Sorry for the long silence, it had been a busy time preparing paper works, appearing in the Malaysian embassy and booking flights. The TDTS staff and students finally left on November 21. They were supposed to leave 2 weeks earlier but requirements and the letter of approval that came in late delayed them. Thank you so much for all your prayers, God provided generously for everything that the team needed for land transportation, airfare and food budget for the whole outreach, God is so good and faithful indeed! Thank you for obedient and willing hearts, God bless you Salem DTS leaders and Ruth Ellen. Patrick reported that they are working with missionaries pioneering a church in Sandakan. Their regular routine starts in the morning when the guys help as carpenters in the church building. The afternoon is preparation and evenings are ministry times. It seems they are more busy there than when they were in Bontoc. We are glad for this opportunity for the students and staff to experience working in a Muslim community. I am sorry we have no photos to show as they do not have a digital camera with them. We hoped to get one but it did not happen.
STUDENT SPONSORSHIP MINISTRY
This 2nd semester(October 2007-March 2008)we have 18 students under our sponsorship ministry. Through God's grace, there are 7 students now who have sponsors from the 3 students last semester. Which means that their house rent now will be paid and have only to contribute a minimal amount for their food budget monhtly. We continue to pray for more sponsors. If all of the students have sponsors, their rent, food budget and school fees will be covered for the whole year. One unfortunate thing is that a graduating student encountered a problem. She was enrolled but when she checked her only subject which is her practicum to enable her to graduate, she found out that it was dissolved and was instructed to take it next semester. We have 4 graduating students this school year (March 2008) but because of the problem only 3 will graduate. These would-be professionals are praying to take the Tribal DTS before they finally decide on what to do in their lives. Please continue to pray that the regular discipleship program we ran for them will help them grow spiritually and walk in Christ likeness. There are five students missing in the above photo, Joseph, Brett, Gerald, Nora & Irene.
Thanks to a very generous benefactor and sponsor, the students received each a brand new pair of pants, t-shirts, flipflops, and undies. They now also have bed cushions on their beds and new bedsheets as they had been sleeping on hard beds for years and even at home. They had only one burner gas stove before but now they are blessed with a 2 burner gas stove, halleluiah, let the blessings continue to flow. Again God bless you our dear sponsors.
Another point of prayer: The students are praying to respond to an invitation from the YWAM Frontier Missions to attend a Conference for Frontier Missions in Thailand. The COFM aims to mobilize youths from IndoChina and the Philippines to go to the last frontiers. The one week conference runs from April 7 to 11, 2008. All our 16 students are praying and willing to go. Pray that they can raise enough funds for airfare, registration fees and travel expenses. By faith they filled up their application forms and tomorrow we will be sending them. Thank you for praying.
PROPERTY FOR YWAM BONTOC
We have sent a prayer letter via email to all friends, intercessors and those who have come to Bontoc for their outreach concerning a lot for sale which we believe in our hearts is very appropriate for the ministry we are doing in Bontoc. Thank you for praying. The latest update is that the owner suddenly decided he would not sell. However, we are still trusting God that if that property is for His work here that the owner will sell at the right time. Our Father knows best and we will just wait as we have not yet received the word NO as His answer.
NEW STAFF COMING
YES!!!! the Maxwells are coming halleluiah. They are a wonderful couple who came on outreach to Bontoc on October 2007 with the Salem DTS team, with their 4 beautiful girls. Their coming on staff is a real answer to our prayers for more workers to join us in Bontoc. Please pray that God will order everything in their coming, including housing, financial support, etc.
Till next entry....
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