This book is one of the exciting highlights of our year so far – the completion of our first book of bible lessons for children from Creation to the Ascension! The title is called “The Way of Salvation (written) for Children”.
It is the culmination of over two years of work by a team of 7-8 people, and is composed of 55 bible lessons, including memory verses, a song that goes with each lesson and coloured pictures and illustrations!
We are so thankful for God’s amazing provision of this for the thousands of children here! It may not seem so big when compared to the huge selection of Children’s Bibles and Bible story books we can buy in English, but this book is SPECIAL because it is the very first book of its kind available in the Tala-Andig language and it is now being used to teach children in 7 local schools and is also available to parents to use in their homes.
Also exciting is that this book is the first that we have totally produced and printed right here in Lapoc in our own office!! (Usually we get the printing done out in the town but we invented a way to make a durable cover in here using cardboard with a picture attached to the front and laminated on both sides!)
Four young women worked together to write this book – ranging in age from 26-32 years old. Out of the four, only one of them finished high school and another didn’t even get to finish primary level education. Yet God enabled all four of them to learn how to use computers, and to learn how to do word processing, writing, editing, and formatting in their own language in order to produce this book of very high quality children’s bible lessons. The rest of the team involved were helping in the area of developing illustrations and pictures, final editing and production.
And here they are - this is the team of women who worked many diligent hours each week researching, studying and then writing these bible lessons and producing this book. They have been concurrently working on the next children’s bible lesson book which is called “Strengthening Your Faith for Children – Part 1” (which covers the characters in the Bible from Genesis – Ruth) and “Strengthening Your Faith for Children – Part 2” (which covers the characters in the Bible from 1 Samuel – 2 Kings) and Part 1 is well on the way to being completed. The fourth Children’s bible lesson book they are planning to write is an overview of the rest of the OT introducing children to the Psalms, to Proverbs and to each of the Prophets.
Our role in this is the privilege of working shoulder to shoulder with these dear co-workers, helping them in the planning and studying stages, being their editors and also making sure their computers and equipment are all functioning well.
These ladies each have a vital part in the team who labours in the Gospel here and we are so very thankful to the Lord for them – please PRAY for them and for the many others who are part of the team.
Just reflecting today on all the work going on around us and how wonderful it is to partner with you in it. And we want to share a poem with you that reminds us of you, our dear co-workers far away who keep us close at heart:
You are really something special
For you take the time to pray,
Your thoughts for us are many
Even from so far away.
So many times, we think of you
Words can’t express our thoughts,
You help us when we’re overwhelmed
And for us you have fought.
You’ve helped us make that extra mile
Been with us as we’ve climbed,
Up mountains and then down again,
Through dust, and mud and grime.
You are really something special
For you keep us close at heart,
You stand with us and cry with us
In all we do, you have a part.
100 men praising God at a recent Men's Retreat
Paul pouring out his heart from the Word at the Men's Retreat!
God’s Word that these men heard is impacting their lives!
We got a letter two days ago from Jomar, one of the elders in Tumpagon. Here is an excerpt from his letter: “I am so thankful and so happy for the time we had together at the retreat. For me the things I learnt have been a huge help in showing me what areas in my life I am lacking spiritually and I am determined to put into practise the things that I learnt.....last Sunday, all of us who attended the retreat gave testimony of needs that God has shown each of us in our lives......thanks be to God at how many of us here are busy going about the Lord’s work. I sense there is a great spirit and great joy amongst the believers here as they serve Jesus.....”
We hope this news encourages you dear co-workers, your prayers are very effective and very needed every day and when we think about your praying, it makes us realize why God is doing the things He is doing here: He is answering your prayers!!!
“.......brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified.....” 2 Thess 3:1.
It is me (Paul) here writing this time (which is pretty rare as Deb is normally our scribe) as I wanted to give you all an update on how things are going over here. But first of all – thanks for standing with us and co-workering with us in the work and also a huge thanks for praying for us. This will be a long letter so you may want to make a coffee.
