anascomissions.org

Pictorial Year in Review

2011-12-30T15:23:00.003+08:00

Our family continues to have an amazing time serving in the Philippines.

We started the year on vacation in Tagaytay, Philippines. What you see in the picture above is a volcano inside a lake.

Of course our kids continued to grow

. . . and grow.

In March we completed our third Timothy Internship Program, training six new missionaries.

It is an honor and privilege to work with the Sonshine Center and Pastor Chris Patricio. He is an amazing man of God, and good friend.

Of course one of the biggest ministries of the Sonshine Center is Summer camps,

which began in April.

This year the Summer camps were directed by Go To Nations missionaries Nomil and Valerie Adorada. As always they did an excellent job running the camps.

This year Danny was a camper.

So many children were touched.

We ended up ministering to over one thousand kids.

This Summer Eric (and Faithy and even Danny) got in on the action, serving as assistant counselors.

In 2011 our last baby had her first birthday.

This is a thirty-two inch pizza. It almost doesn't fit on my dining room table. In 2011 we ate plenty (Chris thinks too many) of these.

Ministry continued throughout the year at the Sonshine Center.

In 2011 we enjoyed some visiting missions teams, and some returning teams, like Tim Tardibono (above) and his team from Capital LIfe Church.

We were Stateside for most of the American Summer, and my Mom took us to Walt Disney World.

Where Dannny faced the Dark Side.

In the Fall of 2011 Go To Nations held their first ever Affiliate Missionary Preparation training outside the United States. We trained twenty-one Filipino missionaries.

Several of the trainees joined our agency, like Peter (above). Here he makes it "officially" official, by signing on the bottom line. He and other Filipino nationals will one day serve abroad as full time missionaries.

In November we enjoyed a visit by the GTN President, Jerry Williamson. Here we are about to take a ride on the wild side, riding on the back of the Sonshine Center jeepney.

The GTN Asia-Pacific Team at our 2011 Annual Meeting. World changers, history makers.

From our family to yours, Happy New Year!

How to Celebrate Christmas with 300 Street Kids

2011-12-18T23:39:00.000+08:00

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

Lego Thanksgiving Story

2011-11-22T16:33:00.001+08:00

Building on the success of last December's Lego Christmas Story, Eric got his creative juices flowing again, this time retelling the Thanksgiving Story with Legos.

All pictures and captions by Eric.

The Mayflower arrives at Plymouth Rock in the New World.

The pilgrims begin to explore the new world.

The pilgrims build houses to prepare for the coming winter.

The Native American Squanto greets the pilgrims . . .

and introduces them to Chief Massasoit.

Squanto teaches them farming techniques.

So, after a hard but prosperous year the pilgrims prepared a thanksgiving feast and invited the Native Americans to join them in celebration.

The Native Americans brought food for the feast.

The pilgrims gave thanks to God for providing them all that they needed.

"When I realized that men were made in God's image, I could no longer kill them and eat them."

2011-11-16T11:06:00.001+08:00

"When I realized that men were made in God's image, I could no longer kill them and eat them." These are the words of a tribal leader who is now a pastoring a church among his native people.

Last week Go To Nations held a pastor's conference in Davao, Philippines ministering specifically to pastors and church leaders of tribal groups in Mindanao. Over 400 church leaders from 20 tribes (pictured below) were in attendance.

One of the most moving parts of the conference was when several groups sang the great hymn "How Great Thou Art" in their tribal dialect. Native peoples who once practiced cannibalism are now singing praises to God, starting churches, and reaching the unreached.

The team who came to minister to these church leaders was made up of pastors and missionaries from the United States, the Philippines and Latvia. This team also included GTN president Jerry Williamson and Asia-Pacific regional director Craig Kuehn (pictured below in tribal gear). For these tribal pastors, church leaders, and ministers, it was their time to receive ministry and equipping. Among the team of pastors from the States, I was blessed to have Dr. Richard Perinchief on the team, a dear friend in ministry from Spirit Life of Ocala (FL) church. Also on this team was my life-long friend Jason Branch. He was just here in July. He has been to the Philippines now five times.

This conference is a part of the ministry of veteran GTN missionaries Ken and Cris Sandberg. Among their many ministry projects in Davao, Mindanao, they run a Bible school specifically ministering to tribal pastors and church leaders. Many of these tribes were once considered unreached. Thanks to the churches planted by the graduates of this Bible school, these tribes are unreached no longer.

Pictures from the conference, all taken by Latvian missionary Juris Grikis:

Changing Lives Who Will Change Nations

2011-10-27T10:31:00.000+08:00

People ask us what is our main job or ministry on the mission field. My answer, developing leaders. Training up the next generation of missionaries.

Last week we had an incredible opportunity to train twenty one Filipino missionaries.

In order to become a full-time missionary with our agency, you must first complete Missionary Preparation Orientation at the Go To Nations world headquarters in Jacksonville, FL. Chris and I completed this training back in 2003.

This week Go To Nations held their first ever Missionary Preparation Orientation outside of their world headquarters, actually their first ever orientation outside of the United States. At the Sonshine Center, here in Iloilo, we held Missionary (Affiliate) Preparation Orientation with twenty one candidates.

Cities, regions, nations and continents were represented by this class. I believe history was made this week. I also believe that this will be the first of many such missionary trainings to come.

For decades missionary work has been poured into the Philippines. Now I see God is getting a return on that investment with Filipinos becoming full time missionaries to other nations.

Give Unto Caesar What is Caesar's

2011-10-22T14:12:00.002+08:00

"You mean the Filipino government doesn't give you a free visa to stay here and do missionary work, you actually have to PAY the government to remain in the Philippines, even though you are ministering to Filipinos?"

Incredulously this question was posed to my wife by a local pastor's wife. She couldn't believe that we had to pay the Filipino government visa fees to stay in the country to do missionary work.

Actually it costs around $1,000 a year for a single missionary to remain in the Philippines, even though they are here to do missionary work. It's just part of the cost of doing missions. So do the math, there are six of us in our family--no small amount.

Jesus did say, "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's."

We recently had a major miracle with our visa status. We received a heritage visa, reserved for the children and grand children of Filipinos who come back to the Philippines to visit. Because of my Filipino parents and grand parents, my family and I received this heritage visa.

This amazing act of God's favor is saving our family around $6,000. We can now remain in the Philippines without having to renew visas for this year.

No matter what, we fully expected God to provide, as He always has. He would either give us the finances needed to "give unto Caesar," or we would be blessed with heritage visa status. Either way, it is the Lord Who provides, as He always does, as He always will.

Just Getting Started

2011-10-01T11:30:00.000+08:00

This picture was taken on this date seven years ago, here is Eric and Faith, watching a Veggie Tales DVD on my Powerbook at LAX.

We are getting ready to take our Air China flight across the Pacific Ocean and begin our full-time missionary career.

Seven years (and two more kids) later, we are still serving in Asia. This continues to be an amazing adventure.

We are about to make a similar journey.

Our flight plan:

Tuesday October 4

Baltimore-Washington International to Pearson International (Toronto)

Air Canada flight 7927 departing 6:30a arriving 8:12a

Pearson International to Hong Kong
Air Canada flight 15 departing 10a arriving 1:15p Wednesday October 5.

Hong Kong to Manila
Cebu Pacific flight 119 departing 7:30p arriving 9:30p

Overnight in Manila

Thursday October 6, Manila to Iloilo
Cebu Pacific flight 457 departing 4:50p arriving 5:15p

Please bathe our travels in prayer. We are hoping for peaceful and uneventful travels at all points. Please also pray for a quick transition to back to life in Iloilo.

Leaving Soon

2011-09-22T02:19:00.001+08:00

We have just two weeks left in the States. We have enjoyed our time Stateside. Below are pictures of our time in Orlando with my Mom.

In Remembrance . . .

2011-09-11T12:16:00.002+08:00

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

Dan Faces the Dark Side

2011-09-09T09:12:00.000+08:00

11

2011-08-23T22:08:00.000+08:00

Today Faithy turns eleven. In honor of her birthday we are posting eleven pictures of Faithy doing ministry. She has a heart full of compassion, and God is using that heart on the mission field.

This P.S. Changed My Life.

2011-07-31T02:10:00.001+08:00

As I type these lines I am sitting at a coffee shop window with a view of my alma mater Oral Roberts University. Seeing ORU for the first time in almost fifteen years puts me in a reflective mood. Read on . . .

Camp Sonshine has changed my life. I met my wife there, I did my first children's ministry there. Chris and I still work there (at Camp Sonshine Philippines), and so do our children.

I almost did not go.

In the Summer of 1991 I was planning to go on a missions trip to France. ORU Summer Missions organizes trips each year, and I was on the France team. I spent the entire year raising funds, meeting with my team members, and learning French (actually took two semesters).

But I did not make it to France.

I was not able to raise the funds. Eventually I got THE LETTER from the Summer Missions department. I got it in early April. You know the letter, "The Hook"--basically telling me "since you did not raise enough funds for this trip, you will not be going to France with the rest of your team."

I read those lines and was very disappointed, but I sort of already saw this coming, because I got such a paltry response from my fund raising efforts.

"The Hook" letter concluded with this post script:

"P.S. There is a ministry in Silver Spring, Maryland called Camp Sonshine run by Oral Roberts University alumni, David Black. They are looking for Summer staff to work at their camp. You can contact them at 301-989-CAMP."

Well since my summer was suddenly wide open, I called them, and the rest is history. That little P.S. changed my life dramatically, it was instrumental in ordering my steps, and was a major force directing me to were I am today.

