Which way?

We came across this sign one day while we were trying to navigate through unfamiliar streets in Manila. We were just a little confused.

It reminded me of how I've been feeling lately in the swirling chaos before Mikayla graduates. Not only are things a little crazy on the family front, there have been lots of new dynamics and opportunities on the ministry front too.

If you follow our updates, you know that our ministry partners have been working to establish economy up in the Bugkalot mountains so that they can support the ones they send out. One of the ways they are doing that is through a coffee plantation. Well, we are finally to the point that we are starting to have coffee beans, so they are in the market to find roasters that will work well with our beans. We had the privilege of going to a "coffee cupping" recently to help decide which of the roasts was best with those beans. A new experience and a fun one!

A recent unexpected ministry opportunity came up when the friends who went up north with us over spring break had a house fire and lost a lot of their belongings. We were able to help them clean up, recover and organize a community project to help them replace their things. This was Mikayla and my hands just from sorting their clothes that were in another room!

Another new thing has been working as a consultant to a Filipino organization that sends people internationally to be involved in the Great Commission. At their request, we are working to help them send more effectively, including helping them to work it out so that the ones they send can join teams with our organization. We recently had a meeting with several of our leadership and several from their board to start working out a more formal partnership.

(note that I need to protect their identities)

Will you pray with us about this partnership?

 But don't worry, we aren't losing the focus on tribals in the midst of all this! We just got back from attending the annual Bugkalot believers' conference. What a sweet time of worship together!

 While there, Steve had a meeting with their leaders about helping to streamline their leadership structure to help them be more efficient. Please pray with us that this is implemented in a way that is helpful to them and for the sake of the Gospel.

 And now going in yet another direction...our little house church that we started last year with just 2 families now has 30 people. We are so enjoyed worshiping together with this group! 

So now does that sign make sense? :) We have spent so many years just focused on tribal ministry, but now we are adding in some other dynamics, which sometimes makes us feel like we are both coming AND going. We are so thankful though for the many opportunities that God is guiding us in to...even if we are determined not to lose the focus on tribals. :)

Mountain Musings

Steve and I went with a group up into the mountains on a quick trip recently. They were from a large church in Manila, and they have been partnering with the Bugkalot to support those they have sent out. They were a great group, and, while being in this remote of a location was a new experience for several of them, they did handled it very well.

The trip actually did not go at all as planned since the Bugkalot forgot we were coming...but God worked out the details so that 2 of our Bugkalot partners in Bicol were in the area (one just finishing furlough, the other just home for a quick trip), and they were able to share their hearts with the team. And the team was very gracious about the fact that we didn't have food prepared for them or people to receive them...definitely not how we had planned it, but it worked out, AND they said they will continue to partner with the Bugkalot, so that was encouraging. :)

We also got to see these little cuties:

 Even when things don't go according to plan, it is good to know that He still works all things for good. And throws in some amazing scenery as icing on the cake. 

Family Fun

Things have been crazy for our family lately, but we have tried to fit some family time into the craziness too.
One of the ways we have gotten (quality?) family time is by sitting in traffic together. See, Mikayla just started driving here in Manila (yikes!). Anyone who has seen driving here, knows how crazy this is. :) She's doing GREAT with it though, and we are very proud of her!

 Mikayla was also recently in the Wizard of Oz; she did a great job as Auntie Em.

She was also one of the Citizens of Oz.

Faith Academy always puts on such amazing performances; Mikayla has LOVED performing on stage here, and I know she will miss it (and I'll miss watching her!)

My dad actually got to be here for one of the shows!

And her brothers of course supported her too (purple vests because they helped as ushers one of the nights).

Over spring break, our family took a day trip down to Taal Lake (a lake on a volcano with a volcano in the lake with a lake in the volcano with an island in the lake...but that's another story). We went down to rent a sailboat and go sailing as a family.

We had a great day and are definitely working to cherish the moments we have together before Mikayla graduates.

 Another recent development in the Hagen home is bunnies. Ben got Marshmallow and Thumper, and has been giving them lots of loving.

 Mikayla's senior banquet (prom) also happened recently. 

She had a blast with her friends. 

 Going to miss this beauty around here!

Spring Break

So our spring break may not have looked very typical, but we still had a great time.

Ben has been begging for us to bring his friend Ben and his family up to the mountains with us, and it worked out this time!

 The boys had a blast tromping through the jungle and jumping off the rocks into the river. They even jumped off the bridge. :)

 The main purpose of this trip was for Mikayla to say goodbye to some people and places that are dear to her heart. Hard to imagine in just a few short weeks she will be graduated and moving back to the States.

 She got in a last couple jumps too. :)

 So thankful that we were able to see several of her good friends and for to get the chance to say goodbye.

 And she had to get in a couple more tribal baby snuggles.

 From there, we drove a little further north to visit with one of our national partner families where they are on furlough this year. Mikayla hadn't seen their daughter, Ivy, in quite a while, so she really wanted to say goodbye before she left. We invited them to spend the day at a pool with us, and we had a blast together.

 They brought their extended family (around 30 of them!), so we were quite the group! We had a lot of fun together.

 Here is the kids with the other 2 MKs. 

 These two are peas in a pod for sure.

 It was such a special time, and we are so thankful that Mikayla had the opportunity to have this time of closure. Goodbyes are hard though. :( But His grace is always sufficient.