Dear friends...

I am very sorry I am bad about keeping up with this blog but I will continue try and post updates. I haven't really felt like there's been anything big or exciting to talk about for me personally which is why I have put it off this long. However, as uneventful as it may seem, it will help transition for when something big does come and I won't have to go back and explain. I believe I left off with our Butuan trip which was literally like a month ago almost! Many little things have occurred since then so I will try to catch you all up without being too boring. Also, I apologize for the lack of pictures, I got water in my waterproof camera. Let's begin!

When we got back from Butuan we came back and geared up for the following week of CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) Training. For those of you who know me, this week was not my favorite so far since it was basically a week of school, 8-5 with lunch. I really enjoyed getting to know the teachers and their hearts for children's ministry! It was a good reminder, though, of the importance of children's ministry! At the end of the week we were invited to take part in a youth worship service where I had the most fun leading worship that I have ever been a part of!

After that we had a week of down time and began to prepare for a trip to an island where we would be teaching the True Love Waits seminar to a highscool. At the end of the week Pastor Eliezer had family from Norway come in to stay with him and his family. Because they were there, there was a big party for someone's birthday! Come to find out that someone had a son who was being dedicated in church the next day. That's when we were told we would be godfathers for the baby! SURPRISE!!!

Then something big happened. Jordan told us he had been praying about joining YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Discipleship Training School in Baguio, and was going to apply for it. So we spent that Monday praying a lot about it and the LORD really was calling him there as he was also calling Jacoby to a different DTS in Australia. And so it is now that we are no longer together. But God is faithful! It is good to see him work in the lives of people around and yet it can sometimes be difficult to feel like I'm not going anywhere. Yet I know that I am called to stay here for now and I can feel God's peace in the midst of that decision to stay. I have now spent a week and a half with out the guys here, and though it seems like I won't have any ministry opportunities, God is still faithful. I'm still learning a lot in Bible study with Jason and we are now doing it 4 times a week! I've been needing discipleship like this for a long time so it good to finally have a mentor like Jason to help me dig into God's Word. Shout out to you bro! Thank you for letting the LORD use you in my life!

So to end this blog I would like to put out some personal prayer requests for us 3. For Jacoby that the LORD would continue to bless him financially to be able to pay for his DTS as he stepped out in faith to go not having enough funds to complete his training. For myself that God would continue to guide me in ministry opportunities and reveal his plan for me being here. For Jordan that God would continue to provide finances and that there wouldn't be any distractions as he tries to give his whole self to God. And for all 3 of us that God will continue to draw us closer to Him and that we will know his plan for our lives in his perfect time!

From Recording to Solar Dryers

After a 3.5 hour-long bus ride from Butuan to Surigao City, we finally arrived home! At least for the place we will call home for the next 6 months. We unpacked our stuff, ate supper, and went out to walk around the town. While we were out we decided to visit a friend of  the O’Connor’s, Pastor Eliezer. He has become a true inspiration in my life. Why? Nearly a week after we arrived we went out to a nearby island for his 50^th birthday! What did we eat? About 10 kilos of different types of fish that he caught within about an hour. The amazing part is that he’s a spear fisher. The guy left the boat came back an hour later with 16 fish that he had speared. Then he proceeds to say he didn’t do so good that time. Humility? I think so!! I hope I can do something I enjoy that well when I’m 50! In the midst of that whole week we had spent a lot of time playing worship and trying to get to know people. We started hanging out with a group of Christian guys around our age outside our house and playing worship music. 

A couple days later we took the bus back to Butuan to help our friend Emman record a cd so that he could sell it to raise money for his DTS (Discipleship Training School). 

We were able to record 6 songs and used 5 total on the cd plus another 3 from his friend’s band. It was a lot of hard work but a lot of fun to get to be a part of. The musicians here a very talented so it makes it’s much easier than it could’ve been.

 Immediately following, we took another Jeepne up to the mountains to “help” Casey with his ministry with the Boost. Our goal was to go up to a barangay and help build a solar dryer (super greenhouse) to help dry out coffee and corn almost twice as fast. We got up there and tried our best but we weren’t really able to do much. 10 guys and 2 shovels make things difficult to help with. So once the project was up and running we headed back to Casyklan. On our way back to there we took a motorbike and ended up falling over. Luckily everyone was okay but I thought it was still a noteworthy event. Once we made it to Casyklan we met some Americans from a Nehemiah team that works with Casey at the boost and we stayed with them for the night til we had to get up at 3:30 for our morning Jeepnee ride back to Butuan at 4. I’m hoping to beable to post some video of the Jeepnee rides cause they are crazy! That’s all for now!

