God Undertook In Every Way!

Praise God!

We made it to camp safely!

Paul enjoyed teaching all his sessions in spite of some pain and discomfort!

We are home again safely and Paul is resting.

I had no problems with dressing his incisions or with the driving.

Jubab enjoyed the camp and we were thankful for God giving us that time.

Thank you for praying!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Paul's surgery went well.....

This was last night at the hospital just after Paul was brought out of the recovery room. Jubab and I had to wait a long time for them to bring Paul out and it was such a relief when he was back safely with us again.

The surgery went well and so far, Paul’s main complaint is that his left leg is still numb from the anesthetic and he was having trouble walking. It is constantly improving though and this afternoon he is walking better.

There is a bit of pain but it isn’t unbearable. I was surprised at how wide the incisions were and don’t look forward to changing the dressings as I have a weak stomach when it comes to medical work on my dearest and nearest.

We are heading ‘bush’ tomorrow for an Easter Camp that Paul is speaking at. This was organized months ago and then the surgery was scheduled just a couple of days before the camp, but we believe God’s timing is always perfect and that Paul will have the strength to sit on a chair and share the amazing truths from the Word that God has laid on his heart.

Thank you so much for your prayers for the surgery and please pray for Paul as he speaks at the camp and also pray for my driving to get us to camp that it will be smooth and not jolt him. I’m still honing my driving skills having done very little of it over the past years.

Our family news......

Please pray for Paul this coming Thursday as he has surgery for two hernias. It can’t come quick enough for Paul as he has been experiencing quite a bit of discomfort and pain.

About life here in Ballina, the house feels homey now, we’ve made a garden (got eaten alive by midges) and done a lot of handy-man jobs. We’ve also been travelling and speaking and sharing about the great things God is doing in Mindanao. 

Paul is still ‘building’ and just recently, a small but very functional church building has been built for the little group of believers in Tinongtongan. Through skype and emails, Paul is able to order the building supplies and to help the team of builders who are on site, so this is a huge blessing!

Paul is recording messages on the book of Ephesians which he sends to Lapoc. These are used as study helps by the church leaders who are teaching Ephesians in the churches.  Please pray that they will grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus and in His Word.

The past four months have brought so many changes to Jubab’s life that it has almost totally changed from when we were in Lapoc. He has gone from being introvert to being extrovert, from not being an upfront person to being on-stage weekly, from being unsure of himself to being quite confident…

You might ask why all these changes: it is probably partly due to growing up and also to feeling a lot more freedom to express himself. Recently Jubab told us that he had felt a bit repressed and traumatized in the environment we lived in on the field and that he feels a lot more open and happy here. God multiplies His grace and peace to us!

Jubab  finds the classroom situation at school fun and motivating and as he makes new friends who are asking him about his background and his faith, he is even learning boldness to speak out about what he believes. 

Leadership opportunities like the student council at school and helping with the Youth Group at church are stretching him and encouraging him. 

He asks for prayer for consistency in his walk with God. 

other family news:

Recently Jubab auditioned for a part in a production at the local theatre - which he got - so he now has an outlet for his love of drama. 

Dad and Mum are coming to visit us next week which is a special blessing we can enjoy and next month, my brother and his wife and four daughters who we haven’t seen in 11 years, are coming home from the mission field and we are looking forward very, very much to seeing them! 

Our upcoming plans to travel back to the Philippines in June:

June is coming very quickly and we are looking forward to being reunited with our beloved fellow-believers in Christ who are especially precious to us because we labored for them through many dangers and many years and yet we count those costs as nothing because of the joy of serving Christ and of seeing them growing in their faith and in their faithfulness to Him.

During that trip we will be having a 3-day leadership workshop with over 30 church leaders, a wedding that Paul will be officiating at, a Ladies’ conference of 200 + ladies where we will be studying the book of 2 Peter, a visit to three different areas to encourage the believers and speak in the churches, a training day and fellowship with all the scripture teachers from the schools and quite a few meetings.

Last Sunday, Paul had a skype meeting with three of the church leaders in Lapoc – Ronnie, Rodil and Duy-duy – and they told him that last Friday there was a baptism in Tinongtongan of 20 new believers and at the end of April, there will be another baptism of 40 new believers in another place, many of them teenagers. Praise God!!visit us next week which is a special