Gigutom Sa Ginoo--Hungry For God

 At 3 a.m. these faithful women began their prayer walk to the wharf.  I was still sleeping (only my camera went that early).

 Later, when the sun was up, I joined the other ladies on the boat to Samal island.  What a perfect day for a retreat!

 50 Cebuano women were invited to hunger for God: "Gigutom Sa Ginoo".  The Lord gave me a song and a message for the ladies in Cebuano.  Thank you, Lord, for the tongue to speak to their hearts!  Can you see me way up there playing mandolin? 

 One of my friends personally sewed each lady a unique cover for her journal.  What a gift!  The ladies love them and will treasure them their whole lives, I'm sure!

 Here's the song I wrote--straight from Salmo 63:1 & 5.  "Oh God you are my God, earnestly I seek you.  My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you....My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods."

 Here is Emi, my sister.  I cannot do anything without her--we are like David and Jonathan!    After I spoke in Cebuano (the message she helped me write and translate), then she cleared everyone up about what I was trying to say!  Haha!  Thank you, Lord, for Emi!

 The ladies had two "dates with God".  I loved finding this lady up in a tree seeking the Lord!

 The ladies are pouring out their hearts to the Lord together.  We were so thankful it was also Good Friday, so we could have communion together and remember the body and blood of Jesus.

 Feasting on the Word of God: "Pulong Sa Ginoo".

"This is my body, broken for you...."  Hands to receive the bread and hearts to receive the Word."

 Emi serving again!  This picture is special to me because Sharon is there receiving the communion bread for the first time.  She is Kuya Jun's wife, who we reached out to in the fire incident.  Now she is part of the body of Christ!  She enjoyed the day very much, and learned so much!  Thank you, Lord!

 I like this picture: body, blood and you can see the notebook my friend sewed.  Lord, let us receive your Word.

 Ladies enjoyed the small group discussion time.  The questions helped to challenge the women to go deeper in their hunger for God.  Many fresh tears were shed, and many ladies were blessed and refreshed.

 The theme for the retreat: Hungry for God.  I think it is interesting how God used that story with Malachi to spark many different opportunities to challenge such a variety of people, especially me!  Wow, you never know how the Lord will use something like your son falling off a bike, for His glory!

 That afternoon we had a time for "praying the Psalms".  It was the first time for many of them to practice praying the scriptures together.  This was my favorite part of the whole thing.  I remember being a little girl and imagining myself sharing the Word of God with people in another country in their own language.  There I was!  Hearing them praying the Psalms in their language, to the Glory of God!  I get chills even now to remember hearing their voices in prayer.

 Ladies really enjoyed a craft time to get their hands on the Word in a tangible take-home way.  Thankfully, another friend helped me to gather these materials--the body of Christ in action again.

This is an example of our craft.  It is fun to see them hanging in the homes of these women--one of the most colorful things in the house.  What a way to honor the Word of the Lord and to remember the scripture verse from our retreat.

 Here we are--all 50 of us, plus the babies.  We are holding our finished craft. 

Time to return home!  In January I remember leading worship at our "foreigners" ladies retreat.  We went to this same resort, which was my first time to that one.  While I was there I had the dream and prayer that one day I would bring the Cebuano ladies with me.  My eyes welled up with tears as I took the boat home with them--indeed the Lord answered my prayer that I could really bring them with me.  That is how I also feel about heaven--that I will not just go alone but will take many people with me, by the grace of God through Jesus!

Thanks for all your prayers--and thank you, Lord, for answering!

Luke 10 Months

 Malachi gets buried in the sand.  Fun boy--toes sticking out!

 Elijah is such a cute little guy.  He keeps telling Malachi that he gets to do things because he's "almost 4".  Kids really like to speed up their growth, eh?  He'll be 4 in one month!

 Luke turned 10 months on March 27th.  He is finally weaned!  That is actually the earliest that I've had a son weaned, but when I say finally I really mean to emphasize the fact that I finally get to sleep all night!!  Yay!

 He is such a cuddly guy--but he may be a while before he walks.  I think I just like to hold him so much (and protect him from older brother).

I love this one with my baby!  Son, Mama loves you!  Thank you, Lord, for my boy!  What a blessing!

"Remember Me"

Easter is my favorite holiday of the year.  I love the music that has been written to celebrate Jesus, but even more I love my Jesus!  I am so thankful for the resurrection, because this gives me hope for eternal life.

"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins....
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead!!" 1 Corinthians 15:17-18

HE IS RISEN!!!

