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The Latest News |
| 12/26/2006 | Jericho, VT USA "I..CAN'T BREATHE!" After our speaking engagement Sunday, we were on the Thruway back to Albany. Progressively, I was noticing a rapid increase in both a dizziness and difficulty in breathing. Counting down the milemarkers to Albany, the world began to swirl about me. Elvie was driving, and pulled to the side of the road. Then throbbing headaches pounded at my brain. I openned the window, but the cold air was freezing Abby and PJ in the back seat. Elvie called 9-1-1 on my cellphone, and as soon as the ambulance arrived, they put my face in an oxygen mask. The bluish color in my face started to fade, and they brought my shivering body on a stretcher to the hospital. Five hours later, after meications and a few tests, the nurse came to remove the IV tubes, gadgets and cords from my arms and chest. The male nurse was humming a Christmas carol. Recognizing that it was actually a hymn, I glanced over and made eye-contact with the nurse. "You are a Christian, aren't you?" Yup, he shook his head affirmative. How wonderful that God sent one of his very own, this Christmas Eve, to care for me. By the way, the consensus was that the medical troubles were complications from a kidney stone, which threw my system haywire. Still recuperating now. Thanks for your prayers. Thats the first time I've been confined in an American hospital since I was a teenager! Until next time… Present need: $1,400 to fulfill the remainder of a
widow's matching 1.Annual Government Inspectionof BLC Jan. 3 Praise God that we now have 40 new sponsors for the 88 poor children who were on the BLC waiting list. Only 48 left to go! We've also driven 10.500 miles so far...Only 18,500 left to go! Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (12/31-2/2) 1/2 Princetown Community Church Princetown, NY Status of $3,000 (2005 debt reduction) matching gift: $1,600 received, $1,400 left to go (by Feb. '07)! "Let the Islands Rejoice!" |
| 12/21/2006 | Valley Cottage, NY USA "Make believe you are a drum!" Our BLC Administrator Dr. Ayoc pounded away at his leg, as if he was at a drumset, complete with clanging cymbals. Now it was his turn to choose someone to "airband", during the BLC staff's Christmas party. "Okay Guard Roger. Now it is your turn. You be bagpipes!" Roars of laughter peeled out as our school guard puffed out his cheeks and poked them with his forefingers to make "bagpipe" sounds. After the tedious day-in and day-out preparations during early December to get the 287 BLC students ready for their end-of-year exams, it was a blessing to get away together as a staff and just have a good time together. A dark cloud of gloom also hung over the minds of each of the staff, as they'd just received news that one of the dear parents in the school (Liza Tapao) died of cancer, leaving behind her young husband and children. But now, as the beauty of Cristmas joy filled the room, all the heaviness was lifted for a few wonderful hours of frolic and friendship. Next year, will we all be here together to celebrate? Perhaps not. But God has given us each other, for this brief moment, to celebrate together the reason for the season and really, the reason for our very existence: Jesus came not only into the earth, but also into our lives and souls. Thanks for the awesome gift, God! Present need: $850 for BLC's November electric bill. 1.Annual Government Inspectionof BLC Jan. 3 Praise God that we now have 38 new sponsors for the 88 poor children who were on the BLC waiting list. Only 50 left to go! We've also driven 9.500 miles so far...Only 20,500 left to go! Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (12/31-1/28) 12/31 Jericho Congregational Church Jericho, VT |
| 12/12/2006 | Ithaca, NY USA "I am not going to let you into the United States of America!" Three months ago, after leaving the Philippines for the USA, we were a very tired family of four, having just landed at the airport in San Francisco, California. After flying nearly around the clock and crossing a dozen different time zones, the last thing we expected to hear was that we were not allowed into the country and would have to head back to where we had come from! Yet Elvie's paperwork, since it was processed pre-"911", did not have the newly-revised official stamps on them, and the personnel at California customs were also not familiar with the "missionary clause" category (N-472) that Elvie is included under. We travel to the USA every three years to renew this permit, and speak at churches, schools and civic clubs while we are here. While waiting in the "holding area" with two exhausted children, we four prayed that God would touch the heart of the guard and let us through. Just when we said "Amen," a commotion arose on the opposite side of the room, as a whole boatload of sailors arrived, with their papers needing approval. Considering the vast bulk of work needing to be done, and the fairly innocent appearance of our little family, the guard finally let us through with the warning, "Just don't let it happen again!" Just this past week, we appeared at the Immigration Dept. here in New York and received the "new and improved" post-"911" documents, along with the kind suggestion, "You might want to tuck this in with your passport next time you cross the border." On our way out the door, the guard assured our little Abigail, "You are the best-mannered little girl I have seen all day. Welcome back to the USA!" Ok, this is still a fantastic country! God bless America. Until next time… Present need: $4080 for the government-required "13th-month" 1.BLC Christmas Party- Dec. 18-19 Praise God that we now have 34 new sponsors for the 88 poor children who were on the BLC waiting list. Only 54 left to go! We've also driven 9.000 miles so far...Only 21,000 left to go! Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (12/24-1/14) 12/24 Community Bible Church Valley Cottage, NY Status of $3,000 (2005 debt reduction) matching gift: $540 received, $2460 left to go (by Feb. '07)! |
| 12/5/2006 | Ballston Spa, NY USA -- "Are you listening to me?" Back last June, Elvie nudged the mother, who had been staring into space with a blank expression. "Huh? Oh, sorry. I just find it so very hard to concentrate. With my daughter gone, I just don't know how to cope." The sad story tore at Elvie's heartstrings as the mother of seven explained what had happenned when she had been off looking for work to put food on her table. An older sibling had been tasked to keep an eye on the 3-yr old girl. Momentarilly distracted, he did not notice when the little girl stumbled off the edge of a sewage canal near their squatter shack, and, not knowing how to swim in the muck, she gasped for breath until her lungs were fully clogged and she drowned. Unable to focus on the needs of her remaining six needy children, the mother just absentmindedly struggled from day to night to day again in a nightmare of unending grief. Finally convinced by a neighbor that she had to do something to continue the lives of her remainig kids, she was informed of the BLC free schooling program. Now, half a year later, these precious children are anticipating the joy of the holiday season, with gifts and songs and presentations and love, from their brand-new BLC family. Even the mother is participating in the worship services each Sunday, like a mother goose trailing her goslings behind her. This Christmas, more than ever, as one less seat is around the table than last Christmas, the understanding of a baby in a manger who grew and died on a cross so that others could live, has new meaning for this family, whose hope has been renewed by those like you who cared enough to make a difference by sponsoring poor children in the Philippines. Present need: $236 for medical coverage (and Social Security) for our
BLC Please pray for the upcoming BLC events: 1.BLC Christmas Party- Dec. 18-19 Praise God that we now have 32 new sponsors for the 88 poor children
who Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (12/17-1/14) Status of $3,000 (2005 debt reduction) matching gift: $340 received,
$2660 |
| 11/30/2006 | Poughkeepsie, NY USA -- "Madamme Elvie, please
say HI to Vangie when you get to America." Yeah, right. There are
300 million people in the USA and somehow we are to find "Vangie?"
