An ACTS Adventure with the Water filter Team

Yesterday, we got back from spending three days sharing the gospel and encouraging believers in different villages in the Agusan Valley with the Water Filter Team. Since we have not been able to deliver water filters as planned this week due to some problems with the organization which helps us deliver them.....God redirected our steps and we had quite an adventure sharing the gospel.

Our weekend was awesome and went something like this..... ride on top of a crowded jeepnee in the rain, get to a town, walk in the rain and mud to a river, take a canoe across the river, take a petty cab to the village, stay overnight at the village worshiping for 4 hours at a time, sharing testimonies, singing, Cliff got to preach.

We left this village the next day and travel by motorcycle to a very remote village called Sanroke I think, with new believers. The motorcycle had boards on both sides, and we rode on them. There were like six people plus luggage on one speedy motorcycle. We played and shared bible stories with 50+ kids that were clinging to us and loving on us for hours. We slept in a Filipino house and encouraged the believers there ( I think they were a bigger blessing to us). We cried with them as everyone's hearts were encouraged, and we testified to God's goodness in our lives. Our hearts were burdened for this village of new believers that have no church building or pastor yet. I told them I would ask you all to pray for them...

• Pray that they would grow in their faith and be encouraged.
  
• Pray that God would send them a Pastor and leadership to disciple them.
• Pray that they will be obedient to share their faith with others in the village

We left the next day and walked three miles up and down hills to the next village, where Cliff preached for a third time, and we worshiped with and encouraged the believers. We got to share the gospel with a group of children before it was time to head back to the BOOST camp. Praise the Lord for how he is working in hearts. Worthy is the lamb!!!!

Visiting the Habitat Team and making new friends

This past week we went to Butuan to check on the Habitat team. They are doing well, and we praise the Lord for the things he is teaching them in their personal walks with Christ, and how he is using them. We helped them build a house from the ground up for a family...laying concrete bricks and cementing. Hard, hot work, but we praise the Lord for the opportunity to meet the needs of others. Each weekend the team will be gong out to rural villages to share the gospel and encourage new believers.

The first night we got there, we went to the house where the team is staying. However, they were not back yet from town, so we were locked out of the house. We stood around waiting a bit, and then a family invited us into their house to wait and visit with them. The husband, wife, and their two young sons Jacob and Job were very kind and gracious. We had an opportunity to share our testimonies with this family, and the next day after work, we had Bible study with them. Praise the Lord for letting us get locked out of the house! We are excited to see this family again and spend more time with them in Bible Study on our next visit with the Habitat team.

• Pray that this Catholic family will understand more and more their need for a personal relationship Jesus, and that the Lord would continue to speak to them through his word.

Water Filters and Tree Planting

"In all you do, do everything as unto the Lord" "Be faithful in the little things"

These words were playing over and over in my head this week as Cliff and I helped make water filters, and Cliff worked hard planting banana trees with the Ag team to help improve the water shed for the community. We cleaned rocks, filtered sand, and painted lots of water filters. The greatest blessing was working with all the Filipino Pastors as we worked on the filters. Their hard work, humility, gentleness, and words of encouragement have been such a blessing to all the team members work at the BOOST camp. Their example to us is that of Christ.

• Pray that all the teams will be faithful in the little things, and that they would strive to glorify God in what he has them doing at that moment.
• Pray that God would work things out legistically, so these water filters, along with the gopsel of Jesus Christ, can be shared in villages all over the Augusan Valley.

Village on the Hill Update

We have been going back to visit the new believers in this village to disciple and encourage them. This past time when we went there for Bible study with the women believers, we encountered some spiritual warfare, and ways the enemy is trying to discourage the believers there. Please pray for these new believers! That they would be encouraged and that they would grow in their faith.

This is our second blog from the Philippines. Time flies! It's hard to believe it's amost been 2 weeks! Last night, Sharon and I went out on a date. It has been about a month since we've really had time alone together and it was much appreciated. It consisted of; Dinner at Pizza Hut, Toy Story III at the theatre in the mall, and a night at the Emerald Villa Hotel (AC, Mattress, a Bathroom w/ American Toilet and Shower). We enjoyed it very much!

We're already getting use to the climate, taking bucket baths, and eating lots and lots of rice. And, the best part is- It's all for the glory of God!

