Thursday Report

There has been much excitement as we have seen another 31 people baptised in water.  This brings the total so far to 72.  We sure do have an amazing God.















 
Converts come in all shapes and sizes.  God loves each of us equally regardless of our size, race or background.  He knows our hearts ....

On Thursday afternoon 30 core group members of the church assembled.  All have received Jesus Christ as their Savior in the past 2 weeks, and they have all been baptised in water - some as recently as that morning.  They were taught about their responsibilities as members of the body of Christ, and their responsibilities to their Pioneer Pastors.  They are helping to plan the Grand Opening Service which will be held on Sunday.
Already the core group is starting to take ownership of the new church, and the SOS team will finally be farewelled as "visitors in Calapan".


The team has been taking some wonderful photographs as they travel around Calapan sharing the gospel.  We are currently sorting through them all to figure out the best way to display them to you.  Hopefully at least some of the photos will be posted here shortly.

Please keep praying for our health and safety.  There have been a few tummy upsets as result of the unfamiliar foods and drinks that we have been sharing but God has been faithful in protecting us and the local team members from any major problems.

Some More Photos of Life in Calapan

 Breakfast Garden

 A Skype Call to home

The Rice Cooker

Location for Viewing in Google Earth

If you would like to get a better idea of exactly where the team is located you can enter the following co-ordinates in the "fly to" box on Google Earth and you will get a satellite view of what it looks like.

13° 23.870N 121° 10.512E

You may need to turn off the "weather - cloud" option as otherwise it may be difficult to see through the thick cloud cover currently over most of Mindoro.

Google Earth Location & More Photos

Tuesday Afternoon Update

At the request of the team I have made a small amendment to this morning's post.  The consensus is that it is still very hot at night and that (other than for David) no blankets are required .   Debate continues as to whether it just because David is the coolest team member .

The team is still making more new contacts, and more baptisms have been confirmed.  Please pray that God will continue touching lives through the team and that even  more will receive Baptism in the Holy Spirit. 

Please pray for the local people in Calapan - that their eyes would be opened to the false teaching that many have received regarding the worship of idols and that they would place their trust totally in the only true God through his son Jesus.

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,  Exodus 20: 4-5 (TNIV)

Update - Tuesday 27 April 2010

Although the afternoon sun is very hot, there is a breeze off the sea at different time of the day which makes it more bearable  It has been reported that David has actually felt cool enough to need a blanket in the early hours of the morning, but all the other team members reckon that it was still very hot even at 2am.  Maybe it is just that David is the coolest team member (you owe me for that comment David).

The Aussies are all taking part in leading Bible studies.They started off as one-on-one Bible Studies and are now being grouped together - this is the Congregate phase, where new believers are linked with one another and with the Pioneer Pastor.  Some areas of the town are built as clusters of houses in community and when the Bible studies are finished for the afteroon the whole community comes together and meets and greets and laughs together. It already feels like fellowship time after church, and it's hard to leave!

Our accommodation is in the Elementary school. Desks and chairs are pushed back to make room for our mosquito domes and tents. The "comfort room" is attached to each classroom. Bath-time means pouring buckets of water over the head - oh so nice!

The team here in Calipan has a goal of achieving 50 baptisms - 11 more are needed to reach that figure in the final week of field work, so please pray that God would guide us to the right people.  Please also continue to pray for unity amongst the team.   With the long hours being worked and the at times uncomfortable conditions away from home and loved ones, it is easy to become frustrated and impatient.  Most of the Filipinos on the team are also a long way away from their homes so please pray for them as the continue the Lord's work.  

 Praying together before going out

  Houses in a local community

 Sharing in a Bible Study

An Outdoor Bible Study

 Children love to join in.

Some Photos of our first day in Calapan

 

The Pioneer Pastor gives instructions on the "Why" of baptism 

- what to tell your family and friends who may ask why you have been baptised,

Baptisms in the Sea - Tim and Scott with Pioneer Pastors. 

In the background is the main island of Luzon where we came from earlier in the day.

We received a royal welcome from the team - here is a dinner fit for a king.

First Day for the Aussies In Calapan

Sunday 25th April 2010

The Filipino Team has been working hard over the past two weeks and the labor of the field workers is now being richly rewarded with a bountiful harvest.  To date there have been 250 conversions and on the day of our arrival there were 37 baptisms at the local beach, with more scheduled for this afternoon and during the coming week. Praise God for the work that he is doing through SOS.

Please pray for these new Christians, that they continue to grow strong in their faith, overcome fear and superstition from their past, and resist the temptation to yield to the pressure of family and neighbors to return to their old sinful ways.  Your prayers for each Aussie team member would also be appreciated as we build relationships and share the gospel and encouragement with the local people.

The Team has arrived safely!

All Aussie team members arrived safely in Manila on Thursday (22nd April) and settled in for a good sleep after their long flights.  Yesterday was spent visiting a Church being planted in Tondo in the middle of Manila's urban sprawl, catching up with some old friends amongst the volunteers, team training and making all the necessary last minute arrangements before heading of to Calapan this morning. 

The team will be traveling, initially by bus and then by Super-cat ferry to the island of Mindorro.   Team spirits are high and everyone is looking forward to meeting with our fellow SOS volunteers in Calapan and seeing what God has in store for us.  The current weather in Calapan is hot and steamy 33°C (feels more like 40°), and partly cloudy.  Please continue to pray that we will be able to witness the love of Jesus in bold and effective ways during the days ahead.

SOS 2010
Aussie Team again joins Filipino SOS team to plant a church

This year 5 Aussies are joining the Summer Of Service (SOS) Team in Calapan, on the island of Mindoro.

The team has already met together on several occasions to pray, to build team relationships and to carry out advance planning for the trip.  We have been privileged to share in prayer with our friends in the Philippines (by telephone) and we have been greatly encouraged by this contact.  We have also enjoyed learning more about the area in which we are to serve and are eagerly anticipating working as part of the team with our Filipino brothers and sisters.  

We are truly looking forward to a time of blessing as we see God's incredible power at work.  Please pray for us as we work through all the last minute practical considerations which need to be attended to before we finally board the plane.

Please pray

April 22 2010 - We fly to Manila, Philippines.
April 23 - Team training in Manila
April 24 - We join a Filipino team who are into the 3rd and final week of church planting.
Target place: Calapan, Mindoro
The goal is the Grand Opening Service on May 2 when the new church is formed in the target place.

Pray for
¨ Safety in Target area
¨ Miracles signs and wonders
¨ Relationships established with Filipino teams
¨ Powerful testimonies
¨ Team unity
¨ Boldness
¨ Effective communication