Guatemala to Ohio

It has been an amazing couple of weeks. Last week I had the privilege of assisting a team to Guatemala.  We were able to see a salvation, several baptisms, deliver food baskets to families, feed children, pour concrete at an orphanage and a church, paint a church, and attend church services.  This group did an amazing job.

I headed from Guatemala to Ohio and I got to present at two wonderful churches and visit some good friends.  I’m currently in Ohio and I will be at another church here before I head home on Monday and then on to Thailand, Burma, and Japan for several weeks.  Thank you for your prayers and support.  Here are some pictures from the trip!

MANNA feeding Manna

There are times on the mission field where we are confronted with the most amazing stories.  Such is the case with Manna.  Not our organization, but the girl.  Over a decade ago, we started a feeding center in an area of Metro Manila called El Dorado.  Some of the first children in the center found out their parents were going to have a baby.  So, they asked them if their soon-to-be sister could be named Manna after the feeding program that has had such an impact on their family.

Today, we get to feed their sister Manna at the same center they started in.  She is now 9 years old.  These stories don’t happy overnight.  But, when they do, they really touch your heart.  Here is a video of MANNA feeding Manna.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!

I took a picture of a few of the pages from Reaghan’s passport (see below). I don’t know if either of them have fully processed all that they have seen and done in their short lives.  But, I can’t think of anything that could make a parent prouder than watching their children serve.  They are pretty tired from their travels, but they are troopers and we would not have been able to serve nearly as effectively without them.  They were able to do things we could not, and they engage the children in ways we could only dream.  They are already eagerly anticipating the next trip as a family.

Thailand

We finished out our trip to Asia by spending time at one of our projects in southern Thailand with a great church from Ohio.  Part of the group worked with the kids each day to help with teaching and lead games and activities.  The other part of our group worked to build a concrete walkway between two of the buildings.  We were able to visit families one night in the village to do a Bible Study outreach.  It was a real blessing to meet these people in their homes.  The Community Development Center project we are partnered with helps teach 220 children during the day and takes care of 60 more with an afternoon program.  MANNA is partnered with them to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner at the center so that the children are able to eat.  If they did not have the opportunity to eat, they would not be able to go to school.  This school provides an education to children from Burmese families that are not able to go to the public schools in Thailand.  Without the school, these children would have no access to education.

On the last day with the children, we provided an ice cream party for them and we washed their feet and gave them new shoes.  It was such a blessing to be a part of.

Philippines in Focus

We got to spend some great time with the Gotcher family in Metro Manila.  We we able to go to church with them, then visit several of the MANNA Feeding Centers in the area.  Lance and I were able to attend the first feeding of the new school year at a school in Manila.  He was allowed to share the Gospel and many of the kids accepted Christ!  We visited a feeding center that was several hours outside of Manila and Kim got to use her physical therapy skills to help a man that had a stroke to walk again.  Our time in the Philippines was a tremendous blessing to us and a great opportunity to serve as a family.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July from the Philippines!  It is always interesting to celebrate our nation’s independence day while in another country.  As everyone in America is beginning their day of celebration, we are winding down, having spent a day celebrating the 4th of July.  We were able to celebrate with some great friends, and meet some new friends.  We love our nation, and we love each of you.  Thus far in the Philippines we have been able to be a part of a youth service, and Sunday morning services at two different church locations.  It has been a great opportunity and our girls are making some great new friends.

Vietnam in View

We got to spend some great days with good friends in Vietnam.  There is so much happening there, and so many opportunities that we hope we can be a part of.  Our girls made some new friends in Saigon and it has been wonderful to see how much they have loved the culture of each country we have been too.  They just fit right in. We took a tour of the Mekong River with one of our ministry partners to see more of Vietnam and the history and culture of the area we work in.  It is a beautiful country with great potential.  Currently, we have an English Tutorial Center and 2 feeding centers in Saigon.  We are hoping to open another English Tutorial Center in Hanoi and a program to help children learn to read.

Field Day

Field Day is always the funnest, and saddest day on our trip to Mae Sot.  We put the kids into 5 teams and have contests between the teams, culminating in a winner take all tug-of-war.  The kids love it, along with the ice cream party afterward.  This year was no exception. It was a great way to spend our last day with the kids.  The sad part is, we eventually have to say goodbye.  But, we will see them again.

Time with the boys

Paul and I got to spend some time with the boys at the youth service to do a special Bible study and pray with each one individually. It was an awesome time! They really opened up to us and we were able to pray fro them specifically.  Some were concerned about their family, others wanted help with struggles in their lives.  It was so nice to see teenagers share their heart and seek prayer and support.