Agta Nehemiah Team and Follow-up

Meet the 2009 Agta Nehemiah Team:

Hunter, Josh, Billy, and Ernest,

their Filipino interpretter.

The Agta Nehemiah Team packed up

on a beautiful day

to hike into their first location.

During the days before this hike though,

it had rained hard.

The trail was very slippery.

This was definitely not an assignment for wimps!

Terry drove the team as far as he could.

Then Agta men guided them

down a mountain and back up another mountain

to their campsite.

Hunter told us later that

this was the most demanding hike of his life.

Without their Agta guides,

who pulled them up each time they fell

and helped carry their equipment,

they could not have made it.

Finally, they arrived at Cheiftain Shirley's house

where they were to set up camp.

Each day, the guys hiked the trails,

searching for Agtas willing to listen to the Gospel.

Sometimes when they returned to camp,
an Agta child would be just sitting quietly
taking care of her baby brother or
looking out the window their house.
The guys played with the children
and fed them if they were hungry.After the first location,
Jose, a new Agta believer, joined the team.
Jose prepared the way for the team
to go to 3 more locations.
Then we realized their Bible studies
weren't just with Agtas.
Some of the Bible studies were with Bicolanos
such as here in Tubigan.
The guys found a group of mothers
at a children's feeding program
sponsored by the governor of the province.
The guys played basketball nearby
until the children had been fed.
Then they gathered the ball players
and the mothers for a Bible study.

Each day, the 3 guys took turns,
leading the Bible study
with Ernest as their intrepretter.
Ernest said it was difficult
being the mouth for 4 people
instead of just for himself.

So when the guys left for another location,

Terry started leading the Bible study.One day as we were driving home,

Emily, who had been Michaelle's prayer partner

at a Dawn Watch Prayer Meeting,

was standing on the side of the road.

When we stopped to talk with her,

she asked if she could join us at our Bible study.

Since then, Emily has been helping tell

the Bible stories in Bicol and

giving explanations when our Tagalog is lacking.

What a wonderful gift from the Lord!

When the mothers showed

genuine interest in Bible study,

we gave them Bibles.

Jerry and Ernesto are men who come faithfully.

When we gave them Bibles,

Jerry's eyes were too weak to read the small print.

A friend introduced us

to a source of reading glasses

that cost 53 cents a pair.

Jerry wears his glasses

on top of his head

until it's time to read.

We rejoice that the Lord is teaching us

to share the Gospel more clearly

with Bicolanos!

Discovering a Church in a Fishing Village

After 4 rides, including 2 boats, and 9 1/2 hours,we finally arrived at this fishing village.We were warmly welcomed by Bro. Jun,

his wife Inday, and their 4 children.During our visit, Terry and Bro Jun went out on the beach

and in the village to visit and share the Gospel

with the people of Cabacongan.Inday and Michaelle did the same,

finding many curious people

eager to visit with the Americans.

Definitely not a common occurrence in this village!

Bro Jun told how 100 people

were meeting in homes at one time

until this church building was built.

Then the priest told the new believers

they had sinned when they were baptized

and would not be allowed

to bury their dead in the cemetary

if they did not return to the Catholic Church.

That threat scattered this young flock,

leaving only these faithful members, And these children,

who continue to attend church

and the Good News Club

that Inday leads on Saturdays.

That Sunday, Bro Jun led his church

in celebrating their 4th Anniversary.

Terry was the guest speaker.

He told the Parable of the Great Banquet

and told about the Wedding Feast in heaven.

He urged us to keep inviting others

until the Lord's house is filled.

The celebration ended with a banquet

of pancit noodles, a favorite Filipino snack.