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12/31/2009

HAPPY RIZAL DAY! (12/30) HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE! (12/31) HAPPY NEW YEAR!

“Some of the best things in life are free.” Thursday I had good cause to hurry. Even though it was vacation time for our teachers and half-day for our staff, they were all coming to BLC to be paid. The clearing time of the bank’s funds landed on Christmas Eve. Since the bank was only open half-day, I had to rush. After finding a parking space a block from the bank, I grabbed the school’s bankbook from the dashboard. The light changed, and I rushed across the road. Being a divided intersection, I had to get across the second 4 lanes before the light changed.

The little white pedestrian walking warning light just changed to the big red “stop” hand, so I rushed faster to reach the other curb before the revving engines of the waiting traffic barreled across the intersection. Then I saw him.

Stepping down from the curb in slow motion, was a frail gentleman. Not that old, he might have been in his mid-seventies. By the way his left arm dangled unresponsively, along with the struggles he had to lift his left leg each step he took, it was obvious that he was a stroke victim. There was no way that this limping fellow would make it unassisted past the racecar-like antics of the four lanes of cars, revving their engines in anticipation of the green light.

My feet did an about-face and suddenly my destination was no longer the bank. It was the other side of the road, from which I had just come. Instead of holding the man’s hand, I held up my arms so that the drivers could focus on us instead of on the now-green signal light over our heads.

By the time our slow-motion passage arrived at the opposite curb, the white pedestrian light had appeared again, so I was able to continue on my rush-trip to the bank. But that brief 5-minute intermission with my stroke friend was like a restful break which revised my attitude for the next hour.

As the bank clerk handed me the BLC salary money, I thanked her and, looking down, noticed a small blue box alongside my passbook. “Merry Christmas” smiled the clerk. I unwrapped the brand new wallet that she’d given me… a gift from the bank. Exchanging the items from my frayed old wallet to the new one, I felt what my “street-crossing companion” must have felt a few minutes earlier—I got something unexpected and free, yet also what I really needed.

Next stop was the foreign exchange Muslim market. There I was to change my American dollars for Philippine pesos. Comparing the exchange rates in one store after another at many different merchants, I was pleased when the third merchant whispered to me a substantially higher rate, and then held her finger to her lips for me to keep silent so the other customers would not see that I got a higher rate than them. Then she whispered, “Merry Christmas!”

Once again, I was the recipient of an unmerited blessing. Once again, I was changing places with my pedestrian friend.

The next day was Christmas Day. Forty miles away in the middle of the jungle at our family reunion, I shared through an interpreter a Christmas message. In closing, I looked over at the small plastic Christmas tree in the corner, which symbolized the tree of Calvary on which Jesus died. Once again the unmerited gift, which cost me nothing, was offered to me. Wrapped in an unlikely manger in Bethlehem, it seemed so insignificant, yet it was just what we needed. After all, many of the best things in life are free.

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $1,000 Steel BLC gym pillars (to replace the present 8-yr-old coconut lumber ones)

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
January 20-22: Fourth Preliminary Exams,
January 29: School-wide PTA Meeting.
that David, who lives in North Carolina, (the adult bachelor son of our missionary companion Doug Roberts), will be able to sell his house (it is on the market) so that he can become a missionary here in Davao with his dad.
for BLC's total debt of $53,184 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [985 per week for 54 more weeks] (-$1,135 from last week).
that next week we will be able to sign the contract for the future purchase of a house for lodging of the BLC staff, next door to the school.

Praise God:

that Karla, the Davao Campus Crusade staffer which PJ and Abby help support, planned a Friday college witnessing time where college students brought their classmates, just before the beginning of vacation. Two girls prayed at that time to become believers in Jesus Christ!
that Mark and I opened the LBC bank account required for the FHF (Father’s House Facility) drop-off center for street kids, this week. Two donations have already been promised, to be received through this account.
that That a New York friend sent one thousand dollars for BLC’s debt reduction. BLC is now almost halfway to becoming debt-free! Yay God!
that I shook hands with one of the eight Philippine presidential candidates this week, Rev. Eddie Villanueva.
that I was invited to, and attended the mayor’s Christmas party for pastors of Davao City.
that a friend promised to send funds soon for the construction of much-needed library shelves for those thousands of books which are piled up awaiting space for their display.
that in just three months’ time, one of the weekly pastoral training classes which we teach has already completed the second book in their 36-book series.
That I finished my 49th reading of the complete Bible from cover-to-cover this week.
that three baby bunnies were born in BLC’s rooftop garden and animal area this week.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2380 received, $27,620 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 32.

Rev. Paul, Elvie, PJ and Abigail Barner
Philippine Missionary Church Planters
Barner Learning Center, Inc.
PO Box 82,224
8000 Davao City, Philippines
011-63 (082) 234-4000
(Cell) 0947-329-0441
(USA) (518) 449-2105

12/24/2009

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE! (12/24) MERRY CHRISTMAS! (12/25)

“The wise men were lead to Jesus by what?” The 500 BLC kids responded at their annual Christmas party and presentation, “A STAR!”

“Even as a star led them to Jesus, many people can be stars in your life, to lead you to Jesus. Your parents, your teachers, and even me, your pastor and school president.” The kids listened intently as I asked, “What were the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus?” GOLD! FRANKINCENSE! MYRRH! “Now, what do you bring to Jesus?” LIFE! LOVE! PRAYER!

Then the BLC students were called up to the stage class-by-class, as they each reached into a shoebox to get a paper with a number on it. That number corresponded to the same number pinned onto one of the 500 stuffed animals placed side-by-side on tables on the stage. As I handed each child his toy, I could see his expression change on his or her face as a transition went from anticipation to excitement as each precious child received his gifts.

The animals were followed by other gifts by people in the USA. Twenty thousand school supplies, slippers, clothes, etc. were distributed.

“You know,” I challenged the kids in closing, “maybe one of the stars which has directed you to the love of Jesus is… the teddy bear in your hands right now!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $623 for lumber and nails for three new floor-to-ceiling shelves in BLC’s library (each with 9 shelves and 5 sections), plus 4 new overhead (ceiling perimeter) double-shelves in the overflow library area.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
January 20-22: Fourth Preliminary Exams,
January 29: School-wide PTA Meeting.
for a smooth transition of crop rotation in BLC’s rooftop garden from cabbage to root crops (carrots, onions, radishes, peanuts, etc.)
for BLC's total debt of $54,319 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [987 per week for 55 more weeks] (-$34 from last week).
that BLC’s baby chicks (which were purchased with funds from an American family) will grow quickly and start laying eggs.
for safety for those in Albay, Philippines as the Mayon Volcano erupts.

Praise God:

that I preached sermons five times this past week at various Christmas gatherings.
that our DCL (Davao Leaders Foundation), instead of renting a room in a hotel to have a Christmas party in, raised funds among its members (including myself) to visit a nursing home and preach, sing and give out gifts to the elderly.
that we received a letter this week from a Kiwanis Club in New York that confirmed their promise (when I visited in June of this year), to send 500 toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste to BLC. The contents of the box that is being sent actually came from many high school students who raised the funds for the toothbrushes and toothpaste from their teachers, friends and relatives.
that 500 stuffed animals, many individual gifts, clothes, slippers and 20,000 school supplies were given to the BLC students as their Christmas presents this week.
that Abby is recuperating from the painful, tear-causing sore throat that kept her out of school three days last week.
that slowly but surely, my hand is healing up form the painful damage to my vein caused by the mishandled intravenous needle in the hospital.
that PJ and Abby once again earned straight A’s on their report cards this quarter.
that the ten Kiwanis Clubs of Philippine South District Division Seven and Eight are strongly considering treating over a hundred of our poor BLC kids to a free day of bowling.
that this week, twenty jars of children’s chewable vitamins arrived from Jezreel Ministries in the USA.
that the record number of ninety-nine applications for president for the Philippine elections next May has been decreased to only eight, through disqualifications. This decrease in number of candidates will avoid lots of misunderstandings and revenge killings around election time.
that we have assisted Kiwanis in their efforts to fortify rice with iron to dispel anemia, and also that we have assisted in the iodization of salt to decrease instances of goiter and infantile retardation.
that a bank account is being started at LBC Bank to receive $25,000 from an American ministry to purchase a building as our drop-off center for street kids.
that an atheist friend, whom I exercise with, is very interested in the “Zion Chronicles” Christian novels I have lent him to read, since their setting is in Poland, where he grew up during World War Two.
that just after my electric shaver died this week, a box arrived from a friend with lots and lots of hand razors inside.
that I finally got the results from the Nov. 39km triathlon and I did better than I’d thought: 22:22:21, cutting 36 minutes off my previous triathlon finish time!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2375 received, $27,625 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 32.

12/17/2009

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF WINTER (12/21)

(WE RECEIVED A VERY INSPIRING EMAIL RECENTLY):

“Hi Paul,

It's been over a year since we've contacted you, because we've been living in Norway- but now I'm back in America. My mom is teaching a class on money management and she gave us all an assignment to give away 1/4th of all we have earned during the class, plus $20 she gave us to give away. It all totaled up to $55 (doing yard work and dog sitting). I am going to send it to you to be used towards paying off the debt because that was one of the first lessons we learned in class- not to get into debt. Also, are you going to be at AWANA in my city this year? After all, that is where I met you.

My mom's writing the check today and sending it in the mail. God Bless You!

(a friend, age 10)
(NOTE: HE ENDED UP SENDING $65!)

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $4,353 to bring us down to the halfway point of BLC’s 2008 typhoon debt ($100,000) by January 1, 2010.

Please pray:

For the next upcoming BLC events:
December 15-17: Third Periodical Examinations
December 18: Christmas parties for students and staff
January 20-22: Fourth Preliminary Exams
January 29: School-wide PTA Meeting.
For the painful swelling in my wrist to go away. When the IV feed was in my arm at the hospital, my hand swelled up twice the size of the other hand, and my wrist has been quite sore ever since.
For BLC's total debt of $54,353 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [988 per week for 55 more weeks] (-$125 from last week).
That we have follow-up for new believers. Mark and I are leading many pagans to become believers in Jesus, when we go door-to-door, sharing our faith. Since many BLC parents are trained in discipling new believers, we want to make sure that every time we go witnessing, we have a trained discipler with us, so that the new believers can start their Christian training immediately. The most recent converts are Grace and Marybeth.

Praise God:

That Elvie arrived safely from the Ladies conference in Pagadian. When the van she was riding in passed through the Marshall Law area of Mindanao (where the massacre had taken place a few weeks ago), each passenger was forced out of the vehicle by the soldiers and made to sign their names and whether they approved of Marshall Law. After this uprising occurred to the west of us, a violent kidnapping took place to the East of us in Agusan. Will Marshall Law be instituted there too?
That an American friend has agreed to cover part of the expenses of my recent hospital stay.
That I was able to share the Gospel at Kiwanis this week wile giving a PowerPoint presentation on “What Missionaries Do”.
That my letter of proposal to the Kiwanis District Governor has been approved for distribution. The letter challenges all 54 clubs in Visayas and Mindanao to invite religious leaders to speak in their clubs.
That our 9-yr old daughter Abigail did fantastic in her school Christmas musical, “Hotel Bethlehem”.
That when an American church pastor's wife heard of a project need we have in BLC for $2,500, she shared it with her small church congregation, and others agreed to put in also, until she raised the whole amount!
That when a young Campus Crusade for Christ staff member was invited to speak during our prayer meeting, we took up a special offering for her and $8 was raised (the equivalent of one week's pay for farmers in the Philippines).
That terrorists have freed 70 hostages to the north of us, in Agusan.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2370 received, $27,630 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 32.

12/10/2009

PEARL HARBOR DAY (12/7) HAPPY FIRST DAY OF HANUKKAH! (12/12)

“People in PAIN are PROMISED God’s PEACE!” This morning at church I began my Advent sermon on Isaiah 9:1-7 by thanking the congregation for their prayers during my painful visit to the hospital for gall bladder surgery.

In partial answer to their and your prayers for me, a friend (John) had called the night before my scheduled surgery (Thanksgiving Thursday) to suggest a natural remedy of various huge quantities of fluids (*his “recipe” for healing of gallstones and kidney stones is below). 3 days later (Monday), 175 small and large green gall stones painlessly came out of me, all by themselves! Since the final ultrasound showed more stones inside, I’ll have to repeat the treatment twice more in January and February before all the stones are gone.

“When John had called, he promised me that the stones would be released without surgery. He knew they would, because it happened to him too!” I encouraged the congregation with the promise of God to Israel in Isaiah, “Nevertheless there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress…for unto us a child is born…and he will be called…Prince of Peace…”

“Who is struggling today?” I asked, looking out over the pulpit at more than 500 faces of those who daily struggle to keep food on their banana leaf plates and to keep scant ragged clothes on the backs of their children. “If you are in distress, God has not forgotten you. God’s promise of peace is for you, right now. Even as John had given me a ridiculous plan for healing, and promised that the result would be the peace of release from the cause of pain, God’s plan is to provide peace for you as well!”

In my final challenge, with every eye closed, many of those listening with teary eyes raised their hands signifying their willingness to give God their all, to read their Bibles, pray and flee temptation. They were now confident that they would experience the peace that passes human understanding…the peace, even in trial, that God is in control, and that He will see us through every painful experience, no matter how lasting, on to painless trust.

If only for this confident assurance for these precious struggling new believers, this entire painful and expensive ordeal of the “goofy gallstones” was worth it. As strong Christian leaders, it is our joy to comfort others in our weakness.

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $900 for my recent hospital visit.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
December 15-17: Third Periodical Examinations
December 18: Christmas parties for students and staff.
January 20-22: Fourth Preliminary exams
January 29: General PTA Meeting.
for safety for Elvie as she travels to a war-torn area of Mindanao, about 12 hours away, for a Christian women’s conference.
for BLC's total debt of $54,478 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011 [990 per week for 55 more weeks] (-$6,111 from last week).
for safety as one of the Ampatuan Family Maguindanao murderers is now confined here in Davao, in the same hospital I was in this week.
that the pre-election massacre which has caused martial law in Central Mindanao will not justify the spread of martial law to us here in Eastern Mindanao.

Praise God:

that an American congregation which regularly prays for us just sent us $6,000 for BLC’s debt reduction!
that this week the 500 poor BLC kids ate some of our very first harvest of pechay (Chinese cabbage) from BLC’s rooftop garden! Very, very nutritious, diced dark-green leaves in a scrumptious soup!
that a former American Gospel singer sent two large boxes to BLC full of vegetable seeds, pots and soup bowls for BLC’s food program, as well as candy, kids’ clothes, nearly 200 pair of flip-flops, canned food, some of his own Gospel CDs and lots of school supplies.
that a Michigan friend has promised to send a few computers to BLC by April.
that Ricci Marie, the BLC student who almost died of lupus earlier this year, celebrated her birthday last week, still very much alive.
that a friend in New Jersey has promised to send funds for us to build rabbit cages and chicken cages near BLC’s rooftop garden, as well as rabbits for meat for our daily BLC free “Jericho Food” program.
that you prayed for me while in the hospital this week and I did not have to undergo gall bladder surgery. Elvie’s medical insurance as an employee of BLC covered part of my recent hospital visit, leaving us a bill of only $900.
that we now have a free telephone number which connects us to friends in the USA: (518) 772-2775.
that PJ did awesome this week during his drum solo at the school holiday concert as the “Little drummer Boy”.
that we had fun this week making peanut butter cookies, with peanut butter shipped to us from friends in the USA. Mmmm. (Philippine peanut butter is really too sweet.)
that even though the gall stone episode caused me to miss my annual marathon Sunday (12/6), with this cleansing treatment I'll likely improve on my time in March's next Davao triathlon and also the 70.3 mile Camarines del Sur triathlon in August. I'd much rather have this pain in practrice than during competition.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2365 received, $27,635 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 32.

We now have a free internet MagicJack telephone number. In the USA, a call to us here in the Philippines will be treated like an Albany, NY call. It is (518) 772-2775. If you’d like to call your sponsored child, just email to let us know what time is good for you (remember, it is night here when it is day in the USA), and we’ll call you then, or vice versa.

11/26/2009

“Kids shouldn’t sleep on the sidewalk, but in a nice, soft bed!” Dean visited the Philippines a few years ago and was shocked at the number of children who were sleeping on folded-up cardboard boxes outdoors on the sidewalks. He made a vow to come back and help these kids. Before leaving the country, he brought some of these kids into McDonalds to give them a hot meal.

When Dean heard about BLC, he emailed me to look for a house that could be used as a safe shelter for these kids. I told him about Mark and Maryann, a missionary couple who were willing to be the pastor and house-parents team for such a ministry.

Dean’s “Sparrow’s Gate” ministry approved release of funds to buy a small house in one of the poorest sections of town. In December or January, the house will likely be bought, and it will serve a 3-fold purpose. First, it will be a drop-off center for street kids. Second, it will serve as our eighth church plant, in inner-city Agdao, Davao City.
Finally, it will be the residence for Mark and his wife and son. Praise God for His perfect plan to reach the outcasts, a plan which is gradually being realized here in Davao City!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $103 for three large rabbits and the materials to build their cages. We plan to grow the rabbits on the roof, next to our rooftop Garden, to provide meat for the 500 BLC kids.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions
November 25-27: Third Preliminary Examinations,
December 15-17: Third Periodical Examinations
December 18: Christmas parties for students and staff.
for Elvie, PJ, Abby and me. We all are suffering sore throats from this continual rainy weather
for BLC's total debt of $60,589 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [993 per week for 61 more weeks] (-$109 from last week).
that the Davao City Kiwanis club which provided doctors for a dental/medical clinic at BLC earlier this year will also provide an optometry clinic to check our 500 BLC kids’ eyes. When they find those who need glasses, we can list in our monthly prayer letter what prescriptions are needed. Those worldwide who have extra old glasses laying around may then send them to the Philippines.
for comfort for the politician who lost 21 family members and friends here in Mindanao when his wife, family and friends were ambushed by 100 armed rebels on their way to file his re-election application papers for next year’s national May elections.

Praise God:

that the 2000 pechay (Chinese cabbages) in BLC’s rooftop garden, with all the rain we’ve had this past week (combined with your prayers), have doubled in height and are now 6 inches tall. They’ll take another month or two to “fill-out” before we can serve them in soup to our 500 poor BLC kids.
that Stax, my training partner who’d dropped out of training for last week’s Davao triathlon (due to a bike accident), was nevertheless back in training last week. While he couldn’t compete with me in this week’s race, he is training to join me in the March triathlon. He’ll also not be able to compete with me Dec. 6 in the marathon.
that I was given $21 for speaking at our seventh church plant’s dedication service. I used the funds to buy flat bars for BLC’s rooftop garden. The bars will be cut in 2 inch sections and welded to the supporting poles to give the climbing vegetable vines something to grasp onto as they reach for the sky.
that Mark and I found a perfect location for our eighth church plant/street children’s drop-off center in inner-city Davao. Of our seven churches planted thus far, this will be our first urban church plant. Please pray that the owner will drop the price from the $111.112 he is asking, to the $25,000 that has been offered by an American charity group for this purpose.
that I finished my third triathlon last week. Many triathletes on facebook gave me helpful pointers for my training.
that four huge boxes arrived from the USA last week filled with Science books, Science cassettes and videos, as well as 2 additional boxes filled with clothes, medicine and food for our BLC kids.
That our American pastors-in-training here at Faith Fellowship have finished their first of 36 pastoral theology books. We have two classes: one taught in Cebuano, and the other in English.
that PJ and Abby did excellent in their school dramas last week.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2360 received, $27,640 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 32.

11/19/2009

“Where do we start?” Since most churches and businesses use Parliamentary Procedures/ Robert’s rules of Order (RRO) to conduct their meetings, I was elected program chairman to organize a citywide seminar and teach RRO to 250 delegates (businessmen, pastors, etc).

I decided to conduct a “role-playing” board meeting, in which a decision was to be made by a make-believe church governing board. To make it fun, we had each of the 9 board members adopt a unique personality. There was a millionaire, a shy deacon, a stubborn man, and others.

The seminar on Saturday morning was a success. The decision to be made by the “mock-board” was that a church needed a new roof, since the old one was leaking and about to cave in. The estimate for a new roof was 50,000 pesos ($1,000). But they only had 5,000 pesos ($100) in the treasury.

