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2014 was going to be a bittersweet year for us, after 10 years in the Philippines, we knew we would be leaving our beloved Iloilo, moving to Thailand later in the year. The year began in the usual way with the Timothy Internship Program. This internship we trained and equipped six interns. Things in Iloilo took on a "one last" aspect, for example one last trip to Guimaras, we still miss the mangos. One last time riding on top of a jeepney. In April we reduced our worldly possessions to a few bags, a box, a dog carrier (yes our dog Sam made the move with us) and we moved to Chiang Rai, Thailand. Our beautiful and brand new home in Thailand. Got a car and started driving on the left side of the road, it's not as difficult as you may think. Got a scooter! Our favorite way to get around. Off to 7-11 in this picture. Started new schools, Gabi is going to an all Thai preschool. Eric, Faith, and Daniel attend Chiang Rai International School...

Traditionally when a missionary family makes a transition from one country to another, they have a Stateside trip in between to prepare them for the new nation. After much prayer and consideration, we felt that we were to make the move to Thailand directly from the Philippines. With a joyful but also heavy heart, we said goodbye to our Filipino home and on April 15, 2014, we moved to Thailand. We did some serious downsizing, we were able to reduce our family belongings to just a few suitcases and boxes. At the Manila airport on the big moving day, about to get on our flight to Thailand. We have been in country for less than a month. During that time we started language learning, we bought a car and started to learn to drive on the left side of the road (it’s easier than you think), Gabriella started preschool at a Thai school, and we started doing ministry. Driving on the left side of the road will take some getting used to, but so far so good. Lunchtime ...

Recently I was blessed to travel with Go To Nations president Jerry Williamson (pictured below) and his team of pastors and ministers. He took them on a trip to Davao, Philippines for a pastors conference for church leaders who minister to the tribal people groups in Southern Philippines. Some readers may recall I have served this effort  before . On this trip we met Pastor Manuel (pictured below with his hands raised). He has an interesting history; he is a former cannibal. Now he leads a very different life as the pastor of his church among his tribe, and also as a missionary to other tribes in Southern Philippines. The tribes that were once his enemies, they are now his mission field. It is hard for me to fathom what his faith costs him. It is hard for me to fathom what sacrifices and dangers he must face as he ministers to warring tribes. Join me in prayer for Pastor Manuel, and join me by being inspired by his example.

We are moving! We informed many of you when we visited the States this summer. In case our paths did not cross, we are announcing that we are moving to Thailand. Our target date is June 2014. We will be moving directly from the Philippines to Thailand. Our last few months here will be full, working with our missionary team, directing another Timothy Internship Program, and also one last Summer at Camp Sonshine Philippines. We are very excited about this next nation. In Thailand we will continue to work with the Go To Nations teams throughout the Asia-Pacific region. We will also be involved in teaching in Bible schools, and we will also help rescue individuals enslaved in human trafficking. We are confident Christ has called us to Thailand. This is the next nation for us to make history. Please keep our family in prayer.

Some pictures from a recent family vacation, first Bangkok, Thailand: and beautiful Boracay Island, Philippines:

"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 ge...

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. Ple...

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.

libraries (really missed these), long walks in the woods, playgrounds,  and hot showers and baths (REALLY missed these).

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 Baltimo...

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.

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.

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 reso...

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.

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.

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,...

Taken by my brother, Rey:

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.

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.