July and August Update

God has been working here in the Philippines.  We cannot believe that it is already September and we have been here for 5 months already.  Time continues to go by really fast.  We find this year, time has been our struggle.  We continually have to reevaluate what we spend our time on.  There are many things that we could be involved in but we have to keep our focus on what God wants us to do not what we feel we need to do.  It is hard when we want to be a part of things and continue to build relationships with everyone.  We have been reminded many times that it can be the devils plan to keep us busy in doing many things that we are not able to give the time to God to refine us and master His plan. 

When we came back in April we had realized that we had lost many of our leaders because they had become discouraged and caught up in their issues around them.  We had realized then that we needed to start focusing on one or two people only and develop them, get them to see the vision working in their lives, and allow their changed lives to speak for themselves and captivate others.  So in July we started having 2 guys (Jason and Bernie) come to our house twice a week to train them in washing a car and cleaning a house properly.  We are paying them a normal wage for their time.  It is a great way to help develop skills such as responsibility, coming on time, professionalism and confidence they would need for a job.  We also wanted to meet one of their biggest needs and that is to provide for their family.  Last year we would work with these guys and they would be doing so well in helping in the ministry and understanding the concepts we were teaching them but then they would fall back into many old habits because they felt pressure from their family to work.  This year having them work for us it takes down a barrier but also allows us to have more contact with them and during the days we have them over we spend time in teaching and ministry.  Since July we have seen a huge change in these two men.  They have more confidence, they are taking initiative, and they have become two of the most influential leaders of the church in community that they live. 

Also in July we started the clinic that we thought we would start last year.  Last year we noticed that the people were waiting for us to just give them things, that they were not taking any ownership.  They are deeply in poverty as a result they have the mentality to just sit and wait for handouts.  Historically that is all people have done to help is just giving them things or money.  But what we realized is that doing this does not help lift them out of their poverty state so something different had to occur.  This year we felt more accepted in the community and have built a stronger relationship with Jason and Bernie.  We have taught them more about the concept of lifting people up out of their situation rather than just giving things for that moment.   Although we wanted to start the clinic a lot sooner, we waited to see if they wanted it.  We were amazed that in July, Jason and Bernie came to us and asked if we could start the clinic. The timing was now perfect.  They now have ownership in something.  We started the clinic to run Tuesdays and Thursdays for 3 hours only each day.  But it has been the two guys who have created flyers and handed them out to people to advertise and do the actual set up of the clinic each day.  They have really taken the initiative, we just help give them what they need and facilitated the clinic.  We have a doctor from our church, who has volunteered to come once a week and then a Registered nurse the other day.  Each person before they leave is ministered to by our pastors and leaders.  And since starting July 17^th we have seen 145 people and 10 people have accepted Christ for the first time.  Many of the people are old church members that had walked away so this has been a great opportunity to reconnect with them.  Also we have set up a donation box for the medicines that we give.  The people that are coming genuinely want change in their lives and are thankful for what is given and in return they are giving back.  Although the amount given is only a drop in the bucket it really shows that the people are still willing to give what they can.   We have been following up with the people who are coming to the clinic and are trying to keep them connected to the church. 

I have been completely blessed by the clinic as it has really helped me with my fear and insecurities.  At first I wanted to have another nurse with me if the doctor was not there so that I didn’t have to struggle with the language.  But almost every week I was left alone and seeing 20 people in the 3 hours by myself.  It has really helped to develop my ability to speak their language and my relationship with the community.  I’m recognized and respected in the community now and it is because I stopped worrying about how uncomfortable the people appeared to be and I allowed myself to just be myself.  I have also been blessed because it has really strengthened my ability to critically think and further develop my heart for the people.  One Thursday night during the clinic we had a 75 year old women bring five of her friends to the clinic to check their blood pressure and blood sugar levels.  One of her friends asked if we could go and see her 56 year old son who had a stroke 7 years ago.  So I sent Jason, who we have been working and had trained on how to check BP and blood sugar, and also Agnes (Pastor Boy Encarnado’s daughter and also a nurse).  He and Agnes went to see this man and 10 minutes later they came back and asked me to come to see him because they were shocked at what they discovered and needed help.  When I got to his house, a house that had a dirt floor, low ceilings, and no light (we used cellphones so I could see).  This man was covered in a fungal rash and when I was looking to see where the rash was I saw a black band around his ankle, which I thought was a tattoo. When we brought the cellphone closer, the band appeared to be moving and soon after I realized it was a band of red fire ants.  They were eating his skin and going in and out of his leg.  He had scratched his leg and had a small opening but because he is a diabetic the ants smelled something sweet and were doing everything to get it.  He is also paralyzed on the left side because of his stroke.  He had gone for prayer many years ago and was not healed so he doesn’t believe in God and many people in the area also told us we were wasting our time with him.  My heart went out to this man and his family so I have been seeing him every week and all the open sores are now healed and we are now starting a treatment with guava leaves for his fungal rash.  Guava leaves have a healing property in particular in healing fungus type rashes.  We have started to minister to him and he is becoming more open each time we see him.  God is working in his life.  I have been so touched on how God is using us through this clinic.  We continually have to reevaluate the clinic to make sure it follows God’s vision and purpose for this community.  But we are always moving forward with it!!!

