Special Visitors

While all our visitors are special (and I can just hear all the smart remarks from my dad AND husband at this statement, but why spoil their fun?), we were so blessed to host my parents for a couple days last week.  Since my dad travels so much, he accumulates a lot of miles, so my mom was able to get off work and come with him on this trip to the Philippines.  Even though we have lived in this same house for more than 3 years (longer than we have EVER lived anywhere!), my mom had not yet been able to come see our place, so it was wonderful to have her here.

On the day they arrived, we went straight from the airport to the villages to visit our Bugkalot tribal partners.  My mom just sat and cried (that's a good thing!) as she listened to them give reports of all that God is doing through them down here in the Agta villages.

 The next 2 days we spent just hanging out together, no particular agenda - it was amazing!

We read lots of stories... 

 ...lounged in the back yard (we had all-day power outtages while they were here, so being outside is much cooler)...

 ...and just being together!

 We are so thankful for our time with them!

Bugkalot Conference

Studies have shown that apostles who are sent out to new areas are more effective and have greater longevity on the field when they have regular conferences for the purpose of fellowship, training, and spiritual refreshment.  We have had a dream for a long time now of having a conference like this for our Bugkalot tribal partners, and this past month it became a reality!

 Many people worked together to make the 3-day conference possible, and we met at a summer camp style resort between here and Manila.  Four volunteers joined us from a church in Singapore, and they helped with the logistics, kids' program, and a gazillion other things.  For most of the Bugkalot, this was their first time at a "fancy" resort like this (though for many of you, it would probably seem fairly rustic with no airconditioning, 6 bunk beds per room, thin mattresses, and sketchy plumbing - it's all a matter of perspective! :) ).  The grounds are absolutely gorgeous, and we all had a blast together.

 The adults spent the mornings in sessions like this one; some of the sessions consisted of strategy training, others provided much-needed spiritual refreshment.  We brought in some guest speakers as well to encourage them from the Word.

 Our good friend, Joe Mauk, also did his "tops" presentation.  He uses tops to illustrate spiritual truths, and the Bugkalot were enthralled.  Steve joked that we would have to use some of the pictures we got of them while listening to Joe (mouths hanging wide open in wonder) and pretend that is the look on their faces when he is teaching church planting strategy principles. :)

 We also set aside some time for personal spiritual retreat - just them and their Bible in the presence of God. 

 Part of the afternoons and evenings were spent in small group discussion time where they discussed what they had learned in the sessions as well as struggles and victories in their families and ministries.  Everyone agreed that these times were very encouraging.

 While the adults were busy in sessions, the kids had a blast with their new friends from Singapore.   

 They played lots of games...

 ...went swimming... 

 ...and just enjoyed being together. 

 But before you think that it was all work and no play for the poor adults stuck in sessions...we managed to have some good times too!

 We sang some silly songs...

 ...played some really silly games...

 ...and had some good fun together.

 Basketball was the main attraction for the men in the afternoon free time. 

 Another favorite activity was the obstacle course, completed as a team.

 Since this was only the 2nd time most of them had ever been to a pool (we took them to one in November), swimming was an adventure too - especially the 70 ft waterslide!  THAT was a first for everyone, and even the non-swimmers gave it a shot, with someone waiting at the bottom to help them. :)  Which was all great until one of the ladies' false teeth fell out at the bottom of the slide...no harm done though because we found them at the bottom of the pool, and everyone got a good laugh. :) 

 While it blessed my heart to see them in meaningful discussions about the truths of the Word and how it applies to their lives, I think my favorite part of the time was seeing them have FUN.  Laughing together, playing together.  They are living in some very difficult places, behind Enemy lines where the darkness often seems all-consuming.  It was wonderful for them to be able to come out of that situation for a couple days and be refreshed and renewed in this way. 

 On our last night together, we enjoyed a bonfire where Steve shared a challenge for all of us, then everyone shared either a testimony or song of encouragment with the group.