The best part of the seminar was when the “stubborn man” board member kept insisting that he speak out of turn.

The presiding officer (chairman of the board) kept telling this man, You have not been recognized. You are out of order. You do not have the floor.”

To which the stubborn board member responded, “well then, I insist that you give me the floor RIGHT NOW!!!”

The presiding officer, remembering the decision at-hand, to replace the useless roof, responded, “You may NOT have the floor. But by all means, please go ahead and take the ceiling!!”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $87 for a printer for BLC’s library computer.

Please pray:

1) for the next upcoming BLC events:
November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions,
November 25-27: Third Preliminary Examinations,
December 15-17: Third Periodical Examinations,
December 18: Christmas parties for students and staff.
for Rose and Faith, two converts at BLC (mothers of BLC students) who have grown in the faith enough to be discipling our twoest new converts, whom we prayed with door-to-door, Grace and Marybeth.
for BLC's total debt of $60,698 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [995 per week for 61 more weeks] (-$238 from last week).
that God would keep the damaging insects out of our rooftop garden so the pechay (Chinese cabbage) will mature enough to be added to the soup for our 500 BLC students. The plants are now 3 inches tall.
that Stax, my training partner for next week’s Davao triathlon, will heal enough from his bike accident to participate in next Sunday’s race.
for God to be glorified next Sunday in our seventh church plant’s dedication (Golden Hills).

Praise God:

that the Parliamentary Procedures seminar went well this week.
that a Davao City politician had a huge tarpaulin banner made with pictures of Abby and me on it, in celebration of our birthdays this week.
that 2 city politicians came and spoke at our 11th BLC Foundation Day celebrations this week.
that almost 100 birthday messages came to Abby and me on email, text and face book. Plus, Dad and Mom called all the way from New York to sing us Happy Birthday!!!
that I won $5 for coming in 3rd place during BLC’s Foundation Day 10k men’s race. I used the funds to pay for the bars and screen for BLC’s new rabbit cages.
That “Onion Boy,” the child elvie found on the street two years ago and enrolled in BLC, came in first place in BLC’s 2k kids race.
That one of the climbing bean vines in BLC’s rooftop garden, has already reached the overhead netting. As the ivy covers the area overhead, we’re praying it will develop a “canopy” like in the Philippine rain forests, to protect the plants below from getting scorched in the hot sun.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2355 received, $27,645 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 32.

11/11/2009

HAPPY VETERANS DAY, USA! (11/11) HAPPY 11TH FOUNDATION DAY, BLC! (11/9) HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY ABIGAIL! (11/9) HAPPY 48TH BIRTHDAY, PAUL! (11/9) HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARINE CORPS USA! (11/10)

“All my companions were killed…yet God spared my life!” Rex’s unexpected personal testimony of faith had brought my point home last Sunday. My message on Jesus' raising Lazarus from the dead had told how God has ultimate power over life and death. On All Saints' Day, I challenged our congregation with the “stone, phone and throne:”

Christ commanded the inconceivable; that the STONE be rolled away from a smelly grave. Jesus also commanded (like on a PHONE) the irresponsible; speaking to a dead body, as if it could hear. He finally commanded (as a king does from the THRONE) the incompatible; that the people around would assist Lazarus to get the grave clothes removed.

“What grave clothes does your friend still wear, from his non-Christian days? Help him to get rid of his old bad habits!”

After the message was over, Rex (one of the church members) came up to the stage in his policeman's uniform. Standing behind the pulpit with his gun in its holster, he shared his testimony. “Today is All Saint's Day, November 1st.

“Twenty-four years ago today, seven officers and I were responding to a call. We were ambushed by the NPA (New People's Army -- Communist guerrilla terrorists). All of my companions were killed. I was the only survivor. God spared my life on that day. My life has had extra meaning, as I know that among all those men, I was the only one that God rescued!”

After Rex sat down, I stepped back up to the pulpit. “I too was ambushed, 37 years ago. But I was killed by God. The unbelieving Paul Barner was crucified on the cross with Jesus on that day. God gave me a new life, making me a new creation. I may have looked the same, but I was then as different from my former unbelieving self as the living Lazarus was from the Lazarus behind the stone.”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $479 for a computer for BLC’s Music Lab.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions,
November 9-11: BLC Foundation Week Parades, Competitions, Races, Presentations and Festival,
November 25-27: Third Preliminary Examinations, December 15-17: Third Periodical Examinations,
December 18: Christmas parties for students and staff.
for the two new believers this week, Grace and Marybeth. When Mark and I were about to go door-to-door witnessing, I had an emergency in the school that demanded my attention. So Mark and two BLC parents went door-to-door in my place. Praise God for the two new confessions of faith from BLC’s neighbors as a result! Mark used as his evangelism tool a challenge from our pastoral training lesson this week. Pray for Grace and Marybeth, as the two BLC mothers who accompanied Mark will be carrying out the follow-up discipleship lessons for these brand new believers.
for BLC's total debt of $60,936 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [999 per week for 61 more weeks] (-$0 from last week).
for the community seminar this Saturday (11/14) on Parliamentary Procedures. It will include a role-playing workshop, and many city dignitaries will participate. I am program chairman, and this project represents countless hours of labor on my part. Christians and non-Christians, businessmen and pastors will be the 250 delegates.

Praise God:

for American who just this week decided to sponsor a BLC child.
that the rooftop garden is now fully planted! Now we are waiting for the grass in a separately-walled section to grow so we can grow rabbits for meat for the BLC kids.
that BLC’s flute (plastic recorder) team won first place in the citywide competition this week!
that PJ and Abby did a fantastic job in their duet at talent night at Faith Academy.
for the fast-food restaurant worker who played God’s messenger when she gave me a free large cup of water at the drive-thru early Monday morning when my throat was parched during my 32-kilometer long-distance practice run, preparing for the upcoming marathon and triathlon.
that although it rained very hard during the typhoon Sunday, BLC was not flooded.
that over a dozen supporters have already sent financial gifts for the 2009 BLC Children’s Christmas party, and that three friends also gave for Elvie, the kids and I to get gifts for ourselves this year! What an unexpected treat!
that we still have enough used stuffed animals from last year, donated by American kids, to give out one to each poor BLC child this Christmas season!
the BLC kids were invited by a local village to perform for their anniversary, and hundreds heard the Gospel through song. Our kids even received an award!
for our very good friend who gave funds for us to install a water pump on the roof for our rooftop garden. The pressure is not otherwise strong enough during the day for water to get up to the fourth floor, so we fill the tank overnight and pump it through the sprinklers four times a day onto the vegetable garden, grown to feed our 500 poor BLC kids each day.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2350 received, $27,650 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 32.

11/5/2009

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME (11/1), USA ELECTION DAY (11/3)

“Pastor Paul, sign me up!” As Program Chairman of the upcoming seminar on Parliamentary Procedures, I was invited to speak at and assortment of pastors’ fellowships. The purpose was to inform pastors throughout the city, of the upcoming seminar. When I sat down after speaking, the pastor sitting next to me handed me a filled-out application. With excitement in his voice, he exclaimed, “I will see you November 14th at the seminar! Sign me up!”

After a very hearty luncheon, giveaways like pens and treats were distributed. I was given a package of “otap,” a Filipino crackly-type sweet cookie. I like otap, but looking closer at the package, I saw that is was durian flavor, which is not one of my favorites.

On my way home, I stopped at a red light and three ragged boys came to my window and started making nose. “Are you singing?” I asked. “Yes,” they replied. “They are Christmas carols!” Hmmm. “But Christmas is two months away. This is only October!” Their automatic response was, “In advance! Oh sir, we are very hungry…”

Of course I understood that they wanted pesos, so I found a coin for them in the ashtray. As they left, I had an idea. I reached over to the passenger seat to get the package of durian-flavored otap. Seeing that the boys were already begging outside the windows of another car five yards away, I sang out the window, “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!”

The three ragged boys ran back to my window, expecting more pesos. When I handed them the otap, their faces lighted up as they exclaimed, “Wow! Thank you! Merry Christmas, Sir!”

Just then the traffic light changed and, as I placed my foot on the gas pedal to go, I called out the window, “Boys, remember that Christmas is a time for sharing. Don’t eat all the otap yourselves!”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $479 for a computer for BLC’s library, that Dane the librarian can affix the Dewey Decimal System labels on the bindings of BLC’s 15,000 books.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions
October November 3: Classes resume
November 9-11: BLC Foundation Week Parades, Competitions, Races, Presentations and Festival
November 25-27: Third Preliminary Examinations
December 15-17: Third Periodical Examinations
December 18: Christmas parties for students and staff.
for safety for those in Manila this week, as the fourth typhoon sweeps through their already flood-devastated area.
for BLC's total debt of $60,936 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [$999 per week for 61 more weeks] (-$17 from last week).
that the 10 billion pesos of aid which was given by international organizations for Manila flood relief, yet taken by politicians to support their 2010 election campaigns, will be returned.

Praise God:

for the local members of the Gideon Bible Society gave a free dinner to the pastors of Davao, and that they also plan to donate 100 million Bibles worldwide for free to unbelievers over this next year.
that churches represented by the pastors at one of the fellowships that I spoke at, gave a combined total of over $1,000 to Manila flood victims and 20 boxes of used clothes, distributed through television station CBN’s aid branch called Operation Blessing.
that a donor is considering paying for a well to be dug on Elvie’s Samal Island property so we can grow fish and vegetables for church planters on our neighboring island of Samal.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2,345 received, $27,655 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 33.

10/29/2009

“This is NOT going to be fun.” It was Saturday night and, during the seminar planning meeting which I presided, my scratchy throat had me coughing and coughing. The next morning I practically had laryngitis, and every breath I took brought a cough with it.

I was scheduled to preach at one of our smaller church plants, but still struggled with my stubborn scratchy throat. I tried water. I tried coffee. I even gargled with gross-tasting undiluted organic apple vinegar until my tongue was raw, but to no avail. 3,000 milligrams of Vitamin C and a dozen mint candies later, the cough yet persisted. Even mouthwash and brushing my teeth were ineffective.

I brought a bottle of water with me to church, and after drinking it all, was asked to give the opening prayer. My chest hurt from my constant hacking cough, after each phrase of the prayer. A deacon gave me a glass of water. Still the cough persisted. How in the world was I going to preach for 20 minutes?

The dreaded moment for me to speak finally arrived. I walked toward the lectern and, with a squeaky voice at almost a whisper, I asked the leaders of the church to come to the front and pray for my throat. After the prayer, a deacon placed another glass of water on the pulpit, and I began to speak.

Suddenly, in answer to the church leaders’ prayers, the scratchiness was gone! My voice had returned and for the next 20 minutes I shared from Scripture how “God’s work, done God’s way, in God’s timing, will never, ever lack for God’s supply!”

As I closed in prayer, I opened my eyes and glanced at the glass of water that the deacon had placed on the pulpit before my message had begun. The glass was still full of water! I had not even touched it, and yet had not even coughed once! Surely, God does answer prayer, and supplies what is needed for His work!
Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $291 for two new jeepney tires for our largest school vehicle, and for a clutch cable for one of our smaller multicabs. One of the jeepney tires blew up and the other one is so worn that some fiber is showing through its bald tread.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
October-November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions
October 29-30 (Thu-Fri): Semester Break
November 3: Classes resume, November 9-11: BLC Foundation Week Parades, Competitions, Races, Presentations and Festival
November 25-27: third Preliminary Examinations.
for the 150 adult and children Manila flood refugees who were poisoned by hard boiled eggs which were provided for their hunger relief. The volunteers who had peeled the eggs hadn’t washed their dirty hands beforehand.
for BLC's total debt of $60,953 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011 [$999 per week for 61 more weeks] (-$4,320 from last week).
for the 300 tiny Chinese cabbage “pechay” plants which were just transplanted from the rooftop garden planters to the rooftop garden, to all grow so they can feed our 500 BLC students.
for wisdom in whether to grow rabbits as well on the roof for meat for our BLC kids. Rabbits multiply quickly and require no food, as long as we grow grass and weeds enough for the animals to eat.
for a Czechoslovakian-American certified TESL graduate (Travis) who is coming to Davao next month and wants to teach English at BLC. He could tutor foreigners as well if he joins our BLC staff.
for Dina, a single BLC mom who is leaving her small kindergarten daughter with the child’s grandparents, as Dina leaves for Abu Dhabi, Dubai as an OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker).

Praise God:

for our very close friend who generously gave $3,800 for BLC’s debt reduction.
for another dear friend who gave $1,000 from an inheritance. Half was designated toward debt reduction, and half toward BLC’s Children’s Emergency Medical Fund.
that a truck driver who sideswiped our family car’s mirror at a red light agreed to pay to replace the mirror they destroyed. Please also pray that they follow through on their promise.
that the congregation of our Communal Church plant saved up enough pesos to buy ten new plastic chairs for their house church’s worship services.
that a church in Utah, USA sent three boxes full of school supplies, food and other goodies. One especially delightful item enclosed was a brass communion set, offering plates, candlesticks, snuffers, and vases! Our other set is wooden and was starting to rot.
that my speaking engagement at a local Korean church’s 13th year anniversary went very well.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2340 received, $27,660 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 33.

10/22/2009

“Daddy, here’s a bottle I found under the seat of the car!” As I dropped PJ and Abby off at Faith Academy, Abby tossed the small plastic soda bottle on my lap, kissed me and ran to class. “Hmm,” I thought, as I picked up the empty bottle, “What am I gonna do with this?”

I went on to the fitness club, to prepare for the upcoming November triathlon. While there, I must have drunk a gallon of water. Filling my small water bottle on the way out, I was walking down the street to our car. On my way, a crippled beggar, with his legs all twisted underneath him, looked up at me from the side of the road. In my hand was my cold water bottle, with condensation dripping off it in the tropical Philippine sun.
When I handed the beggar that cold water bottle, you’d think I’d just given him a pot of gold. His eyes brightened up and there from the blistery pavement he cried out, “Oh, salamat. (thank you), Sir!”

While part of me felt great about helping the guy, I remembered how hard my workout was, and thought, “Great. Now I have no water bottle to refill, and to ward off this heat!”
It seems that often, the little things in life are the ones that make us meditate the deepest. As I inserted the key into the car door, parked on the side of the road, I was counting in my head the minutes until I’d be back home to get a nice, cold drink of water. And there on the seat of the car was…yup, you guessed it, the bottle Abby had tossed on my lap a few hours earlier.

I smiled up through the windshield at God, not bothering to hike back to the exercise club to refill the bottle. I was already refreshed.
Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $70 to switch over BLC’s slow dial-up internet connection to the new DSL broadband internet cable that has recently been installed in our area.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events: October-November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions, October 23 (Friday): Educational Field Trip, October 29-30 (Thu-Fri): Semester Break, November 3: Classes resume, November 9-11: BLC Foundation Week Parades, Competitions, Races, Presentations and Festival, November 25-27: third Preliminary Examinations.
for the rainy season wich is now upon us. With the water tables saturated in Manila, the flooding can only increase. Here in Davao, we are receiveing the residue rains daily. Pray especially for those who lost everything in the Manila floods, and are now refugees in school gyms and community halls.
for BLC's total debt of $65,273 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [$989 per week for 66 more weeks] (-$324 from last week).
4) for the thousands of security guards, pollicemen and soldiers in Davao who are protecting the city against rebels who are protesting next year's presidential elections. Every day we pass through two or three police safety checkpoints.

Praise God:

for PJ and Abby getting straight A’s on their report cards!
that the Local full Gospel Businessmen’s Club gave me free breakfast two weeks in a row. The second was because it was a businessman’s birthday, and the first was because a Chinese businessman liked the numbers of the date: 10/10/09.
that during our church’s monthly Sunday School teachers’ meeting this week, PJ and Abby received an ovation as they challenged the Sunday School teachers on their classroom organization on Sunday mornings.
for the family in Oregon who has mailed two large boxes of utensils, bowls, seeds and other items for our BLC rooftop garden and feeding program.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2335 received, $27,665 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 33.

10/15/2009

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY, USA! (10/12)

“May we ask the BLC kids to sing for us again this year?” At our last big Kiwanis event, half a dozen BLC kids sang, and were very well received. Even PJ and Abby joined in with a duet of their own. This year when they were invited for another mini-concert, the kids were overjoyed.

Yet the best part was AFTER the concert. PJ and Abby followed the BLC kids with their duet of “Hark How the Bells”, with interaction between parts. (PJ would sing one line, then Abby the next, etc.). Since they had practiced all by themselves, our kids not only amazed the other club members, but they amazed Elvie and I too!

What really touched my heart was a few days later, at our regular club meeting. The president was making a point about membership and community interest. “Everybody wants to have a solid, loving family,” he began. “If they could only see the joy of Kiwanians like Reverend Barner’s family, they wouldn’t hesitate to join.”

Up until that point, I had not realized how strong our Christian testimony is portrayed in a secular club until now. We are sharing the love of Christ by just being ourselves! Praise God for our little evangelists, PJ and Abigail!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $236 for a 1 horsepower 21 liter water pressure tank (with its connecting pipes) to connect the pre-perforated overhead sprinkler pipes of BLC’s rooftop garden with the main water source. Without the pressure tank, the water pressure on the fourth-floor rooftop is not strong enough to water the hundreds of vegetable plants.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
October-November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions
October 23 (Friday): Educational Field Trip
October 20-22 (Tue-Thu): 2nd Periodical Exams
October 29-30 (Thu-Fri): Semester Break.
for BLC’s kids winning first place in the citywide pingpong championship! Now they head off to the nationals!
for BLC's total debt of $65,597 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [$994 per week for 66 more weeks] (-$89 from last week).
for the very, very poor families at BLC. We have all levels of poverty here, and it is a careful balance that we keep to give special aid to the desperate ones without causing jealousy among the others. For example, while we feed the 500 kids in our school, we do not feed the parents. Yet we made an exception last week when one of the parents visited the school and passed out from starvation while on campus. After we revived her, she explained that her family is so poor that she gives her children the food that is portioned for her at the table each day. We made sure that, by the time she left, she had some warm soup in her stomach.

Praise God:

that I’ve been able to reconnect with so many friends and relatives through Facebook (No, this is not a commercial!)
that dozens of friends have emailed or written to say they really enjoy the free 2007 diary book that I mailed to them. By the way, if you have not received one and would like one, please just email me to let me know, at the address below.
that I began teaching our first pastoral training class in the English language, using TEE (Theological Education by Extension). Meanwhile our Cebuano class has been meeting weekly (under the leadership of my assistant pastor Callem) for a month now, with 8 participants.
that a financial gift recently arrived from Pennsylvania, USA for the purchase of much-needed light bulbs and wall fans for the BLC classrooms.
that even though many Filipinos earn less than a dollar a day, when we took a special offering on Sunday at church for flood relief in Manila, over $14 (equivalent from peso-to-dollar exchange) was collected and sent!
that my missions challenge (on the Macedonian Call) to a church about ten miles away was very well received this past Wednesday.
that BLC’s recorder team, during their competition last week, was awarded over $40, which they gave over to the school to assist in our debt reduction plan.
that I finished reading the Bible from cover-to-cover for the 48th time this week. PJ asked, “Dad, why don’t you take a break for a few weeks?” To which I responded, “Can’t. I have a goal to read it through 150 times by the time I turn 75! Only 28 years to go, until I start my new goal!

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 33.

10/8/2009

"What is the first characteristic that a scout has?” In their handsome green and yellow scout uniforms, BLC’s 150 4-6 graders shouted out, “TRUSTWORTHY!”

It was the first day of their three-day overnight outdoor campout, and on the last day, all 500 of BLC’s scouts would join them, with representatives from the Davao Police, military, Department of Education, Boy Scout officials ands Girl Scout officials.

To open the event, I challenged our young scouts from the Bible. “Break up the word TRUSTWORTHY and we see we should seek to be worthy of the trust God has placed on us.” As Jesus’ life ebbed from Him on the cross, Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” which, when translated means, “The debt is paid in full!” Jesus had finished paying the highest price ever paid…and He paid it for our souls! Since He who owned the universe died for us, we are therefore worth more that all of His creation, all the galaxies combined!

