Visit to the Dome -- Philippines

We were blessed to have time with the trainees and staff of Christian Missions for the Unreached (CMU) for a couple of days to build up, pray for and encourage them.  These young people come from a remote area to be discipled, attend college, and learn translation skills or practical skills.  Three young women are presently translating the old testament in to the paranan language.  

For 20 pesos ($.50) you can sponsor a verse translated!  Contact us if you would like to be a part of this project. 

Thanks for your prayers.  Duane is now in a remote area teaching and encouraging the people there--we will update you later on his time there.  I'm in Baguio catching up on things here.

Greetings from the Philippines!

We have arrived back in Baguio City, Philippines, and after a short weekend to recover from travel, Duane is teaching in the Crossroads Discipleship Training School here on the topic of Missions.  It will be an intense teaching week but an important basis for the students here considering a life of missions and all that means.

God has been so faithful to bring us safely back here again.  Because of the injury Duane suffered last fall when cutting down a large tree in our back yard, our return here was delayed.  As some of you may know, he suffered a concussion, 2 broken neck vertebrae, a cut on his head with 8 metal staples to hold it together and damage to the optic nerve affecting the left eye.

While recovering and allowing his neck to heal and having many doctor appointments we continued a our lifestyle of meeting together each morning for devotions, prayer, talking about what is ahead for the day or coming up as well as exploring and seeking seeking God for His plans for us.  Lots of walking down the road gave us plenty of exercise which was good for both of us.  

Presently we are between doctor appointments so have a 6-week window of time to return back here--primarily to be a blessing and encourage the people here that we have developed relationships with over the past 17 years.   God seems to be taking us to a deeper level of connecting and mentoring and discipling people of all ages and walks of life--both here and back in Wisconsin.  Wonder what is ahead for us??

We will be returning to Wisconsin for more doctor appointments--checkup and release from Neuro regarding his neck healing, and possible surgery the end of May for his left eye.  Please keep us in your prayers regarding these things, as well as continued direction from God for his day-to-day plans for us.  

We appreciate your support, your cards and prayers for us during this time of learning to trust God in a new way.  His grace and peace has been constantly with us.

Blessings and peace to you,
Lois 

Hello from the Philippines!

After some time of having a Sabbatical REST/time with family/working on our house project in the USA--

We arrived in the Philippines late Thursday, last week, for a 3 1/2 week visit. We knew we were to come to be a blessing and encouragement. Spending time with friends and staff team -- reconnecting.

Duane is presently spending time with the people in Palanan and enjoying his nipa house at the edge of the jungle! I'm recovering from a "cold" or something that hit me about 48 hours after arriving. Just now starting to feel better. And enjoying staying with our friends Brian and Laura in another friend's house in Baguio near the YWAM base.

Kind of strange-- two cultures so very different and both so familiar that we can step from one to the other with little effort. The world is pretty small, huh?? Though it is easier for the body to adjust than the mind sometimes.

Soon, after the YWAM 50th celebration, we leave here to finish our sabbatical. Thank you, God, for the for this time and those that participated with you in providing for tickets and in-country expenses.

Praise God in all things!

Thank you to you that committed to pray with us about the water project. In less than a week God has provided all the funds we think we need for completion. Thank you for those responding to God about donating for this project.

Now we are praying about the timing as Duane and I leave for sabbatical/ furlough May 31. Please pray with us about the timing of this project and for those who will over see the construction. Thank you so much.

Blessings to you this day!

Prayer Request

WATER -- a precious commodity --

Please pray about our water situation. Each month the bill goes up -- this past one was up about 3,000 to 4,000 pesos. We don't know WHY, but have considered we need to do something about it. One main receiving tank is leaking--we didn't think that was amounting to that much though.

Our consideration is to build a new tank to replace the leaking one, but this one would be much bigger for storage with another tank beside to fill the main one with rain water collection from the roofs of the two main buildings. In rainy season we would most likely not need any city water and regular rain in the "dry season" would probably keep it quite full, too.

This project will cost about 55,000 pesos for the main tank and collection tank with filtering system using the floats and pumps we already have. A good friend (part time missionary here with welding business back in Minnesota) has drawn the plans, giving us his workers with a bid of materials and labor allowing the workers to bring his welding equipment to our site and do the work here.

Interesting "side note" here--Duane was thinking about the water, needing to replace the leaking tank and thought "I should try to contact Dan." Two minutes later as we entered the local ACE hardware store, there in front of us was Dan. Now realize we thought he was back in Minnesota and how would we contact him. . .

So. . .please pray with us for the money (about $1,150 at present exchange rate) and wisdom regarding this plan. We don't have the finances as a training center to do this now and pay our bills, but if we can build this we will be able to reduce our monthly bills by 15,000-20,000 pesos (about $300-400 per month).

We are asking God for His answer by way of provision within the next two weeks.

Please pray with us.

Outreach time!

Duane is going back to his "second home" in Palanan, Isabella. I won't be there with him so pretend he is just "thinking about me" is why you see me in the photo!

The Crossroads DTS team is on their outreach/field experience now in several locations--Baguio last week with DVBS for younger children and DTW for youth. Now the team will be in the jungle of Palanan for one month, then into another city for 2 weeks, then the ending back at Baguio for more ministry, debriefing and graduation. Please pray for them as their flights into Palanan have been on "hold" until the weather clears. But we know that God doesn't waste anything so this may be a "detour" in our schedule, but certainly not for His plan.

I'm busy at the Baguio Training Center now preparing for arrival of a youth Art camp group of 61 coming Sunday and Monday for the week. These kids are part of a ministry to the children of parents with AIDS. We provide the accommodation and their ministry staff are responsible for all the activities. It should be an exciting week for these kids. Please pray that these kids are open to what God has for them this week.

We appreciate your prayers for us. I had gallbladder surgery about 2 1/2 weeks ago, so am trying to take it easy even though I feel good. The procedure went well, and I have a small jar of little black stones as the "trophy" of the event.

Love to hear back from you. . .

Catching up to date!

Duane resting and reading in his favorite chair at the cabin!

After returning from Palanan DTC early December, we made a quick trip to the States for Christmas--thank you to our dear friends' surprise donation and air miles we had collected over the years. It was really a blessing to be with family and friends again. Though only 5 1/2 months since we had seen them it seemed like years to me. My heart was really missing our kids and grandkids--so this was a very special gift from our Father. All my heart holes got filled except one because I wasn't able to see Jon and Megan's family this trip.

CDTS Update. . .

This Crossroads Discipleship Training school is in the lecture phase with 13 students from Korea, USA, Philippines, Malaysia, and Australia. Unusual in that we have mostly singles with only one couple and no children! A great group.

A staff team couple have been leading this school as we continue mentoring and supporting them. So it is a "step back" for us which we hoped would give Duane a little more time to study and me time to relax a bit more! (That didn't happen quite the way we hoped.)

Our primary focus is to raise up more leaders--mentoring, encouraging and supporting them in their giftings. Working in a team effort has good training for all of them.

We ask your prayers as we continue seeking God for His directions day by day.