I can only imagine how different my life would have been if I had actually raised the funds and gone to France. I can only imagine how different my life would have been if "the hook" letter didn't have that postscript about Camp Sonshine.

Christ does not deal in "I wonders" or "imagine ifs." He deals in purpose and destiny. France was not my destiny. I still have yet to travel to Europe. Camp Sonshine was (and still is) my destiny. I know that right now I am living my purpose. I am fulfilling my destiny.

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way."
Psalm 37:23 NASB

Five, Five, Five, Five, Five!!!

2011-07-27T03:12:00.001+08:00

Daniel is five years old! It is hard to believe that this day was so long ago. He is our only child born overseas in the Philippines. The story of his birth is an amazing testimony of God's faithfulness.

Just a few minutes old.

He's one! His first birthday.

Second birthday, at the playground at the Sonshine Center.

Third birthday, opening his huge present, a bike!

Fourth birthday.

Fifth birthday at Chuck E. Cheese, earlier today.

If you are fortunate to know this amazing kid, then I know you are celebrating his birth with us.

Stateside So Far . . .

2011-07-23T00:41:00.000+08:00

libraries (really missed these),

long walks in the woods,

playgrounds,

and hot showers and baths (REALLY missed these).

For All You Detail Oriented Readers . . .

2011-07-08T22:08:00.002+08:00

Time to hit the road. We leave for the States in just four days. Our itineraries:

Tuesday July 12
Iloilo to Manila
Cebu Pacific flight #5J 454 departing 10:20a arriving 11:30a

Because our international flights leave so early in the morning, we will be spending the night in Manila.

Wednesday July 13, the long haul

Our family is not flying together. Chris is flying almost free using her frequent flyer miles. She and Gabriella will have this flight plan:

Manila to Hong Kong
Cebu Pacific flight #5J 110 departing 7:55a arriving 9:55a

Hong Kong to Toronto
Air Canada flight #16 departing 3:10p arriving 6:05p, this flight will last 14 hours and 55 minutes! This flight is in the top 20 of the longest flights in current operation.

Fortunately for Chris and Gabriella, Air Canada is an amazing carrier. They fly brand new Boeing 777s. Their in-flight entertainment is first rate, even in coach. Widescreen TVs at your seat with all movies and TV shows on demand.

Toronto to Baltimore-Washington International
Air Canada flight #7936 departing 8:50p arriving 10:27p

Dave, Eric, Faith, and Danny:
Manila to Nagoya, Japan
Delta flight #630 departing 6:35a arriving 11:30a

Unfortunately Delta used to be Northwest (Northworst). They fly old Boeing 747s dating from the early 80s. Also the in-flight entertainment is either what you bring to read, or what you might get to watch over someone's head on the drop down screens found in the cabin.

Nagoya to Detroit
Delta flight #630 departing 1:15p arriving 12:20p, this flight will last 12 hours and 5 minutes.

Detroit to Baltimore-Washington International
Delta flight #1637 departing 4:02p arriving 5:45p.

Because of the International Date line, we leave the Philippines and arrive in Baltimore and the same calendar day.

Please pray for traveling mercies, and also grace and strength for Chris and Gabriella as they are traveling on their own. We look forward to seeing our Stateside friends and family soon.

A Mini-van?!?!? It Could Be Worse . . .

2011-06-30T16:53:00.001+08:00

In about two weeks I'll be driving around in a minivan.

We leave for the States on Wednesday July 13, arriving in Baltimore the evening of the same calendar day. We were able to secure a vehicle from a service that offers deeply discounted vehicle rentals to missionaries.

I have nothing against minivans. It's really the best vehicle solution for us now that we have SIX PEOPLE in our family. However, the minivan does not fit the image that I have of myself as a world traveler/missionary/adventurer for Christ.

At least a minivan is better than this other family vehicle option:

To our Stateside family and friends, we are looking forward to seeing you soon.

Just twelve more days until we leave.

Over One Thousand

2011-05-29T20:11:00.001+08:00

-nine camps
-with twenty five partnering churches
-at eight different locations throughout the Western Visayas
-ministering to over one thousand children

This is what we have been up to these past few weeks.

This year's Summer Camps were special for our family in that our children played a bigger role in doing the actual ministry of the camps. They have been campers in previous Summers, and Danny was a camper at the first camp at the Sonshine Center. For the other camps Eric, Faith and Danny worked as assistant counselors, helping with crafts, games, dramas, and even helping lead assembly.

Watching your children do ministry, having them learn that they can be used by God, even at a very young age (Danny is not yet five years old), is quite frankly A-MAY-ZING.

These pictures (below) are of our children being missionaries NOW:

School's Out! (Guest Post by Eric)

2011-05-10T16:35:00.003+08:00

For us in the Philippines it’s summer, and summer means Camp Sonshine Summer Camps. This year we're expecting about one hundred kids per camp with ten camps in all. I will be attending nine of these as an assistant counselor and as a member of the skit team.

Here I am taking a bow with the rest of the skit team.

My sister Faith will attend about three or four of these camps as a volunteer throughout the summer. Please offer your prayers for the kids and for my family throughout the summer and may God bless you.

Our Last Baby Has Her First Birthday

2011-05-04T22:20:00.001+08:00

I think it is no secret that Gabriella will probably be our last baby (but then you never know). Four kids feels complete, especially now that we have had a boy, then a girl, then another boy, and then another girl.

Was it really one year ago? Of course it also turned into a difficult time for us as Gabriella's first week of her life was spent in the NICU. Now one year later Gabi continues to grow into an amazing little girl.

We had her first birthday Filipino style at Jollibee.

Jesus Told Us To Do This

2011-04-30T16:29:00.002+08:00

Today we had an amazing outreach at the San Isidro relocation village. Building on the continuing work of Mike and Jude Kelly and Natalie Mattes, we held a hygiene clinic for the families who live there. The message was simple, wear shoes, and stay clean by washing your hands and feet. We talked about the importance of cleanliness especially as it relates to preventing disease. After our teaching, we put this lesson to practice, and washed the kids' hands and feet.

Remember Jesus did tell us to do this:

[Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

John 13:5, 6 and 12-15

Jesus told them to do this.

Jesus told her to do this.

Jesus told him to do this.

Jesus told her to do this.

We also do this to teach people to avoid germs like this, YUCK!

It's About Time . . .

2011-04-10T13:58:00.001+08:00

Waaaaaaaaay back in 2008 I posted this job annoucement about the soon coming Starbucks here in Iloilo. Then we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited.

Finally the wait is over.

Its about time.

Our haul for today.

Mango passion fruit shake.

Strawberries and cream.

Caramel frappuccino, she should have got decaf, the LAST thing Faith needs is caffeine.

We visited on their grand opening. Surprisingly it was not at all crowded. I'm thinking we will probably go here way too often.

You WILL get Rich When You're Digging a Ditch

2011-04-06T14:56:00.002+08:00

Go To Nations missionaries Nate and Abegail Shuck have had a dream to build a children's ministry and a church in Calajunan, the Iloilo city dump area. This dream is currently being built, and is starting to come true.

Today Eric, Faith, and Danny did some work at their ministry/work site, helping build this dream. The work was not easy, but it was totally worth it.

You will get rich when you're digging a ditch when your reward is in Heaven.

Next week Eric will return to Calajunan as an assistant counselor for Camp Sonshine.

Not "future" missionaries . . .

I Think I Learned the Most

2011-04-04T23:30:00.001+08:00

Our third Timothy Internship Program is over. Six former interns are now trained to be missionaries. The ten weeks is now complete.

Honestly, I think I learned the most, even more than the interns. I have been trying to look at everything as a learning opportunity, especially trying to learn from my mistakes, or trying to learn from problems or challenges that arise. I learned so much in these past ten weeks. I am so thankful for these lessons.

I am also thankful for this amazing opportunity to grow people, to challenge them, to inspire them, to push them, and then watch them do amazing things.

Just around 280 days until the next internship--and yes, we are starting to prepare for the next one already.

Images from the Internship Graduation held on Saturday:

Where Were You on March 28, 1995?

2011-03-28T16:19:00.001+08:00

Where were you on March 28, 1995? I know exactly where I was on that day.

I was in the Philippines then, in a remote area of Mindanao called Tagoloan, near the bigger city of Cagayan de Oro. I was in the Philippines on a missions internship, working as an associate pastor with a network of local churches.

A man approached me telling me that he has been instructed to inform me that I needed to be at the airport in Cagayan de Oro at a certain time that afternoon, I was to meet an arriving passenger (I had no idea who, but I was told that the arriving passenger would know me), and there I would receive further instructions.

It all sounded kind of mysterious to me, but I told the stranger that I would be at the airport at the assigned time. The pastors I was working with agreed to accompany me.

I went about my business of the day. We were starting to work on doing Camp Sonshine with the churches there. I had counselor training in the morning, and then we were going to visit with some families for lunch. Eventually we found our way into the city and to the airport. I still remember sitting in the airport cafe with Pastor Dan and Pastor Gallure, drinking Sprite, waiting for the plane to arrive.

The rest is tragic history. It was my grandmother who got off the plane that afternoon, and she informed me that my brother Eric had been killed in a car accident. After a whirlwind of activity, plane rides, etc. I found myself in my Mom's house in Ocala, having made it back just in time for the funeral.

People who knew me before the 28th of March, 1995, say I changed after this event. I was told that I really mellowed out. I used to be what one friend called a "hard nose," a very high strung "type A" personality, and then after I mellowed out and became more even-keeled.