Over 100 students in Troop BLC were lined up, patrol by patrol, listening to my Bible challenge. Suddenly, the wind picked up. The Philippine flag blew down. A faithful scout caught it so it wouldn’t hit the ground. Raindrops spattered the ground, yet the scouts remained in their straight lines. The devastating rains of Manila’s typhoons began to drench our own Davao scouts, but without the destructive typhoon winds. I quickly concluded my message with, “Yes, a scout is trustworthy, loyal, etc. But today you can add one more item that a scout is…A scout is wet!”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $337 for 2 portable sound systems, microphones and adaptors for PJ and Abby to use in teaching Sunday school each week.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
October-November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions
October 23 (Friday): Educational Field Trip
October 20-22 (Tue-Thu): 2nd Periodical Exams
October 29-30 (Thu-Fri): Semester Break.
for the 2 million Filipinos who are either permanently or temporarily homeless, due to the worst typhoon flooding in 40 years. Over 300 have drowned, and another typhoon is very near the Philippine coast. Many people have lost everything, since 8-15- foot deep flood waters have carried away cars and people.

One man was shown on the news, floating in a washtub, desperately reaching up to hand his baby into the arms of rescuers as the swift current carried him under a bridge. At the last moment the tub tipped over and they were gone. The newscaster couldn’t speak, as he choked back tears at what he’d just seen. While we’ve had some flooding and lots of rain in Davao, we have not had the typhoons. Many here are giving clothes, cash and food to agencies which are on the scene in Manila to help the hurting.

If you’d like to give aid for these victims, please contact Christian Aid Mission (www.christianaid.org), which has contacts in Manila who are distributing aid to the surviving victims. Red Cross and World Health Organization (WHO) supplies are so scarce that the newspaper has pictures of many Filipinos there are fighting each other for what aid is available.
for BLC's total debt of $65,686 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [$996 per week for 66 more weeks] (-$5,157 from last week).
for Jacob Park, the junior high student of a teacher who is a BLC supporter in Utah, USA. The boy was in a car accident and may be facing brain damage.
for the families of victims of the earthquakes and tsunamis which have also hit the Asia’s South Pacific Islands this week.
for the American soldiers who are assisting in the precarious peace and order situation here in Mindanao as we approach the 2010 presidential elections. Two American soldiers and one Philippine soldier were killed when a grenade was thrown at their jeep in Sulu, Southern Mindanao, a few days ago.

Praise God:

that a Christian millionaire mall owner has agreed to be one of the six speakers at our DCL Parliamentary Procedures seminar scheduled for November 14.
for the anonymous gift of $5,000 given through Christian Aid Mission and Oppenheimer Legacies Foundation for BLC’s debt reduction!
for PJ, Abby and half a dozen BLC students who sang so very well at the Kiwanis Induction Ceremony this week. Fresh from the three-day campout, many were overcoming hoarse voices.
for PJ, who played in the percussion section so awesomely in not one, but four different bands at the Faith Academy concert this week.
for Pastor John and his wife Ada, Americans who visited BLC this week. The brother of a missionary doctor here, John and his wife are excitedly planning to sell all their possessions in the USA and become permanent missionaries here in the Philippines. His wife is a very successful social worker in Missouri.
that BLC’s rooftop garden is almost finished, with 18 inches of coconut husks covered with six inches of dirt. A mission group in Davao has donated $200 so that we can cover this with 2 inches of fertile topsoil, before planting the vegetable crops for our 500 BLC kids.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2310 received, $27,690 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 33.

10/1/2009

HAPPY YOM KIPPUR! (9/28)

“I miss the times I could pray with new believers to become Christians.” Before Nena gave birth to her only child 7 yrs ago, she had been active in her faith. She taught Bible studies and witnessed door-to-door.

Yet Nena’s baby was not ordinary. His cerebral palsy introduced many unexpected needs which consumed most of her time. However God still blessed this very intelligent child, and his love for others became almost a reflection of the deep and tender love which his mom showed to him. Today her son is a student at BLC.

This Friday morning, Mark and I left the BLC campus to go door-to-door to witness to others about our faith in Jesus. Since Nena’s son was in class, she was free to tag along with us. She is fluent in three local languages, so we had her be the one to teach a Bible Study with a family that invited us into their house.

After the study, Mark prayed for the prayer requests of all those present. Eli, an elderly uncle, had given the request that he’d become closer to God, and that the sin in his life would be removed. When Mark was done praying, I asked Eli, “Would you like Jesus to wash away your sin by His blood right now?” He shook his head Yes, and responded in the Tagalog language.

The expression on the face of a young man who was also present expressed the deep longing in his soul as well. So I inquired, “What about you, Darwin? Would you also like your sins to be washed away?”

A bright and shining ray of hope flashed across his countenance, as if he had been just waiting for me to ask this question. “Oh yes! Yes I would so very much!” I had Nena lead these two men, of two separate generations, in the prayer of faith. Then after some more prayers and final greetings, we excused ourselves and left. We plan to return next week to continue our Bible study with these new believers.

The BLC discipleship coordinator came up to me on campus an hour or so later and exclaimed, “Wow, you sure made Nena’s day! You’ve awakened in her that evangelistic fervor she once had! Now, like a flame burning within her, she wants nothing greater than to tell her neighbors about Jesus!” Praise God for igniting this newfound energy in the life of another soldier, on the front lines for Jesus!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $1000 for 200 full-grown egg-laying hens for BLC’s “roof coop”. their eggs will feed our BLC kids twice a week, and their dung will fertilize BLC’s almost-completed rooftop vegetable garden.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
October-November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions
September 30-October 2 (Wednesday-Friday): Boys and Girl Scouts Overnight Outdoor Camping Adventure
October 23 (Friday): Educational Field Trip
October 20-22 (Tue-Thu): 2nd Periodical Exams
October 29-30 (Thu-Fri): Semester Break.
for our two newest believers, Eli and Darwin, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we will help them grow in their newfound faith.
for BLC's total debt of $70,843 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [$998 per week for 71 more weeks] (-$422 from last week).
for the 6 BLC kids (plus Abby and PJ) to be confident and clear as they sing at the Kiwanis Club’s Induction Ceremony this week, when Mark will become a Kiwanian.

Praise God:

that many have mailed us “baby blankets” for us to give to destitute parents of newborns here in Davao.
for the good responses I received from Christian businessmen and other members of DCL (Davao Christian Leaders Foundation), when I asked for volunteers to help plan the upcoming Pastor’s Parliamentary Procedures Seminar scheduled for November 14.
for Operation Blessing and CBN, which hosted a free evening dinner and fellowship time for many of us in Davao who lead Christian Ministries, on their local office’s first anniversary celebration this week.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2305 received, $27,695 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 33.

9/24/2009

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF FALL! (9/22)

“I can’t believe he is not home!” Each Friday, Mark and I either go door-to-door witnessing, or we lead Bible Studies at the homes of those whom we’ve already led to belief in Jesus Christ.

This past Friday was a “Bible Study Day.” It was to be a full agenda, with three studies planned. Yet, of the 3 whose homes we’d agreed to meet with for our study time, the first person had an emergency pop up and was not home.

No problem, since we’d brought a Cebuano-speaking mother, Ann-Ann, from the school to help translate at the second home. Yet when we arrived at the second residence, the son peeped through the window to say that his mom had forgotten the appointment, and had gone out for a walk.

However, we knew the third location would be occupied, since the man that the last study was to be with is a security guard and mustn’t leave his place of duty. In fact, he waves to us whenever we pass by during the week. He is always reading the Cebuano-language Bible we gave him last week. But when we got to his guardhouse, there was nobody there!

We knew that God must be up to something, so we started walking down the street. A few minutes later we passed a newly-occupied house, from which a young man called from his porch, “Hi guys! Come in and chat awhile!”

As we sat on his porch, I noticed a police uniform hanging in the corner. “Lito and Sam,” (we’d already gone around, introducing ourselves) “You are police officers. Suppose I was in jail due to a debt of a million pesos. Then suppose Ann-Ann here offered to pay my debt. What should I do?”

Lito responded, “You should accept her gift. Then after she pays the money, I’d put the key into your cell door and open it to set you free!”

Already guessing where I was going with this, Mark then read a few verses from the Bible to back up what I was about to say, and I continued. ”Lito and Sam, Jesus paid your debt of sin on the cross. Ask him to set you free now!” So these two young policemen repeated after me, phrase-by-phrase, the prayer of faith, to dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ.

“You know,” Sam said, “It is amazing that you caught us home. We are Special Forces of the Philippine Military, and are only here in Davao City until the end of this week. If you’d come next week, we would no longer have been here, but instead, would be 200 kilometers away from here at our next assignment!”

Ah-ha! So THAT is what God was up to! He cancelled all three of our planned Bible studies because He had set a Divine Appointment with the souls of these two policemen! Truly, our disappointments are often God’s appointments!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $26,087 to purchase a house and lot adjacent to BLC, which has just gone up for sale, to house six of the families of our BLC teachers and staff.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events: September 25 (Fri): School-wide Scouting presentation and acceptance ceremony, September-November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions, October 9 (Friday): Educational Field Trip, October 19-21 (Mon-Wed): 2nd Periodical Exams, October 30 (Friday): Parent-teacher conferences.
that God will replace the sponsor of two BLC sponsored kids. This sponsor has decided to change from sponsoring four kids to sponsoring two, due to financial constraints.
for BLC's total debt of $71,265 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [$990 per week for 72 more weeks] (-$260 from last week).
for Ricci Marie, a girl who was miraculously healed from lupus earlier this year. She is back in the hospital with a (different) minor ailment. Please pray that her body, which is still a little weak, will not suffer a relapse.
for the sound systems in our church plants. Half of them have damaged cords, resulting in piercing screeches during worship services.
for Lito and Sam, two special forces policemen whom we led to the Lord last week. They asked for safety during travel, and for their wives and children, back home. Every six years the Philippines has heightened terrorist alerts, due to demonstrations during election campaigns. A new president will be elected in May of 2010.

Praise God:

that hundreds of coconut husks have been freely donated to BLC for soil absorbency under the dirt of our new roof garden.
that 7 boxes have arrived to BLC from New Jersey, filled with hundreds of books, records, a phonograph, reel-to-reel tape player, and many other items, including a sewing machine and a desk!
that I was able to lead (in the Tagalog language) the Philippine National Anthem during our Davao Christian Leaders meeting last week!
that after a BLC teacher resigned due to family conflicts, Elvie was able to interview and accept a qualified teacher to replace her, right away. The prospective new teacher performed her successful teaching demonstration this past Friday, in front of the rest of the BLC teaching faculty.
that BLC’s chess team was one of the top placers from dozens of participating Davao Schools.
that, upon my challenge to businessmen, lawyers and doctors from Davao, a collection of $40 was raised during a snap offering for a visiting Filipino “SEND” missionary to Mongolia and China.
that Mark and MaryAnn, a newlywed couple who assist me in door-to-door evangelism, are willing to pastor our eighth church plant next year in Agdao, Davao.
that in just two days I was able to get through an extremely painful bout with food poisoning.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2300 received, $27,700 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 33.

9/17/2009

“That’s the BIGGEST cookie I’ve ever seen!” PJ’s project for his 7th grade Science class was to make a model of a plant cell. He decided to make his edible. While he was in classes, I made a triple batch of oatmeal cookie dough and baked a six-square-foot bar cookie. When he got home, he decorated it with different colors of icing to represent vacuoles, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, etc.

“Yours is the best in the class!” his teacher said. “And it is the most delicious too!” His grade? A+++! His class ate their full of half the cookie, but when the remainder of the cookie arrived home, I wondered, “What are we going to do with all of this huge cookie?” To keep it from getting stale, I cut it into 50 or so bars in airtight containers.

That evening the entire BLC staff stayed after classes were over, to attend the funeral of the mom of one of our teachers, at which I was scheduled to preach. Since the funeral was to be over an hour away, I was concerned that they’d be hungry. “Hmmm,” I thought, “what do I have enough of that I can feed it to 50 hungry BLC staffers?”

Oh yeah…the cookie! When I brought out the four containers of cookie bars, the staffers went wild. “Wow, the cookies even have colored icing!” they exclaimed. See? God doesn’t waste a thing in His ministry! By the way, thanks too for our dear friends who, just a few months ago, gave us funds for this oven. I couldn’t imagine baking that huge cookie in our tiny toaster oven!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $196 for 50 “Evange-Cubes,” which are like Rubics Cubes, yet tell the Gospel message as its sections are turned. Each of our BLC staffers will receive one to assist him/her in sharing the Gospel with the respective classes. The kit also includes one giant display cube for larger groups.

Please pray:

For the next upcoming BLC events:
September 16-18 (Wed-Fri): 2nd Preliminary Exams
September 25 (Fri): School-wide Scouting presentation and acceptance ceremony
September-November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions
October 9 (Friday): Educational Field Trip
October 19-21 (Mon-Wed): 2nd Periodical Exams
October 30 (Friday): Parent-teacher conferences.
That the congregation of our newest (7th) church plant (Golden Hills), will generously provide food for their grand opening recognition in mid-November. We’re expecting 600 to attend from many of the other churches we have planted.
For BLC's total debt of $71,525 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011 [$994 per week for 72 more weeks] (-$208 from last week).
For wisdom in choosing the leadership team for our 8th church plant, in early 2010.
For acceptance by the new believers that Mark and I have led to the Lord recently. Although we have already started Bible Studies in their homes, we are shifting the leadership of these studies to some of the believers who have already been discipled at BLC. These leaders are excited about the opportunity of helping the new Christians to learn more about their newfound faith. Also they’ll be freeing Mark and I up so that we can lead others to Christ and to start up other Bible studies.

Praise God:

That a church in the USA gave so that a replacement air conditioner may be purchased for our BLC preschool, and a friend in Colorado also gave for a second much-needed one! We also may be purchasing a few second-hand air conditioners to replace the other defective ones in the school.
That when we were in Bohol at a conference last week, Elvie and I were able to share with a Tagbilaran church congregation.
That three boxes arrived from a friend in the USA, filled with school supplies, books, used clothes and food!
That a former missionary in Oregon is now sponsoring four BLC kids, plus sending two large boxes to BLC with much-needed supplies.
That my Dad and Mom in New York were able to trade the Winnebago motor home which was donated to us, for a smaller, more fuel-efficient conversion van, for our upcoming furlough in 2011.
That Elvie’s new re-entry permit for the USA arrived, and that it will expire in 2011. We’ll plan our next furlough for that Summer, covering the American Southern and Plains states.
That even though the other 12 schools represented in the recent citywide cheer-dance competition used secular music, BLC’s testimony remained strong with three separate Christian songs.
That phase one (the outer frame) of our roof garden is now complete. Next will be the frame for our school sign, then the hanging trellises for climbing vegetables, then the chicken coop and sprinkler system (pipes with holes in them). The food grown on the roof will help feed our 500 students each day.
That Elvie was treated to “harana” at 4am on her birthday this week. She is greatly loved by the dozen friends who serenaded her.
That I was able to do a bungee-jump-type freefall many hundreds of feet off one of the “chocolate hills” of Bohol.
That while in Bohol, I was installed into the Kiwanis District Governor’s cabinet as volunteer Spiritual Aims chairman over 54 clubs, a total of over 2,000 Kiwanians, reaching communities of over 40 million Filipinos.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2295 received, $27,705 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 31.

9/10/2010

HAPPY 42ND BIRTHDAY ELVIE! (9/9)

“Be proud of your heritage!” This week BLC celebrated its annual Filipino Culture week. Since the Philippines has over seven thousand islands, there are many diverse tribes (many still unreached with the Gospel).

As the 500 BLC kids came to the stage class-by-class, each child wore the tribal costume of his or her ancestors. Some preschoolers looked almost doll-like in their miniature outfits. Various earthy colors of black and brown were displayed next to other tribes’ dress of sunny red and yellow.

The variety of beads and shells proved the vast extent of cultures which these BLC students represent. When they sang in their tribal dialects, their feet and hands matched the music, swaying back and forth to motions that their great-grandparents had passed down through the generations.

“We have a great heritage,” Elvie shared, as she challenged the BLC student body in the Tagalog language, “not only in our physical cultures, but in our spiritual culture. God gave us the deep truths of heaven through our ancestors, Adam, Moses, David, Elijah, Peter and others. This great spiritual heritage continues through you to the next generations!”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $654 to refill BLC’s 14 expired fire extinguishers.

Please pray:

For the next upcoming BLC events:
September 16-18 (Wed-Fri): 2nd Preliminary Exams
September 25 (Fri): School-wide Scouting presentation and acceptance ceremony
September-November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions
October 9 (Friday): Educational Field Trip
October 19-21 (Mon-Wed): 2nd Periodical Exams
October 30 (Friday): Parent-teacher conferences.
That my new volunteer position as Kiwanis Spiritual Chairman of the Philippine South District, which represents half the country, will open the eyes of many unreached people to the Gospel. I am planning that every club will set aside one month to have pastors come weekly to share their testimony. This worked well when I was Spiritual Aims Chairman of our Kiwanis club in Missouri, USA 15 years ago.
For BLC's total debt of $71,733 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011 [$996 per week for 72 more weeks] (-$48 from last week).
That the conference Elvie and I are attending this week in Bohol
(Philippines) will be interesting and will open doors of opportunity to extend our spiritual effectiveness.
For receptiveness and continued spiritual interest on the part of the children who learn from PJ and Abigail as our two children teach Sunday School each week.

Praise God:

That the funeral of Dr. Ayoc was a joyful, yet tearful and meaningful time, as this great hero of the faith entered into his new occupation of teaching angels in heaven.
That a church offered us a second motor home (for free). We did have to decline the offer, as we could not afford the fuel for such a large vehicle, and there seems to be no market for buyers. Yet, if anyone has a smaller, half-sized motor home or conversion van to give, that would be perfect for our 2012 furlough, which will cover half the USA, covering about 10,000 miles.
That we now have a guitar player attending our Asuncion church plant.
That the five autoharps and 15 recorders that were donated to BLC were presented during a choral number during our Culture Day. Also that BLC now has a growing music department with training in these two instruments, among others.
That Mark and I started 2 new Bible studies this week, with the new believer Domingo (an 8th-degree black belt) and with the young mom, Shirley. They both asked us for Bibles in their Cebuano language.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2290 received, $27,710 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 35.

9/3/2009

HAPPY NATIONAL HEROES’ DAY (PHILIPPINES) 8/31!

“Daddy, how come every time we pray for somebody to be healed, they die?” Abby was asking about Dr. Ayoc, our BLC Administrator. When he was diagnosed with colon cancer, Abby and PJ wanted to be sure to visit him at his home, even though it meant they would be late for school, so they could pray for him.

At 70 years old, the disease was also straining his heart, yet he didn’t want the doctors to operate, since he could die on the operating table. “Why waste the money?” he asked. “I’d rather let God take me home.” Yet a few days later in the hospital, with family and a multitude of pastors around him, his wife said, “ Dad, don’t be in a hurry to go. After all, you’ll be in heaven for all of eternity. Enjoy a few more days with us here.”

When we’d hired Rev. Ayoc to be our BLC administrator five years ago, we said, “No expiration date on your contract, Daddy. We’ll keep you until death do us part!” And last week in his hospital bed, he called me to his side. His voice was very weak, so I bent down to hear him speak. He grabbed my arm very tightly and said, “See, I couldn’t do this before! Check out that grip! God is keeping me strong until the end.”

I asked what his last words were for me, and after giving a mini-sermon, he said, “Above all, Paul, be strong in your faith…right up until the end.” A few days later, early Monday morning, I woke up to run, at about 5am. Elvie also got up and said, “Let’s pray for Daddy Ayoc. I think we really should pray right now.”

So we prayed for the next hour. Meanwhile in the hospital, Dr. Ayoc was experiencing severe pains. His wife said, “It’s ok now. You can let go. Heaven is waiting for you.” At 5:45 am, in the middle of our prayer time, God answered our prayers as Daddy Ayoc breathed his last breath on earth and his first breath in heaven. His wake was at the Bible College, and we bussed all 550 BLC staff and students there for a special ceremony. We had to make six trips with our seven BLC vehicles, to get everybody there and back.

