Friday Update

Friday morning the medical team left early for their first clinic site. They saw over 60 families... most with 5 or 6 members each. The local pastor said that many of the residents commented that this was the first time they had seen Americans! All American men now must look like Dr. Mike and the majority of the women must have curly hair (Rhea, Eleanor, & Taryn)! It was a great day! We'll post pictures as soon as we can.

After morning devotion led by one of the Nehemiah Team members (Ben, from Albertville), the youth team headed to a local Habitat for Humanity site for a morning of work. They felt like they were in a parade as they loaded up in the Habitat dumptruck for the 15 minute ride through Butuan City to the worksite. (see video of them leaving the hotel) The ladies spent the morning painting metal trusses while the others began the walls of the house currently under construction.

Hey Cuz!!

This is an exciting summer for the Jennings kids! 3 cousins visiting in one summer! Cousin Kate arrived the end of May, just in time for David's graduation. Kate will be here until the end of August. Her brother, Josh, will arrive in July for a couple weeks. Today, Cousin Luke arrived with the team from FBC Ft. Payne. It was great to see David & Luke get to play ball together tonight. Although Luke was jet-lagging pretty badly, they put forth a good effort as they played a local team. (see video clip below) They'll play at least 4 more games against local teams over the next week.

Luke, David, Krysten, & Kate

Team has arrived!

The team from FBC Fort Payne has arrived in Butuan! The 18 person team will be joining with nationals and other volunteers for a full week of ministry. After a short time of orientation the first ministry opportunity began with a basketball game against a local team here in Butuan City. Team USA put forth a good effort... it was a little difficult to play as a team since they'd never even practiced together!... but they did lose 56-51. Oh well... it was a good start to the week. During half-time the players introduced themselves much to the delight of the girls in the crowd! Other team members share a brief drama followed by a Gospel presentation by Jeff (translated by Jess).

Jet lag had set in pretty hard and the team was ready to head to bed when they returned to the hotel around 9:30. No Thea... you are talking in complete sentences! :) Pray for the team as the medical team will conduct their first clinic while the youth team works all morning at a local Habitat for Humanity site. In the afternoon, the youth team will lead an assocational youth fellowship which will last until Saturday afternoon.

Warming up before the game

Getting ready to play

After the game

Visitors from home!

We're excited about the volunteer team arriving this week from our home church, First Baptist Church of Fort Payne, Alabama. This team of 18 youth & adults will arrive in Butuan City on Thursday and will spend the next 9 days sharing God's love throughout the Agusan River Valley. In partnership with the local association of churches they will be: conducting free medical clinics, playing basketball games against local teams, giving dental hygiene demonstrations in local elementary schools, playing volleyball against high school students, sharing their personal testimonies, hosting an association-wide youth rally, performing evangelistic dramas, making & installing water filters, working at Habitat for Humanity project, going door-to-door sharing the Good News, and attending a wedding! Whew!! I think that's enough to fill up their time!

Be praying for this team as they begin traveling Tuesday morning (Alabama time!) and will arrive Thursday noon (Philippine time!) Their schedule will begin Thursday afternoon with a brief orientation followed by the first basketball game. We'll try to post updates & pictures as often as possible.

Pray for:

• open hearts of the team members to enable them to hear what God is saying to them during their time here,
• open doors in the villages where the team will be ministering,
• fertile hearts that are ready to accept what they hear about Christ & His love for them
  

Where am I from?

I am from the United States,
The land of the free and the brave.
Where a two car garage and 2.5 kids is the norm
Where sports are King and Christianity is just another religion.

I am from the Philippines.
The country where corruption is rampant.
The land where the rich become richer
and the poor become poorer.

I am from the city,
From skyscraper and office buildings.
From traffic lights, streets, and suburban homes.
Where drug dealers and gangs roam the streets.

I am from the mountains.
Where trees are everywhere and the roads are dirt.
Where there is no difference between drinking water and laundry water.
Where being rich means having 2 caraboes instead of one.

I am from friends,
where encouragement and disappointment happens.
Where gossip and stories are shared,
Where good or bad memories are made.

I am from family.
Where love is unconditional and nothing has to be proven.
A place where somebody will always be there for you,
A place where you feel safe.

I am from sports,
From the sweat and hard work,
From the bounce of a basketball and the bump of a volleyball.
I am from the hardwood floor and sweet resounding swish of the net.

I am from the classroom,
Where listening is a necessity and talking is forbidden.
I am from teacher's hard work and dedication to excellence,
Where homework isn't a choice but a chore.
Where an "A" is a reward for hard work.