Here's a cool email my friend sent me today.  Let us remember Jesus, and keep our eyes ever on Him.

"Hi you all,
I was really blessed by this, so wanted to share it. It's a prayer of Dr. John Aker that he shared with our mission from his Good Friday devotional time. It is just an excerpt. I hope it blesses you.
--Rachel"


Father God,
What is the mood
Among Your Heavenly Court
This day?
Is it somber--fully reflective--
As The Redeemed of all the ages
Remember the story...
As they see even now,
Before their own eyes (and they surely do!)
The only man-made things in Heaven--the nail prints in
My Savior's Hands and Feet?

Or, is it a day of great rejoicing
As they look beyond
The tragedy of His Death
To the triumph of His Empty Tomb?
Does the early band that
Followed the Master
Ever recall
Their confusion,
Their pain
And their hurried flight in the dead and dread of that night?


Does Mary, His Mother,
Regard the piercing of His Sacred Side
As the final thrust of that sword
Which Simeon years before--
On the day Mary presented Her Child in The Temple--
Prophesied would pierce even her own soul?



And Father,
Do You and The Son ever speak
Of that awful moment for which He was born--
When He became the very embodiment of sin itself,
And You, Whom He so dutifully and devotedly called Abba,
Turned Your Back on Him?



Father,
Is that pain still there?
Can its memory ever be erased from Your Mind--
From Your Heart in which you purposed and planned all this in Eternity Past
Simply because
You loved us

It is getting lighter now, Father--
But still a bit dark
And kind of dreary.
In truth, I prefer
It that way today.


In the press of all
That is before me,
I do not want
To forget
What this day means for all men--
Even those who
Neither acknowledge nor appreciate
Calvary’s Criminal on That Central Cross.


The crosses on Skull Hill
Are clearly visible to my mind’s eye.
But I want, and I need, this picture
To be implanted
Deep within my rebel heart
My whole life long...


Father,
Even--no, especially--
Amidst the busyness of the day before me,
I long for the reason for His Cross
To become all the more real...
All the more personal
To me
Because,
By the work of Your Spirit,
I understand full well
That Jesus, Your Son,
Bled and died For me...


The sounds about me now, Lord,
Tell me that Your world is waking.
Before long it will be
Business as usual...


But, Father, I really do not want it to be
Business as usual for me--
Not today, God...
Not ever again.


As I go place to place today, Father,
In my very hurried and harried schedule
Keep my mind and heart stayed
On That Day--
Truly the highest and holiest
Of all holy days.


May His Passion and pain be imprinted as deeply in my mind and heart
As were the wounds in His hands, feet, and side.

Rice or Bread

http://us5earthenvessels.blogspot.com/2010/07/rice-or-bread.html

I am learning more about writing from my new editor.  She was the one who helped me edit the story I recently emailed to many of you: "3 Days Without Food--Hungry?". 

Related to the message I wrote is a link above from her blog that I highly recommend.  It gives you a glimpse into our culture of the hungry and of rice. 

May we be thankful for our plenty and hunger for more of Him.

There Is Still Time

 A few posts below I shared about some of the people we met who lost their homes in the fire.  Last Saturday 69 of them, not including children, attended our church for an outreach we helped with.  We were so thankful that so many of the 84 families were present to hear the good news about Jesus.

 Our pastor's wife, Ate Gina, welcomed the visitors and encouraged them in the Lord.  You can see behind her the many donations we collected.

 Blankets, rice, soap, clothing and New Testaments!  They lost everything in the fire except their lives.  Many were still smiling because they were glad to have escaped with their lives.

 I preached my 2nd Cebuano sermon, though it was much shorter this time.  I shared from 2 Peter 3 and from Romans 5 about how there is coming a day when everything will be destroyed by fire, but that the Lord is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  I gave an example of Kuya Jun, who saved his girl from the fire.  I said he is like a hero, and Jesus is our hero, saving us from the fire by giving His life for our salvation. 

 People prayed with Pastor Brian, and I hope many put their faith in Jesus for the first time.  I'm so glad that our pastor also has such a heart for discipleship, because he knows that we can still build the relationships with them long-term and continue to teach them about the Lord Jesus.

 They signed their names on this sheet so that we can follow-up and also so we could share the gifts with them.

 Here is one lady receiving her gifts.  Thank you to those who contributed to this outreach!

