Monday, January 20, 2014

The men were off to continue construction on the first house.




 

no power tools

 

coconut shell better than a shovel

 

1/8" thick plywood walls

dirty kitchen is the covered area over dirt on right

Hey men!  Need you to post/comment on your impressions and experiences.  Pastor Revie was busy getting supplies and taking the men out.  Brent had returned to Mandaue City due to appointments.  Chris drove up arriving Monday morning--yea!  She brought my two suitcases which had been left behind.  



Hum…looking at my notes I suddenly 'blank'.   I do know that we ate lunch and had a bit of a rest because an appointment got cancelled.   Then Marj, Sarah, and I took off with Pastor Revie to do a group CPE in 4 places.   We had fun when we were headed to our last stop of the afternoon.  We turned down a dirt--no, due to rain, muddy road--to head into a grove of coconut trees:   an area called Calubihan.   The sisters were in the back of the small pickup with Jemalyn, I believe, while I rode in the cab.   We came to a very large mud puddle, but Pastor Revie looked at it and thought he would do fine.  We were halfway through when thump!   Down dropped the right front tire and I was thinking the entire vehicle would turn on the passenger/right side and I'd be in the puddle!!    One of the girls nearly went over the back.    Once Pastor got out, I climbed out the driver's door.

 We girls walked on in to the community while Pastor figured out how to get out of the puddle.         Limwel--I hope I have his name spelled correctly--is a studying to be a teacher--and goes to this small community once a week.  He translated as I shared my story.   This community was impressed upon my heart.

Upon our return (Pastor made a way through sugar cane around the large, deep puddle), Chris, Donna and I were taken by Chris with Beth to the home of her coworker, where we did the basic CPE--Donna shared her story and I went through the questionnaire.     It was a delightful evening getting to know the couple and hear their experience of typhoon Yolanda.  Sorry, we didn't take pictures there, I guess.

Chris and Liz and  Donna were with Pastor Henry for the day--

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since I wasn't in these areas, I can't say which pictures were Siocan and which were Daking Babay--all areas in Bogo City.  






Dirty laundry got gathered to take to a laundry the next day……

Marj and Sarah--need you two to make comments as well.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

I think I've had my dates off on this blog.   I will blame it on sleep deprivation---or something!

Our team attended Grace Driven  Church, pastored by Pastor Revie.  His wife is Beth--a delightful, joyful believer who teaches school.  They have two children, Chloe and Gracer.    Pastor Revie oversees all of northern Cebu.   The church is a few blocks from Bogo Lodge, where we were staying. It is on the 2nd floor of a 'historic building'.  The meeting area is roughly 45' x 20' with high ceiling.  The entry way at the top of the stairs is roughly 15' x 20 '.   There are two smaller rooms to the side which is Pastor Revie's office and a storage room.   There easily were 100 people squeezed into the main room and another 25 or so in the entryway.

Worship music was LOUD and passionate and joyful.  There were two large bumped out windows--no glass, but a lattice wood.  A bit of a breeze could be felt.   Hum….come summer and heat and that many people in the room…well, it would be awfully warm.      Marj and Sarah sang a special number.

Marjorie and Sarah

Stan shared his story.  Pastor Brian shared on Matthew 14:21ff on the storms of life, which are either for discipline or correction.    They develop Christ's character is us.    The points:  1) I am here by the will of God  2) God is aware of my situation,  3) Jesus is praying for me, 4) God will come to my aid, and 5) God will use my storm to help me grow.  

Pastor Revie and Pastor  Brian

from near the front looking toward the back

After worship, church members and us made our way in various ways, to the beach.   We stuffed 9 in Brent's van.  There we had a bit of a picnic lunch.

Typical 'stray' dogs watching for any food that might drop or be tossed their way.

 I saw a lot of these kinds of boats in varying sizes.

before going into the water, a time of prayer

Then we got to witness 27 be baptized.  Best of all, Pastor Brian got to assist.  In the process, he got "carried away"--his own words.  On third person he was baptizing, Brian went down and under the waves, too.!!   Yea, for Marj capturing it all on video!   

Stan and Brian did some swimming, while the rest of us looked for shells and relaxed.  The water was warm, the sand white, but waves carrying in lots of shells, pieces of shells, small rocks, seaweed, etc.    The day was cloudy.

We went back to the lodge to clean up and I was able to borrow Liz's iPad to send a quick email to my sister from Liz's email account.   I DO need some tech lessons!

Then we took off to a film showing out in a community.   Apparently, a church member knew the family.  The family asked for the film showing and made a tarp covered area for people to sit since it was outside and it had rained earlier.    We were all introduced.  Dan shared his testimony and Pastor Henri gave the Gospel.

A message from  Christine since I've been home regarding this film showing at Tabayho, Bogo City:  " Pastor Henry was able to give us pictures of the services they are now conducting every Sunday afternoon...VERY EXCITING! Please understand that this work was started with the Gateway Team: the film showing your first Sunday in Bogo, sharing testimonies (Liz and Donna on Monday) and then follow up Bible Studies on Wednesday."






More pictures of the baptism and...