How? We said, sure, we'd say hi if we saw Vangie, and left for the USA
back in August. Now, after flying 13,000 miles and driving over 8,000
miles further, we spoke in a New York church last Sunday. A good friend
of ours stopped by a church with the news that she'd been to a retreat
two hours away and met a couple from Davao City, Philippines. They agreed
to come to the church where we were to speak, and sure enough, they were
there to meet us Sunday morning. Guess who the Filipino wife is? You guessed
it...Vangie! Small world, huh? We were sure to give her the greetings,
in her own language, from our friend in the Philippines. Vangie then invited
us God is sooo perfect! |
| 11/23/2006 | Colonie, NY USA “Happy Birthday, Pasor Paul and Abby!” The 289 pupils at BLC sang their
Until next time… Present need: $60,000 or a volunteer construction team to build a new
roof Please pray for the upcoming BLC events:
Praise God that we now have 27 new sponsors for the 88 poor children
who were on the BLC waiting list. Only 61 left to go! We've also driven
8,400 Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (12/3-12/31) 12/3 (am) Clearview Alliance Church Schodack, NY Status of $3,000 (2005 debt reduction) matching gift: $340 received,
$2660 |
| 11/19/2006 | Corning, NY USA -- “Dear Jesus,” prayed our little 6yr
old daughter Abigail, “please, please help daddy and mommy get five more
sponsors for the poor children in the Phlippines today at church!” It was
touching to see our little angel, so full of faith, expect the impossible
as we were about to go and speak. Each Sunday morning for over two months
now across the USA, we have been sharing with our friends in civic clubs,
churches, schools and Bible studies about the exciting work that God is
doing in Davao City as a result of the Barner Learning Center. Presently
we have 212 sponsored children in the school. But there is enough classroom
space for 88 more. These children are only a drop in the bucket as to the
overwhelming need there in the Third World. Yet we will not enroll the children
in the school until we have sponsors and space for them. So far, 18 have
been signed up since we arrived in the USA, and have given their first $20
monthly support check. To reach our goal, we will still need between 3-5
new sponsors in each church we speak at from now until March. “Daddy,” Abigail
reminded me on the drive to church, “today there will be five new people
who will tell you they want to help the poor kids like my friend Renalyn
in Davao, right?” Sure, Abby, sure. We arrived at church and shared in both the morning and evening. On our way home between services, we counted the new sponsorship cards...exactly five! Yay, God! Then, when we came home that evening, there were three more! Eight from one church! YES!!! Oh, to have the faith of this little one as we travel and share. |
| 11/9/2006 | HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLC (8YRS), PAUL (45) & ABBY (6)! Canandaigua, NY USA: “Parlez-vous Francais?” The 189
BLC children each entered the stage class-by-class, on our United Nations
Day. They represented different nations of the world. Costumes, songs,
and greetings in varied languages colored the international morning. “Jesus
loves you!” was relayed in dozens of different languages, as everyone
got the message: Yes, Jesus truly DOES love people in ALL the world. Just
a few days later was All Saints Day, when millions of Filipinos made their
way to the graveyards to spend all-night vigils over the graves of their
deceased relatives. Most were honoring the memories of their loved ones,
but others came to worship the dead. It was an eerie evening, as candles
flickered over plots in every cemetery across the country, right up until
the sun dawned on the hoizon. The same Jesus who loves people all over
the globe, has His eye on these lost souls: not those of the dead, but
of the living. There is still hope. Hope that someone, somewhere, will
tell them that they need not fear death, once they have received the One
Until next time… Present need: $850 for BLC's October electric bill. Please pray for the upcoming BLC events:
Praise God that we now have 16 new sponsors for the 88 poor children who were on the BLC waiting list. Only 72 left to go! We've also driven 8,000 miles so far...Only 22,000 left to go! Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (11/18-12/10) Status of $3,000 matching gift: $240 received, $2760 left to go! |
| 11/1/2006 | Elizabethtown, PA USA: "Where's my retainer?"As
we are travelling a cross the beautiful USA, we share every week in a different
church about the awesome things that God is doing in the Philippines through
our BLC ministry. Occasionally we are invited out to a diner to eat with
friends. This week my parents from New York joined us for dinner at a quaint
country restaurant, here in Pennsylvania. After a deliscious meal, we headed
on home...the last customers to leave before closing. On our way out the
door, Dad picked up a placemat, which had the number of the restaurant on
it. Once we arrinved at the farmhouse we are staying in, PJ called out,
"Uh-oh! My retainer! I left it at the restaurant!" That retainer
was expensive, and we did not want to lose it. Since the farm has no telephone,
and is located between two mountains, there is no cell site available. So
I hopped in the car and drove until I could find a connection.Wth placemat
in hand, I called, hoping against hope that someone was still there. Sure
enough, the janitor answered the phone. "A retainer? I'll look for
it through the garbage bags. Stop by tomorrow morning and we'll look through
the garbage bags together!" We could see our breath in the cold morning
air as bright and early, Elvie, PJ and I donned our "looking-through-trash"
clothes to search in the cold for PJ's retainer. As soon as we got through
the door of the store, the waitress had her hand in the air, clutching a
small plastic bag. Inside was PJ's retainer. Right there at the counter,
all full of smiles, was Tim the janitor, who'd done the searching for us.
In a ponytail and headphones, and sipping coffee, he responded to my offer
to give him money for his help, "No thanks. It was my pleasure. Have
a great day!" Praise God for this Ponytailed angel who did the dirty
work for us, free-of-charge! Until next time… Present need: $236 for medical
coverage (and Social Security) for our BLC teachers and staff for October.
Please pray for the upcoming BLC events:
Praise God that we now have 13 new sponsors for the 88 poor children who were on the BLC waiting list. Only 75 left to go! We've also driven 7,000 miles so far...Only 23,000 left to go! Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (11/12-12/3) 11/12 Canandaigua Baptist Church Canandaigua, NY |
| 10/25/06 | Phillipsburg, New Jersey USA: "Papa, I love you!
You're so much fun!" The field trip of Barner Learning Center this
month brought our 289 BLC kids to the beach with their teachers and parents.
This year was extra special, as most of the dads took time off from their
work to attend. Since Filipino wages are so low (between a $1-$5 a day),
the parents work so many hours that the children rarely are able to spend
quality time with both their parents. Yet when BLC's administrator Dr. Ayoc
challenged the dads to attend, there was an overwhelmingly-positive response.
Diving in the waves and burying each other in the sand, families had some
great intergenerational bonding at the beach. In past years we have visited
factories, firehouses, museums and parks, But this year, it was mostly just
plain old fashioned fun. The school nurse caught up with the students to
be sure nobody got hurt, after she visited Elvie's mom in the hospital (she
had a stroke). Until next time… Present need: $2,040 for our BLC teachers'
& staff's salaries on Friday, October 27. Please pray for the upcoming
BLC events:
1.United Nations BLC Festival Oct. 27 Praise God that we now have 12 new sponsors for the 88 poor children who were on the BLC waiting list. Only 76 left to go! Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (11/5-26) 11/5 Elizabethtown Alliance Church Elizabethtown, PA |
| 10/19/2006 | Williamsport, Pennsylvania USA "Paul, would you like to go for a 3-mile walk before church Sunday?” Scheduled to speak at my brother Phil's church, he invited me first for a little exercise with some friends of his. The walk was great. We met and spoke with some great men. On Wednesday I spoke again at Phil's church for prayer meeting. Afterward, while Elvie and I were exiting the church, a man was waiting for us at the curb. “I was challenged by our discussion Sunday morning and have something for you!” There in his truck were volumes and volumes of children's literature, designed to help preschoolers learn to read. How could he have known? Back in August when we'd left the Philippines for this 7 month furlough,one of our prayer goals was that our 5-yr-old daughter Abigail would learn how to read before our return in March. When at Phil's place, Abby picked up this literature and was able to learn to read it very quickly. “Oh, if we only had this reading series for Abby!” We had exclaimed. We even mentioned in prayer meeting our desire that Abby would learn quicker how to read. Then, on our way to the car, the prayer was answered! Of the 109 books in the series, Abby has already perfected a dozen of them! God answers prayer! Present need: $3,000 to fulfill a widow's matching gift (dollar for dollar) to pay off our $6,000 2005 BLC debt from some non-paying sponsors. Please pray for the upcoming BLC events:
Praise God that we have doubled our speaking engagements by visiting churches, etc. between previously scheduled visits. Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (10/29-11/19)
|
| 10/14/2006 | Oriental, Pennsylvania USA "YAY BLC! YAY CABANTIAN! YAY JESUS!” The 289 students of Barner Learning Center were invited by the barangay captain (village head) to perform for the anniversary of the village. What a privilege that, among all the organizations in this area, only BLC's students and staff were chosen to perform for this grand event. BLC's six colorful blue and white minibuses (jeepneys and multicabs) carried the smiling children as others marched to the tune of instruments and drums down the dirt roads to the barangay hall. Once they arrived, the BLC children, to cheers of bystanders, performed field demonstrations of their talents and abilities. “Excellent!” called out the barangay official, who confided in our administrator, Dr. Ayoc that they were very, very impressed.”What a blessing it is, and an honor, to know that such a fine school as BLC is in our barangay!” Mr. Busig, our fourth grade teacher, took a deep bow to the cheers lifted up for the children whom he had trained so effectively in dance, singing worship choruses, drama and gymnastics. Truly, BLC offers a quality, Christian education! Until next time… Present need: $86 for BLC's September phone bill. Please pray for the upcoming BLC events: 1.Foundation Day, Paul & Abby's b-day – Nov. 9 Praise God that, of the 88 new sponsors we need to bring our total number
of Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (10/19-11/17) Furlough phone numbers: |
| 10/06/2006 | Ellwood City, Pennsylvania USA
