End of Summer
Dear Friends, Welcome to our latest FMI Newsletter that covers this
past summer 2011. This year Mitzu, I and Natalie have stayed the longest in
the Philippines that we ever have (except for when we were living there
about 10 years ago).
Important to Me
So many wonderful things have happened with FMI that it seems we can only
share the tip of the iceberg (or should I say 'volcano' - haha) with you. If
I had to say, for me the most significant things would be 1) our amazing
staff, workers and members, 2) all the expanding of outreaches for the
children and youth, 3) our relationship building with the Tagaytay
Ministerial Fellowship, and 4) our continuing desire to reach those who no
one else is wanting to reach and to help in both spiritual and practical
ways.
The work continues in two regional areas: First, on the ridge of the Taal
Lake and volcano in the section of Tagaytay called the Mendez- Tagaytay
Road. The second area in on the island of Occidental Mindoro in the rural
villages and to the mountain tribal people.
10 Year Anniversary
The next 12 months will be our 10 year anniversary for the FMI work in the
Philippines. So, stay tuned for some more updates.
Next I would like to simply share with you excerpts of news directly from
the hand of our FMI staff and workers. (All the photos on the right are from
the summer 2011 activities.)
Let's hear from them:
Department of Interior Certified
Ptra. Sion: I have a good news to you Ptr David and Sis Ptra Mitzu. Ptr
Eric and I attended the 2 days seminar; the NACPHIL seminar which means
National Auxilliary Chaplaincy Philippines. It was sponsored by our Tagaytay
Ministerial Fellowship. This program was empowered by the government and
signed by the DILG or Dept. of Interior and Local Gov't secretary Jessie
Robredo, and we Pastors are being commissioned and appointed in two areas:
1) as Moral Recovery lecturers at the same time as 2) provincial, town,
city and barangay chaplains. I'm appointed as chaplain in Crossing Mendez
West and Ptr Eric in Patutong. We were given full authority to conduct moral
recovery program to all the village officials and constituents and to even
have an office in each of the municipal halls.
This is now the answer to our prayers to penetrate the 7 mountains and 1 of
them is the government. Next week we will have an oath taking together with
the city and barangay (district) officials in the city hall. Please pray
for us regarding this matter.
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Sharing from the FMI workers:
Prayer Meetings and Dawn Watch Results
I am so blessed about the prayer meeting last night. There were 5 youth from
pabahay who attended the meeting, Pastora shared about the 4 spiritual
laws which govern our relationship with God..they participated and enjoyed
what they've heard, they humbled themselves and admitted thier sins...i
believe that God will continue to work in thier lives..and grow spiritually
through His words..and i know God will also use them for the expansion of
His kingdom.. Everything is for His glory..Praise the Lord! He reigns!..(=
K-WAV Kid's Ambassadors
... Wow.. ! I'm blessed by the K-WAVer's (Children's ministry) from Patuto...
God is really at work. Our K-WAVer's Ambassadors (the kids) just started
their tasks.. A little bit shy but excited to be set apart for God's work..
I'm encouraged seeing them committed to perform the task given to them..
They learn to visit the other K-WAVer's, and encourage them, and pray for
them & lead them .. They learn to love & care for other kids... Also, our
FUND RAISING succeeded... We're saving money so that we could have (K-WAV)
projects to do... We can do it through Christ who strengthens us.. To God be
the Glory ... For He alone deserves it..
Youth and Music Pastor
It's raining again. It's like blessings from up above flooding every area of
my life-my thirsty heart. Indeed, God is amazing and never runs out of
things that I need. He is more than enough. He is more than able. :)
Yesterday is a great day just as it is today. God gave us fair weather so
that we we're able to dried up our clothes. :) Moreover God gave us also
the opportunity to visit our outreaches. My prayer before I went out
yesterday is, 'Lord, I don't want to waste this time, this opportunity to be
sent off by You. Give me persons to talk with and share something about you.
I with RJ went to Pabahay, I told him while walking to pray for the place we
are about to cross. We went through different road going to Pabahay. I never
stop praying while walking, my prayer before I leave the mission house was
always on my lips. When we reached Pabahay, I approach 1 youth and somehow
talk with him for a short time.
