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.

Meet Maxie

Hi,

Here is Maxie, our Yellow Lab. He is about three months old and we have had him just a week. Already he will sit on command, but he is forever looking for something new to chew. The joys of puppy-hood! It's been a while since we have had a large dog and we have forgotten how fast they grow. The carrier/cage we got for him and thought would last for a few months is quickly becoming too small. Thankfully he is a good traveler as he is making the daily trips with us to Digos as we wind up our move. Our new goal is to be completely moved to Digos by March 10. Just have the really big pieces of furniture and appliances to go.

This week we have taken two days to travel to Malaybalay City, in the mountains of Mindanao. We have our first two team members, Eddie and Andy, and they are searching in the city for a location for the mission trip in May. We need a place where those on the trip can live and sleep as well as conduct Vacation Bible School each day. In 45 minutes we will go and talk with the pastor of the church the boys think would make a good location for the trip. We've decided on the theme for this year's VBS lessons: "Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life."

In the Philippines March is graduation month. Students are preparing for summer vacation and we are in full swing now as we prepare for our summer camps and the mission trip.

Peter (intern) preached his first sermon in the Philippines last Sunday and did a great job--in fact they asked him to preach again in two weeks. He has moved into his own house and is in the process of gathering furniture. He is hosting a youth Fun Night on March 23 and so far he only has 2 chairs.

Please pray for us (Rodger, Dixie, Eddie and Andy) as we lay groundwork for Mathetes Philippine Youth Ministry. Pray that we will build on the foundation of Christ and will always remember that this is not our work, but it belongs to God. Pray that we will be faithful to our call and be His tools to reach the young people of Mindanao with the truth of the Gospel.


With Love in Christ,

Rodge and Dixie

PS Please pray for us to locate an efficient way to get on line. It seems Digos doesn't have reliable high speed internet except at the Internet Cafes and there we are not allowed to use our own computers, we have to pay by the hour, and have to travel from our home. Pray for a solution and for us to have patience. Thanks.

Peter--the Intern

Hi, it's been a couple of weeks since we have had an opportunity to write to you on this blog. A lot has happened.

February 4, Peter Kohler, from Champaign, Illinois arrived for a 6 month internship. Peter is a preaching major and senior at Lincoln Christian College. The photo above was taken as he was moving from our house in Digos to his own house. He has been staying in our house and helping with the painting and other repairs before we move in--but today he will spend his first night in his own home.

Peter is already involved with the youth groups in Digos City, learning Cebuano and getting acquainted with the Philippines.

We still live in Davao City but travel each day to Digos to work on the house--almost all of the rooms are painted now and Rodger is involved in putting up wall cupboards in the kitchen, installing 110V electrical outlets in each of the rooms and replacing ceiling there is excessive rain damage. The trip is only 40 miles but it takes from 1 1/2 to 2 hours each way over rough roads and a lot of tractor/trailer traffic on the two lane road. We anticipate moving into our house at the end of next week, February 27. Every day we carry more things down there.

The ministry is beginning to get off the ground as preparations for the first Young Professionals Mission Trip in May is being planned. We are limiting the 9 day Mission Trip to 20 participants, ages 21-30. Our purpose will be to lead a Vacation Bible School for disadvantaged children in Malaybalay City (up in the mountains.) We will also involve the participants in a seminar on Biblical missions and what is their role in the Great Commission. Dixie will be writing the VBS material.

We are expecting a new addition to our family. We made arrangements to buy a yellow lab. It is a male, 10 weeks old as of yet remains un-named. If you have a suggestion for a name we are open to hear it. The pup will join us next Monday--and become our guard dog.

Not much else is new--moving is about all we are up to these days. We covet your prayers as we start working on the Mission Trip, Teen Camps, and Sunday School curriculum work. We praise God for his faithfulness to us each day; for our strength to do the work He has given to us.


PRAYER REQUESTS:

Wisdom, clear direction and unity as we work with our Filipino team. We are working on our goals, purposes and strategies--pray that we will do this with a realization of how this will affect eternity.

Former forwarding agent Mary Kay Jarrett; Recovering from a stroke. She has been in the hospital for four weeks but is scheduled to be discharged on Feb. 18. Pray for her to continue to have the strength and courage to overcome the stroke effects.

Feb 27 or 28 we will have a party for the AFC employees to give them their gifts we had planned to give them at Christmas. Pray that we will have a "good" leaving and will be able to continue to work side by side on Mindanao with AFC.


PRAISES

God's mercies are new every morning. Each morning before I read the scripture for that day on my "Read the Bible in a year" program, I write down the needs I have for that day, God is faithful and sometimes very humorous in how he gives me direction each day regarding the needs I wrote down. What a mighty God we serve whose Word is truly living, active and able to meet our daily needs.