"Justin, Jesus loves you soooo much!” 13 years ago when I was a pastor in Missouri, we had dozens of kids who regularly came out for our Saturday morning puppet shows and Sunday School classes. Justin was a quiet boy, and always helpful, especially when we had to put away the puppet stage and puppets. During this furlough, as I visited the neighborhood of our old church, we stopped by a yard sale. As soon as we got out of the car, the mom of the house called out, "Pastor Paul!” Sure enough, it was Justin’s mom. A tall young man also strode out of the house. He was taller and bigger than me. As he reached out his big hand, his deep voice spoke. “Pastor Paul, remember me? I am Justin!” Whoa! His mom made my day when she stated, “Pastor, Justin is now working at the university, and… he is also now an ordained reverend!” Tingles. You never know which life you are touching today, no matter how young or promising, will one day be a president, a principal, or a pastor! Present need: $850 for BLC’s September electric bill. Please pray for the upcoming BLC events: 1.Educational Field Trip- Oct. 13 2.Foundation Day, Paul & Abby’s
birthdays Praise God that we were able to remit to the Philippines the $236 needed
for Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (10/15-11/10) |
| 10/1/2006 | "Dr. Ayoc, where are the Boy Scout leaders?" During BLC's investiture ceremony, the great curiosity of all was, "When are the city's boy scout officials going to arrive?" 300 children were waiting, so the BLC staff went ahead and proceeded with the Girl Scout initiation ceremony ("investiture") first. One of the city Girl Scout board members arrived early to grace the occasion by welcoming the new scouts. What a privilege this was, as many of these children come from very poor families and would never be seen by, let alone recognized by, any top officials in the city. Nonetheless, due to their association with the very reputable Barner Learning Center, these street children and beggars were handsomely dressed in their brand new official scout uniforms and paraded down the aisles of BLC's gym before their parents, teachers and schoolmates. After this successful presentation, finally, the Davao City Boy Scout leaders also arrived to welcome the males. Truly, the children's schooling at BLC is not only an educational experience, but a community event! Until next time… Present need: $236 for medical coverage (and Social Security) for our
BLC teachers and staff for September. Please pray for the upcoming BLC
events: Praise God that a friend has agreed to not only pay for our furlough car's new muffler, but also for the new push-button remote we needed for our power point presentations as we cross America speaking in civic clubs, churches, Bible Studies and schools. Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (10/7-10/29) "Let the Islands Rejoice!" Rev. Paul, Elvie, PJ and Abigail Barner |
| 9/27/2006 | Rolla, Missouri, USA "Dr. Ayoc, they are going to burn down my hut!!!” Richard is one of the guards at our BLC school, yet since he has difficulty making ends meet financially, his family lives in a squatter hut. The landowner, by Philippine law, cannot force any squatters off his property without processing expensive and years-long legal proceedings. Instead, he hired some thugs to start burning down the homes of the residents. His property is very close to our school, and 12 families lost their homes in one day. As the billowing black smoke wafted up to the clouds, fear spread like a plague throughout the squatter development of 500 closely-entwined huts. Many of these huts share common walls and sparks can easily leap from one coconut-leaf roof to another. Gathering their belongings over the next 48 hours, a mass exodus ensued. Guard Richard requested use of one of BLC's jeepneys (a type of minibus) and worked late into the night with some friends from our church plant, to move out the belongings of his wife and two infant children. Finally their family was safe and sound as they became squatters in another area...but for how long? Present need: $150 to repair our muffler. The 15 year old car we are driving during furlough now sounds like a helicopter. We have driven 2,000 miles in the last four weeks, and still have another 28,000 to go! Praise God that, to date on this furlough), we have received four new sponsors for the destitute children in the Philippines who could not afford schooling! Our goal is 88, to bring our grand total of sponsored children to 300. Only 84 more to go! |
| 9/17/2006 | Mount Hope, West Virginia USA Diary September 17, 2006 "I'd rather be eaten by cannibals than eaten by worms!" At each one of the 50 churches we'll be speaking at during this 7-month furlough, we are emphasizing strongly the commitment that every believer must make to tell lost and dying souls how they can be saved from an eternity in Hell. Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. Since different mega-leaders' negative comments this week about Muslims have become international news, the safety of missionaries is a major concern to believers. Yet as I spoke this morning, I focused on the brevity of life, and how we have an obligation as believers to look beyond our own safety, to the need to cross into even dangerous areas so that the story of salvation through Jesus Christ can be heard. A young teenager stopped me after the service during the fellowship time. "Pastor Paul, my friend and I want to be missionaries when we grow up! I'll go to Japan, and she'll go to China!" Praise God that the vast field of unsaved souls overseas, which is ready for reaping, will finally start to be harvested! A vibrant new breed of energetic young people will soon appear on the horizon and march forward, oblivious to the eons of Satan's threats, and introduce the light of Christ into the Darkest pagan, animistic regions of Asia! Present need: $3,000 by February (5 months away). A friend has offered a matching gift of $1 for every $1 given (up to $3,000) to refund the $6,000 lacking from those who promised to sponsor BLC kids last year (2005) but weren't able to fulfill their commitments. Praise God that, although the 100 lost data discs of my research have not yet been found by airport security, over 200 educational home-schooling CDs were donated to us for free from a mission for our kids, as we travel 30,000 miles back and forth across the USA! |
| 9/15/2006 | “Wrong door, wrong church!” PJ, Abigail and I laughed over our mistake
as we made our way back to the car where Elvie was waiting. During our seven-month
furlough in the USA (Sept-Mar), we are speaking every Sunday at a different
church. We often are also scheduled on weekdays to share about the Philippines
at civic clubs, schools and colleges as well as Bible Studies and Prayer
Meetings. This week we are in Virginia. During a visit to the Christian Aid Mission Headquarters on Wednesday, we happened across a pastor who invited us to attend his church’s prayer meeting. After getting directions, we did some shopping and then headed off to church. When we got near the church, we saw a steeple in the distance and headed for it. It was not of the denomination that the pastor mentioned, but we figured that I’d just made a mistake in my notes. The prayer meeting was good, and the kids had a great time in their classes. At the end of the service, I asked the man who’d taught our class where the pastor was. He said he was the pastor. Hmm. I asked, “Where’s Pastor Bare?” “Oh, his church is across the street!” Elvie and I looked at each other with a grin and thanked our informant. After getting the kids into the car, we took a jaunt across the street to greet the other pastor. He’d already gone home, but on our way out, PJ pushed on the wrong door. Looking up at me, he said, “There Dad. Wrong door…wrong church!” Speaking Schedule: The next 4 weeks (9/15-10/8) 9/17 Mount Hope Christian Church Mount Hope, WV Please pray for the BLC Scouting/Twinkler Day, this month. 287 pupils at Barner Learning Center will be inducted into the Philippine Scouting Program, to teach them responsibility and good citizenship. Present need: $2040 for the September 15 salaries of our BLC teachers’ and staff, this Friday. |
| 9/8/2006 | “I'm a Bagobo!” Over a dozen different tribes were represented at
the Barner Learning Center during our 2006 Annual Culture Day. Since there
Present need: $340 for gas and tolls for the next two months of furlough travel in the USA. Praise God that our missing luggage from our flight last week finally was found and delivered! Please pray for the return of some very important items that were missing from my bag after a security check. 100 data dics (CDs) with interviews of tribal people represent just a portion of the 4 years of research lost if these discs are not returned. FURLOUGH SPEAKING SCHEDULE: “Let the Islands Rejoice!” |
| 9/3/2006 | HAPPY LABOR DAY! HAPPY 38th BIRTHDAY, ELVIE! “Oooohh,
jetlag never felt this bad!” All four of us (Elvie, me, PJ and Abigail)
were nauseous and sick with body pains and flu symptoms right after getting
off the plane in New York City. What a way to start our furlough! After
renting a baggage cart and waiting an hour for our luggage, we realized
that our four bags had not made it across the ocean from the Philippines
to New York. Driving to a Walmart on the way to our destination, we picked
up clothes to replace the smelly ones we'd worn for nearly 30 hours on
our flight. Three days later (Friday night) 3 of our 4 bags came, but
my personal bag, with our birth certificates, marriage licence, account
ledgers and sermon notes, were nowhere to be found...and I am preaching
this Sunday! So between catnaps to shake this migrane headache, I am re-writing
my message. One good thing about this escapade: we now have a new set
of clothes! |
| 8/26/2006 | “Where’s the fire extinguisher?” During our Nutrition Festival at BLC,
the higher grades competed against each other in a cooking contest. Two
tables were set up on the stage, as students cleaned, cut and cooked vegetables
and meat for scrumptious Filipino dishes. When I saw that their cooking
was done over an open flame from a large pot, I grew concerned. Just a few
days previous, a girl at the college Elvie graduated from (USP) had burned
to death during a beauty contest. Surrounded by candles, her gossamer-lace
dress caught on fire in front of the horrified contestants. To be sure that
a similar fate would not affect our BLC students, nor spread onto the aged
wooden struts that hold up our gym roof, the school guard brought out an
extinguisher as one of the parents stood by with it in hand. An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of remedy!
Speaking Schedule: SEPTEMBER 2006 Please pray for the BLC Language and Culture Day this next week. The children will be performing many traditional songs and dances from their various tribal heritages. Present need: $2040 for the September 1 salaries of our BLC teachers’ and staff, this Thursday. |
| 8/20/2006 | “Daddy, so it is okay for me to shine the flashlight in your eyes? After
all, I AM supposed to shine the light of Jesus in the world, right?” Once
again, our dear 9-year-old son PJ was paying closer attention than I realized
during my preaching. I spoke on being salt and light in the world, during
the very first anniversary of our church plant in Panantungan. We had combined
the Sunday worship services from all five of our church plants for this
landmark event, with a total of 407 in attendance. Since a few dozen couldn’t
afford the trip, they also simultaneously had smaller services in their
respective house churches. Meanwhile we worshipped with our overflow crowd
under a roof of sheet metal and a large plastic tarp to keep out the hot
Philippine tropical sun. Our “Celebration Service” was filled with attentive
ears. The tiny Panantungan church lets in a breeze and sunlight, through
walls of woven palm stems. Although the floor is dirt, the feet of a growing
group of worshippers have packed it down during the past 12 months. It is
thus like cement, especially in front of the altar…except when it rains!
