First Vol Team

Just over a week after we arrived back in the Philippines, our first volunteer team for the term landed.  This particular team was comprised of my (Jen's) parents as well as one of the other pastors and wife from a key partner church (who also happen to be Steve's brother's in-laws...what can I say, we are from the Ozarks... :) ).

The first couple days was a team retreat for the Global Empowerment team here in the Philippines.  We had a great couple of days, and Brian encouraged us through worship, prayer, and sharing from the Word. Such a blessing!

We then flew down to Bicol to connect with our Bugkalot tribal partners.

 It was a wonderful time of re-connecting and hearing all the reports of what God has done over the last couple months.

 It was also really good to have my parents there for that time, and it is always such an encouragement to our partners when my dad can share his heart with them in Bugkalot (and my mom shared too! It was kind of funny translating for her because when she spoke Bugkalot, I did the English for the other Americans, but then she would switch to English so I would translate into Bugkalot...a little chaotic, but it worked! :) ).

 Steve is showing the team the map we have made on the back of the chalkboard. It has pins for where all the Agta churches and outreach groups are located.  Amazing to see all that God is doing in that area!

 We finished our time together with a sweet time of worship.  Brian led some of the worship time, and one of the Bugkalot guys led some of it.  Was really special when we were able to find some worship songs that we know in multiple languages.  A taste of heaven.

 After the day with our Bugkalot partners, we flew back up to Manila and drove north to visit the Bugkalot churches.  Was so cool to watch my dad and mom re-connect with old friends.  This old man was part of the group that swam across a flooded river to make it to the leadership seminar.

 Grandmas the world over love to look at pics of each other's grandbabies. :) 

The leadership seminar was a powerful time, and we are praying that God uses it in mighty ways in the months and years to come.

 We also got to check out the coffee plantation. 

 Coffee cherries!

 This is our house in the clouds.  Come visit, and we'd love to bring you here!

So thankful for this team that came to encourage us AND our partners, both down south and up north.

New School Year

Only a couple hours after landing in the Philippines from our whirlwind stateside assignment, we were back up on campus at Faith Academy for the start of the new school year.  Mikayla is a junior this year, Zach is a freshman, and Ben is in Grade 7.

In the past, the kids have ridden on the school vans; but the expense was quite high and with Kayla and Zach getting older and involved in so many activities, we decided to check into other options that would be more economical and provide some independence now that they are ready for more responsibility. (With the license laws here in the Philippines, they won't be able to get their drivers licenses until they are 18 :(. )  So we are trying these "e-bikes" for getting back and forth to school (about 3 miles).  They look like little motor scooters, but they are electrical, and they don't require licenses because they are classified as a bicycle (and don't go much faster than one!).  So far, they are doing a great job with them! 

 Zach made the JV soccer team, so we now have 2 kids in high school sports.  I (Jen) have been helping to coach Zach's team.  They had a BIG win today, and it is cool to watch the guys develop as a team (Zach is #12 in the front row).

 Mikayla is starting into her 3rd year on the varsity soccer team, and it is shaping up to be a great year.  She actually scored a hat trick (3 goals) in the game last week, so that was a lot of fun to watch! It's a wonderful group of ladies, and I'm glad that Mikayla (#15) gets to be a part of the group. 

So the 2016-2017 school year is off and running!  Appreciate prayers as everyone adjusts to the new year, new teachers, new expectations, etc.  A specific prayer request this week is for wisdom as we try to nail down what math class is the best fit for Ben (who is advanced in math but struggling with the language-heavy common core curriculum).  

Excited to see what God will do IN and THROUGH all 3 of our crew this year.