Dr. Ayoc’s seat was empty at the BLC Philippine Culture presentation this week. But we put it up on the stage anyway, in honor of the great spiritual example he’d set for all of us. In answer to Abby’s inquiry, I responded, “God still answered our prayers for healing for Dr. Ayoc, for your Grandpa Sadim, for your Aunt Sue and for your uncles Ben and Romy. They were all healed of their pain and entered into heaven where there is no pain. What better healing could there be than that?”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $987 for the 50 2”x8’ and 100 1”x8” steel pipes, as well as the 50 angle irons and flat bars plus welding rods to build a trellis for our roof garden, and also to re-hang our around-the-rooftop school sign which was blown down in a windstorm. The old wood that we’d used previously to hang the sign was from our last construction’s scaffolding. That wood is now being burned gradually to cook the rice that we feed our 500 BLC kids. The trellis, when completed, will double the quantity of food that we can grow, by offering a place for climbing ivy vegetables like beans and sayote.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:
September 16-18 (Wed-Fri): 2nd Preliminary Exams
September 25 (Fri): School-wide Scouting presentation and acceptance ceremony
September-November: Citywide Sportsfest Competitions
October 9 (Friday): Educational Field Trip
October 19-21 (Mon-Wed): 2nd Periodical Exams
October 30 (Friday): Parent-teacher conferences.
Our Administrator, Dr. Carlos Ayoc, passed away this week. Please pray for comfort for his wife, children and grandchildren.
for the new Bible studies that Mark and I are beginning at the homes of the new believers whom we have led to the Lord this past month. We want to be sure to meet the spiritual needs of these “babes in Christ”.
that I can figure out a way to repair my scratched-up 2-yr old glasses so I don’t have to buy new ones. The bothersome “no-glare” coating is flaking off.
for BLC's total debt of $71,781 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011 [$997 per week for 72 more weeks] (-$16 from last week).

Praise God:

that the church board of one of the American churches that is praying for this ministry approved the expenditure to pay for us to replace our dryer that was destroyed in the flood last year. Since 20087 we have been hanging our clothes inside the house to dry out, since they would get stolen outside.
that when the Timex Triathlon Ironman watch that Elvie got me for Valentine’s Day stopped working, the company couldn’t fix it and gave me a credit to buy another watch in their store. However, since the Davao City harvest festival (Kadayawan) was scheduled this past week, the store had major sales, and I was able to use the credit to get watches for all four of us (Elvie, me, PJ and Abby! They are racer watches, and they wore them in a 5k race that we all ran in together.
that the BLC kids, faculty and staff did a fantastic job on their Philippine Culture Day, singing and dancing in tribal costumes.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2285 received, $27,715 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 35.

8/27/2009

“Alice, Nonoy Aquino died 26 years ago, today. You also died today!” While going door-to-door witnessing this week, Mark and I met a young widow who shared with us about how God had provided for her and her children, since her husband died a decade ago.

We then challenged her, “God loves you, Alice. He wants to give you eternal life. But up until now, you have only trusted Him with temporary things, like clothes for your children and food for your family. Why not trust Him also to not only take away your hunger and nakedness, but your sin as well? Let the old Alice die today. Then, every year as the Philippines celebrates the death anniversary of the National Hero Nonoy Aquino on August 21, you will also celebrate your spiritual birthday, when your name was written in God’s Book of Life!”

At that moment, Alice responded with the repeating after me the Prayer of Faith. Alice, now a new believer, said, “ Wow, on September 21, I will be able to celebrate my Spiritual one-month birthday!”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $457 for a replacement air conditioner for our Kinder-One classroom. With only fans, the room is sweltering.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events: August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
for Dr. Ayoc, our BLC school administrator. His inoperable colon cancer is spreading very fast. Pray for his family, as they watch the embers of his life slowly fizzle out, and the light of heavenly glory come alive in him. His challenge to us each time we visit in the hospital is, “Stay strong in the faith, and END WELL!”
for the home Bible studies that we will be starting next Friday with our three new believers: Domingo, Shirley and Alice. We plan to gradually wean ourselves off from teaching these studies and to feed teachers into these studies. The teachers will be the parents of our BLC children. These parents became believers a few years ago, and by now have become sufficiently trained to lead a study on the Bible, for this growing body of new believers.
for BLC's total debt of $71,797 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011 [$997 per week for 72 more weeks] (-$117 from last week).

Praise God:

that more and more unbelievers are responding to the salvation invitation which we give door-to-door each Friday.
that our Davao City Administrator, a Christian whom I was chosen to pray with this week, has a forgiving spirit after a congressman (the Philippine Speaker of the House) tried to sue him. (The administrator tore down a minipark project that the congressman had initiated without being issued a permit. The ensuing landfill for the minipark had caused flooding in that area of Davao). Ironically, that very evening I was at a meeting where I shook hands with the very same congressman who was at fault!
that Elvie and I have been given funds for us to fly to Bohol (part of the Philippines, about 300 miles away) for five days, attending a community-service conference. At the conference I will be installed as voluntary Chairman on Human and Spiritual Values for the District representing this section of Mindanao/Visayas Islands.
that the bank which holds my credit cards reversed three double-charges it had entered, of purchases I’d made for BLC’s vehicle repair, fuel and minor construction.
that a local evangelist challenged came to BLC to speak five times in one day, challenging us on how to share our faith with unbelievers using the Evangelicube. In the morning he spoke to our staff, then during our three chapels, and finally in the evening during prayer meeting.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2280 received, $27,720 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 35.

8/20/2009

HAPPY KADAYAWAN! (Davao City’s annual Harvest Festival)

“Dear Lord, please help Daddy to pray with at least one person today to receive Jesus into his or her heart, Amen.” During our morning family devotions, it was encouraging to hear PJ and Abby’s assurance of my conviction that there was a soul about to be reborn.

A few hours later, after a morning community prayer time with a few businessmen (I was the speaker), my friend Mark and I went door-to-door with the Gospel message. Entering a gated community (yes, we even have them in the Philippines), the guard stopped us. “What do you want to do?” he asked.

“We’d like to go door-to-door to tell people in this development about Jesus,” replied Mark. “Oh, you can’t do that,” said the guard, guardedly. “I’d lose my job!” Then I had an idea. “Domingo,” (he’d told us his name, which means, ‘Sunday.’ would YOU like to hear about Jesus?” The guard offered us both seats, while he stood to listen.

“You are the guard here. Nobody can enter without your permission. What if this was the gate of heaven? What if you were to come up to God, at the gate, and He was the guard to get in? And what if He were to ask you why He should let you in?

What would you say?” It was not long before the guard was praying with us to receive Jesus into his heart. He was the answer to our kids’ prayer that morning. But God was not done just yet…

“Waaah!” cried a baby’s voice, through an open door of a house we were passing. I called in, Filipino-style: “Aye-yo!” A bedraggled housewife came to the door, with a squirmy, screaming baby girl in her arms. “What do you want? My baby has colic!” We responded with concern in our voices, “May we come in and pray for your baby?”

Suddenly the woman’s face lit up. “Yes, please do!” As we stepped into her house, the baby reached her little, one-year old arms out to me. With her mom’s nod of approval, I prayed for whatever was bothering the little girl to go away, and that she be calm again. As soon as I said “Amen,” along with an echo “Amen” from Mark, the little girl calmed down. Little Cassandra didn’t want to leave my arms, and for the next 20 minutes we shared with Cassandra’s mother about the care that God provides to His children.

Praise God that two lives were touched today, in answer to the prayers of our two children, PJ and Abigail!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $200 for a new time clock for BLC’s workers. Our seven-year old one stopped working a few weeks ago.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events: August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams. August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
for Domingo, Cassandra and Shirley (Cassandra’s mom) with whom we shared the Gospel with this week.
for God to comfort the families of the 44 Filipinos killed on our Island in the skirmish this week between the Al Queda and the Philippine Militia.
for God’s empowerment as we present, in November, the rescheduled seminar on Parliamentary Procedures for pastors and businessmen in Davao City.
for BLC's total debt of $71,914 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [$999 per week for 72 more weeks] (-$545 from last week).

Praise God:

that a friend recently gave $200 to assist BLC's debt reduction program, to be debt-free in two years.
that we have a new sponsor for a BLC student, bringing the unsponsored children’s total down to 35.
that we had a new giver to BLC’s Jericho “student feeding” program in July.
that after seven years of sociological related Mindanao field work and research, the final transcript of my Master’s thesis on BLC’s approach to alleviating Juvenile Delinquency in its geographical context has finally been approved, printed and bound, and I will be participating in the Ateneo de Davao University graduation ceremonies in April, 2010.
for the three large boxes that arrived this week from the USA, containing school supplies, hundreds of children’s novels, children’s chewable vitamins, clothes, a sewing machine, drill and hundreds of drill bits, and Sunday School DVDs/CDs!
that over 20 BLC staff and parents (including PJ, Abby and Elvie) will join me in a community 5k running race in Davao next week.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2275 received, $27,725 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 35.

Rev. Paul, Elvie, PJ and Abigail Barner//Philippine Missionary Church Planters//Barner Learning Center, Inc.//PO Box 82,224//8000 Davao City, Philippines//www.barner.org//(PHILS) 011-63 (082) 234-4000//(Philippine Cellphone) 0947-329-0441//(USA) (518) 449-2105. Home address: 18 Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144. BLCKIDS@yahoo.com

9/13/2009

“You raise me up…on wings like eagles…so I can stand on mountains…you are the wind beneath my wings.” Echoing through the jungle, the music of praise pierced the darkness of night through a small, rigged-up loudspeaker. The sound reverberated through the slim, pillar-like trunks of towering coconut trees, and wafted through hundreds of fluttering giant banana leaves.

It had been 40 days since Elvie’s eldest brother Ben had died, and Philippine custom warranted a family reunion at his gravesite. Being a fruit farmer by occupation, he had chosen to be buried on his own small piece of land, above-ground in a cement “poncion”. “Please share a brief message from the Bible,” whispered Elvie to me.

Still under the half-alert jetlag of our recent international travel, we’d dozed on most of the 2-hour multicab ride to this remote location. After running out of road, our cousin parked the vehicle and we picked our way carefully along the dark and muddy jungle path, occasionally looking up at the silhouettes of coconut trees against the evening sky, for direction.

“We’ve just finished a 7-week list of 25 speaking engagements in the USA,” I began. “We traveled over 60 hours back and forth to the USA, and drove 5,000 miles as soon as we hit American soil. In many ways, the life of 61-year old “Manong” (older brother) Ben is similar to the trip which we just completed. However, at the end of his life, there was not the bumpy ride that we had experienced. No, as he passé into eternity, Scripture assures us, that he suddenly became “absent from the body, and present with the Lord”. As soon as life had left Ben’s body, he was in heaven.”

I shared with loving relatives, gathered around the poncion of Manong, that as we had traveled around the USA, we visited old friends and also made new ones. We’d met with some family members we hadn’t seen in a long time. “Now Ben is with Papa. Lolo (grandpa), and many other relatives whom he actually had never met face-to-face while walking this Earth.”

Praise God that we were able to return from our trip halfway around the globe, in time to be with Elvie’s family for this special occasion. And yet Ben made an even greater, one-way journey, on angels’ wings, into the loving arms of his Savior Jesus Christ.

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $457 to replace the non-functioning air conditioner in BLC’s Nursery-age classroom, to cool down the sweltering heat.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events: August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams. August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
for wisdom, as I have been chosen by the Kiwanis Governor-Elect as the spiritual director for all of the clubs in the Greater Davao City area.
that the following people who committed themselves to consider becoming missionaries while we were on furlough will follow-through and visit us here in Davao: Nikki, Paul, Kay, Jeff and Stephen.
for BLC's total debt of $72,459 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [$992 per week for 73 more weeks] (-$74 from last week).

Praise God:

that a friend recently gave $10 to assist BLC's feeding program, in which we feed 500 students at 2 cents each.
that PJ and Abby successfully began their new school year at Faith Academy, only hours after we landed from our international flight from the USA.
that a large box from the USA was waiting for us to open it when we arrived back at the school, and inside were many sports outfits, clothes, books, toothbrushes and treats for our 500 BLC students!
for the successful fourth anniversary celebration this Sunday of our Panantongan church plant. They even had saved up enough money in their “peso can” to cement the dirt floor of their little church!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2270 received, $27,730 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 36.

8/6/2009

Davao City, Philippines

“Honey, I can't sleep." Elvie and I were gathering up our strength for a good night's rest, in the midst of last-minute planning for our 31-hour trip back to the Philippines. "Let's pray for those who have been such a blessing to us these past seven weeks in the USA." So there, in the parsonage of Great Bend Alliance Church, at 3 in the morning, we started listing before the Lord a brief list of who to pour out blessings upon, in repsonse to the blessings they have been to us in our travels.

"Lord, please bless my brother Phil and his family, in New York. His was the first church we spoke at during this furlough. And Jammin' Jeff, who interviewed all four of us on the radio...that was fun! But before that, as soon as we landed at JFK, we'd visited a friend near New York City. The Millers were such a delight to spend time with. They even had a dinner with friends, so we could share with them about BLC's ministry."

"Of course you know that every time we talk to you, Lord, we ask prayer for Dad and Mom. They are awesome. They let us log a few thousand miles on their car during this trip, and also drove a few thousand miles on side trips so we would not have to. And the leaders of the Bible Studies, who had us share with them in NY...and Lord, please bless our two friends who miraculously gave us those two LCD projectors, right when we needed them!"

"Then Lord, it was on to Vermont. Those people were so very special. Bob and Betty showed PJ and Abby sixty years' worth of amazing little old, old toys, before we spoke at their church. And our little Abby even got a high score while miniature golfing with my brother Steve and his wife." A few hundred miles from there, Ithaca, NY was willing to have us pop in and share during a midweek fellowship dinner.

"Then, on to New Jersey. The people there were so very generous! One gave us this laptop that I have used every single day since. And on the way, Beryl helped us box up those six huge boxes of items to ship overseas. Lord, please bless her, and also our friends whom we'd picnicked with around the fourth of July."

"On the road again, Lord. After Family Camp in NY, we spent nearly a whole month in Pennsylvania, at the Lutheran Church, the Alliance Churches, the Brethren Church, and now this Sunday will be at the Episcopal Church. Such awesome people, Lord. Each and every one of the numerous people...some drove hundreds of miles to see us, and to hear about what you are doing overseas. Oh Lord, what have we ever done to deserve knowing such special, special people?"

"It is our privilege, Lord, to lift these dear souls up to you, for you to pour out blessings upon them. As is mentioned in the Old Testament, when God was speaking to Abraham during his travels, "Whoever blesses you will be blessed, and whoever curses you will be cursed." Lord, please pour out your bountiful blessings on all these, sending your angelic messengers to heal, protect, and provide for them. It's the best way that we can show them our gratitude. In Jesus' precious name, Amen."

As soon as I was done, I listened, and Elvie began her prayer, filling in all the many spaces I'd left out. And then, we both fell into a delightful sleep, dreaming about the many souls who'd touched our lives over these past seven weeks.

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $572 for our electric bill from June.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events: August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams. August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
that PJ and Abby are rested up enough when we arrive in the Philippines to begin their new year of schooling at Faith Academy August 6.
that we get over jetlag quickly when we arrive back overseas to the mission field in the Philippines.\
for BLC's total debt of $72,533 to be whittled down to zero by February, 2011 [$993 per week for 73 more weeks] (-$555 from last week).
for our Panantongan church plant's fourth anniversary celebrations this next Sunday.
that many of the 27 people who this furlough expressed interest in coming to the Philippines to work will actually save up enough funds to come out and become missionaries.

Praise God:

that a friend on the East Coast gave $500 for BLC's debt reduction.
that the pastor of Great Bend Alliance Church in Pennsylvania, and his wife, opened up their parsonage to us this past week for a delightful visit.
that Abby enjoyed her week at Bible camp in New York.
that the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Trinity Episcopal Church blessed us with a special time of sharing during two services in the morning, plus Sunday School. It's a blessing to have opportunity to share what God is doing overseas!
for the successful Nutrition Month culmination performances at BLC this past week.
for our safe trip back to the Philippines this past week!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2265 received, $27,735 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 37 ½ . (The ½ represents the 2 Kiwanis "Twinning" Sponsorships) "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Furlough schedule: Done. PTL!!!

7/30/2009

Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA

“Pastor Paul, this laptop computer is yours!" Praise God that early in this furlough, a dear friend gave us his brand-new computer to use while on furlough, and then to keep for our very own. It has WiFi, so we are able to "go online" to check our email while away from home. That way we stay in touch with the BLC school in the Philippines to give and receive reports.

Many businesses in America allow free WiFi access, as it encourages patrons to visit their locations, and perhaps to stop in and pick up a needed item. Staples Computer Store, McDonalds restaurants, and Panera Bread are a few such corporations. So we often "go in" and pick up a little something when we are in the parking lot doing our email. At McDonalds, we go inside and set up our laptops on a table as we snack.

This Sunday, after I shared at church many of the miracles that God has accomplished through this Philippine work, I also mentioned the new laptop computer. After the service, the pasor came over to look at the unit. "Wow," he exclaimed to me, "God truly is faithful! You visited Walmart and noticed the computer there. You told God that you really needed this exact particular model. And then, just a few days later, someone handed you that exact model! Even the same color! Today you have once again reinforced my trust in our all-sufficient God!"

Praise God that, while on this furlough, we have had opportunity to extend the reach of God's miracles by strengthening the faith of others through these stories of provision in their churches and schools! Next week we will return to the Philippines and participate in God's miracles there as well! God is working in every nook and corner of this fantastic globe on which we dwell!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $5298 for 377 more plastic desk-chairs (one piece combined units) at $14 each, for our BLC students.

Please pray:

For the next upcoming BLC events:
July 31 (Friday) Nutrition Month Celebration/Presentations.
August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams.
August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
That Dr. Ayoc, our BLC administrator, will be healed of his “Stage 4” colon cancer.
That Dad will be able to sell the 5 mpg Winnebago (motor home) that was donated to us, so that we can put funds aside for a van with better gas mileage, for future furlough travels. The kids are outgrowing the regular cars we have been using.
For BLC's total debt of $73,088 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011 [$987 per week for 74 more weeks] (-$10 from last week).
That when the American Department of Homeland Security receives the results from Elvie’s biometrics (fingerprinting) next week, they’ll approve a renewal of her re-entry permit, so that we can be in the Philippines for a longer duration before going on furlough again..

Praise God:

That my leg injury from two weeks ago is almost totally healed, so I should be able to begin running again soon.
That when our car didn’t work after visiting McDonalds this week, even though it was after midnight, a young man helped us get to Walmart to get it running again. It was unusual for him to be out so late, but his job at an ice cream factory had him work six hours overtime that particular night!
That PJ enjoyed his week at Bible camp in New York.
That the Andover church's VBS raised enough money to buy 23 desk/chairs for BLC students, at $14 each!
That Dad and Mom drove both PJ and Abby to Bible camp for us, saving us a total 32 hours of driving time!
That the Mt. Pleasant Mills church people gave many bags of new underwear and socks for us to send to the poor BLC kids.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2260 received, $27,740 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 37 ½ . (The ½ represents the 2 Kiwanis "Twinning" Sponsorships) "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Furlough schedule:

8/2-Williamsport Trinity Episcopal Church, PA
8/3- Elvie's Biometrics Appointment at Immigration Latham, NY
8/4-Fly back to Philippines (JFK, NYC-Korea-Manila-Davao).

7/23/2009

Mt. Pleasant Mills, Pennsylvania, USA

“Pastor Paul, I am in love!" In February, when Allen (one of our BLC janitors) came
up to me with his face beaming, I already could figure what was on his mind. When he
told me of his girlfriend, I quizzed him on his relationship. Since he is already in
his late twenties, I knew the temptation would be very great for him. Especially
since his girlfriend already had three children from former premariatal
relationships she'd had. But things were different now. She had repented of her sins
and become a Christian. "Do you love Gizel?" I asked Allen. "Oh yes, more than I
have ever loved anyone before!" So then I asked if he planned on "tying the knot"
soon. "Sure, Pastor, before you leave for the USA."

True to his promise, on June 13, the day before our flight across the Pacific Ocean,
Allen and Gizel were wed in the BLC gym. The three flower girls included Abigail,
and she was the only one who actually made it all the way down the aisle. The first
flower girl started screaming halfway down the aisle and had to be dragged by her
mom the rest of the way to the front. The third girl defiantly sat down in the
aisle, throwing into the air her basket of flower petals, and as the colorful petals
came floating down, she tore off her little crown and threw that into the
congregation.