Elvie and I had donated 12 large door hinges for this work, and thus there are two big barn-type doors at the entrance to the little sanctuary. But today those doors were swung wide open for the hundreds of worshippers gathered outside on this very, very special day...the first birthday of our Panantungan church! Speaking Schedule: SEPTEMBER 2006 Please pray that Elvie’s strength is renewed from her surgery so there will be no complications while we travel around the world during furlough. Due to the new airline security alert, layover times (waiting in airports) are now more than doubled. Present need: $755 for a DELL video projector to present our Powerpoint presentations during furlough. |
| 8/13/2006 | “Let’s pray for the Barners!” Today is our last Sunday to worship in
our Davao City church plant until April of 2007. For 7 months we will
be challenging unbelievers around the world to become believers, and likewise
challenging PRAY:
Please pray that the stitches from Elvie’s Present need: $295 for our family of 4’s flight |
| 8/7/2006 | “The temple shook…and was filled with smoke! Invited to speak at Davao’s
Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, I read from Isaiah 6. Before my message,
a businessman gave his testimony at the microphone: “I lost it all. My business
went bankrupt. My car and house were repossessed. Now, through prayer, God
has replaced my car and given me a new job!” I then shared how, when the
foundations of our lives are shaken, we must not let the flame of our lives
for Jesus go dim. The smoke of Isaiah 6 came from the fire of God a thousand
years before, which came down from heaven at the time of Moses, to consume
the burnt offering (Lev. 9:24). That fire was kept burning for over a thousand
years! The newly-recovered businessman smiled as I looked at him, saying,
“Your life may be shaken. But let the smoke of your testimony continue to
sting the eyes of unbelievers so that they too will seek the flame of God
in your life!”
Praise God that we now have our tickets for the USA! Since all the planes were overbooked from Korea to New York, we’ll be flying direct from Manila (through California). Also 28 of the 34 churches we will be speaking at during furlough are confirmed! Please pray that the stitches from Elvie’s surgery hold while we travel around the world during furlough. Present need: $2200 for teachers’/staff’s salaries on 8/15. |
| 8/4/2006 | “Without Jesus in your heart, you cannot lead effectively!” This year the PTA at Barner Learning Center decided, for the first time in 9 years, to perform the induction ceremony for our elected PTA officers and Homeroom officers off-campus at a restaurant. But the restaurant had also scheduled 3 wedding receptions and 2 other group events for the same evening. Our combined audience (within hearing of our microphone) was therefore nearly a thousand! Seeing there were many unbelievers present, and backed by one of our city commissioners (who led the officers in their oaths of office), I challenged the people to become believers in Jesus Christ. From Exodus 18 I focused in Moses, when his father-in-law Jethro told him to delegate capable men to be judges over the people. The main requirement that Jethro gave for leadership was to be “God fearing”. “Do you know God?” I asked my audience of one thousand, “The only way to know God is through His Son Jesus Christ.” I then led the prayer of salvation, as they were having their dinner. Perhaps some prayed, but all heard: “Dear Jesus, I am sorry that I am a sinner. I know you died on the cross to pay for my sins. Please wash me clean by your blood. Make me your child and I promise to live for you for the rest of my life. Amen!” How many, in that huge place, among 6 different events, responded? We may never know until we see them in heaven! Praise God that another good friend agreed to help with what is still lacking in Elvie’s medical bill! God is sooo good! Also 28 of the 34 churches we will be speaking at during furlough are confirmed! Due to a change in airlines, we will be spending a week in Korea on our trip to the USA. Please pray for free lodging and also locations to share the Missions challenge! Present need: $4,000 still lacking for our family’s travel to the USA, leaving Davao on 8/13. |
| 7/29/2006 | "Bed rest for 3 weeks!" When Elvie was released from the hospital on Monday, the doctor prescribed for Elvie’s recuperation from surgery, to stay in bed and rest until we leave for furlough next month (8/13). I set up a microphone (the one that we use for kids’ Sunday School) so she could let us know if she needs anything. When she saw that a cassette player was attached to the speaker, she said, "Oh, wouldn’t it be great if I had some nice, soothing Christian cassette tapes to listen to while I am lying here in bed?" That very afternoon I went to the Post Office and a package had arrived which was mailed from a great friend in Pennsylvania way back in March, 4 months ago. We opened the box in our bedroom as PJ and Abby watched the miracle occur…There, one by one, our kids’ eyes got wider and wider as they unpacked 91 Christian cassette tapes and 33 Christian CDs for their mommy to listen to while recuperating! Imagine, the VERY DAY that she had made this simple request to God, He answered so very overabundantly! God is soooo great! Praise God that a friend gave to pay for Elvie’s hospital bill! Unfortunately,
due to the increase in her blood pressure after surgery, they kept her
confined for 3 times the originally specified length of time at the hospital
for tests, and doubled the price from what we had budgeted! But already
some friends have begun helping out. Plus Elvie’s Medicare covered 20%
of the bill. Also 23 of the 30 churches we will be speaking at during
furlough are confirmed! |
| 7/23/2006 | HAPPY NUTRITION DAY, BLC! Dear Prayer Warriors, This is Elvie. I know that Pastor Paul usually sends you these weekly email diaries, but I wanted to make an exception this week to thank you personally for all the many prayers that you have lifted up this week for my surgery. Because of your prayers, the operation went well, and I am still recuperating. Last night I was not able to sleep well, as the incision was painful, and my blood pressure went very high. Pastor Paul has made it fun to recuperate in the hospital with his jokes, but it hurts my stitches when I laugh, so he keeps them to a minimum. Before removing my uterus, it was swollen solid (not hollow) to the size of a round grapefruit (4-5 inches in diameter). Last night Pastor was able to sneak PJ and Abby into my hospital room, even though kids under 7 are usually not allowed. Many who were praying for me also visited, from CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship), BLC, KTS (Seminary), our church, OMF (Operation Mobilization Fellowship) and others. It was great to pray together! The doctor says I will be ready to travel for furlough after a month of complete bed rest, with no lifting or strain. Thank you so very much for praying! Because of those prayers, God kept the troublesome and painful fibroid cells within the uterus, without spreading to other organs. Had they spread, much painful “scraping” would have occurred, extending the necessary recuperation time. During this next three weeks, Pastor Paul has agreed to revise his schedule to attend my meetings for the various Christian groups that I am on the governing boards of here in Davao, so that I can rest. Thanks again for your prayers! Hopefully while we are on furlough between September and March, I can thank you in person! Praise God that He touched the hearts of friends to cover the expenses
of my Present need: $720 for BLC’s June electric bill. Please also pray for a dependable, comfortable vehicle for our 7 months of traveling while in the USA, and for no relapses while Elvie’s stitches heal. |
| 7/14/2006 | "Dear Jesus, please help the doctors take from Mommy the house for the babies!" Our little Abigail had her own sweet way last night (during our "Family Circle" of prayer) to explain the surgery that Elvie will be going through tomorrow. Over 20 years of pain and bleeding have finally gotten unbearable. The endometriosis/adenomyosis continues to spread, so she will be having her uterus removed. During prayer meeting, when we announced the operation to the 65 or so present, you could feel the compassion flowing through the congregation. These very poor people whose lives have been transformed by the BLC/FAF ministry finally had a small opportunity of returning the favor to this woman whom they all have grown to love dearly. All around us we could hear the prayers of these destitute families, enveloping Elvie and lifting her up to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for the operation that was soon to take place. Praise God for introducing us to these wonderful people, and as well, introducing them to Jesus! Now that they know Jesus, they can join us in our requests. The blessing has returned upon us! Praise God that, of our 30 speaking engagements for this furlough (Sept-March)
in churches, schools, civic clubs and Bible Studies, 60% have already
confirmed. |
| 7/10/2006 | "Two more men became new believers in Jesus this week!" Since we hired Pastor Callem to disciple the dads of the BLC students, the occurrence of new men becoming Christians is a weekly joy. Callem’s wife Inday has been discipling the moms on a one-on-one basis for 20 minutes each week for the past 3 years, and now with Callem on staff, the men can also study the Bible and pray together on a one-on-one basis. All the ministries of BLC are hinged on this one harvesting of souls ministry. In the school and church children and adults learn of Jesus and the Bible. But often it takes the interpersonal direct counseling of Callem or Inday (or the teachers, in the case of the children) for the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of these unbelievers to finally pray to become children of God. Some of these new believers (ten so far since school began last month) are staying on campus after hours to help out by volunteering to cut wood for cooking rice for the BLC kids. Welcome to the family, men! Praise God that, of our 30 speaking engagements for this furlough (Sept-March)
in churches, schools, civic clubs and Bible Studies, 57% have already
confirmed. |
| 7/2/2006 | HAPPY 230th BIRTHDAY, USA! HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY, ELVIE &
PAUL! HAPPY FIL-AM FRIENDSHIP DAY, PHILIPPINES! Kenny, do you take Kelly to be your wife? "I do!" The wedding ceremony in our BLC gym was for an extremely poor couple who has lived together for 8 years. They already have 3 kids. Rather than "live in sin" any longer, they chose to finally "tie the knot". Perhaps their brothers and sisters, also "living in sin" will follow their example. Watching the bride walk down the aisle in that shiny white gown of sequin and lace reminded me of 10 years ago when Elvie walked down the aisle on our wedding day…different church, but the same exact dress! The bridesmaids, flower girls and ring boys also borrowed their outfits from our wedding stuff. Rarely does a year go by that our pastel rainbow-themed "bridal clothes" are not put to use for a few different destitute newlyweds. Praise God that, not only are these clothes just as beautiful as the day we were wed, but the vows they represent, from way back in 1996, are still just as strong and meaningful and binding today. Oh and there is one other difference in this wedding. At the reception, we had our PJ join us, to eat all of the delightfully prepared diced goat intestines from my plate. Praise God that, of our 30 speaking engagements for this furlough (Sept-March) in churches, schools, civic clubs and Bible Studies, 53% have already confirmed. Please pray, for my presentation of the "Salvation Paradigm" at the university has been postponed to a final date of this Saturday (7/8) at 5pm. Pray that the Holy Spirit uses this presentation to lead intellectuals to Jesus. Present need: BLC’s monthly book (curriculum) bill, $984. |
| 6/25/2006 | HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY, PJ! “Wait! Pastor Paul…WAIT!”
