Southern Camp

Our 1st camp for Southern Mindanao began today just 10 minutes from our home in Digos City. But, those 10 minutes are at such an incline that we have to drive it in first gear.

The camp has a small attendance, which we expected for this first camp but teens are there from several churches in the area. Pray for the campers to Experience God (the camp's theme) this week as they focus on true worship. Pictured here is one of the teams with their leader.

Our 10th Teen Camp held in Northern Mindanao had an attendance of 60+ campers. We are having early rains (usually the months of April and May have less rain) and the staff had to adjust the camp schedule to accommodate the weather. Instead of the annual Mystery Night activity it was switched to a Mystery Dawn activity with everyone getting up at 3:00 a.m. to participate!!!

Both camps have the same theme and lessons where they are exploring true worship; including how do we worship during the different parts of a Sunday church service (offering, communion, sermon, music, prayer, etc)

Pray for the Camp this week: Pray for open hearts, wonderful fellowship and good health for all.

We are going to be gone this week so even Maxie is up at camp!

Thank you for your prayers and financial support that underwrites these life changing events!

With love in Savior who is worthy of our Worship!

Rodger and Dixie

CHRISTMAS IN APRIL

It's the middle of summer in the Philippines and today we were finally able to give our Christmas gifts to the employees of Ambassadors for Christ. The gifts for all the children of the employees and children's home were donated by Moweaqua First Christian Church last summer....they took a long time to be delivered but the children and their families were just as excited as if it really were Christmas! We also had gifts for all of the adults that we purchased last fall.

In addition to the gift giving we were honored by the employees with a recognition program, receiving appreciation plaques and a delicious meal. Highlights of the program were songs presented by the children and comments by many of the employees.

PHOTOS: The table full of gifts for the employees. Rodger and Dixie expressing their thanks.

MISSING PHOTO

MARCH

We just discovered that we have referred to a photo in our newsletter that we were certain we had put on the blog--but it isn't here.

Here is the picture of Rodger climbing into the window of the pick up when we were moving and the couch was secured with ropes tied to the inside of the drivers door.

ARRIVAL IN DIGOS CITY

We were happy to arrive home after seven hours on the road. Our intern, Peter, stayed in our home while we were gone overnight to take care of Max the dog.

As soon as we opened the door we saw that Peter had accidentally left a bed pillow too close to Max's cage and evidently Max got bored! He tore open the pillow cover and pulled as much of the pillow stuffing as he could into his cage.

Prayer Request:

Pray for camp this week. Hearts to be touched, lives to be changed, Jesus to be exaulted. Pray for no one to become sick or to be injured.

Pray for the Southern Teen camp that will begin April 27. This is our first camp in the south-pray for many to attend.

Pray for the Mission trip to San Simon, May 11-19. Pray for our preparations and open and receptive hearts in San Simon.

ON THE WAY TO CAMP

Our pick-up with 14 passengers on their way to camp.

After the Easter Sunrise Service and breakfast at the church we began the 250 mile trip back to our home in Digos City. At the same time Mathetes Team Members Eddie and Andy along with several others began their trip from Digos City to Cagayan de Oro for the Northern Teen Camp. They were traveling in our pick-up.

We were just leaving Cagayan when Rodger remembered that he hadn't given the key for the gas door to Eddie. The gas tank was about half full so we made plans to give them the key when we met them on the road. They brought a container with five gallons of fuel along with them, just in case they ran out before we reached them--they could add it when they got the key.

In the Philippines we all jokingly say "there is always room for one more" in any vehicle and this day was no exception. We met them on the road before they ran out and gave them the key, but there were a total of 14 riding in the truck. Seven inside and seven in the back--plus their luggage and supplies for camp.

We were happily surprised this morning when we learned that the pastor of San Simon Church, Jezreel, was a camper at the Teen Camp in 2004--before he attended Bible College. We are humbled when we realize how God has used our efforts for Him to further His kingdom.

HAPPY EASTER

Photo: In front of the San Simon church with the ones who are financially helping the church.

We had a wonderful Easter Morning as we attended the sunrise service at the San Simon Church of Christ. Here the churches plan the sunrise services to end as the sun comes up. The worship service began at 4:30 a.m. and was a combination Easter and 2nd Anniversary service for the church.

We were at this church to make final plans for the Mission Trip in May. This church is only 12km from the city of Cagayan de Oro but many of those kilometers are on very rough dirt roads. San Simon is the poorest of the barangays in Cagayan de Oro City and is mostly neglected by the city.

The church members are thrilled that we are having our Mission Trip there and are willing to help us however they can during the Mission Trip. They are excited to have the help with their VBS and know that they will have many prospects to follow up after the close of VBS.

10 YEARS OF CAMP

Photo: Rodger and Dixie surrounded by some of the youth from the Butuan City Church at the Anniversary. Everyone in the photo has been touched by the camping program.




Hi, Happy Easter to You,


We will be on the road for Easter this year. On Saturday we will drive to the north side of our island (Mindanao) to make final arrangements with the San Simeon Church for the mission trip in May. We will spend the night and attend the 4:30 a.m. sunrise service.


The first camp of summer begins on Monday, April 13, and a capacity group of campers is expected. The facilities can only accommodate 85 altogether. This year the theme is on the camper's relationship with God and the theme song is "I am a Friend of God"--a favorite song of mine.


A couple of weeks ago we were invited to attend the special 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Butuan City Church of Christ. This is the second church of the urban churches that we started on Mindanao. There were approximately 150 in attendance and the services and activities of the day were planned and led by the youth of the church (remember youth includes up to 30 years of age if you are single.) The "youth" did a terrific job and it was with amazement that we realized that all of the ones leading are products of the teen camp!


The purpose of the camp "A F.L.A.M.E. in Mindanao" is being accomplished by God. F.L.A.M.E. stands for: Fellowship, Leadership development, Adoration, Ministry and Evangelism. The goal to evangelize, mature them in Christ and to equip them to serve in ministry is exemplified in the Butuan City young people. The Flame has spread and tranformed the church.


We thank God for allowing us this opportunity to see some of the fruit from the ministry of the camp. Another "fruit" we have the privilege to see is growth and maturity of the two young men are now leading the camps and working with us full time in Mathetes Youth Ministry! Eddie and Andy, both of them have received part of their training for ministry from the camp.


Please pray this week for camp:

Pray for the campers who will attend with their friends-but are not yet a friend of God--that they will accept Christ

Pray for the campers who will be challenged to give their lives more fully to God to use as He will.

Pray for the staff--that they will allow the Holy Spirit to use them as they yield their lives in service to the campers

Pray for safety in travel for all as they ride to camp and then home again.

Pray for the health of the campers and staff: pray for no sickness to spread through the camp

Pray for the families and churches of the campers: pray that God will bless them for sending their best to camp and for them to be encourage the campers when they return home on Saturday, April 18.

Pray for Eddie and Andy as they make the many decisions that we used to make for the camp. They have many requests for financial assistance and other minor situations they are now making the decision on. Pray for us to support them and encourage them in their enlarged roles of leadership.


Thank God and Praise Him for how he has used camp in the past to ignite a passion for knowing and serving Him in the hearts of the previous campers and their churches.