Jubab, Ben and Leonie – to say that Jubab is the apple of our eyes would be an understatement and we love him so much. Getting him a decent education is very important to us so he won’t be handicapped in pursuing whatever path he may want to in the future. Well God has been faithful to provide someone to teach Jubab for the past six years and this year – Jubab’s 7th year of school – has been no exception!Ben and Leonie are doing terrific and fitting into the work here extremely well. Seems like nothing is too hard for them and they have been a breath of fresh air for us. This week we are going to begin giving Ben and Leonie some Tala Andig language lessons also. Maybe just one a week for a while. It is possible that Ben and Leonie may stay and work with us for 3 years but this is yet to be decided -- so please pray for them that they will know God’s plan as the time goes on.
Translation – By the end of this week we should have 4 chapters of Romans done in the past 5 weeks. That is very good progress for Deb and I who often find ourselves being torn due to other felt needs apart from translation. There always seems to be so many demands on our time. Please be praying that we can complete at least 10% of the New Testament each year. In Ballina we got 14% done in the year we were there and it would be really encouraging if we could get that done here also. We have a translation check planned for June 6, 2011 on the rest of Romans. Once Romans is complete it will mean that we have exactly 50% of the New Testament translated and checked by a language consultant. There is some OT translation completed as well.
Josh and Belinda – continue to do well but are long overdue for a furlough. They are waiting on paperwork from the US Embassy to allow them to take their little son Neo into the USA. He is adopted legally here but the USA side paperwork is taking a lot of time. Please pray for them regarding this need. Josh is teaching Romans each week and this has allowed me to concentrate on Translation without having to prepare materials to teach. Josh does many other things in the work also and Belinda does a real good job of back translating the TA scripture to English in preparation for consultant checks as well as supporting Josh as he prepares his lessons to teach on Sundays.
Paul and Deb – Translation J -- We try to get up at 5am and get a couple of hours done before Jubab wakes and about ½ of the mornings we are able to do this until we run out of steam toward the end of the week. Right now our main job description is completing the translation of the New Testament.
In addition to this Deb has a meeting with the leaders of the women scripture teachers each week and she disciples them and helps them to grow as leaders. Deb enjoys this very much. Also Deb is involved in a ladies’ group each month where they gather for fellowship and to study the Word, and she also has a monthly bible study and meeting with around 15 women who are involved in leading ladies’ study groups and also teach scripture in the schools. Deb generally finds herself in informal discipleship almost every day with discipling the women or helping some brother or sister who is in need of help – whether they have a sickness that they need help with or whatever.
I have an elders meeting with Josh and the elders here most Sunday afternoons/evenings. We share a meal together and we discuss all that is happening in the work here – whether it is about outreach, projects, challenges in the work or with problems in the fellowship that they are working on. In addition to this I am involved in informal discipleship also most days, working on projects in my spare time, helping patients, making phone calls to co-ordinate things, sometimes getting to teach the Word and a host of other things. I also try to meet with some of the elders from the Cauyunan work each month. The building projects are pretty huge also but I have a team of carpenters and most of the work I do for these projects is administration that I can do from my office between translation.
Bugs, Elsa, Rodel and Annie – These are the 2 Higaunon missionary families that work with us and they are a balm to our hearts. They have served our Lord faithfully for so, so many years now and God is being glorified through them. Bugs and Elsa’s son Ryan, is training to be a Bible translator and looks to join Wycliffe, their 2nd child Aybi is married and due to give birth to their first baby which Elsa and Deb will deliver here at home, and their 3rd child, Kring, is going to University and will soon be in her 2nd year.
Rodel and Annie have 2 kids – Chingching and Nelnel and they are yet small and developing well. Rodel has been “huge” in how he tirelessly teaches God’s Word and evangelizes.
