Mission trip

I have labled it Mission trip because that is what we have started today, but I want to share about camp that finished last week, too... We had 40 + campers and on Friday, 10 made decisions to follow Christ and be baptized.

I am including pictures of the "mission group" eating breakfast, then "on the job" with the task of clean up they are tackling today. This is a beach area of Digos that the muslims have settled. We are working with a mission that has been working in the area for several years. With their direction, we hope to be able to give them some encouragement and challenge the residents in a new way. Pray for responses, as we are going to be doing some teaching on Wed. and Thursday.

camp

We are all packing for camp. Our first it in Northern Mindanao - it is the 11th year for it! We have lots of volunteers that we hope will be taking over most of the responsibilities next year. Pray that they see the vision and the reasons for doing each and every activity and requirement.

The new youth center is continuing to progress. Rodger plans to leave camp early to continue work on it.

new building

Today is the last day we will be open for the kids until next school year. A full day of activities was planned - chess, Chinese checkers, and other game tournaments during the day at the present building and with a "battle of the bands" program of worship in the evening... in the new building!!! The photo on the right is preparing, the one above is the kids attending.... approx. 75 attended and all enjoyed the worship time in the new building.

Monday we will be moving everything out of the old building and to the new, Tuesday we will be planning the "mission trip" for the young professionals. We are working in a Muslim settlement, first with some physical labor (fence mending!) and then a two day program with young people, presenting the gospel to them with a challenge of committing to Christ. We covet your prayers for the week of April 5-9.

We're packing them in!!! Literally??? We have possession of the new building and Saturdays have become work days for the staff and volunteers... Boboy was nailing in some boards and this was the most convenient/comfortable way to hit the nail.... We almost have one room in usable form, which has been our goal, so we can start to move things into "storage" for the summer. The building won't officially open until June 1 but we are planning our last day of activities for the school year to be held in the new building.

As you can see we did have a good crew working and do get a lot accomplished on each Saturday work day. Many hands do truly make light work... but we are all tired by the end of the day. We continue to have baptisms from kids who are in the Bible Studies - as they go thru the lessons, they realize their need and ask to be baptized. We then see them attending Sunday services, and truly changed lives, wanting to share Christ with others.

New family members

Angel and Virgie were the second and third baptisms for the week! We see students continually coming to know Christ thru the Bible Studies. Pray for those students who have the desire to accept Christ, but whose parents refuse to let them... After they accept Christ, we have a whole series of discipleship lessons that really excites them in their walk.

Graduation is the end of this month - March... We then start camp and preparing for next school year starting in June.

WE HAVE IT!

We have secured a new building for the ministry!

After numerous trips to the next village, talking to the owner, his lawyer, and patiently waiting, we have secured this building for the ministry next school year.

The Lord has answered so many prayers - we have immediate possesion, rent doesn't start until June 1, and it is the same rent as we are paying now!!! There is a vacant area that can be made into a parking area, and it is DIRECTLY accross the street from the High School, on the ground floor...

More later....