is alot of assistance/aid over there.
Some missionaries from the NTM base here in Manila drove vans and a jeep-looking van thing to get us and our luggage to the guest house. Driving was crazy! Everybody honks and no one looks to the side of their car. There are just a couple inches of room between cars sometimes it seems like. Kids were sandwiched between parents on motorcycles zipping past busses, vans and jeepneys (sp?). On the way, we observed kids digging in the trash leftover from the New Year's celebration - so sad!
When arriving at the Guest House, we finally took a SHOWER!!! :)
PTL for a good night's rest! Tonya wasn't feeling well yesterday (sick to stomach) and many of us were super tired, so we definitely were praying for good sleep!
Yesterday we were able to meet many of the missionaries and families as many of them are staying at the NTM guest house in Manila with us. It is a huge 5 story building which looks like a really nice hotel. There's even an elevator. It is surrounded by a tall fence/gate with barbed wire. It was cool to see various missionaries arriving in jeeps and VW vas (well basically the size of these vans) packed full of people. All the kids were playing in the courtyard down below. Ben Shields was quick to make friends with some of the guys his age here. He and I played a game of HORSE with a little girl named Noa. We got to meet some of these missionaries and hear amazing stories over dinner. There were over 80 people here for dinner!
One interesting story was from a missionary couple who have been in Mindano for 25 years. They live in the town where the recent mudslide/tsunami wiped out 2000 people. As they shared, I could see the devastation of this tragedy on their faces. They said most of the people swept away and buried by mud were the poor who lived right along the river. It was an in-land tsunami. Most of the people are too poor to be buried. For awhile there was little help but now that it has reached national news, there is alot of assistance/aid over there.
Happy New Year!
“Happy New Year!” We heard the plane crew say as we woke up. We have flown into the New Year and were greeted by our crew with chocolates …and wine. Yesterday, when ordering a drink at a coffee shop, I was able to share with the waitress where I was going and what I would be doing. She said, “What a great way to start the New Year,” and I agree.
It is so neat to see different team members striking up conversations with other travelers on the plane, in the airport, and just everywhere! My team is unashamed to tell people what we are all about…please pray that we are a light in what we say and do to everyone around us!
One prayer request that I have for today is that complications with registering for classes to be figured for this next term. I have been distracted with this extra worry of school while on this trip, and know my mind needs to fully be engaged with the “here and now’ of every day. Pray that God will work that out!
I’m also tweaking my Bible Lessons for our VBS by combining with Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Bible lessons. I have always loved how CEF puts the gospel and main truth for the saved child into the lesson. Pray that this all comes together! Another prayer request is for the PPT and projector to work well with my computer and be available to us. As you can see, we’ve got to be flexible!
Good News: Although we will “hit the ground running” when we get into Manila, we do not have to begin our VBS/teen program until Tuesday. This gives us one day to semi-rest and meet the missionaries who arrive at the conference around noon.
8:30 am, January 1, 2012:
We were held up in the plane for 2 more hours because of too much smog in Manila from New Year’s celebrations last night. It must be a zoo over at the airport because we were informed that all connecting flights to this one are delayed as well. Those Manila people sure must be partiers!
That makes our total flight time close to = 19 hours. I can better relate with my 3 siblings – Noah, Eli, and Cathy – who were in planes for 20 hours before landing in Thialand last summer (they also had a 6 hour layover).
This extra time, however proved to be beneficial by opening up conversations with each other as well as others on board. I observed Pastor James talking with the older man next to him about the Lord/religious things for most of this flight (from Guam to Manila). He reminded me that talking with others about the Lord should be a natural thing, and not even be something we have to work at.
One thing I have personally been challenged with ever since the beginning has been to make my life even more real at home, as I desire to be on this trip. Its not a mission trip that makes someone a genuine Jesus follower, but the daily choice to take up one’s cross and follow Him.
It is so neat to see different team members striking up conversations with other travelers on the plane, in the airport, and just everywhere! My team is unashamed to tell people what we are all about…please pray that we are a light in what we say and do to everyone around us!
