Waray-Waray Prayer Update

Believers are divided in groups to practice leading Simply the Word (STW)

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2 

Prayer concern:

1. Pray for Waray-waray leaders and disciples to be raised up from every village & that they will also reach out to other villages with the gospel.
2. Pray for Waray-waray people group that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened so that they will understand the truth and the urgency of the Great Commission.
3. Pray for blessings for Waray-waray people's livelihood.
4. Pray and support for the follow up team's food and travel expenses as they move from village to village up river.
5. Pray for the follow up teams God's guidance, protection, strength and wisdom. 

Thank you to all partners and friends for praying and supporting me in this journey. To God be all the honor and glory. Amen. 

Brother in Christ,
Lovigie Dune A. Almine

Follow up team hiking into their area

Half Way There.

   We are halfway through our missions trip! We just finished at the second barangay a few days ago and are wrapping up a three day vacation. Again, the Lord blessed our efforts and the Holy Spirit worked in the people's hearts. The second barangay we visited was very different than our first. The people were not as open to responding to the message of the gospel. It was evident by the questions that were asked by the locals we had Bible studies with that the Lord had already begun a work here. We were able to reach about half of the village of 100 households.
    Many of the questions asked were regarding many of the different beliefs of the religions in the Philippines. The people of this barangay had been solicited by many different denominations, all of whom believe in salvation by faith with the addition of works. In the first barangay we visited, most of the locals we encountered understood that God was the creator, believed the Bible was inspired by God, and believed that Jesus was a sinless sacrifice for our sins. Because of this, our gospel presentation was pretty straightforward with an emphasis in faith alone without our works. In the last barangay, we had to start from ground zero and ended up giving a "Creation to Christ" message as well as answering various questions they had. When we left the village, one person had professed faith. Praise the Lord! My overall impression of the work we had done was that we had planted and watered. How wonderful    it is that it is the Holy Spirit that moves and works in hearts and not our presence. We left thirteen Bibles there. 
    The next to barangays we go to are going to be very remote. Pray for us. We have had many different challenges the last month. Satan has attacked us daily. It seems like for every hurdle we jump, there is another one waiting. But the Lord has blessed us with health and open doors which is more than we ask for. We are excited to see what the Lord will do in the next barangay and we thank everyone who has been praying for us. I have realized more than ever this summer how significant prayer is to our ministry. The Lord has been working in our hearts as well. Pray that all of us will humble ourselves before God and never lose our passion to be the chief servant of Christ.

Village # 2

As my time here in this village ends the lyrics from the song "Desert Song" by Hillsong United popped in my head especially the part that says:

"All of my life. In every season you are still God. I have a reason to sing. I have a reason to worship"

I found these lyrics very encouraging during my time here because we as a team unlike in the first village haven't really seen the people to be as interested in the Bible Studies. These lyrics  reminded me in every season whether it is the harvest season or planting season, God wis with us every step of the way. I know God will be working in the hearts of the people here that is why I had a reason to sing and worship here in this village.

Many times we Christians tend to forget that we cannot save the person we are talking to, but only by the Grace of God through faith. It was hard this week remembering this simple truth because I wanted them so bad to understand the simple truth of how they could have eternal life in heaven. I had to realize that from this verse that encourage me that our time is not God's time and his timing is perfect in the salvation of people here in this village and all over the world. 

2 Peter 3:8-9

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand year as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 

3 profession of Faith
18 Bibles given away

Lacey 

All Praise Belongs to YOU, A Handwritten Blog

  Two Riverboat Backpacker teams are serving among the Waray-Waray people, literally meaning the "absolutely nothings."  They eat, sleep, and live with the villagers among whom they minister, and as a result, they are likewise isolated from modern comforts such as cell phone reception, constant electricity, washing machines, running water, beds, and an internet connection.

  So we've invented handwritten blogs, which are scribbled on pieces of paper in the middle of the jungle, handed to their field supervisor, hand-carried onto a boat headed to town, driven four hours through the mountains to the city, and uploaded for the world to see.  And that's how the riverboat teams do it!

Prayers and Poverty, A Handwritten Blog

  Two Riverboat Backpacker teams are serving among the Waray-Waray people, literally meaning the "absolutely nothings."  They eat, sleep, and live with the villagers among whom they minister, and as a result, they are likewise isolated from modern comforts such as cell phone reception, constant electricity, washing machines, running water, beds, and an internet connection.
  So we've invented handwritten blogs, which are scribbled on pieces of paper in the middle of the jungle, handed to their field supervisor, hand-carried onto a boat headed to town, driven four hours through the mountains to the city, and uploaded for the world to see.  And that's how the riverboat teams do it!

Sacrifice and Sharing, A Handwritten Blog

  Two Riverboat Backpacker teams are serving among the Waray-Waray people, literally meaning the "absolutely nothings."  They eat, sleep, and live with the villagers among whom they minister, and as a result, they are likewise isolated from modern comforts such as cell phone reception, constant electricity, washing machines, running water, beds, and an internet connection.

  So we've invented handwritten blogs, which are scribbled on pieces of paper in the middle of the jungle, handed to their field supervisor, hand-carried onto a boat headed to town, driven four hours through the mountains to the city, and uploaded for the world to see.  And that's how the riverboat teams do it!

Waray National Partners

Loaded up & ready to go!

Waray national team members