But the bride was not so rebellious. With a sense of joy on her face, she walked
serenely down the aisle. As she said her vows and signed the marriage contract, I
could see in her eyes the depth of emotion flowing out from her heart.

Her eyes spoke, as if to say, "See, I have changed. I am a new woman now. Jesus has
made me clean, and I will live this new life, with my husband, and my children, all
for my blessed newfound Savior."

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $108 for 27 fluorescent light bulb sets at $4 each.

Please pray:

For the next upcoming BLC events:
July 22-24 (Wed-Fri) First Preliminary Exams.
July 31 (Friday) Nutrition Month Celebration/Presentations.
August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams.
August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
For Dr. Ayoc, our 70-yr old BLC administrator, who is running the school while we are in the USA. He has been having severe stomach discomfort for many months, and is in and out of the hospital.
For BLC's total debt of $73,098 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011
[$987 per week for 74 more weeks] (-$116 from last week).
That the Davao Christian Leadership seminar on Parliamentary Procedures for
pastors will be informative and well-attended this Monday (July 20).

Praise God:

That we were able to visit three Vacation Bible Schools this Summer.
That both a friend from Virginia and a friend from Maryland drove many hours to
Pennsylvania to hear us speak in the Barner Lutheran Church this past Sunday.
That when we sent PJ off to Bible Camp this week, my parents offered to drive
him, saving us a nine hour trip.
That a church in New York sent ten large bags full of stuffed animals for the
destitute children at BLC.
That the VBS at my brother's church is raising funds this week to buy enough
desk-chairs for a complete BLC preschool classroom.
That as a result of your fervent and effectual prayers, the impossible has
happened! Even after the American Department of Homeland Security sent Elvie a letter saying that her re-entry permit was revoked and could never be renewed, they miraculously changed their minds on Elvie's re-entry permit! Her new fingerprinting interview date is the day before we leave the USA! Oh, God is sooo good!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our
overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2255 received, $27,745 left to go! Five of
the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 37 ½ . (The ½ represents the 2 Kiwanis
"Twinning" Sponsorships) "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Furlough schedule:

7/22-Shamokin Dam Alliance Church, Selinsgrove, PA
7/26-St Thomas Independent Brethren Church, Mt Pleasant Mills, PA
8/2-Williamsport Trinity Episcopal Church, PA
8/4-Fly back to Philippines.

7/16/2009

Oriental, Pennsylvania, USA

“Daddy, will we do puppets again?" During this seven-week furlough, we are speaking at eight different churches and many other Bible studies, schools, etc. When a friend in South Carolina sent us some very nice puppets, I brought them with us to my brother Phil's church. He is an expeert puppeteer, and we did puppets together on television when we were teenagers. He also has been teaching puppet techniques to children for over two decades.. After he gave some pointers to PJ and Abby, the kids chose two "traveling companions," Butch (a blonde-haired, feisty boy puppet) and Grace (a black-haired, impatient girl puppet). Phil gave us a few copies of a missionary pupet script, and then we hit the road.

It's now been three weeks since then, and the kids have performed eight times, getting better and better. Typically, after PJ and Abby's performance, I will give a missionary challenge, with Powerpoint pictures of the work we are doing in the Philippines. In New York there were two Bible Studies and a church fellowship dinner where the puppets made their "debut". Then, on to New Jersey. There, they had audience participation. After performing for one of our host families, PJ and Abby presented for a young family. In that household, PJ and Abby lip-synched, while the children we visited read the script. Then, on to a church, where a pastor's kid (Shelley) expressed her desire to be a missionary. "Well then," I challenged, let's audition you for missions right now. Grab a script, and you can play the narrator!" She was a real natural at puppets, and will do great, once she is on foreign soil.

Finally, this week Butch and Grace (the puppets) performed for about forty kids during a week of Bible Camp. Once again, they stole the show, and the kids gave them a hearty round of applause. When I introduced PJ and Abby as the puppeteers, I got PJ and his puppet mixed up, so PJ became Butch and vice-versa. But they've so taken on the character of the puppets, that it's getting hard to tell them, apart!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $442 for the biweekly gas bill for our 7 BLC buses.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events:

July 22-24 (Wed-Fri) First Preliminary Exams.
July 31 (Friday) Nutrition Month Celebration/Presentations.
August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams.
August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.

For Emily, the "twenty-something" daughter of one of our supperters, whose boyfriend just took his own life a few days ago.
for BLC's total debt of $73,214 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011 [$989 per week for 74 more weeks] (-$123 from last week).
That the hit-and-run truck driver which backed into us at a street light in Pennsylvania this week (and then ran four stop signs while getting away) will be caught by the police.

Praise God:

that the tractor-trailer truck that backed into our car this week did only cosmetic damage to the vehicle, and that we were able to chase him 5 miles until we got pictures of his vehicle and wrote down his license plate number.
that PJ and Abby did a fantastic job on puppets this week.
that I finished well in a ten-mile race and in a 5-mile race this week.
that Dad was able to find parts to repair the damage that the hit-and-run driver did to our station wagon.
that five boxes of Youth Group books and stuffed animals were donated to BLC this week.
that a friend decided to sponsor six children at BLC!
that, even though a friend in Williamsport did not get my email asking if we could stay overnight, he was willing to open his home to us at midnight.
that, when we stopped at a yard sale to buy a book, the homeowner went ahead and donated a dozen more kids' books for the library at BLC!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2250 received, $27,750 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 37 ½ . (The ½ represents the 2 Kiwanis Twinning Sponsorships) "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Furlough schedule:

7/19- Barner Lutheran Church, Liverpool, PA
7/26-St Thomas Independent Brethren Church
Mt Pleasant Mills, PA
8/2-Williamsport Trinity Episcopal Church, PA
8/4-Fly back to Philippines.

7/9/2009

Rome, New York, USA
HAPPY 13th ANNIVERSARY TO ELVIE AND ME! (7/6)

“Welcome to the Jammin' Jeff Show!" Jeff, a disc jockey on WETD college radio, interviewed Elvie, me, PJ and Abby. Interspersed with music, the hour-long live show covered much of the huimanitarian work that BLC is doing in the Philippines. Jeff was amazed that we feed, clothe, educate and provide church for 500 kids and their parents in the Philippines. Before signing off, PJ and Abby did a puppet show over the air, and Elvie joined the kids in singing the Philippine National Anthem.

About an hour later, after Jeff was done with his shift at the station, he asked, "Could you use me in the Philippines?" Boy, could we! Please pray for Jeff, that later this year he will join us on the other side of the ocean, to share the Gospel message with adults and children who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ.

Jeff even received from his mom her blessing for these plans, and she decided to sponsor a student's schooling at BLC! Yay, God!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $479 for an air conditioner for BLC’s multipurpose music/science/shop/home economics building.

Please pray:

For the next upcoming BLC events:
- July 10 Homeroom PTA Meetings.
- July 22-24 (Wed-Fri) First Preliminary Exams.
- July 31 (Friday) Nutrition Month Celebration/Presentations.
- August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams.
- August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
For the funeral of Elvie's oldest brother Ben this week, that many unsaved people who are present (his co-workers as a fruit farmer) will hear the Gospel and become believers.
For BLC's total debt of $73,337 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011 [$991 per week for 74 more weeks] (-$213 from last week).
That we will be refilled spiritually at Delta Lake Family Bible Conference Center this week.

Praise God:

that the mini laptop computer that I have been praying for (ASUS EeePC Windows XP 170GB/160GBHDD) was given to me for free by a dear friend this week!
that 2 families and 4 other individuals have expressed interest this week in joining us in Davao as either short term or career missionaries!
that a dear widow friend shipped seven large boxes of books, sewing machine, etc. to BLC this week.
that even though the 5mpg gasoline consumption of the Winnebago motor home which was donated to us makes usage of it restrictive, nevertheless it does run, and I was able to drive it this week.
that Jezreel, Inc. donated four large boxes of toothpaste, hairbrushes, lotions and other items to BLC this week.
that PJ and Abby have already presented puppet presentations 8 times during this visit to the USA.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2245 received, $27,755 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 43 ½ . (The ½ represents the 2 Kiwanis Twinning Sponsorships) "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Furlough schedule:

7/12-Elizabethtown Alliance, PA
7/19- Barner Lutheran Church, Liverpool, PA
7/26-St Thomas Independent Brethren Church, Mt Pleasant Mills, PA
8/2-Williamsport Trinity Episcopal Church, PA
8/4-Fly back to Philippines.

7/2/2009

Trenton, New Jersey, USA HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY, PJ! (6/29) HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, USA! (7/4)

“It’s all about God!” After we spoke to the congregation about the mission field while visiting a church in Vermont, the associate pastor gave the children’s message. He explained to the kids gathered at the altar about many of the things that a church does. “But what is the main purpose of all these things? What is the most important?” A 4-yr old boy called out, “It’s all about God!” Then he rolled his eyes in humility as a few in the congregation called out, “Amen!”

The next morning, en route back from Vermont to New York State, Elvie suddenly asked that we stop the car. She felt a deep sense of loss and said, “It’s my oldest brother Ben, who is on kidney dialysis. I think he may have died.” So we prayed for him, right there in the Walmart parking lot. We also prayed for Mr. Occena, the old man we’d visited the day before we’d left the Philippines.

About an hour later, since Monday was PJ’s 12th birthday, we stopped at the Vermont Teddy Bear factory. Halfway through the factory tour, my cell phone rang. It was for Elvie. “This is difficult news. Your brother died last night!”

During the rest of the trip, we tried to check our email at WiFi places, to get further details on Ben’s passing. We pieced together the fact that both of these terminally ill men, Mr. Occena and Kuya Ben, were now in heaven. I looked at Elvie. Her cheeks were swollen and her eyes were bloodshot from her crying. Tears streamed down her face.

“It’s all about God, Honey.” I consoled her, “There’s not much we can do for the family while we are here, halfway around the globe, except to pray. Like that little boy in church said, ‘It’s all about God.’ God is hearing our prayers and comforting you and your family, right now. You are not alone. God is helping you. God is strengthening you. God is getting you through this. It’s not about us. It’s not about the distance, or even about life and death. ‘It’s all about God.”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $564 for our electric bill from May.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events: July 3 General PTA Meeting. July 10 Homeroom PTA Meetings. July 22-24 (Wed-Fri) First Preliminary Exams. July 31 (Friday) Nutrition Month Celebration/Presentations. August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams. August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
For Dr. Ayoc, our 70 yr old BLC administrator. His intestinal pains put him in the hospital for the past few days.
for BLC's total debt of $73,550 to be whittled down to zero by January, 2011 [$994 per week for 74 more weeks] (-$93 from last week).
That since USA Homeland Security denied Elvie’s re-entry permit renewal, that we will be able to leave the Philippines for Guam every 6 months to stamp her passport in America semi-annually.

Praise God:

1) that the sore throat/laryngitis that I got shortly after arriving in the USA is almost all gone.

2) that our sharing on Alfred College radio station and also at the Andover public school’s third grade class went well.

3) that the new LCD projectors that were donated to this ministry have found us in the mail, even though we have been traveling from place to place quite often.

4) for the many sweet families who housed us during our hundreds of miles of furlough travels this past week.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2240 received, $27,760 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 44 ½ . (The ½ represents the 2 Kiwanis Twinning Sponsorships) "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Furlough schedule:

6/30- (Bible Study) Albany, NY
7/2- (Bible Study) Schenectady, NY
7/5-Phillipsburg Alliance, NJ, 7/12-Elizabethtown Alliance, PA
7/19- Barner Lutheran Church, Liverpool, PA
7/26-St Thomas Independent Brethren Church, Mt Pleasant Mills, PA
8/2-Williamsport Trinity Episcopal Church, PA
8/4-Fly back to Philippines.

6/25/2009

NOTE: Last week’s Diary included 2 mistakes: 1) we made a trans-Pacific flight, not a trans-Atlantic one. 2) Since helium does not burn, the cause of the three boys’ burns were either the burning of the balloon material itself, or hydrogen, or perhaps something else flammable nearby (like a kerosene lamp) that was ignited when the balloon blew up.

Andover, New York, USA

“Honey, we can’t keep lugging all these bulky things across the ocean!” Each furlough, Elvie reminds me that we must pack our bags as light as possible when we fly. Yet when I bring our LCD projector, it means just one more bag to race across airports with as we scurry from gate to gate in order to meet all the intercontinental connections.
The near-perfect scenario would be if we had one LCD projector to use in the Philippines, and another to use stateside. Even better would be if we had also a tiny one to bring with us when we travel, in case we have presentations in other countries, en route. Enter, God’s plan:

Before heading to the airport in the Philippines, I used up my free Amazon coupons online to buy a cheap, palm-sized LCD. It would not be strong enough to take from church-to-church all throughout furlough, but it would help in case a church had no LCD of their own. The mini-LCD would take 2-3 weeks to ship.

After landing in the USA and meeting with friends, we prayed with them that God would provide. On Wednesday, we drove up to Dad and Mom’s place in Upstate New York. Fifteen minutes after walking in the door, their phone rang. “Paul, it’s for you!” A friend in Vermont heard that our LCD had been stolen in the Philippines, and had a friend in Connecticut who was willing to donate his to us. “But we need it tomorrow, before we head to Buffalo” I mentioned. Sure enough, they sent it next day air and we had it the next morning.

Upon our arrival in Buffalo, another email arrived from a friend in Colorado. “I will buy you a new LCD” he stated. And he sent me the shipping info. God has replaced the stolen projector with three different ones: We’ll ship the Connecticut one to the Philippines when the new one arrives, leave the Colorado one in the USA to await us on each furlough, and bring the mini with us when we travel.

Ooooh, God is sooo good! He always comes through!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $5600 for 400 more plastic desk-chairs (one piece combined units) for our BLC students.

Please pray:

for the next upcoming BLC events: July 3 General PTA Meeting. July 10 Homeroom PTA Meetings. July 22-24 (Wed-Fri) First Preliminary Exams. July 31 (Friday) Nutrition Month Celebration/Presentations. August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams. August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
that Elvie’s new re-entry permit application would be processed in record timing so that we will be able to avoid expensive intercontinental travel next year (2010).
for BLC's total debt of $73,643 to be whittled down to zero by December, 2010 [$997 per week for 74 more weeks] (-$9 from last week).
That my sore throat/laryngitis will go away. Praise God for the short reprieve he gave me as I spoke this morning in church.

Praise God:

that upon my visit this week, the Port Chester NY Kiwanis Club agreed to donate 500 toothbrushes for our BLC kids.
that the Andover VBS will be targeting raising funds for 15 plastic desk-chairs for one of BLC’s preschool classes.
that a church on the East Coast plans to send $6,000 around Christmastime for BLC’s debt reduction.
For the WiFi card that was donated to PJ this week from a friend for his laptop.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2235 received, $27,765 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 47 ½ . "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Furlough schedule:

6/25-Hillside Alliance Church, Ithaca, NY
6/28-Jericho Congregational Church, VT, 7/5-Phillipsburg Alliance, NJ
7/12-Elizabethtown Alliance, PA
7/19- Barner Lutheran Church, Liverpool, PA
7/26-St Thomas Independent Brethren Church, Mt Pleasant Mills, PA
8/2-Williamsport Trinity Episcopal Church, PA
8/4-Fly back to Philippines.

NAMES OF FRIENDS WHO NOW PLAN TO SOON BECOME EITHER SHORT-TERM OR CAREER MISSIONARIES TO DAVAO:

Kay (Age 21-Communications)
Paul (Age 47-preaching, photography)
Nikki (AGE 14-dance, drama)
Gene (drums, music)
Jeff (radio)
Harry & Dottie (counseling, discipleship, care)
(Statistically, only 1% of those who commit themselves to visiting the Philippines actually ever arrive on foreign soil. Please pray that this percentage will increase).

6/18/2009

Buffalo, New York, USA
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, PHILIPPINES! (6/12)

“My child is burned!” A little 3-yr old named Joshua in the church always has a mischievous grin on his face, and always seems to be up to something. Yet he is very lovable, and like a sponge he soaks up all the love and attention you can give him. Josh is healing up from a birthday party he attended in April.

They had floating balloons, and our little friend, being from a poor family, was not used to such luxuries. He decided to see what would happen if he put a lit candle next to a balloon. The gas in the balloon exploded, and both Joshua and his two brothers screamed as their necks, chests and faces were burned. That was two months ago.

God has healed almost all the scars and little Josh was last Sunday once again yelling and climbing up on the stage during worship in one of our little rural church plants. I reached aver during the half-hour testimony time and put Joshua on my lap.

Instead of squirming to get away, he smiled up at me. I placed an old hymnal on his lap, and guided his little fingers as they grasped the binding with one hand and with the other hand’s itty bitty fingers, followed the words across the pages. He was engrossed in the personal attention he was receiving form his senior pastor.

When finally I let him down, he got another book and held it up to me, as if I were to “read” it silently to him again with his finger. Joshua and 499 of his schoolmates started school this week. They are showing us that sometimes kids are more blessed by the fire of our love that burns within them than from what anyone can give them to warm them on the outside.

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $849 to replace the LCD projector that I usually use during furlough presentations. Mine was recently stolen.

Please pray:

For the next upcoming BLC events: July 3 General PTA Meeting. July 10 Homeroom PTA Meetings. July 22-24 (Wed-Fri) First Preliminary Exams. July 31 (Friday) Nutrition Month Celebration/Presentations. August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams. August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
That BLC runs smoothly while Elvie, PJ, Abby and I are away for the next 7 weeks.
For BLC's total debt of $73,652 to be whittled down to zero by December, 2010 [$997 per week for 74 more weeks] (-$90 from last week).
That during these next 7 weeks, God will use our presentations to challenge at least seven people to become overseas missionaries.

Praise God:

That we had a safe trip from the Philippines to the USA on June 14, and our attendance topped 1,000 on 6/14 as our combined churches had a joyful sendoff for us.
That many churches and families have emailed us to confirm our upcoming visits, as well as to express their excitement in the picnics, dinners and worship services that are planned.
That the March/April donations through Christian Aid Mission have arrived and will be used to pay salaries, utilities and book company bills while we are Stateside.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2230 received, $27,770 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 47 ½ . "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Furlough schedule:

6/21-Andover Alliance Church, NY
6/25-Hillside Alliance Church, Ithaca, NY
6/28-Jericho Congregational Church, VT
7/5-Phillipsburg Alliance, NJ
7/12-Barner Lutheran Church, Liverpool, PA
7/19-Elizabethtown Alliance, PA
7/26-St Thomas Independent Brethren Church, Mt Pleasant Mills, PA
8/2-Williamsport Trinity Episcopal Church, PA
8/4-Fly back to Philippines.

BREAKING NEWS!!! THE BOARD OF CHRISTIAN AID MISSION MET ON MAY 16 AND STRUCK DOWN THE 10% SURCHARGE POLICY!!! Praise God! When we receive the specifics on this new development, I’ll let you know.

6/11/2009

Davao City, Philippines

“Ayyyy wuhll hulllp yooouu…and whooo iss yourrrr god?” The drunkard’s breath reeked with alcohol as he swam over to my assistant pastor Callem and I, who were up to our waists in seawater. Standing between us, the drunkard tried to interrupt our baptismal service in the Pacific Ocean. God answered my silent prayer as Callem gently led the drunkard out of the way.

As the 12 candidates came one by one to be baptized, to symbolize how they had been buried with Jesus in baptism and raised to new life in Him, pieces of garbage and seaweed floated by…as if an object lesson of the sinful lives these converted sinners had left behind, when they placed their eternal trust in Jesus Christ.

When had these 12 become believers? Some, very recently. Others, years ago. One man, with his wife, had been a leader in a cult group before following Jesus. These 12, added to the other twelve baptized earlier in May, brought our church’s monthly baptized total to 24. A teenage boy and his sister told how he’d become a believer the week before when an international guest speaker had shared at church and gave the invitation for people to pray the Prayer of Salvation.

Half of the dozen were teenage girls who had prayed the prayer of faith with their teachers at BLC. Others were parents. Praise God that these dozen promise obedience to their Lord!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $3,000 for the salaries of our teachers and staff on 6/15.

