April 24, 2010- Saturday

Saturdays are my crazy days. I stay so busy...I can't even think straight. I usually am balancing 10 things at once, but I like it that way. I like multi-tasking, and I love the work here. I am trying not to get too boggled down, though so that I don't relaps with my health probs. One things I have been really doing is making sure I have a high protein breakfast. Since I dont eat pork or red meat, I eat ALOT of fish...we eat fish nearly every morning. Eating fish for breakfast is the Filipino way of life and I love it! Ferd goes straight to the ocean when they are pulling in the nets and gets our fish super fresh, brings it home and we broil or bake it or grill it outside. We eat salmon ,talapia, bangus, and tons more.

Today I stayed busy with the choir, computer work, and working with the boys on guitar. We practiced " Humingi, Hanapin, Kumutok" for the worship service tomorrow.

April 23,2010 - New village Progress

Our Bible Study/Outreach is going ok. It has it's ups and downs. Some are growing, some are still inconsistant. But, we are seeing faithful people that do not miss, so we keep on going. There are some blessings and some obstacles. We are meeting in a lady's front yard. We started out in her small home, but outgrew that. Now, we are in her yard and need to make some decisions. The rainy season is coming soon and we need to start praying about 2 things. First , we still do not have a passenger van. We have been praying and asking the Lord for one for about 8 months now, but He has not seen fit to provide, probably because we did not need it urgently. But, in a few months, we will. So, hopefully and prayerfully..He will provide. Also, we need to provide a shelter to meet in. The lady said we could use her yard however we see fit, even to build a meeting place. We are thinking simple, like wooden frame or bamboo poles with a tin roof. There is so much to plan for and we need direction from the Lord...

April 19, 2010 - Chickens

AS many of you know, Sean has been raising chickens. He has been doing good with it, but I admit, I am doing much of the work. It is nice to have organic, natural foods. We have banana trees, mango trees, calamansi ( lemon) trees, coconut trees and papaya growing wild right in our yard. It is so cool.

Well, the chicken thing is a little different, because they are easy to build relationships with. Yes, they poopie everywhere , but I have gotten close to them and I don't like this whole idea now of raising them for food. It's hard. The one chicken follows me around the yard like a shadow. Each step I take, he is right there with me...like Im his mother. It's like they are trying to be cute so we won't kill them. We have had one casuality..our dog, Scooter got one chick and "played" with it. But, other than that ..it's going well, for now...

April 18, 2010 - Great Sunday!

Today was an amazing Sunday. We always have great services as our first church plant, LBC.

First, the College teens got up and praised the Lord for their time at camp. They took over an hour to praise and share what they learned and cry and just give thanks for the opportunity to go to camp and grow in the Lord. Then, they sang the theme song that they learned at camp, it was beautiful!
We then recognized the 8 new converts who were

baptized by presenting them with their certificates, which made them so proud. We also were able to present the new converts with their very first Bible, which we hope they will draw very close to.

Today, at the teen and college classes, their leader, Pastor Ronald was sick so I came in and led them. They are so special to me, and I am VERY close to each and every single one of them.

They tell me everything and treat me like their sister.

They are so on fire now that camp is over and today, we were able to organize two more soul winning groups who I will go out with and help reach 2 more areas that we haven't been in yet. We are all excited about

what the Lord has in store here for LBC as well as in the new church plant efforts..

April 17, 2010 - IT RAINED!

I can't believe it...it rained last night! It startled me at first since I hadnt heard rain drop on our tin roof for a LONG time. It hasnt rained one drop of water since late October! It is so dry, and we are under a severe water reserve. That makes it hard when it is soooo hot! I loved the rain shower last night, but it is also a grim reminder that dry season is ending and rainy season is next. That is 6 months of rain and typhoons...I am a little scared to be honest. The past 2 rainy seasons have been a nightmare for us.

Anyway, Summer is here. Camp, VBS, lots of ministry...oh, and flaming, scorching temperatures. It is unbearable at times. I seriously get physically ill from the heat. It aggrevates some of the health probs I had and it just drains me physically. Honestly, it is hard to do much of anything. I hate to cook as my sweat drops in the food...( ugh) and I hate to wash dishes becuase I use boiled water to kill the germs, and it literally makes me want to pass out it is soooo hot! I take around 3-4 showers a day, and have to wash so many clothes because of the sweat.

Today, it about killed me to work in the church. It is so hot there. I spent several hours woring with the handbell choir and in the office...time for a COLD shower and a fan!

April 12-16, 2010- CAMP

Well, camp is over and it was another successful year. We were blessed to see 23 college kids go up to Baguio mountain and draw closer to the Lord. 2 of the girls are from our new village outreach and it was cool to see them meet Christian friends and want to grow more in the Lord by watching more mature Christian youth have fun in serving God. They got back today and are so excited..so on fire for the Lord. We are so proud of our young people as they do 90% of the ministry with us.

April 13, 2010 - Babies!!

Here in the Philippines, animals roam free. I'm talking dogs, cats, cows, chickens, etc.. We always have animals in our yard..some belong to us, most do not. Well, our neighbor has a herd of goats that roam into our yard everyday and we have adopted them as if they are ours. We feed them and they each have their own names and personalities. Well, one of the ring leaders is who we call " Big Mama"..she has been pregnant Forever and we have anxiously watched her carry her baby and become VERY hormonal with the other goats. She shoves and pushes and gets mean when it comes to food...hey, it's something i did when I was pregnant, so I sympathize (-; But, finally..the babies are here. We thought it would be just one, but she had twins, they are so cute!!! We need to name them..hmmm