Youth Camp

Time is quickly slipping away as we finish our part in God's work here in Baguio. In the past week, we have been involved in a lot of really rewarding ministry. The major event of last week was the 48 hour youth camp, held here at our house. We had around 25 youth and Tejal did a great job at directing the activities. The two days were filled with games, a movie (Narnia), a day of soccer and Capture the Flag at Camp John Hay, a banquet, worship, and 4 sessions with different speakers. Ashley really connected with the kids as she told them about the creation account and the greatness of God, as well as the fall. I was able to basically summarize the Old Testament (or at least try) and talk about how Jesus fulfilled the law and came to bring us back into relationship with God. I think the youth had a lot of fun and were able to learn a lot from all of the teachers, which also included Ate Evelyn, Tejal, and Shown.

Youth Camp!

Playing soccer at Camp John Hay

Worship Night at Youth Camp

Banquet

Ashley busting out the Hebrew for her talk. Awesome.

It was really great to spend time hanging out with a diverse group of youth, some of whom are familiar church kids while others were from Pastor Sam and Ate Evelyn's Alternative Learning System (ALS) class who were unfamiliar with the gospel. We saw this really pay off when one of the ALS students who was at the camp brought six of his friends to youth fellowship on Sunday. Ate Evelyn was able to present the gospel to them all and several of them appeared to accept the message and invite Jesus to forgive their sins. Pray that this decision would be real and lasting and that they would continue to grow in their understanding of the gospel and that God would work in their lives to bring them closer to Him. Praise God!



The day after youth camp ended, the church had a day of baptism. We travelled with around 40 people to the Asin Hot Springs about an hour out of the city. To fit everyone in the truck we were able to borrow, some of us sat on top of the truck, which was quite the experience.  At one point, with my head turned to the side, I got smoked in the head by a tree branch (don't worry, I'm ok), and on the way back, it started pouring on us. All part of the adventure of missions!

Transportation is so much more fun here!

Eight people, representing all age groups, were baptized Saturday morning. Pastor Sam asked Jonas and I do do the baptizing, so we were blessed with the opportunity to baptize these people. It was amazing to be a part of the decisions that they were making to follow the Lord and publicly declare their faith.

Baptizing Allan, one of the youth we have gotten to know

Jonas and I with those who were baptized

Since we were already at the pool, everyone had fun swimming, eating, and fellowshipping. On a side note, I noticed that a group near ours seemed to be preparing meat. Through closer inspection, I realized that they were butchering a dog.... on the table... by the pool. And it was very obvious it was a dog. I asked Pastor Sam about it later, and he said it is fairly common for people in the area to cook and eat dog while drinking. I was almost tempted to ask them if I could try some. Almost.


To top of a crazy five days, our team visited the Bibak Bible Church again on Sunday (the church where Ashley's grandparents went several decades ago). They asked us to sing a song, share (Tejal gave her testimony), and preach! So I was able to preach a sermon on David and Goliath. I preached a similar sermon a couple of weeks ago at the Balacbac Church, but this was the first time I was able to preach without a translator. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and people seemed to be really encouraged by it. I talked about how David needed to trust fully in God and not in his own abilities to face Goliath, and we should have the same attitude in our own lives, since "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Phil 4:13). I felt like I needed to hear this message for myself as well, since I needed to trust God to speak his own words through me rather than relying on my own abilities as a speaker.

Currently, we are busy preparing for our upcoming evangelistic concert on Saturday. We have been practicing for a few weeks now, and this week that is basically all we are doing. I am mainly playing electric guitar, which is new for me, but I am enjoying the challenge and we are starting to sound pretty good as a band. I'm quite certain that I have never played this much music in my life! It's pretty great.


Yesterday, we were able to perform a couple of our songs at a Baguio prayer meeting/concert, which was held at a really old, once abandoned hotel. It was a good time. We even met some fellow short-term mission participants based out of an Austrailan YWAM.

The historic building

I feel like this would make a good paintball location

Please pray for energy, musical togetherness, and healthy voices as we prepare for Saturday's concert. Most of all, pray that God would bring people to him through this ministry. Only nine days left here before we fly back to Abbotsford for debrief. It will be hard to leave!

Again, thank-you for your prayer and support! God bless.