I call this day Eric's Day, the day he made the leap from earth to Heaven. I celebrate his short life. My brother and I did many things together. One of the most amazing things we got to do was minister side by side, sharing God's love on the mission field and also at Camp Sonshine, Maryland. In fact my first ever missions trip was with my brother, we went to Satillo, Mexico. My brother had a fiery passion for Christ and His kingdom, desiring only to be in the center of God's will.

I am blessed to have a son whom we have named in memory of my brother. I pray that my son, Eric Joseph Anasco, shares the same depth of faith and godliness as his namesake.

I miss you, Eric. I know you are interceding on my behalf in the cathedral of Heaven. You are in that great cloud of witnesses, spoken of in Hebrews 12, cheering me on.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

Eric, I miss you.

Eric Joseph Anasco

November 13, 1972 to March 28, 1995

Danny, the Graduate

2011-03-25T16:03:00.001+08:00

Actually not really "the graduate," he's technically just moving up. Today Daniel completed his first year of preschool at the Sonshine Learning Center. Today was the school's graduation and moving up ceremony.

We are still very much committed to homeschooling. At the same time we felt that Daniel would benefit from attending the Sonshine Learning Center preschool. This school was started by Chris and is primarily made up of our street children. Daniel had an amazing year, making friends with these Sonshine Center kids, he also learned some Ilonggo.

His amazing teacher, Ms. Krisel

His class

He got awards for being most generous and being best in phonics.

He had an amazing year, although it did start out a little rough:

A far cry from his first day of preschool.

Even if My Father and Mother Abandon Me . . .

2011-03-23T15:20:00.001+08:00

Recently we visited the city of Davao on the island of Mindanao. There Go To Nations missionaries Ken and Cris Sandberg run (along with Bible schools, a church, and several other projects) the Living Stones Orphanage. There I met Baby B (pictured) a foundling, that is his mother left him at the door step of the orphanage.

Being a father of four, I cannot even imagine the heart-wrenching decision it must have been to simply leave your child at an orphanage, with the hope that he would have a better life. Looking at him I saw the faces of my own children, he even looks like he could be a relative!

Baby B is doing much better. He is healthy, strong, and active, and he will probably be adopted by a North American family or European family within the year.

Testing your teeth can be painful.

This is painted on the front wall of the orphanage:

Even if my father and mother abandon me

the Lord will hold me close.

Psalm 27:10

She is Moving

2011-03-15T19:21:00.000+08:00

Gabi Crawling from David Anasco on Vimeo.

240

2011-03-05T16:34:00.000+08:00

Medical missions, is there a more concrete way to bless someone? Of course the answer is YES. However, blessing some of the poorest of the poor with medical missions is a pretty amazing way to be a blessing.

Today we ministered to over 200 (240 to be exact) children and families through our yearly medical outreach at the Sonshine Center. It was an amazing day.

Not Future Missionaries, Continued

2011-02-26T13:39:00.001+08:00

Joining Go To Nations missionaries Mike and Jude Kelly and their community development project in the San Isidro Relocation village, the current batch of Timothy Program interns installed screens in several of the homes in that village. These screens are going to be a big help in preventing mosquito born illnesses like dengue fever, a disease that is still a major problem in Iloilo (in fact we recently lost one of our own Sonshine Center kids to this disease).

Eric and Danny assisted in today's screen installation/construction project. Once again they prove that they are not future missionaries, they are missionaries now.

These Kids Live in Trash

2011-02-22T15:07:00.000+08:00

On Sunday the interns completed Children's Ministry week by helping Go To Nations missionaries Nate and Abegail Shuck with their Kids Club at Calajunan. These kids live on or near the city trash dump. The interns planned and executed the entire children's ministry program. They did an excellent job, they were like pros.

Learning is the Goal

2011-02-10T20:24:00.000+08:00

Once again Go To Nations interns have descended upon our dear city of Iloilo, the Timothy Internship Program of 2011 has begun.

Once again we have a group of interns who will do things like children's ministry, medical missions, community development, teach in a Bible school, and so much more. As amazing as those things are, truth be told, these ministry activities are NOT the goal of this internship.

Yes, they will touch many lives, joining in ministry activities already going on here in Iloilo. Yes, they will help change a squatter village through community development, they will help feed hungry kids on Saturdays at the Sonshine Center, and they will each get a chance to preach a Sunday message at an area church. However, all this ministry is not the end result we are seeking. For this internship ministry is not the goal.

The goal is learning.

The goal is to see these interns step out and do something amazing, perhaps something they have never done before, like teach in a Bible school--that's coming in a few weeks! The goal is learning. Learning is the destination, ministry is the vehicle that gets them to that destination.

As I have written before, it is the belief among Go To Nations missionaries that when you raise up ministers, ministry will follow. Focus on the man of God, equip him, train him, and then he will do amazing things for God.

In fact one of our very first interns, Paulo, reminded all of us during a devotional time, that Jesus is more interested in your spiritual health than in your spiritual abilities or activities.

Christ did not die for feeding programs, or for the Sonshine Center, or for Bible schools. He died to possess our hearts and our lives. And then when we are fully His, He will do amazing things on this Earth through us.

13 Years!!!

2011-01-27T00:00:00.003+08:00

On January 27, 1998 Eric Joseph Anasco II was born. He is named in memory of my brother, who was tragically killed in an auto accident on March 28, 1995.

My son is now a teenager. He is growing into a true man of God, full of integrity and honesty. He is an amazing son, and we are so blessed to welcome him into his teen years.

. . . it doesn't seem so long ago.

Can it Really Be this Cold in the Philippines?

2011-01-17T20:42:00.000+08:00

We enjoyed two days in Tagaytay, Philippines, staying on Taal Lake overlooking the still active Taal Volcano. I have never been this cold in the Philippines. The winds were very strong, and the temps dipped down into the low 60s. We were freezing.

However, the place was beautiful and we had a refreshing time.

Raise Up Ministers and Ministry Will Follow

2011-01-14T23:53:00.000+08:00

So it begins again.

This will be our third internship here in Iloilo. This is our third amazing opportunity to train future full time missionaries. This is our third opportunity to host yet another group of amazing individuals, ready and eager to change this world for Christ.

"Raise up ministers and ministry will follow." These are the very wise words of the Go To Nations Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Craig Kuehn. His words capture the heart and purpose of our internship. The interns are not here just do ministry with kids, conduct medical outreaches, preach in churches, teach in a Bible school, learn HOW to learn a foreign language--the list goes on and on. Yes, they will get an opportunity to do all of those things and more. However, the primary purpose is for their lives to be changed, for their faith to be stretched, for them to learn and grow and do things they did not think they could ever do.

And when you focus on the individual, when you give them the resources they need to be amazing, when you raise up ministers, ministry is an inevitability.

The next batch of interns arrive on Tuesday. Before this effort begins, the family and I will be enjoying some downtime. We will be vacationing for a couple of days in Tagaytay, Philippines. We are staying near the beautiful Taal Lake, a lake that also happens to have an active volcano in the middle of it. Watch our blog for pictures.

I am an Addict

2010-12-30T09:13:00.006+08:00

So there I was an eager and naive college student in my second year at Oral Roberts University. I saw a sign advertising a week long, short term missions trip to Mexico. Having never been on missions before, I knew it was time to take my first trip. So I went, and that week changed my life.

God told me when I was twelve years old that I was going to be a missionary. Sitting in church one night, I heard, very clearly, God call me to full time missions. So there I was eight years later about to take my first ever missions trip.

The weeks before the trip our team spent several Saturdays learning our evangelism dramas. We were doing "Toymaker" by Impact Productions. My character was the soldier. So in my backpack, along with my toilet paper, pepto tablets, flashlight and Bible, I packed some camo paint, a set of BDUs (battle dress uniforms) and a toy machine gun.

Our ministry was the "street gang" method of street evangelism, made popular by Teen Mania Ministries. We would set up in a public place, attract a crowd through funny skits, and then "bring the hammer down" with our main evangelism drama, Toymaker. After the drama we would canvas the crowd, sharing the plan of salvation.

This scared me to death. I had never EVER witnessed to someone before.

We were at our first evangelism event. We did all our funny skits, then we did the Toymaker drama, then it was time to hit the crowd. The moment I had feared the most had come. At first I thought I would just stay back and do prayer support, and just wait and see if anyone needed help.

Then I saw him.

What struck me most were his eyes. I will never forget the look of his eyes, I can still picture them over twenty years later. His eyes betrayed many emotions. He was angry, he was confused, he was hurt, and he was crying. He needed Jesus, and he knew he needed Jesus. I asked him in Spanish, "Do you want to receive Jesus?" and he broke down. And through tears he prayed the Sinner's Prayer.

So in that mountain village in Northern Mexico, he found Christ. Using me with my broken Spanish, Jesus Christ, Creator of the universe, King of all the kings, reached down from Heaven and knocked on the door of this guy's heart, and this Mexican invited Christ in.

That moment changed my life. I will never forget how I felt, and I became addicted to that feeling. I became addicted to the feeling of being used. That somehow a weak and imperfect life could be used by God Almighty Himself to reach down from Heaven and touch a life.

I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life feeling that way. I wanted to spend the rest of my life being used.

I am still addicted.

Merry Christmas from the Moon

2010-12-26T15:00:00.001+08:00

From Wired.com:

1968: The crew of Apollo 8 delivers a live, televised Christmas Eve broadcast after becoming the first humans to orbit another space body.

Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders made their now-celebrated broadcast after entering lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, which might help explain the heavy religious content of the message. After announcing the arrival of lunar sunrise, each astronaut read from the Book of Genesis.

How this went down at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Soviet Union is unknown, but it stands in stark contrast to the alleged message sent back to Earth several years earlier by cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.

