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The Latest News |
| 9/7/2023 | Happy 56th Birthday, Elvie! (9/9/67). Happy Grandparents Day (9/10/23). Patriot Day (9/11/01) Paul's cell phone #518-322-5275. blckids@yahoo.com, PaulMBarner2@gmail.com, www.barner.org Please pray for the quick recovery of my sister's husband John Bruce who has inoperable Stage 4 cancer of the esophagus, liver, & adrenal glands. Please also pray for BCA's 2-hour Pastors' & Workers' Orientation Seminar on September 22. BCA's chaplains will be hosting the event, to train all of BCA's pastors & faculty involved with this ministry, to collect & tabulate the data for BCA's brand-new "Spiritual Development Progress Reports". Before we flew back to the USA in July, I tasked the chaplains to develop a Spiritual report card for each of our students, to go alongside the academic one. While the academic report card in each student's permanent file goes to 4 places: 1) Parents, 2) BCA campus files, 3) Philippine Department of Education & 4) sent to the sponsors, the new Spiritual report card goes to all of these except the government. Praise God for the safety of all Filipinos during the recent typhoons which brought intense flooding to much of the country. As Typhoon Goring exited, Hurricane Hanna (international name "Haikui") made its entrance. According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Goring's gusts exceeded 240 KPH (kilometers per hour). The storms have resulted in southwestern monsoons, locally referred to as "habagat." PAGASA also stated that Goring & Hanna have enhanced another tropical storm, with the international name "Kirogi," which is also headed our way. Under these conditions, the flooding has induced landslides, according to the Manila Bulletin Newspaper. "Happy birthday dear Elvie…" With a small whiteboard sign emblazoned with birthday greetings, the staff at the hotel where we were staying serenaded my wife Elvie (the birthday girl) in song, as we came through the door of the lobby. She was thrilled & speechless. It had been a few hours' drive from the city where we spoke a few days before in a church's midweek succession of Bible studies, seniors' group & prayer meetings, & to be welcomed in such a way brought a charming smile to her face. At the midweek church meetings these past few days, (while we stayed & played games 3 nights with a delightful retired teacher), the listeners were filled with awe as they watched & listened to Elvie & me, in what God has been accomplishing in the Philippines these past 12 months. As a result of these individuals' generosity, Barner Christian Academy now has a new sponsor! Now, another one of the unsponsored children on BCA's waiting list will now finally be able to attend school! Also, BCA's "Father's House Orphanage" will now begin construction of a small cabin, "Kathy's Cottage," to house both visiting work teams & supplies! Meanwhile at the orphanage, our twelve children there were synchronizing their watches (with a 12-hour time difference from New York) to call & wish Elvie a happy birthday at the stroke of midnight (noon their time). These orphans daily get together around the dinner table for their evening devotions. They take turns from the youngest, Lyka: 9 yrs old, to the oldest, Jovy: 22. However, this day had begun when the sun came up, since it is a farm setting, with goats & chickens & ducks to feed, gardens to water & weed, grass to trim and firewood to gather & chop (all after a rousing cup of coffee for each, of course). Then breakfast. Each orphan takes his or her turn to prepare & cook, as another will be on the list of daily chores to wash the dishes afterward. Oliver was tasked to find somebody in town (10 miles away) to fix the voltage regulator (AVR) which stopped working. Since the current is so spasmodic on the island, if we use the refrigerator & freezer without this machine, the motors of the appliances will break down. Oliver had to go from store to store asking who they might know that could fix the machine. "Oh, I think there is a man in the next barangay (village) five miles away…" It became like a scavenger hunt, for the man who was suggested had moved away, but his neighbors had other suggestions. After each "dead end" Oliver prayed, "Lord, You know where this mechanic specialist guy is. Please pave the way from me to him so our frozen food at the orphanage does not go bad." (we couldn't leave the generator running constantly) Ten hours later not only was the fixer found, but the appliances were now running again, for he was successful in getting the AVR working. After a very busy day, searching and finding "clues," Oliver shared with his "siblings" the day's adventures, during their evening Bible time. Then, he read in First Timothy 4:4, "…everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer." Leah is about fifteen, and she really wants to go to Bible school when she grows up. After all the comments were made, she challenged her fellow orphans, "So what do you think? What will our decision be? God is always ready to hear our prayers. With Kuya Oliver, wherever he was, God was listening to him. From one barangay to another, God was there. God was like Oliver's road map. God already knew where the AVR fixer was. All Oliver had to do was to find the clues. Isn't life exciting?!" Until next time… Let the islands rejoice! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's ?? Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #361. Join us on T/Th nights! HEALER. Sitting in on my husband's worship rehearsal, here's a sneak peek of this Sunday's special hourlong worship service! Briana Barner is with PJ Barner. 1 min, 15 sec. August 24, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/briana.cutting.9/videos/3501398826775995 C. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #362. 7 min, 51 sec. PJ Barner was live. Join us on T/Th nights! BLESSED ASSURANCE. PJ Barner was live. August 29, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/548001280786041 D. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #363. PJ Barner was live — with Briana Barner and 4 others. Join us on T/Th nights! DO IT AGAIN. 5 min, 1 sec. August 31, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/978842053441240 E. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #364. PJ Barner was live. Join us on T/Th nights! I'D RATHER HAVE JESUS • WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS. September 5, 2023. 15 min, 33 sec. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/324857143317506 F. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #365 - Happy Birthday Ma! (Sept 9). PJ Barner is celebrating a birthday with Elvie Egan Barner and 2 others. Join us on T/Th nights! DRAW ME CLOSE. September 7, 2023. 9 min, 33 sec. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/3593789930903640 Present Need: $311 for: $56 for General Cleaning of 7 airconditioners, $25 for Medicine & disinfection supplies, $24 for Thermo scanner with stand, $52 for Materials for airconditioners' installation/outlets & plugs, $2 for Key duplication for exit gate, $30 for Painting supplies (classrooms), $31 for Repair of classroom doors (materials & doorknobs), $29 for Plywood & nails for 2nd Grade cabinets, Vehicle Expenses: BCA Bus "M":$40 for diesel gas & $2 for Padlock for battery, BCA Bus "L": $20 for diesel gas. 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: Need: $80,000. Received (actual & Ironman race-pledged): $52,694. Remaining: $27,304. Upcoming (General) Schedule: Barners' USA speaking tour (9/7-11/12), Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (9/22/2024: Augusta, Georgia USA). This Christmas, BCA kids will receive a "back-up" uniform. They already get one a year, but now they'll have 2! NEEDED: $20 x 600 = $12,000. Received: $1,515. Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: September: 7: Fulton, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: Rotterdam, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. Speakers at Davao City "BCA Church": September 10: Worship: SIawan// Sunday School: Latiban// Music: Youth. Theme: "Stewardship". BCA church MPM: "Midweek Prayer Meeting" speakers (9:30 & 10:30am): Sept: Spkr: Chung/ Music:Ocon. Oct: Spkr: Claveria/ Music: Singson. Nov: Spkr: Monte/ Music: Tamiana. Dec: Spkr: Siawan/ Music:Rosal. Jan: Spkr: Embaan/ Music: Tamiana. Feb: Spkr: Budo/ Music: Praca. Mar: Spkr: Tabasa/ Music: Beter. Apr: Spkr: Paciente/ Music: Meneses. May: Spkr: DeJolde/ Music: Chung. June: Spkr: Mr. Viray/ Music: Mrs. Viray. |
Churches, Schools & "Safe House" (orphanage): Barner Christian Academy: PHILS: PO Box 82,224 Davao City, Philippines 8000. USA: 18 (or #5) Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144 OUR ACTIVE MINISTRIES: Abby- Student Moody Bible Institute PJ- Minister of Music Auburn Alliance Church (NY) Elvie- National Board of Trustees for CAMACOP, Principal at BCA, Sunday School teacher Paul- Senior Pastor at FAF church, President at BCA, President of PMBMI, 70.3-Ironman Triathlete Paul & Elvie- Founders & Directors of 31 churches & FHF orphanage, Kiwanis members, DCLFI Community Prayer team members & vice president, Professors at DABC College, Board members at FAF church. Rev. Paul, Elvie, PJ and Abigail Barner BCA Landline: 011-63-82-234-4000 |
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| 8/31/2023 | Philippine National Heroes' Day (August 28, 2023). American Labor Day USA (9/4/23). Please pray for BCA's new principal Elinor. She is a kind & rock-solid believer in Jesus, & continues to contact Elvie to be sure that she follows BCA's unique philosophy of ministry. We offer a quality, Christian, Values-Based Education. The students even receive spiritual report cards alongside their intellectual report cards when graded. Praise God for the joyful time Elvie and I had at Calvary Bible Church this past Sunday! Also, for our daughter Abigail, whose classes at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago are thrilling with many teachers and students being very strong believers like she is. Praise God too that the fenced-in (with chicken wire overhead) chicken coop & pen are now finished, and 2 dozen more laying hens are being purchased this week. "On the road again…" Elvie & I drove 2 hours to our latest American speaking engagement this past weekend. Church people there still remembered us from the last time we shared there, & a new friend signed up to sponsor a student at the school, for $30 per month. Pastor Dan & his wife Linda took us out for lunch after church & we discussed the "big picture" of what the ministry will look like in 1, 2 & 3 decades into the future. "If the church's missions committee wouldn't mind," I suggested, "Maybe they could be part of our Accountability Team. As I come up with ideas, I can pass them by the team & see if they have insights for us!" We agreed that it makes sense to keep praying friends "in the loop" when it comes to making decisions on how best to plan to lead lost souls to Jesus. Meanwhile overseas in the Philippines, BCA's Chaplain Melvin was doing just that: leading souls to Jesus! "Good afternoon journal. Today Janvier & his wife (parents of a few of the BCA students) came to BCA for their weekly devotional meetings with the male & female chaplains of BCA." Chaplain Melvin went on to explain how the conversation took a thrilling turn when God's Holy Spirit brought lesson after lesson of Melvin's seminary doctrinal courses to mind as the minutes clicked on. JANVIER: You know, I used to worship at the "INC" church where they do not believe that Jesus is God. MELVIN: Really? Are you sure that they believer that? JANVIER: Sure. Look at their website. It says point blank, "We do not believe that Jesus is God." However, the website also says that Jesus is to be worshipped. MELVIN: Isn't there a snag there? JANVIER: What do you mean? MELVIN: If Jesus is not God, then He should not be worshipped. JANVIER: Why not, Chaplin Melvin? MELVIN: Because the Bible says "Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also."? JANVIER: Oh. But what about worship? MELVIN: The Bible reveals time & again that God alone is to be worshiped. JANVIER: Oh, I see! So, if we worship Jesus & Jesus is not God, then we are breaking God's rules, for God says that only God is to be worshipped. MELVIN: Exactly! JANVIER: I can't believe that I have been mislead for all these years. Is there any way I can worship God without God being angry at me? MELVIN (he could feel tingles as he responded), "Janvier. You certainly can! You can actually be a child of God. Imagine that! You can be one of God's' children!" JANVIER, Oh, how? Please tell me. Then, as Mevin led in prayer, Janvier repeated phrase after phrase, repenting of his sins, including that of blasphemously worshipping Jesus while denying Christ's deity. He then accepting the salvation that Christ has offered through His blood on the cross. JANVIER: NOW I can worship God. I can worship His Son as God. I am a Child of God. This day is the best day of my life! The next few days brought many discipleship meetings, videoconferencing with us in New York, church events, youth functions, playing on the church basketball league, seminars, and even taking the bus 3 hours away to MAABC Bible College in Makilala, North Cotabato, to enroll one of BCA's former graduates there.. Then on Sunday, as Melvin preached at our brand-new Father's House Orphanage church, he told the story of Janvier. Closing the service with prayer, he challenged, "Let us worship Jesus as He really is: not just a nice guy, but… JESUS. IS. GOD!" Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. Late Night Worship #360° Join us on T/Th nights! AMAZING GRACE (**audio warning: you can't hear much over the wind!**) No big deal, just out here parasailing with my wife 800ft above the Atlantic Ocean. August 22,2023. 3 min, 4 sec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUghPiBN2Gs Present Need: $320 for air conditioner for 6th Grade classroom. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: Need: $80,000. Received (actual & Ironman race-pledged): $52,694. Remaining: $27,304. Upcoming (General) Schedule: Barners' USA speaking tour (8/31-11/12), Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (9/22/2024: Augusta, Georgia USA). This Christmas, BCA kids will receive a "back-up" uniform. They already get one a year, but now they'll have 2! NEEDED: $20 x 600 = $12,000. Received: $1,515. Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: September: 3-Ohio, NY. 7: Fulton, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: Rotterdam, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. Speakers at Davao City "BCA Church": September 3: Worship: Budo// Sunday School: DeJolde// Music: Men. Theme: "Stewardship" Churches, Schools & "Safe House" (orphanage): Barner Christian Academy: PHILS: PO Box 82,224 Davao City, Philippines 8000. USA: 18 (or #5) Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144 |
| 8/24/2023 | BCA & All Philippine Schools begin classes for SY 2023-24 (August 29, 2023). Labor Day USA (September 4, 2023) Paul's cell phone #518-322-5275. blckids@yahoo.com, PaulMBarner2@gmail.com, www.barner.org Please pray for Clayclay, another of BCA's former graduates who has recently been accepted to study for the ministry at Bible College! Please also pray for the transition of BCA & other schools in a brand-new government-sanctioned requirement: all teaching aids on classroom walls are to be removed, so that students can focus without distraction on the lectures of their teachers. This includes inspirational posters, birthday or holiday décor, maps, charts, pictures of the president, alphabets, etc. This is according to DepEd Order No. 21, series of 2023. At BCA, it will also include moving all bookcases (both free-standing & built-in) from the classrooms back to the library. Praise God for those who have given through Christian Aid Mission during the months of June & July: $100 for Bibles for our orphans in their own language; $22.50 for BCA's Children's Emergency Medical Fund for students in life & death emergencies; $7,114.50 for student sponsorships; $72 for BCA's Jericho Free Lunch Program; $400 for tools for the ministry: buses, teaching supplies, theological textbooks, evangelism surveys, tracts, shipping fees, etc.; $1,000 transportation needs, tickets & visas; $2,335.30 Food, clothes, construction & utilities for BCA's orphanage; $500 for gas for BCA's school buses; Total: $11,544.30 "Strive ahead gung-ho for Jesus. In your peripheral vision, if you notice somebody also alongside you, take a second look!" A week after PJ & Briana said "I do" in New York, we attended a friend's wedding in Pennsylvania. These two young believers (Dave & Chrissy) "took their second look" as we rejoiced in their decision. In between these two Saturday ceremonies, we drove over a thousand miles round trip, bringing Abby to college at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Among over 2600 fellow students, she was accepted in many curricular & extracurricular activities. She also has a roommate who is bright & cheerful like her & also interested in missions & art. Her dad is a Minister of Music right there in Chicago! Meanwhile overseas in the Philippines, BCA's Teacher Romnick was teaching Summer School to his 6th Graders. "As you came into the classroom, I handed each of you a neckerchief-blindfold. Please tie one onto the person in the chair to your right, & I will attach one on the last person in each row." Based on Rick Warren's book "The Purpose of Driven Life," Romnick wanted to show his students what living in a particular direction meant. Their "challenge activity" required the students to head toward the stairs, with their hands on the shoulders of the student in front of them. They bumped into each other en route to the door of the classroom. As they headed out into the hallway, they began to get acquainted with the idea of using their other senses to compensate for the lack of their eyesight. The really big challenge was to get up the two flights of stairs to the 2nd floor. Romnick (without the blindfold) made sure each student had his right hand on the railing & the left on the shoulder of the student in front of them. Like dominoes, when one person stumbled, others went down too. But nobody was hurt, as when one got back up, the others followed suit. Heading to the end of the hall on the 2nd floor, they were gathered in the classroom of the 3rd-graders. When Romnick instructed, "Ok, everybody, remove your blindfolds!" Immediately, the 3rd-graders, instructed ahead of time by their own Teacher Donna, cheered & threw already-prepared wads of scrap-paper at them in celebration. For the next 5 minutes, the 3rd & 6th graders, with Chirstian music playing in the background, had a Filipino-style snowball fight (without the snow) back & forth with crinkled-up paper wads. When the 6th graders arrived back in their classroom on the 1st-floor (without blindfolds), Romnick asked a few questions. 1) Even when blindfolded, what kept you going? Gier responded, "I had direction from you & also friends to help me when I stumbled". 2) Was it easy to walk without seeing? All together responded, "No!" 3) Why is it necessary to have a travel companion? Angel stated, "'Cuz I wouldn't know where I was going otherwise!" 4) Were you ever tempted to let go of your companions? Jedidiah quipped, "Yes, when we were going up thew stairs, & Ronald kicked my in the shins by mistake." 5) Did anybody stop following? Altogether again, "No." "Class, I am proud of you. You accomplished what many people could not. You had a purpose, & even though it was made more difficult by an obstacle, you overcame. Congrats. In life, keep this lesson in mind. Pursue your goals, & trust other trustworthy people (& God Himself) to help you along the way to stay on course." Jedidiah added, "And as we follow Jesus, it might not be easy, but through difficulties I learn patience, sacrifice, & perseverance." Romnick closed with, "I couldn't have said it better myself!" Yeah, he read it from a poster on the wall…but that was part of the lesson! After sharing, they prayed while playing music about following Christ. Romnick prayed for them & they prayed for each other too. One student was even crying while they were praying. They followed-up the activity with an essay written in class by each student, describing the event of the day. In this subject, they used colored highlighters to identify the nine "Parts Of Speech" (POS) in the essays. BLUE: noun, ORANGE: pronoun, YELLOW: verb, RED: adverb, GREEN: adjective, PURPLE: preposition, BROWN: conjunction, PINK: interjection, and TEAL: article. To remind them of these 9 POS, they sang a song describing them, & even gathered in the front of the classroom doing a dance, swaying to its rhythm. The tune was so catchy, that the kids were humming it as they did their seatwork afterwards. Then, back in the USA, this past Sunday Elvie & I spoke at a church in Upstate New York. We always look forward to all the churches where we share. This particular one is very special. While the afternoon service has hymnals & Bibles in the Korean language, due to the Korean congregation, the morning worship service has some of their Bibles & hymnals in Braille. Many in that congregation are legally blind. I am not sure which came first: the hymnals or the members of the congregation. But anyway, there is a special closeness which is felt by shared obstacles. Kinda like BCA's blindfolded 6th graders. Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $300 for (installment #7 of 10) $3,000 generator for Barner Christian Academy. Frequent blackouts in the city require fans & lights with this alternate power source. It also pumps water from the new well. $900 remaining. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: Need: $80,000. Received (actual & Ironman race-pledged): $52,694. Remaining: $27,304. Upcoming (General) Schedule: Barners' USA speaking tour (8/24-11/12), Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (9/22/2024: Augusta, Georgia USA). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: August: 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 7: Fulton, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. Speakers at Davao City "BCA Church": August 27: Worship: Maturan// Sunday School: Leodo// Music: Children. Theme: "7 DAYS OF Creation/ Rest" Churches, Schools & "Safe House" (orphanage): Barner Christian Academy: PHILS: PO Box 82,224 Davao City, Philippines 8000. USA: 18 (or #5) Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144 |
| 8/17/2023 | Please pray for the government's release of technical documents for the groundbreaking & construction of BCA's new Bus Garage. The permits for construction in the residential area are numerous & time-consuming. Since we do not bribe officials, the time span necessary to process papers doubles. When the permits finally are released, the builders still need 1-2 months to gather equipment, materials and manpower before they can actually begin work on the property. The new date for inception is estimated to be October 15. Please pray too for the Chinese storeowner/cashier in Syracuse, NY where Elvie & I bought spices. He was very kind & heard from us a portion of the Gospel. Elvie & I had stayed up all night until 5am a few days before the wedding to begin preparation for Filipino adobo chicken for 250 guests. We were so tired from our cross-country trip, that when I opened my wallet at the Oriental store, to remove three dollars, then placed them on the counter to get the 55 cents from my pocket, I looked up & saw the 3 dollars still in my hand! I actually had kept the bills & given the cashier my whole wallet instead! I looked up & the cashier's head was back & he was laughing quietly so hard, waiting for me to realize my mistake. We thanked him & prayed for him too. Praise God for the official installation of Pastor Melvin Siawan as my associate pastor in the Philippines, last Sunday August 6, 2023. Praise God too that, while at breakfast in the hotel one morning before the wedding, Elvie & I were practicing our trio of the wedding song, "Sunrise, Sunset," a few others in the cafeteria overheard us & were in tears as they remembered their own weddings. We were able to discuss with them about our ministry overseas with the street children, churches & orphanage. "I Do!" Our son PJ and his fiancé Briana tied the knot of Holy Matrimony this past Saturday in Fabius, New York (USA). The outdoor ceremony began with the "Mission Impossible" theme, as the groom, ever the performer, (in his tuxedo) breezed in on a zipline! Of the 250 dear friends & relatives present, almost all were believers in Jesus, from many states & countries. When we began to feel raindrops, many admitted afterward that they had been constantly appealing before the throne of God that He delay the torrent for a few hours. God suddenly cleared the sky up, parted the clouds, & welcomed bright rays of sunlight! Yay to the Master Weatherman! A few of the other highlights were during the reception when the newlyweds performed (still in their wedding clothes) the Filipino tinikling dance, which involves stepping barefoot between bamboo poles which are being clacked against each other to the beat of a rhythmic tune. Also, Abby joined the trio of her mom & I as she serenaded with "Now can my Kuya be a bridegroom, Now will the little girl a bride? Under the canopy they'reside by side," revised from "Sunrise, Sunset". This is the song that my own parents sang to Elvie & I when we wed 27 years ago: 13,000 miles away on a different continent. Rev. Jake Bouw, 97 yrs old, led the reception's Pastoral Prayer as a dozen pastors laid hands on the couple & blessed their lives together. PJ explained that, since God had used Rev. Bouw to challenge me to become a missionary to the Philippines when I was ten yrs. old, if it wasn't for this great man of God, Elvie & I never would have met, & PJ would never have existed! Meanwhile on the other side of the planet in the Philippines, BCA's 4th Grade Teacher Rocel was teaching Summer School after the conclusion of the 4th week of Vacation Bible School, held in various locations. One of the VBS events was at BCA's "Father's House" orphanage. Since the orphans' home is on a different island, before the BCA "Teaching Team" drove onto the barge to cross the Pakiputan Channel, they bought food at the fresh market, before sunrise, so the fruits, meats & vegetables wouldn't have a chance to get dried out by the blistering tropical sun. The traffic for the barge was 2 hours long, so the orphan kids out on the island were wide awake & cleaned-up before the VBS team arrived. The BCA teachers stayed overnight on campus with the kids for three days, so they also brought their personal sheets & pillows for the camp-out. Rocel's fellow teacher Jovy covered "Why God Created us: Fearfully & Wonderfully Made" (based on Adam & Eve). Her group activity had the orphans & their invited friends write down their own unique qualities. Next, just before Rocel, was Dona, on "God is for You" (based on Rahab & The Spies). This group activity had each orphan draw a road map where students answered how they had experienced the Lord's presence in School, Family, & Community. On Missions Night, it was Rocel's turn. She told stories from her years in IVCF (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship). Posting pictures on the wall, the kids prayed for missionaries in various countries, including the Barner Family, speaking in the USA & our November return to Davao. She challenged the kids with videos about unreached people in various lands, to Pray, Send, Go, Welcome, & Mobilize for missions. One of Rocel's techniques of quizzing was to form the kids into circle, turn around with her eyes closed, & point her pen to a child to give a word to spell based on the lesson. The score of 10 points was for each correct answer. But when the kids failed to spell she also deducted 10 points. Then, Rocel changed her strategy by using her cellphone & speaker, then played music, stopping to choose yet other kids to answer. Finally, after quizzing them on Matthew 28:18-20 (Christ's Great Commission to Evangelize), she had the kids use their talents & imagination, by drawing cartoons frame by frame, on one of the missions themes discussed in class, & then explaining them to the others. Everybody laughed hysterically when one child drew pictures of & described the missionary in a steaming pot of stew, about to fed to cannibals! He shared, "Then they said to the chef, 'Yup, this missionary was definitely Fearfully & Wonderfully made…with just the right amount of adobo spices!'" Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $320 for air conditioner for BCA's preschool classroom. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: Need: $80,000. Received (actual & Ironman race-pledged): $52,594. Remaining: $27,404. Upcoming (General) Schedule: Barners' USA speaking tour (8/17-11/12), Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (9/22/2024: Augusta, Georgia USA). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: August: 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 7: Fulton, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. Speakers at Davao City "BCA Church": Worship: DeJolde// Sunday School: Tabasa// Music: Women. Theme: "7 DAYS OF Creation/ Rest" Churches, Schools & "Safe House" (orphanage): Barner Christian Academy: PHILS: PO Box 82,224 Davao City, Philippines 8000. USA: 18 (or #5) Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144 |