The BLC school guard was waving his arms in the air, almost like he was
trying to fly, running toward the BLC minibus Praise God! We are now up to 74 paying students! We also have 207 sponsored kids, for a total of 281 enrolled for 2006-7. Also praise God that 2 more dads received Jesus into their hearts during their BLC discipleship times this week! Please pray, as half of the 27 churches we will speak in during furlough Present need: BLC teachers’ salaries ($1,902) due this Friday (6/30). Plus, we need 24 new computer mice. |
| 6/18/2006 | HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! “Why are you not in uniform?” When BLC’s Guard Lando saw two boys out of uniform on campus, he scolded them. Their mom was furious and wrote a letter to us, the administration. Her boys had grown out of last year’s clothes and are waiting for their new sets. The school guards are always in uniform, of course. The students and staff also have special clothes to wear. Mon-Wed, the kids wear the BLC uniform. Thursday is gym day and on Friday they wear their scouting uniforms. Praise God that 100 ties were made and sent to us by a church’s sewing club in New Jersey for our BLC girls. Yet since it takes awhile to sew together the blouses and skirts for the 100+ girls on campus, our Home Economics building is busy all day long with parents sewing. Praise God for the four sewing machines donated and sent by friends in the USA! While the wives are sewing, the husbands are on another part of campus, being discipled by our BLC chaplain! Praise God! We are now up to 73 paying students! We also have 207 sponsored kids, for a total of 280 enrolled for 2006-7. Please keep praying for those 27 churches that will invite us to speak during our upcoming 6-month furlough, 9/’06-2/’07. Also for my presentation of “the Salvation Paradigm” this Saturday (6/24) before the university student body and faculty. Present need: Please pray for our present need. It is a very large one. During furlough (Sept-Feb) we will ask friends to pray for God to supply $60,000 to cement our rotting wooden gym. While the floor is cement, the roof is sheet metal, held up by rotting wooden 2x4 struts. For the past 6 years we have added more and more of these struts to the extent that it is hard to see the stage through all these makeshift posts. We have prioritized this project over building a brand new spacious library, as we are afraid that the gym ceiling could collapse on the kids. NOTE: a friend is donating 24 complete and refurbished computers to BLC,
in their original boxes. They are government surplus. But we need mouses “Let the Islands Rejoice!” |
| 6/11/2006 | HAPPY PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY! “Greeeaat is Thy Faaaiiithfulneeeeesss!” The hymn went to its 2nd and 3rd verses while I could literally feel the hairs on the back of my head standing on end. The song leader was so off-key that her screech was overbearing. The 60 in the congregation would have forgotten the real tune, had not Arlene, the powerful-lunged mother of four in the 2nd row, blasted out from the murky depths like a crashing wave upon the shore. The “battle of the breath” had begun. But the songleader put up a powerful defense…she had the microphone, turned up high! The congregation backed up our second row hero, and finally, with a sigh, we scratched out the last, “Lord, unto Thee!” Hmmm. Sometimes I question the wisdom of my decision to assign layleaders to run our midweek prayer meetings. But…God says “Make a joyful noise.” He didn’t say “It must be a beautiful sound.” And how will these poor new believers ever learn, without the chance to try? The speaker now walked up to the microphone and read our verses for the evening…”The hairs of your head are numbered!” Praise God! We are now up over 60 paying students! That leaves us only 30+ short of our goal of 100. Although classes already are ongoing this week, late enrollees show up every day, discouraged about the high costs of other schools. The really big news is that this week a new sponsor agreed to sponsor two children. That not only makes all the sponsored kids have sponsors, but also we can add a child who is on the waiting list! 205 now! Praise God! Please pray for those 27 churches that will invite us to speak during our upcoming 6-month furlough, 9/’06-2/’07. Present need: $150 for the labor for the carpenter who will be building new shelves in the BLC library. The government said that our library is too cramped, yet I noticed that there is much space that is not used. A family in New Jersey gave the $200 for the wood and nails. Now we need the funds to pay for the labor. |
| 6/6/2006 | “Teacher! Teacher! I gotta use the bathroom!” The student was not a preschooler,
nor was she an elementary student, but a fellow teacher! This week, due
to a few minor transitions in staff, we have three new teachers on campus.
Before they were hired, we had a “mock class” with present teachers evaluating
the new prospects in a classroom format. Due to their experience with our
unique caliber of pupils, they are the best ones to understand the demands
of our BLC kids. But it sure makes for a comical sight to peep into a classroom
and see a dozen grownups seated at chairs and desks of preschoolers and
fourth graders! “Uh, teacher, I didn’t get my homework done.” Why, Billy?
Did your dog eat it? “No, sir. We ate the neighbor’s dog last month. Now
I haven’t eaten for three days, and I couldn’t focus.” Classes begin on
Monday. Please pray for these new students and staff. Already during enrollment
we had four new parents receive Jesus into their hearts through the interaction
of some of our BLC staff.
Please pray that we reach 100 paid students this year, as well as the 204 sponsored kids, for a total of 304. This is the last week of enrollment. Also pray for Elvie as she decides which poor children are poor enough to qualify for the sponsorship program and which will have to go without schooling. Please pray for those 27 churches that will invite us to speak during our upcoming 6-month furlough, 9/’06-2/’07. Present need: $1524 to pay off our last installment on the loan we took out to pay the teachers their “contract revision” separation pay in February. This final installment is due on June 15. Sponsorship tally: Sponsored children: 204, Sponsors: 202. Lacking 2. Total outlay: $40/mos ($20 x 2 kids). // Total “paying kids”: 45. Needed: 55 more. Classes started Monday (June 5). |
| 5/29/2006 | HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! “What is the most important thing in your life?” During our annual BLC Teachers’ and Staff Retreat up in the mountains this week, I divided the 32 staff present into 8 groups to answer this question. Some said “water, food and shelter”. Others, “Prayer and love”. But the correct, most important thing in life is to be ready for the afterlife. Are we going to heaven when we die? On Saturday I submitted four copies of my 150-page comprehensive sociological report at the University, and my main idea was, “What is the most important thing in the lives of the four people groups of Mindanao (Philippines): Lumad, Muslim, Catholic and Protestant?” Based on my four years of research in all four of these areas, I created a hypothetically new Era for Mindanao: “The Age of Empowerment, under the Salvation Paradigm”. War and terrorism on this island are only symptoms of a greater dilemma: unresolved unpreparedness for the afterlife, based upon faulty theology. Included as well was the chi-square statistical enumeration from our BLC Retreat. Please pray for the defense of my proposal, scheduled in early June. And may I remind you, “What is the most important thing in YOUR life?” Please pray that we reach 100 paid students this year, as well as the 204 sponsored kids, for a total of 304. This is the last week of enrollment. Also pray for Elvie as she decides which poor children are poor enough to qualify for the sponsorship program and which will have to go without schooling. Please pray for those 27 churches that will invite us to speak during our upcoming 6-month furlough, 9/’06-2/’07. Present need: $1902 to cover our teachers/staff salaries this Thursday. Sponsorship tally: Sponsored children: 204, Sponsors: 202. Lacking 2.
Total outlay: $40/mos ($20 x 2 kids). // Total “paying kids”: 31. Needed:
69 more. Classes start next Monday (June 5). |
| 5/19/2006 | “I’ll use my hands…I’ll use my heart…Give my whole self…to worship You!”
Little Artjil is an autistic boy, studying at BLC. During Summer school
the students and staff took today off from normal classes to provide a Vacation
Bible School for the community. Increasing our student body from the normal
300 to over 500, with nearly 80 adult visitors, the Gospel of Jesus was
clearly presented through puppets, teaching, singing, crafts and drama.
Children of all ages, from below 2 to over 70 years old, pointed, laughed
and listened as the full day of events progressed. Yet a highlight of the
day was when this little autistic boy, usually so quiet and resigned, poured
out his heart through the microphone as he told a packed auditorium full
of people about his greatest love in the world… his love for Jesus Christ,
his Savior. From the mouths of babes, God receives the glory due His Name!
