Sunday, June 27, 2004
School is now in full swing and right now it is very challenging academically. We have 21 hours of classroom time per week plus devotions and preaching in the mornings. This is all graduate level work so the guideline is that we are supposed to have 2 hours of homework for every hour of class time! That means just the academic load is 63 hours per week! I have papers due just about every day until mid-October which is our first scheduled break. October is also supposed to be our first international outreach trip. I'm currently praying about several possibilities. There is a new outreach in Myanmar (Burma) that Glen Nabarrete went to last year, there is a new church in Mongolia that Pastor Scott encouraged me to go to (and to take James if possible), and there is a new work in Hong Kong which probably needs help too that Sam Ng is praying about going to.
I will probably attend my first cell group meeting this week even though Pastor Joey Bonifacio, the leader, is still in the U.S.A. Satomi will also attend her first women's cell group this week. I am happy to see her getting plugged in. I have been hanging out with my classmates of course.
Here is a class picture that one of my classmates (who owns a photography business) took last week. Click on the picture if you want to download a full-sized version.
Here is the VLI (Victory Leadership Institute) building we meet in every day.
I will probably attend my first cell group meeting this week even though Pastor Joey Bonifacio, the leader, is still in the U.S.A. Satomi will also attend her first women's cell group this week. I am happy to see her getting plugged in. I have been hanging out with my classmates of course.
Here is a class picture that one of my classmates (who owns a photography business) took last week. Click on the picture if you want to download a full-sized version.
Here is the VLI (Victory Leadership Institute) building we meet in every day.
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Hello again! I have gathered some nice pictures this week and I will post several today because it may be a while before I have time to mess with the blog after school starts on Monday. Let me just say what a blessing your prayers and financial support are to us! I have been reminded over and over again this week how it is only by the Grace of God and the love of our friends, family and spiritual family that we get to take advantage of such an awesome opportunity this year - THANK YOU!
Just about a week before we left Japan a dear brother in Yokohama felt led to ask me about whether I needed a notebook PC and a digital camera. Little did he know that I had been praying for specifically those two items for months! So God has even given me the tools to write this blog through the love and prayers of others in the church - THANK YOU!
Alishea is enrolled in 5th grade at school for the first time and we have paid for her first quarter of schooling and bought all her school supplies and uniform. She will probably learn a little Tagalog language this year and definitely make a lot of friends - THANK YOU!
James has been praying for a guitar teacher while we are here and one of the first people we met was Archie Castillo, who is a classically-trained professional guitar player who gave up this career to serve God full-time. Archie lives in the same building as us. He will be going to help start a new church-plant in India next year, but in the meantime he has offered to teach James guitar for FREE.
Once again - THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS! They are really making a difference!
CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
Now finally to the pictures!
First here is a picture of the outside of our building. It is a pretty big skyscraper (36 floors) and we can always find it because it says "In God We Trust" on all sides of the top floor! Here is a view of the other side.
Today our new friend Archie (the guitarist) took all of us on an adventure into downtown Manila. Here is the group walking in front of me with Archie explaining to Sam how to look like a Filipino. (hint* we are wearing backpacks and carrying bottled water and digital cameras. I think the locals can spot us a mile away!)
We got on a train and headed to a station called Carriedo. This station has a China Town (that Sam wanted to visit) and a district where you can buy cheap musical instruments, electronics and computer parts (that I wanted to see). When we arrived we discovered that it was Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day today so Archie and Sam posed for a picture.
We also saw a statue of the first mayor of Manila and noticed a striking resemblance to Ray. My stomach was a little queasy so Sam assured me that once we reached China Town he could find medicine to cure me of anything! Once I saw the Chinese medicinal stores selling everything from deer heads to eagle claws to who-knows-what my stomachache immediately seemed very insignificant and I told Sam I was feeling much better - thank you! James' stomach was starting to get a little queasy to from the smell from this river. But he wasn't interested in any of Sam's chinese medicinal potions either. So we compromised and let Sam buy us lunch in a Chinese Dim Sum restaurant which was actually quite good. It helped that Sam and our other Chinese friend Fiona were with us because they knew all the good things to order (even after I refused their kind offer of chicken-foot soup).