Please pray:

For the next upcoming BLC events: June 14: Barners leave for 7-wk speaking tour in USA. July 3 General PTA Meeting. July 10 Homeroom PTA Meetings. July 15-17 (Wed-Fri) First Periodical Exams. July 31 (Friday) Nutrition Month Celebration/Presentations. August 18-20 (Tue-Thu) BLC First Periodical Exams. August 28 Parent-Teacher Conferences.
That the newly-deposited funds in our New York bank account clear before we leave the Philippines 6/14, for furlough. $3,000 of these funds need to be in the school account by 6/15 for the biweekly salaries of our 50 teachers and staff.
For BLC's total debt of $73,742 to be whittled down to zero by December, 2010 [$997 per week for 74 more weeks] (-$39 from last week).
For us to be able to make final preparations here at BLC to our temporary leadership teams to run the church and school while we are gone on our seven week American speaking tour. We leave Sunday, June 14. I am senior pastor of the church and president of the school. Elvie is principal and personnel director of the school, and director of public relations over our seven churches.

Praise God:

That I was re-elected this week for another year as a trustee of the Davao Christian Leaders Foundation, Inc.
That 500 BLC students started their classes on 6/8 for the new school year 2009-2010.
That Elvie was able to find 6 new teachers who are strong believers in Jesus Christ to hire for BLC, to replace the six who left for higher-paying government teaching positions last school year.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2225 received, $27,775 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 47 ½ . "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Furlough schedule: 6/14-Fly to USA, 6/21-Andover Alliance Church, NY, 6/25-Hillside Alliance Church, Ithaca, NY, 6/28-Jericho Congregational Church, VT, 7/5-Phillipsburg Alliance, NJ, 7/12-Barner Lutheran Church, Liverpool, PA, 7/19-Elizabethtown Alliance, PA, 7/26-St Thomas Independent Brethren Church, Mt Pleasant Mills, PA, 8/2-Williamsport Trinity Episcopal Church, PA, 8/4-Fly back to Philippines.

6/4/2009

Davao City, Philippines

“All of my patients are cooperating well. Hmmm… am I a better doctor?” On Sunday after church the Davao City Kiwanis Club had gathered seven doctors and four dentists to pull nearly 200 rotten teeth from poor BLC kids and their parents, and also to circumcise 38 BLC boys, aged 7-13. In the Philippines, most boys are not circumcised as infants.

The original date for the medical/dental clinic was Mother’s Day (5/10), which was right in the middle of Summer school at BLC. If it had pushed through on that date, the newly-circumcised boys would have missed 2 weeks of school as they recuperated from their surgeries. But the medical clinic was postponed a week, since there was a dental convention on Mother’s Day. Then the next week (5/17) the clinic had to be postponed again, due to a doctors’ convention, attended by the surgeons. The last day of Summer School was Wednesday (5/20), And the clinic took place 4 days later on 5/24.

Since school resumes 6/8, the boys will be healed in time to attend classes. All of those cancellations, and rearrangements that we had to make in informing the hundreds of parents and patients, were in God’s perfect plan, so our students would not miss even one day of school! Oh, and that doctor who’d gloated that, while many of the other doctors’ patients were crying, his first three patients were nice and quiet? He had to swallow his words when his fourth patient screamed his loudest for the next 15 minutes during his operation! Oooops, guess that doctor had spoken too soon!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $62 for a megaphone with rechargeable batteries for PJ and Abigail to use while teaching children’s Sunday School and Junior Church.

Please pray:

1) for the next upcoming BLC events: June 8: Beginning of 2009-10 School Year. June 14: Barners leave for 7-wk speaking tour in USA.

2) for Elvie’s discernment as she visits the tiny homes of dozens of applicants to see if they are poor enough to be sponsored at BLC.

3) for BLC's total debt of $73,781 to be whittled down to zero by November, 2010 [$997 per week for 74 more weeks] (-$202 from last week).

4) for many to become born again this week as they receive Gospel tracts that our BLC teachers/staff will be distributing to 10,000 homes in Davao this week.

5) for wisdom whether to extend the BLC school day to two sessions daily so that BLC can better teach in a more conducive, less crowded environment, and also so that we can better use our vehicles to transport our 500 BLC students to and from the BLC school campus.

6) that I will soon learn how to load video onto the laptop (instead of only still pictures) for our presentations during furlough.

7) for PJ and Abby as they sing a duet this week at the Kiwanis Club’s 42nd anniversary dinner. The BLC children’s choir will also sing.

Praise God:

1) that the BLC/Kiwanis medical/dental clinic was successful.

2) that two Davao City Philippine Kiwanians (Kiwanis Club members) have begun “twinning” sponsorships of BLC students. These 2 Filipino Kiwanians will pay one month’s sponsorship, while 2 American Kiwanians will pay for the remaining eleven months.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2220 received, $27,780 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 47 ½

Furlough schedule:6/14-Fly to USA, 6/21-Andover Alliance Church, NY, 6/28-Jericho Congregational Church, VT, 7/5-Phillipsburg Alliance, NJ, 7/12-Barner Lutheran Church, Liverpool, PA, 7/19-Elizabethtown Alliance, PA, 7/26-St Thomas Independent Brethren Church, Mt Pleasant Mills, PA, 8/2-Williamsport Trinity Episcopal Church, PA, 8/4-Fly back to Philippines.

BREAKING NEWS!!! THE BOARD OF CHRISTIAN AID MISSION MET ON MAY 16 AND STRUCK DOWN THE 10% SURCHARGE POLICY!!! Praise God! When we receive the specifics on this new development, I’ll let you know.

5/28/2009

Davao City, Philippines
Diary May 28, 2009 HAPPY PENTECOST! (5/28) HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! (5/25)

“I did it myyyy wayyy!” As the drunk kereoke singer strained at the notes that always seemed to tease just short of his reach, another much more strong and vibrant sound competed for the attention of the 400 or so enjoying a Sunday morning at the beach…“To God Be the Glory, Great Things He hath Done!”

It was the second anniversary of Asuncion Church, one of our seven church plants, and they chose to celebrate with worship at the beach. With the ocean behind us, we’d set up benches, balloons, pulpit, ribbons, flowers and a sound system under one end of the long, open-air bamboo/coconut-leaf roof.

As Abigail’s bare feet made hills in the sand before the front row where she sat, 3 dogs strutted in front of us and sat down to scratch fleas. After Praise and Worship time, as well as prayer and introductions, and before gawking onlookers in swimsuits and t-shirts, a burly father came to the microphone.

Well-built, his touching testimony met the ears of all those present on the beach. He did not yell, and he did not cry. But his voice faltered as he shared his praise to God for the miraculous healing of his daughter, Ricci Marie. Next, a dozen church kids performed praise choreography, as Elvie whispered in my ear, “It’s good we are here at the beach. Many people who never go to church are hearing the Gospel for the first time in their lives!”

Normally we challenge our people to bring the Gospel message to the world, but today, as the rain poured down and a little naked baby scampered past our edge of the covered gathering area, instead of bringing the Gospel message to the world, and instead of bringing the world to church to hear the Gospel, today we were sharing our intimate worship experience, every tear, every prayer, and many aspects of church worship (including baby dedication and believers’ baptism) with the unbelieving multitudes on the beach. Now these who have never darkened the door of a church have experienced some of the overflow of joy we believers have as brothers and sisters in Jesus!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $551 for our electric bill from April.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: June 8: Beginning of 2009-10 School Year. June 14: Barners leave for 7-wk speaking tour in USA.

Please also pray for our BLC teachers and staff. Since Summer School ended this week and the new school year begins June 8, the staff will be distributing Gospel tracts to about 10,000 homes within a ten mile radius of BLC.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $73,983 to be whittled down to zero by November, 2010 [$999 per week for 74 more weeks] (-$56 from last week).

Praise God that the teachers’ mountain retreat this week was a spiritually uplifting time of fellowship, rest and fun.

Praise God also that an American friend mailed to our BLC library this week the one book we were still lacking in the “Little House on the Prairie” series, “By the Shores of Silver Lake”, and also a LHOTP video from the TV series! I had been searching used bookstores for this book since December!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2215 received, $27,785 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 48. "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Furlough schedule: 6/14-Fly to USA, 6/21-Andover Alliance Church, NY, 6/28-Jericho Congregational Church, VT, 7/5-Phillipsburg Alliance, NJ, 7/12-Barner Lutheran Church, Liverpool, PA, 7/19-Elizabethtown Alliance, PA, 7/26-St Thomas Independent Brethren Church, Mt Pleasant Mills, PA, 8/2-Williamsport Trinity Episcopal Church, PA, 8/4-Fly back to Philippines.

5/21/2009

Davao City, Philippines

“I gave the shirt off my back!” Our teacher friend in Utah was busy packing up a large box to ship to Barner Learning Center, with things she found that the school needs. She sent me an email to let me know the box was on its way:
“Start drooling because you will have all of the items listed in the last paragraph! I couldn't find any large boxes of Cap’n Crunch but you will be receiving some small ones. I shop at Costco (a warehouse store) so was able to get the rest in bulk.

“I went through some more of my stuffed bears and included those plus a few books, also sticking in some paper towels & toilet paper as I needed to fill up some more space. Still wasn't enough to pack it tight enough so I ran to the store & bought some containers. I thought you could use those to store some of the little school type supplies in.

“I STILL had a little room & found a shirt in my truck, used the large garbage bag I'd carted the bears in and took off my shirt I was wearing as a little jacket and stuck it in. So I can now actually say I gave someone the "shirt off my back"!

“The sleeves had shrunk some & it was time to find it a new home anyway. As to my box I knew the canned goods were going to be heavy so I just took the stuff up & packed it at the shipping place. Anyway, enjoy, once you receive the goodies! Well, I need to get on to some other things. Have a wonderful & Blessed week.

And now…the rest of the story. A California friend was here this week to re-weld BLC’s damaged fire escape. On Tuesday we raced around to the city’s hardware stores to buy all the supplies, and were planning on starting the work bright and early Wednesday morning. “Oh, by the way,” said my friend, “Do you happen to have a pair of jeans and a denim shirt my size? Welding sparks burn almost any material except jeans.”
Sure, I told him, since I have so many old clothes in our closet. But after an hour of searching, I couldn’t find his size. Then Elvie had an idea. What about that box from Utah? Sure enough, both jeans and a denim shirt- just his size- were waiting for us in the box! Oooohhh, but isn’t God good!?!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $479 for an air conditioner for BLC’s multipurpose music/science/shop/home economics building. Praise God that a friend bought BLC the welding machine we needed to repair the fire escape. He also did the repairs himself! Looks great!

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: May 22: End of Summer Classes. May 24: (after church) Free Medical/Dental clinic at BLC. June 8: Beginning of 2009-10 School Year

Please also pray for Dean, a friend in Oregon whose ministry is trying to raise $86,956.53 for our Father’s House Facility to buy a large nearby mountain property to open a juvenile detention center.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $74,039 to be whittled down to zero by November, 2010 [$987 per week for 75 more weeks] (-$330 from last week).

Praise God that I was able to re-format our new computer to stop triple-spacing between paragraphs in my final Master’s thesis. I’m still trying to submit my final revisions before we leave for furlough.

Praise God also that I have accomplished one of my lifetime goals this week; to read the Bible from cover-to-cover one time for each year of my life. I am 47 and finished my 47th reading this week. My next Bible goals are 2x each year by age 75, 3x by 100 and 4x by age 120.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2210 received, $27,790 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 48. "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

5/14/2009

Davao City, Philippines
Diary May 14, 2009 ARMED FORCES DAY (5/16)

“A pastor is like a mother.” Richard, the fifth-grade teacher at BLC, was the speaker at our combined worship service on Mother’s Day. After an hour commemorating moms (including the men in church serenading our wives), the congregation also surprised us with a Pastors’ Appreciation Day. “The P in the word PASTOR stands for our Protector,” remarked Richard in his message, to the 933 assembled from our 7 church plants. I protect these dear souls with prayer, as each morning, when I swim my daily mile, I pass the hour in my mind by praying for those in my parish.

“The A in PASTOR stands for assurance.” We, the four pastors and our wives, are there like a shepherd when our people are in grief, or when they get married, baptized, or dedicate their children to God.

“The S stands for Sustained prayer life.” Richard reminded all of us present that every weekday our staff conducts one-on-one discipleship meetings. We also challenge them to preach on Wednesday nights to the 200 gathered for prayer meeting.

“The T stands for Teaching to Transform.” Richard pointed to the thriving baby potted coconut tree on stage, which was planted by elected leaders of the congregation last year. It represents how our prayers have brought spiritual growth in their lives. He brought out a baby bamboo tree and said, “We are still growing. SK no longer just means Sponsored Kid, but also Sanctified Kristiano (Christian)”.

“The O stands for Overtime.” He reminded me of my personal devotions which wake me up at 3am for spiritual direction from God before my daily morning run.

“R is for Relationship.” Not only our relationships with each other and with God, but also new relationships of these poor children’s correspondence with their sponsors worldwide, in Africa, Scotland, America, and other places, where these kids will likely never physically travel to. After he closed his message, I was asked to respond. “It is a privilege to be the shepherd of this flock,” I began, “and yet I too am only a sheep: an under-shepherd. Together we bow down at the foot of the throne of God to gain direction from our Master, even as a child does at the feet of his mother, for guidance and provision in this exciting life of faith!”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $658 for a digital video camera for the ministry. Our 10-yr old non-digital one (which we bought second-hand) broke while we were taping PJ’s Tom Sawyer play last week at school. (He played Sid, Tom’s brother).

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: May 17: (after church) Free Medical/Dental clinic at BLC. May 22: End of Summer Classes, June 8: Beginning of 2009-10 School Year

Please also pray for me to be able to re-format our new computer to stop triple-spacing between paragraphs in my final Master’s thesis. I’m trying to submit my final revisions before we leave for furlough.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $74,369 to be whittled down to zero by November, 2010 [$992 per week for 75 more weeks] (-$25 from last week).

Praise God that a friend from California has brought his family to Davao on a short-term missions trip. He plans to replace the missing bars in BLC’s fire escape, and also to fix the pump in BLCs indoor fish pond.

Praise God also that my dad is healing up form the flu. Once he regains his strength, he plans to repair the motor home donated to our ministry, for us to use during furlough.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2205 received, $27,795 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 48. "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

5/7/2009

Davao City, Philippines
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY (5/10)!

“Elvie, you remind me of my miracle!” Jonah was a female seminary classmate of Elvie’s in the 1990’s. When they met again last week, Jonah reminded Elvie of God’s hand of provision.

Many of the students had gone down to the Oceanside for their personal morning sunrise prayer times. Jonah was only a nominal Christian at that time. While praying, she longed to go closer to the sound of the crashing waves on the shore. There were more students than usual this day, since their stomachs were rumbling from hunger. Friends who had promised support were late in sending funds. The students were lacking funds for monthly tuition and daily food.

“Oh God,” she prayed, “Please show your power by providing food for us, your servants! And if you have a little extra, could you please help with our school bills too? ” As Jonah prayed in the half-light, the driftwood she was leaning on started wiggling! She jumped up and looked closer. The log she had been leaning against wasn’t a log at all. It was a fish! A huge, giant fish! She screamed for the others to come and see. One of the eyes had been battered, likely by being banged by one of the many floating logs in the sea.
The janitors hauled the giant fish into the back of an open-ended school vehicle. But since the monster fish was over 8 feet long, its tail, still wiggling, hung out the back of the vehicle- a car with a tail! The students had free meals of fish for the next two weeks, and the remainder of the meat was sold in the market to help pay some of the students’ delinquent school bills. Elvie said she remembered the fish meat. It wasn’t white, but red, and tasted like beef!

“This lesson has many meanings” pointed one of Jonah’s teachers. “The whale was swallowed by Jonah because it made a wrong turn, a mistake. Will God be teaching you a lesson next time when He sends a whale to swallow you?” Renewing her own commitment to Jesus, Jonah went back to her dorm room after class and knelt down by her bed to make a deeper spiritual commitment to her Jehovah-Jireh, the One who provides.

By the way, Jonah stayed in that troubled town of terrorists (Zamboanga) for the next 15 years, marrying a pastor and together they run a growing church there.

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $445 for a welding machine. This is a repeat request from last week, as the fire department inspected our BLC fire escapes and said that we must replace many of the steel bars that have broken out. These can only be replaced by welding new ones in their place.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: May 10: (after church) Free Medical/Dental clinic at BLC. May 22: End of Summer Classes, June 8: Beginning of 2009-10 School Year

Please also pray for this Sunday’s (5/10) medical/dental clinic at BLC. Over a dozen docs and dentists will be coming after church and pulling 200 teeth, as well as performing 35 circumcisions. While the docs are donating their time, the Kiwanis Club and Foundation are providing the materials for the clinic.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $74,394 to be whittled down to zero by November, 2010 [$992 per week for 75 more weeks] (-$31 from last week).

Praise God that the Chinkee Tan financial debt reduction seminar this week, which was co-sponsored by the DCL (of which I am a trustee), almost reached its goal of 1000 attendees.

Praise God also for Elvie’s being nominated by the local homeowners association as one of the board members, while they had their meeting in the gym at BLC. Also praise God that I (Paul) have been nominated to be the president-elect of Davao’s Kiwanis Mother Club for the year 2011. Please pray that, if these nominations come through, that God will use them as opportunities to reach unbelievers with the Gospel.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2200 received, $27,800 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 48. "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

4/30/2009

Davao City, Philippines
Diary April 30, 2009 HAPPY NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER (5/7)! HAPPY PHILIPPINE LABOR DAY (5/1)!

“Daddy, what are the different layers of atmosphere around the Earth called?” PJ called Elvie and I this week while we were hundreds of miles away at a week-long pastors’ conference. He was working on a 3-d model using his Lite-Brite and colored cellophane. Since I didn’t know the answer, I promised to call back. After checking Wikipedia for an hour on the hotel’s computers, I called PJ. “There is the Troposphere (10 miles thick), Stratosphere (30), Mesosphere (30), Thermosphere (350), and Exosphere (120,000: ½ way to the moon), then outer space.”

The next day, as the conference began with prayer and worship songs, we lifted up our voices with “Shine, Jesus, Shine”. I gradually felt almost as if the music and meaningful lyrics were lifted me out of this busy life and the gravity of Earth, bringing me up through the Troposphere! Of course my eyes were open, and I knew I was in that conference hall. But my spirit was lifted in such a glorious way that the next two awesome and majestic hymns of “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “How Great Thou Art” focused me outward and upward toward God, and away through the Strastosphere farther and farther away from what this world calls reality.

The next day of the conference I entered with grand expectations of what heights God would lift me to. After all, I was already (figuratively) 40 miles high! As the music began, tingles spread through my skin as I stopped singing and just listened to the hundreds and hundreds of pastors present. The sound enveloped me and, since I was right near the front of the spacious conference hall, I turned around to see the faces of over a thousand pastors, beaming with the joy of the Lord. The collective congregations of these pastors represented over a quarter-million Filipinos! Imagining what Heaven must be like, with not hundreds or millions, but billions singing praises to our Lord, I felt lifted right up through the Mesosphere!

I’d only brought limited funds to the conference, so offering time was always a challenge for me. Yet on Saturday, when I dug down deep into my pocket for my last few pesos, I felt that I’d crossed the “Karmen Line” boundary between the inner three layers of atmosphere, and approached the outer two layers. Why? Because the deeper I dug, the more I sacrificed, the more I was depending on God for His provision. Later in the day God (of course) provided overabundantly. A friend paid the expenses for Elvie and I, during the break, to have a tour of the city, and my spirit soared through the Thermosphere when another dear friend, without my prodding nor informing, handed me a thousand pesos ($20)!

To my disappointment however, the next day my hopes were dashed. It was the last day of the conference, Sunday. This day I expected to finally break out beyond the exosphere and into outer space! The twice-daily messages on the theme of “Living in God’s Holiness,” given by world-renowned Bible Scholars, had renewed vaults of dormant joy that I had not tapped into for quite awhile. But something I’d eaten the day before, while on the city tour, had disagreed with my stomach, and I woke up very sick. It was a painful Sunday. Although I attended the morning worship, I was bent over in pain for most of the service.