But I'm not satisfied, I don't to go back in the mission house with this
feeling and I said, 'Lord, there is more.' So RJ and me started to depart
the place and while on our way going home, the Lord spoke to my heart to
visit once more the K-WAVE and their parents. God is amazing! The first
K-WAVE house that we visited is what my heart longs for. I was blessed when
I met the mother of John Carlo, she's very hospitable. We talk about
something and I started to share some words from the Bible. Praise God. She
was very happy that we visited them and she said she wants to visit our
church one day. And that could be on Sunday and the coming Sundays or other
coming days. Praise God!
Youth Coming In
God is truly doing amazing things.. Young People from from Pabahay came to
the mission house to join us. We encouraged them by letting them watch some
videos that we have prepared. Thank God many responded. Some of them will
come again tomorrow and some on Sunday afternoon. They are willing to be a
part of the Y-WAVE (Youth ministry) and I can see in the near future that
even their parents will come to our church and give their life to God. We
need more prayer for
these young people in Pabahay, I believe that God will also use them for the
expansion of His kingdom here on earth.. All for God's glory. Our God
reigns..
God is true to His Promises.. He is an immutable God- He never change.. We
are praying for more souls to win and God already answered our prayers. We
went to Pabahay today to see the life style of young people there for our
strategy to reach them out. I didn't expect their responses when we approach
them. They were so excited to join the Y-WAVErs. Tomorrow they will come and
visit our church. let's to pray for them.. Jesus rules!
Visiting the Kid's Families
These are the K-WAVE Las Brizas (see photos). After teaching them I with
Stephen visited their houses. A little bit tiring yet fulfilling and
challenging when we saw their houses and their poor living conditions. I was
moved by God to pray for one parent and i believe God is now working in her
life. I'm excited to see the families of these children serving the Lord..
Let's continue to pray for them. =)
One thing I learned while having the FMI staff meeting is , "If you want to
catch a fish, pray that God would give you the fish to be catch".
That's definitely right !!! Yesterday, before we left the church , we
prayed that God would give us the fish to be catch . God brought us
somewhere in Payapa, Mendez (we don't know the place ) after we visited the
K-WAVE parents.. We went to a house, at first we want to go & leave 'cause
the mother face seems so scary- it seems she's angry.. But we go & make a
big smile to them, and say " HELLO". And when they ask us where are we going
,we said that were just giving a tracks & we've just visited our K-WAVE's
'cause we're teaching kids about Jesus. We meet Sis. Luzviminda ,bro. Bert,
& Sis. Sandra. They are so happy hearing that we're teaching kids & they
want us to come again to visit & share more with them. We also meet ate
Luzviminda's special child daughter namely Abegail..
I had a nice talk with her. I do believe God has something to do in her
life. It's nice to talk with them but we have to go 'cause we might be
disturbing them 'cause Ate Luzviminda was washing clothes.. We render them a
prayer before we leave, they request us to pray for the provision of the
Lord in their
everyday living, strength when they work,& good health for their family.
I've been challenged when Bro. Bert tell us that before we return, we see
to it that there's something good change in their lives...:) I know we
can't, but God can handle it...!!! ... There's nothing impossible to Him
.. This is just the start of catching fish ,I , Ate Anabelle & Kuya Arjay
... We can catch fish more, as of now we're just first learning the right "Technic" how
to catch it....:) :) :) We can do it through Christ who strengthens us ..
Personal Testimony from Anabelle
To follow God doesn't mean to be free from trials, troubles and problems. He
didn't told us that if we follow Him we will no longer encounter
persecutions and criticism. actually, the more we desire to seek and know
his plan..the more the discouragement we'll experience.....I was once in
that situation.. i don't know what to do, what to think, and where to go. I
started to ask myself WHY?.."what's wrong with me?" I follow Him but Why is
it that things seems so different of what life i am expecting to have..My
friends left me..my family and all my love ones were starting to dislike me.
but i don't know what's the reason behind. I try to pleased them and share
what God has promised because of seeking Him first..but they reject me. They
always insisted that I have no good future in this kind of life i have
chosen..this will only make me miserable.. but i don't give up! i proved
them that they were wrong. I go on my journey with God. it's amazing that i
began to see what God is doing in the life of my loved ones. Little by
little they were already letting me to choose what my heart beats..and that
is to serve God. My life becomes colorful..and now i can say that GOD
complete me..he changed me..and i have now eternal life..i can say..this is
the Best gift i've ever had b4..my friends, especially my family look me as
an ANGEL..(praise God for that!) (=
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OK everyone... try to keep in touch and let us know if you would like to
come over and work with us. There are many things planned for the future.
You would be more than welcomed!
Blessings,
David, Mitzu and Natalie
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