Worlds Collide

While our primary ministry is with tribal people, we have recently become more involved in ministry within the "lowland" Filipino church. Steve has been doing some speaking in these churches as they work through some foundational issues, and we have been blessed by the opportunity to help these churches strategize how to more effectively send Filipinos internationally to bring the Good News across SE Asia and around the world.

 This new "side job", as it were, looks a little different than our ministry with tribals; both the venues and the attire are some noticeable differences. :)

 To be honest, we still feel much more comfortable with our tribal brothers and sisters; and our passion to empower tribal churches to reach unreached tribal groups is not wavering...which means that in the same week Steve will speak in the church above and attend the gathering of Agta tribal leaders below...it sometimes seems that the worlds collide before our eyes.

 At that gathering, he also got to snuggle one of our tribal partners' new baby and check out the progress on the honey project. See all those hives hanging under the eaves?

One of our new "side jobs" that has us most excited is helping One Sending Body to send more effectively to other countries. OSB is the cooperative program for Filipino Southern Baptist churches, and we know that God wants to use them mightily around the world.

In November, Steve and I organized a training with OSB that included the leaders from the various Southern Baptist conventions throughout the Philippines. Several key leaders from our organization were able to attend as well, and we are excited about the level of partnership that is possible as we work together to reach the unreached.

 Many of our brothers and sisters serve in places where it is not safe for them to be linked to a training like this, so I've blurred quite a few faces (and please don't post any of this information or pictures anywhere else). 

But we are excited about the many new opportunities in our new "side job", and we can't wait to see how God is going to continue to use Filipinos around the world.

"How's Mikayla doing?"

Now THAT is a question I get a lot! So here is the answer...

As you know, our eldest, Mikayla, graduated from high school in June. For an MK, this means a HUGE transition as they usually go back to their "home" country for college...but Mikayla hasn't lived in her home country since she was 5 years old, which means her whole world got turned upside down. Nothing is familiar - friends, culture, weather...and her family is on the other side of the world. I know many of you have been praying for Mikayla in this time of transition (and some of you have even sent her care packages and called/written to encourage her!). THANK YOU for loving on our girl and praying her through this.

Many of you have asked about her, and she is really and truly doing great. There have been some hard times and some definite home-sickness, but she is doing great as she chases hard after Him in the midst of it all. 

She is attending John Brown University in NW Arkansas, and she is LOVING her major of Outdoor Leadership Ministry. She is convinced that she is right where God has called her to be, preparing for the future He has for her, and she is doing a great job (President's List for straight As 1st semester! But we have encouraged her not to feel pressure to keep all As from here, to make sure and take time for other activities too).

Mikayla surprised us and tried out for the women's rugby team at JBU, and she has become a key part of the team, scoring many points. It's different than what she played in high school, because now she is playing tackle like her brothers (!!!). She has made a lot of great friends and has a supportive community through the team though, so we are thankful for that.

She's also made great friends in her major. "OLM" involves lots of hands-on, experiential education and included a 3 day hike/camping trip in the fall.

It was funny because before they left, Mikayla said she was a little concerned they might get lost. I asked her why, since she's always been great hiking and navigating. The issue was that they had to use just the compass to navigate. Not a problem for Mikayla, but apparently, they had to take turns navigating, and the whole group had to quietly follow whoever was leading. And she said some of them didn't do very well in that part of the instructional classes. :) Yikes! Thankfully, no news reports out of this adventure...

 

Another highlight for Mikayla this past semester was when a couple of her friends from over here were able to join her at my (Jen's) parents place for Thanksgiving. 

 They had a wonderful time catching up. It's amazing how quality time with old friends can be just what the doctor ordered, especially old friends who have also had their world turned upside down; they get it in ways no one else can! When you have friends like these who can encourage you in the Lord through the process, they are precious. 

The biggest blessing to Mikayla - and us by extension - has been our parents. Both Steve and my parents live about 4 hours from her, and I know it has meant so much to her when they visit, come to some of her rugby games, welcome her home for Thanksgiving, and just knowing they are there. Some of you know that all 3 of the siblings on my side are serving overseas, so all 7 of my parents' grandkids have grown up on the other side of the world. This means that, not only are they happy to help Mikayla however they can, they are beyond thrilled to have one of their grandkids come back to their side of the world, and they LOVE being there for her. She is headed on a trip with them for spring break, and we are so very thankful for them, especially since we are so far away.