 The Bugkalot wrote a thank-you note to all of you who have been praying for them and partnering with them to reach the Agta.  Since it was written in Tagalog, here are some translations of what they said,

“We cannot measure how full our thankfulness for you is, hopefully our Lord Jesus will bless you greatly…Thank you for the beautiful insides (heart) you have shown us; if it wasn’t for you, I would not have been able to experience this joy; thank you and this has done something very big for my spiritual life…Thank you all for your goodness to us…Thank you for everything and we pray that God will bless you…Thank you for the help that you have given us…We are thanking God for you…”

We are so incredibly thankful for these men, women, and families who have partnered with us to reach the Agta.  Serving alongside them is such a privilege.  Thank you for the way that you stand behind us and them to make this possible. 

Drum Roll Please...

We are so excited to formally introduce you to our new teammates! 

We have been asking for prayer in juggling the many balls up in the air on the Bugkalot side of the project, and God has answered by providing some new jugglers!  They will be based in Manila and will focus more on the Bugkalot side of the project – empowering and equipping the Bugkalot tribal church to effectively send out and support some of their very own to reach the Agta tribe.   

Matt & Erin Castagna (with Alaena, Logan & Paige) have already been a HUGE help as they have served in an informal/exploratory role.  Recently, they have felt led to join us as full-time partners; we are thrilled to have them on board, and we are confident that God is going to use them mightily to empower tribal people to reach other tribal people.

Matt & Erin are actually both MKs from here in the Philippines, and we all knew each other as kids!  If you want to get to know them a little better, check out their great blog by clicking HERE.

Please pray for Matt & Erin and their kids as they transition into this role, especially as they just found out that they will have to find a new sending organization (this role does not fall within what their previous organization normally does).  Pray with us for a smooth transition and that God would go before them each step of the way as they step into this new ministry.

 And as though one new partner were not enough, God has blessed our socks off by giving us another one too!

 This is Joseph Tanchi, and we first met him when he came over on a vision trip in January 2012 (click HERE to read about it - it's the 2nd half of the post).  He quickly connected with our family, and he has been an active partner in what God is doing here ever since.  For example, I had a dream of one day being able to do a conference for our Bugkalot tribal partners, one where they could be refreshed and renewed and prepared to continue on in the work.  I had shared this dream with several people, but when I shared it with Joseph, he DID something with the idea - he gathered a team of volunteers to come and help us make the dream a reality!  (more to come on that soon)

Please pray with us for Joseph as he transitions into this ministry.  He recently resigned his high-paying job in Singapore, and he will be moving to the Philippines in May.  Pray that God would provide abundantly as he makes this leap of faith and that he would stay sensitive to the Spirit's guidance each step of the way.

Praise God with us for these new partners in the work,

and pray for them as they journey down this crazy road with us!

Happy Birthday, Ben!

Ben turned 9!  Can't believe how fast our "baby" is growing up.

 He decided he wanted to do his birthday cake and presents while we were at meetings with our close friends (and new partners!).  Here are all the kids together.

Notice the mark on his nose between his eyes?

It's a run-in with a frisbee...I think the frisbee won. 

 A classic Ben expression here as he opens his present from Grandpa and Gram Hagen.

 It was so speciasl that Papa Jackson got to be at his party too! 

 

 Lego super heroes from Papa and Grandma

 And a scooter from us.

 After our meetings, we got to spend a whole day with Papa at the zoo!

 Then we met up with some close friends for a birthday dinner at Chili's.

 

So thankful for our Ben and the young man of God that he is becoming.

God has big plans in store for you, Ben!  We love you!

Trip to Thailand

 After we celebrated Mikayla's birthday, the kids and I headed to Thailand for their annual tests to make sure that we are staying on track with our homeschooling despite our crazy schedule and constant travel.  We are thrilled to report that everyone is doing great in spite of everything; we are so proud of them!

It's not just a week of testing though - there are lots of fun activities for the kids as well.  One of the things they did this year was essentially an extensive oral book report - complete with costumes and props! Many thanks to "Gram" Hagen for all her help with the costumes for Peter Pan, Pippi Longstocking, and Worm (from Diary of a Worm).