I am from Jesus,
The Author and Perfecter of our faith.
The beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega.
Where my desire is to follow Him and do His will.
Where the Bible is my guide and the Holy Spirit is my interpreter.
I am from Him and for Him.

-David Jennings

More family pictures...

Riding the longest zipline in Asia... Superman style!!!

Success!!!

Kids Korner

School has been back in session for a couple weeks now and it seems like we're getting on a pretty normal routine. It used to be weird to think, "We are parents of a teenage?!." Now we say, "We are parents of a senior!" as David has begun his senior year at Faith Academy in Manila. Volleyball season started today and he's excited about playing again this year. Pray for David as he manages his time between sports, activities with friends, and keeping on top of his classes. Pray that he will be sensitive to God's leading for his future plans. It's our prayer that this will be a great year for him... full of memories and defining times that he'll remember for a lifetime!

Krysten is enjoying her 8th grade year at Faith Academy here in Davao City. Already busy with Student Council (vice-president), chapel praise team (keyboard), sports (intramural soccer & tennis lessons), not to mention her academic subjects... it looks like it's going to be a busy year! Pray for Krysten as she also learns to budget her time and choose wisely where she spends her time. Pray for a continued desire to grow in God's grace & inner beauty.

Betsy is thinking 3rd grade isn't much different than 2nd grade. We keep telling her it will surely get harder some day! Her current hobby is trying to teach our black Labrador some new tricks. She's started making an obstacle course around the backyard. He seems to be pretty eager to learn as long as there is some food involved! She loves to be outside... playing with the dog, riding her bike with neighbors, and going swimming. She's also started piano lessons and seems to enjoy that too. Mom might not be the best teacher in the world but hopefully she'll get the basics! Pray for Betsy to continue to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's moving in her life. Pray that she will be helpful to her teachers and an encouragement to her classmates.

Hands on the Rim

A new program through our organization offers 4 to 12 month positions. Hands On is missions experience for college students and young adults. You'll be able to join real missionaries in their efforts to reach the lost. You'll be called upon to use whatever skills you have as tools to help start new churches and share about Jesus Christ with people who may have never even heard His name. Complete information can be found on the Hands On website... www.thetask.org/handson

Many teams are requested for 2009 for the PacRim region. From agriculture to orphanages... student ministry in urban centers to evangelism in some of the hardest to reach places ... teaching English to the unreached to teaching children at a missionary school... the opportunities are here!! The first session is February 8 through August 2, just short of 6 months. The second session is 4 months... August 16 through December 17.

Will you be the hands that will show God's love?!

Student Summit

Basta matapos kita!!! (If only we may finish!!)
November 7-8, 2008

Longview Heights Baptist Church, Olive Branch, Mississippi

• Speaker: Claude Hickman of The Traveling Team and author of Live Life on Purpose
• Breakout sessions.... Are you a World Christian? Who are the UPG's of the PacRim? God's Will or Mine?
• Interactive seminars
• Missionaries: Up-close & personal
• Worship & fellowship

Registration must be done online before October 22 in order to be admitted to the event. Go to www.takeit2therim.info for complete registration information.

Pray for students who will be attending this event. Pray for the Lord to speak to them about their part of reaching the world for Christ!

Take it to the Rim: PacRim Summit

The Pacific Rim Region is holding it's second "Take it to the Rim Summit" on November 5-7, 2008 at Longview Heights Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi. (10 miles from Memphis, TN). A student event will follow the main event beginning on the evening of the 7th thru the afternoon of the 8th. Come and learn more about what God is doing in this region of the world and how you can make a greater impact among the 800+ million living here. Meet others working among your UPG, those looking for a place to partner and talk with 50 field personnel for first hand information. Register at www.takeit2therim.info

The Summit is designed for pastors, ministers of missions and lay missions leaders to equip partners for strategic involvement among the people of the PacRim. More than 40 field personnel will share a fresh perspective of God at work among the peoples of the PacRim and the great need for the Church to join in the task of lostness. The Summit will help you explore new strategies, learn best practices, and establish people group networks for working in the region. Jess will be one of the participants at the Summit. We are excited for him to share all that God is doing through students here in the PacRim.

An Impossible Task

Nehemiah 6:15 "So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifty of Elul, in 52 days." Their rebuilding the wall was an incredible... No! ... it was an impossible task. But with "the help of our God," the impossible was made possible. With your prayers and the help of our God, we have seen God do amazing things since April through Filipino, Korean, and American Nehemiah Teams.

