Mary Ann and I finally have a few hours to do some office work and to bring you up to date on April's activities and to request prayer for upcoming events.
1. West Coast Trip: We had a fruitful and busy ministry trip to Portland, OR, the ACTION USA office in Mountlake Terrace, WA and Pasadena, CA. It was wonderful to have fellowship with many long-time friends, make new ones and of course see Amos. We spoke 8 times and from what I can count, had 10 other ACTION-related meetings. A few of the highlights are:
1. Meeting many of Amos' church mates and hosting an Asian meal for Amos' Caltech grad group.
2. Speaking to the Christian Fellowship Undergraduate Group at Caltech.
3. Giving a seminar at Biola University to a packed room full of students during their mission's week.
4. Going to Amos' office and seeing the huge computers that his work group works on.
5. Assisting with orientation week for missionary candidates at the ACTION office.
7. Spending time with Mary Ann's niece Alison and getting to know her husband Gabe Franklin and their 2 children. Gabe is a teacher at a Christian academy and arranged for me to speak in their chapel and meet their pastor who just returned from the Philippines.
8. Throughout the trip, talking with several potential missionaries and having fellowship with many friends.
9. Getting to know the ACTION office personnel better and greatly appreciating their ministry.
10. Ministering in the Skamania Community Church, the sending church of ACTION missionaries Gary and Melita Root.
We pray and hope that we were a blessing to others as they were to us.
2. Update on Amos: Because we were able to spend time with Amos when he wasn't busy working, we learned a little more about his research and PhD in chemistry. Amos and his advisor are encouraged with the progress of his research and there is a very good possibility that he will finish before Christmas. It was a great joy for Mary Ann and me to worship at Amos' church, Trinity Baptist, and speak in Sunday School. The day after we left LA, Amos took off for a 2 week vacation in England, France and Ireland with his roommate who is working on a Post Doc in Astronomy.
3. Update on Micah: It was great to have Micah with us on the west coast trip and have extended time with her. Micah told Mary Ann this morning that this trip was probably "the best 2 weeks of her life." SGT Anderson has been busy along with her unit preparing for their upcoming deployment. She has been learning new software of which she will be the system's administrator in keeping track of Blackhawk pilots, flights and hours. We recently attended a family readiness day sponsored by the Minnesota Army National Guard and we were impressed by their care and concern not only for soldiers, but their families.
Note for prayer: Micah left today for Los Angeles to spend more time with John Mark (mentioned above), meet his parents and family and attend his graduation. They are seeking the Lord and asking counsel of many of us as to the Lord's will concerning their relationship.
4. Website/Credit Card Donations: If you are interested in donating to our ministry via credit card or the ACTION website, be aware that your credit card company charges around 4% above of your donation. Up until now, the ACTION USA office has been able to cover this charge but they are no longer able to do so. As of June 1, 2008, this 4% charge will be deducted from the donation itself and the remaining 96% will go toward the designation for the donation. We wanted you to be aware of this charge.
5. Gallon of Care: We continue to learn of churches and friends that are preparing Gallon of Care zipper bags and are shipping them to Manila. This project is proving to be a winner for people who want a hands-on activity as well as for those that receive them. Thank you very much for your responsive hearts to the Lord's prompting. As a reminder, please follow the content list and shipping instructions found in our 1st quarter hard-copy newsletter as well as on the website.
6. Bicol Survey Trip: Currently Dave and Becky Majam and Luv Zacal are in the Bicol region meeting with several local officials on the possibility of ACTION conducting a 6-month extensive feeding program for malnourished children and their families residing in resettlement locations. As you may recall, Bicol was devastated by super typhoons several months ago and the people continue to suffer. I will receive a report early next week as to what we should do. The feeding will be in coordination with providing housing and church planting as well as possibly some livelihood projects so pray for the Lord's clear direction to all of us involved. If we take on this feeding program, it will be in coordination with our network of partner churches there and will be very extensive. I'll keep you updated as I can.
7. Informal Bible Doctrine Classes to be started: It has been a concern of several of us working with street children and out of school youth that they are grounded in sound Bible doctrine in the early stages of their new life in Christ. Pastor Lino Dela Piña, a former street boy saved at a camp years ago, Bible school graduate, pastor and ACTION worker will be working with our Manila-based partner churches in developing an informal curriculum and school. For me this is a huge answer to prayer and Lino is the right man for the job which will be launched very soon. Pray for Lino, our street children ministry team and pastors of our partner churches as we seek to train young people in the Scriptures and incorporate them in local churches.
8. Mustard Seed's Busy Hands: Barb Burchert, the founder and leader of our Mustard Seed Discipleship and Vocational Training Program for young women mentioned to me she has started a project called "Busy Hands" for her graduates where they are sewing clothes for street kids and disaster victims. I am super thrilled about this because these young ladies are learning to use their new sewing skills to provide for the less-fortunate. Barb, Sharon Germaine the sewing instructor, and their team graduated their third class last Saturday and they are now recruiting for their 4th batch which will begin later this year. Mustard Seed is running very low on finances according to Barb so if you would like to help train out of school young women in the Word of God and high speed sewing, check out ACTION Philippine's website for more information. Barb will be on furlough starting late May for several months in Canada and the US. Sharon Germaine will also be on furlough in the Seattle area early June through the year. If you would like to contact them for more information you can find their email information on the ACTION website.
Closing: Our experience so far on furlough has been one of many people providing delicious meals, hospitality, friendship, fellowship, making good memories and simply put, extending God's grace to us. 3 John 5-8 describes the richness of our experience thus far when John writes to Gaius, "Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth." (NIV)
Thank you very much for all your prayers, giving, hospitality and love for God and His work around the world.
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