Mobilization and Training

Several years ago, we realized that the most effective way to reach the Agta was to mobilize and train believers from another tribe to do it. Of course, the tribe that occured to us first was the tribal group where Jen's parents served for so many years. We dreamed big - what if we could mobilize them to send out some of their very own to reach the Agta? While this was an exciting prospect, the barriers were staggering. However, we serve a big God, don't we? No barriers stagger HIM whatsoever. He orchestrated the founding of Global Empowerment, and we have been privileged to partner with them in their first project - mobilizing and training the Bogkalot tribal church to send people out to reach the Agta tribe. This has become the focus of our ministry for a year and a half now, and the southern chapter of Bogkalot churches sent out 2 teams this past year. These 2 teams (2 families and 2 single men) are living in Agta village and studying language. Lord willing, they will be ready to start teaching in January!

Well, as God has been prompting our hearts, we have kept on dreaming big, and we are praying for 6 more teams to move here this next year. After we mobilized in the southern Bogkalot churches, the northern churches asked us to come and do the same thing in their area. Steve and my dad went up there last week to start the mobilization process with a seminar on the book of Acts. Here is the group of men... ...and women who attended the seminar.

By the end of Steve's time up there, it was evident that the northern churches are even more passionate about being involved in reaching the Agta than the southern churches were at the beginning. 7 families and 5 single men already approached Steve and told him that they would love to be sent out to reach the Agta. As a result of this level of interest and passion for the lost, our family will be moving up into that area to spend 2 months mobilizing and training the Bogkalot churches about how to send out their very own - it is critical that the churches catch the vision, not just the ones whom God is calling to "go". We did this same thing (spent 2 months there) in the southern area, and God used it mightily to provide some wonderful co-workers. We are praying that He will again move mightily, this time in the northern churches.

We will leave home the end of September, and we will spend the months of Oct and Nov in the mountains about 12 hrs north of Manila, based in the village of Wasid.
We will live in the village community center kind of building. It is located right next to the school in the middle of the village. Should keep us hopping!

This will be home sweet home for 2 months!

Steve will be traveling to different churches to teach/train every day during the week; and, at least on Sundays, we will all accompany him. Some of these trips will require a significant amount of hiking. Another one involves this river crossing on a raft - on which they load motorcycles!

He discovered a great place for a picnic while he was up there - the kids are excited to try it out!

Isn't it just beautiful?

This waterfall will be quite the hike from where we are living, but Steve can't wait to bring us there for a visit.

And these are some of the guys that he will be teaching the 2 months while we are up there. Exciting times!

As you can imagine, there a LOT of prep work that goes into moving your family into a VERY remote location for 2 months. We will be about 4 hrs from a grocery store/market, and we will not have a fridge so menu planning is a challenge to be sure! SOOO thankful for a sweet friend who sent me a bunch of canned chicken and some "instant" meals that will really help a ton. Then we have to pack up our schoolwork, bedding, kitchen stuff, medical equipment... the list is daunting. Please pray for us as we make all the necessary preparations. And we DESPERATELY need your prayers in Oct/Nov. We won't be able to be online much (we will go down to "town" once every 2-3 wks to download email and buy groceries), but whenever you think of us, please pray. It will be a grueling schedule and a challenging living situation in a remote location. Tnx for praying!!!