Nehemiah Teams!

For months now, we have been preparing for the arrival of 2 very special teams of volunteers. They are American college-age "Nehemiah Teams", and they will play a strategic role in our ministry for the next couple months. From now until the end of July, these students will be camping in tents in Agta tribal villages. They will be cooking over open fires, bathing/washing their clothes in the streams, and hiking all throughout the mountains here in Bicol. Please pray for this amazing group of people as they serve in this strategic way!

We picked them up at the airport, then headed to our friend's vacation home to do an on-field orientation. We poured SO much information (about strategy, culture, etc) into their jet-lagged brains, but they did GREAT with it.
We spent a lot of time in meetings during the 3 days.

We also enjoyed some sweet worship times together - this one at sunrise (jet lag does have its benefits - not often do you find a group of college students perky at sunrise!).

They will be washing their clothes by hand in the village this summer, and there was no washing machine at orientation so they jumped right in!

We tried to break up the long meetings with games and activities to keep them awake (jet lag is tough in the afternoon!). They enjoyed this one where you have to avoid being the one to knock over the bamboo pole.

Don't worry, moms of the students, we fed them very well. :) The tropical fruit was a hit.

In addition to group meeting time, they each spent time learning the Bible stories that they will be teaching this summer. They did a great job and worked really hard. They even got to practice what it is like working with an interpreter as you teach.

For some, it is actually much easier to learn a story if you listen to it. Mikayla was thrilled to be able to help several of them learn their stories by reading it to them.

Earlier this morning, they packed up and got ready to head to the villages.

We are super impressed with this group of Godly men and women, and we can't wait to see what God will do in and through them this summer!

Here is the team (with their translators) that will be focussing on the Agta tribal people who speak the language Rinconada. L to R: Ivan, ONeal, Kari, Bam, and Kellie Beth.

And here is the team that will focus on the Agta people who speak Bicol. Donnatello, Ray, Chelsea, Nikki, Michelle, Macey.

Please pray for these young people by name, to be guided by the Spirit moment by moment, stay healthy, be able to truly connect with the hearts of the people, perseverance through the tough days, unity on the teams, and that God would use them mightily in the weeks to come!

Hodge Podge

Remember in that one post when I introduced the "new MKs" that we now have in Bicol? Since some of our new Bogkalot tribal partners have kids, our kids are no longer the only MKs here; there are some new ones to join them! Well, one of our dear friends in the States decided that she wanted to bless these new little MKs by getting them some gifts to welcome them. We had so much fun shopping for them and delivering the goodies.

We stopped in the 1st village and delivered the stuff to the first 2 families. The younger girls got coloring books, crayons & a doll. The boys got coloring book/crayons too then trucks instead of a doll. Then they got some balls and a badminton set to share.
The older girls got a purse, journal with nice pen and a shirt.

We had some excited kiddos as we headed to the other village where the other team lives (they left their own stuff behind). Here is a pic in the 2nd village of all the new MKs. A huge thanks to the family who blessed our new friends this way (you know who you are! :) ). I wish you could have been there to watch them open the packages, and I know that these toys will serve as a constant reminder to them AND their parents that there are people in the States praying for them as they press on in the work here.

On a different note, this past wkend was Steve's 33rd bday, and, at his request, we spent the day hiking around a mountain, discovering new waterfalls and rapids.

Freezing cold shower!

Beautiful

Brought the tubes to ride some rapids and "waterslides" :)

The boys are swinging on a vine

Steve disappeared behind the waterfall and suddenly popped out of the the crevice behind the rock

So of course everyone else had to try it too!

Breath-taking

We spend most of the morning "bouldering" - climbing up the stream over the rocks. We came to some interesting spots where this was one option to get up - watch out, it's slippery!!!

And this was the other option. I chose this one.

Happy Birthday, Stephen! I am so blessed to share this crazy adventure with you. We live a privileged life - front row seat to watch God working in amazing ways AND surrounded by such incredible beauty. I love you!

Just for Fun

This past weekend, our family spent a couple days in Manila. We had some important meetings (no pics cuz would be BORING, but the meetings went really well - tnx for praying!), then we also got in some great family time.

We got to try the imitation segways by the Mall of Asia with my dad.

We also got to visit a small interactive zoo. The kids enjoyed hanging out with Jenny the Orangutang (she was just wandering around - was a little unnerving when she would meander up and take your hand!).

We also got to try a "fish spa" for the first time. These little fishies come and nibble the dead skin off your feet. Is the weirdest feeling and practically impossible if your feet are very ticklish (Steve couldn't keep his feet in for even 10 seconds!).

There were several kinds of large birds to hold, and all the kids took turns holding all of them.

I love Ben's expression in these shots. :)

Zach is a lot more nervous around animals than the other two, but he got right out there and got involved too.

Don't you just love it when you wear the perfect shirt for the day's activities? And we thought Steve didn't take much time to consider his wardrobe...

Feeding the guinea pigs. Until the lone rabbit stole Ben's carrot.

Mikayla is our animal-lover and will not hesitate even a second to get up close and personal with any wildlife - even pythons! Crazy kid.

Ben always gets in line right after Kayla.

And once Zach sees that they are both still ok, then he will give it a shot.

So thankful for some wonderful family memories this past weekend!