Please pray for my recollection, as this week I take my final comprehensive exams at the university. My classmates and I have submitted a new testing procedure that has been 80% approved by the faculty. Also please continue to pray that we reach 100 paid students this year, as well as the 204 sponsored kids, for a total of 304. Present need: $907 for our April electric, water and phone bill, plus internet connection. Sponsorship tally: Sponsored children: 204, Sponsors: 198. Lacking 6. Total outlay: $120/mos ($20 x 6 kids). Two sponsors whose sponsorships ended in March have not decided to renew. A friend who is applying for a transfer of jobs agreed to sponsor four kids if she is hired! |
| 5/13/2006 | HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! “God specializes in the impossible!” Elvie shared from God’s Word with the ladies in our church and school. The passage was from 2 Kings when Elisha trusted God to make a lost axe head float in the Jordan River. “The same powerful God who made that axe head float…a physical impossibility…is able to restore your lost love with your husband. The same powerful God who protected Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego in the fiery furnace… an impossibility… is the same God who will protect your children from the bullies and gamblers and drunkards in your neighborhood. The same God who gave a baby to the virgin Mary… an impossibility… is able to provide food for your table, clothes for your back and a roof over your head. I ask you, is God powerful?” AMEN! “Does God care for you?” AMEN! “Will you use what God has given you?” AMEN! “When it seems impossible to face tomorrow, rejoice, for God specializes in the impossible!” Please pray for safety as Elvie travels through typhoon rains to share this same message with hundreds of ladies four hours away this weekend in Kidapawan. Also please continue to pray that we reach 100 paid students this year, as well as the 204 sponsored kids, for a total of 304. Present need: $530 for a new (used) Dell “Latitude” Pentium 3 laptop computer. Our furlough is scheduled for September, and the laptop I used for presentations two years ago has a severely cracked, irreplaceable screen. Sponsorship tally: Sponsored children: 204, Sponsors: 200. Lacking 4. Total outlay: $80/mos ($20 x 4 kids). |
| 5/8/2006 | "Dear Teacher Nimfa (3rd grade), why were you absent last week?" Each of our teachers and staff submit a diary/notebook of what they accomplished each day. As principal and director of personnel, Elvie keeps close track of each lesson plan. She mentioned that Nimfa had filed a brief leave of absence, so I inquired why. Her response was so assuring of the private lives of integrity of our staff. She responded, "I just consumed (used up) my 5-day sick leave since I was never absent in the whole school year 2005-6. I went to Gen. Santos City to visit my uncles and aunties, plus my old friends at the church where I grew up. I went with my uncle there to minister compassion to the new believers and pray for a sick person. Praise God, I led him to the Lord, and he got up and joined the church's youth outing! Thanks, Pastor Paul, for the privilege!" Praise God, our staff is even busy during their vacation, populating the Kingdom of Heaven! Please pray for wisdom. Since we work with the very poor, it is difficult for them to provide sufficient income to support a pastor's family in the various church plants that we have begun. We are considering releasing our professional church planters for other ministries and transitioning to bivocational laypastors, trained by us, yet without any formal Bible college training. Present need: $200 to post banners and print brochures/flyers to announce the new school year's open enrollment to the community. The BLC teachers distribute these flyers door-to-door each day in the hot sun. We are praying for 100 "paying kids" this year (non-poor kids whose families can afford tuition and do not need sponsorship). Sponsorship tally: Sponsored children: 204, Sponsors: 198. Lacking 6. Total outlay: $120/mos ($20 x 6 kids). |
| 4/30/2006 | HAPPY PHILIPPINE LABOR DAY! “…and Dear Lord, we thank you for this dedicated BLC staff who…ulp!” A mosquito flew down my throat and cut short my prayer of appreciation. Yet it was far from quiet on the beach late last night as the evening waves crashed upon the shore and two kereoke singers nearby competed for the “airspace” around our little bamboo hut. Elvie was treating some of the BLC staff to a mini celebration of appreciation for their assistance in painting, serving, driving and cleaning up after the 70+ lady delegates from many provinces and countries who’d slept on cots in the BLC classrooms this week. The ladies’ conference of over one thousand women from a dozen different Asian countries re-elected Elvie as their national secretary for another volunteer 2-year term. There, in one of Davao City’s great assembly halls overflowing with a great crowd of women of different shades and colors, she in her long, flowing gown against her long, wavy black hair, glistened as emcee with the cheerful glow stemming from her vibrant faith in Jesus. Please pray. While we have 197 sponsors worldwide covering the education of poor BLC kids, we also have 70 students whose families are able to afford to pay for BLC schooling. Some families also “graduate” from the sponsorship program, due to finding occupations. Please pray that this year the total number of “paying” students will increase to 100. This month, each day after classes during Summer school the BLC staff is hand-distributing flyers (and Gospel tracts) to about 5,000 homes within a 10-mile radius of the school. Present need: $1,282 for our busses, maintenance and fuel, for April. Part of this bill was deferred due to the repayment from many of the ladies who were transported from the airport to a conference this week in our BLC busses. Sponsorship tally: Sponsored children: 204, Sponsors: 197. Lacking 7. Total outlay: $140/mos ($20 x 7 kids). |
| 4/21/2006 | “No problem!” Arlene was chosen to share during prayer meeting, and she
told about her difficulty with the English language. Since my own learning
of the Cebuano language is slow in coming, I often lean on English. Yet
since we work mostly with the very poor, their English is scanty. That is
why Arlene always, whenever I ask her anything, says, “No problem, pastor!”
That is the only English she knows! She then paralleled before the ladies
at prayer meeting the fact that God also often asks us to do things that
we don’t understand. Our response should likewise be “No problem, God!”
After all, we know that we can trust His commands to be only what we are
able to handle. Arlene continued (in Cebuano), “Even though I don’t know
how to read the Bible (or any other book, for that matter), I know that
I can speak of God’s love, because I have experienced it. You may ask how
I have referred to Bible verses in this presentation? Those are ones that
I have memorized, as read by my daughters who attend BLC! I don’t have to
know how to read to speak of God’s love. Just recite John 3:16! No problem!”
Please pray for Elvie next week as she assists in leading the International Asian Ladies Conference here in Davao, from Monday to Thursday (4/24-27). Also pray for Charlotte Stemple, the main speaker, who will be arriving from the USA Sunday morning. After Davao, Charlotte will visit her son who is also a missionary in another part of Asia. Present need: Our monthly schoolbook bill ($965) is due again this next Friday (4/28), and salaries ($1902) that Monday (5/1). Please pray that we will be able to pay the $2867 we are lacking for these two major bills. Sponsorship tally: Sponsored children: 204, Sponsors: 202. Lacking 2. Total outlay: $40/mos. |
| 4/15/2006 | HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY (EASTER)! HAPPY HEROES DAY (KAGITIGAN),
PHILIPPINES! “Show Christ’s love by following the examples of Ruth, Esther, Mary and Deborah.” I challenged 80 of the 530 girl scouts who were camping in a banana plantation Saturday. Then, on Monday, to 40 Davao pastors who were gathered at BLC for their monthly meeting; “See, share and sacrifice for the needy. This is the language of love.” So went my Matthew 25 message. After speaking, I had to rush to the hospital in response to a call that would test my willingness to “practice what I preached”. Last year my sociological research for the university had taken me to a native Matigsalog tribe, up in the mountains. Now they needed my help. One of the grandmothers from their village, less than four feet tall and in dusty rags at 46 years old, last week had lost lots of blood while delivering her 16th child. An inward battle loomed in my mind: how am I to solve this problem at the same time as reading the 5000 pages by next month in preparation for my comprehensive graduate exam? Tucking one of the larger study books under my arm (the dissertation of Dr. Rambo), I rushed to the hospital. They needed three pints of blood, and since I am the same blood type, I offered mine. Since I have no funds to pay for the blood extraction, we spent 6 days applying at government offices for social services, and chaplaincy. What did I do while waiting in lines? Read my book, of course! The tribal chief’s assistant said, “Now you are part Matigsalog, as your blood will be running through our veins!” Please pray for strength Nenita, the Matigsalog grandmother who gave birth. She is quite anemic. Her brown feet are very white. She never did get my blood. Although approved for it, she lost patience and went back to the mountains. We gave her a bag of groceries and clothes for the trip, as she returned home with her newborn baby boy, named April. Present need: $1,494 for the first of three monthly installments of the short-term loan we took out to pay our BLC teachers their separation pay last month. Sponsorship tally: Sponsored children: 208, Sponsors: 199. Lacking 9. Total outlay: $180/mos. |
| 4/8/2006 | April 8, 2006 Diary- HAPPY PALM SUNDAY! “This ministry is really like a family,” I whispered to Elvie after giving a prayer at the wedding of our 4th grade BLC teacher Honey last Saturday. “We are here to marry and bury, dedicate and educate, baptize, evangelize and sympathize!” Just a few days later this became even clearer when a parent asked me to dedicate her baby to the Lord. As I prayer for the sleeping child in my arms, the funeral we had performed for her sailor daddy a year ago replayed in my mind. His untimely death through kidney failure had left his young wife as a pregnant widow. But today, a smile was on this young mom’s face. She has a family here at BLC and Faith Fellowship. Although she is a single mom, she is still loved and she is lot alone. Please pray for Elvie and the BLC staff as they paint, scrub and clean in preparation of the school for hundreds of ladies who will be sleeping in the BLC classrooms. They are joining the thousands of women coming from all over Asia to Davao for an International Christian Ladies’ Conference on April 24-26. Present need: $1,902 for our bimonthly salaries this Wednesday. They are early this month, due to the long 5-day Easter holiday weekend. Sponsorship tally: Sponsored children: 207, Sponsors: 198. Lacking 9. Total outlay: $180/mos. |
| 3/31/2006 | BLC GRADUATION DAY! HAPPY SPRING! "CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES!" Elvie practiced for the fourth time in front of our bathroom mirror. "By the authority vested in me as BLC principal, I hereby approved your well-deserved diplomas!" 48 students donned their white caps and gowns with tassels sporting the red, blue and white BLC school colors, which match those in the Philippine flag. Each child's face told a story. As I handed the students their diplomas, I shook their hands and made eye contact with a smile. There's Dianne, whose twin sister was murdered many years ago at 2 years old. Diane was then rescued and enrolled at BLC. Then there is Justin, a pastor's kid whose mom is on the Christian radio station and has written popular Filipino worship songs. Then there's IJ, whose grandpa helped us build the school building. There's also Ednalyn, who was dying in the hospital until BLC's Children's Medical Fund paid her bill and got her well. Each face tells a story of grace from the past. It also glistens with hope for the future. 85% of BLC children are sponsored kids who come from destitute families. Poor children stand side by side with well-off kids on the BLC stage to receive their well-earned diplomas, thanking God that you cared enough to make it all possible. Thanks! Please pray that our three new BLC vehicles arrive in time for the Davao International Christian Women's convention on April 24-27. Elvie is the national secretary for the group that will host the conference for these 2500 ladies from over 20 different countries. Present need: $877 for our monthly school utility bill (electric, water, phones, Internet). Sponsorship tally: Sponsored children: 208, Sponsors: 196. Lacking 12. Total outlay: $240/mos. |
| 3/24/2006 | HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD! HAPPY GRADUATION DAY, BLC!
