As I reflect on all that the Lord is doing here in the Philippines, I am amazed at where He has taken us from a little over a year ago. There is so much going on here on the Philippine field in the efforts we are making to bring the Gospel to all the unreached tribal areas. I had no idea a year ago that I would be so intimately involved in so much of the activity here. It is so good to be in the Lord's service!
In my last update I wrote about our trip to one of the tribes up north. My traveling companion was Jun Fabra, who is the head of the Philippine side of NTM here in the Philippines (the side that recruits and oversees Filipino missionaries, whereas I am on the expatriate side).
During that trip, he and I were able to get to know each other pretty well, and so he invited me to be interviewed on the tribal missions radio show, which is broadcast on Philippines Christian Radio over the whole Philippines every Sunday evening.
Without further explanation, here is my journal entry for that week:
A brief respite – week of September 2
This week was a respite from the intense travel schedule that I was to have for a month, but not in any way a respite from work. The Lord's work goes on always, and so we joyfully labor for Him always!
I actually returned from the north on a Friday, and so it was nice to be home for the weekend and take a break. Saturday afternoon Ginny had gone to Sarah's soccer game (she is the assistant coach – that is one of the ministries at Faith Academy). The bus returned to Faith Academy late, and afterwards Ginny was going to drive home, but she had to drop someone off about a mile away first. About a quarter of the way back, in the middle of a dark road, the car died. She tried to call and text me, but the cell phone networks here just aren't that great, and she could not get through. So she started walking home in the dark.
I was concerned because it seemed like it was taking a long time for her to get back, so I checked my phone and then I got the text message that the car had died, and she thought it was out of gas because it wouldn't start. So immediately I started that way to find her, but she was practically at the door when I was about to leave (tough girl, walking home alone in the dark!) Don't worry, it is not a dangerous neighborhood, and it was still only about 9 pm.
We took the gas can down to the car, and filled the tank, but it still would not start. So, we had to leave it there on the side of the road through the night, and the next day I was able to call the mechanic to come and tow it in. Four days and $500 later with a new timing belt, new valves, and a new head gasket (among others), it was running again. Whew, it is nice to have a working car again!
In other events this week, I was interviewed for a radio program on the Far East Broadcasting Network (febc.ph) about tribal missions. It was a 3 part series that was broadcast over the whole Philippines, a little in Tagalog and I think more in English. There are pictures posted there on the right of me in the studio. I am hoping we can do the radio broadcast again sometime in the spring, this time fully in Tagalog, and maybe another time fully in English. One of the things about the language situation here in the Philippines is that while English will reach a wider audience, it actually excludes a segment of the population that just aren't good enough in English to follow it. But of course if a program is entirely in Tagalog, in like manner that also excludes a segment of the population that only speaks English. The majority of Filipinos are fluent in Tagalog and can understand English, which is why a mix of the 2 is the most popular form of communication.
The FEBC office is at the top of one of the tallest skyscrapers in Manila. That was a nice visit, and I learned quite a bit about their work. Apparently they broadcast over all Asia, not just the Philippines, putting the Word of God out there to unreached areas and making a difference of encouraging believers in difficult and persecuted areas.
<end journal entry>
Click here to listen to the radio broadcast on youtube.
So, it was a busy week, and then I was off again to Palawan to do more language checks! This time I was going with Jody Crain, the missionary who taught me how to do this job, and who is a friend. So it was going to be good to see him again. We had 2 separate locations to travel to, and then I would be able to be home again for a while. I was looking forward to that, because Ginny and I would be able get at least a whole month together before the next phase of travels!
Little did I know how much the world would change in the 2 weeks I was in Palawan, all because of a little tune now known as "Gangnam Style."
Incidentally, one of my other side ministries, that of technical assistance for missionaries, came up for discussion on my previous trip. Our Philippine branch of NTM had recently received a donation to purchase 2 new office computers, and they were interested in installing a Linux operating system (like I use) rather than the traditional Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7 or 8. So I made arrangements to give them some technical assistance on installing Linux on their office computers and showing them how to use a Linux based system after my return from Palawan.
We are glad to be able to be a part of what God is doing here for the cause of world evangelization!
Next time - Palawan again, but to other tribal locations!
Here are some pictures from this week:
Click any picture below to view a larger version.
After a week in the jungle, it was back into civilization.
At the recording studio for FEBC where we recorded the radio broadcasts.
From the offices of FEBC, you can see the whole city.
With the President of FEBC
At a birthday party for one of the MKs whose parents live on another island, and he dorms at Faith Academy.
Ginny as assistant coach for the Faith girls' soccer team (Sarah not pictured)
Sarah with teammates on the girls' soccer team
Abby's soccer team
