On the road again

Since we took our Spring Break trip, Steve has been on the road a LOT (and he's actually on another trip right now - to attend the annual Bugkalot believers conference).  He doesn't do much for pictures when he travels, so I usually rely on pictures that other people take.  This one was taken at the most recent Tribal Workers Gathering.  This group comes together once a quarter and is made up of anyone who has a heart to reach tribal people in Bicol.  Some of the attendees are our Bugkalot tribal partners.  Others are from local Bicolano churches in the area who are reaching out in some way to the tribals in the area.  Some are tribal believers from Bicol who have a desire to reach their own people group.  It is always a sweet time of fellowship, prayer, mutual encouragement, and discussing strategy for how to reach the remaining areas in Bicol.

On the most recent trip Steve took to Bicol, one of our single Bugkalot partners was married!  Jhun-Jhun is a now a married man.  He and his bride will spend a year up with his church in Bugkalot, but they hope to return together to continue reaching the tribals in Bicol.

 I have a prayer request to share with you all.  This is Gary, and he is one of our partners in Bicol. He has been doing some survey work in a new area in Bicol over the last 6 months or so.  He has discovered that there is absolutely no work going on with a particular tribal group, and we have all been praying about how to engage this group.  (They would be classified as UUPG - unengaged, unreached people group.)  Gary especially has a heart for these people, and he and his family would like to move to that area (you can see a pic of him surveying that area below).  However, recently we discovered that there are 2 men from a great organization who are going to that area to reach out to that very people group!  HUGE PRAISE!  They arrived a couple weeks ago, but we just got word that the local authorities have denied them entrance to the area (the authorities are members of a local cult, so they don't want people who aren't member of that cult to have access to the people).  Gary is headed up there this week to see if he can help these two men figure out how to get approval to get into that area, or how to get into another area of that people group.  This group desperately needs the Gospel!  Will you pray with us for wisdom for these guys as they try to gain entrance and for favor with the officials so that they can get in?

Melting in Manila

The heat index has been out of control the last couple weeks, hovering up near 120* most days.  Lots of cold showers, pushing fluids and fans cranking on high here!

But, life goes on, and here are a few of the activities we have been involved in the last couple weeks...
Mikayla got to participate in a production of the Seussical.  Lots of fun!
(Will let you try to find her - wearing yellow top and green skirt or "cadet" uniform. Most photo creds to Mr. Daniel Villanueva.)

The boys have been sweating the heat in a basketball league...need to get some pics of that this next week...

And Steve and Mikayla joined softball intramurals together!

Something I have enjoyed is helping out at a local orphanage a couple of times.  They had a sudden influx of newborns and needed people to come snuggle them.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I love "baby therapy" so I have thoroughly enjoyed loving on these newborns!

Lastly, this month our family has been taking some time to study in depth through the book of Romans.  It has been a sweet time with the kids.

Thanks for praying for us and standing behind us as we try not to melt in Manila!

Spring Break

So our spring break didn't look like your typical spring break, but we had an amazing adventure!

We started out by driving the looong drive down to Bicol (took about 12 hours because of traffic).  Our ministry partners, Joseph & Lorraine and their daughter, Dani, joined us on the trip.  Thankful to report that Dani did extremely well during the many hours in the car and on the trail!

The first morning in Bicol, we headed out into the mountains for a day with our tribal partners and visiting Agta villages.

 We all enjoyed taking turns with Dani. 

 The baby carrier that we have used for years came in handy once again!

 We love our team!

 Cute kids along the way.

(Notice what the little guy in red is holding?  Not something you see every day in the States. :) )

 For all of you who complain that I am too often behind the camera...

 This little one had an amazing smile!

 I had Ben pose in front of this house so you could get a feel for how small it is.  And notice how you can see right through the wall in the back?  These trips are always a reminder to be thankful for our many blessings.

 Ben wanted a turn carrying Dani.  We said it was fine...just not across the hanging bridge!

 The next morning we headed out early to visit another village.  How would you like to be the one to balance as you climb on to this wobbly boat while holding a baby?  No problem for Mikayla!

 Mikayla was a HUGE help with Dani!

 After the boat ride, we took the short hike up the hill to the village.

 As it turned out, the kids' program was getting ready to start as we arrived.  They have had more than 100 kids coming to hear Bible stories on Saturday mornings, so many that they had to divide the group into 2.  They asked Steve if he could share with the first group (the ones who were brave enough to stick around when the foreigners showed up).  Steve shared the story of Shaddrack, Meshack, and Abednego.  It was amazing how enraptured the kids were, not a peep or a wiggle from any of them!

 We only stayed in that village a couple hours, then we got in the car to drive a couple more hours south to where our other tribal partners are based.  We stopped to see the magnificent Mt. Mayon volcano on the way.

 The next morning we got up early to head for the hills once again.  We had hoped to be able to drive into the village, but we found out the night before that the road wasn't passable, so we had to hike in.  It was a steep 1 1/2 hour hike, and we took a break part way up to admire the view.

 Thankfully, our guide killed this creature in the trail before it got any of us!

 We were so blessed to be able to worship with this group of Agta believers for church once we arrived.  It is amazing to see what God has done in this village!  There is a church functioning there, and they are in the process of reaching out to nearby villages to bring them the Good News too!

 The kids had fun playing in the afternoon while the adults were in meetings.

 This little guy has an incredible story.  When he was 2 years old, he was run over by a motorcycle carrying 3 adults.  It ran right over his chest, and he appeared dead.  Our first short-term workers in this village (American college students) were there at the time, and they prayed over him then encouraged his parents to bring him down to the hospital in the lowlands. His parents really thought he was dead, but they did it anyway.  Part of the way down the mountain, the little guy woke up and started jabbering on about the beautiful place he had just visited where everything was bright, and there were happy kids with wings.  They arrived at the hospital, and the doctor checked him out but just told the parents that they were mistaken; this boy had most definitely NOT been run over by a motorcycle.  He is completely fine with no lasting effects whatsoever.  Our God still works miracles, especially in places where the Light is just breaking through the Darkness!  

 After that last day in the village, we headed back down the mountain to start the long trek home.

Incredibly thankful for this wonderful trip with our family and team! Is such a blessing to see what God is doing amongst tribal people in the Philippines!

Sweet 16! (And 12)

On February 16, Mikayla turned 16! Her daddy got her 16 roses for her birthday. :)

 Mikayla had 2 groups of people who she wanted to help her celebrate her birthday, and since it IS her 16th AND her "golden" birthday, we told her she could do 2 parties.

The first one was a "mystery dinner" with some friends from her class.  The students all chose items from a menu...but the menu was in code, so they didn't know what order they would get their food.

 So the food came out at random times...as did their silverware.  It made for a lot of laughs.  And we sang "Happy Birthday" when Mikayla got her dessert during the 3rd course (of 5).  

16 candles on a cupcake!

 Her next party was with a group of girls that has been an incredible blessing and encouragement to her.  So thankful for Godly young women who invest in one another like this group does.

 Mikayla requested mint chocolate brownies for this party, and it was a big hit.

 There wasn't a plan or agenda for the party.  The girls just played a few board games...and spent a lot of time laughing together. :)

 Then on March 1st, Ben turned 12!

He requested taco salad for his birthday supper, and this is one big taco salad!

 No birthday cake for Ben this year, he wanted one giant glob (no bake cookies that are normally in normal cookie size pieces, but I did it in one giant mound this time).

 We didn't really do a party this year, but Ben was thrilled that Papa was here to celebrate with us!

So thankful for our kids!