One prayer request that I have for today is that complications with registering for classes to be figured for this next term. I have been distracted with this extra worry of school while on this trip, and know my mind needs to fully be engaged with the “here and now’ of every day. Pray that God will work that out!
I’m also tweaking my Bible Lessons for our VBS by combining with Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Bible lessons. I have always loved how CEF puts the gospel and main truth for the saved child into the lesson. Pray that this all comes together! Another prayer request is for the PPT and projector to work well with my computer and be available to us. As you can see, we’ve got to be flexible!
Good News: Although we will “hit the ground running” when we get into Manila, we do not have to begin our VBS/teen program until Tuesday. This gives us one day to semi-rest and meet the missionaries who arrive at the conference around noon.
8:30 am, January 1, 2012:
We were held up in the plane for 2 more hours because of too much smog in Manila from New Year’s celebrations last night. It must be a zoo over at the airport because we were informed that all connecting flights to this one are delayed as well. Those Manila people sure must be partiers!
That makes our total flight time close to = 19 hours. I can better relate with my 3 siblings – Noah, Eli, and Cathy – who were in planes for 20 hours before landing in Thialand last summer (they also had a 6 hour layover).
This extra time, however proved to be beneficial by opening up conversations with each other as well as others on board. I observed Pastor James talking with the older man next to him about the Lord/religious things for most of this flight (from Guam to Manila). He reminded me that talking with others about the Lord should be a natural thing, and not even be something we have to work at.
One thing I have personally been challenged with ever since the beginning has been to make my life even more real at home, as I desire to be on this trip. Its not a mission trip that makes someone a genuine Jesus follower, but the daily choice to take up one’s cross and follow Him.
December 30
It is apparent that God has been working early on to make this team flexible. As we have gotten together to discuss the different aspects of teaching our VBS, and most of us do not feel completely prepared. However, flexibility may be just what we need for what is ahead.
Today during our LOOONG drive in Shan Creek Church’s 15 passenger van (and trailer), Pastor James Downing led us in a time of sharing from our Promise Journals we have been working on (and will continue to compile as we go along). What began as promise verse sharing ended up with tear-filled testimonies of how God had provided for individual (financial) needs, ways people had randomly blessed us, and how God has been working in this small trip to give vision and direction to the bigger picture of life. Jeanette Brown shared how her son in Iraq gave more than half of the money needed for the trip. Freddy Gaetley, from Bend, OR, is a talented musician who leads Worship at Eastmont Church. He and his band were able to perform for a benefit concert on the spur of the moment and not only raised all the money needed for the trip, but he is brining with us (on the plane!) high-quality sound and guitar equipment to leave with missionaries in the Philippines. Another team member shared how she had not had clear direction in her life for awhile until taking the step of faith to come on this trip. We know God has only begun to work!
Most of us had no idea how we would pay for this trip, but God new all along! Not only that, but my prayer from near the beginning has been that He would bless us above and beyond what we asked and that is exactly what He is doing! Some received donations from anonymous donors, others paid vacations, work being covered while they are gone, I am amazed at how many moms are on this trip. And what gets me even more is the fact that they are not really that worried about leaving their families for 2 weeks. I think their husbands must be telling a different story.
Prayer Requests for Today:
• Praise God for bringing this great team together!
• God would open our eyes to new things.
Today during our LOOONG drive in Shan Creek Church’s 15 passenger van (and trailer), Pastor James Downing led us in a time of sharing from our Promise Journals we have been working on (and will continue to compile as we go along). What began as promise verse sharing ended up with tear-filled testimonies of how God had provided for individual (financial) needs, ways people had randomly blessed us, and how God has been working in this small trip to give vision and direction to the bigger picture of life. Jeanette Brown shared how her son in Iraq gave more than half of the money needed for the trip. Freddy Gaetley, from Bend, OR, is a talented musician who leads Worship at Eastmont Church. He and his band were able to perform for a benefit concert on the spur of the moment and not only raised all the money needed for the trip, but he is brining with us (on the plane!) high-quality sound and guitar equipment to leave with missionaries in the Philippines. Another team member shared how she had not had clear direction in her life for awhile until taking the step of faith to come on this trip. We know God has only begun to work!