A Day with the Agriculture Team

We worked with the Ag team on Thursday. I put on my long pants, shoes, and floppy hat. The sun was hot. The work was dirty. We started the day looking for a suitable place to put a 'worm bed.' A wooden box that would house soil, goat manure, and earth-worms. The mixture would later provide a healthy dose of nutrients and biota to crops and gardens on the farm. The farm is actually a 2 or 3 acre 'demo' farm located in the Agusan del Norte. The demo farm teaches SALT Ag production, FAITH gardening, and small time Animal Production.

We also planted some trees on the side of the hill that will later be harvested as timber. These trees also improve the water shed in the area. The work this team is doing is part of an on-going project to improve the lives of Filippino agriculturalist in the Agusan river valley.

• Pray that the team will receive an extra measure of strength and endurance as they continue working this summer.
• Pray that the BOOST 'demo farm' will serve the people in the Agusan river valley and show Christs Love!
• Pray for the leadership of the BOOST, that they will make wise decisions.

The Water-Filter and Med Team Update

We were able to welcome the Water Filter team back after the first trip out in rural villages. There, they shared the gospel and installed almost 30 bio-sand water filters. We will get the opportunity to go out with them and serve with them in remote areas June 28th - 30th so please pray that the gospel will be well received. Also, pray that the team will have unity in Christ and love for eachother as well as the people they serve.

The Med Team just left for a week to serve at the Rural Heath Clinic. They'll be providing quality health care to low income families. Pray for them, that God will bless them as they show Christs love in this way. Pray that God will give them many opportunities to share the gospel!

The Village on the Hill

On Saturday, we got the opportunity to join the Filter team doing outreach at a small village close to our camp that we call The Village on the Hill. We had been there once before and on that day, some women prayed to receive Christ. This Saturday, 6 men (young and old) also prayed to receive. Praise God with us for this. We are continuing to go back to The Village on the Hill to do Bible Study with these new believers. Pray with us...

• That God would fill these new believers with his Spirit.
• That they would be hungry for his Word!
• That they would, as God reveals his Word, feel the need for Baptism!

Hey Everyone!

Sorry this 1st post has been a long time coming. We have been trying to download pics, but keep running into problems. However, you can go to www.nehemiahteams.blogspot.com and see pictures of our teams and us at times. We are working with the Agriculture, Habitat, Waterfilter, and Health Care teams.

You may notice among the pics on the NT Blog that there is a picture of me (Cliff) being Baptized at Orientation. No, I did not get saved at Orientation. :) However, I was never Biblically baptized after I made my true profession of faith at the age of 18. I was convicted to do so during a Baptism service for one of our fellow Nehemiah Teamers. So exciting!

We will try and post some pictures ASAP! We have lots to share, good ones. Pray that we'll find the resources to do this.

Travel and Getting Here:

After some bumpy plane rides and interesting landings, we made it. We spent most of last week traveling. We set up camp at M.J. Santos (a village 25 minuets away from Butuan City, Philippines) which is our base camp for the summer. We are living in a "staff house" at the Baptist Rural Training Center there in the village. We have roomates, including some noisy mice, lizards, roaches, and other crawly things. O and Camille, our media girl, also Ray, our awesome Filippino supervisor. After 5 days, our bodies are still adjusting to the heat and humidity. We sweat constantly. Heat rashes are normal. Our alarm clock- some really loud goats and roosters. We'll be travelling around all summer checking on the teams and encouraging them. Pray for...

• Wisdom and Guidance as we lead the teams and point them to Christ.
• That we'll be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and God's schedule for us this summer.
• Strength in our resolve to follow God's plan for our lives, wherever that leads.

Our Visit with the Habitat Team:

Over the past two days, we have checked on the Habitat team located in Butuan City. There 4 guys on this team; 3 American and 1 Filippino. We worked with them all day yesterday, helping to mix concrete and fill/carry bags of dirt and stone- sore backs and shoulders this morning, but Worthy is the Lamb.

We were able to talk with the family that will be living in the habitat house and build relationships with them. Today is the teams last day to work at that site. They will be sharing their testimonies with the family and the workers. Pray that...

• God will soften this family/the workers hearts to the Gospel of Christ Jesus.
• God will give them hearts that are searching for truth.
• The habitat team members will be obedient in sharing their faith this summer as they go from site to site.