There are numerous types of transportation in Manila. James especially liked this vehicle but we didn't want to ask the occupants to pose with us because they carry automatic rifles and shotguns! The most interesting form of transportation seems to be unique to the Philippines. It is called "Jeepney" and is sort of a modified jeep that is used as an open-air taxi/bus. Jeepneys are everywhere and depending on how far you want to go you can squeeze in or hang on and ride for less than 20 cents. Inceidentally, the church in the background of the Jeepney photo above is one of the oldest churches in Manila. It was built in 1586 and has stood Chinese and Dutch attacks, the British Occupation Force, the Philippine-Spanish War, Dewey's bombardment, the Japanese Occupation, and the return of MacArthur's troops.
I hope this virtual tour gave you a glimpse of Manila. It is an amazing place with shades of many cultures, influences of Spanish, Chinese, even the U.S.A. We are really thankful to be here and, all tongue-in-cheek humor aside, this is going to be an amazing year!
Just about a week before we left Japan a dear brother in Yokohama felt led to ask me about whether I needed a notebook PC and a digital camera. Little did he know that I had been praying for specifically those two items for months! So God has even given me the tools to write this blog through the love and prayers of others in the church - THANK YOU!
Alishea is enrolled in 5th grade at school for the first time and we have paid for her first quarter of schooling and bought all her school supplies and uniform. She will probably learn a little Tagalog language this year and definitely make a lot of friends - THANK YOU!
James has been praying for a guitar teacher while we are here and one of the first people we met was Archie Castillo, who is a classically-trained professional guitar player who gave up this career to serve God full-time. Archie lives in the same building as us. He will be going to help start a new church-plant in India next year, but in the meantime he has offered to teach James guitar for FREE.
Once again - THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS! They are really making a difference!
CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
- For our stomaches to get used to Filipino food
- For a good used guitar for James and I
- For all the finances to come in that we need for my seminary tuition, books, and ministry trips this year
- Safety and protection on all of us, especially Alishea and Satomi as they travel to school and back each day
Now finally to the pictures!
First here is a picture of the outside of our building. It is a pretty big skyscraper (36 floors) and we can always find it because it says "In God We Trust" on all sides of the top floor! Here is a view of the other side.
Today our new friend Archie (the guitarist) took all of us on an adventure into downtown Manila. Here is the group walking in front of me with Archie explaining to Sam how to look like a Filipino. (hint* we are wearing backpacks and carrying bottled water and digital cameras. I think the locals can spot us a mile away!)
We got on a train and headed to a station called Carriedo. This station has a China Town (that Sam wanted to visit) and a district where you can buy cheap musical instruments, electronics and computer parts (that I wanted to see). When we arrived we discovered that it was Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day today so Archie and Sam posed for a picture.
We also saw a statue of the first mayor of Manila and noticed a striking resemblance to Ray. My stomach was a little queasy so Sam assured me that once we reached China Town he could find medicine to cure me of anything! Once I saw the Chinese medicinal stores selling everything from deer heads to eagle claws to who-knows-what my stomachache immediately seemed very insignificant and I told Sam I was feeling much better - thank you! James' stomach was starting to get a little queasy to from the smell from this river. But he wasn't interested in any of Sam's chinese medicinal potions either. So we compromised and let Sam buy us lunch in a Chinese Dim Sum restaurant which was actually quite good. It helped that Sam and our other Chinese friend Fiona were with us because they knew all the good things to order (even after I refused their kind offer of chicken-foot soup).
