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!