| 8/10/2023 | Happy wedding, PJ & Briana! (8/12/23). Buwan Ng Wika (Philippine Culture) Month: August. Please pray for our Son PJ & soon-to-be daughter-in-law Briana, as they start their married life together this weekend. Please also pray for our daughter Abigail who begins Moody Bible Institute in Chicago this next week. Please pray too for our BCA student from Tacunan whose father died of a heart attack this past week. Praise God for our successful coast-to-coast (and back) "Road Trip" these past six weeks. We drove over 7,000 miles through 15 states sharing the Gospel & a mission challenge. Also, we have new sponsors who have chosen to give a free education to Filipino children! Praise God also for incredible times with prayer warriors, pastors & our very special hosts this past week in the eleven states of AZ. NM, CO, KS, MO, IL, IN, KY, OH, PA & NY! "Lord, please bless the Barners!" As we drove through Kansas this past Wednesday, we stopped into a church which had a midweek prayer meeting. Pastor James & his congregation were very interested in what God is doing in the Philippines & prayed for specific requests that we mentioned. They also asked us to share about what it means to be a missionary. After the service, we discussed & prayed with the pastor about our respective ministries, as well as his dreams & desires for that area of the USA: food pantry, sports outreaches to the suburbs, family events & evangelistic sharing of Gospel presentation. The church has grown back up from 40 to 180 after the "COVID decrease". Pastor James also followed us out into the parking lot to lay hands on our car & asked God to keep it going strong as it had just passed the 313-thousand-mile mark. While Kansas was a "stop-in" church on our journey, Kentucky was a scheduled stop, where Pastor Ross challenged the congregation after Elvie's & my presentations, "What about you? How is God calling you into missions, to go, give & to pray?" What a blessing it is when the church leadership works hand-in-hand with the visiting missionaries to ignite the fire for the local church to reach out globally for the fulfilment of God's Great Commission. Meanwhile back in the Philippines, BCA's Teacher Veoly led her 45 kindergarteners in their Summer classes. Some of the students had not yet received their new, black BCA sneakers, this past Christmas. So Veoly distributed them now. Raizel was so happy while wearing her pair, that she ran back & forth inside the classroom, from her desk to the blackboard. "Teacher Violet, I do really love the sneakers I received today! Please, please, please tell this to Pastor Paul: 'Thank you for this pair of shoes of mine! I will do my best in school and become successful in life with my brand-new sneakers!'" Well, thought Veoly, when Raizel is successful later in life these sneakers will likely not fit anymore…but I am not going to tell her that… Raizel continued her exciting narrative as she once again ran back & forth to the blackboard & to her desk, "…thank you so much Pastor Paul & I love you Pastor Paul & my sponsors… God bless you… heart-heart-heart!!" (at this point she made the shape of a heart with her little kindergartener-fingers) Veoly thought, "These little angel-kindergarteners are like bunny rabbits, hopping around & dashing here & there! Cute & adorable too!" As Veoly entered into her lesson, Justine was called on to sweep the floor of the classroom. Matthew helped his classmate Justin to put all the garbage into the garbage can. Then it was time for Mathematics. Two games brought out the nuances of addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions & division for the kindergarteners: "Lemoncito Race" & "Palm Paint". Alexandra passed out flash cards to her classmates. Jacob came up to the board first, with a flash card in his hand. While he read the equation on the front of the card, which he held up in the air, his classmates could read the answer on the back of the card. "One times four is…" Rionma couldn't stand the suspense & called out from her desk, "It's FOUR! The answer is FOUR!" Everybody laughed at her shaking excitement as Teacher Veoly reminded her, "Yes that is right, but let's wait for your turn, ok?" Rionma beamed at her accomplishment & respectfully responded, "Yes, Teacher Violet!" Jacob then held up the next card, reading, "Seven minus five is…" Veoly interrupted by giving a lemoncito (small lime) to each of four students, instructing them, "Run up to the blackboard & set the lemon down into the chalk tray. Then pick up a piece of chalk & write your answer. Pick up the lemoncito & then pass it to another classmate for the next question!" In this case, Geronda was first back in her seat before passing her lemon to Apollo. The number "two" which she had drawn on the blackboard was correct! Twenty minutes later, Veoly distributed smocks to each student & also laid out on the floor a protective plastic tarp. Divine & Justin filled little cups with water & Techer Veoly poured into the water cups the coloring-paint for their project. Dividing the class into two teams, Freyja was team captain for the "Yellow Team" & Hezekiel was captain for the "Blue Team". The object of the game was to place their hands into the paint & use all different colors to get as many handprints on the large paper as possible, but also to get the highest percentage of their particular color onto the page. Ten minutes later, the class traipsed to the sink outside the classroom to wash the paint off their hands, & Joaquin counted the handprints, while Divine wrote the numbers on the blackboard. "Yellow Team has 35 handprints! Blue team has 56!" Captain Hezekiel led his "Blues" in a resounding cheer. But it was short-lived, for when Joaquin counted the proper colors, "Of Blue Team's 56 prints, only ten are Blue, while Yellow Team's 35 handprints have 15 yellow in color!" Teacher Veoly built the fractions on the board: BLUE: 10/56…YELLOW: 15/35. She then explained that 10/56 equaled only 18%, while 15/35 equaled a resounding 43%. "So which percent is higher?" The class called out, "Yellow!" Veoly continued, "So, we have a tie score! We Are all winners!" Resounding cheers once again, as they helped Teacher Veoly tape the two "Palm Paint" murals onto the walls. Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. Late Night Worship #355. PJ Barner was live — with Abigail Barner. Join us on T/Th nights! COMISSION MY SOUL. Thursday, August 3, 2023.6 min, 8 sec. Present Need: $300 for (installment #31 of 112) $33,500 2nd-floor of 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ school chapel & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $27,404 remaining. There are 186 languages in the country, 175 of them indigenous. |
| 8/3/2023 | Please pray for the classmates of our orphanage kids, who joined their VBS & also heard the Gospel: Guests of 1. Leah: Stela, Jessel, Rhea & Yanah; 2. Jovelyn: Krez, Annifel, & Sonny; 3. Abigail: .Jonard, Sedrick, Jhennea, Prince, Angelie & .Saymalyn; 4. Christine: Dimpple & Relie; 5. Jonas: Kate; 6. Aldrin: Keint & Ker; 7. Agustin: Kevin. Please pray for BCA's brand-new principal Vera, who is under Elvie as her "man-on-the-ground" at Barner Christian Academy. After much prayer from many pastors & friends as we are traveling, we rejoice in this fulfillment of the new requirement from the Department of education. As we speak in churches across the USA to find more sponsors for the Filipino students, we have confidence in our new principal to "carry the torch" during our absence. Please also pray for our Honda minivan, which recently passed the 312,000-mile-mark. As we were driving in 114-degree weather through very dry Arizona, climbing long grades to summits over 7,000 ft in altitude, we stopped occasionally whenever the temperature gauge started veering toward the red warning section on the dial, to let the car cool down. A heat wave is keeping temperatures in the triple-digits almost daily through the southwest & plains. However, getting out of the car at rest stops, we ourselves sweltered in the sultry arid winds. While visiting a youth group at a church in Quartzsite, AZ along the highway, we were treated to tacos & cold water…yeah! Northern NM & CO were a welcome respite, replacing cactuses & sage brush for grass & evergreens. Praise God for the blessing it has been to meet this month with prayer warriors in CA, NM, CO, KS, MO & IL! Praise God also that Mark & Chelsey, dear friends in Colorado who have visited our Philippine ministry during a missions trip a few years ago, have posted on their wall at work 3 rows of pictures: 1st row- his family & relatives. 2nd row- his wife's family & relatives. 3rd row, their 3 sponsored kids & their "family" at BCA's orphanage. Praise God too for the work team from a church in Arizona, which is making plans to come to Davao in March next year to tackle some much-needed construction projects. "Nobody was saved in the 1st service, so there must be somebody in the congregation today in the 2nd service who will be responding to the call of God in their lives. Don't fight it, just listen to God's Holy Spirit as He directs you to Himself!" The church we shared at this past Sunday in Arizona had experienced decisions for Christ every Sunday in July, & this week was no exception. The altar was packed with those requesting prayer as well as some turning their lives from running AWAY from Jesus to running TO Him & accepting His free gift of eternal life. Meanwhile across the ocean in Davao City, BCA's Teacher Jovi led her 5th graders in Vacation Bible School. "Kids, VBS is a time-honored tradition that brings you together, along with volunteers for a week of faith-based learning, activities, & fun!" Before today, as Jovi had sat down to plan & organize the lessons, she couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation & enthusiasm. "This will be an adventure!" After much consideration, prayer, & research, she'd decided on the theme of "God made you... Discovering His Love & Truth." She focused on the life & teachings of Jesus, emphasizing His love, grace, & how He created us as human beings. "Jayiane, you be the antagonist in the Bible story about the Egyptians leaving Egypt." Jayiane quickly grabbed a blank sheet of paper & held up a picture she sketched of the pyramids. "YOU! Jews! Build me a pyramid!" Jovi then called out, "Hailey, we need a protagonist to defend the Israelites!" Hailey, having just read this story from Exodus that morning in her devotions, called out, "Pharoah, I don't think so!" She also sketched on a piece of notebook paper & held up a picture of a frog. "Hope you like frog legs, Sir, 'cuz you'll be seeing a whole lot of these overgrown polliwogs!" Latching onto the VBS theme of discovering the theme that God has designed for us, Teacher Jovi called on Absolute to go to the costume closet & pull-out handfuls of pajamas & a blanket. With food in dishes on the classroom floor's picnic, "Moses" (Hailey) called over to Ashley, "Hey Joshua, please pass me some manna." To which "Joshua" (Ashley) responded, "As if we had a choice!" They then stood up & distributed the food to their classmates. "More than enough manna to go around, that is for sure!" Jovi had borrowed a mini projector from the school's media room & then showed the class a clip from a movie of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt & into the Promised Land. Jovi had designed crafts for the kids to work on & bring home, to show the story they had dramatized. Made out of popsicle sticks, the kids glued together little pyramids. They colored the four sides with one color & in a different color wrote 4 words for four sides: "DISCOVERING- GOD'S-LOVE-& TRUTH". Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. Late Night Worship #352. PJ Barner was live — with Abigail Barner & Jena Vargason and JayhDee San Miguel Ranola. Join us on T/Th nights. THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE. 4 MIN, 17 SEC. July 25, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/1762713007476793 C. Late Night Worship #353 Join us on T/Th nights. I SPEAK JESUS. PJ Barner. Jul 27, 2023. 5 min, 17 sec. D. Late Night Worship #354 A. PJ Barner was live — with Abigail Barner. Join us on T/Th nights. VICTORY IN JESUS • WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN • WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER. 9 min, 39 sec. August 1, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/999784284508041 E. Late Night Worship #354 B - Grandpa Jim's encore. Join us on T/Th nights. IT IS NO SECRET. 4 min, 2 sec. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/245962408260210 Philippine Church Plant: August 6, 2023. Men's Sunday/Communion Sunday. Theme: "Seven Days of Creation & Rest" Speaker: Rev. Boboy. Sunday School: Dan. Music Leader: Espenosa. Present Need: $382 for: $140 for BCA building painting materials for classrooms, $12 for BCA building 3 padlocks for gate, grade 1 & 2 classrooms, $3 for BCA building materials for cutting the G3 wall for airconditioner, BCA Bus vehicle maintenance: BCA Bus "C": $88 for full tank deisel gas, BCA Bus "Fi": $30 for gasoline, $3 for hose, $3 for surebrake, $8 for rubber cups, $2 for rubber "boots", $15 for brake shoe bonding, BCA Bus "Ph": $70 for gasoline, $8 for brake fluid. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: Need: $80,000. Received (actual & Ironman race-pledged): $52,071. Remaining: $27,929. |
| 7/27/2023 | Please pray for the kids who made spiritual decisions for Christ during this past week of BCA's VBS, which had the theme: "God Made Us for this: The Maker Fun Factory" . The materials were donated by American churches who had used this great material previously. In attendance were: Day#1- 163. Day #2- 184. Days #3 & 4: over 200 each. Praise God that our dear friend Donna (our host in Southern California) celebrated her 76th birthday by lending us her very smooth-running Toyota Corolla to save mileage on our own high-mileage minivan, during our thousand-mile speaking trip to Northern California. It is also easy to find Donna's car in a parking lot, since the rear bumper is missing. She checked our route before we left & found out that a landslide (named "Paul's Slide") blocked the direction we'd originally mapped out, on Route #1 (Pacific Coast Highway) along the coast. "Father, please bless the many churches this couple has started in the Philippines…& continue to make the school & the orphanage safe places of refuge." Pastor Tim, at the "Cedars Church" where we shared this past Sunday in Northern California, prayed for Elvie & I, as well as did their entire congregation. It was a timely visit, as August is their Missions Emphasis month. Their many home Bible studies are multiplying, with the desire to bless their communities & love their neighbors to Jesus. Meanwhile on the other side of the planet in Davao, nearly 200 kids were hearing about Jesus in BCA's daily VBS classes & also eating lots & lots of spaghetti & watermelon. One of the BCA teachers, Espenosa ("Espe"), who usually teaches 2nd Grade, was challenging his group of VBS kids. After the opening exercises of prayer, Zumba, singing & the Pledge of Allegiance to the Filipino & Christian flags & to the Bible, kids filed into his classroom to recite their daily Bible Verse. Jeremiah 2:19 includes, "Consider how bitter it is when you forsake God…" The exciting story of King Hoshea (the last king of Israel) was from 2 Kings 17. This Israelite king's evil actions led the people to worship statues instead of the One True & Living God. God punished them by foreign armies who forced them to leave their land & be dispersed throughout other locations. Teacher Espe was thrilled that the kids were so responsive. Yet there were 3 who lagged in their attention. Sooo,.. he had these 3 kids come to the board to act out a skit. The short girl, Sonjoe, was King Hoshea, a stocky boy, Isaiah, played an enemy soldier, & another very pretty girl, Char, (coincidentally dressed in yellow) …now this task was very challenging… was a golden calf idol (not many lines…actually…none). Knowing already that Gerlad was a good reader with a strong voice, Espe tasked him to narrate the story. As each verse was read, the actors would play the part. There would be a pause & then the class had to follow-up the last word spoken with a word that rhymed, preferably anticipating a cause-&-effect scenario. Gerlad: "Hoshea became king of Israel…" The actors each took a bow as they received resounding applause from their classmates this day of VBS. Espe closed the class time with Proverbs 16:7 "When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $300 for (installment #6 of 10) $3,000 generator for Barner Christian Academy. Frequent blackouts in the city require fans & lights with this alternate power source. It also pumps water from the new well. $1,200 remaining. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: Need: $80,000. Received (actual & Ironman race-pledged): $52,046. Remaining: $27,954. |
| 7/6/2023 | Happy 27th Anniversary, Paul & Elvie! (7/6/1997) Please pray for the discipleship one-on-one meetings of BCA's chaplains. God is using them to usher many into His Kingdom! Thus far, in the first few months of the employment of our new chaplains, 23 adults (2 grandmothers, 19 moms & one couple) accepted Jesus into their hearts! This doesn't even include the dozens of students who have prayed to receive Jesus into their hearts. 5 Cebuano language Bibles were distributed to the adults, and each student also received one. Please also pray for the 2 missions trips that are scheduled: from Utah in January & from Arizona in March. We attended a planning meeting this week in Utah for a missions trip with construction team & clown ministry January. They'll also be rebuilding the wooden cottages (into cement) & building an above-ground swimming pool at the orphanage. They will also be in a clown street ministry & decorating the new cottages. Please keep praying for our youth group leaders as they supervise evangelistic outreaches, with the following officers: JJJ: President, Ikay: VP, Bea: Secretary, & Jaica: Treasurer. Praise God that due to turbulence over New York City (JFK airport), our flight was to be transferred to an alternate airport, but at the last minute the skies cleared up enough for us to land at JFK. Thanks for praying! PJ, Briana & Cody were waiting 5 hours to pick us up! Praise God also that, when our school guard Bong died this past Sunday, the church people volunteered to speak & sing during the seven evenings of wakes & also the burial on Saturday. Monday: Dan (Music: Laverna worship team). Tuesday/Wednesday: Richard & Joy (Music: Communal worship team). Thursday: Jairus (Music: Jenny & Tacunan worship team) Friday: Melvin (Music: BCA Teachers & Staff). Saturday: Alex (Music: Eunice). "On the road again…" While PJ is pastoring in New York, Elvie, Abby & I are driving thousands of miles cross-country, challenging believers to go, give & pray for the completion of God's Great Commission. Our plane landed in NYC last Tuesday, & within less than a week we had gone almost 3,000 miles through ten states. Storms pelted rain & blocked traffic while entire trees had to be removed from the middle of the highways in Illinois, Kansas & Colorado. Fifty miles of driving on rumble strips in Wyoming due to road construction left our teeth rattling. But a special award goes to our host families in many states who stayed up into the wee hours of the morning waiting to show us to our much-appreciated, awaiting bedrooms. Last year Jackie, a friend in Missouri, confirmed our stay with her in her woodsy log cabin (with her pet dog & goat) for PJ's birthday, June 29. But when we arrived at her house, a "For Sale" sign awaited us. We drove around an hour & a half thinking we had the wrong address. We did. She'd moved a loooong way away. After calling a mutual friend in Alabama, we were informed that Jackie is now in Heaven. That was too far to drive, so for the first time since landing in the USA, we stayed the night in a hotel. Meanwhile back in the Philippines, BCA's school chaplain for women (Eunice) was designing a "Spiritual Report Card" for each of the 600 sponsored students of Barner Christian Academy. She'd already set up the desks & chairs for her office, while Melvin, the men's chaplain, set up his. Sitting at her desk, she used the school's computer to design & print the new report card's categories, including #6: "Quotes at least 8 individual Bible verses, given the references". Then, a few days after sending me an email & receiving my approval for the contents, she started interviewing each student. Each day has a weekly, hour-long classroom prayer time: Monday is 1st Grade, Tuesday 2nd, etc.. Wednesday also brings moms in for group prayer meetings, worship & discipleship seminars. This week, one husband & wife both prayed to become Christians, & are signing up for marital counseling. When many students from the 5th & 6th grade classes prayed to repent of their sins & become followers of Jesus, they were given buttons that said, "I am saved & am now a Child of God!" They proudly wore these around campus day after day. One new Christian 4th grader, Kheanna, had been counselled by Eunice at the Girls' Chaplaincy Office. Kheanna's Teacher Rocel was concerned regarding the girl's bad behavior. Kheanna had been arrogant, disrespectful & stubborn. Chaplain Eunice, in her kind & respectfully soft voice, inquired, "Kheanna, how is your family?" The little girl had tears in her eyes as she explained, "Oh, Chaplain Nice, my papa & mama do not live together anymore." Eunice responded with, "Kheanna, please tell me about it." An hour later, Kheanna was all smiles since she had prayed to give all of her triumphs & trials, including her sins, over to Jesus. During the parents' Prayer Meeting, Eunice distributed Bibles and "Daily Bread" booklets to study together. Then, Eunice also taught Children's Sunday School in church during the weekend. It is a joy as all the kids, including her own 3 little guys, quote in unison the books of the Bible. What a joy it was last week to pray over, & wash the feet of Elvie, Abby & me before we flew across the planet to the USA to find more sponsors for Filipino students! And Eunice continues to lead the kids and parents in prayer daily as we Barners travel in our car which has already logged over 309,000 miles & counting… Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $374 for: $180 for small fridge for Guesthouse & $194 for replacement printer (w/ink) for school. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: Need: $80,000. Received (actual & Ironman race-pledged): $52,046. Remaining: $27,954. |
