Thursday, March 06, 2008

Happy 2008!

It was great to have visitors to help us celebrate Christmas and New Years... Andy (Wendy's brother) and wife, Valerie arrived the day the kids got out of school in December and stayed until after the first of the year. They arrived like the wisemen... with suitcases bulging with gifts... and American cereal!!! We had a blast sharing our family's holiday traditions with them. The annual trip to Baguio with putt-putt golf (with annual picture-taking on the horse) & bumper cars at Camp John Hay, 2 hour trail rides, shooting fireworks on Christmas Eve, a little cooler temperatures... and then home to Davao and Paradise Island Beach Resort on New Year's Eve. They even brought some homemade Christmas cookies (Grandma Innis' special recipe) to decorate... and eat, of course!!! Here are some pictures of our time together:

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Kid's Korner (March 08)

We have been so thankful over the years for good health for our family. It's not something we take for granted and we are continually amazed of His provision in that area. Well... the month of February threw a few kinks in that situation! The month started out with Krysten getting her nose broken while playing basketball after school. Ouch! Two weeks later we get a message from David's dorm parents telling us he is being admitted to the hospital with possible appendicitis. Double ouch! Thanks to many of you who knew about these situations and prayed.

Krysten left 2 days after her "accident" to go with her classmates on a week-long "outdoor education" trip to Manila. She didn't get to participate as much as she would have liked... but it was a good trip! She had the packing removed after a week and seems to be healing fine. But... she won't be playing any basketball or soccer for a while without her nose guard! She's looking forward to her first "stage appearance" in the Middle School production of "The Velveteen Rabbit" where she'll be playing the part of Andrew's mother. She also plays piano and sings with the middle school praise band.

David had an appendectomy on the evening of Valentine's Day, checked out of the hospital on Saturday, and was back in school on Monday. The biggest disappointment was not getting to go with the basketball team on the following Sunday for their end of the season tournament in Korea. He's having to stay away from sports for the next few weeks but is looking forward to going full steam again after spring break. (In team picture, David is far left on front row)






Betsy is doing great! She continues to loose teeth... but is glad the new ones are beginning to grow in! She's playing T-ball this quarter but can't wait til 3rd grade when she'll graduate to real baseball. Her class has been studying the different countries represented in the class. Today they had a presentation to share about one famous person from their passport country. Betsy choose Pocahontas!


All three continue to do well in school. We're looking forward to their spring break in a few weeks! David will be home and we're planning some good family memory-makers during the week.

We ask you to continue to partner with us in praying for each of them:

  • Pray for the Lord to continue to speak to Betsy's heart about a relationship with Him. Pray for us to be faithful in sharing with her the Good News.
  • As Krysten is involved in classes & various activities at school, pray for the Lord to continue to develop in her a teachable & gentle spirit.
  • Pray for David as he interacts with other students & teachers at school. Ask the Lord to continue to grow him into a young man with a desire to live godly.

Summer 2008: Filipino & American Teams

Filipino Nehemiah Teams

This is the final month of preparation before national Nehemiah Teams begin their orientations and ministry. We are so excited about the 6 franchises across the Philippines planning & praying to send out 27 teams among the unreached & hard to reach. Continue to pray for students to be obedient in "going"... pray for churches to be faithful in "sending"... pray as we prepare materials for the teams. More information about the locations of these teams is available on our website (www.nehemiahteams.com).

American Nehemiah Teams

Several of the American teams for this June & July are already full... we praise the Lord for those! However, there are still several teams that need more members... and some teams with no one assigned at all. As students continue to apply for summer positions, pray for their hearts to be open to going to some "hard places"... places with people who are waiting for a messenger to come & share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ.

For more information about this summer's opportunities, you can check our website (www.nehemiahteams.com Look under "Where: American") or (www.thetask.org keyword search "Nehemiah Teams") Teams include general evangelism teams as well as service teams (Orphanage, Habitat for Humanity, and agriculture/construction teams). The Little Orphan Nanny teams were the first ones to fill! We're excited about this new avenue of ministry and partnering with some other ministries here in the Philippines. There is still one media position open.... someone to come & work on a new website, design some promotional materials, and supervise the media folks assigned to the various teams.

Pray for those assigned to serve this summer. Pray for the Lord to provide their financial needs. It's awesome to hear the testimonies of how God provides for these students. Pray for their spiritual preparation as they prepare to share the Good News with many who may have never heard.

Semester Intern
Becca, a student from California Baptist University, arrived the first week of February and will spend the next six months with us. Currently she is spending a month studying language & culture in Butuan City. March through May will be spent volunteering in various orphanages in the Davao & Manila area, helping us to see which ones can best benefit from the Little Orphan Nanny teams serving through Nehemiah Teams this June & July. Pray for Becca as she deals with culture shock & missing her family. Pray for a servant heart as she loves the little ones. You can read more on her blog: www.beccasphilippinesadventure.blogspot.com

There is no rock like our God

There is none as holy as you are Lord. There is none beside you; neither is there any rock like our God.

I read these words the day after I had toured the ruins of an 11th Century Buddhist temple in a closed country in Asia. After climbing many stairs and passing by two preliminary structures , which the former glory could still easily be imagined, we arrived at the main sanctuary. We were greeted by a giant Buddha. Intimidating in size. Magnificent in craftsmanship. Beautifully decorated. But, overwhelming silent. For hundreds of years this Buddha and many others like it have greeted thousands... no millions... of worshippers at this place the same way. Stone cold! I stood there and watched as this rock stared into space. He could not hear. He could not speak. He could not move or be moved by incense, prayers, or devotion. Our God is moved by our prayers. Our God sees and hears. Our God cares for us… and them. Truly, there is no rock like our God.