Some Masantol Pics

Kathie & the Sisters

“Those who know Your Name will trust in You; for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.”—Psalm 9:10

Last night was the 3rd week for us ladies to gather together. In the 2nd week the numbers doubled, which was encouraging to me realizing that these ladies were inviting others to come. Because it continues to rain, rain, rain and flooding has worked it way into more of these precious ladies homes, I really was not expecting many to come last night. Yet they walked through water to come and hear the Word. Very humbling!

The ladies are sharing more & more. Even though I may not understand all of the conversation, it encourages me to see them talk & laugh among themselves as they open up about how God has made Himself known to each of them personally. Some spoke of His healings, others His timely provisions. Others spoke of His Word made alive to them after asking Jesus into their hearts.

They are faithful memorizing scripture each week and, of course, are finding it very comforting & strengthening in their walk of faith with Jesus, as many of their family members are not saved yet. I discovered that they do have Tagalog Bibles in their own homes, so this week we are reading I John until we come together next Wednesday night.

Thank you for your continued prayers for us! Your prayers are much needed and much appreciated as Dennis & I see the Lord at work here in the hearts of the believers in Masantol. God is good!!!

The parade is coming

We could hear the band long before it passed the chapel. They were marching through Masantol and down Santa Lucia. As I ran to the second floor windows I called Kathie to come and see. The approaching celebration called for our immediate attention. Our minds were taken back to small town America before all the business and isolation of neighbors. The focus of our Masantol neighborhood was the sounds and colors of celebration. Now they were close enough to see all the colors. Flags were waving in all directions. Joyful children filled the streets, families marched behind. Soon I witnessed the center of focus.

On a cart surrounded by many stood the carved image of a catholic saint. He was rolled along with the crowd surrounded by candles. I felt for the children who didn't know. Their ears were drawn like ours by the music of the people. The seeming happiness of colors and sound. The adults had many more years of following the crowd. Their hearts were given to the worship of this saint. The Bible states in Psalm 135, "They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is everyone that trusts in them." They are marching into eternity. Pray that God will open their eyes to see their need for Jesus. How much better to march in worship and song to our living Savior Jesus!

Celebrating a Birthday

This week my honey (you call her Kathie) celebrates her birthday on Friday the 28th. I suppose it is not politically correct to remind a woman about birthdays. But my wife is a very special person. I am so blessed that God brought us together at a home Bible study fifteen years ago. The Bible says in Proverbs, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the LORD.” I am blessed to have a wife who is a godly woman and shares together in serving the Lord. Like America, many homes here in Masantol are single parent homes. Either the husband or wife is missing. I know it is God’s favor that keeps us together and allows us to serve Him. So we are blessed.
Here in the Philippines families love to celebrate birthdays with karaoke’s. Typically they are played quite loud so all the neighbors can hear. Each one at the party seem to take turns singing great karaoke hits. As the party moves into the evening and then the wee hours of the morning the singing is pretty bad. I’ve listened to several parties now and the music is much like the worst American Idol tryouts you can imagine. It probably does not help that the people are drinking more and more as the party progresses. These Karaoke birthdays reveal the great need to reach the people of PI with Jesus. Only then will they find true joy.
When Friday comes I know we won’t be singing Karaoke. Sure we will sing and be joyful. But our joy will be full because it comes from Jesus! I thank God for a godly wife. We pray that many families in Masantol will begin to see their marriages affected by Jesus as well.

God still Answers Prayers

Thanks again to all who continue faithfully praying. God is answering with lives being touched. New people are coming to church. Relationships with Jesus are growing deeper. God has kept us healthy. God has protected us from harm and danger. Through many, God has fully provided for our tickets, our financial commitments at home and the first seven weeks here in Masantol. Continue to pray as we have two months yet to be provided. We have several hundred dollars unexpected for visa government fees. We are grateful to those who have given financially as led by God. Pray as we also hope to visit missionary friends on the Philippines Island of Negros in November. Masantol is on the main Island of Luzon. Until that time we pray & hope to see much fruit. We pray and desire for people to accept and follow Jesus. We dare not slow as the mission has much more to reach the finish. In Philippians Paul’s states: "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." May we also press on for Jesus!

Kathie's Notes

“The fruit of righteousness will be peace. The effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.”---Is. 32:17

God has a way of speaking for Himself. We just get the blessed privilege of seeing Him work among us as we stay in step with the Spirit’s leading. Striving comes natural for me. It never ceases to amaze me how incredibly patience our God! Over and over, he comes is calm the storms that rise within. Over and over again, His grace is given and He ministers to hearts and lives through His Word. Oh may we all praise Him for all He has done to show Himself present and faithful on behalf of those who put their trust in Him!



Praise report---The ladies of Masantol gathered together to worship Wednesday night. We looked into the Word to see what the Lord had to say about the blessings of trusting in Him as Lord with all of our lives because of His great love for us. He had us look at the life of Mary to see what it was in her life that He so “highly favored”. There was some group participation by the women, followed by a time of prayer & fellowship over some goodies (we love our goodies!). Marissa is a wonderful blessing from God. She did a fantastic job helping me with translation. Jane is another faithful servant who comes early and stays late to help in any way she can. After all had headed back to their homes, she lingered and shared with me some Tagalog!
Thank you all for praying. The headache lifted that very first night and has not returned since. Thank You Jesus! It has been one week since arriving here to Masantol and I am now sleeping through the night as of two nights ago! Following suit with reports of grandson Isaiah who slept his first 6 hours since arriving home with Angela & James. Dennis continues to encourage the sweet people here from the Word. We pray that as the lives of the believers are encouraged that they will have more boldness to share the Lord with their family and friends. We pray that the Lord would add to His church daily. Some of the people in fellowship have been battling with sore throats and congestion. Dennis seems to have a touch of it as well. Please pray for the Lord's healing.

Isaiah The Newest Grandchild

I am sure many have heard already of Isaiah's arrival. Now we have a picture to add. Kathie and I praise our creator and God for the newborn baby. Isaiah is already two weeks old. He was born September 4th at 10:53 pm. He weighed in at 7 pounds and 10 ounces and is 20 1/2 inches long. Kathie was blessed to be there for the birth before joining me in Masantol, Philippines. God's word gives lasting truth in Psalm 127:3-5, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them".