Gemma in the Philippines: May 2015

Ministry in San Mateo

We really enjoyed the community outreach programs we ran together with the 4^th year students in Divine Mercy, San Mateo in January and February. This March, we began the next step in our ministry. Together with another couple, Pastor Francis (freshly graduated from PCL) and his wife Sherryl, Juls and I have started regular ministry in the area. We have a prayer meeting every Thursday evening, 2 Bible Studies on Saturdays, and simple afternoon services on Sundays.

Julius leading one of the Bible Studies

Our attendees are new Christians and seekers. They have a lot of questions and we really pray for wisdom in discipling them. As is to be expected in a new ministry, particularly with new Christians and seekers, we have had some ups and downs. Some weeks, we have had a very encouraging number of attendees. Other weeks, the numbers have been lower. There have been different reasons for the fluctuating attendance, but we continue to encourage and pray for them.

During our January and February outreach activities, we had been using a covered court and hiring chairs. This is not possible for our weekend activities but we do not yet have a church building. Therefore, we looked for other arrangements. For the time being, we are holding our simple services in the house of one of our new attendees. It can be hard to fit everyone inside, but we are doing our best. In March, we were able to purchase 35 chairs, using some of the money given to us by DBC. These have been a really big help.

Buying 35 chairs for the ministry

Preparing for a Sunday afternoon service in Sis. Leonie's house

The very exciting news is that our building permit has finally been approved. Juls and Francis have been making arrangements with Pastor Lee (the Korean missionary pastor who oversees the Gethsemane churches, the Prayer Mountain and the Bible College) and the water and electricity authorities. They will start building very soon and I look forward to including photos of the construction in my next newsletter. We are praying for the budget of our building, as the budget provided by our Korean sponsor is not quite enough. We believe that God will provide for this ministry and would appreciate your prayer in this matter.

On the lot with Ptr. Lee - construction will start very soon!

Farewell Class of 2015

Every March, we have to say goodbye to another batch of students as they finish their four years at PCL. This year, we had 29 students graduate, our highest number of graduates in our school’s short history.

At the beginning of March, we held elections for the next batch of leaders in our school.

On March 13, we had the annual Baccalaureate Service. Leadership of the school was officially passed on to the batch below, and key positions symbolised with a candle, pen, Bible, sword and key were given to the new student council members in a special ceremony.

The turnover ceremony

Finally, the big day arrived. March 23 was graduation day! For the past three years, I have been the MC, but this year, due to many commitments, I didn’t take on this role. Graduation is, of course, a very special day that students long to share with their family members. Sometimes, because of distance, health or other reasons, no family members are able to come and show their support for their student. One student, Bro. Erick, requested that I stand in as his ‘parent’, escorting him down the aisle and standing with him for his picture with his certificate. He thanked me for my support and encouragement ever since he was a first year student. I was honoured to be part of his day.

We wish our graduates all the best for the future and keep them in our prayers as they embark upon the next chapter of their journeys. I will always remember fondly their special involvement in Juls and my ministry in San Mateo for their internship. We pray that God will guide and provide for them.

We also pray for our new 4^th year students, believing that God will guide them.

Korean Students

At the beginning of the year, I was teaching two Korean students, Yun Ju and Min Ji, who came to Gethsemane Prayer Mountain to learn English. Jin joined us in late February. In March, before Yun Ju was due to go back to Korea, Juls and I took the three Korean students, along with another Filipino friend who had been teaching them as well, to a little zoo in Montalban. At the end of April, we had another special outing to Ocean Park in Manila, as Jin was preparing to return to Korea at the beginning of May. Juls and I wanted to give them some wonderful experiences together while they were still here. Now, only Min Ji is still studying at GPM, so my schedule is not as hectic as it has been for most of this year.

I’ve really enjoyed teaching these girls. I have become fascinated with English, as I have always taken so many mind-boggling rules and patterns for granted as a native English speaker. Most of all, I have been so blessed to be part of their spiritual journey, as this has undoubtedly been one of the key reasons God sent them to a Prayer Mountain to study English, instead of a secular academy. God has been moving in all of their lives and I have truly enjoyed our long, deep and honest conversations about God.

New Members of the GPM Family

Three years ago, I met a little family on Panggapasan island, near Bohol. These five children were living with an elderly grandmother who was unable to look after them. They touched Pastor Lee’s heart and 2 years ago, Johnnyboy and Elaine came to stay with us on the mountain. Now, the siblings are all together again, as Ninyo, Richard and John Lloyd came to the mountain this April. We have another young child, JC, who has been adopted by one of the ‘mommies’ in the kitchen. I love that in this place, children are being given an opportunity to go to school and be provided for in a way that was not possible before. The young boys who recently joined us are so fond of Juls. Not only is he a big kid himself who loves to play, but he can speak their provincial language (Juls speaks two Filipino languages). Juls has spent a lot of time on the mountain this vacation because of my commitments to the Korean students, so that has been a big blessing to the children.