Barangay Dulag

The next day after staying the night in the hotel, Jason and Nelson picked us up and took us to Nelsons house where we met our newfound friend, Toto. Soon we learned that we would be going to his house in the mountain to stay the night there. Just for the experience, Jason had us take the trip via Jeepnee (like a ghetto school bus type of vehicle) and we rode on top with no seat belts of course. In fact, I haven’t used a seat belt that I can think of since we’ve been here.  After arriving at Barangay Dulag (Dulag Village), we headed to Toto’s house where we found lots of surprises waiting for us.

    

 The first, we each harvested a pineapple, the second, we each killed a chicken,  and the 3^rd, we all climbed up a palm tree and cut down a coconut. Oh yeah, let’s remember this is DAY 2 of being here… CRAAAAZZZYYY! Anyway, so the rest of the evening we were blessed to spend throwing football with the barangay kids and ended with supper and a bible study. The next morning we woke up at 5:30 and walked around the village.  Afterward we ate breakfast and decided to go see if we could meet another American missionary in the area. So the 6 of us hopped on 2 motor bikes and took off. We arrived at the Boost and met Casey, a business major from the south whose goal through starting the Boost was to help boost the economy by starting a few businesses and incorporating the ideas he learned in school to help the barangays around started earning a steady income. At the Boost Casey buys coffee, corn and gold. 

He is also helping facilitate a group working with bio sand filters. This is a picture of Rinel teaching us about the filters, how they work, how it can improve the village, and how they can incorporate the gospel into the installation of these filters. 

 

 After hearing all of this we felt like the Lord was leading us to purchase a couple of these for Barangay Dulag so that’s exactly what we did. These filters have little to no maintenance, they produce some of the cleanest water, I believe 98 or 99 percent free of any bacteria or viruses, and… they last for a lifetime. They are selling these basically at cost (60 dollars US) for the materials to make them.  Truly an amazing ministry and opportunity to get involved.  After talking with the Barangay captain we left the filters in the hands of Toto until Rinel got there to install them and share the Gospel the following Tuesday.

 Following those events we went back to Toto’s and began his Children’s ministry since the teacher’s often don’t show on Fridays so the kids have nothing to do. We got to sing songs, play games, work on memorizing scripture, and have a snack, much like VBS! After we had finished we headed back to Butuan to stay the night with Pastor Nelson’s family. We ended up having a Life group with some younger people our age around the neighborhood and then we worshipped for about 2 and a half to 3 hours. Then it was finally time for bed.

 

Journey to Butuan

Let me first start by saying I'm sorry for all those who may have been waiting for an update like 6 days ago! This has been a very long week full of excitement and adventure. Because of that, I have not had the sufficient amount of time I will need to write the stories I need to write (which only makes them pile up even more)! Well, I've kept waiting long enough I think so that time has come. Here it is, the story leading me to the place I'm at now. I will break it up in sections that way you can use it as a nightly bed time story for your kids (or yourselves).

The Plane

After leaving our parents the three of us turned and headed in through security. This is where the Lord's first provision and confirmation happened. I have never ever had an easier time going through the airport security in my life! It was unbelievable! After about an hour and a half wait it was time to board.

 Off we went for our first destination of Vancouver B.C. where we spent four hours of layover time.
After purchasing our canada flag stickers for our guitar cases, we took off for the longest journey of my life.

14 hours on the plane, 4 movies (only 1 Philippino), 2 meals, 3 snacks, 4 naps and we landed in Manilla. I don't think I've ever had to sit that long in my entire life!
After a solid 6.5 hours of layover in Manilla we hopped on the plane to Butuan. Then we waited. Finally after about 45 minutes we left and it was a nice short flight of about 1.5 hours. Alas we had arrived.

Mission Accomplished

Upon arriving we were greeted by the entire O'connor family as well many of our soon to be friends! It was a warm welcome for the 15 minutes it lasted before we were sent out on a scavenger hunt by ourselves to get to know the culture and the city. We were given money and a list of tasks to be completed and a cell phone. 

After finding all the items and places we needed we met back at a restaurant we began at and ate our first true Philippine meal. Afterwards we were take to a hotel where the O'connor family had blessed us with a first night stay.  The end for now!

31 hours and counting!

Man what a wild journey this has been so far! I've had lots to do to prep for this trip over the last week and now, still having some of the last minute things to take care of it starts to sink in that I won't be here after tomorrow. I'm so excited to go but I will truly miss all of my friends and family!

Shots

So we got our shots today. I got out with only 2 a pack of pills and 2 more prescriptions. Almost ready to go!