Mom, I am feeling really healthy! I am sleeping well and comfortable in the new house, eating better than I have in the three years I have been here because I have a place to cook and wash and call my own.[...]

I am really nervous as I write this blog. Today I will ask Cris Ann’s father for her hand in marriage. Traditionally, our families would gather together for a dinner that would end with the man asking for the blessing of the father. Since I do not have my family here to join, I will bring my Filipino family with me. Cris Ann will cook the dinner, which she is getting ready to do and I will try really hard not to throw up while waiting to talk with her dad. Her family is big and there are several uncles who will be there as well. They are all tough fishermen and tree climbers but they are friendly and we have had some time in the last couple weeks to build a bound. I walked Cris Ann home every day before dark, which is about two miles, have dinner, see her family and walk home. They appreciated the care and even though we can’t talk, actions spoke louder than words; in this case they had to.[...]

Praises coming in...caleb is better today..still sick but better. Able to stand up! Seems our prayers on behalf of Caleb have been heard again! Thank you Jesus♡[...]

Last night we got word that Caleb is very ill. Please join us in prayer and ask for a complete healing. Father, we ask that you would heal our son Caleb, again. You have been faithful and we thank you for that as we seek you in this time of need.[...]

It has been an amazing couple of weeks. It is summer time and school is out. So Jr, the boy with one leg and no father, has been over here every day. He attended the last week of Bible classes and hangs out for hours with me and the guys. The other day when he was here, he got up to leave and as he got to the door, I went to grab his hand and give him a hug, which I always do, but he bursted into tears and fell on my shoulder. I was surprised, I had not seen Jr cry, very close the first few times we met, when he was in really bad shape, but never like this. He had been doing so well; I was thinking something must have happened. He lifted his head and looked me in the eyes and began to thank me. He really couldn't get much out besides, 'thank you so much, you are my bridge.' I am still not sure exactly what he meant, but I could tell the look on his face and the tears in his eyes were not sorrowful tears of hopelessness but thankful tears full of hope.[...]

Recently, I have experienced the grace of God in a way I never thought possible. The Lord has brought me my helper, Cris Ann, the girl that was made to complete me and our union in Christ. She is brilliant, the director from her Bible collage wants her to take over and teach the Greek class next year because she excelled beyond the current teacher. She is beautiful and pure, a precious daughter of God. She loves the Lord and puts Him first, she knows Him because she knows His word and she grows in Him every day.
How can this be???
Three years ago I was sitting in the Orange County Jail. I was arrested for two felony charges and high on drugs. After losing my arm I lost all ambition in life. Everything I strived for was gone and I was left with a dead arm that was miserably painful. Depression started to sink in soon after and I began to reach for my pain medicine to treat the spiritual pain as well as the physical. This worked for a while, but the medicine was sucking the life out of my soul and eventually left me an empty shell. It was my master; it was my reason for getting out of bed and the only way to go to sleep. I reached the darkest pit and the drugs had me in prison with no way out. The spiritual pain and physical was unbearable and I was angry with God for saving me, I just wanted to die! Why would you save me? I have become a drug addict and criminal, depressed and hopeless, tortured by every type of evil. Finally, it came to that point, I had nothing left, no fight, no hope, no joy, no love and death seemed to be the only option. In that moment of complete and under helplessness, in came my Saviour and comforted me with His love.
Over a short time I experienced grace upon grace. The old heart of stone was gone, it was beyond repair, but God gave me a new one that loves Him and responds to Him and sees His love and grace in all things. It is a heart that finds strength in the joy of the Lord and has hope for the future that can't be moved.
Two months later, I am flying to the Philippines to study His word in a remote village. Grace fell on me here as children responded in love, some, like Hubert, were completely transformed and the Lord gave them a new heart, as He did for me. We found grace in the community and the Lord has transformed this place from darkness to light! I am now a director of a Bible school and the Lord is pouring out His grace here and like He always does, He breathed life into this place and transformed it; Grace upon grace![...]

Almost three years ago, we were living in a very dark place. We would watch fire lit ceremonies on the beach as the people offered sacrifices and food to their ancestors. The fear of an evil spirit called, Oswang, gripped the hearts of the people on the deepest level. They feared their lives and the lives of their children; Oswang has been given credit for many of the children's deaths. Whatever it is that has killed the young children, Satan has used the fear of Oswang to control and touchier those around.[...]

We had such a huge victory for the Kingdom of God Saturday! This village and the next village are held captive by the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church gained power over the local, public cemetery about ten years ago. The reason why they did that was because U-Turn came here and planted a church that was preaching the Gospel and tons of people were leaving the Catholic Church. So the priest took control, no doubt with money and corrupt politicians, and went door to door threatening the people that if they continue to be involved with U-Turn or any other Christian organisation that they would not be able to burry there dead in the local cemetery. This is a huge issue here! Most people can't afford to bury the dead in the other cemetery, which is 20min away. They can't afford the coast of travel or burial fee's. It is the custom here to visit the grave every week and this is a deep rooted tradition. This tradition of visiting the grave helps the people who lose loved ones cope with the loss and heal. When the people are buried near the families, in the local cemetery, they feel close to the ones they lost and can visit them weekly.[...]

I am sorry I have not written any updates since Jr but I am teaching both the day and night classes here at the school. I am teaching Christ Centered IBS in the night classes and Romans during the day class. With preparation and teaching I have been very busy.[...]

Kathy, Megan & Blake,

J.R. wrote a letter giving thanks to the supporters. This boy is special and I am blessed to be a part of his life. He has a new hope, an excitement about his future that he has not had since his leg was cut off. He carries a big burden on his shoulders to support his family now that his dad is dead. This is his drive, his passion, to provide for his family. He had lost this hope when he could no longer afford to go to school, but now this hope has been revived and he gives the credit to Jesus and is very thankful to the Lord's vessels. J.R. attended church today and is now hanging out at my house as I write this and study. It is obvious that he is looking for male guidance, a father, which he had and lost. I can't be that, but I know who can be much more, his heavenly Father and I will direct him to the comfort of the Lord as long as we are a part of each other’s life. Again, thank you Kathy, Megan and Blake for helping J.R. Here is his letter...[...]