There are numerous types of transportation in Manila. James especially liked this vehicle but we didn't want to ask the occupants to pose with us because they carry automatic rifles and shotguns! The most interesting form of transportation seems to be unique to the Philippines. It is called "Jeepney" and is sort of a modified jeep that is used as an open-air taxi/bus. Jeepneys are everywhere and depending on how far you want to go you can squeeze in or hang on and ride for less than 20 cents. Inceidentally, the church in the background of the Jeepney photo above is one of the oldest churches in Manila. It was built in 1586 and has stood Chinese and Dutch attacks, the British Occupation Force, the Philippine-Spanish War, Dewey's bombardment, the Japanese Occupation, and the return of MacArthur's troops.
I hope this virtual tour gave you a glimpse of Manila. It is an amazing place with shades of many cultures, influences of Spanish, Chinese, even the U.S.A. We are really thankful to be here and, all tongue-in-cheek humor aside, this is going to be an amazing year!
Saturday, June 05, 2004
Here is a riddle; what goes up and down up and down and is extreeeemely slow? answer: my cable internet service in Manila!
Sorry about the bad joke! God is continuing to provide everything we need and he is also teaching us patience and how to pray for the "little things" each day that we sometimes take for granted at home.
Last week our friend Sam Ng, a leader from Dennis & Kaku Sager's church in Shizuoka came to live with us for a while. Sam is going to study at the graduate school of world missions with me this year and is living with us until he can find an apartment and his wife Esther comes to join him at the end of July. Sam & Esther's website is here and you can get another perspective on life and ministry in Japan if you take the time to read some of their posts.
Alishea went and took an evaluation test for Victory Christian School on Tuesday and we will attend an orientation tomorrow where she will be fitted for her new *UNIFORM*. She is excited about going to a traditional classroom school for the first time in her life and she really wants you to pray that the uniform is pretty!
James attended the Youth on Fire meeting again tonight and said they were REALLY ON FIRE tonight - he seems to have made friends already and is looking forward to meeting with his cell group tomorrow. The 15 year old cell leader is named Adrian Gibbs. Adrian sent a scripture and encouragement to James through my cell-phone tonight too. Maybe THAT'S why they call it a cell meeting? OK, it is late and these jokes are getting BAD. I will stop now.
I was pretty sick and slept most of the last two days but I feel much better now. It was a combination of stomach problems and a head-cold but everyone else is doing well and I think I am over it now.
I took Alishea on a "date" tonight. We watched The Day After Tomorrow at the theater. That is one very nice thing about living in Manila - first run movies are about $1.20. Thanks for your prayers!
Sorry about the bad joke! God is continuing to provide everything we need and he is also teaching us patience and how to pray for the "little things" each day that we sometimes take for granted at home.
Last week our friend Sam Ng, a leader from Dennis & Kaku Sager's church in Shizuoka came to live with us for a while. Sam is going to study at the graduate school of world missions with me this year and is living with us until he can find an apartment and his wife Esther comes to join him at the end of July. Sam & Esther's website is here and you can get another perspective on life and ministry in Japan if you take the time to read some of their posts.
Alishea went and took an evaluation test for Victory Christian School on Tuesday and we will attend an orientation tomorrow where she will be fitted for her new *UNIFORM*. She is excited about going to a traditional classroom school for the first time in her life and she really wants you to pray that the uniform is pretty!
James attended the Youth on Fire meeting again tonight and said they were REALLY ON FIRE tonight - he seems to have made friends already and is looking forward to meeting with his cell group tomorrow. The 15 year old cell leader is named Adrian Gibbs. Adrian sent a scripture and encouragement to James through my cell-phone tonight too. Maybe THAT'S why they call it a cell meeting? OK, it is late and these jokes are getting BAD. I will stop now.
I was pretty sick and slept most of the last two days but I feel much better now. It was a combination of stomach problems and a head-cold but everyone else is doing well and I think I am over it now.
I took Alishea on a "date" tonight. We watched The Day After Tomorrow at the theater. That is one very nice thing about living in Manila - first run movies are about $1.20. Thanks for your prayers!
