Thursday Jan. 21

The total enrollment for the second half of the semester is 135 students, 48 in Bible Studies and 123 in tutorials. Last week there were more than 400 students in and out of the center!...It sounded like music night was one of the best they have had and movie night was great with the new projector.

Camp is fast approaching and final preparations are being made for all of them.

Friday Jan. 15

Today is the final day for sign ups for tutorials. At present they have 100 signed up: 38 for Bible studies, 58 for acoustic guitar, 5 base guitar, 8 drums, 43 science, and 2 math.

We have looked at new locations for the youth center. We have found one available that is much larger that will be vacant when we need it. It is DIRECTLY across from the high school....

Rodger purchased a projector for the youth center with extra gifts. It was used for the first time last night for the movie night. Wow, what a blessing.

Camp is progressing. We still have some things to work out, so in our spare time we will be looking for a better venue for the Marilog district camp.

New Year

Wow. It has been over a month, sorry we have been so long since updating.

We had a wonderful Christmas with all our family - Andie and all her family, Beth, all together in North Carolina. Andie was a little under the weather recovering from surgery, but other wise all were great.

Dixie has stayed in North Carolina to help Andie, Rodger has returned to the Philippines. He is still in jet lag!

In talking with Eddie and Andy, the new year is starting off with great things happening. I (Rodger) plan to be sharing more in a more regular and timely manner.

Brrrrrrrrrrr!

We are visiting daughter Beth in Knoxville and woke up this morning to 4-5 inches of snow and it was still falling. We have had several wonderful days with Beth--Rodger even spent several hours volunteering at Johnson Bible College (where Beth works) helping stuff envelopes.

Next Monday, (Dec 6) we travel to Camp Lejeune (Marines), NC to Andrea and Mark's home and will be blessed to see our four grand-children. Dec. 7, Mark and Andie go to Portsmouth Naval Hospital for Andie to have surgery and we will take care of the grand-kids! We're looking forward to this time and have been preparing by taking our vitamins. Becky is 11, Tyler is 8, Thomas is 4 and Toby is 3. Mark and Andie expect to be gone for 6-7 days. We will stay there until Christmas. After Christmas Rodger will fly back to Illinois and proceed on to the Philippines as scheduled. Dixie will remain with Andie to help during her recovery and Mark will be involved with his unit as they intensify their preparations to deploy.

We have had a wonderful time with family and friends while we have been in the states. We enjoyed Thanksgiving with Rodger's family at his mom's home. Prior to that we attended the National Missionary Convention in Peoria where we reconnected with many of you and made some new friends too. Even though this trip home was not intended to be a working furlough we did speak at five of our supporting churches--we love to share all that God is doing with our supporters!

We have been richly blessed by God this year as He allowed us to share in His work in the Philippines. He is indeed a God of might and miracles--worthy to be praised! We started out the year not knowing exactly how God would lead and use us but willing to follow Him. Throughout the year we have seen His power as He opened doors of opportunity and provided the finances for us to go through those doors.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Eph. 3:20-21

May you have a blessed and joyous season of remembering the birth of our Savior.

Rodger and Dixie

YOUTH CENTER HAS FIRST WORSHIP

Last Friday night the first worship service was held at the Youth Center. The team expected around 60-70 students to attend so were completely astounded when more than 110 students attended. Our center is only 20 x 20 feet and the chairs inside were filled--some by two students. The stairs leading up to the center were also completely full.

The night was filled with singing intersperesed with short devotional talks.

Pray for those who attend the monthly worship service to have a desire to learn more about God's love for them.

DISCIPLESHIP CLASS

A few months ago we shared about Dinah, a young woman who came up to the Youth Center when she heard the drums. Dinah enrolled in a Bible Study and was baptized several weeks ago. Following her baptism Alma (Youth Center employee) invited Dinah to join a discipleship class with one other young woman. Dinah accepted the invitation and brought her sister with her to join the discipleship group. After a few weeks of the discipleship studies Dinah's sister and the other young woman accepted Christ as their savior and were baptized last Sunday by Eddie assisted by Alma. We rejoice as these two young women have given their lives to Christ and continue to study God's word with Alma.

This is the first time Alma led a Bible study and she was quite hesitant to do so. Here is Alma's response to the baptisms of Harlan and Kristina-Lyn.

"When I first learned I would be leading a Bible study I was worried about not being adequate to teach. I was scared thinking that the student might not believe me because I don't know how to do it. When Harlan and Kristina went forward to receive the Lord I was crying. My heart pounded so fast. I can't believe that they will receive Christ that soon despite the very short time we spent together in studying. I felt an inner joy. I was shocked when Pastor Eddie wanted to include me to baptize them but after the baptisms I was very happy. It was my first time to assist because I thought that only a pastor or elder must do a baptism. The experience increased my faith and confidence to share and teach somebody about the Word of God. It was a stepping stone to continue on and to become more effective to share the gospel."

Please pray for Alma, Dinah, Harlin, and Kristina Lyn as they continue to study scripture together. Pray for the three new Christians to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

SHEWMAKERS IN STATES

Rodger and Dixie are in the states for November and December to visit family, attend the National Missionary Convention, and visit with some of our supporters/supporting churches.
We are in close contact with our co-workers in the Philippines and are excited and amazed at the things that are happening.

November 1 was the beginning of second semester in the schools, at the Youth Ministry we are beginning the second semester of tutorials, Bible Studies and activities.
Some of the changes for second semester are:
Friday nights will include monthly worship services, Fusion nights (games and other interactive activities), music nights and mystery nights.
Tutorials in Keyboard (musical not computer) will be offered.
Full band practice will be limited to Wednesdays and drum tutorials will be scheduled so they don't interfere with Bible Studies. (I'm sure you can imagine what it would be like to have a Bible Study in the same room as someone practicing the drums!)
A big Christmas party at the beach is planned for December.
Thanks to internet we are able to receive photos of the current happenings and will update the blog.

Please pray for the team as they capably carry-on the work in our absence. Pray for hearts to be moved in accordance to God's will as we speak to churches and individuals regarding needs of the Youth Center.