Our quail project is doing great.  We have 600 birds now and we get between 400 and 430 eggs a day.  We have had many ups and downs with this project though.  This project has allowed us to learn many things about the Filipino culture, which we continually either have to identify if the issue at hand is either a culture conflict or more behavior of the people which we can teach on how to correct.  We just have to laugh about the many times we think the people understand the process and then the next thing we know they are going off doing something against all that we have said or taught.  God has a great sense of humor, when we pray for patience he continually gives us opportunities to become patient.  We were having a church member be the middle man in giving the eggs to people to sell.  And since August we have had to stop and try a new strategy.  The problem was is that we sold the eggs to people at wholesale price but we would allow them to go and sell the eggs first for retail price and before they get more eggs they have to pay what is owed.  It wasn’t well managed and there became a huge amount that was owed for the eggs.  Needless to say we were taught a valuable lesson.  Never give them more eggs unless they have paid back what is owed.  So now we have it that the people come to us directly we have moved the selling of the eggs to the people in our community that it was intended for in the first place.  We started with Jason and Bernie who have been doing so well.  They were selling 700 eggs in 3 to 4 days.   Now many church members and community members want to sell the eggs.  We have learned that these people are concrete, which means when something is new the people need to see it before really want to do it.  Just telling them about selling the eggs they could not visualize it for themselves, they have to actually see it working.  So with Jason and Bernie starting they have made the model and now many are interested.  God really has been in control of this because for months no one in this community was interested in selling the eggs.  It is truly all in God’s timing. 

These are our main ministry projects we have been working on. We are continually learning and experiencing great things through these projects.  One last thing that has kept me busy is that I am writing a health curriculum from scratch based on themes and objectives that the children are learning each which in street school. This street school is part of the ICCM children’s sponsorship program in our area.  This is challenging for me but I have been enjoying seeing the children understand health in a more complex way than they have ever experience and I see results in their overall appearance due to their new understanding. 

Thank you for your continual prayers.  Please pray for continual guidance and understanding of what path to take here in the Philippines.

here are pictures of the Clinic

             

April to May Update

As the saying goes “time stands for no one.”  This has proven to be very true, as the past 6 weeks, since our arrival back in the Philippines, has flown by.  It seemed almost immediately after getting off the plane we were right back getting involved in everything again.  In reality we did have some time to get re-adjusted but it didn’t seem like long at all before getting right back to work.  Although we did find it a little difficult re-establishing our relationship with the people we work with most.  Even though we were only gone for 2 months the people had gone back to being quite intimidated with having us around again. 

Here in the Philippines kids are out of school for their summer break during the months of April and May.  The hope for Davao street children ICCM program that is in the area that we work in fills the summer with activities for the children to do to continue their development.  One of these activities, which ran from May 4-6, was a DVBS.  The theme was the lost world: reclaiming the world for God!  We had about 120 kids who attended, 88 of which are sponsored through ICCM but we wanted to make it open for any kids to attend.  It was a fun way to bring kids who don’t currently come to the church, to get interested in church.  The focus of the VBS was using dinosaurs to explain about our awesome creator and how everything is wonderfully and beautifully made.  Adam and one of the leaders in Bucana (the area we work in) designed and built a man sized dinosaur made from wire and paper mache which the kids loved!  It didn’t resemble any particular dinosaur but it was a blast to build!  The week of preparation was a great opportunity for us to re-unite with all the leaders and for them to become comfortable with us again.  By the end of the VBS we were laughing and joking with them again, but it is still a process.  The people we work with need lots of one on one time and even if we are gone for a few days it take a little for them to open up to us again.  The kids really had a blast and all learned a lot more about the world that was created for them by our Lord and Saviour.  Adam was the photographer for the 3 days and took over 300 pictures and then made a 10 min slide show for the graduation.  I was asked to lead the songs and actions with the kids and then was able to help mentor a new teacher.  That was a new experience going from the one being mentored to mentoring someone else.  I am thankful for the 10 years of being mentored by my children’s pastor from home because now I am able to pass it along to others who have the potential in being great in children’s ministry.     