“Pastor Paul said my wife is dancing now in heaven!” The businessman was giving his last words for his deceased wife before a crowd of a few hundred at the cemetery. On Wednesday after school we had loaded up the BLC jeepney with teachers and did a funeral for Alexi’s wife. Since her wake is a week and a half long, there was time for BLC to share. The teachers sang and I gave the message from the 23rd Psalm. Verse one is, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” I mentioned how, even though Vivian’s two legs and one arm were amputated due to diabetes, nonetheless she had been able to smile when PJ and Abby visited while she was alive, for she knew that very shortly, she would have new legs and new arms. “And today she is in heaven with Jesus, leaping and dancing and running with joy on those streets of gold!” Yesterday afternoon before so many, many people, Alexi said with tears in his eyes, “Pastor Paul told me she is in heaven with arms and legs and dancing! I am so happy for her now!” Praise God. Please pray for Alexi, as he grieves the loss of his wife. Also please pray for the BLC students who are performing during graduation this Friday. Praise God that I finished my three term papers this week…with a combined total of 130 pages! Present need: $965 for our monthly textbook bill (for March). |
| 3/16/2006 | HAPPY 69TH ANNIVERSARY, DAVAO CITY! HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
“So, you have three wives?” Next week I have three final research papers due in my university course. For one, I am comparing the Biblical understanding of the afterlife with that of the Matigsalog tribal people. It has involved a few half-day trips to the tribal areas. This week I brought one of our Faith Fellowship pastors along as I interviewed three different families, through two interpreters (Matigsalog-Cebuano-English). One of the respondents was the “Third Eye”. When his nephew died last Friday, his job was to fall asleep and see where the soul of the departed man went. He also could appeal to a sub-god to accept that soul. Because of his importance to the community, he also is often approached by tribal leaders to settle domestic disputes. Due to his prestige, he could afford multiple wives. Thus we were surrounded by his many grandchildren there in his sizeable bamboo hut. This was the very first time I was in a home of someone with multiple wives, all living in the same place! When about to leave, I took off my glasses and shared, “You know sir, in this community they call you the “Third Eye” because you can see into the supernatural world. However I am a pastor, and because of my glasses, they say I have “Four Eyes!” Please pray for the next step in discipleship of our BLC parents. Starting this week they are speaking for their first time in front of the congregation, giving the Wednesday evening exhortations during prayer meeting. They include parents, common laborers and teachers. Present need: $225 expenses for BLC Graduation on 3/31. |
| 3/11/2006 | “Did I cheat?” After a week of studying (plus an all-nighter) I was ready
this morning for the final exam in my very last class at the University.
Sociology of Development. After four years of classes, this is it. Oh, there’ll
still be the comprehensive exam in May, and the 3 research papers and thesis.
But this was to be my very last class. And I was ready. As Elvie dropped
me off at the campus this morning, she comforted me with, “Honey, I am praying
for you!” Sitting down, the tests were distributed. Essay. Good. I started
with jogging my memory for all the mnemonic devices I’d memorized and jotted
them down on the corner of the paper. Then my pen started pouring out ideas
at breakneck speed. Seven pages! But at page three, after Marx, Parsons
and Weber, I drew a blank. “Oh no! What was the theory of Simmel? Augh!
I stared at the ceiling. I wracked my brains. No answer. Suddenly, as if
a light went on in my head, I had the answer! Of course! Then I wrote until
my hand was sore. My back was sore. I had a headache. But my pen just kept
on writing. The professor returned. The students handed in their papers.
My pen kept writing. The room was empty. My pen was still writing. Finally,
20 minutes later, I put down my pen (lighter by now) and brought the completed
exam to the instructor’s office. What was that spurt of insight? “I was
praying for you, honey!” Elvie chimed when I got back home. So I ask, is
it cheating to pray? Doesn’t that mean she gave me the answers?
Please pray for our “Father’s House Christian Juvenile Detention Center”. The governing board chose me as its temporary (unpaid) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) until the facility is built. The final papers on land acquisition are to be signed this week. This is a totally Filipino supported facility with no financial ties to BLC. Its purpose is to release child offenders from adult jails. Present need: $4,350 lacking (of the $10,000) for the teachers’ separation pay, due this month. |
| 3/6/2006 | "ROAD TRIP!" The annual pastors' forum is usually at the Bible
College here in Davao. But since construction is going on at the college,
the venue will be 7 hours away in Cagayan de Oro City. After church yesterday
we had a board meeting to decide what to do. I can't go, as I need to be
in Davao to sign the papers to receive the free land for our Christian Juvenile
Detention Center ("Father's House"). Elvie wants so badly to attend
that she decided to pay her own way. Our assistant pastor's wife (Lalaine)
knew the church has a $600 deficit from last year, so said she couldn't
attend. But then Elvie came up with an idea. "Hey, remember the church's
9th anniversary celebration a few weeks ago? Church people brought so much
soda pop that we had 7 cases of it left over. Now, if we were to sell it
in the school to the kids, then we could pay Lalaine's way to the Forum!
So sure enough, bright and early this morning, Lalaine was on the bus for
Cagayan, packed to the doors with pastors headed out to the conference.
God provides once again! Should we call it the "POP Forum?" No
Christian "POP Stars" performing? Will she bring some "POP
Corn" for the bus ride?
Please pray for Elvie as she will be driving to the forum. She is not feeling well. Present need: $1282 for fuel and maintenance of BLC's 5 vehicles. |
| 2/25/2006 | “So…where does your soul go after you die?” The colorfully-dressed Matigsalog
tribal couple explained to me their understanding of the afterlife. From
their dialect, their son interpreted into Filipino, and then Elvie interpreted
from Filipino into English. I taped the interview for my University research,
and my secretary Alex is transcribing it. “When your soul leaves your body,
it goes on a journey past many landmarks. After your soul takes some skin
from the balite tree, it passes through the trunk and a leaf falls, becoming
a bird, which tells your living family that you have arrived in paradise.
There are many paradises. Your paradise will depend on what was your cause
of death. There you will wait until judgement day. If your good deeds outweigh
your bad deeds, you will enter into langit (heaven). If not, you remain
in paradise for eternity. But there is no sound there, so only those who
enter langit will hear again. Most people know that once they die they will
never hear again, as there are only children and a few adults who are good
enough to get to langit. Langit is blue like the sky.” Due to the United
Nations’ recent push toward convincing tribal chieftains to maintain their
traditional beliefs, it is becoming more and more dangerous for missionaries
in the mountains to share their faith. My next research visit (further into
the interior) will have to wait until the heavy rains stop, as many hillsides
are shifting, due to landslides. Contrasting these sad tribal beliefs was
the joyful funeral celebrated by our BLC staff as they sang during the vigil
of the father of one of our preschool teachers (Evelyn) this week. We all
know that he is not in a tribal paradise, but in heaven right now, paid
for by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Please pray for safety in the Philippines, which is presently in a state of national emergency, due to a coup attempt against the president yesterday, on the 20th anniversary of the “Edsa” coup that ousted the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986. Present need: $692 for BLC’s January electric bill. |
| 2/19/2006 | “The gym is on fire!” While Elvie and I were in the mountains to analyze
the Spiritual aptitude of a tribal group, doing research for my university
thesis, the BLC children, including our little Abigail, were preparing for
a city-wide speechfest contest. After one of our BLC busses left for the
competition, the school guard smelled something. Looking up, he noticed
a fire creeping along the old wooden beam that held up the roof of the gym.
“Quick, get a fire extinguisher!” Since there are extinguishers in every
room by Philippine law, he quickly grabbed an extinguisher and climbed up
onto the ping pong table and doused out the flames, leaving a layer of snow-like
white dust on the gym walls and floor. Later our BLC electrician quickly
solved the problem, which had been caused by the high humidity recently
in the Philippines, from much rain and earthquakes. In fact, as I type this
right now at the top floor of the school, the floor is quivering from a
minor tremor! How appropriate that the sermon I am giving this morning in
church is on “You Can’t Live on Yesterday’s Manna”, as the congregation
looks on the floor to see the manna-like white dust from the fire extinguisher!
