Merry Christmas!

Here is the red and green Becker family wishing you a Merry Christmas! Every year is different for us as foreigners in a different land, but we can always celebrate Jesus no matter where we are.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
He created man and woman and gave them a command.
They disobeyed God's instructions and sin entered the human race.
Their relationship with God was broken.

God gave many promises for a Messiah...someone to bring peace and hope, someone to restore the broken relationship with God and to pay the price for sin.
God sent his son, Jesus, to fulfill those promises, through the virgin Mary by the power of His Spirit.
Jesus is the mediator between God and man--through Jesus we can be reconciled to God.
Jesus is fully God and fully man--he was without sin.
Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice to pay for sin and make a way for us to get close to God.
Jesus rose again and conquered death--the penalty for sin.

If you place your faith in Jesus, trusing Him to cleanse you of your sin and bring you close to God, you will be saved from death and will have eternal life.
You will get to dwell with God forever.

"For God so loved the world
that he gave his One and Only Son,
that whoever believes in Him
will not perish
but have eternal life."
John 3.16

God loves us and is patient with us not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
Jesus is coming again soon, but we don't know when.
Are we ready for His coming?

2 Corinthians 5.20-21
"We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Balik Bayan Boxes

A very generous Christian friend in the U.S. along with her kind neighbors got together to collect toys, books and clothes for the Filipino children. Even though the boxes usually arrive at an unknown time anywhere between 1-3 months, we prayed that the boxes would arrive before Christmas. Praise the Lord!! They arrived last week just in time!

A few rich people's extra toys became Christmas gifts for over 100 poor children. This will be their only gift for Christmas.

The ladies came to help wrap each toy for each child. Look at those smiles! They are so excited about how God provided and answered prayers! What a blessing! Thank you, Lord!

The presents are all wrapped and ready for the kids. They will be surprised--we kept it a secret! Maybe next year we can collect even more toys and give to more than 1000 kids! There is no end to the amount of kids I can find within just a short walk from my house. May the kids come to know Jesus' love more and more this Christmas!

Yesterday

Homemade Hoop

You have to love the resourcefulness! I have a vision perhaps to one day build a covered court with a real basketball court. We could use it to have more outreach to the men, who many times have nothing to do together.

Band Outreach

Mr. Becker organized another great band outreach this year. I love the parallel saxaphones in this picture. The students dressed up in red and green and went around in Jeepneys to the local villages to play Christmas carols for the people. It is very easy to draw a crowd randomly at night. The people love to see the foreigners--Koreans, Americans, Other... They also love to hear different instruments: Trombone, Trumpet, Saxaphone, Clarinet, Flute and a Drum set in the back of a flat-bed truck.

It's dark and dusty, so hard to get a good picture, but this gives you the feel to the atmosphere. Students handed out candy with a gospel tract inside to share the love of God with the people. This is a place where long-term ministry is taking place, so there is follow-up in the people's lives.Elijah loves papa! Papa loves his son--"Elijah can come with me everywhere!" Well, Elijah did fade out that night, but he had fun being part of the group.

Ready to go!

Photo Shoot--We Love Our Boy!

Elijah is like a little king on his bike seat--his own little throne. When we pass people they wave and smile and turn their heads like he is a king (all a novelty for them--baby helmet, baby bike seat, baby on bike, white woman on bike, white baby boy with bald head).

All of my running back and forth to the tripod, setting the timer and everything drew a crowd. Elijah made some new friends! We had fun showing them the pictures of themselves after we timed them. Look at Elijah holding his little friend's hand.

The street where we live. Lots of kids!

Lots of pictures of Elijah, but we have to have a way to share pics with our family and friends! He's growing fast! Enjoy!

Sneaky Video

Elijah heard the Christmas music playing and got in the Christmas mood. It's my first time posting a video, but I hope you can watch. I caught him in the act!

I Can't Wait 'Til Christmas

"Is anybody looking? I think I want to open some presents."

"This one looks good. I wonder what's inside."

"No one will ever know what I am doing. I can't wait 'til Christmas. These presents look so fun and colorful. I really like that red paper."

"Hahaha! I got Mommy's present! This is so fun! I love opening presents!"

"Uh-oh. Mommy is looking at me. Am I going to be in trouble? You caught me red-handed! But oh, this ribbon is so curly and yummy."