| 6/29/2023 | Happy 26th Birthday, PJ! (6/29/1997) Philippines cell# PAUL-PHILIPPINES +63 (0985) 152-3142 & +63 (0956) 754-9921 & USA-(808) 475-7861, // ABBY-PHILIPPINES +63 (0926) 684-6165 // GINGER-USA: (518) 434-6216 Please pray for Evelyn, a BCA student's mom whom Eunice (BCA's Chaplain for Females) recently prayed with, to become a follower of Jesus Christ, & likewise, a Child of God! Please also pray for those who heard Elvie speak this past week at two conferences: one for women, & the other for students. Praise God that our guest Caitlyn (from New York) recently got to see the monkeys with friends Praise God too that, after church last Sunday, there were three separate meetings to pray over our family, as we head to the USA to work & speak & challenge people to become missionaries: #1: the church leaders, #2: the youth group, & #3: our orphans. Praise God that generous people gave a combined total of $135 for the ministries of BCA these last few months through Network For Good. "Congratulations, 2023 BCA graduates!" As each 6th Grader & Kindergartener approached the stage, after Elvie handed them their diplomas, I shook their hands & moved their cap's tassel from the left to the right side of their 4-pointed "mortarboard" cap. Elvie, by my side, whispered, "Look familiar?" I glanced back & forth at a dad & daughter, as Elvie reminded me, "Her father was our student who graduated from here 25 years ago!" Whoa! We already have the next generation of BCA grads. Together they share their same alma mater. The government-assigned theme for this year's graduation was "Resiliency". While it was scheduled for 9am-1pm, the electric company informed us the night before that there would be a power outage at that exact same time. However, once we started (with no light &or sound equipment working), the parents voted to go home & reschedule for 1pm. Resiliency! Since it was a 2-day event, the underclassmen on Thursday performed songs & recited Bible verses as they too received their moving-up certificates. At one point, the 3rd graders were singing a tune about "What I will become" when they removed their school uniforms, & underneath were the outfits of professions, tailored to their smaller sizes! Stethoscopes donned the white scrubs of doctors & nurses. Camouflage fatigues for the soldiers. There were future teachers, a basketball player, & businessmen. When about half a dozen came up to the mic & said, "When I grow up I want to be a policeman," I whispered to Elvie, "With that many BCA grads as traffic cops, we'll likely not have to worry about our school buses getting any traffic tickets! BCA also has 2 new chaplains, Melvin for the boys & dads, & Eunice for the girls & moms. Melvin was the event's Bible speaker. After Abby sang "You Raise Me Up," Melvin's message included, "I too am a product of Barner Christian Academy. In fact, I was the very first sponsored student!" He then told a story. "When I was in 2nd grade, I fell down the steps & cut my lip. I was crying & bleeding, when the strong arms of a kind man enveloped me & lifted me up, holding my face against his. I stopped crying & right there in front of me was the founder & president of the school, Pastor Paul! After the nurse used a damp cloth to stop the bleeding, Pastor Paul personally drove me to the hospital to get stitches! And over the years, he has carried me in so many other ways." "He hired my dad as a bus driver. He spoke at my dad's funeral many years later. He taught me in Bible college. And now he hired me as chaplain of this same school where you have attended. "But there is another Man who also holds you up. Jesus lifted me up from the miry clay of sin & set me on the solid rock foundation of my new life as His own. A few years ago when I was the driver in a van accident where two of my closest college schoolmates died, I decided to leave the ministry. But Pastor Paul, Madam Elvie, my sponsors in the USA & even you, prayed for me. Thank you all for lifting me up!" Melvin then shook my hand & this muscular 29-yr-old gave me a bear hug that was a combination of adult guts & 2nd-grade gumption. 2 days after the ceremony, after church on Sunday, 2 other BCA graduates (ClayCLay & Mechico) were so inspired by God's work through Pastor Melvin, that they asked me to send a "pastor's recommendation" for them also to attend Bible College to train to become pastors! Yay, God! As the teachers tallied-up the grades & submitted their reports to the Dept of Education, Jerry was reflecting on her nursery pupils' unity in class time. One day earlier this month, The students had all, instead of wearing their uniforms, donned the tie-dye shirts they had designed with ink, white t-shirts & rubber bands the week previous. Since the colors were orange & white, she also treated them to plates of spaghetti for a snack. She had cooked it that morning. This day, she had started the class with the Bible verse, "God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus." (Php 4:19). Explaining the verse to her pupils, she said, "Always believe something wonderful is about to happen! God is in control!" She then took her students outside to find assorted "things". Each student had a small Ziplock bag & later, back in the classroom, emptied out their "goodies" onto their desks. The leaves, stones, bottle caps and other items were sorted by category, color & even by their shapes. Alicia, how does today's lesson apply to our Bible verse? The nursery student replied, "Even as I was in control of choosing the categories, God also is in charge of what I face every day!" Excellent! Fast forward again to the graduation ceremony at Barner Christian Academy. As the valedictorian gave his speech, he began with, "I thank God, my parents, my classmates, my teachers, & also my face mask, for making this possible!" He then explained that, due to poor grades from illness, he was held back in 1st Grade. It was very hard over the years to catch up. He always seemed just a little behind everybody else. But then, when COVID hit, everybody studied form home, & his own personal attempts at catch-up gave him the advantage he needed to not only excel, but also to be a role model for his classmates. Truly, God does lift us up and carry us through all situations! Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's LATE NIGHT WORSHIP Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #343. Join us on T/Th nights! PJ Barner was live. THE LOVE OF GOD. 5 min, 41 sec.https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/2046484955702845 C. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #342- PJ Barner was live with "Grandpa Jim" on the violin. Join us on T/Th nights! 5 min, 43 sec. Tuesday, June 20, 2023. MANSION OVER THE HILLTOP. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/274375295122536 D. BCA Graduation Ceremony. 3hr, 49 min, 39 sec. Davao City, Philippines, Friday, June 23, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/bcadavaocity/videos/293481606366723/ Present Need: $300 for (installment #5 of 10) $3,000 generator for Barner Christian Academy. Frequent blackouts in the city require fans & lights with this alternate power source. It also pumps water from the new well. $1,500 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,475. Still needed: $10,525. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: Need: $80,000. Received (actual & Ironman race-pledged): $52,046. Remaining: $27,954. Upcoming (General) Schedule: Barners' USA speaking tour (6/29-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (9/22/2024: Augusta, Georgia USA). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Thousand Oaks, CA. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's New York wedding]. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. Churches, Schools & "Safe House" (orphanage): Barner Christian Academy: PHILS: PO Box 82,224 Davao City, Philippines 8000. USA: 18 (or #5) Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144 PJ & Briana have a bridal registry! Here is the link: www.theknot.com/peejandbri |
| 6/22/2023 | Happy Graduation to the Barner Christian Academy Class of '23, 6th Graders! (6/23/23) Philippines cell# +63 (0985) 152-3142 & +63 (0956) 754-9921 & (808) 475-7861, PAUL, +63 (0926) 684-6165 ABBY USA # (518) 434-6216 GINGER (USA) Please pray for clarity & will power, as well as the Holy Spirit's preparation of hearts to be saved. An anonymous gift of a thousand dollars was given for the youth group to plan a series of evangelistic, door-to-door outreaches. Using the Evangelism Explosion survey form, the two dozen teens & young professionals, this August will go two-by-two to knock on people's doors & take a Spiritual Survey. However, unlike mere census takers, they will also be armed with answers for spiritual questions the respondents might have. After tabulating the responses from 85 people, they will visit a second time these homes to present the findings & also use this second opportunity to once again present the Gospel. I will also use the results in a standard deviation format to determine statistically the best means to present the Gospel in the neighborhood of the Barner Christian Academy. Please also pray for our tribal campus. After discussing with the building foreman, he is now choosing workers for the next phase of development. The ¼-mile long wall around its perimeter is complete, & in August the 1st building's foundations will be laid. Praise God that we were able to get Abby her first pair of glasses, just in time for when we leave for the USA and she'll be attending Moody Bible Institute. Praise God as well that, while the funds donated during April & May through Christian Aid Mission are anonymous, we do have itemization of what they are designated for: $1,000 for construction of buildings for worship & ministry; $45 for BCA's Children's Emergency Medical Fund; $65.20 for Church Building needs; $7,506 for BCA Student Sponsorships; $720 for generators for ministry; $72 for Jericho free School lunch program; $3,103 for transportation expenses, $2,501.60 for Orphanage, $1,000 for community outreaches to share Christ. Thank you! "God's Overflowing Strength is even more obvious to us when we experience challenges in our daily lives." Nearly a hundred moms, some-day moms & grandmoms listened to Elvie's Biblical challenge on Saturday, as our church hosted the all-day multi-church Women's Conference. "God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us! Say AMEN if you agree with God in this promise!" Dozens of ladies in union called out, "AMEN!" Elvie led a cheer for God, "Hip…hip…" & they responded with, "HOORAY!" It was the 2nd day of speaking engagements for Elvie, since on Friday, she was one of the speakers for a seminar attended by BCA's graduating 6th graders. The topic was, "Self Awareness". Elvie had team-taught with the school's two chaplains, Melvin & Eunice. It's purpose was to challenge the kids, from a Biblical perspective, on the transition they will make from a Christian Elementary School to secular Junior & Senior High Schools. "Never fear," Challenged Elvie, who is BCA's school principal, "We will never leave you nor abandon you. We have promised your sponsors that we will guide you & your families personally in your spiritual journeys!" Each day at BCA for the past three years, beginning just before Covid hit the Philippines, Bobong has been the school security guard. But since he is now bedridden with advanced cancer, his wife Doris, who is one of the school & orphanage secretaries, is doubling as gatekeeper. On Thursday she positioned herself at the West Entrance Gate of the School to receive the kids from their respective buses. After sanitizing (hand washing & temperature checking with no-touch thermo-scan) each student, she inspected his/her uniform, checking if it was complete, clean & their hair was washed & at the proper length. Then the next step was to zip out to pay the campus & guest house utility bills: electric, water, telephone, internet, etc. Then she took an hour barge-ride to the island to pay the same bills for the orphanage, & pick up the kids' report cards, to send copies to the sponsors. The teachers were pretty positive on the good grades of the orphan kids, but they do tend to occasionally require AA: "Attitude Adjustments". Upon her return, I directed a meeting with BCA's secretarial staff & administrators to plan for our upcoming absence for the 5-month teaching & speaking tour in the USA. Doris interjected, "It is amazing, the love that you show the kids on both campuses! I can see it in the children's faces. Even though you are only in the country half of the year, they all know that your time with them is quality, not quantity." A smile beamed on her face as she once again quoted her favorite phrase, "We all know that the main reason why you are HERE now, is that…" we paused, anticipating her statement, "…is that you are not THERE…yet!" Ah, and the reason why we are HERE working for our Jesus, is that we are not yet THERE in Heaven with our Jesus…yet! Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. Late Night Worship #341 - Happy Father's Day! PJ Barner was live with Auburn Alliance singers. Join us on T/Th nights! 3 min, 57 sec. Thursday, June 15, 2023. THE FATHER'S HOUSE. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/269556572408776 C. Late Night Worship #340. PJ Barner was live with "Grandpa Jim House" on violin & guitar. Tuesday, June 13, 2023. 6 min. 5 sec. Join us on T/Th nights! HE TOUCHED ME. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/794759028984120 Present Need: $295 for: BCA Bus vehicle maintenance: BCA Bus "M": $280 for 2 units of battery, $10 for rubber clips, $4 for brake fluid, $1 for sand paper. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,400. Still needed: $10,600. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: Need: $80,000. Received (actual & Ironman race-pledged): $52,046. Remaining: $27,954. Upcoming (General) Schedule: BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners' USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (9/22/2024: Augusta, Georgia USA). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Manhattan Beach, CA. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's New York wedding]. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. Churches, Schools & "Safe House" (orphanage): Barner Christian Academy: PHILS: PO Box 82,224 Davao City, Philippines 8000. USA: 18 (or #5) Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144 PJ & Briana have a bridal registry! Here is the link: www.theknot.com/peejandbri |
| 6/15/2023 | USA Flag Day (6/14/23). Happy Fathers' Day (6/18/23). Please pray for our 12 orphans' spiritual retreat, next Monday & Tuesday (6/19 & 20). We have postponed the event three times due to scheduling conflicts, sickness &/or school conflicts. Yet their teachers agreed to release the kids for these two days. Just in time, as our family flies back for work & college in the USA for 5 months less than a week later. Praise God that the event which Elvie planned & emceed this past Monday was a success! Over 70 new believers were baptized in the Pacific Ocean, & nearly a thousand people from 2 dozen churches attended the all-day ocean-beach event on The Philippines' Independence Day (6/12). During the "Battle of the Bands" some very talented music teams from 8 churches blessed not only the believers who were present, but also presented the Gospel for hundreds more who were at the beach to enjoy the sun on this holiday. "No Faith. You are not a 4th grader anymore…" I distributed the hundreds of new BCA sneakers by size (each teacher had traced his/her students' bare feet to be sure the footwear matched perfectly, since American sizes are calculated differently than Philippine ones) into the different grade levels. As she opened the plastic bin which I had designated for the 4th Graders, one of the school secretaries tried on a pair & quipped with a grin, "These fit perfectly & are such high quality! Can I please have a pair?" To which I responded, "Faith, those are reserved for the children. Maybe another time we can buy some for the staff…" The students immediately began wearing their new black sneakers with the school logo on the side. Dashing. Meanwhile, BCA's new 1st Grade teacher Krystal was amazed when her students quipped that their quarterly exam was easy! Of course, they started the day with their Good Morning Song & prayer, which set the scene of putting God first. God responded by keeping their minds focused & free from distractions. Axel, who had an almost perfect paper, explained, "Filipino & Social Studies are easy because they are so REAL. It is not just math or science, which is thinking about quazy-stuff". Where this 1st Grader got this advanced terminology was beyond Teacher Krystal's grasp, but rather than challenge the comment, she addressed the top three: Axel, Carina & Elvier, "Everybody did exceptional. It is hard to trace who is best & worst because the difference is infinitesimal. But this I can say; I am very, very proud of you all!" During recess, between exams, Krystal found it interesting when she overheard, as the kids were playing, that five students were comparing answers they had given on the test. They even shared some of their favorite moments! In a test! Krystal found it interesting because, as the students were sharing, they were also learning from the experience. One particular student, Jay, had trouble focusing on his test. He is one of the "front row" students, where the slower learners sit, so they are sure to catch facial expressions & body language of the teacher, & even be the first to ask questions, which assist in the learning process. But today, Jay just doodled on the edge of the paper as the time limit ticked away. Noticing this, Krystal approached his desk and whispered, "Like some help?" From previous weeks, Krystal knew that Jay is a very special student. He lashes out hysterically if confronted. Instead, he responds incredibly to love & real concern. That is why Krystal whispered, so as not to call attention to him, which would have embarrassed him in front of his classmates. Although Jadael & Kael glanced over at them, they just figured there was a minor clarification for the test questions. Krystal was pleased that, although not in the top three, Jay's score was similar to the top 2/3rds of this classmates. One particular Social Studies item they really enjoyed was "Distansiya at Lokasyon". Not that the test questions were easy or hard, but that they brought back to the minds of the 1st graders the class period when they had been discussed, a few weeks ago. To study distance & location, each student was asked to draw a picture of their own faces & present them before the class. There was so much laughter at the incredible ways to draw ears & noses, that the lesson just slid into place in the kids' permanent memory banks. At the end of the school day, Krystal asked Alyssa to read to the class Psalms 101:7."Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, & his steadfast love endures forever!" When Krystal locked up her classroom door after the students left for their buses, she closed her eyes & said, "Lord, these kids! They are able to reap the fruits of their hard work by studying hard. Please keep them focused the next month, as we approach graduation. May they all excel, without exception, & be a vibrant testimony of the wisdom that You impart. In Jesus' Name, Amen." Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. Late Night Worship #339. PJ Barner was live. Thursday, June 8, 2023. 2 min. 41 sec. Join us on T/Th nights! JUST AS I AM/I COME BROKEN. 5 min, 10 sec.https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/628116449295567 C. Youth Sunday worship|FAFC|June , Jun 11, 2023. Feel free to follow, like and share to others so they will be drawn closer to God too! God Bless you! Keep on praying and have Faith. 1 HR, 16 MIN, 20 SEC. (Cebuano preaching). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByUWanMLsbI&t=8s |
| 6/8/2023 | Happy Father's Day! (6/18/23). Happy Philippine Independence Day! (6/12) Please pray for our dozen orphan kids, as they performance next Monday (Philippine Independence Day) for over a thousand spectators at a beachside regional church picnic & baptism. Praise God that Caitlyn, a lifeguard & sister of PJ's fiancé, had a safe flight from New York to Davao this week. She will be returning with us to the USA toward the end of the month. While in Davao she plans to scuba, snorkel, swim & meet many fellow believers in the school, churches & orphanage. "Who Am I?" During this past Sunday evening's church youth banquet, my Bible challenge was from Romans 12. I discussed one of the deepest concerns of every teen: Identity. Who am I? The Bible's answer was "in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of each of us". In essence, our identity is in Jesus. Who am I? I am HIS. Thus, my whole life delightfully revolves around Him. Just as a newlywed is always thinking of, & enjoys please his/her spouse, likewise we adore our Master & Lord, Jesus. The next day, Monday, BCA's 4th Grade Teacher Rocel challenged her "troops": "Class, everybody out of your chairs & lay down in a circle on the carpet." In the center of the circle, she turned around three times with her eyes closed & held out her handkerchief to one of the students. Half a dozen of the 4thgraders were also closing their eyes, folding their hands as they prayed, "Jesus, oh Jesus, please don't let her point to & choose me!" "Okay Earl, I chose you." After asking him a Math question from their homework on "The Area of Irregular Figures", Earl dramatically raised his hand to his forehead, exclaiming, "Oh! I suddenly have a severe headache! I think I have to go home, Teach!" Even though Rocel had prepared other questions on "Data, Tables & Graphs", she replaced her question with an alternate one for Earl, so solve "The Volume of a Rectangular Prism." Now, it wasn't a headache only, but now Earl grasped his tummy & exclaimed, "My stomach! Oh, my tummy aches so much! Maybe I have COVID! I might be contagious! Teacher, please let me have my cellphone back so I can chat my mama. I want to go home because I have headache I want to rest…a vacation one day" Stifling a grin & calling his bluff, Rocel reached into her desk drawer to get out her own cell phone. "Tell you what? I will call you mom now. But you will miss our outdoor Science activity later!" Since Earl loves Science but hates Math, he was caught in a quandary. "Uh, maybe I am suddenly better. Isn't it time for spelling instead?" Since the time allotted for Math had elapsed, Earl was right in that it was time for Spelling. they all stood up for the spelling bee. Everybody actually did wonderfully in presenting their memorized words, & Earl came in 5th place. However, a few kids agreed that "The words were hard, & made our minds pop!" Rocel cautioned this cute boy Earl, "Be sure tonight to rest, & drink more water… to lower your moodiness. NO cell phones when you should be sleeping!" Finally, it was time to go outside for their Science assignment. The students went out to the school parking lot to get samples of 3 types of soil, using tools prepared by them (trowel, cups, pencil, notebook). The students really enjoyed their activity in outside. After getting the samples they traipsed single file back to the classroom to process the activity. Later, as they gathered their things and headed to their buses, Rocel handed out their individually-tiered assignments, uniquely prepared by her for each child according to their abilities, to empower them for the week's lessons. And Earl had made an astonishingly fast recovery from his illness… Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. Late Night Worship #337. PJ Barner was live. Friday, June 2, 2023. 4 min. 13 sec. Join us on T/Th nights! JAMES 5. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/1265522390745293 C. Late Night Worship #338. PJ Barner was live. Tuesday, June 6, 2023. 2 min. 41 sec. Join us on T/Th nights! WE WANT TO SEE JESUS LIFTED HIGH. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/306509618367717 |
| 6/1/2023 | Please pray for our scheduling of a retreat for our orphans before we fly back to the USA at the end of this month. Each time we schedule the retreat, one or two of the orphans come down with some sickness. Although these guys are pretty strong, it is hard to keep unwanted germs from a dozen orphan kids! Please also pray that, after the Main Manila Post Office burned down last week, that none of our sponsorship letters were incinerated through the inferno. Please also pray that this Sunday afternoon (6/4), as our church youth group invites many friends to their annual banquet, many unbelievers will respond to the Gospel presented, & turn their hearts to Jesus as their Savior. Praise God that, this past week Elvie assisted a sister group on nearby Samal Island, feeding hundreds of elementary school children, giving out flip flops & back packs, multiple vitamins, & much-needed emergency health kits. Praise God also that, although I pay for my annual Ironman triathlons with funds earned by Substitute Teaching while stateside, next year's 2024 race in Augusta, Georgia will be free! The Ironman Foundation so enjoyed my survey-feedback after the Davao race in March, that I was selected as the winner for a complimentary entry to any 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 event of my choice. Thank you, Lord! Praise God that, of the 19 churches we will be visiting this Summer & Fall, 16 have already confirmed our presenting a missions challenge in their worship services! Praise God that, although Melvin, a former BCA graduate, was in a motorcycle accident 3 days before his college commencement exercises, he recuperated from his injuries enough to make it to the ceremony. "As you pray…go. As you go…pray." The Pastors' Bible College's speaker finished his commencement speech, as the 25 graduates, diplomas in hand, stood to sing, "We are going forth from the school of Jesus, we have sat at His blessed feet, & He sends us forth with the watchword holy, whatsoever it costs, BE TRUE!" Eighteen FRESHMAN stood singing the second verse, ending with, "We are going forth as epistles holy, & to live as Christ would do; Let our life be always true. BE TRUE!" In response, the 25 graduates, with diplomas in hand sang. "We'll be true!" FRESHMEN: "Let the holy watchword ring. Whether friends be false or few, BE TRUE." GRADS: "Whatso'er betide, ever at His side, We'll be true. We'll be true, WE'LL. BE. TRUE." Next, emotions soared as the promises of the grads rang through the hallowed halls of campus, settled in the midst of a forest lined with towering bamboo plants & majestic coconut trees, when the SOPHOMORES stood & burst into chorus, "Let it be our greatest joy, my brother, that the Lord can depend on you, to your trust be always true. BE TRUE." GRADS: "We'll. Be. True!" JUNIORS: "With a work so grand & a trust so holy, oh, what heart would not be true? BE TRUE." Clouds gathered in a sky where previously the sun was so hot that Elvie & I, along with other parents, had moved their chairs closer to the stage to find the cooler shadows. But now, thunder roared from above & torrents of rain beat upon the high tin roof, yet the anthem of promise continued, & the grads responded, accompanied by a glorious heavenly drumroll, "We'll. Be. True!" Lightning flashed, seemingly in divine response as the faculty professors in their shiny black gowns stood to sing, "With the Master's presence always near us, Shall we not be always true? BE TRUE." GRADS: "We'll. Be. True!" The grads completed their final verse with "We shall not have gone over all the cities, till the Son of Man be come. May He say, "Hast thou been true?" We'll. Be. True!" As I watched the grads file down the steps to the tune of "Pomp & Circumstance," in my mind's eye I saw scruffy, 4-yr-old Little Melvin, coming to our small new church plant, a quarter of a century ago, in a previous century: BCA's very first sponsored child. But now, Melvin is a man. A pastor. And in his hand, alongside the diploma was a Bible. Donated by Rev. Bouw, the 96-yr-old missionary who, back half a century ago, when I was ten, had challenged me to become a missionary to the Philippines. Also, along with the diploma & Bible was a plaque from Skip & Charm, Melvin's sponsors over the past few decades, who have faithfully paid his way through elementary, high school & college. Meanwhile a hundred miles away on Samal Island, another batch of children, our twelve orphans, wrote in their personal daily diaries. As I read them the next day, the college graduation ceremony theme song came to my mind: Will you be true? (15 yr old) CHRISTINE: "Christ is faithful. Oh, how faithful He is to me, just as He promised in Hebrews 10." We'll be true! (13 yr old) ALDRIN: "You told us to do right, God. How could we possibly do any less? So, you anoint us with Your oil of joy." We'll be true! We'll be true! (12-yr-old) JONAS: "Lord, You said, 'Here am I, & the children God has given me.' That's how I came back, because You will never, ever leave me. And since I know that Daddy Paul & Mommy Elvie love me, I know You, Lord love me just the same. They will never leave me. You will never leave me. I will always, always trust in You." I'll. Be. True! Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's ?? Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. Late Night Worship #335. Join us on T/Th nights! PJ Barner was live.— with Rachel Kepple and 2 others. Thursday, May 25, 2023. 4 min. 2 sec. AMAZING GRACE (MY CHAINS ARE GONE) https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/1659314571252085 C. Late Night Worship #336. PJ Barner was live. Tuesday, May 25, 2023. 5 min. 53 sec. Join us on T/Th nights! COME LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN • EXHALE https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/1016861976352995 |
| 5/25/2023 | USA Armed Forces Day, May 20, 2023 (Armed Forces Day is for those still in their uniform. Veteran's Day is for those who have hung up their uniform. Memorial Day is for those who never got out of their uniforms). Jerusalem Day, May 18-19, 2023. (Yom Yerushalayim, 56th anniversary of the liberation & unification of Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty during the 1967 Six Day War). Please pray for those affected by Super Typhoon Betty (internationally known as "Mawar"). After passing the Mariana Islands earlier his week, it has looped around to hit the Southwestern Philippines, starting off the Philippine rainy season with landslides, flooding, evacuations & expected loss of life. Although the center of Betty's fury will miss Davao, BCA has spread a ¼-truckload of gravel in front of its guesthouse to avoid deep puddles, since our 12 orphans will be staying over for the weekend to enjoy church events with the youth group. Praise God that, Elvie's missions message, along with Abigail's solo at the ladies' "God's Overflowing Joy" conference this week in Upper Malagos (Davao) blessed the hundreds of women in attendance. Praise God as well that the $500 week-long hospital stay bill (excluding prescription costs) for 2 of our orphans (due to dengue fever) was forgiven. We had filed hospital paperwork to prove that we run the ministry to feed, clothe & shelter these 12 kids with no guaranteed funds, just out of our own pockets. Praise God too that, even though Amazon.com ended their "Amazon Smile" charitable gift program, they still they sent 2 checks to us for past gifts. This most recent one was $89.65. "When you tell other people what God has done for you, the joy unspeakable which resides in your heart, spreads like wildfire to those who are still struggling in darkness!" Elvie was missions speaker at a ladies' conference this week, is a very rural town. But that did not stop hundreds of tribal ladies from setting down their farming tools, strapping their babies to their backs, & trudging a few miles, to the gathering place for this year's conference. The words of Elvie's mouth, spoken in her own Bagobo tribal dialect, were like golden dew resting upon the ears of these transfixed listeners. Also golden were the intricate, fine filigree designs interspersed along the gorgeous, teal-colored Indian sarong that she wore while making her way to the speaker's platform. I (Paul) had purchased the fashionable outfit for her with assistance of native Sri Lankan Christian friends while visiting their small country (south of India) many years ago. There I both attended an international conference & competed in an Ironman triathlon race. Meanwhile while Elvie was in the mountains, back on the lowlands on the Barner Christian Academy campus, Teacher Romnick challenged his 30 sixth graders, "Always remember, your weakness is somebody else's strength. Walk daringly through your weakness & it'll develop your power. God understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin…we will receive His mercy, & we will find grace to help us when we need it most" Romnick hinged on this Biblical concept of strengths & weaknesses through a group activity which he coined "Your business, my business" The goal was to sell products inside the school or at their homes. They should take a video as evidence. It was to be their performance task for the third quarter, for which they will be graded. One such product was learned in their ART class. They would make a frame. In the frame would be written their favorite life-verse form the Bible. "Teacher," asked Kent, one of his more inquisitive 6th graders, "Do people in my neighborhood really sell pictures like this that they hand-made? I haven't seen any." To which Romnick responded, "Good question, Kent. Think about your barangay (village) hall. See the picture I have posted on the blackboard? What do you see in the picture?" Meme raised her hand. "I see a building & lines of people waiting to speak to somebody at a desk." "Good, Meme. Also, who are the people in the picture?" Meme also responded, "The nametag says SECRETARY. Thru the open door into the other room, I can see the barangay captain, talking with a woman who has a child by her side." Kent raised his hand too. "Oh, and there is also a security guard at the main door with a rifle." "Very observant, students. Now, what does each person here do?" Amieza replied, "The CAPTAIN solves misunderstandings, the MOM takes care of her family, the SECRETARY keeps the people waiting until their turn, & the SECURITY GUARD makes sure that people keep to the task they had come for." "Nice," said Romnick. "Next activity is…" "But teacher," Interjected Kent, "You haven't answered my question about selling pictures in the neighborhood." "Thank you, Kent. I am getting to that. Each person has a purpose. There are sellers & there are buyers, There are people with needs & there are people to fill those needs. Maybe this mother needs a nice picture on her wall, with a comforting Bible verse to remind her that God is in control. Maybe the Barangay captain has a 6th grade daughter who could make such a picture & sell it to her?" Each person has a skill to fill other people's needs. For their last activity of the day, they played a game called "Find and Match Me". Romnick had prepared paper strips printed with words in big, bold letters: Community, social welfare, rehabilitation, health, resources, health facilities. Hde also cut strips of paper printed with the definitions of community resources, with masking tape. "Now, everybody reach under your chair & you will find a folded paper with printed definitions, which I taped there before the class started." Expectantly, each student reached under his or her chair to get their respective papers. "Now, post the strips of words on the blackboard, matching it with the words that define those duties." Once all the students had taken their turn to match-up the positions with their duties, Romnick reminded them, "Since God gave everybody strengths & weaknesses, we must work together to survive in this exciting and intricate puzzle of life. God is Master of all, Great Planner who makes all the puzzle pieces of life will fit together… I promise." Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. B. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #334. Join us on T/Th nights! PJ Barner was live. JAMES 4. Tuesday, May 23, 2023. 27 min. 38 sec. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/164469209699134 C. Faith Fellowship Worship Service (Cebuano language), Davao City, Philippi9nes. Theme: DAVID. Sunday, May 21, 2023. 1 Hour, 8 minutes, 38 seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E4kB0Re4FM Present Need: $300 for (installment #4 of 10) $3,000 generator for Barner Christian Academy. Frequent blackouts in the city require fans & lights with this alternate power source. It also pumps water from the new well. $1,800 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,400. Still needed: $10,600. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2024 Augusta, Georgia (USA) Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 & 2023 Ironman gifts: $52,602.35. 2024 Ironman gifts: $0. Remaining need: $80,000- ($51,996 + $606 = 52,602)= $27,398. Upcoming Schedule: District Women's Rally (5/24-26), Retreat with the orphans (5/27-28), MAABC Bible College Graduation (Melvin, BCA's 1st sponsored child: 1997, with Bible degree: Bachelor of Arts. 5/31), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners' USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (9/22/2024: Augusta, Georgia USA). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Manhattan Beach, CA. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's New York wedding]. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. |
| 5/18/2023 | USA Memorial Day (May 29, 2023). Pentecost (May 28, 2023). Feast of Weeks (Shavuot: May 25-27). Please pray for our twelve orphans, four of whom have dengue fever, with two (Leah & Juvy) now in the hospital. Praise God that, even though Amazon has discontinued their "Smile" charitable gift program, one last remittance came from donors through them for Barner Christian Academy: $30.11, which is being used for the food for our orphans. Praise God also that, while tilling the soil for the vegetable fields at our orphanage, & both the farmer & the kids were stung 30 times, all have recuperated well. "We commit this ground to the Lord for a future Bible Camp!" Elvie accepted an invitation she had received, by an organization of pastors & churches. She drove our pickup truck 2 hours away to join in the group prayers for the groundbreaking ceremony & dedication of the Kawayan Bible Camp in a jungle area not far from where she grew up. Dozens of pastors participated, some traveling on overgrown mountain paths from a hundred-mile radius, whose parishioners will avail of the camp for years to come. Back in 1971, I myself was first called by God to become a missionary to the Philippines when I was ten years old, at a New York Bible Camp. Meanwhile at Barner Christian Academy, as Teacher Violy was about to place the key into the door lock of the Kindergarten classroom, the door instead swung open, revealing half the students already seated within. "Why are you all so early, kids?" Raizel responded, "Because Teacher Violet, we studied last night before going to bed, & want to answer the exam questions while they are fresh in our minds!" "Wow that's great Jayce!" As the remainder of the students arrived, the school bell rang for the start of classes. Violy then asked Yesha to open the class in prayer. All paid careful attention until "Amen" was said. Then Violy reminded these 30 kindergarteners of the "7 Rules" for the exam they were taking. "Freyja, what is Rule #1?" "Once the exam starts, no one will stand." "Very good. Now, Joanni, Rule #2?" "No cheating." "Excellent. Now, Clithon, Rule #3?" "No shouting & avoid being noisy." "Right. Devine, Rule #4?" "Concentrate & focus. My mother kept on telling me to study each night before going to bed." Since the rules were written on the blackboard, Violy was not overly impressed with their correct responses. What she was pleased with mostly was that they knew to look up & find them on the blackboard, & that they were able to read them. "Good, good. Hopefully since you studied at night, you will not get tired just by seeing the questions! Hezekiel, what about Rule #5?" "Avoid destracting your classmates." "Nice. Julia, #6?" "Be silent." "Exactly. Now, Cherick, #7?" "Wait for the teacher's instructions. My mom watched the YouTube link you sent in the group chat. She did this because she didn't have time to study with me. Instead, she clicked the link you sent about the lessons you taught us." Violy responded, "Fine. Now, you all have proven that you know the rules. You don't have to take the test, because you are all so smart." The kindergarteners' mouths all dropped open in surprise, & before they could cheer, Violy interjected, "Only kidding. Now please get out your pencils." Freyja, who hadn't been called upon yet, added to Cherrick's comment, "My mom also gave me extra practice papers, based on your lessons, which she made herself!" Violy's smile could no longer be concealed as it burst to her face. "Very good everyone! I admire your dedication to study harder & to be competitive! Aim high in your studies! Now with your pencils, let's start this exam. Write your name, date & class, which is Kinder II- Jerusalem." She also reminded them that, for extra credit, they were to write their Bible memory verse on the back of the page, which was left blank for that purpose: "Now Faith is confidence in what we hope for & assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 Violy was amazed at the students' intensely focused concentration during the exam, attentive to each question & answer in Math, English, Filipino & CLE (Christian Life Education). As they diligently wrote their answers, she silently prayed for each one from her desk. "Thank you, Lord, for these gifted students you have placed in my care. They are all kind & participate during classroom discussions… always so lively & active. Guide them to keep doing great always, right up through 12th grade, thrilled at making their parents proud of them." Violy had previously trained her kids over & over & over again in class on the recitation of their Bible verse, in preparation for this test. She also sent me, along with a copy of her daily journal, mini videos of each student, one-by-one reciting the Hebrews verse, complete with hand motions they had made up themselves to jar their memories. Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. B. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #329. 2 min, 29 sec. PJ Barner was live — with Briana Cutting. Join us on T/Th nights! WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE. Tuesday, May 9, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/206550798813261 C. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #330 - Mother's Day. 4 min. 11 sec. PJ Barner was live. Join us on T/Th nights! WHEN GOD MADE YOU MY MOTHER. Happy early Mother's Day! Missing my Mama Elvie from across the oceans, I'm so glad God made her my mother! Friday, May 12, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/242852141712152/ D. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #332. 4 min. 33 sec. Join us on T/Th nights! PJ Barner was live. CREATURE. This one's for Abby! Tuesday, May 16, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/139036795832650 E. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #333. Join us on T/Th nights! MAKE ME A SERVANT. PJ Barner was live — with Charlie Kraebel & 3 others. Thursday, May 18, 2023. 2 min. 47 sec. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/1272019226736305 F. Worship Service Faith Fellowship Church Davao. Communion Sunday, May 7, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwMz6tewH1c Present Need: $277 for: BCA Bus vehicle maintenance: Bus "Fi": $6 conrod bearing, $184 crankshaft assembly, $2 gas & oil, $11 gear oil, $2 rubber hose, $2 hose clip, $6 motor oil, $6 wiper, $6 clutch lining, $12 replacement of crankshaft/ oil seal & tune up of engine, $40 mechanic's labor. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,400. Still needed: $10,600. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2024 Augusta, Georgia (USA) Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 & 2023 Ironman gifts: $52,602.35. 2024 Ironman gifts: $0. Remaining need: $80,000- ($51,996 + $606 = 52,602)= $27,398. Upcoming Schedule: Barners' vacation (5/18-23), District Women's Rally (5/24-26), Retreat with the orphans (5/27-28), MAABC Bible College Graduation (Melvin, BCA's 1st sponsored child: 1997, with Bible degree: Bachelor of Arts. 5/31), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners' USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (9/22/2024: Augusta, Georgia USA). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Manhattan Beach, CA. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's New York wedding]. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. Churches, Schools & "Safe House" (orphanage): Barner Christian Academy: PHILS: PO Box 82,224 Davao City, Philippines 8000. USA: 18 (or #5) Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144 |
| 5/11/2023 | Please pray for the 3 baptismal candidates whose immersion has been delayed until June, since they wanted to extend their classes to delve deeper into the depths of the meaning of this divinely ordained act of obedience to God before "taking the plunge". Praise God that, while our son PJ has just finished his last of 100 performances (with "The Rev") as a drama coach in Upstate New York schools, he continues as Minister of Worship in Auburn, NY & also has started the "final countdown" of his last 100 days of bachelorhood. His & Briana's wedding is August 12! Praise God also that, before I (Paul) preached this past Sunday on "1 Sam. 30: Serving on the Front Lines," our daughter Abby joined our 12 orphan kids to inspire the congregation with a chorus, & Elvie also gave a report of God's working while we were at a national Pastor's Conference last week in Bacolod. "When did you understand & pray for Jesus to forgive your sins?" I quizzed each of these 8 young believers before they went down into the Pacific Ocean to be baptized. We'd just driven 3 of BCA's buses, 3 hours away to Davao de Oro with many of our church people on an overnight picnic, & planning meeting for the 2nd half of 2023. The candidates had already attended our 3-hour class on the meaning of baptism, as well as on how to share their personal testimony of salvation. Yet in this step, before going down into the water, they were telling dozens of church members gathered at the beach about their decision to follow Jesus. "It was during Vacation Bible School". While this answer was the most common, one woman in her 40s said, "My sister told me!" As I immersed each candidate one-by-one into the ocean "…in the name of the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) & the Holy Spirit," I was thrilled that this ministry, which we started nearly 3 decades ago, has seen me baptize parents, then their kids, & then their grandkids as well! Meanwhile a few days before, at Barner Christian Academy, Teacher Jezel was finishing-up her six years with us, as she'd accepted a teaching position in another school. Her 1st -Graders were sad to see her go, but had the privilege of Jezel introducing her replacement, Krystal. To begin the day, Jezel quizzed her 24 students on the Bible verse they had memorized. "Okay, finish the verse with me…'The Lord is my light & my salvation…' now who can quote the next clause?" Ashley piped up, "…whom shall I fear?" Next was Gerlad, "The Lord is the strength of my life…" Then, even though hopeful hands shot up across the room, Jezel coaxed the class, "Altogether now… 'of whom shall I be afraid?'" A hand was still in the air, & Teacher Jezel, curious, asked the boy, "Yes, Barachiel?" To which Barachiel responded, "We didn't tell the reference. Can I?" "Sure, go ahead." With pride beaming from his face, this little 1st grade boy recited, "PALM 27, BERSE one." Jezel replied, "Excellent. But the pronunciation of the book is Psalm, not palm. Palms are parts of your hands, or part of a tree." She didn't bother correcting his pronunciation of the word "verse" since it is a common error in the Philippines to transpose "B" with "V". Jezel then asked Krystal, her replacement, to lead the kids in explaining the meaning of the verse. When the kids were headed home for the day, Jezel directed, "Students, this is my last day with you. I have loved being your teacher for most of the year, but another school is calling me to teach. Please clean up your desks & floor area, as I want to make sure the class is presentable for your new Teacher, Krystal." "But Teach, you are leaving. Why do you care about how the room looks?" Jezel explained, "Remember today's verse, Julven? Since Jesus is the light of our lives, then He must shine in all that we do. Let us make Jesus proud!" In her closing "exit comments" from her years with us, Jezel thrillingly exalted God's work here by saying, "I am physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually charged! "Thank God for His marvelous power & unfathomable plan for me as His follower & believer. "I am wittier & cleverer concerning God since I have worked at BCA: a Christian institution which has excelled academically & spiritually!" It is such a joy to know that, not only were Jeszel's 1st graders blessed for these years she was with us, but she too was growing spiritually & blessed. Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $360 for (installment # 1 of 2) $720 athletic treadmill for BCA's guest house. $360 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,400. Still needed: $10,600. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2024 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 & 2023 Ironman gifts: $51,655.99. 2024 Ironman gifts: $0. Remaining need: $80,000- ($51,656 + $0 = 51,656)= $28,344. Upcoming Schedule: Barners' vacation (5/11-23), District Women's Rally (5/24-26), Retreat with the orphans (5/27-28), MAABC Bible College Graduation (Melvin, BCA's 1st sponsored child: 1997, with Bible degree: 5/31), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners' USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (9/22/2024: Augusta, Georgia USA). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Manhattan Beach, CA. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's New York wedding]. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. Churches, Schools & "Safe House" (orphanage): Barner Christian Academy: PHILS: PO Box 82,224 Davao City, Philippines 8000. USA: 18 (or #5) Eileen Drive, Rensselaer, NY 12144 |
| 5/4/2023 | Please pray for our twelve orphans who now have (rotating) special extra daily chores at the 5-acre orphanage, for which we are paying them an extra allowance, since they are growing older & often have "personal needs". #1 & 2: Oliver & his brother Augustine are digging up some rich topsoil around the property to fill the new cement planters for flowers. #3: Aldrin is using the weed eater & machete to cut the very tall grass & bushes. #4 & 5: John & Jonas are cutting, gathering & splitting wood for the cookfires. #6 & 7: Abigail & CJ feed the goats & water the flowers & vegetable garden. #8: Melody- clean the whole house inside & outside. #9: Esabel- clean up the outdoor kitchen & firepit. #10: Christine - brush the toilets in the Boys & Girls bathrooms. #11 & 12: Leah & Jovy - clean surroundings & the laundry. Please also pray for our Church leadership team as we have our annual planning retreat this weekend. We will combine it with a baptismal service. Seven candidates are following the Lord in this step of obedience to Him. Praise God that, while attending a recent National Pastor's conference Last week, Rev. DeJesus (a former denominational president) invited the three of us to join his 89th birthday party & 63rd wedding anniversary. Abby even was asked to sing a tribute solo: "You Raise Me Up". Praise God that, since Abby cannot bring her pet rabbit "Tapioca" to Moody Bible Institute this August, she needed somebody to care for her pet. Her brother PJ found a "taker" for Tappy, who previously owned a rabbit. Praise God that, the farmer who uses his water buffalo to plow people's farms finally had a day available to dig up one of our orphanage fields so that vegetables could be planted. Praise God that, when our goat gave birth to triplets last week, two survived. "Uh-oh. A bag is missing!" Last week we flew to Bacolod City for a week-long Christian Pastors' conference, with the theme "Be True", based on 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12. Then, on Sunday after services, we packed our bags for our ride back to the airport, & also for our 6-hour flight home. The rain was so intense that traffic was backed up for mils, with flood waters 2 feet deep in the road. Finally arriving at the airport, the required four hours before the 5pm flight, we removed our luggage from the vehicle only to find out that one bag was missing! So, another hour-long round-trip ride back to the hotel to get our bag…oooh, but this will be a close one. Fortunately, we did check-in at the airport to get our boarding passes before getting back into the car. The driver took all kinds of short cuts, but each one seemed to end in flooded streets with bumper-to-bumper traffic. When 5pm came though, God had gotten us safely to the gate, & wouldn't you know it, but the plane was half an hour late! Talk about the providence of God! Meanwhile, back in Davao at Barner Christian Academy, Teacher Jovi challenged her 5th graders, "Anybody want to see a video?" YAY! So, Jovi first described typesetting, printing presses, digital printing, screen printing, & so on. "Really," she explained, "Presses do their work by PRESSING the image into or onto the page." After the video, & after the quiz she gave, Juvi had the kids describe the video itself. "What were the elements of the story? The Plot?" Mark spoke up, "The plot was to describe the printing of an image. The sequence of events in the plot were…" Juvi interrupted Mark's soliloquy with, "That was wonderful, Mark. Please let me break in so that I can ask another student about the characters, climax, theme & setting." Mark asked, "Oh, can I?" No, but thanks. Juvi appreciated Mark's enthusiasm, but when one student dominates, other students' minds tend to wander. However, seeing the interest Mark had in this topic, she read a story & asked Mark, "Back to you. Please read the assignment I gave the class, about describing an experience in your childhood." Surprisingly, tears made their way down Mark's cheeks, as he read. Not only him, but hardly a dry eye was in the place as Mark's story continued, "The first recollection I have from my childhood was being scolded by Mama. I just dropped a piece of candy on the floor, but since it drew ants, I was yelled at & then afterwards, Papa punished me with a bamboo rod for being moody." Juvi was shocked. Mark was a happy & pleasantly excitable child at school. Amazing that he held inside this tormenting memory of his past. She immediately reached into her top desk drawer & pulled out a tapestry. "Class, the story Mark gave was emotional, wasn't it?" While not a word was said, 5th-grade heads across the classroom nodded up & down. "In my hand I hold a piece of cloth. We are now transitioning into our EPP [Home Economics] class. What did I use to make this design?" A sewing machine. "Yes. And look at this diagram on the board, of a sewing machine & its parts. Can you identify the parts? Nice. There are parts of the machine that poke into the cloth, & other parts: gears & stuff, that help the needles do their work. In life, there are many things that shape who we are." "Some things are enjoyable & others, like in the case with Mark's story, some not so enjoyable. But when you see it in the final product…" here she held up the beautifully-designed cloth, "you can see that it all works together for God's perfect plan in our lives. Let's read together Romans 8:28. Then, when you go home, don't forget that tomorrow each one needs to bring into class cloth, scissors, needle & thread. You'll be making your own design!" To God be all the Glory Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $344 for orphanage lawn care: $9 for leaf rake, $6 for garden rake, $6 for branch trimming shears, $12 for 3 padlocks, $10 for small grass sickle, $11 for cable lock, $11 for pointed shovel, $8 for flat shovel, $200 for chainsaw, $31 for 2 goat chains and one generator chain, $40 for metal washbasin. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,400. Still needed: $10,600. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2024 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 & 2023 Ironman gifts: $51,655.99. 2024 Ironman gifts: $0. Remaining need: $80,000- ($51,656 + $0 = 51,656)= $28,344. Upcoming Schedule: Church Board Annual planning overnight retreat & baptism (5/6-7), Barners' vacation (5/9-23), District Women's Rally (5/24-26), Retreat with the orphans (5/27-28), MAABC Bible College Graduation (Melvin, BCA's 1st sponsored child: 1997, with Bible degree: 5/31), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners' USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (3/2024). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Manhattan Beach, CA. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's New York wedding]. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. |
| 4/27/2023 | Philippine National Conference in Bacolod (4/25-29), DCL Annual Prayer Gathering (5/1). USA National Day of Prayer (5/4/23). Please pray for the newly-elected president of DCL (Davao Christian Leadership Foundation). I have been president of this club for over a decade, & it will be nice to pass on the torch of leadership to Nap, the nominated retired Filipino Businessman who travels much less than I do. This will take place at the DCL Christmas Party, which was moved from busy December to next month. We have been offered free use of a Christian lawyer's resort in the mountains to have the party & elections! Please also pray that God will give us wisdom, as the leaders of this institution, to enhance the reading of our students. In the Philippines, you rarely, if ever, see a child carrying a novel or other book just to read. Textbooks, yes. But free reading, no. Reading builds vocabulary & sprouts ideas of intellect & imagination in the conscience of a child. It also guides kids to reason in a sequence, the events in a story. We have over 30,000 very interesting & creativity-building books in the BCA library, for all levels of reading abilities. Elvie & I plan, sometime in the 2023-24 school year, to start a reading program. Just how to go about it is the question. Abby plans, before we head back to the USA when she will attend Bible College, to pretty-up the library to make it more user-friendly. Praise God that, only 6 of the 19 churches we have on the list of speaking engagements this furlough (JUN-NOV) have yet to finalize the date for our visit: 2 in July (Calif), 3 in October (NY/PA), & 1 in November (NY). Praise God also that our daughter Abby has received official notification that she is accepted as an incoming Junior student at Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, Illinois, USA) for their fall semester, 2023! Praise God too that gifts which you gave to BCA through Christian Aid Mission during February & March included: #1: Children's Emergency Medical Fund $45, #2: BCA Bus Garage construction: $2,934.80, #3: Student Support $8,028, #4: Jericho School Lunch Program $36, #5: Garden Tools at orphanage $1,000, #6: Teacher training $1,110, #7: food for youth group during evangelistic outreaches $500, #8: Gas for school buses $1,000. "Abby, Lyka said 'We'. I think that means we will be having company!" These past two months, Elvie has driven back & forth to the orphanage (a cross-channel barge ride + 20 miles away) to install topsoil & to plant flowers in over 150 cubic yards of eaves, along the various safety walls which we built around the exterior & interior of the property. While Abby & I have also been there off & on, we had errands on the mainland as too, working in the BCA library & doing church work. Often when Elvie is asked to speak at rural churches & conventions, church people give her flowers & plants. They know that she, (having grown up in the jungle) is a horticulturalist at heart, & loves being surrounded by green & flowering plants. After Elvie told us she was on her way back to the mainland, one of the orphans also sent a message confirming their departure. Since she used the plural instead of the singular, Abby & I started preparing cornbread muffins, oatmeal cookies, rice & dinner. Going on 10pm, with a dozen orphans, plus a few "wannabes" tagging along, SOMEBODY will always be hungry. Then we heard the thunderous banging of a deluge of rain on our metal roof. Better prepare dry clothes too, since the orphans riding in the back of the pickup truck are sure to be drenched. Half an hour later, they came in the door soaked as if they'd been swimming. But each were handed dry clothes. Plus, the welcome sight & fragrance of food piled on plates on the table got the trembling to cease quickly. Just a few days before, at Barner Christian Academy, during 2nd period, Teacher Espenosa led his 30 second graders in Mathematics. Discussing both the metric system & also the measurement of time, he began with a question. "Ashlein, pay attention." This girl tended to be the first to be distracted in every subject, & often led others astray. Understanding that it was her desire for attention, he turned this to his advantage in getting the class involved with the subject. "So Ashlein, what is this?" A clock. Espenosa ("Espe") took his cardboard clock & turned the hands to 2:30. "The big hand is on the 2 & the little hand is on the 6. So what time is it?" Ashlein responded, "six minutes after 2." The class laughed, but Espe held up his hand & gave a "be kind" glare to the students. "Multiply 5 times the 6 and what do you get?" Ashlein is actually pretty good at multiplication, & the other students stopped giggling when she responded immediately, "Oh, the time is two thirty." Avoiding her chance to use the victory to her advantage, Espe asked, "And what is that in metric?" Uh, oh. I don't know? To which Espe apologized, "I was tricking you. Time is not measured in metric." At ease now, Ashlein paid attention during the remainder of the class. Now it was Shein's turn. Now Shien has a problem with the local "Bisaya" language since she originally came from a different province. Trying to build her confidence, Espe asked, "Shein, could you read the time in Bisayan?" Espe knew that, where Shein lacked in vocabulary & grammar, she excelled in numbers. Sure enough, she quipped right back with, "ang oras alas duha y media" (the time is half past two). You could see the pride radiate from her face as Espe responded, "Excellent, Shein." And all her classmates gave her a standing ovation! Focusing on another student, Espe asked one boy near the front, "Mateo, give a sentence explaining how one of your neighbors uses metric at work." Mateo stood & walked to the front of the classroom, before the blackboard. Pulling out his cellphone to look something up, he responded, "Tito Fernando goes to work & drives a jeepney all day. When he drives, & a passenger pays him, he reaches his hand back over his shoulder & does not even have to look at the money, since he knows that a 20-peso coin weighs eleven & a half grams. A peso coin only weighs 6 grams." Once again, the class stood in applause, as Mateo sat back down. For their final subject of the day, since everybody loves art, Espe held off on this subject until the end when otherwise they might be too weary to tackle a deep-thinking subject. Passing out traced pictures of sources of our resources: electricity, money, food & water, He asked the kids to pull out their boxes of crayons. "These resources in the pictures are limited in quantity. On your papers they have no color. Renew our energy by giving them color!" Half an hour later, as they passed their papers back to Teacher Espe, He confided in them, "Without Jesus, your life is colorless. But when you receive Him as your Savior, & as you pray & read the Bible & tell other people about Him, your life has color. Shein is tackling the Bisayan language. God is giving her strength to do so. In everything you do, put God first, & He will direct your paths." Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $300 for (installment #28 of 112) $33,500 2nd-floor of 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ school chapel & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $22,114.01 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,400. Still needed: $10,600. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2024 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 & 2023 Ironman gifts: $51,655.99. 2024 Ironman gifts: $0. Remaining need: $80,000- ($51,656 + $0 = 51,656)= $28,344. Upcoming Schedule: Philippine National Conference in Bacolod (4/25-29), DCL Annual Prayer Gathering (5/1), Barners' vacation (5/9-23), District Women's Rally (5/24-26), MAABC Bible College Graduation (BCA's 1st sponsored child: 1997, with Bible degree: 5/31), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners' USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (3/2024). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Manhattan Beach, CA. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's New York wedding]. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. |
| 4/20/2023 | This April, a convergence that happens only once every 3 or so decades occurred for the 3 Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Judaism & Islam: through Resurrection Week, Passover & Ramadan, all during the same week. Philippines cell# +63 (0985) 152-3142 & +63 (0956) 754-9921 PAUL, +63 (0926) 684-6165 ABBY USA # (518) 434-6216 GINGER (USA) Please pray for the expedited process of activating BCA's revised CYPP (Child & Youth Protection Policy) for Children & Youth Workers, which has been extended from one paragraph to 6 pages in length. It is based upon recommendations from various contributing lawyers, politicians, police departments, corporations, denominations, churches & ministries, & is more inclusive than the previous one on file at the school. As always, it includes all ministries: church, orphanage & school campuses. It also includes legal recommendations through INTERPOL (International Police) for extraditing and/or implicating foreigners who show signs of intent toward human trafficking, with possible arrest upon return to the offender's home country. Praise God that, when Elvie had a flat tire on the pickup truck, coming back on the barge the 20 miles from BCA's orphanage, she was able to make it to the tire repair shop without destroying the wheel rim. Praise God as well, for the great sunrise service on Easter. Our orphan kids sang, dressed in long-sleeved shirts with ties (for the men) and dresses plus Easter bonnets (for the women). They looked stunning. Afterward we feasted together on roasted chicken…enough to feed our 12 kids plus friends. "Elvie. could you plan the event?" After driving a few hours through farmland to the secluded area where a collection of local pastors had agreed to meet & plan, Elvie sat down & listened to the exciting discussion of these leaders in the faith. Each man present has at least one church they run, & although they are busy with visiting the sick, researching scriptures for Sunday messages, leading evangelism outreaches to neighbors & counseling couples, they also wanted to see their parishioners meet others from neighboring churches. "Let's plan an event for June. A meeting of dozens of congregations at the beach! Along with a mass baptism as well, so that relatives & unsaved friends will also be present as we preach the Gospel!" An old adage says, "If you want something done quickly, give the task to somebody who is already busy." That would be Elvie. So sure enough, she agreed to contact all the singers, baptismal candidates, speakers, & churches within the next month & a half to make the event happen. About a decade ago, this same type of event had been planned, with over a thousand attending! Not only did our own PJ & Abby sing a duet, but over a hundred new believers were baptized in the Pacific Ocean! Elvie has now buckled-down into her "planning mode". The 3rd-Graders' science discussion was about specific plant parts. Donna never expected the level of engagement her students would show that day. As she was discussing this with the class, she was also thinking about how this activity would give the students a better understanding of how the plant worked & how to care for it. After the discussion, she explained to her pupils what they would be doing regarding their planting activity. Each child received a mongo bean seed. Day after day they watered their cups of dirt until one day, after being gone for the weekend, almost all the pots had sprouts, peeping above the soil! "Thank you, Teacher! You are the best!" Donna quoted the students' comments in her daily journal, "To be honest, hearing these things melts my heart. One of my goals as a teacher is to see my students discover, explore, observe, & enjoy. In our discussions on each of the topics we covered today, the kids gained a lot of knowledge. I give God praise for always guiding me & giving me knowledge that I can impart for the growth of my students." This week, with every single one of the plants growing, Teacher Donna decided to combine her topics with an assignment. "How about writing a letter to a friend about the growth of your mongo plant?" This friendly letter was the topic for their English subject. On each paper, the 3rd-graders went over the letter's parts, including the sender's address, the salutation, the body, the summary, & the signature. Students learned from this lesson how a friendly and/or formal letter should be written. The discussion was so enjoyable that they ran out of time to complete the activity. The next day, Donna instructed them to place their letters in the classroom "mailbox" (in the back corner of the room). In Donna's observations, some of the students seemed to be getting better at structuring their thoughts. When the students got the letters from their classmates, they were to send a response letter back, comparing & contrasting the plants of the sender & the recipient. Donna saw that this exercise brought her pupils closer together because of the encouraging messages they received from the senders. She enjoyed watching each receiver smile, & then to get busy sending a letter back, putting it into the class "mailbox". The kids were all so excited that Donna noticed some were slouching. So, for her final lesson of the day, she focused on posture. She showed them how to sit & walk with proper posture. There was a lot of laughter in the classroom because some of the children, in their efforts to follow directions, were walking like robots. They frequently exclaimed, "Teacher, am I doing it right?" and when Donna noticed that they weren't, she'd help them to do it properly, sometimes by even placing a book on the head for balance. Donna told them, "Perfection is not something we can accomplish overnight, but with practice & awareness of our posture, we may become used to it & perform it effortlessly." They all agreed with her by sharing their observations & ideas. Of course they also commented that their backs hurt a little after practicing proper posture. But Donna was very happy to hear that they now understood why posture is important, thanks to the discussions. They also kept saying how happy they were that they could now observe their posture. "Like a plant that grows," Teacher Donna concluded as they headed out the door, "even so is your body growing. Stand & sit up straight, & all your life you will be tall like a tree!" Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Master list - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. Late Night Worship #323. 4 min, 41 sec. Thursday, April 14, 2023. Join us on T/Th nights! PJ Barner was live — with Tasha Foster and 2 others. I SURRENDER ALL. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 C. Late Night Worship #322 - 5 min, 24 sec. Tuesday, April 12, 2023. Join us on T/Th nights! THANK YOU JESUS FOR THE BLOOD. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/574423777805139 D. Late Night Worship #321 - 7 min, 44 sec. Maundy Thursday, April 6, 2023. Join us on T/Th nights! LORD I NEED YOU Tonight we're joined by my hosts Aunt Glenna and Uncle Monte Milligan! https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/1218049475496189 Late Night Worship Present Need: $302 for: BCA Bus vehicle maintenance: Bus "L": $109 renewal of LTO registration, $13 brake master cup, $3 rubber cup, $1 bolt, $4 metal for muffler, $10 Deisel gas, $24 Replacing of rear hub & full mounting bolts, Bus "Fi": $40 gasoline, Bus "Ph": $40 gasoline, $22 wheel bearing- outer & inner, $33 GTX essential gear, $3 silicon. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,400. Still needed: $10,600! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2024 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 & 2023 Ironman gifts: $51,655.99. 2024 Ironman gifts: $0. Remaining need: $80,000- ($51,656 + $0 = 51,656)= $28,344. Upcoming Schedule: Philippine National Conference in Bacolod (4/25-29), DCL Annual Prayer Gathering (5/1), Barners' vacation (5/9-23), District Women's Rally (5/24-26), MAABC Bible College Graduation (BCA's 1st sponsored child: 1997, with Bible degree: 5/31), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners' USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (3/2024). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Manhattan Beach, CA. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's New York wedding]. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. |
| 4/13/2023 | Happy Passover (4/5-13, 2023) & Resurrection Day (Easter) 4/9/23, Araw Ng Kagitingan "The Day of Valor" (fall of Bataan to Japanese troops during World War II) 4/9-10/2023. Please pray for all the BCA students. Since some autistic & ADHD students (on every grade level) are in classrooms with students who do not exemplify these traits, the students try to assist each other in accomplishing their expected results. Especially when there are team projects, patience & understanding are the key. Praise God that, on Good Friday, seven attendees from the church who never get the chance to preach, were given the opportunity to give a 5-minute message on the significance of one of the 7 last phrases that Jesus spoke while hanging on the cross to pay for our sins. What a blessing to see them show what they have learned! "Augustine, your eyes were closed! Smile!" One by one, our twelve orphan children strolled into the professional studio for their first-time-ever portraits to be taken. We will not be using these for ministry use, but instead, the kids get to keep them as their very own. The group portrait however, will be on the inside wall of the main building of the orphanage for future generations to see. The next day Elvie, Abby & I brought the kids into the 3rd-floor BCA clothing room to choose their "Easter Sunday Best" so they will not have to be embarrassed, wearing t-shirts & shorts to church on this very special day of the year. I even found some matching "Easter Sunday hats" for the ladies…complete with ribbons! Since they have off from school, we'll bring the kids to a park on the mainland & there, Abby will be teaching them to crochet & paint Easter eggs. Leading up to this, Elvie is working them overtime, planting flowers & cutting grass, & getting everything spic & span at the orphanage, to "earn" this special outing. Sunday's Sunrise Service is at 4am, & that afternoon we'll bring the kids (& youth group) upstairs in one of the BCA school classrooms to collect hidden candy. For kids who have no families of their own, they finally get to enjoy family fun! Meanwhile in school, just before the Easter break, BCA's Teacher Romnick challenged his 6th graders to "Believe in yourself! God has placed His own energy in your very being which is greater than any obstacle you can face!" Tristan raised his hand. "Yes?" Tristan asked, "Can God control everything?" Yes. James then asked, "Can God control gravity?" Romnick replied, "God invented gravity. He can control it anyway He likes. Elizah, could you demonstrate what gravity is?" The girl (a true drama queen) then stepped out of her chair & made believe she weighed a thousand pounds, gradually getting closer & closer to the floor. Next, Angel & Daisy demonstrated what it would be like if there was no gravity. Everybody laughed as they took flying leaps as if they had no weight at all. "See? Gravity is a good law that God made. Otherwise, we couldn't keep from floating around!" He then showed them a science video on the importance of gravity. "You know, gravity is just one law which helps us survive from day to day. Think about other laws. What about the law of punctuation?" Keth then wrote a sentence on the board, & Romnick went over & erased all the punctuation marks. Gier tried to read the sentence, but it was all jumbled together. Romnick then divided up the students into the four musical parts: Soprano-Alto-Tenor-Bass & then trained each in his/her respective part. All listened, & when they were all ready, he blew into a pitch pipe & they sang in harmony, Whew, but it sounded good! Everybody clapped! "Rules are good. Do you all follow the law?" All in unison replied, "Yes, Teacher Romnick." But he then informed the class that everybody has broken the law of God & sinned. "God is the Judge, yet He Himself paid for our sin. This is why we celebrate Easter! Isn't that great?" He then prayed a pray for any students to copy if they would like to receive God's payment for their sins. "Next week after the Easter break, I would like each student to come into class dressed like an employee of a business. You can be a businessman in a suit, or a secretary or a president. We will see that even our daily lives have rules to live by so that others can understand the authority for what we do." Jezelle quipped, "I want to be a policewoman, but I can't find a uniform." Jessa Mae added, "I want to be a female soldier, but where will I find a military uniform?" Romnick gave them permission to use their imagination & make uniforms on their own. "Even if we make it out of paper?" asked Jedidiah. "Yes, even out of paper." As his students left the classroom at the end of the day, Romnick wrote in his journal, "TELL ME & I forget, TEACH ME & I may remember, INVOLVE ME & I learn." Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $350 for: $140 wardrobe for orphanage kids' nicest clothes, & $210 for nice professional studio portraits of each of the orphans (1st time in their lives). 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,370. Still needed: $10,630! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2024 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 & 2023 Ironman gifts: $51,655.99. 2024 Ironman gifts: $0. Remaining need: $80,000- ($51,656 + $0 = 51,656)= $28,344. Upcoming Schedule: Philippine National Conference in Bacolod (4/25-29), DCL Annual Prayer Gathering (5/1), Barners' vacation (5/9-23), District Women's Rally (5/ 24-26), MAABC Bible College Graduation (BCA's 1st sponsored child: 1997, with Bible degree: 5/31), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners' USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (3/2024). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Manhattan Beach, CA. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's New York wedding]. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. |
| 4/6/2023 | Palm Sunday (4/2/23). Good Friday (4/7/23). Resurrection (Easter) Sunday April 9, 2023. Araw ng Kagitingan (4/10/23). Please pray for the families of 31 passengers & crew killed (of 250 onboard) this week when a fire broke out around midnight on the "MV Lady Mary Joy 3" ferry, off the island of Basilan, here in Mindanao. The fire had raged overnight for eight hours. Some of the passengers had been aroused from their sleep due to the commotion caused by the fire, & jumped off the ship. Most of those who survived the blaze were rescued from the dark sea by the coast guard, navy, a nearby ferry, & local fishermen. Please also pray for BCA's security guard Bong who is struggling in the hospital with advanced stages of prostate cancer. Praise God that, While Elvie, Abby & the teachers were at their annual weeklong retreat, I helped the orphans who were out of school due to chickenpox, to clear away an overgrown area of their 5-acre campus & plant 42 fruit trees from seeds of durian & marang fruit they had eaten. Praise God also that, for Palm Sunday, (and upcoming) Good Friday & Easter sunrise services, we drove our 12 orphan kids to the mainland to join us for church. We also treated them to a barbecue restaurant. After they left (Palm) Sunday evening, the Youth group came to our house & had meetings with Abby & Elvie until midnight (while I baked chocolate chip/peanut butter/oatmeal cookies). We also had a surprise birthday party for Jovi, the oldest kid at the orphanage. "There were twelve disciples…" While subbing for Jovi (our orphanage houseparent) during a rest time for her, I invited the 12 kids to come to the mainland & sing at church on Palm Sunday, since I would be the speaker. They practiced their song, & then Johnjohn got an idea. "Hey, there are twelve of us. What if we make another verse to say, 'Jesus has twelve orphans that He called to help Him…'" Then the kids called out their own names, one by one, "Christian Jay & Leah, Oliver & his brother Augustine…" Sunday's "Triumphal Entry" service (John 12:12-15) was a joyful occasion, with palm branches (which the orphans brought with them from trees on the island), youth group singing, & of course, our modern-day orphan-disciples (mostly teenagers!) This time though, they skipped playing the bells, since the clappers on two of them flew off when the kids rang them incessantly to cheer me on as I ran through the finish line of my recent Ironman race. Just a few days before, BCA's Teacher Violy instructed her kindergarteners, "On this 3rd-Quarter Periodical exam, what is the first thing to remember?" In unison, the kids responded, "Write our names at the top of the paper!" Violy smiled as the kids were exactly correct in the instructions she had drilled into them over & over again. Each BCA classroom has a nickname, after a Bible theme. The kindergarteners are "Jerusalem". The students have a nice feeling when they consider this city in Israel, as it is always comfortable & air conditioned. Across the 40,000 barangays (villages) of the Philippines, most schools do not have it as nicely as ours at BCA do. Public schools are open-air, & since this is the hot season, the kids are sweltering in their classrooms. The DepEd (Department of Education) is being urged by teachers & students to revert the school calendar to the pre-pandemic schedule asap. Students cannot focus on their lessons due to intolerable heat in classrooms. Many students & teachers are getting headaches, dizziness, nose-bleed & other health issues since the dry season started. Also, more learners have been missing classes since the dry season started. In public schools, classrooms rely heavily on electric fans for ventilation as 97% of respondents surveyed by the Manila Bulletin said that they use electric fans while only 1% have air conditioners & 2% depend on natural ventilation. Back to Violy's cool & comfy kindergarteners, she made the test uplifting by stating, "Don't put True or False. Instead put a happy face or a sad face!" Later, as she corrected the papers, she grinned. Some artistic students embellished on the false answers by putting frowns, tears & droopy eyes. "I should grade them twice: once for the subject & another for their artwork!" After the exam, as the students left the classroom, they each picked up their respective shoes (they had removed them when entering the classroom). Shoes were easy to locate, as the kids had separated them by boys' shoes on the left side of the door & girls' shoes on the right side. While inside the classroom, each backpack was also separated in the corner by the gender of its owner. As the students headed out the door, Violy called after them, "Don't forget your assignment tonight, class." Hezekiah called back, "I know, Teacher Violy! We'll cut out '5 senses' pictures from the magazines you gave us & then paste them onto the long, colored paper, labelling which senses!" Got it! Thought Violy. My thirty little geniuses! Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Masterlist - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. B. Late Night Worship #318. 3 min, 13 sec. Tuesday, March 28, 2023 C. Late Night Worship #319 - Palm Sunday. 7 min, 10 sec. Thursday, March 30, 2023. Join us on T/Th nights! HOSANNA. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/933877078062492/ Present Need: $480 for a lawn mower for BCA's orphanage. 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2024 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 & 2023 Ironman gifts: $51,655.99. 2024 Ironman gifts: $0. Remaining need: $80,000- ($51,656 + $0 = 51,656)= $28,344. Upcoming Schedule: Easter week services (4/7 & 9), Philippine National Conference in Bacolod (4/25-29), DCL Annual Prayer Gathering (5/1), Barners' vacation (5/9-23), District Women's Rally (5/24-26), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (3/2024). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Rogue River, OR. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's wedding]. 13: Andover, NY. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. |
| 3/30/2023 | 1st Day of Spring (3/21/23). BCA Teachers' Retreat (3/27-30) Please pray for the BCA teachers and staff on their annual retreat this week in the mountains. They will be sleeping in churches along the way as they travel the 300 miles to their destination. Also please continue to pray for the six of our orphans who have chicken pox. Some have it very bad on their formerly-smooth cheeks & foreheads, & it would be devastating if they ended up with lifelong scars. Praise God that, although Elvie was in a fender-bender (her nephew was driving) with our pickup truck this past Monday, nobody was hurt. Also praise God that I finished my 15th Ironman race Sunday before the cutoff time of 8 ½ hours. Praise God as well that this past week I finished reading the Bible from cover-to-cover for the 82nd time (in my life, so far). Praise God too that of the 19 churches we plan to speak at (July-November) this year on our USA speaking tour, 7 already have confirmed. "Butterflies, GO AWAY!" Before my 15th Ironman 70.3-mile swim-bike-run race, all kinds of doubts arose. Yes, I did break a rib. Yes, I did break my bike. Yes, I did break my bike shoes. But all that is in the past. Now race day is upon us. I checked my blood pressure: very good. My weight: just as planned. The route (online): straight with hardly any turns. I won't get lost. So, now I need to talk to my body: "Cut it out! I trained over a thousand of miles over the past 8 months. I. CAN. DO. THIS!" Besides, YOU were praying for me. THANKS SOOOO MUCH! Race day, 2023. My name is on a plaque at the course for being one of the contestants in 2018, the first year of this race being hosted in Davao.. 1700 competitors this year. Just after sunrise, ALL plunged into the water, 6 at a time, every 5 seconds. Cheering resounds from thousands of spectators, including 20 for me: half of our orphans (the other 6 stayed home with chickenpox), my family, church people & staff from our BCA school. The swim was 1.2 miles, out into Davao's Pakiputan Channel, in a rectangular shape, the longest stretch against the channel's current. About halfway into the race, it seemed to be taking a very long time. While following the buoys, I noticed the swim marshals all seemed to look alike. Wait a second, they all ARE the same person. I'd swim 5 minutes, look up, & there'd be the same lifeguard. She must be swimming with us? No, the big orange buoys also always seemed to be the same distance away. Finally, after over an hour of struggling, I noticed a raft come alongside, with fellow racers on it! Pulling off my goggles & treading water, I asked a male racer in his 20s what was going on. "Nobody knows, but we are not going anywhere! Look!" Holding onto the rope, I followed his gaze to a very strong swimmer, one of hundreds, stroking with all his might. But from where I was, I could see he was just staying in one place. We finally got his attention to let him know that he was not moving. I thought, "Boy, this would make a great sermon illustration. How many people struggle away at life & yet never get ahead. We need to look outside of the water to listen to God's direction". Later, after the race, we found out that the current was so strong that the anchors for the buoys had cut loose &, no matter how much we swam, we just went backwards. Sadly, a very strong swimmer, a swim coach in fact, died of a heart attack in the swim portion of the race. Since we were all sufficiently well past the time limit for the swim, we struggled to climb up into the 50-passenger coast guard boats which came to bring us out of the current. I noticed a lady who just couldn't grip the rope or even to the step, so I balanced on the edge of the last step, reaching out my hand, grabbing hers, & pulling her up into the boat. Half an hour later, when the boat had successfully maneuvered outside of the devastating current, we leapt out & swam to shore. Grabbing our bicycles, we began the second leg of the race. Unfortunately, one 18-yr-old spectator almost died with a concussion when he was run over after he wandered into the road during the race. We are praying that he will recover. The race is now over. Although my muscles (& blisters) are still in pain from the race, I did finish on time, (7 hours, 18 minutes & 5 seconds) under the allotted 8 ½ hours, in temperatures around the high 90s but feeling more like over 100! The swim times were recalculated to compensate for time lost due to the strong current. My signature sprint for the last 100 meters of the run to the finish line brought resounding cheers from both spectators & announcer alike. A few days ago, BCA's 68-yr-old cashier Minmin (she pays BCA's salaries & other bills), worried about her own health. For over a year now, her hands & feet often get numb from sitting & writing all day. Yet her excitement always overcomes her fear each day as she watches hundreds of students get off the school buses to find their places in line for the daily flag raising, National Anthem & prayer. It was half a year ago that the Philippine government allowed face-to-face classes to resume, due to the 3-yr-old Covid disease beginning to let up. Since restrictions only allowed kids to be exposed to classmates 2 days a week, the classes were split in half, with Team A coming on Tuesday/Thursday, while Team B was Wednesday/Friday. Mondays were prep & campus hygienic wipe-downs. But now, to see all the kids together every school day, is a joy. At first, we were short a school bus (one bit the dust during covid), but my triathlons raised funds to get a new one. We even brought my bike & the orphans to the race in the new bus! We've christened the vehicle, the "Langford Shuttle" to commemorate a precious American prayer warrior who has truly sacrificed for this ministry. Thank you sooo very much for your prayers for God's exciting work here in the Philippines! Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Maasterlist - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. B. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #317. 4 min, 9 sec. March 23, 2023. Join us on T/Th nights! Be Thou My vision. PJ Barner was live (with a kalimba). https://www.facebook.com/1844467489/videos/228142016291557 C. LATE NIGHT WORSHIP #316. 46 sec. March 21, 2023. Join us on T/Th nights! JOHN 3:16. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/602077031937201 Present Need: $301 for: $59 Repair of Guest House refrigerator, $98 Sponsorship Secretary's Computer repair/ spare parts, BCA Bus vehicle maintenance: Bus "M": $40 for deisel gas, $104 renewal of LTO registration. 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2024 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 & 2023 Ironman gifts: $51,455.99. 2024 Ironman gifts: $0. Remaining need: $80,000- ($51,456 + $0 = 51,456)= $28,544. Upcoming Schedule: BCA Teachers' Retreat (3/27-31), Easter week services (4/7 & 9), Philippine National Conference in Bacolod (4/25-29), DCL Annual Prayer Gathering (5/1), Barners' vacation (5/9-23), District Women's Rally (5/24-26), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, & Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024), Paul's 16th 70.3-mile Davao Ironman Race (3/2024). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Rogue River, OR. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's wedding]. 13: Andover, NY. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. |
| 3/23/2023 | Paul's 15th IRONMAN race (3/26) Please pray for our twelve orphan kids, for even though they are all very sweet & most are great students, a few are starting fights or playing hooky from school (skipping classes). Also please pray for me to be able to finish my 70.3-mile (swim-cycle-run) triathlon race within the 8.5 hours allotted this weekend. Praise God that, This past Sunday afternoon (3/19) our main church plant hosted a 6-hour regional youth event, entitled "Refiner" (Malachi 3:1-5), attended by over a hundred teenagers. A dozen of these were our own orphans, whom we brought over on a barge to the mainland over the weekend, planning as well to get a formal studio portrait made of each of the kids, as well as a group "family picture". I had to get back as well, for I had to get to the bike store to replace the bicycle shoes which I have used for the past 6 races. They finally fell apart. PTL that it didn't happen during my upcoming race! For my 60-mile daily practice Friday, I duct-taped them together. "This [C]- is [C]- the [D]- day [E]- that the Lord has made…" Seven of our twelve orphan children rang bells on cue as they performed on a recent Sunday. The handbells had been donated by a friend in the USA & were a true hit after our daughter Abby trained the kids in each playing his or her part. She also led them in a few worship songs to grace the congregation. The kids were in brand new clothes that they had picked out the week before week when we visited the mall on the mainland. Then we visited a church on the other side of the island. Samal Island is about fifty miles long, but the circumference road has a mountain in the way, so once you get just so far, you have to turn around to get back to where you came from. Also, there are hardly any street signs, so when we got on a mountain road, we ended up asking nearly a dozen people which way to go. Some gave opposing answers, & one particular mountain we climbed three times before finding the overgrown narrow, dirt path to drive on which would lead to the country church. Ah, but the tiny congregation was was thrilled to see us! With Elvie, me, Abby & our 12 orphan kids, we almost doubled the size of the congregation. We also made sure, after the kids performed, that we put more than usual into the offering, to help the church in this depressed area. This church has no pastor, & the people of the church keep services going each week. The view from there was incredible, as you could see down over the edge of the mountain to a wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean. From that height you almost automatically burst into praise for God & His wonderful creation. And to be kind, we couldn't refuse the sweet, ground coconut "snowballs" they fed us afterwards, along with lots of (very tart) unripe green mangos. On Tuesday on the mainland at BCA, Teacher Jezel entered her first-grade classroom for the day. Arriving an hour before her students, she turned on her laptop computer to find an "energizer" dance on You Tube. It is the tool she uses each morning to get the kids' creative juices flowing. They do this once at the head of the day and once after lunch. If she forgets, they are sure to remind her. After their little dance, she had them sit down and asked the Bible verse for the day. "Oh, Teacher Jezel, that one is easy!" exclaimed Jian. "Proverbs 22:6 is printed on the side of our BCA School Bus!" Together the 1st Grade class recited, "Train up a child in the way he should go, & when he is old, he will not depart from it." Jezel was pleased, remembering that at the beginning of the school year the kids were challenged just remembering all the letters of the alphabet. Now they not only knew them but had memorized how to recite Bible verses. As they started the lesson, Angela raised her hand. "Teacher Jezel, why do we keep going over the same information again, & again, & again & again?" Jezel smiled & responded, "It is the way to learn. Repetition, tied-in with application, is essential to learning." To which Angela sweetly quipped, "But maybe, just maybe, we could have a little more application & a little less repetition?" Jezel explained that, since the school year is already into its last quarter, we need to refresh those lessons that we had tackled way back at the beginning of the school year. "When our Bible verse says, 'train up a child,' that training is done like Pastor Paul's training for his upcoming triathlon. He has to repeat his bicycling over & over, for thousands of kilometers, so that he can have the strength to do well in his race." Back on the island, where I was daily training for the race, Elvie, Abby & I were still visiting teachers of our orphans. One said that our student was often in fights. I approached this child one evening after school. "Did you keep from getting into any fights today?" He responded, "Yes." I clarified, "Was that yes that you DID NOT fight, or yes that you DID fight?" A little tongue tied to find the right English for his answer, he solved his dilemma with just two words. "Yes-no!" (yes he didn't fight). Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: A. PJ's Late Night Worship Masterlist - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 B. Late Night Worship #314. 3 min, 44 sec. March 14, 2023. Join us on T/Th nights! How Great Thou Art (on harp). https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/589388756423755 C. Late Night Worship #315. 3 min, 56 sec. March 16, 2023. Join us on T/Th nights! THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD. https://www.facebook.com/pj.the.barner/videos/2824431237690449 Present Need: $300 for (installment #3 of 10) $3,000 generator for Barner Christian Academy. Frequent blackouts in the city require fans & lights with this alternate power source. It also pumps water from the new well. $2,100 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,215. Still needed: $19,785! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $39,455.99. Remaining need: $80,000- ($12,000 + $39,455.99=51,455.99)= $28,544.01 Upcoming Schedule: Paul's 70.3-mile Ironman Race (3/26), BCA Teachers' Retreat (3/27-31), Easter week services (4/7 & 9), Philippine National Conference in Bacolod (4/25-29), DCL Annual Prayer Gathering (5/1), Barners' vacation (5/9-23), District Women's Rally (5/24-26), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, and Utah work team visits Davao (January, 2024), Arizona work team visits Davao (March, 2024). Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Simi Valley, CA. 16: Rogue River, OR. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's wedding]. 13: Andover, NY. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. |
| 3/16/2023 | Please pray for our church's Children's Sunday worship services, that the food (both spiritual and physical) is adequate & palatable. The 8-man Adult Worship singing team alternates with the 3-man Children's Church staff for personnel, ages 13 and above. Leadership Training & Discipline is required in all levels, and allotted by the Sunday School Superintendents, Darrell & Creslene. 1. Regular Discussion: Every Sunday, 2. Rewards and Recognition: Every Month, 3. Christmas Celebration: December 3, 2023, 4. Graduation (Kids' break): December 10, 2023, 5. Pre-Leadership Training: Every 2nd and 4th Sunday (March - May), 6. Music Workshop: Every 1st and 3rd Sunday (March - May), 7. Baptism Orientation: May, 8. Evangelism Orientation: June 25, 2023, 9. Evangelism (Gospel Tracks distribution): July 30 & October 29, 10. Outreach Orientation: August 27, 2023, 11. Outreach Program: September 24, 2023, 12. Christmas Celebration Practices: October 1 – November 26. Praise God that for two longtime supporters of this ministry who became octogenarians this month: Dean (in California & Mexico) & Dave (in Pennsylvania & Philippines). Also praise God that, when one of BCA's school buses was in a minor accident this past week, the damage to both vehicles was minimal & nobody was hurt. "Those kids are soooo fast!" As 30 Faith International Academy high schoolers came to our "Father's House" orphanage to build a protective metal fence around the property, they also built a cement wall around our "Girls' Town" cottages. Assisted by professional masons, & mixing the cement manually (using shovels), they were done laying the thousands of block & plastering them smoothly into place by day #4. So, we ordered 5,000 more block & the kids started, in the hot, tropical sun, digging the trench to lay the foundation for a wall around the "Boys' Town" cottages as well. In a week, the students, their adult chaperones & our orphanages, had a festival of singing praises to God for the newly completed walls, protecting our orphan children from any predators…four-footed & two-footed! Meanwhile, back at BCA, Teacher Janice was exhilarated over the progress of her 30 4th Graders' grades. Her ESP (Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao: "Learning about Humanization") subject was on values. "What are your five senses? Seeing, hearing, smelling, touching & tasting" But what about your 6th-sense: sensing when another person feels good or bad about you? She passed around to the class a story entitled, "I'm Sorry", which each of the students took turns in reading. one phrase per student. "I have a friend I like the best…" started Ram. Realyn continued a few pages later, "She thinks I'm nice too, but…" Some of the class gasped, since the book up to this point was very friendly. The word BUT changed all that. The two little children in the book shouted at each other & missed each other, considering aloud what the other one would do, if they made up…& then the book ended! "But what happened?" asked Mailyn. "It doesn't say." Responded Teacher Janice. "So, this is what we will do. Your assignment tonight is to write two follow-up stories. #1: what will happen over the years if they never make up, & #2: what will happen if they do." Teacher Janice put the book aside & then took out another book. In order to save time, she gathered her students around her on the floor & read the story to them in its entirety. Although by the same title "I'm Sorry," it had a different context. The story was about a girl who was lying & didn't admit her mistakes. During the discussion afterwards, Teacher Janice drew a bridge between this story & the Bible's story of redemption through Jesus Christ. "Students, we need to say 'I am sorry' to God, for the wrong things that we do. Are you willing to do that now?" Hands shot up all around the circle, & tears ran down Teacher Janice's cheeks as she heard little children's voices repeating after her the prayer of salvation, "Dear Jesus, I am a sinner…Please wash my sins away…" After these children prayed to receive Jesus into their lives as their Personal Savior, Janice, though choked up with emotion, prayed again, that as they grow up, they will fear God & will be used for the Glory of God. Janice's heart was filled with happiness after class, as she presented to the school chaplain Eunice, the names of the kids who will be followed-up in the weeks to come in their personal Christian growth. Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $230 for (installment #26 of 112) $33,500 2nd-floor of 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ school chapel & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $22,644.01 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,215. Still needed: $19,785! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $39,155.99. Remaining need: $80,000- ($12,000 + $39,155.99=51,155.99)= $22,644.01 Note: Occasionally a post office has changed your address (due to enhanced 911 or other redistricting, etc,). If you do not receive the quarterly communication from your sponsored child, please email me at blckids.com. |
| 3/9/2023 | Philippines cell# +63 (0985) 152-3142 & +63 (0956) 754-9921 PAUL, +63 (0926) 684-6165 ABBY USA # (518) 434-6216 GINGER (USA) Please pray for wisdom on the part of Elvie, Abby & I as we redesign the Child Protection Manual for the precious children at our orphanage & school. It is a known fact that the increase in child predator alerts in Davao has affected the security in this part of the country. When Elvie & I joined our orphans' parent-teacher mtgs we requested copies of the school's child protection policies. This week we also finished building a sturdy steel gate to close-off the final entrance area of our quarter-miler long fence encircling the orphanage compound. The cottages also have cement walls with barbed wire along the tops. Neither animals nor humans can get through uninvited. Specific items we noticed in the school manual are avoiding predators who "groom" children to trust them before attacking them. Such grooming techniques include giving gifts & money, hearing rumors (from the kids or others) of what the predator is doing in secret, & also when the predator insists upon being with the children in private. Along with other items, these will be included in our new "Child Protection Manual." Also please pray that, after my bicycle accident this past week, I will be able to repair the damage before my Ironman race at this end of this month. The drop-out (which holds the rear chain in place) was broken off when it hit the rocks during my training on Samal Island. Praise God that this past week, we led the kids at our orphanage to perform for this Sunday at church. While practicing various potential hymns, we sang "How Great Thou Art." One of the kids sang, "That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing., He bled and died, to take away my SKIN…" Immediately, the others noticed the error, & without judging (or laughing) they corrected the error. After the kids performed at church, the congregation took a special offering & we took the kids on a clothing shopping spree. Even though our orphan JonJon missed the performance due to his chicken pox, we nonetheless got clothes for him too. Praise God as well that Elvie, was the guest speaker twice this week: for a women's convention & for a youth conference. She also was nominated for a National Board of Trustees again, after 2 terms, totaling 8 yrs. However, she was disqualified due to term limits, so she gave the privilege to the election's 2nd runner-up. Also, praise God that 28 boxes arrived from the USA this week, many of them containing the sneakers that you gave money for. We will be distributing the sneakers in April, after sizing the feet of each of the children. "No more cell phones." A few months ago, unbeknownst to us, a visiting American guest gave each of our orphans a cell phone. It is now three months later & when Elvie & I attended the Parent-Teacher conferences of the high schoolers, the grades had plunged dramatically. One honors student flunked a key course, from 90% down to 73%! Although our American guest had never gotten permission from Elvie & I to give phones to these to the kids, after we found out, we decided to try an experiment to see if the kids could handle this new idea. It obviously was a mistake. However, the teachers agreed that, when we take away the phones, the kids still might be able to bring their grades back up. Hopefully the damage is not irreparable. Also, we will be much more alert when future guests arrive. Why do these little items cause so much trouble? As a sociologist, I watched the kids & noticed 3 things: #1 was, the kids are always taking pictures & videos of everything, especially of themselves. They also have developed a negative impression of themselves. #2, the time they used to take doing their homework they instead are playing games on their phones. Sometimes these games are so addictive that the kids sleep late & get sick more often. #3, they often want to go away in private for secret things, which they are unwilling to share. Also, what time they used to take in playing games with each other as a group, they instead are all by themselves playing games against the phone. The "family unity" of the orphanage has thus been attacked. So, we determined that the phones are now to be used as a reward. When they have earned this reward by improving their grades, the phones can be returned. The phones are not needed for classes, since they live in a poor area, & hardly any of their classmates can afford phones. So, for the next few weeks, no phones. Meanwhile at BCA, Teacher Charmie was discussing with her preschoolers about the letters & sounds of the alphabet. "What does the letter 'A' sound like? AYE & AEH." "Now, who wants to read the first sentence? Okay, Jashin. Go ahead." The whole class clapped expect for one troubled student, Nicholas, whose hand gently rose into the air. Teacher Charmie replied, "Because, Nicholas, Kylie learned from her mistake. All of us make mistakes. Instead of focusing on others mistakes, we can reward them when they grow by learning how to do it right." "Now class, let us review how to count things…" Charmie drew on the blackboard with colored chalk, four squares., "One…two…threhhh…" The class started to laugh, for even though they were preschoolers, they knew that Teacher Charmie had demonstrated the wrong way to pronounce "THREE." Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $300 for (installment #2 of 10) $3,000 generator for Barner Christian Academy. Frequent blackouts in the city require fans & lights with this alternate power source. It is also used for the new well. $2,400 remaining. Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $39,155.99. Remaining need: $80,000- ($12,000 + $39,155.99=51,155.99)= $22,644.01 Upcoming Schedule: Paul's 70.3-mile Ironman Race (3/26), BCA Teachers' Retreat (3/27-31), Easter week services (4/7 & 9), Philippine National Conference in Bacolod (4/25-29), DCL Annual Prayer Gathering (5/1), Barners' vacation (5/9-23), District Women's Rally (5/24-26), Davao Mass Baptism (6/12), BCA Graduation (6/22-23), Barners USA speaking tour (6/26-11/7), Arizona Team visits Davao (November), Davao Wedding for PJ & Bri, and Utah team visits Davao (January, 2024) . Topics for preaching in Davao Faith Fellowship Churches in 2023: March: Joseph/ April: Easter/ May: David/ June: Elijah/ July: family/ August: Creation/ Sept: Stewardship/ Oct: Missions/ Nov: Jehoshaphat/ Dec- Advent… (this Sunday I compared the redemptive sacrificial work of Joseph for his brothers & all the known world with that of Jesus, for us & all mankind) Barner Family 2023 USA TENTATIVE Speaking/Singing Tour: July: 2: Layton, UT. 9: Moorhead, CA. 16: Rogue River, OR. 23: San Francisco, CA. 30: San Tan Valley, AZ. August: 5: Crestwood, KY. [12: PJ & Briana's wedding]. 13: Andover, NY. 20: Colonie, NY. 27: Yorktown Hgts, NY. September: 3-Ohio, NY. 10: Watertown, NY. 17: Poughkeepsie. NY. 24: Albany, NY. October: 1: Liverpool, PA. 8: Mt Pleasant Mills, PA. 15: Carlisle, PA. 22: Hoosick Falls, NY. 29: East Greenbush, NY. November: 5: Rensselaer, NY. |
| 3/2/2023 | Philippines cell# +63 (0985) 152-3142 & +63 (0956) 754-9921 PAUL, +63 (0926) 684-6165 ABBY USA # (518) 434-6216 GINGER (USA) Please pray for our church's Children's Sunday worship services, that the food (both spiritual and physical) is adequate & palatable. The 8-man Adult Worship singing team alternates with the 3-man Children's Church staff for personnel, ages 13 and above. Leadership Training & Discipline is required in all levels, and allotted by the Sunday School Superintendents, Darrell & Creslene. 1. Regular Discussion: Every Sunday, 2. Rewards and Recognition: Every Month, 3. Christmas Celebration: December 3, 2023, 4. Graduation (Kids' break): December 10, 2023, 5. Pre-Leadership Training: Every 2nd and 4th Sunday (March - May), 6. Music Workshop: Every 1st and 3rd Sunday (March - May), 7. Baptism Orientation: May, 8. Evangelism Orientation: June 25, 2023, 9. Evangelism (Gospel Tracks distribution): July 30 & October 29, 10. Outreach Orientation: August 27, 2023, 11. Outreach Program: September 24, 2023, 12. Christmas Celebration Practices: October 1 – November 26. Praise God that for two longtime supporters of this ministry who became octogenarians this month: Dean (in California & Mexico) & Dave (in Pennsylvania & Philippines). Also praise God that, when one of BCA's school buses was in a minor accident this past week, the damage to both vehicles was minimal & nobody was hurt. "Those kids are soooo fast!" As 30 Faith International Academy high schoolers came to our "Father's House" orphanage to build a protective metal fence around the property, they also built a cement wall around our "Girls' Town" cottages. Assisted by professional masons, & mixing the cement manually (using shovels), they were done laying the thousands of block & plastering them smoothly into place by day #4. So, we ordered 5,000 more block & the kids started, in the hot, tropical sun, digging the trench to lay the foundation for a wall around the "Boys' Town" cottages as well. In a week, the students, their adult chaperones & our orphanages, had a festival of singing praises to God for the newly completed walls, protecting our orphan children from any predators…four-footed & two-footed! Meanwhile, back at BCA, Teacher Janice was exhilarated over the progress of her 30 4th Graders' grades. Her ESP (Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao: "Learning about Humanization") subject was on values. "What are your five senses? Seeing, hearing, smelling, touching & tasting" But what about your 6th-sense: sensing when another person feels good or bad about you? She passed around to the class a story entitled, "I'm Sorry", which each of the students took turns in reading. one phrase per student. "I have a friend I like the best…" started Ram. Realyn continued a few pages later, "She thinks I'm nice too, but…" Some of the class gasped, since the book up to this point was very friendly. The word BUT changed all that. The two little children in the book shouted at each other & missed each other, considering aloud what the other one would do, if they made up…& then the book ended! "But what happened?" asked Mailyn. "It doesn't say." Responded Teacher Janice. "So, this is what we will do. Your assignment tonight is to write two follow-up stories. #1: what will happen over the years if they never make up, & #2: what will happen if they do." Teacher Janice put the book aside & then took out another book. In order to save time, she gathered her students around her on the floor & read the story to them in its entirety. Although by the same title "I'm Sorry," it had a different context. The story was about a girl who was lying & didn't admit her mistakes. During the discussion afterwards, Teacher Janice drew a bridge between this story & the Bible's story of redemption through Jesus Christ. "Students, we need to say 'I am sorry' to God, for the wrong things that we do. Are you willing to do that now?" Hands shot up all around the circle, & tears ran down Teacher Janice's cheeks as she heard little children's voices repeating after her the prayer of salvation, "Dear Jesus, I am a sinner…Please wash my sins away…" After these children prayed to receive Jesus into their lives as their Personal Savior, Janice, though choked up with emotion, prayed again, that as they grow up, they will fear God & will be used for the Glory of God. Janice's heart was filled with happiness after class, as she presented to the school chaplain Eunice, the names of the kids who will be followed-up in the weeks to come in their personal Christian growth. Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $230 for (installment #26 of 112) $33,500 2nd-floor of 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ school chapel & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $22,644.01 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $1,215. Still needed: $19,785! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $39,155.99. Remaining need: $80,000- ($12,000 + $39,155.99=51,155.99)= $22,644.01 Note: Occasionally a post office has changed your address (due to enhanced 911 or other redistricting, etc,). If you do not receive the quarterly communication from your sponsored child, please email me at blckids.com. |
| 2/23/2023 | Anniversary of the 1986 Philippine: EDSA People Power Revolution (2/25/23) Please pray for ongoing protection for the hundreds of children in this ministry, as there is a police manhunt for a team of suspected homosexual-pornographic international video stalkers who may be targeting Filipino children on our island of Mindanao, baiting them into hotel rooms by offering them money. We have considered hiring armed guards for our orphanage & school until the Davao government notifies us that the alert has been lifted. Praise God that you had assigned this ministry as recipient of your Amazon charity allotment these past two months to the amount of $64.02 (Amazon Smile) Thank you! Praise God as well that, during December & January, many gave through Christian Aid Mission for the following needs: Bibles: $100, Children's Emergency Medical Fund: $45.00, Student sponsorships: $8,127.00, Jericho Lunch Program: $72.00, Triathlon Race (BCA Garage/ Chapel): $5,000, Orphanage walls & well: $2,999.80, BCA Bus fuel & repairs: $2,000.00. Can I ride?" When I drove BCA's brand new, big, white bus onto the school campus, the 6TH Grade students were practically drooling, as they sounded out the words emblazoned on its side, "BARNER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY". Not because they were hungry (they'd just been fed a scrumptious & filling lunch by the BCA staff), but they each really wanted this bus to be assigned to THEIR route. Elvie led the 4th through 6th graders to lay hands on the vehicle. The other 5 grades watched on from the gym, so there wouldn't be too much crowding around. After Elvie led them in singing the doxology, I prayed for them, the drivers, the bus, & so forth. Collectively the kids responded with a resounding "Amen!" & then they started hopefully begging again, "Please, please, please can this beautiful bus be assigned to my route?" The second-grade teacher Espe collected his students back into the classroom for the follow-up of their previous lesson: "Problem solving related to multiplication''. At the end of this discussion, Espe transitioned into the next subject (English), by discussing "Solving Problems by Evaluating Opposites: What is the relation of synonyms to antonyms? They are opposites." Espe reached onto his desk, picking-up his medium-sized black Bible. Often in his personal quiet time, he uses his cell phone's app for Bible reading. However, as a teacher he strongly believes in using visual aids to bring home a point. By showing the kids that a Bible is a book of substantial size, he was also developing a deeper appreciation for the vastness of God. "The Bible is filled with synonyms & antonyms: things that are the same & things that are different. As I read a verse, please tell me the things that are either the same or different in each verse." 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come.'' Fiona raised her hand. "Both, teach. The verse has both a synonym and an antonym. Synonym: being in Christ & being a new creature. Antonym: old things are replaced by new things." Espe showed his obvious pleasure as he then went on to the next verse: "Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong & courageous. Don't be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go'' Karylle then spoke up. "Synonyms: Command & be strong & courageous. Antonyms: fear & discouragement versus God's presence." Excellent, congratulated Espe on the correct responses of these astute second graders. Next verse: ROMANS 15:5 "May the God who gives endurance & encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had." Athena was the next volunteer. "Synonyms of God of endurance & encouragement plus attitude of mind of Jesus." Next verse: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:16 "For this reason, we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day.'' Alexis spoke up. "Antonyms of decay & renewal." Next verse: Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong & courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.'' Shien was the last volunteer. "Antonyms of fear & God's presence." Espe was so pleased with the responses of his students, that he gave them a 3-question quiz to analyze & solve on their own. About 15 minutes later they already finished answering the verses. The students then exchanged papers & graded their classmates on: #1: Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, & do not lean on your own understanding." Antonyms: trust in God versus leaning on personal understanding. #2: Isaiah 40:31 "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run & not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Synonyms: wait for God & renew your strength. Lastly, 2 Timothy 1:7: ''For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power & love & self-control.'' Antonyms of spirit of fear & power. Love & self control. Calling out the names of the students after the quizzes were returned to their owners, each student responded with his/her grade. While not all got 100%, all did very well, reflecting a grasp of both the English lesson & the Bible verses themselves. Now Epse was ready to delve into yet another deep topic: the best relationship between government & religion, & how both are meant by God to assist each other… … as synonyms? Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $300 for (installment #1 of 10) $3,000 generator for Barner Christian Academy. Frequent blackouts in the city require fans & lights with this alternate power source. $2,700 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $715. Still needed: $11,285! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $39,085.99. Remaining need: $80,000- ($12,000 + $39,085.99=51,085.99)= $28,914.01 |
| 2/16/2023 | Please pray for the 30 high schoolers (& 10 adult chaperones/cooks) who will be coming in this week to build a low cement wall around our girls' cottages, & also a wire fence at BCA's "Father's House" orphanage on the nearby island of Samal. The twelve orphans will also divide up into three groups to join the high schoolers as they visit some of our new churches in an evangelistic outreach for over a hundred children this Sunday. Praise God that Sunday's 26th Anniversary celebration of our church went great! The Theme was decorated on the back wall of the stage by the youth group, in colored construction paper, "God's Love is Everlasting", from Lamentations 3:22-23 ("…great is Your faithfulness…"). Abby & 3 of her buddies spent a week practicing their tambourine number, as well as designing, purchasing materials, & sewing together matching dresses for the performance. They looked so sweet with the big bows in their hair. Abby also sang, in her angelic voice, a brand-new solo for the occasion. "You got me wet!" when the electrician turned on the switch for our new 700-pound ($3,000) generator, dozens of gallons of water splashed out of the orphanage's new well pipe. The orphans rushed over to douse their heads & also to get each other wet. I took off my cap & plunged my whole head into the turbulent flow, shaking my hair at the others like a wet beagle. Since we had opened the orphanage over fifteen years ago, water has always been a limited commodity which never was enough. Yet this past year while our family was in the USA, two churches & a few individuals donated funds so that we could finally dig a 210-ft deep well, & also build a raised, cement, thousand-gallon water tower. The project to reach water by digging the well went incredibly quick (2 weeks), even though it was entirely bored through solid limestone. Just in time too, as a high school team is coming over this week to build a cement wall & fence around the girls' cottages. Future water-required projects include replanting the gardens & also raising funds to build a fishpond. Next month when the solar panels arrive from Manila, we will transfer the generator to the school campus on the mainland. In the past, whenever we had the frequent power outages, we would have to load up the buses to send the students home early. The classrooms were too dark & hot. Now, we can power the lights & fans through the generator. The school also has a deep well, but it is manually operated. Perhaps we might consider installing a submersible pump as well, sometime down the line. BCA's new school bus will arrive Wednesday, in ample time for me to get used to driving it, before making the daily treks to bring the students back & forth for the work week. This bus was paid for through generous gifts which you gave as I competed Ironman triathlons over the past few years. The weeklong delay in releasing the bus has been due to the time for the dealer to paint the school's name, motto "Providing a Quality-Christian, Values-Based Education", logo & Bible verses on its exterior. Meanwhile at BCA… "Teacher Donna, can we skip our English & Language lessons today? I am tired of reading." A few of Mitch's fellow 3rd-Graders chimed in, "Yes Teach. How about longer classes in Art, Music & Drama?" Donna, having taught High Schoolers a few years before coming to BAC to teach elementary kids, considered the difference in these ages: younger students tend to be more hands-on & less concept oriented. "That is a very good question," responded Donna. Mitch grew a proud smile on her face as she glanced around at her admiring classmates. Donna continued, "How many hours do we have in every school day?" Mitch answered, "I think about 7, when you erase time for lunch & recess, Teacher Donna." "So, since you do need to pass the end-of-year exam in English, what is the least amount of time that you need to get the information learned?" Mitch quipped back, "If we do very well in all the other subjects, is it ok that we just fail English?" "But how will you study Drama without English & Language & Filipino? You need the structure of language to do drama well. Words are necessary to communicate. Everything works together in our lessons." Rose asked, "What if we did them at the same time?" Donna enjoyed the thought process of this question & answer format for discussion. "How do we do that? Let's try an American Indian-style pow-wow." Donna then had the 30 students arrange their chairs into a big circle & each raised their hands to discus the best way to use drama in the learning of grammar, parts of speech, etc. After about 20 minutes of discussion, Ociee stood up, sighed & stretched to say, "Wow, I never before realized that trying to make things easier was so hard!" The students all laughed & Mitch spoke up again to say, "You know, Teacher Donna, maybe the way you do things is better after all. English is not really that bad. After all, how could we have had this discussion if we didn't know how to communicate?" Donna & the students replaced their chairs & desks in their rows as she informed them, "You know, God knew that we would be having this discussion today. That is why He had me read in the Bible this morning from Proverbs 22, 'Train up a child in the way he should go, & when he is old he will not depart form it.' So we have now discussed which way is the way we should go. Thanks, kids for working together as a team. Now, we have used our English class to discuss in English these things, It is finally time for…Drama!" YAY! Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $300 for (installment #25 of 112) $33,500 2nd-floor of 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ school chapel & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $23,014.01 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $715. Still needed: $11,285! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $39,085.99. Remaining need: $80,000- ($12,000 + $39,085.99=51,085.99)= $28,914.01 |
| 2/9/2023 | 26th Church Anniversary (2/12/97: our very first church plant). Happy Valentine's Day! (2/14) Happy BCA Teacher's Appreciation Day! (2/14) Please pray for a team of high schoolers who will come alongside our cement workers this next week to work on the perimeter security wall of BCA's orphanage, as well as to complete the smaller perimeter wall around the "Girls' Town Cottages" section of the 5-acre complex. Praise God that the deep well of BCA's orphanage has been completed. We are now installing a 100-gallon water tank, which will be an accessory tank to the larger 500-gallon one after the new water tower is completed in March. We also are using a new generator which will be transferred to the school after the new solar panels arrive from Manila in April. "The whole company pooled together for this need!" Last month Donna, a dear widow in Pennsylvania had listed BCA as the recipient of any memorial gifts for her deceased husband Dale, who had been a much-loved truck driver for many decades. We earmarked any memorial gifts that might arrive for the security walls at BCA's orphanage. When a company check for $250 arrived, I sent to Donna a scanned copy of the check. She immediately responded with joy that this gift was a collection from Dale's fellow truckdrivers! Imagine these guys & gals, daily climbing up into their truck's cabs to clock hundreds & thousands of miles. As they watch those dotted white lines pass by on snowy Pennsylvania highways, perhaps they were thinking about the orphaned children who are cozy & safe in their cottages under the coconut trees down near the equator! Meanwhile on the BCA campus, Teacher Romick began his lesson with, "The 8 Parts of Speech…" Looking out among his 30 sixth-grade students, he saw a sea of blank faces. Hmmm…….. "Okay, let's approach this differently." Romnick invited 8 students to stand before the class. These particular kids were exceptionally bright, so their confidence was bound to be contagious, once they grasped these English concepts. "Elizah, what is your favorite Philippine fruit?" Mango. "Okay, please draw a mango on the blackboard." Next was Keth. "And you?" Keth grasped his new piece of chalk from the box & drew a guava. It looked kind of like a blob, yet when he quipped, "Bayabas" (Filipino for guava), a collective sigh of understanding emanated from his classmates. Romnick now introduced his creative plan. "In this activity, our 8 chosen students will draw a mango fruit if the statement is correct & a guava fruit if it is wrong. You, the rest of the class, will call out in unison which fruit is being drawn. If you already know the answer, you can call it out before it is finished. Yet if you are wrong, you will be OUT & stand in the back of the classroom. We can see who will be left!" Romnick then assigned Parts of Speech to each of his "Chosen 8". Then he said, "Jessa, JUPITER" Since Jessa was assigned the "noun" part of speech, & since Jupiter is a planet, which is a noun, she drew a mango on the board. Nobody had called out the answer, so Romnick asked for a show of hands to see if she was right or wrong. The whole class knew that Jessa is a smart student, so all agreed with her. During the next ten minutes, nobody was sent to the back of the classroom. Students were starting to understand the parts of speech. Yet because Romnick was also trying to blend-in their lesson on Agriculture, he said, "Angel, you have the 1st ELEMENT in planting trees." Ooh, but that was thought provoking. The "1st ELEMENT" is: Find the best place for planting. The "2nd ELEMENT" is: Select seeds that best suit the season & soils. The "3rd ELEMENT" is: Add sufficient fertilizers in the soil, & the "#4th ELEMENT", is: Take Care of the soil & plants. Many students are from non-farming families, so all waited for their star student's picture to be drawn. Angel, who had been assigned "Adjectives" started to draw, very slowly. Suddenly, Jack called out, "ADJECTIVE! It's an adjective! She is drawing a mango." Romnick grew a smile on his face and said, "Angel, please stop drawing." At this point, the artwork could go either way. It could become a mango or a guava. Romnick continued, "All who think Angel is drawing a mango, raise your hand." The entire class (except Angel) shot their hands toward the sky. Before the class could notice Angel's reluctant response, Romnick said, "Please put your hands down. Now Angel, please finish your drawing, regarding the 1st element, to FIND." Sure enough, as she finished her obvious mango, the entire class got up from their seats & headed to the back of the classroom. "This is a triple lesson," explained Romnick to 99% of his class, which was standing in the back of the classroom. "#1 is, don't just follow the crowd, for they might not be right. #2 is, that the 1st Element in planting trees is to FIND a place to plant, and #3 is that FIND is an action word (a verb)." At the cafeteria that afternoon, the snack was guavas & mangoes. But surprisingly, the only student of Romnick's who chose the deliciously-tart mangoes was Angel. Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
