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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. ...

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.

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 . . .

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? 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 famil...

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.

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