Partners in the Work

As many of you know, we are in the process of mobilizing and training some partners from the Bugkalot tribe who share a passion for reaching the Agta tribe.  We currently have 2 families and 2 single men down here with us, and we have been training them for almost a year.  There are another 4 families and 5 singles hoping to join the team down here.

They live in simple tribal-style homes.



 These 2 houses are where the team focused on the Agta who speak In-Agta live.

 This older gentleman is 76 years old!  He is a widower, and his youngest daughter, who is college-age has joined him on the team.  God has really been at work in this young lady's heart, so much so that when most of the rest of the group (including her dad) decided to go home on a short vacation in April, she decided to stay here.  She said that this is where God has met her and changed her, and she is not ready to go home yet - even for a vacation.

 This is Jun, the team leader for the team that focuses on the Agta who speak Buhinon.  This is not his home, don't worry, just a little multi-purpose lean-to.

 This is the home of the single man on the Buhinon team.  Isn't it in an idyllic location?

 Once a month (or every couple months, depending on our schedule and their progress in ministry), we pull everyone out for some intensive training time.  This past year, we have been blessed to be able to use the home of one of our American co-workers since they are in the States right now.  Most of the training happens on their front porch.

 We spend a lot of time worshipping together at these trainings, most of the time in the Bugkalot heart language.

 We also spend a lot of time sharing and encouraging one another, learning from one another's experiences.

 While we are in meetings, the kids play games in the back yard, read books that I bring, color, and even watch a couple movies on my laptop - their favorite activity. :)

 There are 2 college-age girls on the team, and they do all the cooking for the group over an open fire in the back yard.

 While it is simple and most definitely not American-style, the food is excellent.  Always rice, then some vegetables to go with it.  This one is green papaya stewed in chicken broth.

 As a special treat at this past training, Megan took all the kids into town to get an ice cream.  It was a big hit. :)

 In addition to general sharing time, Steve takes time to teach through strategic principles from the Word of God.  This time we were discussing the essential elements of church and how to simplify the process & style we/they are used to in order to fit better with the Agta culture. 

 During one of our worship times, the 3 adults on the Buhinon team sang a special number - one of the songs most recently translated into Buhinon by Abel (the one with the guitar).  It has been such a blessing to us to hear worship in these languages for the first time, and I know that God is going to use these songs mightily for HIS glory.

We are so very blessed to have such amazing partners in the work, and we can't wait to see what God has in store for this group AND the one on their way.  

People & Places

I was working on a project recently and came across some photos that reminded me of some of the people and places we have come to love here. Some of them are the people we are trying to reach, others are our partners in the work.  All of them are precious to us. 

We praise God for the way that you stand behind us so we can be here.  In a lot of ways, your job is harder than ours because you can't be here to fall in love with these places, these people, and yet you continue to pray for them...and for us.

Thank you. 

Birthday Blitz

On February 16, Mikayla turned 12 years old! 

 At her request, we decorated the gazebo and had a cookout to celebrate.

 Our previous neighbors (they moved away :( ) helped us celebrate her big day.

(And, yes, we know the pic on the banner is from several years ago - we were only home a couple days before her bday, so we had to throw the party together.  This pic was the only one Steve had on his phone when he decided - spur of the moment - to make a banner for her.)

 Mikayla is becoming a beautiful, Godly young woman, and we are very proud of her.  We can't wait to see what God has in store for this one-in-a-million girl.  We love you, Mikayla Faith!

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The day after her birthday, we left on our next trip - Steve up north to Bugkalot land and the kids and I to Thailand for their annual academic testing.  Steve was able to visit both the southern and northern areas of the Bugkalot, and the trip was very profitable (more on that in our next update & posts).  The kids and my trip to Thailand went pretty well too - their testing scores were very encouraging as they showed that, despite our hectic travel schedule and doing school "on the run" more often than not, they are still thriving.  Zach got sick during our time there though, and we had a nightmare trip both there and back (you don't want to hear the details, believe me!), but we survived it and arrived home ready for a REST.

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Two days after we arrived home, Ben turned 8 years old! 

 Since we had all come back from our trips pretty sick and needing some serious rest, we were thankful that he was happy to do a low-key celebration at the wakeboard park.  The boys rode bikes and skateboards while the rest of us chatted and read.  Then we enjoyed the yummy chocolate cake Ben had picked out.

Ben has grown a lot in His relationship with God this past year, and we are excited by all that God is teaching His young heart.  We are proud of our 8-year-old (can't believe our "baby" is EIGHT?!?!) and know that God has big things planned for him.  We love you, Ben!