Well, again, I simply cannot believe how quickly time has flown! It is half-way through the year already! Vacation has finished and the new school year is well underway. Life is busier than ever and I am having the most wonderful time in this beautiful place.

This is not my puppy, but isn't he cute!

                              At the end of May I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week in Quezon province, the home of several of our students. It took us about 15 hours to get there, but it was well worth the journey. I stayed with the family of one of the students, Brother Johnard, whose parents are pastors and also run a boarding house for students who study at the college just across the road. We had the most wonderful time! It is a very beautiful place, with beautiful beaches and far from the crowds and pollution that you find in Manila and surrounding areas. We thoroughly enjoyed going to the beach, going for a boat ride and eating breakfast, brunch and lunch in a ‘balsa’, which is like a floating picnic table with a built in waterslide. We cut down coconuts and drank the milk and ate the flesh; as fresh as you can get! We prayed at the beach, while watching the sun rise. We visited the homes of 5 PCL students, eating together with their families. What a wonderful vacation!

Sunrise in Quezon Province

Do we look ready for a vacation or what?!?!

Yep, definitely just a pose, I was not doing anything useful!

                             

While we were in Quezon province, we also had the wonderful privilege of participating in and sharing during Bible studies and church services. I was honoured when I was asked to share a word of encouragement at the Bible studies and even to share the message on the Sunday morning at church. I spoke about hope, as described in 1 Peter 1:3-5. My friends had the sometimes difficult job of being my interpreter. While I am certainly no preacher, I really enjoyed this experience.

Sharing the Word, with my interpreter

And a new interpreter on Sunday morning, Sister Marjorie

                             

Before I knew it, my vacation in Quezon province was over and it was back to the mountain for the new school year. It was so exciting to watch the students arrive. There was so much joy when everyone saw each other again. We were also excited to meet the new students, who are just beginning their 4 years of training at PCL. The first 2 weeks were so busy, making plans for the year, organising orientation for the students and gathering student information. At our first mid-week service, I was blessed to be the worship leader. I had not led worship since leaving Darwin in December, so I was so happy to be able to do that. We also had a welcome party for our 1^st year students, and I was asked to bring a message. This time, thankfully, there was no need for an interpreter (I just had to try to speak clearly and slowly). I shared about persevering by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, from Hebrews 12:1-3. Yes, the new school year was underway!

Oh I have missed leading worship!

                             

This semester, I am continuing with the roles I had begun at the beginning of the year. I have a new batch of 1^st year girls in my ‘Growth Enhancement’ class. I continue to have various administrative roles and I continue to build relationships with the students so that I can encourage and help them. I am so blessed that so many students do share with me and ask for prayer. Because I am close to the students, I have been able to identify when students are struggling and offer a listening ear, a word of encouragement and most of all, prayer! I bought myself a printer, and now, my desk is the most popular place in the school. I am so happy that I can help students by printing their papers. The printer was also very useful last week, as the process of becoming accredited through CHED steps into a higher gear. Finally, I have begun to teach English, which of course was my original plan. I found that a class of 70 students was a bit of a challenge, so I split the group into 2 classes. I am really enjoying teaching ‘English Communication’ to the 1^st and 2^nd year students.

Some of my 1st Year girls

               

As I mentioned in my last blog, my dear friends Alex and Suz visited me at the beginning of April. We spoke about the many challenges that the students here face, including the lack of computers. Alex and Suz had the wonderful idea to fundraise for some new computers. I am so grateful to my beautiful Aussie church, Darwin Baptist Church, and everyone who contributed to this cause. Last week, we put 6 new computers in the library. Already, they have been well used by the grateful students. We will make sure that these will be well looked after so that they can be of use to many students for many years to come. Once again, I want to thank Darwin Baptist Church and everyone involved for their kindness and generosity!

Students using the new computers

              

Last week we had a mission team from Korea stay with us at the school. Our 3^rd and 4^th year students joined them in their medical mission, which also included feeding and outreach. It was a wonderful experience. We enjoyed a Philippines vs Korea Basketball game, which was won by the Philippines whose outstanding skill was more than a match for the Koreans’ enormous size! (Yes, I’m biased.) We then played another game which was like a cross between soccer and volleyball. It was very interesting! The Koreans showed that this was more up their alley! On Friday, some of the PCL students stayed on the mountain (classes are Monday to Thursday) to help the Koreans with cementing the floor of our sanctuary. The floor was cracked and when there is heavy rain the water can seep up and make the floor wet. As a team, we made a line and threw buckets of cement and gravel up to the sanctuary at the top of the mountain. We did this from 9am until 4pm, but we were rewarded with a delicious lunch! We will all miss our new Korean friends.

They're so much bigger than Filipinos!

But our guys can jump!

And I am doing the very important job of spectating

Put a little Smack Down on it. Haha! Love the shirts our team wore!

Food for the feeding program

With the children in Yagit

So we have to get how many truckloads of this to the top?

The line, pass the bucket to the top of the hill 

And it's so much more fun eating off banana leaves!

              

I am so happy about all the wonderful things that God is doing here on the Prayer Mountain and in the lives of our wonderful Bible School students. I appreciate the prayer support that I am receiving. Please continue to pray for me and for our students. The first few months of the school year is often the most difficult, as the students are making a significant transition and many are without sponsors. Please pray that God will provide all of their needs, financially, spiritually, emotionally and academically. Thank you so much! God bless you!