May and June 2015

New Academic Year at PCL

June 8^th was the first day of the new academic year here at PCL. The beginning of a new year is always exciting and this time was no exception.

We have 37 newly enrolled students. I’m already enjoying getting to know my new class. They have really taken to some of the Aussie words I have taught them for a bit of fun. They now enjoy asking for lollies instead of candies, or asking if I had a ‘cuppa’ with my ‘brekkie’. They love saying ‘ta’ instead of ‘thank you’, but they can’t quite get the hang of ‘arvo’, as they pronounce the ‘r’ with an American accent. Their effort to ‘speak Aussie’ really makes me smile.

Our first Mid-Week Service and Orientation was on June 9^th. It was so wonderful to worship the Lord together again. We had a special welcoming dinner fellowship the following week. Of course, the students are always very excited about a free meal!

This year, friends from DBC are sponsoring 9 PCL students, including five 4^th year students, two 3^rd year students and two 2^nd year students. It is such a blessing to be able to help these students who are so passionate about completing their studies so that they can be equipped to serve God. DBC friends are also helping to support our library staff, an extremely important part of our school.

With my Korean students now back in Korea, I am enjoying a lighter teaching load. However, things at PCL are always busy and I am looking forward to being involved in more admin, library, student support and other roles for the next few months. It should be a great year! 

Introducing staff at PCL Orientation

Our First Mid-Week Service

Preparing our Dinner Fellowship - I'm just pretending to cook!

Ministry in San Mateo

 A very exciting piece of news is that construction of our church building in San Mateo has started. It has seemed like we have been waiting for such a long time, but we strongly believe that God’s timing is perfect and good things are worth waiting for. We had a bit of a hiccup with a broken piece of machinery, but construction is starting again and we hope it will be completed within a few months.

Our ministry is growing and we really need this building. We are still meeting in a nearby house, and it is quite a challenge to fit inside!

Juls gives the construction his thumbs up of approval

Last month was Juls’s birthday, and we enjoyed surprising him as a church with a birthday cake. We have also had the house dedication of one of our members who built a new house in recent weeks. Then there have been other times when we have needed to come together to support members who have been sick. These simple things are part of building a sense of community.

We are really praying that this ministry will grow, not just in number, but in every way. Most attendees are new Christians and we pray that their faith will grow. We pray that we will have unity and a sense of love for each other. We pray for our building, and especially the financial needs of the construction project. We look forward to seeing what God will do in Divine Mercy, San Mateo.

We can't fit inside the house

Boracay Adventure

In January, I gained another Korean student, Min Ji. I really enjoyed teaching her English and encouraging her in her walk with God. Min Ji really desired to visit Boracay, a beautiful island here in The Philippines, and asked if I would like to go with her. Of course, it sounded like a wonderful opportunity to spend time with her before she went back to Korea, to see more of this country and to have a refreshing break. However, I had to decline, as I simply didn’t have peace about spending so much money on such a trip. Then, God did something really amazing. He used His servant to provide the finances for not just me, but Juls as well! God made it very clear that He wanted us to go on this short, but unforgettable adventure. 

Oh, what a wonderful, beautiful, incredible time we had! We went parasailing, snorkeling, banana boating and rode the ‘flyfish’ (which I may have unintentionally come flying off). We did the ‘helmet dive’ and fed fish under the water. We ate delicious food, saw stunning sunsets, perused the markets and watched fire dancers. We were there for just three days (only one full day due to long travel) and two nights, but we had such a wonderful time. We felt so blessed to have perfect weather, despite it being the rainy season.

We are so thankful to Min Ji for inviting us, to the person who paid for us, and to Ma’am Joy, who also came and organized all the flights, accommodation and activities. We are especially thankful to God! 

A Heart for The Philippines

I have loved this Philippine Adventure that I have been on over the last three and a half years. However, as I have expressed in past newsletters and blogs, some of my experiences and the things I have witnessed have given me a lot to think about and I have been wrestling with my emotions. While God has given me the support of an amazing husband and some beautiful and much-needed breaks, I have been crying out to God to fill my heart with renewed strength and joy. Little by little, God is working in my heart, replacing those frustrations with understanding and hope. This morning as I watched the PCL students during their flag ceremony, I was reminded of the very reason I came here. God reaffirmed in my heart that in this place, He is training pastors, missionaries and teachers who will make a difference in their communities. Through their ministry in churches, schools and organizations, I believe that many lives will be transformed. I thank God for the way He encouraged me. 

PCLians helping with a construction project for community service

Goats on a wall - they make me smile