Samantha Elisabeth

Report from Tim Keep...

Dear family, friends and faithful supporters,

Here she is!! All 7lbs and 15 ounces of her!
Samantha Elisabeth was born Tuesday the 16th at St.
Luke Hospital in Manila, and now we can truly say that
our quiver is full; seven (two plus five) is a perfect
number! Mom and baby are now home and doing great.

We are very grateful for the visit of my mother,
Grace. She has come to help keep our bodies and souls
together while Becky is resting! Her visit is a huge
blessing and encouragement to all of us! Grandma is
an engaging storyteller and her grandchildren are very
engaged "storytellees"! She makes good cookies, apple
pies, and pepperoni rolls as well, I might add!

On a sad note, "Buddy" (our faithful Golden
Retriever) died a couple of weeks ago. We still don't
know what motivated one of our neighbors to give him
rat poison, but we are quite sure that's what
happened. The boys and their friend Stephen buried
him in the back yard with a cross and his dog bowl as
a grave marker! I told them I wasn't sure that Jesus
died for Buddy, but I'm sure He knew that he was a
good dog!

On the ministry front, we have plenty to be
encouraged about. The Shepherd's Institute (formerly
PBM College) is going well as we have been
experiencing some powerful moves of the Lord on our
campus. The last six weeks have been unusual times of
spiritual revival and it has changed the whole
atmosphere around here! We believe that Madam Castro,
our new school administrator, and this student body
have been handpicked by the Lord. Please keep praying
for them!

There is also some progress on the church planting
front. One new congregation is ready to build, and
two of our tested church planters are currently
scouting for new unreached areas. Please pray that
the Lord will bless them and guide them to towns or
villages of His choosing.

Our Conference Center building project in Illagan
Isabela is well underway. The surrounding walls are
up, the well is dug and a second one is halfway
completed, the road is poured, the twelve foot front
gate as well as the smaller pedestrian gate has been
hung, the foundation for the national home and office
and dormitory is complete, and the beams are being
formed. Thanks for your prayers for David Yucaddi,
Leo Dirilo, Manuel Balido, and myself as we direct
this project. We desire that this facility will be
used for the glory of God alone.

Now, I rarely talk about financial needs in this
news letter, but I feel that I should at least make
you aware of a need and hope for your prayerful
consideration. Many of you have sent funds in past
years and even in the past few months ear-marked as
rice for pastors and as soon as I have gotten these
funds I have distributed where the needs are most
urgent. (As I have said before $20 will provide enough
rice for a pastor's family for one month) But we are
currently in the second month of a country wide crisis
period in the Philippines and our rice barrel is
empty! My heart goes out to some of my brethren here,
especially those in the mountainous regions, who are
suffering some great hardships. Would you please pray
about giving to the Pastor's Benevolence Fund or
Pastor's Rice Fund, and help relieve the burden of
your brothers and sisters during this crisis time?
The Lord will reward you!

On September 12-16 John Parker, Melvin Adams, and
Rick Hutchison will be helping us in our annual
September Shepherd's Conference. Please pray for them
and all who will be speaking during this most
important spiritual event. Our theme is: A Church
Beautified by Holiness.

I'll cut this off for now, but I do want to tell
you once again that our hearts are constantly full of
thanksgiving for your faithful prayers and financial
support. Thanks for being mindful and attentive of
our ministry needs even when your own lives are so
full of challenges and so many needs are clamoring for
your attention.

Your grateful friends,
Tim, Becky, Valerie, Timothy, Jesse, Carolyn Grace,
and Samantha Elisabeth. let's see, am I missing
someone. one, two, three, four, five.!)