Monday, November 21, 2011

Matthew 28:19.

Jesus said:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.........”

These are some who we – in partnership with you - have been preaching to: 

Preaching until the sweat just poured off Paul’s back.....
Preaching with joy!
Baptizing!

Almost 70 believers were baptized in Cauyunan last Saturday, Nov. 12th, 2011,
and the church conference that spanned over 3 days
was a huge encouragement and great time of studying
God’s Word and singing praises together!

Praise our Lord God!!!!!







                  

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Joy mixed with grief



DonDon,
(Jubab’s brother)
and his bride,
Nayumi here
with Paul.

It was a 7 hour
journey to reach
Nayumi’s  village.






But what began as a joyous family bridal journey became a journey of joy mixed with grief because two hours into the journey, we received news of death in the family. Jubab’s birth grandfather had gone to be with the Lord at the age of 70, which was great joy for him but grief for us. Some of the family turned back to go and prepare for the funeral while the rest of us continued on. The wedding guests were already gathered, the bride and her family were waiting expectantly, the wedding feast was being prepared and the wedding could not be postponed.  


This is minutes before
the wedding ceremony
began.

Jubab was a very 
proud brother
of the nervous
groom.



Just 24 hours later,
joy turns to
raw grief as
Jubab holds
his distraught
birth Mum in
his arms at
Grandpa’s
grave-site, 
while we said
our goodbyes
to Grandpa’s
earthly body.  




Paul’s message at the gravesite was this:  “Brothers and sisters, do not grieve for Amay like people grieve who have no hope.....for we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus, all those who have died, who believe in Jesus. This is our hope! We weep now as we say goodbye to Amay’s earthly body but one day soon, we’ll hear the shout of the archangel and the trumpet of God and we’ll be swept up together in the clouds, and Amay will be there.......so encourage one another with these words!” 

Praise God for this wonderful hope!!!

Please pray for Bubuy and Wila (Jubab’s birth Dad and Mum) and our whole family during the days of grieving for Wila’s Dad who lived with them and is very missed.

Pray for DonDon and Nayumi, our family newlyweds, who are here with us right now in Lapoc. Nayumi’s first day of married life was at Grandpa’s funeral with a house full of strangers and in a place many hour’s travel away from her childhood home and her family. She is a bright, beautiful girl with a strong faith in Jesus and we are looking forward to many years of serving Him together with these children of ours.

P.S. If you would like to read more about DonDon and Nayumi's wedding or of Grandpa's funeral, please click on the link to Ben and Leonie's blog as you will find much more detail!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Celebrating Birthdays!!


Birthday time!!!!!

Jubab is the bridge that has joined all the families in this picture together and every year we
get together to celebrate our beautiful boy!

This year’s celebration was wonderful – with Jubab’s birth Mum and Dad, his four brothers,
his sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, two nephews, two nieces........
and this year we had Ben and Leonie with us as well which was a
BIG PLUS!!  Later on this month one of Jubab’s brothers is getting
married so Jubab will have a new sister-in-law!!!!

Our family keeps growing!!

Our eternal family keeps growing too – last week in San Aquino
thirty people heard the Gospel message for the first time
and many in this group have professed their faith
in our Lord Jesus!!

This coming Sunday a group of about 15 will hear the Gospel message
for the first time here in Lapoc
and there 12 new believers in Tinongtongan!!

We keep celebrating new birth-days!!

Also breaking news – as we write this - two new missionary families
from the church in Tumpagon
are travelling to their new mission field of Kalamalamahan!!!

Please pray for them: Ruel and Irene Daging and their baby girl
along with Richard and Diding Tamomoc and their three children.
(Diding is Jubab’s birth Aunty so this family are closely related to us!)

Praise God with us for these two new missionary families
being co-sent out by the church in Tumpagon and in Cauyunan.
And praise God with us for all the ‘birth’ days – many have been born again!!