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:

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 11^th 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.