Hello to all, we are now at our home in Anahawan Bato Leyte. It has been an eventful first couple of months and we now see how the Lord had prepared many paths to cross ours.
School started here the first week of June so we had the chance to provide much needed school supplies and uniforms to many of the local children. It is amazing how just a few pencils, pens, and writing paper can ease a person’s burden and help keep their children in school. There still are quite a few children who do not go to school, either because they do not have school supplies or they work to help their parents support their families. I hope that everyone would lift these children up in their prayers and may we have the opportunity to minister to them!
On June 11th while I was working around the house when I ended up cutting a finger on my right hand. The cut was about two inches long and went all the way through the skin to the muscle. Vicenta went with me to the Baptist hospital which is located about 30 to 40 minutes from our home. When we arrived at the emergency room the emergency room staff was already attending to a seven month old girl. The girl had been cut by a piece of glass; her tiny nose was almost cut in two. The doctor provided initial first aid to the baby and then went to work on my hand. After the doctor finished working on my finger and we started to leave the hospital I could feel the leading of the Holy Spirit; the leading to minister to this family. It was an opportunity not only to provide financial support but also an opportunity to provide spiritual support. It’s amazing how the Lord takes situations like these and brings about good.
On June 12th I had the opportunity to teach at a Wednesday night service. Every week the Wednesday night services are held at a different person’s house; these services are called “cottage services”. This was an amazing night of fellowship! We started off with a worship song, no big production just one guitar and everyone singing from their heart. Then everyone had a chance to recite a memory verse and testify how that verse applies to their life. We took an offering to help pay for new church instruments, sang another song and then went into prayer. I really enjoy how the services flow here, there is no rush, no time limits for anything. After my teaching we went into prayer; individual prayer and group prayer. To me this type of fellowship is what being a Christian is all about. Upon completion of the service the host provided snacks and we all had a chance to build relationships.
On June 26th I had just finished feeding our pigs and was washing my hands when Vicenta yelled for me. I could tell by the tone of her voice that something was wrong. I went to the outside kitchen where I could see that Richard, the seven year old we care for, was bleeding from his forehead. He had fallen down somewhere and now there was a hole in his forehead about the size of a pencil eraser. As I looked closer I could see that the hole went all the way down to his skull. Well Vicenta had to make another trip to the hospital! The hospital took x-rays and then closed the cut with one stitch.
On June 29th we attended the Fifth Annual Women’s Fellowship Conference put together by several Assembly of God Churches. The guest speaker was Rev. Levie Lapura who is from Palo Northern Leyte. There were about one hundred women and 10 Pastors. The conference started around 8:30am and went until 3pm. Vicenta was asked to give her testimony in the afternoon session; she was amazing! As I am learning prayer and worship are a big part of all church related events here. The worship has been amazing, simple yet so pure, straight from the heart. It was an amazing day of fellowship!
We were also invited to participate in a crusade that was to take place on July 6th in Bato Leyte. We attended a planning meeting on June 30th where we met several more local Pastors and other Christians who support the Lord’s work. The Crusade was supported by several denominations and several local churches. It was good to see the church youth involved in this ministry. There were about 50 teens/young adults at the meeting; they would all have a part in the Crusade.
On July 3rd we were able to help financially support a mother who was in need of an operation. Mrs. Helen Bunol had a tumor in her ovary that was bleeding but could not afford the blood needed for the operation. Here in the Philippines the doctors will not perform the operation until all the needed units of blood and prescription medicines are paid for. We were able to purchase two units of blood and all required prescriptions. We also provided the family with some food for they had not had food for about one week. The operation was a success, Mrs. Bunol is now resting well at her home.
On July 6th the day of the Crusade we gathered at 6:30am so we could drive around the local towns broadcasting the event information. We all met in Bato where we would start. We had one vehicle and several motorcycles. Vicenta and I rode standing up in the back of the vehicle which had a loud speaker mounted on the roof. We had a recording of the information which we continually played. Tall people beware, there are low hanging branches and wires everywhere here! We drove around for about 3 hours visiting several local towns.
About 3:30pm we returned to Bato to attend the Crusade. The guest speaker was Mrs. Pilar Pilapil, a Filipino movie star. The theme was “from silver screen to servant hood”; Mrs. Pilapil would be giving her personal testimony. There were about one thousand people in attendance. The conference started off with a local youth group performing a dance, then prayer and worship. Then Brother Ely Tabar gave his personal testimony; a testimony of how God saved him from a life in jail. Brother Ely now leads a jail ministry! Mrs. Pilapil then gave her testimony, a testimony of how she tried to find contentment in the things of this world only to be left empty. A testimony of how the Lord is all we need! The conference ended with a massive alter call and some ending worship. It still amazes me to see how these people truly worship from their hearts despite their circumstances!
On Sunday July 14th I had the opportunity to preach at an Assembly of God Church in Sitio Victory Tigboa Matalom Leyte. The church sits on the side of a mountain overlooking a valley that is filled with terraced rice fields. Amazing location; amazing beauty; amazing creation! The church has a congregation of about 60 people; what a blessed day we had! Before we departed Tigboa we were invited to participate in a local Barangay (Barrio) Crusade. The crusades focus was to be directed at reaching the local youth.
On Thursday July 18th we participated in the Tigboa Crusade. The crusade started off with a few worship songs and then I gave a short testimony followed by an elderly ladies testimony. After a few more songs Pastor Falla preached the Word and then held an alter call. Approximately twenty youth and three adults gave their life to the Lord. What a wonderful experience! There are 32 Barangay’s in the Bato Province. The local churches plan on holding these type of crusades twice a month provided they can upgrade their sound system and instruments. Please keep these in your prayers!
We thank you for your continued prayers and financial support of this new ministry.
Love David & Vicenta
Isaiah 58:7