Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday

So much happens daily so I thought I would just post a bunch of pics and try and explain quickly. Forgive me if it doesn't flow :o)

Monday afternoon we drove 5 hours to a bible school (where we arrived in the middle of service) and were ushered in to minister. (Bible school students pictured) Then we stayed in a hostel and headed out early the next morning. First by boat (pictured) to a remote village and were able to tell students (and some parents) about the gift of Christ. Kent (pictured) used an awesome illustration about how sin separates us from God but Jesus made it so we can be connected with God again. The students there were totally engaged. After the lesson we gave them balloon hats, toothbrushes and toothpaste, then fed them. We didn't have enough of each thing for each student so we had everyone who didn't get a hat line up for toothbrushes first. I saw one girl trying to give away her hat so she could get a toothbrush, I wish we had so much more but they never complain, they are just deeply grateful for what they did receive. We left there and ate at a home of a pastor who uses his home for church. The hospitality is very humbling. Then we went to another very small village and spoke at a church there, handed out flip flops (pictured) and food in freshly harvested bamboo (pictured) By our last stop , another church in the mountains, we were getting pretty tired and when we arrived we found out it was their Thanksgiving celebration. There was a banner that said “Thanksgiving Service, Guest Speaker: Pastor Kevin Wilson”(pictured) Which we all thought was great :o) It was a great message followed by a powerful time of prayer and then more food! What an awesome time. I cannot even describe how beautiful it is out of the city. Just beautiful! Palm and coconut trees everywhere.

Today we had a shorter day. We left the hotel at 9am and drove for 2 hours to another remote village. The pastor has been in this remote village for four years and is still working on the church building. Right now it is just a stick structure with no roof. We walked into the house and heard a proclaimer going. (a proclaimer is a devise that has the bible on tape in their language that doesn't need batteries) Our church purchased a bunch of them last year for the Philippines and now we are seeing them being used for the Kingdom of God! What a blessing. There were people sitting in the living room of the house just to listen. There we ate again and then split into two groups. One went up to pray for the church building and the other half stayed with the children and fed them, gave out necklaces, tooth supplies and flip flops. (and told them about Jesus) When the whole group was back together we had a quick dedication service right in the Pastors front yard, dedicating the pastor's son and about 7 other kids ranging from newborn to probably 6 or 7 years old. We had to hurry while we were there because if it starts raining in the mountains we would not be able to drive out until the next day due to the mud so we left and made it home safely. I will try and upload pics of this later. :o)

Tonight I think we are going to walk to the nearby McD's for some comfort food ;o) and then tomorrow morning we get to rest a little until the afternoon so we will be attempting to call home since we will finally have a chance when it isn't the middle of the night for you guys. We will see if it works out. There is great need for being flexible around here :o) At times things change with very short notice :o) We love you all and miss you very much. (the pictures go from bottom to to chronologically oops and I will add a few more, it only lets me do 5 at a time)