Wingwing and Hazel – On arriving back in the Philippines about 15 months ago, I felt that God was leading me to get another vehicle and employ a driver to drive the lady scripture teachers to the 7 schools that they teach in. At that time they were going in an old vehicle which was beginning to break down often L. They are teaching over 3,000 kids each week and needed a reliable vehicle. Anyway God provided so I purchased a brand new Toyota Hilux and modified it to seat 13 passengers and the driver. This vehicle has been – beautiful – to say the least and has given us trouble free service throughout the year and it gets the ladies to where they have needed to be. Some of the places they travel to each week are between 1 and 2 hours distance depending on how BAD the roads are. Anyway Wingwing is the name of the driver and his wife is Hazel and they have 3 little kids. Wingwing also maintains all of the other motors in his spare time which include, 2 cement mixers, 1 earth compactor, 4 generators, 2 lawn mowers, 2 grass cutters, 2 other Old 4WD vehicles, my vehicle and any other engines kicking around. He also does supply buys in town and runs other errands for me when I have need. His help has been huge and God has blessed us greatly by giving them to us. The greatest thing – Rodel has been teaching them for more than 12 months now and they were both saved last year!!!
Tala Andig and Higaunon Men Teachers – These guys just continue to be such a source of encouragement to us. They just keep on keeping on. Each week they travel to their outreaches and don’t come back for a couple of days and many times they are traveling in rain as they ride their motor bikes and they endure hardship. They teach more than 20 groups of people each week – ranging from groups still in evangelism stage to more mature believers who are meeting to worship and to grow. The bible teachers are discipling leadership in all of the outreaches and are just so faithful in serving our great God. Pray for them as God brings them to your minds.
Tala Andig Women Teachers – Like the men these women amaze us. Many give 3-4-5 days a week in serving the Lord. Many have small babies that they have to leave with their Mums or husbands when they go out to teach and on Tuesdays they leave at 7am and don’t get home until after 5. It is not easy for them but this year is the 9th year that they have been out teaching in the schools each week. They have been so faithful and such a tremendous testimony. Many of the kids they teach have believed in Jesus and some are now coming to church on Sunday as they graduate from school. They are training quite a few women in the outreaches to teach the kids in their local schools and I think all up they have about 12 trainees in the outlaying areas from here. Pray for them as they need our prayers.
Projects – Well as you can see there is never a dull moment in Lapoc. Another of my responsibilities is doing infrastructure projects and community development projects. Last year we built a “computer lab” down at the local high school and furnished it with 16 laptop computers and other devices and the kids are now able to study computers which will prepare them for uni if they end up being able to go. Few ever get to Uni but more so of late. Over the years we have built many school rooms for the local primary schools, done agriculture projects, health project and bunches of other projects.
This year will be a busy one project wise as on Sunday we had an elders meeting and planned projects for this year. As I mentioned above, I can co-ordinate these projects from my office between translation but bottom line is that it does keep me moving. We feel that we should show the Love of Christ to the community by helping out where we can and many people have been touched through these projects in their villages and have come to listen to the Word and have been saved as a result. The below are what we have on the list of projects for 2011.
-Build accommodation for bible teachers in San Aquino. We have just finished building a church building in that village and there are many people there who have been saved. One of the biggest needs there is a house for the bible teachers to live in that go there each week from Lapoc. They go there to teach, disciple the men and co-ordinate outreach to surrounding areas. San Aquino is about 2 hours away by bike and is a strategic place to set up this “Mission Station”. The building will be 30 feet by 30 feet and we will commence building Lord willing within 2 months.
-Build 2 school rooms in San Aquino. Last week Debbie and I visited this school to see how the ladies were going with their scripture teaching. We were saddened at the ramshackle buildings that some of the kids are being schooled in. If it rains some of the classes cannot be held due to the makeshift buildings. Currently we have completed 1 school room at this school and we will join 2 other school rooms to this to make it a block of 3.
-Build 1 school building in the village of Kulawingon. Lots of kids are schooled here also and there is quite a substantial group of believers here. As the kids learn to read it helps us as we do not have to teach them ourselves and they can read the Word of God.
-Build 2 houses in Kalamalamahan. This is the very first village that Debbie and I surveyed in 1987 when we arrived in the Philippines. At that time the people there did not want Debbie and I to move into their village as they were scared of us and thought we would sacrifice their children. In recent years this village has opened up and we are preparing to move 2 Higaunon missionary families into this village. Land has already been purchased and building being planned.
-We have ordered 30 cows for our agriculture project and will order 10,000+ fruit trees before too long.