Most of us had no idea how we would pay for this trip, but God new all along! Not only that, but my prayer from near the beginning has been that He would bless us above and beyond what we asked and that is exactly what He is doing! Some received donations from anonymous donors, others paid vacations, work being covered while they are gone, I am amazed at how many moms are on this trip. And what gets me even more is the fact that they are not really that worried about leaving their families for 2 weeks. I think their husbands must be telling a different story.
Prayer Requests for Today:
• Praise God for bringing this great team together!
• God would open our eyes to new things.
December 29
Over and Above:
From the beginning, I have been praying that God would bless this trip over and above my needs. I know that might sound selfish, but I really wanted to see God provide in that way! He has done just that. The support and encouragement I have received along the way has been HUGE, my financial needs were met a little over what I was required to raise (which is good because the church still has needs), and people have given unexpectedly along the way.
I just have to share how my boss’s family blessed this trip! Not only did they bless me in an unexpected way financially, but Regina (little boy’s mom – who I nanny for) put together an incredible traveling kit with magazines, first aid kit, snacks, and so much more! Thank you Regina and Chad!
From the beginning, I have been praying that God would bless this trip over and above my needs. I know that might sound selfish, but I really wanted to see God provide in that way! He has done just that. The support and encouragement I have received along the way has been HUGE, my financial needs were met a little over what I was required to raise (which is good because the church still has needs), and people have given unexpectedly along the way.
I just have to share how my boss’s family blessed this trip! Not only did they bless me in an unexpected way financially, but Regina (little boy’s mom – who I nanny for) put together an incredible traveling kit with magazines, first aid kit, snacks, and so much more! Thank you Regina and Chad!
What IS Mary doing in the Philippines?
For those of you who are just hearing about what my team in doing in the Philippines:
For the FIRST WEEK: We are holding a kids’ VBS and teen program for missionary kids attending the New Tribes Missionary Conference for the Philippines. We are expecting 35 kids (ages 4-10) and probably that many teens as well. What is quite incredible is that 2 churches and various Jesus followers have come together to provide: pastoral teaching and counseling (including missionary couple counseling), music leadership, kids program and childcare, and teen program. That means this group is providing this conference! I am on the VBS team and will be teaching daily Bible lessons. Other aspects of this VBS include: missionary time, songs, crafts, games, and circle time. My team ranges from a grandma in her 70s☺ to moms, dads, pastors, 20-somthings, and 1 junior high student.
For the SECOND WEEK: We are not sure! We had plans to travel to a remote tribe where our team leader, Jared Major and family will be moving this year, but that part of the trip was cancelled due to reasons we don’t completely know.
However, we are not worried, but actually excited because this opens us new opportunities for us. We have the possibility of working with local city ministries in Manila and/or visiting a Christian School. We welcome your prayers about this week!
For the FIRST WEEK: We are holding a kids’ VBS and teen program for missionary kids attending the New Tribes Missionary Conference for the Philippines. We are expecting 35 kids (ages 4-10) and probably that many teens as well. What is quite incredible is that 2 churches and various Jesus followers have come together to provide: pastoral teaching and counseling (including missionary couple counseling), music leadership, kids program and childcare, and teen program. That means this group is providing this conference! I am on the VBS team and will be teaching daily Bible lessons. Other aspects of this VBS include: missionary time, songs, crafts, games, and circle time. My team ranges from a grandma in her 70s☺ to moms, dads, pastors, 20-somthings, and 1 junior high student.
For the SECOND WEEK: We are not sure! We had plans to travel to a remote tribe where our team leader, Jared Major and family will be moving this year, but that part of the trip was cancelled due to reasons we don’t completely know.
However, we are not worried, but actually excited because this opens us new opportunities for us. We have the possibility of working with local city ministries in Manila and/or visiting a Christian School. We welcome your prayers about this week!
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