Please pray for the families of nearly 2000 Filipinos of Southern Leyte who perished a few days ago in a landslide that completely buried a village in St. Bernard. An elementary school full of children was squashed in nearly 20 feet of mud and boulders within just a few minutes’ time. Also pray for our follow-up visit to the mountain tribes this afternoon. Present need: $946 for our monthly bill for our 313 BLC kids’ books. |
| 2/10/2006 | HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! HAPPY 9TH ANNIVERSARY, FAITH FELLOWSHIP CHURCH! “Jesus is our Jehovah-Rophe!” On Sunday I preached #3 of our 8-part series on the Lord’s Prayer: the phrase, “Hallowed be Thy name.” Identifying a dozen of the names for God mentioned in the Bible, “Jehovah-Rophe (The LORD OUR HEALER) touched the hearts of many. Earlier in the week, Roldan, a BLC 3rd grader, had electrocuted himself and almost died. Many of his classmates were having nightmares, so their teacher Nimfa comforted them with sharing what Heaven will be like. Within a few days, three other students were in the hospital. Manny had an enlarged pancreas. Angela’s eye was cut. Then one of the newborns in church got jaundice. Another child’s foot was cut in his house and he stepped on mouse pee, bringing poison into his bloodstream. On Wednesday we covered part #4 of the series, “Thy Kingdom come.” AMEN! Cried out the congregation, for God had shown His Kingdom-power in that every single one of those hospitalized were home and on the road to recovery! Roldan was all smiles, though still shaken up a bit, as we rode him home, together with his mom, from the hospital. And to top the cake, our little pupil with the big 5-yr old gash in her face from a carabao attack was totally stitched up by a visiting missionary doctor and soon will be smiling herself, as well. “Is God our Jehovah Rophe?” AMEN! Please pray for the families of 74 Filipinos who died in the Wa-Wa-Wee stampede of 30,000 people in Manila last week. Perhaps God will use this tragedy to focus those survivors who are unbelievers on their eternal condition. Present need: Praise God that a friend is selling their house and giving $5,500 from the sale to help with our BCL staff’s severance deferral payment in March. Please pray that the remaining $4,500 needed for this will be provided. Also pray that God will provide a volunteer geodetic engineer to survey the land that has been donated for our Christian juvenile detention center. |
| 2/1/2006 | URGENT PRAYER REQUEST! “Is he DEAD?” Roldan Mercado, a third grader at Barner Learning Center, decided to play Superman today. His mother was assigned as volunteer hall monitor for the newly completed practical education wing of the school. But without telling anyone, she snuck out to get rice for her eleven children. Her boy Roldan, during lunch break from class, crawled out onto the roof of the school and leapt up to grab the electrical power line. Thousands of volts of electricity dug holes into the little boy’s fingers and contorted his face, and he was thrown back down to the roof. He turned blue and violet as the oxygen drained from his blood. A teacher carried back the boy’s lifeless form. Praying over the corpse, Elvie cried out, “It’s a MIRACLE!” as color started returning to his face. Rushing him to the hospital, the doctor asked Elvie, “What time did he die?” Elvie was confused, but the doctor explained, “This boy should not be alive now. He came back to life.” As Pastor Greg, Dr. Ayoc and myself prayed over Roldan, laid out on the stretcher there in the burn unit of the hospital, we realized that the battle is not yet over. Roldan has internal burns that are yet life-threatening. Possible holes burned into the walls of his internal organs could still pass poisons into his bloodstream. Please pray that, during Roldan’s 3-week hospital confinement beginning today, that God will heal any internal injuries suffered. Praise God! He provided the complete salaries for our staff today! Present |
| 1/28/2006 | "Pastor Paul, do you need land?" The wealthy businessman looked
me in the eye and continued, "I have one hectare of property to give
you to build a juvenile detention center. Would you like it?" Although
situated an hour outside the city, the offer of a hectare (2.2 acres) of
free land was too good to refuse. Then started a chain of events that was
to make our jaws drop: the offer spread to others who owned land a distance
from the city proper until not one, but three hectare of land became available,
with the possibility of it doubling to six! The purpose for these three
locations (in three adjoining provinces, located at a radius of a hour each
from downtown Davao) would be to construct three different centers, including
both school and juvenile homes, in Davao del Sur, Davao City, and Davao
del Norte. Fast-tracking these centers, we have begun the paperwork and
have seen dozens of governmental representatives, both regional and local,
for approval to open these centers in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
The donors of the properties have agreed to make contact with other businessmen
to sponsor the construction costs as well! Operating expenses will be shouldered
by local churches and by per diem subsidies from the penal government.
Please pray for this project, for offers have even arrived to provide a high school for free to BLC on one of these properties in 2007! Present need: $1,800 for salaries for the BLC staff this Wednesday, February 1. |
| 1/22/2006 | HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! “Stop kissing water buffaloes!” It was only a joke, so the little BLC girl with the disfigured face grinned and laughed. Yet we all knew she had a very big problem. Years ago she had been bitten in the face by a carabao (water buffalo) and the clumsy stitches she received for cosmetic surgery left a huge, ugly scar. If left as-is, this gash would be an embarrassment to her as she will grow into a young lady. On Monday of this week, Pastor Greg and I presented our new jail ministry plans to a conference of other missionaries. While there a doctor from Arkansas who had done a clinic last year for BLC once again agreed to offer his services. So on Friday he gave free medical checkups to the over 300 BLC children. When he saw the “carabao girl,” he made a suggestion. “Her scar is so simple to repair. Next week I’ll return to reopen her wound and sew it back correctly. Someday down the line I am sure her future husband and children will thank God that we helped her now!” Praise God for you, Dr. Evans! Please pray for fast-tracking the political framework for the Christian juvenile detention center we hope to build after tomorrow’s meeting with the mayor. We’ll be meeting with him at City Hall during the inception of the Philippine National Bible Week. This week a wealthy Filipino businessman offered Pastor Greg one hectare of land (for free) upon which to build the center. Present need: $946 for BLC’s monthly payment for its school books for January. |
| 1/15/2006 | HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY!
"Men and women, members of the board, WHY ARE WE HERE?" After
the worship service was our church board meeting. Since next month we
will celebrate Faith Fellowship Church's ninth anniversary, I posed the Please pray for direction from the Holy Spirit that by Thursday evening at 6:00, each board member will have, in-hand, a workable proposal which will include 100% of the adult congregation actively participating in teaching their fellow congregants in a network of spiritual gifts, used to their utmost capacity. Present need: $693 for the BLC electric bill for December. |
| 1/8/2006 | “3…2…1…Happy New Year!” 2005 became a thing of the past as 2006 made its
entrance with fireworks, beeping horns, radios blaring and hundreds of little
“turutoots” made from cut-apart, rolled-up & whistling plastic cups.
Since so many neighbors were out on the streets near BLC, we took the opportunity
to greet them with “Malipayong Bag-ong Tuig” (Happy New Year!). Their response:
“Pastor, I’ll be in church today!” Rarely does New Year’s Day fall on a
Sunday. Yet when it does, it provides a fine opportunity for worship. Often
when a friend says, “I’ll see you in church Sunday,” they forget their promise
before the weekend arrives. But these dear ones had no time to forget, as
Sunday School would begin just a scant 8 hours later! On the first day of
2006, as I looked out on the congregation, smiling faces (yet with sleepy
lines under their eyes) looked up to me as if to say, “See, I told you I’d
be here! Happy 2006!”
Please pray for BLC’s Scottish visitor, Pastor Greg. While developing a safe place for detention of juvenile criminals, he has gotten sunstroke, dysentery, backache and headaches. Present need: $1,800 for teachers’ salaries this Friday. |
| 1/1/2006 | HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2006! “Who is the tallest boy here?” While visiting the Davao Juvenile Rehab Ctr, we led the 118 inmates in a drama of David and Goliath. Since our BLC kids are away on vacation, I am assisting Pastor Greg from Scotland in his establishment of a Christian rehabilitation home, since the government centers are overcrowded. Today, between visits to government offices for Social Services, we ministered at a boy’s center and also a girl’s center. In our Biblical drama, we shared how Goliath was not the true enemy. The real enemy was fear and doubt. “How many boys here have obstacles to overcome?” All the hands went up. “Your families… is there sickness?” Hands again. “Drugs? Beatings? Liquor? Gambling?” The faces of a hundred convicted boys were glued to mine as I shared the story with our very tall and very short actors. “The book of James says that trials develop perseverance. But when Goliath threatened David, he shirked King Saul’s petty solutions with, “You come at me with spear and a sword, but I come to you in the name of the Lord!” David killed the giant. A drug pusher comes to you and says, “Hey, are you hungry? Sell these drugs and I’ll give you food.” That isn’t the answer. It’s like Saul’s armor. It won’t help. Only Jesus is your answer.” Hearts were united as the boys, and later the girls, prayed for Jesus to enter their hearts. Please pray for the BLC students as they return to class this week. Pray that their holiday rest will empower them to rally into their studies with newfound attentiveness. Also pray that God provides government clearance for our new juvenile rehab center (called “Father’s House”…not owned, supported by, nor affiliated with BLC or Faith Fellowship Church). Present need: $7,000 for a much-needed second jeepney (school bus) to alive the burden on our 4 overcrowded multicabs. |
| Archived news from 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 Last edited
August 22, 2012
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