Well the Lord tells us that we don’t know what tomorrow holds – but we walk by faith and not by sight and trust Him to open the doors and Glorify Himself. Please continue to pray for us throughout the year – ESPECIALLY for the translation Work,
Love, and lots of it from your brothers and sister, Paul, Deb and Jubab
as she looks down on the beautiful and lifeless form
of her firstborn baby, a little boy,
born just a few hours earlier during the previous night.
Mark, the grieving Dad, tried to cover his aching heart
with keeping busy, making the little coffin for his son and
the saddest moment: putting that perfect, little body into the coffin
and nailing the lid on and putting it into the ground.
We talked to them a week ago today, had them over for lunch after the Sunday morning meeting as we had been away during the birth and death of their little son. They were in the kitchen with us helping us to get lunch ready and we shared tears together and talked all about the events of that night and about the following days and nights and about what they were feeling and thinking.
One of the things that we asked them was, “What has God used to comfort your hearts in this time since your baby died?” Mark told us about how the story of Job keeps coming back to his thoughts and heart and how he keeps hearing God saying to him, “Trust Me just like Job trusted Me.”
And Aysa said God keeps saying to her, “Keep on, go through this.....keep trusting Me.”
We were so blessed in the midst of heavy hearts and tears to see Mark and Aysa trusting God through this time. They have been married for less than a year, and both of them are involved in ministry. Mark is a bible teacher and goes out each week to teach in the outreaches and Aysa is training to be a scripture teacher in the schools.
So please pray for them as you think of them in the rawness of their grief and pray that they will continue to have hearts that trust God no matter what.
“He heals the broken in heart,
And bindeth up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3
Aysa’s heart is grieving and wounded but God is healing her, binding up her wounds and her spirit is still strong and her and Mark continue on serving and trusting.....
PLEASE PRAY for continued healing for them and for each one here whose heart is broken and wounded.
This is the old church building in San Acquino – which looks pretty pathetic but this was the venue through which almost 100 people listened each week to God’s Word, where they heard the Gospel for the first time, and where they started growing in the knowledge of God’s will for their lives and in their desire to serve our Lord Jesus!
But things happened - they outgrew this building, someone stole the tarp off the roof.....
But God worked marvelously and provided this beautiful block of land
for the believers in San Aquino. And here is their new church building
going up – a beautiful solid, building – nestled in a quiet place, near clear running
water, close to the village, but enough distance that the noise will not disturb
them as they study His Word.
This will be the center for their meetings and for their bible studies, for teaching the children,
gathering for prayer, discipling groups of women, training new bible teachers – of which there are an abundance of inSan Aquino. The church here is thriving and is very fertile ground for the Word. Already the local church leadership though young in the Lord, are showing remarkable ability to teach and disciple and there is a growing hunger in this place amongst the unbelievers to join this band of believers and to find out what has happened in their lives as there is such
evident changes and wonders happening in their lives.
God is building His church......not the building but the people......and He is also providing them with infrastructure and buildings needed like this one. San Aquino is about 45 minutes drive from Lapoc on a ROUGH road - it is becoming an outstation of the work here and additional buildings are probably going to be built here as we continue training and sending out teachers (and hopefully missionaries)
from there.
We are hoping to build more church building like this in other places where the number of believers is growing later on this year. As you can imagine, it is a huge job for Paul, getting the materials together, coordinating the purchasing of and trucking of innumerable loads of cement, roofing material, hardiflex, gravel, sand and on and on.
Ben and Leonie have arrived here in Lapoc!!!! THANK YOU for all your prayers for them: For their preparations For their wedding For their travel For all the details that had to be worked out...... After all your prayers – well....here they are!!! And now, they need your continued prayers. It is not easy to be plunged into a new country, into a remote village, into a place where there is nowhere to go out, no places to shop, no family or friends around, everyone speaks a different language, you have to make your own bread, and you see things and hear things every day that sound and look foreign......and all this on top of not even having been married for a month yet!! Ben started classes on Monday and Jubab has been really enjoying having Ben for his teacher!!!
