Arriving in Australia......

We have arrived in our passport country of Australia!

The two weeks leading up to our departure from the Philippines on Dec 3, 2013 held all the normal emotions that one goes through when a big change is ahead, like excitement, sadness, fear, dread……..but we were held by the confidence in our God that He has every step already in place for us. Our transition into Australia has been going very smoothly which is a huge praise point and we thank our Lord for His arms around us and for all His plans for us.

 

These are some of the things we did as we said goodbyes:

 

Committing elders and deacons to the task before them.

 

Last minute laughs and cuddles

Jubab singing a last song in the Tumpagon

Church with his brother Nel.

 

Lots of hugs and fun with our grandkids! We had a couple of days in Cagayan with Jen and Udi and the kids taking the grandkids swimming and doing lots of fun stuff.

Since being back in Australia, we have been catching up with family and friends and partners in the work and during the next weeks and months, we hope to travel and catch up with many more!

Our phone number here in Australia is 0431 835454. Our email addresses are still the same.

Please feel free to contact us through email or phone call if you would like us to share in your church or to speak at any events. We will be happy to have opportunities to tell of the marvellous works of our Lord Jesus over here in the Lapoc and Dulangan areas.

Our hearts are very full and very thankful!

Open Doors In Man-ay

Last Tuesday Paul woke me up at 4:12 am. He couldn’t sleep with excitement because at 6:00 am, the proposed missionary team to Man-ay were going on their first survey there as two couples to fully investigate the lay-out of Man-ay and to find out if the village officials there would even accept a missionary team.

Before they left we got with them and had a prayer time and Paul exhorted them to be courageous and to go out there like Joshua and Caleb had when they were sent to spy out the land of Canaan. Paul told them that during their survey to Man-ay, they would see ‘sweet things’ like the grapes that Joshua and Caleb brought back and they would also see ‘giants’, but not to be afraid because God is with them and will go before them. 

We walked up to the road with them and watched them drive off with much excitement in our hearts and expectations of great things. 

THE ‘SWEET’ NEWS (OR THE GRAPES):

There were indeed many sweet things that the survey held for these two couples! The biggest news is that the chief leader of  Man-ay welcomed them with open arms and offers to help them find land to build on and offered them any assistance that they need – even a place to live while their housing is being built! Praise God for this answer to prayer!!!

Apparently for some time now, this leader has been hearing news about the group who have the “Batbat” or the ‘account of’, which people here have been calling the Good News which we are spreading. He had already heard that our group is very good! We knew that God had already been preparing the way into Man-ay and it was exciting to hear about this first hand.

People’s hearts were very open to them everywhere they went.

There is some land available for purchase that is in a pretty central place in the village so would be good for the team.

THE ‘GIANTS’:

They had to face a lot of strangers and one rather aggressive man who were all gathered at the house of the chief leader.

There are some cults already moving into the area who will be sure to cause some conflict.

SO……Doors are continuing to open and progress is being made in the Lapoc church’s plans to send out a missionary team to the Tignapuluan area which is made up of more then a dozen different villages – Man-ay seems the most strategic place to locate out of all them.  

The proposed team to send there are two couples, DuyDuy and JenJen Alderite and their 5 yr old son, who would be the team leaders and Marjun and Angel and their 4 yr old son who would be their partners and there may be a third couple. This is still being finalized and may still change but we know they would value your prayers sooooo much as they make final decisions. Tomorrow night they will be presenting a full report to the elders here about their trip earlier this week and we will all have dinner together which we are really looking forward to!