Thanks for continuing to pray for our sweet girl as she makes this transition. She is doing great, but it definitely has its hard times, and she appreciates your prayers (as do we!), as well as any words of encouragement you can send her way.

Something that encouraged my heart this week was to see on FB that she is the guest speaker at a WMU meeting at one of our partner churches in a couple weeks. So proud of her for stepping out and sharing her story and what God is doing around the world, AND for partner churches like that one that give her opportunities and take the chance to love on her too.

2nd Season

As I mentioned on the post about 1st season, at Faith Academy, the students can choose sports/activities through the year. In the 2nd season, they can choose basketball or rugby. While many parents may balk at allowing their kids to play rugby, we have been so very thankful to be introduced to this great sport; and our kids have grown so much through their experience on the field (and for the record, we think it's a lot safer than American football; ask us why, and we'd be glad to share our story with this). Ben and Zach were once again on separate teams, but the rugby teams practice together, with the older ones often helping to teach the younger ones, so they had even more time together in rugby. Ben actually served as a sub on Zach's team a couple times as well when they were short of players.

Ben played the position "scrum half" this year, which means that he was the one to get the ball out of the scrum (like a huddle) and pass it to the next player in the line. The pic above shows him passing it as he is getting tackled from behind. The pic below shows a time when he got it and started running with it, drawing the defense in very well (after he drew them in, he passed it off just before he got hit, and his teammate scored a try!). 

Zach's team was a blast to watch this year, and they beat several teams that they have been unable to for several years.

Zach played the position of "fly half", which means that he is the first one in the line that the scrum half will pass it to. He can either run with it, or pass it further on down the line, depending on what the defense is doing. Zach has played scrum half before, but he LOVED this new position as it opened up new opportunities for him and because he got to work closely with Sam, the scrum half on his team. Sam and Zach are so much fun to watch as they work together so well; the way they can time passes and "off loads" perfectly is amazing to watch, and these two scored many, many tries working together like this. Magic. 

 The really cool part about it is that Sam is the younger brother of Alex, and Mikayla and Alex were just like Zach and Sam. Both pairs of siblings are incredible offensive threats as they work together, and I would love to have $1 for every try/assist these two sibling sets have shared through the years! Alex is now off in New Zealand at university, and Mikayla is in the States at college, but their little brothers are doing a great job carrying on the tradition.

 Zach is a blast to watch out there though, and he scored many tries in the course of the season - 5 in one day!

Rugby has been a great experience for our young men, and I am thankful they have this opportunity (and it's so fun to watch besides!).

 In addition to watching our guys, and I also enjoyed coaching touch rugby this year again as an assitant. It was a great group of young ladies, with a lot of skill, and they are a lot of fun to work with! 

 And that brings us to the 2nd banquet of the year. For this one, the girls asked the guys (Sadie Hawkins), and Zach and Ben both had fun with their dates and the groups they went with.

It was also fun to get a "cousins" pic this time. Their cousin is a freshman like Ben, and it's been great to have her join them for these activities (granted Ben and Gabby spend more time together at the activities than Zach since he's a couple years older). 

Mountain Meanderings

My sister and her family moved to the Philippines in July, and spending time with them has been an incredible blessing to our family. Over fall break, we traveled with them up into the mountains to stay a couple days at our House in the Clouds. While one of our primary goals was just to have some fun family time (my sister was excited for her family to see where she spent her early childhood), we were also setting up the details for a team planning a trip there in December. Because of this, we hiked to the various villages to touch base with all the leaders and set up plans.

 On one hike, we stopped on the way for a picnic...and a quick swim the breathtakingly-beautiful mountain river.

 The cousins have had a blast getting to know one another better, and we love how they all do so well with the age gaps. One of Zach's friends is a boarding student at our school, and he wasn't able to go home to Nepal over the break, so he joined our family for the trip too.

 So many adorable kids in the  mountain villages!

 Our kids have been hiking since they were tiny, and it was fun for them to get to help their cousins on the new trails.

 No trip to the tribe is complete without jumping off the rocks into the river...

 ...or enjoying a hot dog roast together.

 The kids also spent many hours playing in the stream near our house.

 It's the perfect playground for kids of all ages!
(So maybe not all the typical safety features of a playground...but all the more fun!)

 So incredibly thankful for this chance to share this precious time with family!

Also so thankful for so many spectacular views that remind us of our Creator. Pictures never do it justice...which means you'll just have to come visit and see for yourself! :)