 After our time together, Emi and I walked to the site to see what is happening.  Some wood lays quiet since the people are not allowed to build for a time.  Pray that the people will be able to re-build soon and that they will find a place to live in the mean-time and daily food to eat.

 "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40.8

This is a part of the Psalms that was found in the fire rubble. 

Here's the family that my heart is praying for the most--it is Kuya Jun's family.  You can see they were the first ones to re-build, and I'm praying they can become leaders and a light for Christ in this community.  Thanks for continuing to pray for them all!

Cousin Tara Visits From Austria

 This week during Nate's quarter break, we had the blessing of a visitor from Austria!  My cousin, Tara, came to the Philippines for the first time.  For her first cultural experience, we took her to visit my new friend, Ate Emilita.  This sister in Christ is now 7 months pregnant with her 7th child!  (Mom, you've been to this lady's house before--the one with my curtains down by the river--she remembers you).  We brought her 5 kilos of rice, and later Emi told me that she had run out of rice and was praying for God to provide!  Just then we came in answer to that prayer--praise the Lord!

 Then, for family bonding experiences, we took Tara to a fun pool with waterslides.  I thought Aunt Martha would like this picture, of her daughter with my 2 sons! 

My cousin and I with my 3 sons!  (Nate taking the picture).

 Tuesday we took her on the adventure that is usually a favorite among our visitors: the Samal trip to Tagbobo Falls.  Here we are--the lovely cousins ready to board a local ferry passenger boat. 

 After hiring some random guys to take us there, we stopped for gas and a picture.  (Stephen, do you think it is the same driver that you and Joy had?  Look at your pictures and see this guy is wearing the same shirt AND wearing it the same way!  Funny!)

After a scenic drive through the rural island roads, we hiked down to this isolated waterfall...we had it to ourselves.  It was pretty strong due to recent rains, but it was still fun to swim in!  Memories are being made!

 Nate was on the other motorcycle with our 2 boys (Luke missed out on this adventure).

 The third day we had some other cultural immersion experiences like riding jeepneys and trikes, but also some cultural escapes, like going to Starbucks!  At the end of the afternoon I took Tara to visit Emi and her mom.  What a special family (Mom, notice your glass hanging there).

Tara got to see first-hand some of my favorite Filipina ladies in the community where we are building relationships.  This is Ruen showing us her hanging garden--so resourceful!  (Beckie, I posted this one for you and the Canadian sisters too!)

The last of four packed days, we took Tara to the beach!  She got a little burnt, but that was okay since it is winter in Austria!  This morning we said good-bye to her, but we are so thankful for all the special time we had together!  See you later, Tara, and thanks for coming!

Fire!! 84 Families Lost Their Homes

 2 Weeks ago, we heard sirens and saw billowing black smoke.  I have seen smoke like that before, and I knew people were losing their homes. 

 The next day we went to the site and saw everything had burned (this picture is one week after the fire).  What a devestating loss for the 84 families.  One 80-year-old woman did die in the flames...

 But thankfully, everyone else escaped with their lives.  This woman asked for more clothes since everything burned in the fire.  That's why she has to wash every day, because there's only one thing to wear (they borrowed some things too I think).

 Both of these survivors are still smiling, because they are thankful to have kept their lives.  This guy, Kuya Jun, was the same guy I met the day after the fire.  He is a hero, as you can see by his burns.  I asked where he got the burns, and he answered, "I went into the fire to save my 3-year-old daughter". 

 Here are his burns, but the interesting thing is how I met this same guy three times.  That woman, amazingly, turns out to be his wife!  I think the Lord is at work in this particular family.  Please pray for their salvation, that they will know the Lord Jesus as Savior, and praise God that they were able to join us at church on Sunday (they have 5 kids)!

 Here are 4 guys working to rebuild what was ruined.  It is amazing to see people rebuilding stores out of the burnt wood and tin roofing.  They still find uses for everything, even the scrap metal.

 And here is what was cooking for the lunch of these workers...some fish.  Wow, they must be hungry.  Praise the Lord that many people have come along to donate items for the outreach our church is doing this Saturday.  Please pray that eternal fruit will come from the love that these people experience and the message they hear about the good news in Jesus.

Here is the first house that is being rebuilt.  Thankfully the government did give some cash to help with the materials, though it is mostly just for wood and tin roofing.  This is Kuya Jun's house.  It used to flood here, so now he has a chance to build his house higher so the water doesn't go inside the house.  Maybe  God will raise this family up to be new leaders in the community.  Pray that this family along with others, will come to know the saving grace of God.