I had to stay in my room, sleeping the rest of the day. I missed the missionary parade and closing ceremonies. On Monday morning we packed up to leave. Still a little queasy, I joined other delegates in the shuttle to the airport. On the flight home, there were many pastors on the plane. Yet I didn’t recognize the man sitting next to me. Throughout the remaining hour of our flight, until touchdown, as I shared a piece of my faith with this stranger, most of the foggy residue of my illness brushed away as my spirit once more soared, breaking through the Thermospause barrier, into the Exosphere and into outer space! Look out moon, here I come!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $445 for a welding machine to repair seats, etc. on BLC's 7 buses, plus other building repairs.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: May 22: End of Summer Classes, June 8: Beginning of 2009-10 School Year

Please also pray for the 1050 pastors who attended last week’s conference last week, that we “leap out of our holy huddles that are so stifling to our spiritual warfare and that we, collectively and individually, dive into the white heat of evangelism”.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $74,425 to be whittled down to zero by October, 2010 [$993 per week for 75 more weeks] (-$836 from last week).

Praise God that PJ, who was also very sick while Elvie and I were away, has recuperated.

Praise God also for the pastors who shared their ministries with me during the recent conference. One Manila pastor uses Taikwondo as his means of evangelism! He has planted a church by offering free lessons! Another pastor jogs 6 miles each morning and on his way stops to share the gospel at sari-sari stores (little one-room shacks like lemonade stands where people sell small odds and ends like soap and toothpaste). After four years of this, he has built a neighborhood church from two to one hundred! Another pastor plans to become a “village doctor” with his first aid skills, in a remote mountain village far from any hospitals.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2195 received, $27,805 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 48.

4/23/2009

Davao City, Philippines
Diary April 23, 2009 HAPPY EARTH DAY! (4/22)

“It’s their golden anniversary! Please come!” While sitting near the back row at my friend’s church, I watched as he renewed his vows made to his wife in 1959 (two years before I was born). I unexpectedly felt a bug or something crawling up the back of my church shirt, and reached back to slap it, grabbing to my surprise, a little hand. Spinning around in my pew, I saw what was attached to the hand: a little golden-brown tanned arm plus the shirtless body of a 5-year old beggar boy, in ragged, dirty shorts two sizes too big, and curled up at the waist to keep them from falling down without a belt.

Typically beggars are not allowed to “ply their trade” in church. It takes parishioners’ focus off the message. As our eyes met, the little guy suddenly averted his eyes to the floor. Holding out his palm he pled, “Peso?” Hmmmm. I was in a quandary. If I gave him a peso (2 cents), it would be like telling him that it is ok to break the rules and beg in church. Then his friends might come in and beg too, and… hmmmm. Besides, what’s two cents? What harm could it do? I reached into my pocket, but realized I had not brought any pesos with me. During the course of the hour-long service, this little guy was relentless. He poked, stabbed, and rubbed against my arm, back and shoulders a total of sixty-three times, with his little fingers. I kid you not. This urchin was really a professional. About every fifth time he’d poke (after 30 minutes I felt like tenderized beef), my head would swivel around slowly and I shake my head with an “I’m sorry” look. Each time we’d hold eye contact a little longer. After about poking number forty-one, I could catch a glimmer of a grin on the little guy’s face. It had become our game.

Actually, the message was kind of dry, so this was, in a way, my comic relief. On poking number fifty-two, I think my friend noticed my shoulders quivering from my inward chuckling, as he rushed outside to laugh (it is an open-air church, with grills for walls, which are open at worship times). Out the corner of my eye, I could see him watching me closely when the offering bag came around, so he could have my “leftovers”. Since I had forgotten my money, I let the bag pass by. I felt like holding out the bag to him so he could reach inside and take what he needed, but of course I couldn’t do that. This wasn’t my church. By now I think the little guy felt sorry for me. When the service finally ended, I rushed over to my new friend and gave him a little hug, tousling his hair. He hugged me back, looking up into my eyes in a sign of friendship and understanding that I had nothing to give except a kind smile. Then he crawled between the shelves of a table at the back of the church, and under the pews. I guess he hid there sometimes to sleep. Sometimes friendship gives more than money can. Sometimes with money, less is more. I guess it was God who allowed me to forget to bring my money to church that particular sunny afternoon.

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $544 for our electric bill from March.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: May 22: End of Summer Classes, June 8: Beginning of 2009-10 School Year

Please also pray for Elvie and I as we fly to Cebu this week for a Christian conference. We will be assisting the Christian group in voting on some important issues regarding revised tactics for the spread of Christianity in the Philippines.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $75,261 to be whittled down to zero by October, 2010 [$990 per week for 76 more weeks] (-$43 from last week).

Praise God that about a dozen doctors and dentists will be donating their time for a medical/dental clinic at BLC on May 10 after church. They will be performing 50 circumcisions (usually done after age 7 in this country) and pulling 200 teeth. The Kiwanis Club will be funding the medical supplies needed for the outreach.

Praise God also for a friend in the Southern USA who will be donating some rare stamps to BLC to help us whittle-off some of our school’s $75K debt. If you know of a stamp collector, please let us know, and I can itemize the stamps for you.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2190 received, $27,810 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 47.

4/16/2009

Davao City, Philippines
Diary April 16, 2009 HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY (EASTER)! (4/12) HAPPY TAX DAY USA AND PHILIPPINES! (4/15)

“He is risen!” Sunday morning, when I declared this to our congregation during our 4am Easter Sunrise Service, hundreds of voices replied, “He is risen, indeed!” As I challenged the adults, PJ and Abby showed a (Veggie-Tales) Easter movie to the kids. Many of these kids stayed after church for a “candy hunt” to signify how Mary had been looking for Jesus at the tomb.

Then some of the pastoral staff went with me to the hospital to visit 3 patients. A cat skittered between my legs as I passed a long line of people in ragged clothes in the hospital hallway. They had unclean plates in their hands and each received a scoop of rice and some nutritious orange “glop” from a food cart.

Our next stop was a huge room which served as an open ward, with 300 beds, placed side-by-side. The loud noise of a basketball game was coming from a small television set in the center of the room, with the faces of patients and visitors transfixed upon it. After praying for a mom whose newborn had just died, and another new mom whose natal bleeding would not stop, we visited the children’s (pediatrics) ward.

This special visit was to the 7-year old older sister (Glench) of one of our BLC kids. This 7-yr old has the body of a two yr-old, due to severe cerebral palsy. In this ward, nearly a dozen child patients’ beds were side-by-side. Most of these kids had fallen down stairs and were in “traction”, with ropes and weights attached to their legs or arms.

“Does anyone care about these children?” I wondered. Oh sure, there was the token parent of a patient over there, and also an uncle over here, and a friend…but what a lonely life for a child, who is used to running and playing outside. And there at the bedside of Glench, a little girl who has never walked in her life, was her mom, in tears.
We prayed for Glench’s upcoming operation. The doctors had predicted that this little charmer would not live past 7. Sure enough, that little body has already started deteriorating. As we reached out to pray for her, I noticed a shuffle of feet out the corner of my eye. There, in a doctor’s mask, was our 2009 BLC sixth grade valedictorian, Lucas Angelo.

Imagine, of all the places this very intelligent graduate could have chosen to be on this festive Easter Sunday afternoon, he chose to come to the hospital and help us to pray for this helpless little girl! As I joked with our “Dr. Luke,” I thought, “How appropriate, on this Resurrection Sunday, when we are celebrating how Jesus died on the cross and rose again to pay for our sins, that this poor boy, from a poor family, has also risen to the great height of caring for the needs of one who is unable to care for herself.

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $479 for an air conditioner for BLC’s multipurpose music/science/shop/home economics building.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: April 13: Beginning of Required Summer Classes, May 22: End of Summer Classes, June 8: Beginning of 2009-10 School Year.

Please also pray for BLC’s application to be approved for the opening of a high school this June.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $75,304 to be whittled down to zero by October, 2010 [$991 per week for 76 more weeks] (-$721 from last week).

Praise God that a family in New Jersey hand-made 50 school bags and filled them with school supplies, which arrived in a big box this week!

Praise God also that three of the seven churches that we will be speaking at this furlough have already confirmed for our visit!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2185 received, $27,815 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 47.

4/9/2009

Davao City, Philippines
HAPPY PALM SUNDAY! (4/5) HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY! (4/10) HAPPY PASSOVER! (4/8-14)

“Lord, Make A Difference In Me!” At our 11th BLC Graduation exercises this week, as the students sang, wind drifted bubbles across the outdoor basketball court, where the ceremony took place. A cute little preschooler in pigtails sat on the sidelines, blowing bubbles, with cheeks puffed out and a cup of soapy water in her hand. As the translucent bubbles floated higher and higher, they reflected the beaming faces of our 107 graduates below, proudly donned in white gowns and “mortarboard” caps, with tassels dangling over the edges.

One by one the graduates strutted across the stage to receive their diplomas before the 650 present for the ceremony, One boy tripped on the stairs and his graduation cap fell off his head twice as he made his way to the microphone. Grasping the mike stand, he breathlessly declared, “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor!” Hmmm, I mischievously mused, “Hope he doesn’t drop someone’s appendix! Ten percent of the graduates stated they wanted to become doctors or nurses (but only one tripped).

Next to the mike was a little girl whom, years ago, Elvie had found along the side of the road, drenched in tears, and offered her free schooling at BLC. As I handed this little angel her hard-earned diploma, I looked into her understanding eyes. It was as if I could see, way down deep into the future, through the window of those eyes, the teacher that she so desired to one day become, and the thousands of students intently taking notes during her carefully and lovingly-prepared lessons.

30% of the graduates wanted to become teachers. A strapping young man was next, decked with half a dozen medals and ribbons to declare his accomplishments at BLC. I could imagine the military medals he would one day be decorated with, as he was one of the 50% of these war-torn Mindanao graduates who desired to one day protect our safety by becoming policemen or soldiers. As with the glistening bubbles that were lifted higher and higher on the breeze, God has lifted these formerly helpless, hopeless, poverty-stricken street kids to great heights of promise in making BLC and their sponsors the “wind beneath their wings”.

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $649 to replace my 8-yr old office computer which was destroyed this week by the April Fool’s Day Internet virus.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: April 13: Beginning of Mandatory Summer Classes.

Please also pray about Elvie’s re-entry permit for the USA. Last year, Immigration accepted the renewal forms for Elvie’s re-entry permit. This permit allows Elvie to stay out of the USA for two years, which saves us thousands of dollars from having to visit the USA annually. However, since Immigration scheduled her fingerprinting to be done on a date after we’d already left for the Philippines (last year), we had to forfeit the $380 application fee that we had paid. Please pray that this summer while we are in the USA, that she can re-apply so that we can skip a 2010 trip to the USA.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $76,025 to be whittled down to zero by November, 2010 [$987 per week for 77 more weeks] (-$47 from last week).

Praise God that I had backed-up the 65 computer files containing my uncompleted Master’s thesis the night before my computer (and all its files) was destroyed by the April One Virus.

Praise God also for a Utah pastor’s wife and her girlfriends who saved up to send us enough money to buy a new washing machine to replace the one that was destroyed in the June, 2008 hurricane-induced flood. Now we have an oven, a refrigerator and a washing machine! All that is lacking is a dryer!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2180 received, $27,820 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

Additional Praises: While 67 BLC students successfully graduated from preschool this week, 40 also received their diplomas from 6th grade. Many of these 6th graders will never be able to attend school again in their entire lives.

Praise: Great friends from an American school sent five large boxes to BLC this week, filled with clothes, school supplies, books and treats! Thank you God!

Praise: Many sponsors of BLC kids have emailed me that they are willing to send their $25/month sponsorships either directly to my Dad for deposit, or into our BLC bank account to avoid the 10% processing fee of Christian aid Mission, and also to alleviate the burden upon the shoulders of Christian Aid.

Praise: One of the three Mindanao hostages has been freed!

Praise: That our seventh church plant (Golden Hills) had its very first worship service on Palm Sunday, with 40 attending!

Praise: That since we decided half a year ago to not watch any television on Sundays, the friends of PJ and Abby love to come play games with them without television noise and distraction every Sunday!

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 47.

4/2/2009

Davao City, Philippines
HAPPY PALM SUNDAY! (4/5) HAPPY BLC GRADUATION! (4/3)

“Pastor Paul, I'm giving you my motor home!” A friend made a fleece before God that if he didn't sell his motor home by April 1, he'd give it to our BLC ministry! This will be a great help for our furlough travels in the USA this Summer. In God's providence, twin college students emailed me. “We want to be missionaries! We'll fly to the Philippines this Summer to join the exciting work of BLC!” Since we won't be in the Philippines this Summer, but will be in the USA on furlough, I started thinking about that motor home. Hmmmm, we now have room for two more passengers. I assured the twins, “Would you be willing to travel with us on furlough too? You'll be like a part of our family, and can fly back to Davao with us in August.” They said yes! The puzzles pieces of God's plan are fitting perfectly together. The twins can improve our photography, evangelism and Internet communications here at BLC, and also join us on furlough to challenge churches through missions and through puppets this Summer. As “icing on the cake”, God touched the heart of a friend in South Carolina who'd been cleaning out the storage room at her church. “Paul, I'll mail you an excellent puppet collection, if you can use them this Summer!” You know, sometimes God's pieces fall into place so perfectly that I wonder if He really even needs me!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $1972 for BLC bus fuel consumption bill (7 vehicles) for January through March.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: April 13: Beginning of Required Summer Classes.

Please also pray for the Mindanao hostage crisis. Abu Sayyaf (Al Queda) terrorists are threatening to behead the three Red Cross Volunteers who came into their province of Jolo to check up on improving their water system. The volunteers are Italian, Swiss and Filipino.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $76,072 to be whittled down to zero by October, 2010 [$987 per week for 77 more weeks] (-$1,055 from last week).

Praise God that a friend in New Jersey received a bonus from work and is giving a portion of it to help lessen our $76,000 BLC debt!

Praise God also that two of our seven furlough churches we've planned to speak in this Summer have confirmed dates for our visit!

NOTICE: As of May 1, 2009, Christian Aid Mission will begin charging BLC a service fee of 10% for all donations passed through their agency for Barner Learning Center's ministries. For those who prefer 100% of their gifts (instead of 90%) to go to BLC, any donations below $5,000 may be sent to our own tax-exempt 501.c (3) charity, “Paul M Barner Ministries, Inc.” at 18 Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144. Whether you decide to continue using Christian Aid Mission, or to send directly to Paul M Barner Ministries, the price of child sponsorships will not be increased, but will remain at $25 per month.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2175 received, $27,825 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 48. "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

3/26/2009

Davao City, Philippines
HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY, DAD! (3/20)

“YAY GOD!” That was my response when I read these two awesome emails from two dear friends whose churches already sponsor BLC students:

FROM INDIANA: “Dear Paul, I am excited to tell you that our church is committed to the sponsorship of two more students at The Barner Learning Center. We will be depositing an amount sufficient to cover the sponsorship of four students for the year 2009-2010. We will also send along a one time gift of $305.00 to be used by the Barner Learning Center as needed. We raised the money by having a "Chili Supper" and we held a silent auction for "Homemade Pies" that the ladies of the church made for the occasion. We are grateful that you have given us this opportunity to help. MABUHAY! [a Filipino greeting of victory and good will] Paul, Elvie, P.J, and Abigail. Plus a blessed day to all of the students and staff of the Barner Learning Center. We can't wait to learn the names of our two new students. De Colores! God bless the whole world...no exceptions!”

FROM NEW YORK: “Dear Paul and Elvie, I got the final OK on funds for your oven at the church board meeting last night!!! The church will be sending a check to your father, Harry Barner, at his Rensselaer address. Unless I hear differently from you...the check will be mailed on Thursday, March 19, 2009. GOD IS GOOD...ALL THE TIME!!!
-Church Treasurer”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $587 for a CANON digital mini-video-cam which records directly onto a DVD, to record BLC’s graduation (4/2&3) to show during furlough in July.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: April 2: BLC Recognition Day (moving-up day); April 3: BLC Graduation Ceremony and Baccalaureate Service; April 13: Beginning of Required Summer Classes.

Please also pray for the details of our seven-week 2009 Summer furlough to fall neatly into place. We'll be visiting churches, friends and civic clubs in Eastern Pennsylvania, as well as a few other nearby states.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $77,127 to be whittled down to zero by October 2010 [$989 per week for 78 more weeks] (-$46 from last week).

Praise God that selected BLC students' joint outing (through Kiwanis
Club) with a local orphanage and with 46 Muslim students and a dozen military guards, went terrific this week! In a few weeks, please see the April issue of PEPPER (in the mail or on-line) for more details and pictures of this exciting “Mindanao Children's Peace Initiative”!

Praise God also for the Davao missionary who gave 31 watermelons to BLC for our Jericho food program to feed our 500 BLC kids! The melons were in honor of the missionary's dad, who raises watermelons (and loves to eat them too) in the USA.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2170 received, $27,830 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 48. "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

3/19/2009

Davao City, Philippines
HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY (3/17) HAPPY ARAW NG DABAW (DAVAO CITY ANNIVERSARY HOLIDAY-3/15)!

“A man...” While preaching at one of our daughter churches, I started the message with a story. Yet the entire congregation misunderstood my first two words and interrupted me with a resounding “AMEN!”. Clarifying my approach, I started again. “Yes, AMEN! But actually I am telling a story about A-MAN...” everyone responded with giggles at our mistake, as I continued my message. The next morning, during a local triathlon, as I finished my one kilometer swim in the ocean and started running to my bike for the next 30 km, the announcer at the microphone announced me by more than just my number, and more than just my name. Somehow she knew that I am a pastor, so she announced, “And now, #176, Reverend Paul Barner from Davao City!” Likewise, in God's eyes we are more than just A-MAN, more than just A-NUMBER, more than just A-NAME, and more than just A-CONTESTANT. He knows and loves us dearly, knowing us BY-HEART, as His own.

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $949.79 to replace our oven. Nothing now works on it except one burner, if the wires are jiggled right. I keep getting electrical shocks from it when I touch it if I have bare feet.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: April 2: BLC Recognition Day (moving-up day); April 3: BLC Graduation Ceremony and Baccalaureate Service; April 13: Beginning of Required Summer Classes.

Please also pray for Elvie's American Biometrics appointment to be postponed until July, so that we'll be here for the first week of BLC's 2009-10 School Year. Please also pray for careful planning for the upcoming Christian budgeting seminar that BLC will be assisting in on May 1.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $77,173 to be whittled down to zero by October, 2010 [$989 per week for 78 more weeks] (-$36 from last week).

Praise God that most of BLC's files were backed up and could be reprogrammed after a virus hit our two main computers this week. Also praise God that I finished my triathlon (swimming, biking and running) this week in only 2 hrs and 38 minutes. I thought it'd be at least 4 hours. I also came in second for my age category.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2165 received, $27,835 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 49.

3/5/2009

Davao City, Philippines

“Teacher, I will take every class that you teach. I want to know everything that you know!” Thirteen years ago I began teaching at the local Bible college. One of my students, Nhoy, seemed just like a boy at the time, with his great big, infectious smile. After he and his classmates graduated, they each pastored in different churches. Nhoy ended up marrying another of my students, and they now have three little boys of their own. Four churches later, this week he was at a pastors' conference that I attended. At the end of the conference, Nhoy was instructed to come to the stage, before 350 fellow pastors. Great pride welled up within me as I considered a verse from the book of 3 John, which I am memorizing this month. Verse four states, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” These kids are no longer kids, but in a way, there are still my children. National and District church leaders laid hands on Nhoy and prayed for him, as he will be ordained into the ministry as a reverend next month at a special ceremony. In a way, he is my spiritual child. So are his classmates. So are our 500 BLC students. Nhoy smiled at me afterward, with his son's hand in his own and said, “Teacher, you taught me well!”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $717 to replace our much-needed washing machine that finally breathed its last this week.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: March 13: BLC Graduates' Annual Tree-Planting (approximately 100 trees), March 16-18: BLC Achievement Examinations.

Please also pray for my request to a local leader from the Christian Motorcycle Association, for a bike to get me around to do school errands, and thus free up one of the BLC multicabs as a spare when the others break down.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $77,359 to be whittled down to zero by October, 2010 [$991 per week for 78 more weeks] (-$5 from last week).