Here's our boy, folks. He couldn't wait until Christmas. On December 9, he did his first little mischevious act. I was washing dishes and placed him between some pillows on his little rug. I looked back when he got quiet and saw him turn toward the presents. (I ran to get the camera as I could see what was coming). I got the footage by looking under the couch as he turned, made his own little crawling movements, grabbed the present and started tearing into it. Oh, it was funny. This little guy just can't wait for his first Christmas!

7 Months--We love this little guy!

Two little teeth! Don't bite Momma!

Nate and the Philipino Band

One of the ways Nate keeps up his trumpet playing and also forms relationships with local Filipino musicians is to play in this band. They performed the same night as the opening of the new performing arts building, so Nate was exhausted by the end of that week! I was so glad to be able to go watch him perform (as his other performances were late on Sunday nights). I sat in the front row cheering him on. They played for the local public in the "People's Park." What a lovely evening (remember there is no snow or cold here!).

There's my true love. What a happy man! I love hearing him play the trumpet and seeing him having fun with music.

Elijah is proud of his papa! It was a late night for this little guy to stay awake, but it was worth it to hear those brass instruments. Elijah was very content listening to the music. The people around us thought he was like a movie star (they really make me feel like I am with a celebrity when I go around with Elijah! Crazy!).

Date night as a family=) Time for bed, little guy. You're up past your bedtime!

Dedication and Opening of Performing Arts Building

Last Friday was a very special day. It was the dedication ceremony for the opening of the new performing arts center at school. Here is the man who had the vision for the building and listened to tons of input from Nate for the design and plan of the construction. Praise God for our principal and praise God for His provision for this wonderful new facility!

Nate did a great job directing on stage with his band students! I was so proud of him and of course he was proud of them. The sound was wonderful compared to performing outside on the covered court. I could actually hear the beautiful clarinet solo! It is amazing to see how far God has brought the music program since Nate came 4 years ago. We had nothing but drumsticks, but now look what the Lord has done!

Here is the excited audience, and seated in front are the distinguished guests from near and far. It was fun to see the place fill up and be used for God's glory.

The kids were so cute in their little costumes, and the parents were even more funny as they crawled around trying to take pictures. I can understand now more because when Elijah is in the play someday I will be just as crazy as a parent!

Look at these precious kids! I love the colorful costumes. Little Mary and Joseph--so cute! Maybe someday Elijah will be with his little friends up there.

Nate is loved and supported by these two great men--his principal, Alan Farlin, and on Nate's left is Bob Pittman--a very visionary man (who actually helped, with his wife, to get Nate and I together!). Bob mentored Alan and taught him lots--now he has passed on his legacy to Alan and was visiting from Texas to see Alan's vision in reality! Thank you, Lord, that Nate is so supported and encouraged by these men.

Baptism, Buildings and Bouncing

Sunday was a celebration of baptism at church. Many people went forward to follow the Lord in baptism, symbolizing their commitment to follow Christ by dying to sin and trusting Him for salvation. Praise the Lord for this! Two ladies from our bible study (pictured on the right in blue and orange towels) were also baptized. Praise the Lord for their commitment to Christ!

Here we are in front of the sunday school/transformation center building. The church is still raising funds to finish the second and third floors. Pray for God's provision for this.

The first floor is used for sunday school. The second and third floors are planned to be used for outreach to the local community and to train people how to make a living as well as how to live in Christ.

We praise the Lord for His provision at school for the new "performing arts building". On one side is Nate's new band room. What a blessing! There are also three practice rooms for students to use. Nate is loving the new building and all the purposes we can use it for: chapel, worship practice, band class, private lessons and more!

Next to the band room, in the center of the building is the new auditorium! Previously, when we needed to set up a performance, we had some make-shift platforms that we put outside on the basketball court. That was a very tricky thing with the loud rains, the kids playing on the playground and the lighting, seating and sound system. Now look at what God has providied for us to use--to God be the glory!

The dedication of this building is Friday. The workers are laboring hard to finish by then. Nate's room is there on the left and the auditorium is pictured on the right. (Not pictured is another elementary music room/vocal music room on the right and a drama room). Again, this is a huge blessing from God. Praise Him for His provision! Pray for the opening performances and ceremonies of dedication on Friday. Nate is working hard to prepare his students (as you can see from the picture above taken today).

A bonus picture--Elijah joyfully jumping in the baby bouncer. I love this little guy. He is actually bouncing right now as I blog--what a joyful boy. He is like a little frog. Jump, jump, jump!