Easter Weekend

Our Easter weekend probably looked different than yours did - we didn't dress up in fancy clothes, attend a big worship celebration, or eat a big Easter dinner with our family.  But we worshipped our Risen Savior just like you did - just in different way.  We spent the weekend with our new tribal partners from up north; they traveled down to do a final survey to decide where exactly they will locate, and they plan to start building their new homes tomorrow!  We traveled all over Bicol, hiking to many different Agta villages, villages that will soon hear the Good News about our Risen Savior because these Bugkalot tribal believers are stepping out in faith, moving down here to shine HIS light in this dark place.

As we traveled from place to place, we encountered breath-taking views, and we worshipped our Almighty Creator.  We also saw beautiful people, people who desperately need to hear the Good News of our Risen Savior; and we praised God for the tribal believers He is sending to this place to share the Truth with them.  We also had some fun along the way getting to know our new partners in the work; we praise God for their willingness to GO and leave behind all that is familiar to them.  

Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of our Easter weekend, and we pray that your weekend was a precious time as well, even if it looked a little different than ours did. :) 

We covet your prayers in the next 2 weeks as our new partners build their tribal-style homes and begin developing relationships in their new villages.  Hopefully they can accomplish a lot before they head home to attend their annual believers conference, which will include a commissioning service for them as they go out.  Then on May 8, accompanied this time by their wives and children, they will leave their homes and move 24 hours south to their new homes.  They are going through huge transitions right now so please pray for HIS peace and strength for each memer of the family.

Child Labor

Since child labor laws are more lax in the Philippines, we decided to put the kids to work.  Need to start earning their bread and water at some point, right?

No, actually, the kids had a BLAST today participating in a "kiddie crew" at our favorite fastfood restaurant in Bicol - Biggs Diner.  The owners are good friends of ours, and they invited our kids to join theirs for a day of work exposure at one of their restaurants.

 The boys walked around the restaurant, taking orders for shakes or other treats and filling out satisfaction surveys for people. 

 Mikayla actually got to work the cash register most of the day, and I guess she was a natural because the other employees were teasing the trainee that Mikayla was already faster than she was.  :)  Don't know that it was true, but Mikayla had fun learning a new skill.

It was a great opportunity for our kids, and we are so thankful they got to do it. 

Thanks, Carlo & Rica!!! 

In other news, Steve made an unexpected trip to Manila earlier today.  The Bugkalot team who is on their way down got stuck in Manila; the wait for bus tickets was several DAYS since everyone goes home to the province over Easter.  So at 1am, Steve bought a plane ticket for 7am (no problem getting INTO the city), and now he is driving the group back here from Manila in my dad's van.  Unfortunately, they are making painfully slow progress - Steve said the highway might as well be a parking lot.  Please be praying for safety as they travel and that the traffic would lessen as they get closer down here.  Please pray as well as we travel all around the mountains in Bicol the next couple days, surveying possible sites where the teams will locate.  Lots of decisions to be made in the next couple days - where to locate, who will be on each team, who the team leaders will be...appreciate your prayers for wisdom and unity!