Praise God that we are adapting as a family to (and making time for) our new Taikwondo practice, the four of us, three times a week. It's fun doing this together!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2155 received, $27,845 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 51.

2/26/2009

Davao City, Philippines
HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY (USA), EDSA DAY (PHILS) 2/23

“There shall be showers of blessings...” PJ and I looked at each other in the front seat at church during Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting. We tried our very hardest to keep from bursting out laughing. As the hymn was being sung, a gust of wind caught up outside and suddenly, when we got to the word, “showers,” hundreds of small pieces of trash (wadded-up paper, candy bar wrappers, leaves and plastic cups) showered down like confetti from the ceiling. The song leader, being at the front of the stage and facing the congregation, was oblivious to the colorful display descending down in torrents behind her. On the second verse, since the wind outside got louder, the song leader also increased her volume. And the showers of trash, seemingly right on cue, also increased their intensity. By now piles of trash were lying all over the back of the stage. Since the cement roof of the stage is at the juncture of the tin roof of our gym auditorium, an opening exists along the edge of the roof. The opening, being perpendicular, does not allow the rain in, but has been left uncovered for ventilation, as it does allow the wind to pass through. Yet today, the wind carried with it the trash that was dumped on the roof when a trash basket had blown over from the third floor. At the end of the hymn, the wind died down, and the “showers” of trash also stopped falling. Later, toward the end of prayer meeting, PJ and I suddenly made eye contact again and grinned. The closing chorus was, “Our God reigns!” was it going to “rain” trash again?

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $120 for a stethoscope for the BLC medical clinic. Our other one broke.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: February 27: General BLC School-wide PTA Meeting.

Please also pray for healing for Bianca, a fourth-grade BLC student, who tripped and fell down the stairs while going to BLC's weekly Chapel service last Wednesday. Her upper teeth hit against the floor and pushed up into her gums. According to the dentist, it'll be at least a year before the teeth can make their way back to normal again. 20% of one front tooth is broken off, and w ehad her lip stitched up at the hospital.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $77,364 to be whittled down to zero by September, 2010 [$991 per week for 78 more weeks] (-$6,566 from last week...PTL!).

Praise God that our eight-year old Abigail has been filling-in to teach children's Sunday School and Children's Church for her brother PJ when he feels tired. Praise God also that I completed my first (indoor) triathlon (swimming, biking, running) this week! The longer, Olympic-style outdoor triathlon will be next month.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2150 received, $27,850 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 51.

"Let the Islands Rejoice!"

2/19/2009

Davao City, Philippines
Diary February 19, 2009 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY (2/14)

"God will make a way, when there seems to be no way!" The solo, sung this Friday before 500 fellow students and their teachers and their parents, originated from an unlikely source...a crippled little polio-affected preschool boy with leg braces and leather straps riveted to his sneakers to keep them from falling off. During BLC's Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day, the students each showed their appreciation through songs, dramas and poems. But I was totally caught off-guard when this little boy was carried by his mom up to the stage and set on a chair. Since he has no body coordination, the mom had to hold his head up so that it would not flop over, and also hold the microphone in front of his mouth. An intense hush settled over his 499 squirmy schoolmates, gathered in the gym. Faces of 45 teachers and staff looked up in awe, and their jaws hung open in wonder as out of this emaciated body came crisp and clear words like those of an angel, expressing the inner feelings of this crippled boy from a poor family.

Truly, for him, were it not for God providing BLC, this child would have no schooling, and only sit at home in a chair day after day, in loneliness and boredom. "God will make a way" for this boy to grow. "God will make a way" for him to learn. "God will make a way" for him to read his Bible. "God will make a way" for him to mature and make friends and become a leader in this world. Thunderous applause erupted from the gymnasium.

In the closing of our half-day of events, another student, not a preschooler like the crippled boy, but a 6th grader, who has been with BLC for 9 years now, and will graduate next month. She is autistic, yet has overcome many of her difficulties to stand before the audience, to read a poem she wrote especially for Elvie, her principal, whom she loves dearly. Thanks for your prayers and also for those who support kids at BLC, for through you, God has "made a way, when there seemed to be no way".

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $3,000 second internal BLC stairway, required by the fire department.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: February 18-20:
school-wide 4th Periodical Examinations. February 27: General BLC School-wide PTA Meeting.

Please also pray for the BLC kids this week, as they take their exams.
Especially crucial are the 3rd and 6th grades, as their test results will determine if the Philippine government considers us qualified to open a high school in the near future. Please also keep praying that American Immigration will delay Elvie's biometrics fingerprinting until July, so PJ and Abby don't miss school when we travel to the USA.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $83,930 to be whittled down to zero by October, 2010 [$999 per week for 84 more weeks] (-$196 from last week).

Praise God that PJ and Abby (with my help) showed their love to Elvie on Valentine's Day by making a ten-foot-high, 12 ft wide red heart out of construction paper which they'd gotten with their allowance, with special messages for Elvie on this special day.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2145 received, $27,855 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 51. "Let the Islands Rejoice!"

2/12/2009

Davao City, Philippines

“This is Radio D-X-Double-R (DXRR), signing on for the day.” Ed has been an announcer on the secular station, “Rapido Radyo” for over a decade. Since he is the grandpa of one of our BLC kids, for nearly a year now Ed has invited me and my assistant pastor to speak for free for a whole hour on the radio once a month at 4am. While on the air, we took every possible opportunity to share over Davao City's airwaves the Plan of Salvation through Jesus' blood. Since Ed was the opening announcer of the morning, he never was the one to sign off in the evening. Last month he had gall bladder surgery, and due to complications, he was on his deathbed last night. I came into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital, where his son was squeezing a plastic container of air every two seconds, to fill his comatose dad's lungs up with air and keep his heart beating. Pastor Callem and I prayed, read Scripture and sang “The Old Rugged Cross” before I took my hand at squeezing the life-giving air bubble. After 110 squeezes, my thumbs were so sore that I gave the bubble to one of the nephews. Half an hour after later, Ed's heart flat-lined, and there was no more need to pump air into Ed's lungs. He was gone. Those present offered warm, understanding smiles as I announced quietly, “And now for the last time, this is Ed for DXRR, signing off.”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $2100 for a motorcycle for my errands downtown, since the school vehicles need regular maintenance and I can no longer use the “spare” when I need transportation.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: February 18-20: school-wide 4th Periodical Examinations. February 27: General BLC School-wide PTA Meeting.

Please also pray for the Americans who either have come, or are about to come, to Davao and assist this ministry in 2009: Doug, Mark, Nate, Delloyd and John. Also pray for discernment in God's plans to revise the Father's House ministry from C ICL (Children In Conflict with the Law) to CAR (Children At Risk). Instead of starting a juvenile detention center, we plan to have FHF become an umbrella charity corporation to assist Americans who plan to start orphanages. There are four Davao orphanages in the planning stages, to open between 2009-2020.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $84,126 to be whittled down to zero by November, 2010 [$989 per week for 85 more weeks] (-$84 from last week).

Praise God that many sponsors gave Christmas financial gifts for BLC kids, to assist with the expenses of their annual party. Some friends also gave financial gifts for Elvie, me, PJ and Abby. we used these funds this week to buy a much-needed exercise bike for the house. Praise God also that Abby's foot is healing up from slicing it open with the pedal of the exercise bike. Also praise God that Ricci Marie, the 4th grade lupus patient we've been praying for, was released from the hospital, and was in church this morning!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2140 received, $27,860 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 53.

"Let the Islands Rejoice!"

Rev. Paul, Elvie, PJ and Abigail Barner
Philippine Missionary Church Planters
Barner Learning Center, Inc.
PO Box 82,224
8000 Davao City, Philippines
011-63 (082) 234-4000
(Cell) 0947-329-0441
(USA) (518) 449-2105
www.barner.org

2/5/2009

Davao City, Philippines

“Doctor Barner, can you help with this surgery?” I was assisting the Davao Kiwanis Club in welcoming the 20 visiting doctors and nurses from Michigan, USA. For two weeks they are in Davao at the hospital, doing free surgery for the most destitute (pre-screened and documented) Dabawenos. Since two of the 300 patients are from our church, Elvie and I “suited up” in surgery scrubs to pray for them. Yet since my skin shows me to be American and not Filipino, some of the hospital staff thought I was one of the Michigan surgeons! Not wanting to argue, I just followed along, but explained along the way that I am actually a local pastor. The patients became very calm and stress-free once we came in and prayed with them. One young mother with goiter even suggested that I do the operation, since she trusts me more! Since I am American, she figured that I obviously must know all there is to know about medicine! Little did she know that, were I to cut her open, I'd probably be on the floor in a swoon! During our closing evening appreciation ceremony for the visitors, the Filipinos performed their favorite pastime: karaoke. After they prodded me toward the microphone, I looked up “Amazing Grace” in the code manual. While singing the hymn, all those present raised their hands and waved them back and forth like at a rock concert!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $125 for a new digital camera. The screen on our other one stopped working, and we are presently scanning photos again, which provides a less-crisp result.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: February 18-20: school-wide 4th Periodical Examinations. February 27: General BLC School-wide PTA Meeting.

Please also pray for our church's 12th anniversary this Sunday (2/8), that many visitors will hear and receive the Gospel that day.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $84,210 to be whittled down to zero by November, 2010 [$990 per week for 85 more weeks] (-$61 from last week).

Praise God that a sponsor for one of the BLC kids has just decided to sponsor a second child! Praise God also that PJ and Abby received thunderous applause for their duet at Faith Academy, singing “The Shortest Song in the Universe”

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2135 received, $27,865 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 53.

1/29/2009

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! (1/26) HAPPY USA PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION! (1/20) HAPPY DR. ML. KING DAY! (1/21)

“Daddy, Sunday School is so boooo-ring!” Our little 8-year old Abigail was frustrated because her Sunday School teachers often either come in late, or sometimes even did not show up at all. Then our 11-year old son PJ suggested, “Daddy, for two months now we have been studying the Bible together every morning and night in Family Devotions. I can now teach, Dad!” So the next Sunday PJ herded the 40 students, 10 years old and below, into his classroom. He led them in singing and also read to them from Abby's Children's Bible.

This morning PJ shared with me,. “Dad, church is three hours long and I run out of things to teach!” So we sat down together and mapped out his three-hour class. He recruited some high school girls to help with puppets and translation into the Cebuano language. He even gave out a few simple prizes to good kids. While I was in adult worship (it wasn't my turn to speak in this church today), PJ came out to me. “Dad, there's a hundred kids in there! It is way too hot and crowded. ” So I snuck out of worship and was amazed to see that PJ's class was so popular that many teenagers joined the class too.

Herding all the “non-helper” older kids out of his class and into the adult service, I coached PJ, “You are like a general in this class, and your helpers are your captains. This week we will pray that God provides the 'ammunition' you need: a microphone, speaker, small TV and VCR so that you can show some of your Christian videos when we go overtime in the worship service.” PJ's eyes got wide as he exclaimed, “Wow, God has an eleven year-old General! We are like God's 'Kids' Army!'” After church was over, Abby beamed, “Daddy, my arms were so tired from holding up my puppet for so long. But it is okay. I am so proud of my brother, General PJ! And Sunday School is soooo exciting now!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $220 for equipment for PJ's new Sunday School class: VCR, speakers, microphone and TV.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: January 30-31: Christian Preschoolers' training seminar.

Please also pray for our Juvenile Detention Center (Father's House) Board Meeting, in two weeks. We will determine, since annual permits are getting more expensive, whether to close it or to keep it open.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $84,271 to be whittled down to zero by September, 2010 [$991 per week for 85 more weeks] (-$422 from last week).

Praise God for a new sponsor for one of the BLC kids- my retired high school chorus teacher!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2130 received, $27,870 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 54.

1/22/2009

Davao City, Philippines

“Hmmm, should I or shouldn't I?” During our church Christmas celebration in December we had a very full schedule. With nearly a thousand people present in our combined worship service, the children of each age level performed, as well as the adults and teens. The program (including dinner) lasted five hours. Toward the end was my time to speak. I shortened my message and inwardly debated whether or not to delete the opportunity at the end of offering a prayer of salvation. Figuring that this offer for these many people and visitors was not open to compromise, I closed my message by explaining how to be born again, and led in the prayer of faith. A month later (a few days ago) after I spoke at the funeral of the grandfather of one of our BLC students, the child's aunt approached Elvie with her face beaming. “I so wanted to talk with you! My niece invited me to your church Christmas celebration, and as a favor to her I came. Your husband's message really gripped my heart. I vowed that, if he explained how to become a Christian, I'd go ahead and accept. He did and I did, and these past four weeks have been the best of my life!” Praise God for the leading of the Holy Spirit!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $108 for 27 fluorescent light bulb sets at $4 each.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: January 30: Parent-Teacher conferences.

Please pray for our eleven yr old son PJ's teaching the 40 kids in his Sunday School class each week. Also please pray for the BLC kids as they take their monthly exams this week. The government inspector said on her visit last week that if our kids get good grades for the rest of the year, that we can offer high school next year (same campus, afternoon hours/teachers).

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $84,693 to be whittled down to zero by September, 2010 [$996 per week for 85 more weeks] (-$429 from last week).

Praise God for the home-going (death) of my 98 yr-old grandmother last Sunday. She is now in heaven with grandpa and with Jesus. Also praise God for the precious couple who gave $1,000 toward BLC's debt reduction last week.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2125 received, $27,85 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 55.

1/15/2009

Davao City, Philippines
Diary January 15, 2009

“Pastor, I made a mistake!” On Monday, our school treasurer forgot that I had placed most of BLC's finances into time deposits to be sure they were available for the biweekly salaries through March, when we will have money again. She went ahead and wrote a check for batteries and tires for our buses. The check was going to bounce. I committed Tuesday to fasting and praying for funds. Tuesday night I received an incredible email from a friend in New York: “Dear Paul, I had a dream last night that I feel I must make come true. In the dream I was told to send you what is left of my Christmas money. It is not much but if you will tell me the best way to get it to you it is yours.” The email was dated Sunday. God was answering my prayers for our need before I even knew our need! When I told our treasurer, she pointed toward heaven and said, “Yes, God!”

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $1456 for BLC's 2 month overdue electric bill.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: January 19-21: Fourth Preliminary exams, January 30: Parent-Teacher conferences.

Please pray for the “Business and Ministry” seminar that I am assisting this Friday and Saturday. Many Davao pastors and businessmen will attend. I have volunteered some BLC staff to run the registration desk. Please also pray for the Kiwanis medical outreach 1/26-29. We will be assisting many of the most destitute in Davao.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $85,122 to be whittled down to zero by September, 2010 [$989 per week for 86 more weeks] (-$297 from last week).

Praise God for a successful annual surprise visit from the government inspector of schools on Monday.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2120 received, $27,880 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 55.

1/8/2009

Davao City, Philippines
Diary January 8, 2009

“In 2009 I want to lead at least one person each month to pray and receive Jesus as Savior!” On New Year's Eve, our Wednesday night prayer meeting featured our annual goal-making. Locked away in my office drawer for 365 days were each person's 2008 goals, which we distributed. After seeing how many goals we were able to accomplish, we all wrote down our 2009 goals, to be locked away for another 12 months.

Leading people to Jesus is both a process and an event. It involves a deepening of personal relationships beforehand, as well as follow-up discipleship afterward. Just a few days later, on Saturday morning, there was a knock at our door. The mother of one of our students, Ricci Marie, said that the government aid office was on vacation, and she needed medicine for her lupis/leukemia/dengue. I had no money, yet a few weeks ago a friend in the USA emailed me that they were willing to help Ricci. So we went down to the pharmacy and I used my credit card to buy that day's medicine, bringing it to her in the hospital and praying for her. She also agreed to send a thank you note to the donor.

Ricci still needs over $1000 in meds over this next week, but God will supply, somehow. At church, we took a special offering, enough to cover the cost of half of one injection. Through these kinds of relationships, being a “shelter in the time of storm” for those in need, perhaps God will help me to fulfill at least this one of my eleven goals for 2009: to lead 12 souls to Jesus!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $445 for a welding machine to repair seats, etc. on BLC's 7 buses, plus to repair other building needs.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: January 19-21: Fourth Preliminary exams, January 30: Parent-Teacher conferences.

Please pray for accomplishment of my other ten goals: 1) read the Bible through 5 times, 2) run 5000 km, 3) Make BLC debt-free, 4) be 150 pounds (from 169), 5) spend 30 minutes in personal devotions daily, 6) read 130 books, 7) visit 10 churches during furlough in PA in July/August, 8) install PA system for Christian Music in BLC gym, 9) build second staircase in BLC, & 10) Run December Davao marathon in under five hours.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $85,419 to be whittled down to zero by September, 2010 [$993 per week for 86 more weeks] (+$6,934 from last week).

Praise God that, before our 1-yr old puppy Feliz died Sunday (she got off her collar during worship, and was hit by a car), she was able to delay her dying breaths while PJ, Abby and the rest of us could pet her and say goodbye.

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2115 received, $27,885 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 57

1/1/2009

Davao City, Philippines
Diary January 1, 2009 HAPPY NEW YEAR! (1/1)

"Honey, go slower over those bumps...PLEASE!" Driving to Elvie's mom's home for Christmas is really "over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go." Since the only road leading to the place is washed out and overgrown, we instead needed to pass through a banana plantation, whose terrain resembles the surface of the moon, with huge rocks in the middle of the path and deep craters of unknown depth after being filled with muddy rainwater.

We'd just finished BLC's triple-celebration for Christmas, with dramas, singing and tribal dances, plus the 3-hour stuffed animal and Bible distribution, one-by-one to the 500 BLC kids, and headed to the mountains for "Phase 2" for our spread of Christmas cheer. #1-BLC (12/19), #2-Family (12/25), #3-Church (12/28). On our way out of the BLC campus, I noticed a BLC family of four on a motorcycle, with their fifth "passenger," a huge fluffy white stuffed rabbit, on the shoulders of the last little boy on their motorcycle seat. The stuffed animal had already become a part of the family!

As we headed to the mountains, I counted over fifty ragged children on the side of the road with their hands out to passing motorists, hoping that someone would toss a peso out the window to them. Though second to the youngest, Elvie is the spiritual leader among the ten grown children in her family. After sleeping sardine-style on the floor side-by-side with countless relatives, I woke up early for my five-mile jog.

Returning from my morning jog in the fresh mountain air, I noticed that dozens more relatives, of all different religions and denominations, had begun to arrive. I toweled off after taking my bucket-bath and Elvie whispered to me, "You'll be preaching to the relatives this morning." Scampering through the pages of Isaiah, I dug up a "gem" from the treasure chest of Scripture, and pieced together a Christmas challenge.

An hour later Elvie translated my mini-sermon and challenged the 75 relatives, pastors and friends who had gathered for the reunion feast.

Then Elvie prayed for each one in the room by name. How she could remember every single one is beyond me. But when you lift up your extended family, one-by-one in prayer every day for a whole year, seeing them together at Christmastime is literally seeing before you 75 answers to prayer in one place!

Until next time…Let the islands rejoice!

Present need: $360 for in-school teachers' mailboxes.

Please pray for the next upcoming BLC events: Christmas Break, until Jan. 4, January 19-21: Fourth Preliminary exams, November 30: Parent-Teacher conferences.

Please pray for the hundreds of unbelievers who heard the plan of salvation during the many Christmas festivities this December, that (1) the Holy Spirit will mature this seed of Scripture and that (2) many of these unbelievers will tell God in prayer that they are sorry they have sinned, and (3) they will turn their lives over for Jesus to wash those sins away to become children of God.

Please also pray for BLC's total debt of $78,485 to be whittled down to zero by July, 2010 [$993 per week for 79 more weeks] (+$517 from last week).

Praise God for the family of a dear friend in Western New York who died last week. The family together sponsors five children at BLC! They have requested from their friends that funds that would otherwise be used for flowers and memorials will go to BLC! Praise God!

Status of $30,000 needed for 21 passenger jeepneys to replace three of our overcrowded BLC 10 passenger multicabs: $2110 received, $27,890 left to go! Five of the present seven BLC vehicles are dangerously overcrowded.

BLC Children still waiting for sponsors: 57.

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Last edited August 22, 2012
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