Last few weeks in Bicol

This week we had our second church service with 11 adults and 8 children attending. They all thanked us for being there and sharing the gospel. They don't want us to leave and that makes it even harder to start saying goodbye. We are still trucking with all of our Bible studies. No one has stopped attending and they ask us to come back more and more! The Lord is doing amazing things in this barangay! We are mentoring a young man that we baptized last week. He is excited to continue ministry once we leave but is sad to see us go. 
Please pray that he is able to continue and be encouraged after we leave.

As the summer comes to an end, please pray that all of us are given a clear calling for our futures and missions. This has opened many doors for all of us and we want to respond to what God is calling us to do in our lives. Pray for boldness and encouragement for us all.

-Michaela
Teach, Heal & Hoops Team
Bicol, Philippines

Building the Church

Hello all! It was a short week this week since we had vacation in the beginning but it was a busy 4 days for the team!

Barangay C was excited to have us back on Thursday. We went right back into our routine and visited our regular afternoon Bible studies. There is a consistent Bible study attender named Nanay D. (Nanay is the word for mother in the local langauge.) She loves having us over! A young man, Sonny, walked by one day and decided to join in. It turns out he is also a believer! We have been discipling him and he has even led a few Bible studies instead of our national partners. We also baptized him this week! The Lord has answered our prayers! He is happy to continue the mission once we leave in a few weeks. He has really become a member of our team. 

We had our first church service on Sunday at 10 am. Kuya Red, our national partner, taught on faith. (Kuya is the word for older brother.) With Roman Catholicism being the main religion in the area, we really stress the importance of faith and a relationship with Jesus as salvation, not repentance or good deeds. Many of the attendees have been saved during our Bible studies but we also were able to use their speakers. So, everyone in the near by area heard the message as well. We have another service this coming Sunday at 9 and we are praying for another great turn out. We had 11 yesterday and we pray that they are inviting their family and neighbors!

We only have 15 more days on the field and it's hard to grasp that reality. I miss home but Barangay C has become a 2nd home. They are so friendly and welcoming. They have made us members of their community. I'm thankful for everything the Lord has done in the community.

Please pray for all of the Nehemiah Teams all over the world. We are coming to the end of our summer and our goal is to begin churches where ever we are serving.

-Michaela

Teach, Heal & Hoops Team

Daet, Philippines

Prayers for Obedience

These are the three teams I have been working with this summer. We only have 15 days left of ministry here so pray that we are obedient and intentional with the time we have left.

-Kait
Teach, Heal & Hoops Team
Gospel Spreading Team
Daet, Philippines

Free Medical Clinic

This past week was pretty great! We had 2 days of medical mission days in 2 different villages. The doctor saw over 250 people total. We took BP, weight, height, and gave out vitamins and needed medicine in those 2 villages. It was a true blessing to be able to spend those days with the people. especially the little ones there. One of the boys asked if "they could keep me!" Thank the Father for these children and their sweetness.    

Please lift us up for good health and safe travels. We are on some off time for the next few days and plan to enjoy some time with the other 2 teams here and have plenty of mango shakes and enjoy sleeping in a bed.

In my quiet time, I have been reminded of the value of planting seeds. One of our national partners said that most times it takes about 10 times for someone here to hear and accept the gospel. I just keep going back to 1 Cor. 3:6 knowing and believing the King is working even when I don't see it. 

One of our reality statements says it best: "Wherever I go, the King goes. Wherever the King goes, His kingdom comes. Wherever His kingdom comes. the powers to be must submit." 

-Kerstin

Gospel Spreading Team

Daet, Philippines

Medical Clinic Team

Fruit in the Philippines

We have had about 25 Bible studies and roughly 20 people give their lives to Christ! The weekends are the busiest for Bible studies... but we walk for Christ! Our village is the biggest of the 3 in our section so we have to cover a lot of ground. 

We met the principal of the local school. He is a believer as well! He welcomed us gladly and shares our desire to share the gospel. We are conducting a True Love Waits seminar this week and plan to share the Gospel with the kids. Our goal as a team is to create an organic church so they can continue their spiritual growth when we leave. 

Please pray that the Lord enables us to reach out and encourage the village. 

Pray as our team will be helping conduct a free medical clinic on June 27th.

-Michaela

Teach, Heal & Hoops Team, Philippines

Team building with national partners