Bicol Leaders Training

Right after we got back from Cambodia (see post below), Steve went down to Bicol for the inaugural meeting of the Bicol Tribal Church Association Leaders Training. While, we've had many training for the Agta pastors through the years, we are starting a regular one that will be hosted by different churches on a rotating basis. When they gathered everyone together, including pastors with families & the ones they are training to become church leaders, there were more than 100 people attending! Such a joy to see how God is at work in the Agta tribes!

They also held an election for the next president of the BTCA, and Pstr Vicente was voted in as well as several other officers for 2025.

On Sunday we woke up to these pics posted on FB from one of our tribal partners. Such a encouragement to see God work through our tribal team!

Thank you to you who "hold the ropes" so we can be here working with our tribal team, watching God work with the Agta tribes in the Philippines!

Cambodia

At the end of Nov into early Dec, Steve & I traveled first down to Palawan to visit the family we supervise there - had a wonderful time but didn't take any pics this time. We then went straight to Cambodia for some leadership meetings. The time didn't go at all like we had planned because we were supposed to be attending with our supervisors, and the purpose was to discuss the 10 year plan for strategy for engaging all the people groups in our corner of the world. However, our supervisor ended up in the hospital at home the day before the meetings started, and he was in the hospital the whole time, which meant we attended it as the only members of our leadership team, without our supervisor, so that was challenging. But we see where God still worked, and we sent lots of good notes to our supervisor for once he was out of the hospital. :) At the end of the meetings, I (Jen) got really sick and ended up in bed for several days of what was supposed to be our vacation. But once the antibiotics started doing their job, I was able to get out on the last day, and WOW we highly recommend visiting Siem Reap Cambodia if you ever get a chance. Amazing things to see, beautiful little town, great food & cheap prices. We rented a little scooter to get around, and I took SO MANY pics, just sharing a few here.

Also saw lots of monkeys at Ankor Wat, but they were incredibly well-behaved (NOT true of other monkeys, for those of you who have traveled much, you know what I mean!)

The one with all the trees (Ta Prohm) was our favorite.

Highly recommend a visit if you ever get a chance!

Iraya Consultation

Also in November, Steve & I traveled to Mindoro to attend a board meeting with the Mangyan tribes. As partners in the work to reach the Agta tribes, we try to attend these whenever we can. Normally, we sit off to the side & just speak when they ask us, but this pic was when Steve was sharing the devotional at their request. 

After that meeting, a group from our extended team joined us in Mindoro for a consultation with one of the Mangyan tribes - the Iraya tribe. A consultation asks 1000s of questions (or at least it feels like that many!) to help determine both the health of the tribal church & the capacity of the group in other areas - education, medical, livelihood, etc. The first step is for them to map their entire area, including all churches, schools, farmland, clinics, etc.

After we get answers to questions, each evening the team takes time to discuss the answers to determine a quantifiable score as to the health of the church in that tribe.

At the end of the time, the team lists some of the strengths of the tribe that they should try to capitalize on, as well as makes some recommendations of some weaknesses they will want to address. 

The time with the Iraya leaders was a good time, and we learned a lot. Hopefully the information will be helpful for the ones who are serving Him in that area.

Giving Thanks!

In November, we got away for a few days with our team & had such a wonderful time relaxing and refreshing together on the beach that we forgot to get any pics! Here's some of the setting though - use your imagination :)

So very thankful for this team!
The pic below was when they traveled up to Manila to celebrate Thanksgiving with us and the rest of our coworkers.

After the Thanksgiving celebration, we went back to our house with Mikayla & Claire for 1 last dessert together. So thankful!