“I don’t see any God up here,” Gagarin reportedly said from his vantage point aboard Vostok I, although the accuracy of that statement has been challenged over the years.

The crew of Apollo 8 didn’t claim to see God, either, but they were clearly impressed by His handiwork.

O Come Let Us Adore Him

2010-12-25T23:47:00.005+08:00

Wise men still seek Him, Daniel contemplates our Nativity set.

More pictures from Y.A.F.C (yet another Filipino Christmas):

More Pictures from Christmas Week at the Sonshine Center

2010-12-21T11:32:00.002+08:00

Pictures from the Sonshine Learning Center (preschool) Christmas Party, the Mom's and Dad's Bible Study party, and the big Saturday Kids Club Christmas bash with Jolibee. WE HAD OVER 300 KIDS!!!

Star Wars Lego Christmas Story

2010-12-20T14:20:00.004+08:00

This was put together by Eric and Faith, enjoy.

In those days, the Emperor made a decree that a census of the whole Empire should be taken.

So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

The city was so full of people there was no room for them in the inn.

So they had to spend the night in a stable.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Later wisemen from the East came to Jerusalem.

They asked “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

King Herod was greatly troubled by this. He told them, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts.

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Merry Christmas from the Anasco kids.

It is More Blessed to Give . . .

2010-12-16T23:31:00.007+08:00

Today was spent getting things ready for Christmas celebrations at the Sonshine Center. The kids helped Chris and the rest of the Sonshine Learning Center staff get ready for a Christmas party, decorating, preparing gifts, etc. We then spent the evening going around Iloilo passing out meals to the poor on the street.

Danny and Chris at work

Eric and Danny filling bags of gifts

One of the most amazing things about missionary life is watching my children do ministry. We always say they are not "future" missionaries, they are missionaries now.

Faithy helping to bless a street family with a simple meal.

I miss watching my children play in organized sports. Eric was able to play t-ball and flag football in our life before missions. I really miss that. However, while scoring touchdowns or hitting home runs might one day get their picture in the day's newspaper, what they are doing here in Iloilo--spreading God's love, advancing His kindgom on this earth--has a more eternal impact.

More pictures from this day:

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

Am I a Cool Christian?

2010-12-11T00:15:00.002+08:00

Lately I have been trolling around other Christian blogs, and I am noticing a trend, the "edgy" or "hip" Christian bloggers are getting a large portion of the Internet, Christian blogging traffic. Cutting edge topics and arresting titles are the rule of the day. And this can be seen as a corresponding trend mimicking how the church is evolving, moving from the traditional to the more "today" or "hip." Instead of services, we have "gatherings." Instead of calling yourself a born-again Christian, you are a "Christ-follower."

Who doesn't want to be cool? Who doesn't want to be considered very "now?" I find myself a little envious of the cool kid Christians, with the high traffic blogs, who are considered "real" because they have controversial blog posts and are unafraid to use profanity. But rather than confirm to this, so I too can be considered cool, I feel a check in my spirit (I know that's an old-school Christianese phrase--see how outdated I am). I don't want to pepper my blog posts with d-bombs and f-bombs, and I don't want to start questioning all my long held beliefs just so I can be one of the hip Christians on the Internet.

I recently ran across this from the Wall Street Journal, the author talks about the perils of "wanna be" cool Christianity. The article addresses the very real problem of how the church is increasingly becoming more and more irrelevant in the Western society of 2010, how especially the young are leaving the church.

From the article:

"Recent statistics have shown an increasing exodus of young people from churches, especially after they leave home and live on their own. In a 2007 study, Lifeway Research determined that 70% of young Protestant adults between 18-22 stop attending church regularly."

The author goes on to detail how the church has reacted to this exodus:

"Efforts [were] made to rebrand Christianity as hip, countercultural, relevant. As a result, in the early 2000s, we got something called "the emerging church"—a sort of postmodern stab at an evangelical reform movement. Perhaps because it was too "let's rethink everything" radical, it fizzled quickly. But the impulse behind it—to rehabilitate Christianity's image and make it "cool"—remains."

And these attempts to be cool:

"There are various ways that churches attempt to be cool. For some, it means trying to seem more culturally savvy. The pastor quotes Stephen Colbert or references Lady Gaga during his sermon. For others, the emphasis is on looking cool, perhaps by giving the pastor a metrosexual makeover, with skinny jeans and an $80 haircut. Then there is the option of holding a worship service in a bar or nightclub. But one of the most popular—and arguably most unseemly—methods of making Christianity hip is to make it shocking. What better way to appeal to younger generations than to push the envelope and go where no fundamentalist has gone before?"

Here is what the author sees as the problem with all this coolness (and honestly I totally agree):

"But are these gimmicks really going to bring young people back to church? Is this what people really come to church for? Maybe sex sermons and indie-rock worship music do help in getting people in the door, and maybe even in winning new converts. But what sort of Christianity are they being converted to?"

His argument is that people want real Christianity, not a gimmick or something trendy.

"If we are interested in Christianity in any sort of serious way, it is not because it's easy or trendy or popular. It's because Jesus himself is appealing, and what he says rings true. It's because the world we inhabit is utterly phony, ephemeral, narcissistic, image-obsessed and sex-drenched—and we want an alternative. It's not because we want more of the same."

Christ offers something real, a true relationship with a loving God. He doesn't need the help of GQ magazine and Madison Avenue to reach the lost. In our efforts to evolve and modernize the Gospel, we must ensure that we are not diluting Christ's message of sin and redemption.

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think." Romans 12:2 NLT

What is Poverty (Repost and Update)

2010-12-02T16:30:00.005+08:00

This is a repost of an amazing story from a few years ago:

What is poverty? The gentleman in the picture (wearing the blue tank top) lives in Calajunan, the city trash dump area. In the picture behind him you can see the mountains of trash. He works in the trash collecting things like pieces of metal and plastics in order to sell to recyclers. He lives in one of the most awful places I have ever been. Even though I have been to Calajunan many times, I always nearly toss my cookies whenever I go. On the surface he would be considered among the very poor--that he is living in extreme poverty. Actually he is a very good father with a blessed family. Through his work at the trash dump he has been able to send his kids to college. His oldest son graduates this year while another son is just starting. He walks to work, it probably takes him about five minutes. He probably thinks that anyone who commutes ninety minutes to work each way is living in poverty.

Through the satisfaction he has gained from his hard work, being able to put his sons through college and offering them a brighter future, he is probably richer than most.

Update: Go To Nations missionaries Nate and Abegail Shuck have started a new project in the Calajunan dump area. They are building a church in Calajunan with the goal of reaching that area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through discipleship, a feeding program, children's ministry, and livelihood projects. This is an exciting new chapter in ministry here in Iloilo.

Thanksgiving Missionary Style

2010-11-25T21:51:00.003+08:00

I am a firm believer in immersing yourself as a missionary into your host country. I believe you should learn the language, learn and adapt to local customs, etc. I don't believe in forming and living within an American "bubble" here in the Philippines.

However, there are times when you need a little taste of your home country. Our Thanksgiving party this year was more than just a little taste, it was a feast of Americana. Inviting missionary friends and family, we had the traditional dinner complete with turkey and all the trimmings. We watched A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas, and we also watched some football. We all ate too much. We also kicked off the Christmas season with a white elephant gift exchange. We even enjoyed the glow of a "fire."

I truly love living here in the Philippines. Iloilo is my home. America is also my home, so when I can feast on American culture for one evening, it is a blessing.

A Thanksgiving Proclamation

2010-11-24T22:33:00.003+08:00

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

President George Washington

October 3, 1789

Recent, Random Pictures

2010-11-14T23:37:00.001+08:00

On the Way to Church . . .

2010-11-12T20:18:00.001+08:00

a repost of something I wrote about five years ago:

"On the way to church there was a funeral procession. The person who passed away was not very rich since there was no car or hearse carrying the coffin. The simple wooden coffin was being carried by the mourners, being followed by some carrying flowers. What is striking about this is that the coffin was very small. A child had passed away. The most striking thing about this funeral procession, however, was that children were carrying the coffin. Children were carrying the flowers. The mourners were all children, no adults. No mother or father to grieve this child's passing. Not even an uncle or auntie to assist in the burial. Just children.

In a country were over half of the population is under the age of 18, there are so many who are fatherless and motherless. One such child was buried last Sunday."

Shhhhh, She's Sleeping

2010-11-05T21:25:00.003+08:00

This is a repost of something I posted nearly five years ago when I first started this blog.

The other day I saw a little girl sleeping. She was curled up in a ball, sucking her thumb, fast asleep. She looked so calm and peaceful, the way kids do when they are sleeping, in spite of the fact that she was sleeping on the ground on a sidewalk on a corner of a busy intersection. What appeared to be her family was a few feet away. They were filthy and looked desperately poor. They had a younger child with them, happily playing in the dirt. he was naked as the day he was born.

My heart is broken for such as these. A part of me wanted to jump off the jeepney I was riding and offer some kind of help. A part of me still wants to scoop up the little girl and take her home.

The image of her still haunts my thoughts. I can still picture her family sitting on the sidewalk. I can still see her sleeping, her face like an angel. This motivates me to strive and work even harder for the kids at the Sonshine Center. I may not be able to help every street kid in Iloilo, but at least I can brighten the lives of some. I may not be able to take them all home with me, but I can least be a part of something larger than myself that blesses and enriches the lives of these kinds of kids. I may not be able affect where they spend their days on earth, but I can somehow influence where they will spend eternity.

