A New Look but the Same Mission

I have a burning desire to tell people the Good News about Jesus. This desire is to spread the Gospel throughout the Philippines and raise up the young men and women here in my Borongy and send them out. This desire is aimed at the church here in the PI as well. The church needs to get back to the Gospel of grace and free believers from a life of trying to earn God's favour and love. True revile will start within the church as believers respond to the goodness of God by extending that goodness to those around them; love in action.

There is a problem with this, I can't speak Tagalog. Tagalog is not the local language, Wari is, but it is the national language and everyone can understand and speak it because it is used on TV and taught in the class rooms. It is seriously difficult to learn a language that is not being spoken here all the time and without the proper resources. I am so burdened to be able to communicate on a deeper level with the young men I have spent years with. I cannot raise these young men up and proclaim the Gospel until I can communicate.

So that is my main goal and that is where the majority of my energy and study time is being directed. I have a grasp on the language and I can superficially speak to people, but I have a ways to go until I can speak in depth or teach. I am praying for the Rosetta Stone language software. I tried their free trial and it was highly effective. It would make this task much faster and make the hours spent studying much more effective.

The Lord has really blessed Jr, the orphan boy since he has been spending time here. He has become very comfortable at the house and has made friends with the local kids. This morning I woke up to Jr and Japheth laughing hysterically in the back yard. This went on for an hour before Japheth had to go home. He has found a place that feels like a home, a place of acceptance and love. He has been here every day and Cris Ann and I can see that he wants to be here permanently. He is scared on the streets and hast to hide from bullies during the day and drunks at night. Last time I saw him in town he had a look on his face of fear and desperately wanting us to take him home. We will just take it a day at a time and watch the Lord work.

I really believe that there are ministry opportunities all around us. If we see with our eyes of faith and look for the Lord working in our everyday life we will see Him working everywhere and giving opportunities to share the greatest news ever to be told and to show love in action with the people around us. If I am looking and asking the Lord to show me, I see Him working and see opportunities to help and love others. The amazing thing about Jr is that his situation is already affecting those around us. I have been asked several times as to why we have him here and allow him to stay. This opens a door to explain the heart of God towards His people and how we are the vessels of that love. People are confused when they see him, I can see it on their face, they are seeing something that looks different from the world and religion and they are confused about it. We should live in the world but we when the world looks at us they should see something different.

A quick update about Marry Ann, Cris Ann's cousin who was dying of Tuberculosis. She is recovering amazingly and now has strength to play with the other kids. She is eating like a horse and is on her way to being better than ever. Marry Ann was left at her grandmothers by her father because he was not able, or just unwilling to take care of her. We were told that he would be visiting but we were scared to tell because he has said this many times and has never shown up. We told her anyways and she was so excited; every time I would mention it she would have a huge smile on her face. The Lord moved in her dads heart when he visited. He decided to take her back to Manila with him. This is what she wanted more than anything in the world. In just a few weeks she was given her health, her father and a new faith in God. This is another example of the Lord working everywhere around us if we are looking for it. We wanted to help but we were scared because we had no money for treatment, we acted anyways and the Lord took care of it. I was scared about having her live at the house and caring for her for the six months of treatment, but we acted and did not let rational and fear stop us and the Lord took care of it in a way that brought Him glory. Fear is not of the Lord! I want to thank Cris Ann who took care of Marry Ann every day, feeding her and giving her the medicine three times a day; thank you Mahal!!!

I have to learn Tagalog, I will never be satisfied until I do. Please pray for this, I really need the Lord’s help.