Camp meeting and General Conference 2006 is over. It was a wonderful time of fellowship. There were hundreds of people all over the campus. They slept in the dorms, classrooms and even on the church floor!
We had between 86 and 122 kids in the six children’s services Christina conducted. One morning one of Christina’s child evangelism students was teaching about the cross and the death of Jesus. The children were so moved upon we had to stop and give them time to pray. The boys and girls sat on the floor in a cramped library room where it was 95 degrees or more. Those normally rowdy children were still and quiet everyday as they listened to the lessons taken from our general camp meeting theme: “The Beauty of Holiness”.
David preached a couple of times during the camp as did all the missionaries, but in one session they asked him to speak about family matters and the Lord helped in such a special way. The people really responded. We had a counseling session today and another one two days ago. Both sessions were follow-ups of that service. Please, pray for us. We need more wisdom than we have in the human. Some of our people are dealing with rebellious teens and child discipline issues in a country where most people do not discipline their children at all!
The general conference was one of the best in recent history. The business went smoothly and God had His hand upon all the proceedings. We give Him thanks for his blessings and direction.
After camp and conference, we missionaries along with John Parker and Deron Fourman made the hike up to “the top of the world” to a place called, Latbong. It took us over 7 hours to climb the mountain. When we reached the top we were joyfully greeted by Sister Alice and several of the church people. We held four services and had a church building dedication. Each service was marked by a special sense of God’s presence. The people were so responsive and open to the Word.
The children in Latbong really touched our hearts. They had very little clothing and were obviously hungry. However, it was thrilling to see the changes that the gospel has brought to that remote mountain village. Bro. Gale is the only other general missions’ secretary who has ever hiked there. I think they said he was 70 years old. David has his hat off to him! It took Bro. Gale three days because he hurt his ankle. It is a very tough hike. David has done several hikes, but said this was by far the most challenging.
Preparations are under way for a new school year in both the Academy and the College. Thanks to the generosity of the Findlay church new flooring is being put down in the main learning center. In the college, we are busy preparing curriculum and schedules for the new school year. We ask special prayer for our college. (It has been renamed a “college” again by the National leadership for legal reasons.)
It is such a privilege to help train our future pastors, teachers, Christian workers and leaders, but we need God’s help.
Pray for us as we work on the new modular curriculum and train the teachers to teach in a new style that is very different for them. The Academy and College will open in June. Please, keep these institutions in your thoughts and prayers.
On a more personal note, a business man heard about our family’s difficult separation, with Robert staying in the states to go to Bible College. He sent Robert enough money for a ticket for a short visit home before he starts quartet tour for HSBC this summer. We will pick him up in Manila on May 21st. Please, pray for his safe trip. He will travel with Christina’s mother. It will be so very, very good to see both of them!
We appreciate your prayers, love offerings, share support and communication with us…more than just English words can express! So we will use a Tagalog word to help describe our feelings …
Salamat! (Thank You! We are full of gratitude.)
“The Blacks”
