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

Aussie SOS experience - photo journal

Reflections on the mission trip

Back from our Church Planting mission trip ... and after hugging my bathroom (those who have been will understand) ... said hello to the wife & patted the cat.


This was my third tip, this time into area's of urban poor in Manilla. We joined a team of some 35 indigenous Filipino's, many young and all entusiastic who sacrifice their vacation to see a Church given birth.


As we drove through the rain towards toward a mass of humanity I prayed that I would not just go through the motion reflecting on my previous experiences ...... and I didn't. The shackles of our life of schedules, plans, timeclocks etc was relieved for 12 days .... allowing a single minded focus on sharing Gods word and our testimony ... baring our soul for those eager to hear the truth.


There were many amazing experiences and stories:

• a lady bedridden for 12 months, accepted Jesus during a bible study and walked into a pool to be baptised by our team
• a lady testified to an amazing peace coming over her after I baptized her, subsequently impacting her life to such an extent that her husband wanted what she had .. he was baptised
• many teenagers responded to the challenge and gave their life to God
• and many more ...
  
  
  In all 55 were baptised, all with their own stories and some 85 part of the Grand opening service .... all in 3 weeks on the field.
  
  
  Yet again I was challenged to the core by the hospitality of these people .... in most cases poor in possessions but so rich in spirit. Whilst we struggle to invite our neighbours into our lives ... the Filippino's see it as an expected thing.
  
  
  I saw what it's like when all you have is Jesus and your testimony .... and challenged as to why should it be different in Australia, in my life.
  
  
  For me the journey continues .......

Paul

New Worship Leader is trained

A new worship leader, Regina, was shown "the ropes" during the Grand Opening Service. An experienced worship leader from the SOS Team helped her prepare a solo item, and led the way in the opening praise and worship. By the end of the service, Regina has taken over the microphone and is leading (see inset circle, last photo). Next week she is the one who will lead.

The new church is born

At the Grand Opening Service, the church was full! 85 people attended from Barangay Holy Spirit, not counting the SOS Team. The name of the church - "Jesus Christ Our Savior Assembly of God" is located above the "Idol Billiard Hall". The birth of the church was exciting, with testimony from a new convert, and a mounting sense of "ownership" by the new congregation. At the end of the church service, the new church members thanked the SOS volunteers and waved them goodbye. The new church members were soon worshiping the Lord with hands raised high!

Baptism - how to transform a husband!

What an amazing experience as those who had accepted Christ, 55 in all to date, exercised obedience to God in submitting to water Baptism. I had the privelage,to baptise 7 beautiful Filipino's converted by my sqaud. We later visited them to encourage them and was touched by the testimony of "Mae" (pictured with myself and Pioneer Pastor Arnel). She shared how she had felt an amazing peace come over her after being baptised, feeling Gods love and presence in a real way. That her feelings of hoplessness faded....as tears of joy welled up in her eyes we all became blubbering messes as we saw that Jesus really does change lives. Mae shared that her husband was so impacted by her life change, her "peace" and the elimination of her "nagging of him"(her words not mind), that he wanted what she had....so she challenged him to accept Christ and be Baptised....he did and was at the Grand Opening Service!!........Paul

Carlos Story

Yesterday I mentioned Carlos who we met walking past on the street. He said he was backslidden and into illegal things and wanted to come back to God but he could not yet. We chllenged and encouraged him and prayed for him all afternoon and morning, but I did not see him at the seminar. When we got to the last group to be baptised Carlos stepped into the water and I was so excited. The Good Shepherd had sent us for the lost sheep and we were rejoicing with Him that Carlos was found. Please pray that God will provide a miracle to deliver him from the illegal activites and associates he is working for and provide a way to support his family that will honor God.

Best mission trip ever!

Woohoo! 40+ additional Water Baptisms today and most of the people have only been saved for a few days! This is in addition to 23 baptisms already done on Tuesday & some more Water baptisms booked in for next week. Seriously once you get past the fear of leaving the land of oz for 10 days & making an investment into the Kingdom of less than $2000aud this is so easy, so simple. All we need to do is go with our awesome team mates to the field work, introduce ourselves & read the bible study aloud point by point, A translator will interpret point by point. At the end, you read the challenge to the people and the translator will translate.

As an Aussie you have no Idea how desperate & how receptive the people are until one of your fellow team mates says in English, they will accept! they want Jesus to be their saviour, or... they will be water Baptised. SOS is an incredible model that works so well for advancing the cause of Christ in the Philippines. I am so desperate to see a Church planting Model of this calibre start up in Australia. Imagine if in Australia we could mobilise volunteers to be used by God to turn over to a pioneer pastor a congregation of believers committed to be the core group of a newly planted church in a target area or town. Cynics might sit on the sidelines & tell me that Church planting could never be as effective as this in Australia. As a team we have all personally witnessed the power of the Gospel in setting people free from all the vices of idolatry. Pictured below is a Lady who was unable to walk. She has been paralysed not being able to leave her bed for over a year, We did some bible studies with her, both her & her son gave their hearts to Jesus & in the following days asked to be baptised. She is now able to walk again and her doctors confirmed that she is not paralysed any more. She is free to move around again.

The photos below show her misery before accepting Christ (while she was still paralysed) & her overwhelming joy on the way to being water baptised. She was very afraid to enter the water to be baptised & missed the opportunity to be baptised along with the rest of squad 3. Finally she came forward & was Baptised by Pastor Arnel & Tim. Halelulia. Heaven is rejoicing today! Satan has lost some territory! halelulia!!! this is just one of 1000's of stories right now all over the philippines Scott Maddrell

Bring up a child...

This picture is a prophetic message to a family that I visited over a few days. The promise is that when the Grandfather - Ricardo and Eden (neighbour) dedicate their lives to following God and His word, and bring their children up following God's word, they will be firmly established in God. They will walk in His ways. Standing on His Word has a new meaning when I look at this picture... Kerri

The great Australian Chocolate Challenge

As a team of Aussies we felt it was important to exchange cultures with our Philipino Team mates. On a short term mission trip when food is put in front of you, you are expected to eat it, no matter what. the last thing we wanted to do was offend our fellow team mates by insulting their cooking of small fish soup, rice, Sour Vegetables, Rice, Bitter vegetables & did i mention more rice! So in return we thought it would be important to introduce them to Australias favourite Chocolate. Vegemite. before letting them try our world famous Chocolate We taught them how to sing "were happy little vegemites, bright as bright can be, we all enjoy our vegemite for breakfast lunch and tea, our mothers say were growing stronger every single week because we love our vegemite, we all adore our vegemite, it puts a rose in every cheek! you can see their response in the photos.... Scott