It is nearly the end of their second week of school and everything is going great. Leonie has been doing a marvelous job of organizing their first household as a married couple and baking bread and settling in. Today they will be happy to see some of the landscape more clearly as for the first few days all they saw was fog. Thank you for your continued prayers for Ben and Leonie and praise God with us that because they are here, we had a huge week on the translation and were able to work 10 hour days!!! We got a whole chapter of Romans finished by yesterday as well as updating our Tala-Andig dictionary which we use extensively while we translate. And today we made a lot of progress into our second chapter for the week!!! All this because Ben and Leonie are here as without them on the team, our progress on the translation would be seriously slowed down.
Thank you for all your prayers over the years for the fantastic teachers who have team-worked with us, Julie, Jessie, Jane, Barb.....and now Ben and Leonie!! God is SO AWESOME!!
Often times as the missionary you get to hear all the bad news.....people’s problems, people’s sickness, people’s needs, people’s struggles.......and sometimes this gets a bit tough for the missionary and the missionary can start to feel burdened, heavy and downhearted. So when times come like last Sunday afternoon when we hear about the amazing things Jesus is doing in people’s lives......it is like a revival in our souls!!! These times are the times of being lifted up on wings of Eagles.....
The setting was my Ladies’ Fellowship Group’s Christmas party. I meet once a month with the Lapoc Central Group and there are about 24 of us in the group. Most of the ladies I get to spend my time with on a regular basis are ladies who are in ministry: the scripture teachers, the wives of the church elders and teachers, the missionaries. But in my ladies’ group, I get to spend time with a different group of women – women who would mostly be called ‘lay-women’ I guess - and it has been a joy to get to know them and to interact with them.
During our afternoon together last Sunday, we sat in a circle and each of us shared what Jesus’ birth means to us personally. I can’t record all of their testimonies for you but here are some of them:
Beloved Sister #1: (a 19 year old converted lesbian) Head up, eyes looking straight at us, voice clear and confident, she said, “Jesus’ birth has changed my life. You all know what I was before but because Jesus was born on this earth and died for me, He has turned me around. My life is so different now and I am so thankful to Him!!” This dear sister is married and has a 9 month old son now.
Beloved Sister #2: (a 26 year old, wife of a murderer. Her husband is currently in prison and she is raising their 3 daughters alone.) Eyes pouring with tears, voice choked up and unsteady, pausing from time to time as she broke into sobs, she said, “Jesus’ birth brought me from the darkness into the light. And even now that I am in the light, life is still so miserable. If I didn’t know Jesus, if it wasn’t for His strength getting me through each day, I don’t think that I could be here anymore as life would just be unbearable. He is the reason I can keep living.”
Beloved Sister #3: (young wife and mother of 4) Very shyly, as she hardly ever speaks in a group, she said, “Jesus’ birth has transformed me. You know my character before, how horrible I used to be, but Jesus has changed me. I am so thankful to Him – that He was born and that He died to save me!!”
Beloved Sister #4: (in her 40’s, mother of 7, used to be addicted to alcohol and gambling, knows what it is like to fall in the ditch unable to get up because she was so drunk) Funny, loud, bubbly, she was the MC of our time of sharing. She said, “If Jesus hadn’t come to die for me, then oh my (approx equivalent to the Tala-Andig ‘Hooooo-aahhh)!!!!!! where do you think I would be right now, that’s pretty clear isn’t it? How hopeless and dark my life was before Jesus saved me. Jesus’ birth meant life for me, and just think all these years went by since He was born, but He had a plan for us didn’t He, and He sent our missionaries here who showed us the way.....and we still mess up even though we are saved and even when we know the truth and we still disobey, but He just keeps teaching us....”
And so the meeting went on – sister after sister describing how Jesus’ birth and His death for them has changed their lives, and there we were sharing tears and laughter and praising the Lord together in a very special way. It was one of those ‘highlight of the year’ moments and I couldn’t wait to get home and tell Paul all about it. And he straight away said that I should share it with you too so that you could be as blessed as we are to hear about and to be a part of such a wonderful work that our Lord Jesus is doing in our dear sisters’ lives!!!!