145 students on 28 teams shared the gospel in over 100 places in 4 different countries. They handed out around 20,000 pieces of evangelistic literature, conducted over 500 home bible studies, had 1100 Gospel inquirers (people who prayed a sinner's prayer) and 66 people were baptized. Nehemiah Teams members built a house with Habitat for Humanity, ministered to 174 orphans & 80 refugees, and 1000 young people heard the message of True Love Waits. (For a full report go to www.nehemiahteams.blogspot.com) God is truly amazing! Great things He has done!

The vision God has given us is to "Lead this generation to finish the Great Commission in this generation." In the early 1900's, John R. Mott said, "If all men need the gospel, if we owe the gospel to all men, if Christ has commanded us to preach the gospel to every creature, it is unquestionably our duty to give all people in our generation an opportunity to hear the gospel."

We are calling out a generation to give up their small ambitions and go to the unreached and hard to reach of the world. In this going short-term, we are praying that many will commit that whether live or die, they will take responsibility for this generation of souls.

As God is leading us through many open doors, we need you more than ever. We need your prayer support. Please take time to look at our website (www.nehemiahteams.com) and begin praying for 2009. You can see the teams that are requested for summer 2009 here within the PacRim region... and beyond!

Over the next two months we will explain to you further the direction God is leading us, how we are organizing ourselves for advancement, and how you can join us in very practical ways.

Summer Pictures

PRIME Ultimate Frisbee...






Travel... part of the a TCK's life...

Spring Pictures

Betsy with friend, Andrea

Krysten & Betsy after "Velveteen Rabbit" performance

Krysten as "Mother" in the middle school's performance of "The Velveteen Rabbit"

Jess & Wendy on recent trip to a nearby country

Krysten playing soccer with high school girls

Family (minus David) at a friend's wedding this past May

David ready for Jr/Sr Banquet

Krysten ready for Middle School Banquet

Kid's Korner

David is looking forward to his senior year at Faith Academy in Manila. This summer he is busy playing basketball, buzzing around our city on his motorcycle, and spending time with friends. He will have to take a few days out this week to have a couple wisdom teeth removed... not so fun, but that's life! He's excited about getting his official driver's license in a few weeks when he turns 17 and is starting to think about after high school... college, work, the real world. Pray for David as he looks at making decisions concerning college.

Krysten, our social butterfly, is enjoying spending time with friends this summer. She had a great time at our recent annual meeting being a part of a "youth group" for the week. A team from the US came and led the youth program. I think it was definitely a highlight of her summer! Pray for Krysten as she seeks to be the young lady the Lord would have her be.

Betsy is spending a lot of time in the swimming pool. She's looking forward to celebrating her 8th birthday in just a few weeks and is making plans for a sleepover with a bunch of little girls... FUN!! Pray for Betsy that her interest in spiritual things will continue to grow resulting in a personal decision for Christ.

Korean Nehemiah Teams

We are excited to have a team of Korean students serving alongside one of the American Nehemiah Teams. You can read about them on the blog too... they are serving with the Dapitan Team. This is the 2nd year for a Korean team to come to the Philippines... last year there were 2 members... this year there are 6. Next year???

• Pray for them as they finish up their ministry in the next few days.
• As they return to Korea, pray for them as they tell their stories and encourage their churches through what God has done in their midst.

American Nehemiah Teams

Little Orphan Nanny... Evangelism... True Love Waits... Agriculture & Construction... Refugee ministry... Urban Poor... Media

These are the ministries God is using this summer through the American Nehemiah Teams. These 60+ American students with their national partners are impacting lostness. There are 15 teams serving in 4 countries in the PacRim region. To read more about their ministries... as well as their daily life... go to our blogs...

Philippine teams: www.nehemiahteams.blogspot.com

Korean team: www.nehemiahkoreateam.blogspot.com
PacRim Agriculture: www.pacrimag.blogspot.com

As they minister for the last few weeks, pray for an increasing boldness in sharing the Gospel.

• Pray for unity, understanding, & patience among the team members.
• Pray for the Lord to use their various backgrounds, cultures, & personalities to create opportunities to share the Gospel in unique ways.
• Pray for national partners working with each of the teams.

American team working in Korea

Filipino Nehemiah Teams

Eleven teams... 13 unreached areas & hard to reach people groups... 52 team members

We praise the Lord for the ministry of the national Nehemiah Teams this past April & May. Six "franchises" sent out 11 teams all over the Philippines to share the Good News. Through the distribution of Gospel tracts, New Testaments, and evangelistic videos, thousands of people heard this Good News face to face. Families heard the gospel through in-home Bible studies. Many indicated a decision to follow Christ and 39 were baptized. Over 1100 children also heard the Gospel through attending Health Camps & VBS.

• Pray for the national franchises as they prepare for summer 2009 teams.
• Pray for the 2008 members as they seek how God would have them live their lives as a World Christian.

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: