Return from Sojourn
I'm coming home in a couple of days after being in the Philippines for a month. I am excited to get home and be back with my wife, family, and friends. My time here has been good because I have had the opportunity to network with lots of people and spend time with Sarah's family and extended family. I have also had the chance to meet with YWAM leaders of different bases and even the YWAM National Director of the Philippines. I really feel that the Filipino people, as missionaries, are blessed with the ability to influence closed nations that do not experience religious freedom.
I am so honored to teach in the Discipleship Training Schools here in the Philippines. I enjoy encouraging young people to love God. I know they will bless many nations like Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China, and Korea when they go on outreach. The DTS students I have taught will share God's love with farmers, street kids, prostitutes, business owners, universities, and many more. They will share with them that the Good News is primarily about friendship with God and that they have a choice to live life fully alive free from sin. I am excited for their trips to these countries because there are so many people that they will talk to who have never heard that they are worth something, that they are made special, and that living an evil life is a choice.When they have finished with their three month outreach to these places many of them will return home to be influential Christians in their churches, schools, and businesses. They will have learned that Christianity is living according to the law of love not some good moral code. That Jesus' death on the cross was more than forgiveness of sins but a standard set on how deep our love should be. I believe that these DTS students as they live their lives according to God's law of love (Deut ch6) will change any environment for the better.
This is my ultimate satisfaction in life, to love God and teach others to do the same. I feel as if I am living exactly as I am supposed to, doing exactly what I am made to do. My childhood hero was Indiana Jones teacher, truth seeker, and adventurer. Every time I go on outreach I get butterflies in my belly because I don't know what adventure is ahead of me. I hope the next two years ,finishing school, fly by so I can do this all the time. What an adventure it will be when Sarah will be with me traveling and teaching. Many people think that being a missionary is uncomfortable and always difficult but what most people don't see is how directly the Gospel changes lives. In light of the good that is done there is no amount of difficulty that would make me want to change jobs. Don't get me wrong, there is very real danger. This wall has glass cemented to it for a reason. And when we were leaving one of the staff's house last night there was a poisonous snake on the gate handle that struck at us. I also, like Indiana Jones, hate snakes so I just stood still and waited for my friend to take care of it. Never a dull moment. Can't wait to hear from you all when I get back. Thanks again for partnering with me on this trip.----Financial Update----
Thanks again everyone for supporting Sarah and I. I hope you see the difference you are making. Peoples lives are being changed and the result is a better world for everyone. We are now down to $350 to cover the outreach. If you read this and want to support Sarah and I you can click on the DONATE button to support us directly through PAYPAL.
Battles Won - Battles Lost
I finished speaking last week in the Baguio DTS with a bang. It was a powerful time for all of us- speaker, staff, and students. One of the prime truths of the week, under the topic of Spiritual Warfare, was that Belief is not something we passively agree to but it is something we act on. You can agree and say you believe many things but until you act on it, it's not belief (eg Peter getting out of the boat Mark ch6). True belief is action despite fear; it removes doubt and selfishness. Belief replaces those things with resolve, confidence, and generosity. On the last day, the students made a serious declaration of faith. I asked which of them still needed money for their school and outreach fees. Every single hand shot up in the air- all twenty of them were in need. (Many people come to these schools from poor humble backgrounds with little money)
What happened next can only be described as supernatural. I asked them to pray that God would provide for them. So they prayed and out of that prayer time, their faith was challenged in a very real way. Where they just going to stand there and and agree that God would provide for them or were they going to believe? So to act on our faith/belief that He would provide, we started to put money in a jar to give towards an unknown need. Students and staff alike ran back to their rooms to get more money to put in the jar. At the end of that time people had given up much of what they had left to themselves out of their own empty pockets. We decided to give to most immediate need that was not us.The money was given to a ministry at YWAM Baguio called "Island Breeze" which performs original tribal dances and music. These people had been trying to get to Australia for a conference and had been selling extra clothing, their own valuables, and much more. They were very faithful and diligent in trying to raise money but the deadline had passed and if they were going to go, it had to happen that weekend. So, the broke DTS students gave what little they had to Island Breeze and only minutes after they had given them the money someone pledged Island Breeze $1,000 Australian dollars! Generosity breeds generosity so the hungry get fed and those in need are taken care of. I saw powerful belief in that classroom that day because each person gave until it hurt.
Many have never experienced belief that strong before because what we give is extra or what is convenient. The feeling in that room was unlike I have ever had. So many, all at once decided that someone else's need was greater than their own and that released a rare power. And if you think I am being spectacular, you are right because it was! Island Breeze went to Australia and the DTS students, more broke than before, learned first hand about Spiritual Warfare. What they learned, they experienced because that day they won a key battle; the one for their hearts. The war starts in our mind and is played out in our actions. You see it all the time when people act greedy or indifferent. Their lives reflect their hearts. But generosity and thankfulness destroys greed and bitterness and that is Spiritual Warfare.I will never be the same after that and will always think of those students next time I am faced with someone else's need.
----Sarah's Travel Update--------
So the time has come and gone and Sarah's green card did not come in time. This has come as a disappointment and a burden to us and many people who have been praying. In order not to lose Sarah's ticket we had to pay to move it to January, the next possible time for us to go to the Philippines. Since it is peak season now, the airlines have sold more tickets than they have seats which means I have no chance of coming home early. This is difficult because it keeps Sarah and I apart for two more weeks - add that to the last two weeks and you get a whole month the newly-weds are apart. It is really hard for us. The only thing I can do is buy a new ticket business-class to get home early. Lord knows we would if we could. So we talk twice a day, everyday over SKYPE. We are not deeply discouraged because we know God is still good and there any many reasons why this didn't come together in time. What the enemy wants to use for evil God uses for good, because he's like that, Sarah and I will be returning to the Philippines in January. And after talking with people here, there seems to be an open invitation to teach.----Financial Update----
Thanks again everyone for supporting Sarah and I. I hope you see the difference you are making. Thanks Bill for having faith in what Sarah and I are doing. Peoples lives are being changed and the result is changed Nations! We are now down to $350 to cover the outreach. If you read this and want to support Sarah and I you can click on the DONATE button to support us directly through PAYPAL.
Passing the Torch
I have been teaching in Baguio, in the mountains, for the past three days. The bus trip went well and we started the week early Monday morning. Before I left Antipolo last week I got it into my head to ask the leadership if I could bring Lehnnon with me, to help me teach in the Baguio DTS. I met him last year when I was teaching in Antipolo. He is 24 years old, a native Filipino, and has been working on staff for the past two years. At first they told me he could not come because he is the only guy staff working with the DTS and has many responsibilities. A couple of days before I left they told me he could come with me because the other staff said they would take on his work.
For the last three days I have been sharing teaching time with Lehnnon encouraging him and helping him gain confidence as a teacher of God's word. It has been really great working with him. He encouraged me and continued to lift my spirits. He has been especially helpful the last two days since I have fallen ill. I am feeling a bit better now as I write this but don't have long before I need to go teach again. I accepted two opportunities to speak in a Youth for Christ discipleship program Wednesday and Thursday night.
Lehnnon has gone back to Antipolo to fulfill his duties as DTS staff and I am now back to it alone. I am glad I had the opportunity to bring him with me. For me, it is continuing the process Jesus started 2,000 years ago when he traveled with his disciples. I enjoy teaching in DTS's but most of what I am doing is communicating information. Don't get me wrong, I take as much time as I can to hang around the students but the bottom line is I'm only here for a week at a time. Teaching someone to be like Jesus has little to do with new information, although it helps, it is primarily about character transfer. You learn Christ like attitudes and actions by seeing how someone lives and that makes you want to change. MY job here is simple, testify of God's character and encourage others. The staff of these training schools have the real hard work to do. They are the ones that need to walk in constant humility because it is their character that is multiplied. Their dedication is inspiring!
Last week I taught in the Antipolo DTS and got to know some incredible people. I would like to share one story with you. I was hanging out with a couple of students after lunch. We were talking about everything from gender roles to true thankfulness. One of the students, a Korean girl, asked me a question about honoring your father and mother. You see, her parents are Buddhists and hate the fact she is a Christian. They disowned her for eleven years and it is just now that she is able to restore relationship with them. Her parents don't want her learning about Jesus but want her to follow in the cultural norm of extreme education despite personal desire. My answer was lengthy but it can be summed up in: obedience to God is always the best course of action even if it hurts. I did not dissuade her from following her parents desires nor did I confirm that doing what they tell her to do is honoring them. I placed the source of her decision within her relationship with God. Either way, whatever she chooses will be painful. If she follows her parents commands she will work hard towards a goal that is not her own and be kept from Christian fellowship. But if she decides to continue to work in missions she can run the risk of breaking relationship with her family permanently.
Jesus said to follow him requires us to walk the narrow path. When we spoke I could feel the tension, it was like her heart was breaking right there. Despite her composure I could see that she was really struggling with what to do. She has been so wounded by her parents expectations and she really does want to please them but she wants to follow Jesus. I was amazed when I heard how she came to know Him. When she was young she was walking down the street and passed a Christian church that was having a worship service. She felt an excitement in her heart and went into the church. That day she fell in love with God and came to know him through the praises of his people. She has put everything on the line to come to DTS. I know whatever she chooses to do will bring her in closer relationship with God but it may not be an easy choice. It was my honor to meet her and encourage her. Pray for my friend - call her "J" that she will have the courage to make the right choice despite fear of either situation.We still have not received Sarah's approval letter. We are hoping it will come in the next few days so she can join me on the 15th. If it doesn't come I will have to look for an early flight home but availability is doubtfull. Partner with us in prayer as we hope for the possible to happen!
>>>Finance update<<< We have received some support in the last two weeks. Thanks Pam and Chersie for believing in me and Sarah! This brings what we need down from $700 total to only $550. I can't thank you enough for supporting us. Peoples lives are being changed and the result is changed Nations! If you want to support Sarah and I you can click on the DONTE button to support us directly through PAYPAL.
Sarah Teaches Anyway!!
Check this out! Eventhough Sarah was unable to come with me to the Philippines, she was able to teach in the DTS. With a little help from some friends, we were able to connect through SKYPE and use two webcams so the students could see and hear Sarah. After working out the bugs Sarah was able to give us her message on worldviews. Check her out on the big screen!
It was a powerful moment for me to have her "here" despite all we have gone through with the green card process. It was wonderful. Sarah was able to meet the students face to face. They told her where they were from and had the opportunity to say hi and chat a bit with 
her. For many of the staff here at YWAM Antipolo Sarah has been far off and unreachable-someone that they've been praying for. It's only through occasional phone calls, which cost a fortune, or an update from Sarah's aunt Leah or me. It was great for Sarah and I to have the chance to team teach because it is our passion and dream to teach together and often in Asia. Today was the first time when Sarah and I taught in Asia together and we were 5,000 miles apart doing it. God is good and always finds a way to bless us even when we think it is impossible.
her. For many of the staff here at YWAM Antipolo Sarah has been far off and unreachable-someone that they've been praying for. It's only through occasional phone calls, which cost a fortune, or an update from Sarah's aunt Leah or me. It was great for Sarah and I to have the chance to team teach because it is our passion and dream to teach together and often in Asia. Today was the first time when Sarah and I taught in Asia together and we were 5,000 miles apart doing it. God is good and always finds a way to bless us even when we think it is impossible.
I am doing well. My sleep pattern is still kind of weird. I wake up at 5 a.m. and get really tired in the afternoon but things are slowly getting better. The students are wonderful and have been really open with me. I find that it's easier for them to express themselves on paper than out loud so I have geared the homework towards that. I respond to their homework every day trying to help them process. Many of them have opened up to me and told sad stories of abuse and brokenness. They are so courageous to be so open. It shows so much maturity and a desire to be whole when people confront their demons. The attitude across most of Asia is that your performance determines your value. This worldview has caused tremendous pain and suffering. I hope to change this, along with Sarah, for future generations. Many are catching on to the fact that their performance does not determine their value and will make a direct impact on the world when they return to their respected countries.
Tomorrow is Friday and my last day teaching here in Antipolo. Saturday I leave on a bus to travel eight hours into the mountains of Baguio to speak for another week. In addition to speaking in the DTS there I will be speaking at another training program for a couple of nights. Keep in me your prayers as the traveling is rough and kinda dangerous. It is monsoon season here so it rains all day long. (Remember recently in the news that a landslide covered a school and killed hundreds of people) I hope we have a clear weekend with no rain. Someone has to go. If not me who?We are still waiting for Sarah to receive her approval letter for her green card. As soon as she gets that she can join me here in the Philippines. Pray for speedy response.
>>>Financial Update<<< Agian, thank you all for giving so generously so Sarah and I can work to change the world for the better. I am so comforted to know you believe in what we are doing, I never feel alone because of you. Most of the trip has been covered but we still need to cover the rest of the cost of the plane ticket, which is $400 and the cost of bills while I'm gone is about $300. If you are moved to contribute to what Sarah and I are doing please click the DONATE link on this page to support us quickly and safely.
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