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| 2/2/2023 | USA National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance (2/1/23), Groundhog Day (2/2) Please pray for the processing this week of our first new school bus in 15 years. The dealer has some final paperwork to fulfill on the licensing, etc., but promised we'd be driving the bus by Valentine's Day. The triathlon race I completed a few years ago raised funds to make the downpayment on this bus, & it is set to arrive before a high school group arrives for a work week at BCA's orphanage. Praise God that BCA's orphanage well is completely dug, at 185 feet. While the diggers said they need a new transformer installed to bear the additional electrical output, I decided to wait for the professional opinion of a solar panel installer, instead. "You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving." Preaching from the Bible on Sunday, I challenged the congregation to exemplify Ruth's devotion to her mom Naomi, as well as God's love for the church, as they radiate God's overflowing love through us, to those we meet. A few days ago at Barner Christian Academy, Teacher Violy called to her kindergarten students as they entered the classroom. "Zahavia, wipe off the mud from your shoes before you come through the door of this classroom!" Violy then led the students in the Gummy Bear Dance, & then they sat down. It had been raining & muddy outside, & the tracks of the kids' feet could be seen heading to each of their desks. Catching the glance of another student, Marlon, she could tell he was up to something. So, she caught him off-guard by directing her comment, so only he could hear, "Remember our routine, Kuya…" She was referring to a set of good habits that she had already instilled into the minds of the students since day #1 of school, when they had first entered the classroom. She had had the students recite after her the words she had previously written on the blackboard and would recite every day. "Rule #1: the teacher is always right. Rule #2: if in doubt, refer to Rule #1." While this was a tongue-in-cheek humorous aside, they also had a set list of given rules. But when a child had a bad day & skirted the rules, Violy would refer back to the "BIG 2" that she was the "Queen of the Classroom". Teacher Violy took roll call for the attendance. Suddenly, Apollo cried out "Zean took my pencil, Teacher Violet." Violy asked, "Zean, why did you take the pencil of Apollo?" Zean reasoned, "Teacher, I didn't take his pencil, I did just touched it & threw it." Suppressing a chuckle at this 4 yr old's personal attempt at justification, Violy commanded, "Next time Zean, don't do it, okay? Now, tell Apollo that you are sorry." Remorsefully, Zean apologized with, "Sorry Apollo." Apollo then said, "…'tsokay, bro." One boy, Clinton, may be small, but he has a booming voice. Even before he responds, the whole class, including Clinton & his teacher, start laughing in expectancy. It lightens the atmosphere every day. And Clinton loves the attention. Violy figured he might even be practicing at home, since a lower & louder voice tends to make the other students think you are older & more mature than you really are. Of course, if she asks him a question, he tends to ramble on in his enormous voice, & she has to keep on calling out his name until he will give the others a chance to speak. Also, the other students can't hear Violy when Clinton is thundering on & on. When they were ending the class, there was still a few minutes to play the game "The Boat is Sinking." In this, Violy announces "The boat is sinking. Group yourselves into groups of…" If she says three, then three students hug each other & if there are four, one has to go & join a group of two. It was a whole lot of fun, & taught them the importance of togetherness & cooperation. As the students left, Violy looked down & saw the face of little Clinton, beaming up at her. Violy instantly gave him a warm embrace. Clinton in his booming voice quipped, "Group ourselves into a group of two for Valentine's Day, huh, Teach?" Violy smiled. After Clinton left the room, it seemed as if she could still feel his arms around her as she heard his adult-like voice trail down the school hallway to where his bus waited. Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH: PJ's Late Night Worship #201-300 - PJ Barner: actor · singer · director. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLItygvjoq26FzOhEZ3k41BCzNbiSZ-qw2 Present Need: $300 for (installment #23 of 112) $33,500 2nd-floor of 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ school chapel & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $23,614.01 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $520. Still needed: $11,950! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $39,085.99. Remaining need: $80,000- ($12,000 + $39,085.99=51,085.99)= $28,914.01 |
| 1/26/2023 | NOTE: 2022 DONOR RECEIPTS have been mailed out. If you have not yet received yours, or if the one you received requires revision, please submit any updates to blckids@yahoo.com. Please pray for wisdom for the solar company which will install the solar panels which will connect to the 150-foot-deep BCA orphanage well, which is already almost finished. Praise God that an American couple has donated $5,000 for BCA's new chapel, which is receiving funds through my triathlon race this coming March. "Dear Jesus, please give us your wisdom today!" BCA's 1st Grade Teacher Jezel led the hundreds of BCA students in the school gym during their Monday morning Prayer & Flag Raising Ceremony. Since the boy who was assigned to raise the flag had gotten a little overly ambitious, Jezel misspelled the event in her daily journal by calling it the "flag RACING" instead! Grades Nursery through Six then sang the Philippine National Anthem, recited the Flag's Pledge of Allegiance, joined their 3-minute Christian Zumba (music & gymnastics) & school cheer, & prayed. "Good morning, students!" Hundreds of voices immediately responded, "Good morning, Teacher Jezel!" JEZEL: "What is the 1st School rule?" STUDENTS: RESPECT! They then broke off into their classes, with each student placing his hands on the shoulders of the student in from of him & making his way in a line, single file to his respective classroom. It was exam day, so English was to be tackled. This is one of the hardest tests for 1st-Grade students. They followed RULE #1, being respectful of Teacher Jezel as she read over the rules out loud. They followed RULE #4, being quiet as they wanted to get all the words from her mouth so they could get high grades to…maybe one day… become honor-students. They followed RULE #2 by behaving & propping up notebooks between them & other students so as to avoid the temptation to look at others' papers. Then they followed RULE #3 by participating in using the properly sharpened pencil & filling in all the blanks required. After just one hour, the last student turned in her completed exam. As the students began their Math exam, Teacher Jezel graded the English ones. Halfway through the Math test, she asked each student to put down his or her pencil as she made the announcement: "Students, I am very proud of you! Every single one of you passed with an A or a B in English!" The class all cheered together & picked their pencils back up to delve into their Math tests with vigor. Math is one of the longest tests, as it includes not just solving problems, but to show how they achieved their solutions on their test papers. This was to prove that they did not copy the answers of their seat mates. By the end of the day, five subjects were completed. While not every test came out as well as English did, Still, every single student passed every single test! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $300 for (installment #22 of 112) $33,500 2nd-floor of 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ school chapel & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $23,914.01 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $520. Still needed: $11,950! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $39,085.99. Remaining need: $80,000- ($12,000 + $39,085.99=51,085.99)= $28,914.01 NOTE: Davao is home to 11 unique ethnolinguistic Filipino tribes. |
| 1/19/2023 | Please pray for Dean & Trish, two Americans who will speak at a church in Arizona to thank them for sending work teams over the years, & also for monthly supporting 3 kids at BCA's orphanage & school. They will join 11 ministries represented on Sunday, January 29, with 15 people on stage at once. Each ministry will have 2 to 3 minutes to share & interact onstage with their pastor. Two reps that will not be able to attend in person (for Haiti & Belize) will be present in videos so the congregation can meet them too. Please also pray for the 88,000 Catholics who joined the "Black Nazarene" statue's 2-day parade at the beginning of January. The crowd was diminished from the over 18 million in previous years, by their church's decision to hold activities of the religious feast in 2 parts. In previous years, occasionally a person might get trampled or pass out from the heat as these giant crowds would climb over one another to touch the life-sized statue of Jesus, clothed in royal robes & carrying a cross. Many misunderstand this event, believing that healing powers emanate from the statue, if only one were to touch it. This is idolatry. Over 5 million have joined online as well. The parade has been held annually since the early 1600s. Praise God also for the homegoing of our dear 70-yr-old friend Dale Follmer, of Williamsport, PA. After eleven days in the hospital, his heart failed & he went to be with Jesus. He was a fun guy each time we visited their home & he had an especially dry sense of humor, while preparing a meal for us (we arrived once at midnight). When his widow Donna was asked to pick a charity to add to his obituary, she chose BCA! Over $500 was given! PTL. https://www.sungazette.com/obituaries/2023/01/dale-a-follmer/ Praise God too that, a week ago Elvie invited the hospitality team from church to come to our place & prepare a scrumptious meal for the CMT (Church Ministry Team). We spent an inspiring 3 hours with these leaders of various ministries in the church (men, women, youth, music, evangelism, Sunday school, etc) after eating, planning the agenda, preaching topics & evangelistic outreaches for 2023. Many of the church leaders had been, just a few decades ago, students at BCA! They even decided that, since the church's quarterly youth concerts are expensive to feed the hundreds of guests, we'll change it to semi-annually, with a dress-up ticketed formal dinner/concert for the youth as a third event. "Wooo-weee!" Our 22-yr-old daughter Abigail was pretty carefully driving on the bumpy dirt & gravel roads through large & sprawling banana plantations in our pickup truck. Headed back home from a recent barrio (rural village) outreach, they hit a huge hole in the road. The way was dark, with hardly any moonlight. Six passengers rode inside the truck, with over a dozen adults scrunched outside, in the back. After the bump, 3 passengers went flying 3 feet straight into the air, landing exactly where they had "taken off" from! Whew! Cli-cli quipped, "Next time I will need a passport when I fly so high!" During the outreach, which lasted past midnight, they'd sung, given out food & toys, & shared the Gospel with nearly 50 destitute children, along with their families & the tribal chieftain, after church on Sunday. For light, as the celebrations lasted into the night, a single bare bulb hung from a thin electrical wire hanging firm a low tree branch & connected to a neighbor's electricity (with their prior permission, of course). These destitute men, women & children are all related to one of our church members, who now lives in the city. Rarely do these remote families have visitors, & being plantation workers, they live on shoestring budgets. Thus, their Christmas did not include any gift-giving…until now. The children (in rags) came from all over the village, dozens of them, & answered Bible questions as well as listened to the clear salvation message, straight from the Bible. Many asked Jesus to come into their hearts! The next day (Monday), BCA's communications secretary Orbina was ministering to the poor in another way. She prepared the pictures, letters & report cards from students to send to their sponsors around the world. The task was: 15 letters a day. Our daughter Abigail had sat with Orbina a few weeks prior, & I related to Orbina that the purpose of Abby's visit was to come alongside her to see how to help her streamline the process, since her 15-letter daily quota had slackened-off over the past few months. Orbina called many of the pastors whose churches these students attend. "You have GOT to submit the report cards, Christmas cards & letters from the children in your church. If not, how will we pay for their schooling? This is teamwork, remember?" Since February is just around the corner, she was also designing the template for the preschoolers to color for the Valentines to their sponsors. Of course, due to the slowness of the Philippine Postal System, the cards will not arrive until around Easter. But still, the sentiment & appreciation will be understood. Orbina & her husband Richard host a church in their home, a "house-church". Since one of BCA's former bus drivers is their neighbor, they had had nightly worship services at the neighbor's tiny residence, with the casket of the driver's father-in-law on a stand in the living space. "We are the hands & feet of Jesus, as well as His shoulder to cry on!" they'd explained. Back to the office again, on this Monday morning, of our 30 pastors, she specifically had to contact 7: Johnny in Matina, Cayao in Kaputian, Neneng in Limao, Damla in Oceanview, Galao in Babak, Wangan in Penaplata, & Roy in Bangkal. Also, even though the Lanang & Tucanga churches are up-to-date on their requirements, these pastors were just downstairs waiting for her to finish-up the hard copies of the various card designs for their preschoolers' Valentines. With valentines in mind, I had shared in the Monday morning Teachers' Bible Study about love, from 1 John 3, "Behold, what manner of LOVE the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…now are we the sons of God, and …WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM…" Fellow workers, students in the classrooms, interacting with parents of students, all these examples are opportunities to obey Christ's command to share His love to others. Sacrifice? No problem. After all, didn't Jesus show how much He loved us by laying down His very life for us? Thus, it is a pleasure & a privilege to live for others. With joy we face each day praying to God, "Please, make it clear today how I can obey Your command to be a living Valentine for the world! I will show my love for You my Lord in loving my neighbor." Love your neighbor… in the churches… at funerals… in neighborhoods… and even under the mosquito-coated lightbulb of a rural banana barrio. We are the mouthpiece, hands & feet of Jesus to the world. TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $300 for (installment #14 of 112) $33,500 2nd-floor of 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ school chapel & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $29,214.01 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $520. Still needed: $11,950! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $38,785.99. Remaining need: $80,000- ($12,000 + $38,785.99=50,785.99)= $29,214.01 |
| 1/12/2023 | Please pray for God's Holy Spirit to bring to remembrance our clear presentation of the Gospel, in the minds of hundreds of unbelievers who heard us clearly, via microphone, during our church's family day at the beach. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, FISH…" after our daughter Abby gave an incredibly fun Bible lesson for our orphan kids during their visit to the mainland, each of the kids recited their favorite Bible verses. When it was Esabelle's turn, since Filipinos often interchange "Ps" and "Fs", PEACE sounded like FISH. This was especially humorous as a recent American visitor had nicknamed 13-yr old Jonas as "Fish". So essentially, Jonas was now one of the fruits of the Spirit! This Christmas, in order to spread the festive Christmas joy to our orphans, we divvied them up to stay a few days with volunteer families from the church. The kids had a blast! And the families had the joy of another smiling face at their tables. The kids also joined the church youth group for their quarterly "Youth Jam" multi-church concert, as well as the regional 3-day youth camp for hundreds of church teens. The dozen kids' grand finale (before staying with our family one night) was the annual New Year's DCL mountain fellowship. Only since the event was cancelled due to rain, we invited the whole church to head to the beach! Rain? No problem! We stayed up all night preparing food for 60 people, & I also jotted notes for a Bible message & Bible quiz. The orphan choir sang, then the youth group choir sang, & then Abby sang a solo. Even though we had a karaoke machine, there were hundreds of others at the drizzly beach, & they too were blasting away their music. But for some reason they turned down their volumes when they heard our church group was present. Immediately I revised my message to be more evangelistic. The plan of salvation was clearly presented. A few days later, on Wednesday, BCA's classes resumed from their winter break. Teacher Jovi was ready to teach TEAMWORK to her 5th Graders. "Our motto in 5th grade is like the Musketeers: 'All for one, & one for all!'" The challenge had been that some students had problems understanding conjunction FANBOYS (F stands for For, A for And, N for Nor, B for But, O for Or, Y for Yet, & S for So). Using each of these words, she instructed, "Some did well YET some did not. SO, those students who did well AND got correct answers will teach their classmates, FOR them to be ready for our gameshow, 'GAME KA NA BA!' BUT in this game, there will be neither winners NOR losers. No Good guys OR bad guys, since we are a team." After ten minutes of the students' helping each other, Teacher Jovi divided the blackboard into 4 sections, labeling each section with the letters A through D. "I will read some questions & all you need to do is to choose & go to the letters of the best answer." The kids did so incredibly well, that she decided to also try the same with Math: GCF (Greatest Common Factor) & LCF (Least Common Factor). She blended this with their subject in Business: contrasting "Produkto" (Products) & "Serbisyo" (Service) & giving examples. Yet when she pressed it into the third subject (Music) she had a glitch. She also was developing a hoarse voice, speaking like a Game Show announcer. After introducing the notes, she quizzed on the number of beats & the rests as well. For the whole note, there are 4 beats. She led as each clapped their hands to show the beats of the whole note (4), half note (2), dotted half note (3), quarter note (1), dotted quarter note was a challenge: (1 & ½ beats), and so on. Jovi noticed one of the students was not clapping at all. When asked, the student cried out, "Teach, I don't like music, I just like Math." Jovi kindly responded in her hoarse voice, "Then that's the purpose why I discussed that topic for you to learn." The girl said again, quite emphatically this time, "TEACH, I REALLLY HATE MUSIC!" In practically a whisper now, Jovi calmed her down & shared, "I want you to execute the beats or else you will fail during the exam." That seemed to get the student's attention. As Eunice, the sponsorship coordinator, entered the room to guide the kids in writing letters to their sponsors, Teacher Jovi pulled this particular student aside to dig farther into the reason for her sliding behind, especially in her homework. "I am so sorry Teach. I have no dad & I am the one to take care of my little brother, since my mother works at night & she sleeps in the morning. That's my big problem. I have no time." Wow, thought Jovi. A nine-year-old with adult problems of time management! "What is our motto? All for one and one for all! So, borrow a cellphone from a friend & contact me after school three days a week & together we will perform a surprise musical number for the rest of the class, okay? Just you and me!" That little girl beamed like she had just swallowed a lightbulb! Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $316.65 for last 3 sections: #158-160 (with foundation & posts) of 160 sections needed for perimeter wall for Father's House orphanage. 160: ten-foot long, eight-foot high sections. Needed for protection of the orphans & also to stop thieves from stealing any more equipment and/or animals, as well as to keep neighboring animals from coming in to eat the kids' gardens. Cinderblocks: 95 @ 25 cents each = $23.75 per section, x, Cement 4 bags @ $4.56 each = $18.24, 8mm iron rough stability bars 3 @ $3.08 each = $9.24, 10mm iron rough stability bars 6 @ $3.48 each = $20.88, Coarse sand 1.5 cubic meters @ $22 each = $33, Tie wire ¼ kilogram @ $1.76 each = $0.44: $105.55 TOTAL per section (x 3 sections = $316.65. 0 sections remaining, totaling 0! Yay, God! 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $260. Still needed: $11,740! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 1st-floor Garage & 2nd-floor Chapel for new BCA multipurpose building: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $80,000. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $38,285.99. Remaining need: $80,000- ($12,000 + $38,285.99=50,285.99)= $29,714.01 NOTE: Davao is home to 11 unique ethnolinguistic Filipino tribes. |
| 1/5/2023 | Happy Rizal Day (National Hero: December 30, 1898). HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2023! Please also pray as I plan the Christmas festivities for DCLF (Davao Christian Leadership foundation) at a friend's mountain resort in early January. We delayed the event since some members were out of the country. Praise God that, after years of accidents, burns & fatalities during the holidays, Mayor Belmonte of Manila banned the use of firecrackers by private households. & the holding of their own fireworks displays. This is due to a 47% increase in emergencies & injuries related to firecrackers & fireworks this year. Meanwhile, the city approved permitted fireworks displays in public places. Following this mandate, during Elvie's family reunion in the jungle, the cousins designed a homemade "popgun" canon which is a pvc pipe (previously they used bamboo) triggered at the end after rubbing alcohol is generously sprayed inside it. Praise God also that over a thousand families in Northern Mindanao were successfully evacuated after flooding caused by nonstop rains, since Christmas Eve (Dec. 24). About 696 families or 1,863 individuals have remained in the evacuation centers as some of the families already went back to their respective places. Road blockage caused delays in getting supplies in, due to loosened gravel, fallen rocks & trees, & overflowed canals. Whattaway to spend Christmas! "Yay! Last church!" December has brought smiles to the faces of 600 BCA students, as Elvie, Abby, BCA's teachers, friends & I have visited our 30 church plants to bring gifts to every single child (including a few siblings who are not in the sponsorship program…we can't resist those little tykes' huge brown eyes!) Holiday traffic is horrendous, & it took 3 hours to travel to the Lasang church, which typically only takes 45 minutes. Last Thursday it was 2 churches: Lasang & Oceanview. Tuesday was Bangkal & Matina crossing. But Sunday…ah, Christmas Sunday, December 25. What a day it was! After my preaching on the Christmas story (yay, no more laryngitis!), all the age & gender groups performed. Then the kids came up one by one to get their toys & food & clothes & other gifts. The luncheon followed. Whoah, so much FOOD! Rice, sticky rice, sweet rice, & even scrumptiously roasted pig! Then other churches started to arrive, & up until midnight we had an exciting series of back-to-back concerts. The youth from each church played their instruments, praising God through their singing. Some was pretty loud, while others were mellow & thoughtful, but all alike were rejoicing in God the Father's generous "Best gift at Christmas!" A few days later Elvie & her sister Anilyn, as well as Abby & I, sat around the Christmas tree at home. We watched my dad's last video, 2 years ago, & just a few days before he died at 91, reading the Christmas story from Luke 2. Then we watched PJ & Brianna & the pastors of Auburn Alliance Church in New York, reading our family "Christmas Book" YEAR OF THE CHILD. This has been read every year since 1973. I still have a cassette tape of Dad reading it way back then when we were all a whole lot younger. And now, the teachers are all back home on winter break. But before leaving, BCA's Teacher Janice prepared her lessons for when the 4th graders will return January 3. Kids love music. So, one of the first things she will do to get the students "back on track" into studying mode this January, is to get them to sing. "I love my class…" started Janice, as she began composing her original composition. "And I love my classmates." Hmm, that doesn't rhyme, & it also follows no real time signature. Setting aside the song itself, Janice designed a setup where teams would perform one after the other, choosing their own musical instruments to play. While samples are in the classroom (recorder, ukulele, juice harp, bongos & maracas), the kids could also come up with some homemade or varied other instruments. Extra credit would also be given if the music is native to the Filipino tribe of one of the students. Wait a second, thought Janice. If they have tribal or other themed musical genre, why not also draw & color a backdrop for the performance? Beach theme, or forest theme, or… Janice was thrilled at the direction this lesson was taking. Let's see, thought Janice. What else can I add? Bible verses? Maybe they could add a verse of their own, including a Bible verse, yes, that's it! …and also a dance. They LOVE dancing! Oh, & tribal outfits! Any costumes, actually…and include all three languages spoken in the school: Filipino, Cebuano & English! Now, to help them with their spelling, they could also write out the words so that the other students can follow along. And they could also mention something about their course subjects…maybe like with Science, if they bring up the Phases of Matter…all in the form of a song! Ooh, I can't wait until next Tuesday! Muttered Janice, as she closed up her laptop and headed home for vacation break. Until next time…Let the islands rejoice! TOOLS FOR PERSONAL CHRISTIAN GROWTH:
Present Need: $300 for (installment #60 of 155) $46,500 1st-floor of 3-story, flood-proof (9-foot-high backfill) raised parking garage/ church sanctuary & teachers' apartments next to BCA's present building. $28,014.50 remaining. 2023 Christmas 2nd school uniform for BCA Students: Need: $20 x 600 students = $12,000. Donated: $230. Still needed: $11,770! Link for credit card donations: https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 https://tithe.ly/give?c=6118435 Garage for new BCA school buses: (from 2023 Davao Ironman Triathlon): Total need: $46,500. 2022 Ironman gifts: $12,000. 2023 Ironman gifts: $6,135.55. Remaining need: $46,500- ($12,000 + $6,135.55)= $28,364.45 GOALS FOR 2023: 1. Make 23 2023 goals…DONE! 2. Complete March 26, 2023 Davao, PH 70.3-mile Ironman triathlon race (#15!) to pay off BCA's $30,000 garage loan. 3. turn 62 4. Read thru the Bible 3x cover-to-cover (lifetime total so far: 84x). 5. Build temporary fence (or finish permanent cement wall) around orphanage, with help of FIA High School students. 6. Dig canal w/culverts for tribal BCA campus in Subasta, Davao. 7. Build 1st floor of new multipurpose building at BCA. 8. Bring weight down to 159 for March triathlon (165 now). 9. Perform & participate in wedding for PJ & Briana in both New York (August) & Davao (December). 10. Confirm & schedule visits to 5 Western USA churches in July, 2023, to challenge for missions. 11. Send out all 2022 PMBMI tax receipts by January 20. 12. Get Abby settled at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois for the fall, 2023 semester. 13. Raise $12,000 to buy each of the 600 BCA students a new school uniform (or scout uniform) for Christmas. 14. Work part-time in USA between church visits. 15. Read 100 books. 16. Run 500 miles. 17. Bicycle 5,000 miles. 18. Swim 5,000 laps. 19. Schedule & speak at churches in NY, NJ, CT, PA &/or VT for August through November. 20. Find sponsors for the 27 BCA students on the waiting list (total: 600). 21. Fix our 2005 pickup truck. The air conditioning doesn't work & the security alarm goes off when the door is unlocked. Also, cement the bumpy dirt road in front of the BCA guest house. 22. Visit & speak at a dozen different churches in the Philippines. 23. Gather our Philippine "CMT" leadership team to organize the three ministries (orphanage/safe house, churches, school) for our absence while in the USA, June through November. NOTE: Davao is home to 11 unique ethnolinguistic Filipino tribes. |
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September 11, 2023
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