It's Her Turn Now

2010-11-02T17:42:00.004+08:00

Eric, Faithy, and Danny have all used this high chair--yes it's lasted that long. It's Gabi's turn now.

World Changers All . . .

2010-10-29T22:45:00.003+08:00

This is what a group of world changers and history makers look like:

These are the missionaries of Go To Nations here in the Philippines. Recently we gathered for our Philippine team Annual Meeting in Roxas City, Philippines, known as the "seafood capital of the Philippines." (Trust me, we enjoyed several dinners confirming this fact.)

We had an amazing and inspiring time of fellowship and impartation. Most of you are aware that Chris and I are now serving Go To Nations as Philippine Team Coordinators. It is our privilege to serve this amazing team.

What Ever Happened to the Anascos?

2010-09-30T17:55:00.010+08:00

What ever happened to these guys?

The Anasco Family in 2004

Plenty . . .

Six years ago we left our American home for the Philippines and we began a new chapter in our family's life. These six years have been amazing. We have since had two more children (and remember they are not "future" missionaries); we have have done camps, camps, and more camps; we have hosted teams, teams, and more teams; we have taken Bible school teaching trips to Cambodia and also to "Nevada" working with the persecuted church; we have trained and continue to train future full-time missionaries--it has been an amazing journey.

One of the many things we have learned in the last six years is faithfulness. God is faithful. As we have taken this step of faith, leaving jobs, family, and things familiar, we have NEVER lacked. God has been more than faithful.

Another thing we have learned is purpose. God does indeed have a purpose for every person. When we find our purpose, we find true fulfillment.

God's purpose is like a river. Once you get into the river, it will take you. Once you immerse yourself into the water, fully surrendering to the flow of the water, the river will take you to where you need to go. God's purposes will carry you, it will take you to the place of provision, wisdom, grace--whatever you need to fulfill that purpose. All we have to do is get into the river and surrender.

We are so thankful for these past six years. We are also thankful for those of you who have been taking this journey with us, laboring right along side with us with your prayers, your encouragement, your coming on trips, and your partnership.

What we can say without a doubt, with every assurance: this is our destiny, we are living our purpose. This is what we were born to do.

. . . and we are just getting started.

I Remember Meggie . . .

2010-09-23T08:16:00.009+08:00

I remember Renz "Meggie."

He was one of our very first preschoolers at the Sonshine Learning Center. Here he is many years ago on the first day of classes:

In fact he was the first student to show up for classes, he was so excited.

Sadly Meggie has passed away. Dengue fever is a big problem here in Iloilo, it is a very deadly disease when untreated. Sadly this disease took Meggie when he was just eleven years old.

Meggie was fun. He was always smiling, and he was also pretty responsible. One of his jobs was to help monitor the kids on the jeepney as they traveled from their squatter village to the Sonshine Center, I guess you could say he was like a "bouncer," keeping things in order. Those of you who knew him know that he was well suited for this job, he was a pretty big kid, the other kids did not mess around with him.

Meggie spent his life living in a very poor squatter village in Iloilo. He was also a faithful Sonshine Center kid, in fact I remember seeing him at Saturday Kids Club just two weeks ago. This is why the work of the Sonshine Center is so important. We may not be able to change where these street kids spend their days on earth, but we can have an impact on where they will spend eternity.

From a song we often sing at the Center:

Come and go with me to the Father's house
Come and go with me to the Father's house
It's a big, big house, with lots and lots of rooms
There's a big, big table, with lots and lots of food
With a big, big yard, where we can play football
It's a big, big house, it's my Father's house

Meggie is no longer just singing about the Father's house, he is now experiencing it first hand.

In Remembrance . . .

2010-09-11T09:07:00.001+08:00

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

Edmund Burke

Our Preschooler

2010-08-27T16:15:00.004+08:00

Dan is loving preschool. Eric and Faith are still going to the Anasco Homeschool Academy, while Danny goes to the Sonshine Learning Center. He is learning Ilonggo, growing into young student. Today he joined his classmates at a field trip to Pizza Hut.

Ten Years Ago . . .

2010-08-23T20:40:00.015+08:00

Ten years ago today Faith Elizabeth Anasco was born. I can't believe she is really ten years old. Before I know it, I'll be walking her down they aisle--crying my eyes out. She will always be my Faithy Littlesuger.

Age 1

Age 2

Age 3

Age 4

Age 5

Age 6

Age 7

Age 8

Age 9

Age 10, yesterday at her birthday party.

Ways to Spot a Missionary

2010-08-14T23:36:00.003+08:00

I can't stop reading, and laughing at, the posts at Jon Acuff's site Stuff Christians Like. Here are some excerpts from a recent post entitled "Ways to Spot a Missionary." This was a guest post written by a missionary.

"Missionaries wear funny clothing.

I never intended to where bright-striped Kikoi shirts with tassels. I don’t think my wife Sara imagined herself in Kanga dresses with large shoulder pads. But I’m telling you as my shirts begin to look like I was worked over in a rugby game. And as all of Sara’s dresses have strangely faded to the same shade of gray, those Kikoi shirts and Kanga dresses become really tempting. So at your next church mission conference if you see a missionary dressed like a banana, cut them a little fashion slack."

From Dave: Is this true, those of you who know us, do we dress funny?

"Missionaries throw car safety rules out the window.

My first week at Kijabe I see 8 missionary kids hanging off the roof rack of a Toyota Land Cruiser bumping down the road. The next day I see a baby girl in mommy’s lap cupping the steering wheel rounding the corner Britney Spears style. (I think the baby honked at me too?) Last week I see four teenagers perched on the doors of a Landrover like they are windsurfing. I don’t pretend to understand this recklessness, but on the other hand I think the car seat Nazis back in America have gone too far (8 years old and/or 80 pounds)? By this standard, once my small daughter Amelia reaches 16 years of age she may have to take her drivers test sitting in a Graco Snug Ride."

From Dave: This is definitely true, I let my kids ride on top of jeepneys, here's proof.

"Missionaries are longwinded.

I know when I meet someone and they start talking about their trip to China and all the cultures, towns, language, and people they met. Well, if the story is longer than a few seconds my eyes glaze over as all I can think of is, “But did you get to walk on The Great Wall?” So if I start talking about the Meru tribe, on the NE slope of Mt. Kenya, in Eastern Africa and their Bantu origin and your eyes glaze over…I’ll understand. You just want to know if I saw a lion on safari?"

From Dave: Guilty!

What makes this site so hilarious is that so many of his posts are so VERY true.

Read the full post here.

First Day of School

2010-08-02T15:47:00.002+08:00

Chris has been homeschooling our children even before we left for the mission field. However, we felt that Daniel would benefit from attending the Sonshine Learning Center for his first schooling. This way he could make some Filipino friends and learn some Ilonggo. Here are some pictures of his first day of preschool. The day started off a little weepy, but it got better. He now loves going to school everyday.

Iloilo is Home

2010-07-26T10:37:00.001+08:00

We are all safely back home in Iloilo. We are starting to get settled back into our Filipino routine. It is always bittersweet to leave one home for another. It is, however, good to be back in our home in Iloilo. We are almost over jet lag, but this always takes time, having to endure some pretty rough days.

Also some of you may not be aware of this, Chris and the kids flew on a different flight than I. I flew on air miles, my tickets was very cheap. Because of this, they had a completely different flight plan. So that means Chris flew with all FOUR of our kids on the way back to the Philippines. Most of you know already that my wife is absolutely amazing. Praise God that all things worked out. We met in Hong Kong, then we were to fly to Manila together. Her flight was delayed so we had to overnight in Hong Kong instead of Manila, but this was a blessing in disguise for several reasons, not to mention that the airline paid for the hotel. Chris and the kids also got bulkhead seating on the long haul flight so they had more room and even a bassinet for Gabriella. God's favor continued to go before us when we landed in Manila. We all received a free one year visa, usually we get tourist visas that we have to renew every two months. Getting this one year visa will save us nearly $3,000!

Thank you to everyone who prayed for our travels. Thank to you to all who are continuing to hold us tightly in prayer as we adjust back to Filipino life.

Guilty of This?

2010-07-22T00:59:00.003+08:00

Number 815 from the Stuff that Christians Like:

Becoming an expert on Africa (or whatever country you recently visited) after a 6-day missions trip.

“Please tell everyone that our streets are not chock full of lions.”

That’s the sentiment a reader in South Africa wanted me to share. Apparently, he felt like Christians in America sometimes believe Africa is very similar to the Disney movie, “Swiss Family Robinson.”

Remember that one? They lived in a tree house and ate coconuts and zebra. They had monkey butlers and were constantly worried about wild animals and/or pirates.

Although the pirate phenomenon is making a spirited comeback, I’m almost positive some of us have some backwards opinions of Africa. But you know what’s even worse?

People who become experts on Africa after a 6-day mission trip.

This is the time of year when they start coming back from trips and regaling us with their tales of massive missionary magnitude. Soon they will return from a short hop overseas. How do you spot them in your church? How do you see them coming? Here’s how:

6 ways to tell your friend has become an “overnight missionary expert.”

1. They temporarily wear some wicked awesome sandals.

Mission trip sandals, something I’ve chronicled before, come in two varieties: woven and rubber. The woven ones appear to made of some sort of rope and actually look painful. My wife and I saw a guy with bloody feet wearing these the other night. He was limping. The rubber ones are more comfortable but only come in two colors: rainbow and bright rainbow.

2. They use the phrase, “So American.”

This might be the worst one on the list because it attempts to shame you for something you’ve done. Sometimes you’ll see it in the comments on SCL. I’ll write about money and then someone will immediately say, “That is so American to think that way.” Or they might use the variation, “Well, in the West …” What they usually don’t tell you is that they spent all 32 years of their life, minus the six days they were on a mission trip, living in Ohio. Which is in America.

3. They pretend there’s a household need for a machete.

87% of all men who go on mission trips buy machetes. Like how I felt when I saw two Lamborghinis racing on the highway the other night, something about a machete makes you feel like an 8-year old little boy again. You get giddy with the possibility of actually owning a sword. But if your friend starts using it to whack away at yard work, they might be taking it a little too far.

4. They convert everything into foreign currency.

Never go to a Starbucks with a mission trip expert. They will inevitably look at your four dollar coffee and mumble, “Hope that week’s worth of wages is delicious.” To be kind, respond with a simple, “I’ll pray for you.” To be a jerk say, “I’ll stop drinking coffee when your wife stops wearing that blood diamond.” (That’s a horrible thing to say, because ultimately both issues need to be addressed.)

5. They use the phrase, “used to live.”

I spent about 25 days or so in Costa Rica. Once at a dinner party, I told someone I used to “live in Costa Rica.” My wife, who was unfortunately within hearing distance, burst into laughter. I hadn’t lived there. I had visited there. Briefly. If your friend uses weird math to pretend they were on the trip for a long time, like when the ex-coach of Tennessee said he really enjoyed “the 13 months at Tennessee,” you know someone is faking it. (As if saying “13 months” makes folks feel less like you were jumping ship after a year. Might as well convert it into weeks and say “I was a great coach here for 56 weeks.”)

6. They are constantly dragging you out to restaurants.

My wife and I once lived in a fancy neighborhood outside of Boston. On our first day there, our neighbor, a professor, came over and said, “Do you guys like Southern Cambodian cuisine.” Now clearly, if you know me, you know I prefer Southeastern Cambodian. I actually just order by longitude and latitude, I am that cultured. Not really, but if your friend suddenly refuses to go to Applebee’s because “they don’t have good breadfruit,” be worried.

I write this list not because I hate missionary experts, but because I’ve been this guy. I went to Dominica once, probably one of my top three favorite Lesser Antilles, and that entire list happened except for number 6. I had rainbow sandals. I found three machetes in my garage yesterday. And I once said, “Our Western culture doesn’t have a mourning process that leads to real healing.” I wrote this list because I am this list.

But it’s incomplete. Honestly, what self-respecting Christian blogger ends a list with six items?

How about you? Got the seventh idea?

Have you ever known a missionary expert?

Have you ever been one?

I find this hilarious because this is so true, and I am guilty of several of these and more.

One More (Hershey) Park

2010-07-15T03:46:00.001+08:00

Even though we now have about a week left in-country, the the other day Chris, the kids, her mom, and her sister and her kids got to do one more amusement park visit to Hershey Park.

There is a Cost

2010-07-13T10:36:00.005+08:00

In the Fall of 2003, about six months before we left for the mission field, I was driving with my then four year old son, Eric. Our family had already made the decision to make the leap to full time missions, departure date was June of 2004.

He was asking me about this next big thing in our family's life. He asked about his friends. Eric has been blessed with several lifelong friends--they are all still really close. He asked, "So when will they (his friends) be moving to the Philippines?"

Of course I told him that we were the only ones moving, that his friends and their families will remain in the Untied States. This was a cold dose of reality for him, realizing that his life-long, best friends would not be with him in the Philippines. With that realization, he began to cry . . . and cry . . . and cry. He did not want to leave his best friends.

Here we are again, getting ready to return to the Philippines, and the goodbyes are starting. Tonight Faithy started to get sad, faced with the fact that yet again she was going to have to leave her friends. She said she was looking forward to seeing her dog, Sam, but she did not want to leave her friends. She kept asking if there was some way we could have Sam sent here, and then we could remain in America, so she would not have to say goodbye again to her friends.

This breaks my heart.

This is part of the cost.

God give us all the grace and strength to count the cost.

(Thankfully our kids have some good friends in Iloilo.)

Happy Independence Day

2010-07-02T23:11:00.000+08:00

From a letter of John Adams to his wife:
"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.- I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by Solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfire and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

Happy 2nd of July, on this day in 1776 the unanimous vote for the declaration of independence from the empire of Great Britain was voted and agreed upon. On that day, according to John Adams:

"the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony 'that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States may rightfully do.' "

In memory and in honor of John Adams, Happy Second of July.

Top Ten Ways to Know You are "Really" a Missionary

2010-06-30T22:18:00.003+08:00

10. You can't answer the question, "Where are you from?"

9. You speak two languages, but can't spell either.

8. You have a time zone map next to your telephone.

7. You can cut grass with a machete, but can't start a lawn mower.

6. You sort your friends by continent.

5. You read National Geographic and recognize someone.

4. You don't think two hours is a long sermon.

3. You haggle with the checkout girl for a lower price.

2. Fitting 15 or more people into a car seems normal to you.

1. You watch nature documentaries, and think about how good that animal would taste if it was fried.

More Pictures from Orlando Vacation with Mom

2010-06-25T09:12:00.001+08:00

Taken by my brother, Rey:

Getting Spoiled . . . Again and Again

2010-06-22T00:02:00.002+08:00

Every time we are Stateside, my Mom spoils us with an Orlando vacation, this time we did Sea World, Universal Studios and Disney Quest at Downtown Disney.

Today she is taking the three older grand kids to see Toy Story 3. Getting spoiled again and again.

Guess Where we Have Been . . .

2010-06-16T23:12:00.004+08:00

this week.

Every time we are Stateside my Mom spoils us with an Orlando vacation. This week, along with my brother Rey, we are enjoying Sea World and other Disney attractions.

Travels

2010-06-12T23:11:00.005+08:00

Our Stateside sojourn continues with some travels. We spent three days in Myrtle Beach, SC, enjoying some beach time, then we enjoyed more beach time at Daytona Beach. There we joined other Go To Nations missionaries at our missionary reunion. Now we are at my Mom's house in Ocala, FL, and tomorrow she takes us to Orlando for some theme park fun.

In Daytona Beach we went to a unique restaurant on the water, with GTN missionaries Glenn and Rebekah Hickey and their kids. It was like Sea World in that we were entertained by dolphins. They swam near our table our entire meal, even jumping out of the water to catch fish.

The First Day of the Rest of Her Life

2010-05-11T23:25:00.006+08:00

After seven nights in NICU, Gabriella is finally with us. Today is the first day of the rest of her life. To all who held us so tightly in prayer during this very difficult time, we want to express our extreme gratitude and appreciation. Thank you for standing with us in prayer, seeking God for health and healing for our newest child. Your prayers are powerful and effective, so don't stop.

If you happen to be in the Maryland area, please feel free to contact us if you want to come see the newest missionary in the family.

May 4, 2010

2010-05-08T01:49:00.004+08:00

We are blessed to announce the birth of our daughter, Gabriella Jean Anasco. She was born at 6:20p on Tuesday May 4, 2010. The delivery was challenging, and the challenges continue. Gabriella is currently in NICU and will likely remain for the next several days. There is an issue with her red blood cells the requires more care. We are trying to visit her as often as we can, usually three times a day. Fortunately they let siblings into the NICU so we can all visit her together as a family.

Please pray for Gabriella for her full recovery and continued development. I will post more pictures soon.

May 3

2010-04-27T04:09:00.005+08:00

So what is the significance of that day? Who was born on that day? The noted Italian political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli and author of The Prince celebrated his birthday on May 3. At the other end of the spectrum, James Brown the "Godfather of Soul" celebrated his birthday on May 3rd.

If all goes according to plan--unless she comes on her own--our fourth child will be born on May 3. Being that this is still considered an at risk pregnancy, and also being that both Mother and child continue to progress along very healthily, the doctors have decided to reduce any further chances of risk and induce this pregnancy into delivery. This is scheduled for Monday May, 3, 2010.

As most of you know, we are currently Stateside, in Maryland, so unlike Daniel, our daughter will be, to quote Bruce Springsteen, "Born in the U.S.A.!" Actually she will be born in the same hospital that Eric and Faith were born, Howard County General.

So things are about to get more exciting around here. We are very excited to meet the newest addition to our family, and we are also blessed that many of our Stateside friends and family will also get to see her very soon. Daniel keeps talking about being a big brother, something he is very much looking forward to.

Please continue to keep both Mother and child in your prayers. With her coming, we will have two boys and two girls in our family. So does that mean we are complete?

Thanks again to all who are holding us tightly in prayer. Keep watching this space, (truly) more to come . . .

An Historic Day

2010-04-12T05:24:00.006+08:00

Today was an historic day in the Anasco family, Daniel attended his first (of many I am sure) major league baseball game. And like Eric and Faith, his first baseball game was at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. We have been Orioles fans for years. I know they have been bottom dwellers in the American League East for several years in a row; however, you have to be true to your team.

Unfortunately, they lost to the Blue Jays--ugh a Canadian team! And why is a Canadian team in the American League--but, I digress.

We still had a picture perfect day at the ballpark, we enjoyed the day with Patty (Chris' sister) and her son Ryan, and other friends. Dan really enjoyed the game once he finally realized that he was watching baseball rather than actually playing in the game.

Enjoying the game with cousin Ryan and friends.

Dan's first major league hotdog, and as most of you know, hotdogs taste the best at a baseball game.

Family Vacation

2010-04-05T05:02:00.005+08:00

We are enjoying some vacation time with Chris' family--her mom, her dad, and her sister's family. We usually take a week long vacation with them whenever we are Stateside. This year we are enjoying visiting the Great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee.

Even though it has been nearly two years since I have driven (we don't have a car in the Philippines), I love taking a road trip. America is a vast and beautiful land, and I enjoy driving to visit different places. For Easter Sunday we enjoyed a nearly three mile hike in the Smokey Mountain National park. We climbed all the way to Laurel Falls

Or course I can never get away from doing some work, even while on vacation. Our resort has free wireless Internet, see my temporary office below:

I love the view.

Eric's Day, Fifteen Years Later

2010-03-28T17:17:00.001+08:00

I posted this last year on this day. I am posting this again:

March 28, 1995, a day that changed me forever.

I was in the Philippines then, in a remote area of Mindanao called Tagoloan, near the bigger city of Cagayan de Oro. I was in the Philippines on a missions internship, working as an associate pastor with a network of local churches.

A man approached me telling me that he has been instructed to inform me that I needed to be at the airport in Cagayan de Oro at a certain time that afternoon, I was to meet an arriving passenger (I had no idea who, but I was told that they would know me), and there I would receive further instructions.

It all sounded kind of mysterious to me, but I told the stranger that I would be at the airport at the assigned time. The pastors I was working with agreed to accompany me.

I went about my business of the day. We were starting to work on doing Camp Sonshine with the churches there. I had counselor training in the morning, and then we were going to visit with some families for lunch. Eventually we found our way into the city and to the airport. I still remember sitting in the airport cafe with Pastor Dan and Pastor Gallure, drinking Sprite, waiting for the plane to arrive.

The rest is tragic history. It was my grandmother who got off the plane that afternoon, and she informed me that my brother Eric had been killed in a car accident. After a whirlwind of activity, plane rides, etc. I found myself in my Mom's house in Ocala, having made it back just in time for the funeral.

People who knew me before the 28th of March, 1995, say I changed after this event. I was told that I really mellowed out. I used to be what one friend called a "hard nose," a very high strung "type A" personality, and then after I mellowed out and became more even-keeled.

I call this day Eric's Day, the day he made the leap from earth to Heaven. I celebrate his short life. My brother and I did many things together. One of the most amazing things we got to do was minister side by side, sharing God's love on the mission field and also at Camp Sonshine, Maryland. In fact my first ever missions trip was with my brother, we went to Satillo, Mexico. My brother had a fiery passion for Christ and His kingdom, desiring only to be in the center of God's will.

I am blessed to have a son whom we have named in memory of my brother. I pray that my son, Eric Joseph Anasco, shares the same depth of faith and godliness as his namesake.

I miss you, Eric. I know you are interceding on my behalf in the cathedral of Heaven. You are in that great cloud of witnesses, spoken of in Hebrews 12, cheering me on.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

Eric, I miss you.

I Feel Like a Foreigner

2010-03-27T03:19:00.003+08:00

I have been in-country for about a week, and honestly I am experiencing some reverse culture shock. It is odd to feel like a foreigner in your home country, but that is exactly what's happening. For example the other day I went to get gas at the gas station and for a moment I froze because I didn't know what to do. Also driving is kind of weird, especially when I am used to walking or riding jeepneys or taxis (where someone else is doing the driving).

However the best part of being Stateside is reconnecting with family, friends, and loved ones. The other day Chris and I took Danny and his cousin, Marissa, to Chick-fil-A. They are so cute together--they are both three years old.

The really enjoy being together, giggling and telling jokes, and just playing and interacting.

Marissa LOVES ranch dressing (like a Texan loves ranch dressing), she dips everything in ranch.

Even grapes.

Of course, no visit at Chick-fil-A would be complete without a visit to their huge play place.

This is the best part of being in the States, being with family we miss so much. We look forward to reconnecting with many of you during our time in the U.S. I am starting to feel less and less like a foreigner, and more and more at home in my American home. Now someone just needs to turn the heat up, I am FREEZING.

Never Letting Them Go

2010-03-22T12:01:00.002+08:00

I am finally reunited with my family in the States. I am holding them tight and never letting go.

Thanks for all those who held us tightly in your prayers during this time. We will be Stateside until July. We look forward to seeing many of you during these next few months.

Completion

2010-03-20T03:10:00.005+08:00

It is over, the internship is now completed. The interns leave the Philippines in a few hours, and I will finally be reunited with my family soon after.

This has been the most challenging of times, especially since I have been away from the people I love the most for so long. The only thing that would keep me away from my family like this is my purpose. This is my purpose, to serve others, to help others grow, to help students grow into full-time missionaries.

The biggest thing I have learned from this experience (other than to never be away from my family this long again) is that EVERYTHING can be a learning experience. Every situation, every problem, every challenge, can be an opportunity to grow. I hope I take this lesson and apply it to the rest of my life.

It has been an honor to serve these incredible interns--now missionaries. Now it's time to be with my family.

Under My Skin

2010-03-09T16:28:00.005+08:00

A few days ago the interns conducted a survey of the San Isidro relocation village, a place of extreme poverty. The main purpose of the survey was for a future church plant in that village. We are working with Full Gospel Church, laying the ground work for what will hopefully one day be a daughter church planted in that village.

I spent the two days taking pictures and being a human jungle gym for these girls. It is hard to describe how my heart was broken by this precious children. Usually I don't get so involved, I am content to just facilitate ministry experiences for others and stay behind the camera and just take pictures.

These girls were starved for any kind of adult affection. They would sit in my lap and wrap my arms around them, and just soak up whatever love I could give them. We played silly games, talked and told jokes, sang songs, snacked on crackers and soda, etc. I did not ask about their fathers, if they were around or even living. I could tell they were starved for any kind of positive adult attention. They really got under my skin.

There is a major problem of fatherlessness in the Philippines. My heart breaks for children who are so starved not just for food but also for a father's love. So all we can do is try to show them the Father's love.

Medical Outreach-Another Amazing Day

2010-03-01T17:27:00.003+08:00

When I come home from a day like this I think to myself, "I want every day to be like this," so full of purpose, so full of opportunities to be a blessing.

We had a major medical outreach at the Sonshine Center. We saw nearly 200 children, blessing them with doctor's visits and medicines. Thanks to the leadership of Go To Nations missionaries Mike and Jude Kelly, we had more than enough doctors and nurses to see all of our kids, and they also got medicines donated.

It was yet another amazing day. I want everyday to be this amazing.

An Opportunity to Learn

2010-02-23T14:23:00.002+08:00

Something I am try to do is to look at everything as an opportunity to learn. This changes the way you look at things. The interns continue to grow and learn.

They have basically taken over the children's ministry at the Sonshine Center. They run both the Thursday Afternoon Afterschool Program and the Saturday Morning Kids Club. They organize and plan the songs, games, Bible lessons, memory verses, everything. The Sonshine Center staff continues to assist with translation and guidance.

It has been a great time of continued ministry, continued opportunities to learn and hone skills, continued opportunities to grow.

Simple Prayer

2010-02-19T09:10:00.001+08:00

Chris and the kids left for the States in January, while I remained in the Philippines. I am here to complete my responsibilities with our current Timothy Internship Program. Chris and the kids went Stateside early so she could receive the necessary care for our pregnancy. A few weeks ago we got what we thought was good news about our pregnancy, and now we have found out that this was not accurate. The pregnancy is now considered very high risk. The details are complicated, our prayer is simple: healthy baby.

Please keep our daughter in your prayers. Pray Isaiah 54:17 over her life, that no weapon formed against (her) shall prosper.

Thank you for your prayers.

From Bible School Students to Bible School Teachers

2010-02-18T08:22:00.003+08:00

There are times when you are the one being fed, and there are times when you are the one doing the feeding. Our current batch of interns are all from Christ for the Nations Institute, a Bible school in Dallas, Texas. For several years they studied, their hearts and minds being filled with the Word of God, and the impartation of wisdom and learning from their instructors. This week the interns got to experience what life is like on the other side of the podium.

We took a trip to Davao, Philippines to teach in the Calvary Bible Institute run by veteran Go To Nations missionaries, Ken and Cris Sandberg. For each of the interns it was their first time to teach in a Bible school. While being excited for this ministry opportunity, each of them also had what I call a healthy intimidation about this task. Teaching in a Bible school is no small matter.

There are some things that are simply better when you get to see them with your own eyes. Seeing these Bible school students rise to the level of Bible school teachers is one of those things. Each intern did an overwhelmingly excellent job. Each one had their own teaching style, and that made it even more impacting. It was an amazing time.

Great Growth

2010-02-08T10:57:00.003+08:00

This was a week of great growth among the interns in that they took over the ministry at the Sonshine Center on Thursday and Saturday mornings. They organized, planned, and implemented both the Afterschool Program and Saturday Kids Club, also the interns led ministry at Calajunan, the city trash dump site. It was an incredible week of learning and launching. Gifts were developed and on display, leadership roles were taken on, and lives were touched, the week ended with great success.

An Awful Place

2010-02-05T13:26:00.003+08:00

We visited the city dump site area in Iloilo, Calajunan. It is one of the most awful places in the world. While I have visited here many times, it still overwhelms me when I visit. At the same time those families and children need to experience the love of Christ, so we have been trying to regularly minister at the dump site.

Hopefully soon, working through Calvary missionaries Nate and Abegail Shuck, Camp Sonshine can establish a more permanent ministry presence in the city dump site. Keep that in your prayers.

Christ Makes us Ready

2010-02-01T09:16:00.004+08:00

Yesterday we left the city, rode on the roof of a jeepney for two hours, and ministered in the remote, mountain village of Lambunao. This was a day of true challenges and successes. We are expecting to minister in the afternoon, when we arrived we found out we were ministering right away. We were expecting to minister to about 30-40 kids, we ended up ministering to around 150 kids. It was an amazing day of stretching and growing, and learning how God can use us even when we are not fully ready.

Christ makes us ready, all we need to do is to make ourselves available.

More Internship, and Saying Goodbye

2010-01-28T09:29:00.003+08:00

The internship continues to be an incredible time of impartation and ministry. We ministered at a prison and a house church. Praise the Lord, several people made decisions for Christ at the house church!

We have also been blessed to have our Vice-president of Field Ministries, Tim Lovelace, here in Iloilo. He has been teaching internship classes and imparting blessing and vision into the lives of all of us here in Iloilo. We are sad to see him go, knowing that when he comes he is always a huge blessing. To send him off in grand style we did karaoke at a local KTV club:

Internship Ministry at Youth Blast, Full Gospel Center Church

2010-01-24T09:19:00.002+08:00

Friday night the interns were blessed to minister at Full Gospel Center Church youth service. Two of our interns gave testimonies and Pastor Rianne gave a stirring message about moving deeper and greater into what God has for you. It was amazing how the two testimonies lined up exactly to his message, even though we had no prior knowledge of his message. As always it is amazing to see the Holy Spirit work.

Departing

2010-01-20T22:13:00.002+08:00

Leaping off the Leadership Development post, I have some somewhat sad news. Chris and the kids will be leaving for the States this Saturday. They leave for Manila on Friday, and then fly onward to the States on Saturday, arriving in Baltimore around midnight (Maryland time) Saturday evening.

Why is this sad? My responsibilities with the internship require me to say in Iloilo until the internship is completed. I will be returning to the States March 23. We have never been apart as a family for so long. Honestly I am very much not looking forward to being away from my family. I am not looking at this as a "break" from my kids so I can finally do some "real ministry." I am willing to fulfill my responsibilities here in Iloilo, especially as it involves training future full-time missionaries. However, I am not at all looking forward to being apart from my most favorite people in the world.

The reason why Chris needs to leave for the States at this time is because of the pregnancy, she needs to start getting care in Maryland where our fourth child will eventually be born.

Tomorrow, Thursday, we will spend one more full day together, then they leave Iloilo early Friday morning.

Please keep us in your prayers as we are apart. Please keep Chris and the kids in your prayers as they transition into life in the States. Also pray for safe and uneventful travels.

Leadership Development

2010-01-16T21:06:00.000+08:00

If someone were to ask us our primary ministry, I would answer with two words: leadership development. Yes, we are still actively ministering with Camp Sonshine and the street kids, Chris is still serving the preschool and the scholarship program, and I am still involved in Bible schools. However, the common denominator to all of these ministry opportunities is leadership development, in other words, helping others succeed. Another way to describe this: making disciples.

We have begun our second internship here in Iloilo. We are training seven future missionaries. This current batch is somewaht unique in that we have two married couples, and one of the couples has a four month old baby.

So this is what we will be up to these next few months.

One Word

2010-01-13T21:58:00.004+08:00

. . . internship.

You may remember this is our second internship. More to come.

Getting Spoiled . . . Again

2009-12-28T22:45:00.002+08:00

For several years my wonderful Mom has visited us here in Iloilo, timing her visits on or very near Christmas. This year she and my brother, Rey, both came to Iloilo to enjoy Y.A.F.C. (Yet Another Filipino Christmas), . . . and we are getting spoiled again.

Christmas at the Sonshine Center

2009-12-20T08:32:00.004+08:00

Christmas at the Sonshine Center is a week long celebration made up of parties for the preschool kids, the youth and the Mom's Club Bible Study, a clothing giveaway, and then finally a big Jollibee Christmas party on Saturday for over 200 kids. At the end of the week our street kids came home with armfuls of gifts and bags of groceries for their families.

It is amazing to see these kids who have so little being blessed so much. Truly it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Not Future Missionaries

2009-12-19T15:55:00.004+08:00

This week we celebrated Christmas in grand style at the Sonshine Center. I truly enjoy spending Christmas here in the Philippines, mostly because our family learns in a very real way that it is truly more blessed to give than to receive. Here are our kids ministering to our street children and their families at the Sonshine Center.

Danny prays for the kids during a ministry time.

Preparing the gifts.

Passing out the gifts.

Preparing the gifts.

They are not FUTURE missionaries.

Leave a Legacy

2009-12-17T00:04:00.004+08:00

A few years ago at Walt Disney World EPCOT center I saw an exhibit called Leave a Legacy. Park visitors could purchase a two inch square commemorative plaque that would become part of their "Leave a Legacy" garden. I hope the legacy I leave behind after I leave this earth is more than just a two inch plaque at some theme park in Florida. The legacy of Oral Roberts is certainly more than just that.

Myself along with tens of thousands of ORU alumni are a part of Oral's (as ORU students we felt like we could call him by his first name) legacy. I am proud and honored to say that I am a product of Oral Roberts University. I am what I am today in large part because of my time at ORU. Being a student at ORU changed my life. I went on my first ever missions trip while a student at ORU. I got my first experience doing ministry as a wing chaplain at ORU. I even spent my last semester of my senior year at ORU here in the Philippines as a missionary intern. As an ORU student I learned that I can change the world.

After ninety one years, Oral has gone home. The man is gone, but his legacy will continue on for generations to come.

"Raise up your students to hear My voice, to go where My light is seen dim, My voice is heard small, My power is not known, even to the uttermost bounds of the earth. Their works will exceed yours, and in this I am well pleased." The word of the Lord to Oral Roberts

And yes, Oral did meet Elvis.

Someone Has Been Praying

2009-12-15T21:43:00.006+08:00

Today Chris went to Manila for a pregnancy checkup. You may remember from our original announcement that this pregnancy is high risk, so we have been receiving care at a more advanced hospital in Manila, and eventually this child will be born in the States.

Someone has been praying (was it YOU?), we have received some amazing news. Chris had some tests run today and in spite of the potential risks with this pregnancy, our fourth child continues to develop normally. This is miraculous and amazing news. Truly this is a miracle and is a result of people like yourself who have been praying. Your prayers are powerful and effective, don't stop.

On a related note, today we found out that we are having a girl. Here are some pictures of our beautiful baby girl:

500 Pastors-The Video

2009-12-10T18:39:00.003+08:00

500 Pastors

2009-12-09T17:17:00.005+08:00

Every two years Calvary International along with Global Advance holds a pastor's conference in Davao, Philippines for pastors and church leaders from the tribal peoples of Mindanao. You may recall I was a part of the Calvary team in 2007.

This year we held yet another incredible conference for pastors and church leaders. Calvary missionaries Ken and Cris Sandberg have an ongoing Bible school specifically for the peoples of the tribes of Mindanao. This year there were over 500 tribal, church leaders in attendance. As with the conference in 2007, the Calvary team was made up of pastors and church leaders from the United States as well as the Calvary International President Jerry Williamson.

It was an incredible time of equipping, encouraging, and ministering to these church leaders.

After the conference Jerry Williamson and the pastor team traveled to Iloilo to visit our ministry at the Sonshine Center and in Iloilo.

A Presidential Proclamation

2009-11-26T13:14:00.005+08:00

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

Compliments of the Season

2009-11-24T11:32:00.003+08:00

Christmas season starts at our house.

Something is Missing

2009-11-15T23:56:00.005+08:00

Tonight I was watching on my Powerbook one of my favorite movies, The Paper, a great movie about a newspaper set in New York City. The movie came out in 1994--I did a screen grab from one of the scenes from the movie:

It always strikes me when I see pre 9/11 movies set in New York, and when they pan to the famous Twin Towers. Whenever I see scenes like this in films I can't help but feel a mixture of deep sadness and also some rage over what those terrorists did not that long ago. And now we are treating those scumbags like common criminals rather than enemy combatants, giving them Constitutional rights in our legal system.

This is a war. They did not commit conspiracy to commit murder, they committed an act of war. They don't deserve their day in civilian court, especially in New York City.

Indeed something is missing.

It's Not That Complicated

2009-11-08T16:30:00.004+08:00

I saw this article with the headline "Planned Parenthood Director Quits After Watching Abortion on Ultrasound." I wrote about this earlier, how most Americans are pro-life rather than pro-choice.

On a related note, a few weeks ago Chris and I got to see our newest child via ultrasound. Even though the child was just a few weeks in the womb, we saw the beating heart, we saw our baby moving. It was beautiful. I wept.

Two Weeks, Lasting Impact

2009-11-06T22:52:00.005+08:00

For the past two weeks we have been ministering with a short term missions team from Capital Life Church (located in the Washington D.C. area). This church is blessed to have Bill Shuler as the senior pastor. I grew up under Pastor Bill's ministry as a student at Oral Roberts University. During my studies there he was our campus pastor. Indeed, myself along with thousands of other ORU students are a part of Pastor Bill's growing legacy. I am a product of ORU, and much of the spiritual impact I received as a student there was a direct result of his ministry.

For several years our family has been blessed to share at their church in Northern Virginia. The last time we were there they expressed an interest in sending a team to minister with us in the Philippines. So this is what we have been up to these last two weeks. We have been doing day camps throughout the Visayas, first in Guimaras and then in Roxas. Through these camps, partnering with area churches, we have been able to minister to nearly 400 children.

This team was unique in that among the adults who came, we also had a family of six join the team. Tim and Marilyn brought all four of their kids ages seven, five, three, and their youngest, just one year old. Their kids prove once again that children, no matter how young in age, do not have to be "future" missionaries, they can be missionaries NOW.

This afternoon we said goodbye to the team. While their trip is over, the impact of their time here will be eternal.