The week after VBS our church was preparing for a weekend conference in which all the Oceans of Life Ministry Free Methodist pastors around the Philippines gathered for training, for renewing the vision, and also to celebrate the churches 10^th anniversary.  It was great to see how the church has spread across the Philippines and how on fire for God they are to continue spreading the good news.  On Sunday May 13^th the church celebrated their 10^th anniversary and they had planned a special service and I was asked to help with the children’s service that was separate.  There were around 120 children.  While we were home in Peterborough a church member donated a lot of art supplies so I was able to use that to make up a craft for the children.  It has been great being involved with the children because they are starting to be more comfortable with us.

Reflecting from last year, I personally struggled being “me” around the Filipinos because I was focused on their response which was putting us up at a hierarchy and being uncomfortable.  One of my goals coming back was to not worry about the reactions of people and to remain who I am.  Before, even with the children, I was resistant in showing the real me with them because of their reactions but this past month working with the children I stayed clinging to God for the confidence and I was able to be true to myself.  It was a huge accomplishment and growing experience because I even struggle being true to who God created me to be back home due to worrying what others think. 

For the week of May 14-20th I was asked to be the director of another VBS for a smaller group of children.  We used the same theme as the previous VBS and had 30 children participate.  This was for the church service that Adam and I attend on Sundays.  The congregation is comprised more of the professional group where as the area where we work in is below poverty.  The teachers for this VBS were all between the ages of 14 and 16.  They were all first time teachers so I had gathered some teachers that had done VBS before and could mentor the other teachers.  It was great to see them grow throughout the VBS and to conquer fears of nervousness.

So as you can tell the past 6 weeks have been so busy with a lot of children ministry so much that we have not been able to focus on our community development model, which is the reason why we came.  The quail are doing well, as we are now up to producing approximately 200 eggs per day.  We were expecting a little higher production but a few of the birds have died.  However, we are going to be getting 300 more birds by the first week of June so that will be a total of 600 birds.  We haven’t brought the eggs into the community it which we are working in yet because when we arrived back the leaders we were working with have really become discouraged and have fallen back into a lot of their mindsets that will not help in selling the eggs or help in their development.  So, we have someone from the professional group selling the eggs right now to help develop a model in selling so that we can bring that model into our community.  Right now we have noticed that we need to find stronger leaders who understand our development project and who can help build the model.  We would like to ask you if you can pray that God will show us the right people and also the right way in developing the model so that others will take hold of it so that it can spread throughout the community.  Finally, pray that we can be reintroduced into the community and be accepted again.

 I would like to give you an update on my arm.  Over the past 2 weeks there has been improvement in the pain and the strength.  God has been very faithful in helping with the cost of the MRI, as it was quite expensive and we would not have been able to afford if not for the provision of the wonderful people supporting us.  I have been doing physiotherapy 3 times a week and started swimming to help with the recovery of my neck. The results of the MRI showed two bulging discs in my neck.  This would have been from 4 years ago when I injured my neck at work.  God is healing the pain and I have been able to continue with all the activities throughout the day.

 We look forward to seeing where God will lead us in June here in the Philippines.  Continue to pray for our safety.  As well for continual wisdom and focus on what God wants us to do here.  Again we thank everyone who has and are continuing to support us while we are serving here in the Philippines, we miss everyone deeply!

   

Arrived safely

Just wanted to give a quick note to let you know that we have arrived safely in the Philippines! We only had issues at the beginning of the travel. We had 5 suitcases to check in but when we got to the airport the man at the check in counter said that one of our suitcases was small enough to be a carry on so we didn't have to pay for the extra baggage that sounded good to us but we were not thinking of what was in it. so when we went through security we remembered we had alot of big bottles of shampoo, body wash, adams shaving cream and maple syrup that we were bringing back as gifts. the security gaurd told us to go back and check it in but we only had 45 mins to departure but Adam tried. it was too late so he had to throw away the bottles to get through security with the bag. When he got through cutoms and security again we got paged overhead because it was 1030 and the doors were closing. I had waited for adam at the security place because we had two bags already and I had injured my arm two days before leaving so i couldn't carry both bags. So we had a home alone experience running through the airport. It was quite sad losing those things but we had to be reminded that God is in control and had a reason. God is bigger than the problems we are faced with. The rest of the way went very smoothly!! During the flight we were struggling in missing our family and our friends, it was harder to leave this time. But we remember Pastor Fred saying that God gives you grace to be where He is sending you so we prayed for the grace. When we arrived in Manila I felt a peace I hadn't felt through the whole travel and I was happy to be back. We still miss everyone terribly but we feel the Grace. Today which is monday Barb had planned a welcome lunch with our community development team and Pastor Johnny and his family to come over and visit with us. That was very nice and we were able to share what God was doing in Canada while we were back. They really make you feel welcomed and loved during the time of missing home. If you could continue to pray for healing of my Arm I am still in terrible pain. I have a pinched a nerve in my base of my neck and shoulder which is causing numbness and burning pain all down my arm and it is cutting my cicrulation in my hand. This is the same arm that I injured 4 years ago when i was working at lindsay hospital.