Wow it has been a while!

Sorry everyone for not posting anything sooner.. We have been extremely busy here in Himamaylan, and it seems that when I do finally have time to get on the internet, we lose internet service, or have a "brown out". Well the past few days here have been so exciting! This week was filled with so much Joy!

Sunday was the first of the month, so we got to take communion at church with the whole Body of Christ! It was really a blessing and joy to be able to partake in Communion with people, half way around the world. The Saturday before, I taught the girls a song in english: "The Nails in Your Hands." So on Sunday after communion, we all sang that song, worshipping to our Lord, remembering the Beautiful Sacrifice, which demonstrated how much God the Father loves us!

Monday, Doug and I took off early in the morning and caught a three hour bus ride (should have only been 1.5 hrs) to Bacolod City to visit the Rosmarino family!!! The bus ride was a slow bus that stopped every 10 feet which is why it took us so long, but it was definitely well worth it, as we got to spend the next day and a half with all the kids at Calvary Chapel Bacolod!! It was so great to see all the kids again. I really forgot how much I missed them until I saw all their glowing faces again! I really feel at home every time I go there! The Joy of the Lord is overflowing abundantly out of all their lives, and the Unity in the Family, which is about 160 total people, really blows my mind! Well, on monday, the kids did their "Program" for us and sang a bunch of songs. They really have great voices and are so cute when they dress up and dance for us! From ages 4-18, they are all dressed, dancing and singing, in perfect unity! Tuesday morning, I got to play with the kids a bit outside, and they after they took off to school, Doug and I left to come back to Himamaylan. Overall, it was so much fun to visit them again! God willing, I can come back in January to see their faces again!

Tuesday night we had a Bible Study with Bembem and his brother Dandan.. I had the opportunity to share a lil bit of the first half of the life of Joseph, from Genesis. I absolutely love the Character of Joseph from the OT, and love how he is really a type of Christ! He is actually the only character in the Bible, other than Jesus, who has no recorded sin! Not to say, he didn't sin, because we know that ALL have sinned, but I find it fascinating that there is no record of his sin! It was a great time, and a joy. God willing we will finish up His life next tuesday.

Wednesday was a national holiday, so nobody had school. So wed morning, we loaded up the van, and 5 of us headed back up to "Mag-Aso" where the beautiful waterfalls are! Doug had never been before, so it was great to go again and see them. We spent just about the whole day there, swimming, playing water basketball, taking pictures by the falls, and even swimming in the waterfalls pool. They were very strong and actually a bit scary if you got too close. One guy thought he could handle swimming behind the falls, but what he didn't realize is the strong undercurrent of the water. When it falls it hits the water creating a whirl-pool and though it looks manageable to come near above the service, under neath the water is pretty rough, and can suck you right into the falls. So this guy was behind the falls, and for a while was doing good.. but when he tried to come back, he realized the harder he paddled to try and swim back the more energy he was wasting because he wasn't moving an inch... He began to panic a bit and started to cry out for help... Well of course, if you know me I kinda like to live risky, so at this time I was only about five feet away from this guy swimming.. I had nearly got stuck as well.. but managed to swim my way out and grab on a rock and pull my self further away from the falls. But this guy was stuck and couldn't grab a rock near him, and began to panic. So I had to go back towards the falls hold onto a rock under the water, and reach out for this man's hand.. finally he grabbed mine, and pulled him back to the rock where I was holding on to. He was very thankful, and we began to talk while sitting now only feet from the falls. He was a very nice man, spoke english pretty well, and I told him why I was in the PI. We talked a bit more, and it really was a joy to be used by God, to lend a helping hand to a person in time of need. I thought ministry was directed at the church, but am beginning to realize that phrase that we ought to really be living Gospels, for we may be the only Bible anybody ever reads.. Well as you can see, I am a HERO and without me this guy would have died. I am so great and Marvelous, and can rescue anybody! HAHA..JUST KIDDING! Thanks be to God for bringing me and Julian out of the falls safely, and allowing us to grab a hold of that rock. Because I must admit, I was a bit scared that I was going to get stuck as well, but the Lord took care of me and that man. So praise God, and thanks be to God!

Grabbing ahold of that sturdy rock in the midst of a few thousand pounds of water reminds me of Jesus Christ being our solid rock and our firm foundation we must be rooted in! When times get scary and we began to panic, we can't try to fight the rough waters on our own strength for we could surely die.. But we must grab onto and cling tightly to Jesus Christ, and receive with meekness the Word and implant it deep into our hearts, which is mighty and powerful enough to Save us from any chaos we may be experiencing. Just yesterday, I found out that I will no longer be studying abroad in the Holy Land... I was really crushed reading that CCBC Jerusalem is closing down, due to low funds and some other complications. But I was so so excited to study in Jerusalem for the next four months. I was supposed be flying out on Aug 21st to Israel, so that's just in a few days. I have already bought my plane ticket, and am basically ready to go, but now that I won't be going, I'm questioning if I'll be able to get a refund on my plane ticket or not. If not, then I don't really know what I'll do.. If I do get a refund, well also, I don't really know what I'll do. The past day and a half, I have been trying to figure out what to do on my own, and in my own strength and own energy, I have been trying to figure out how to scramble out of this mess I am now in.. Just as that man stuck in the falls, all this energy I have spent on this issue, and I haven't moved an inch.. still stuck in the same position. So pray that I remember constantly to turn to my Lord, and remember on His solid rock, Jesus Christ, I will find peace for my soul! I know Jesus has far greater plans for me than I could ever think or dream of... so pray that I will be accepting to His guidance and willing to follow His voice. I only have a few days to finally know what I will be doing, and I'm becoming anxious, when I know I should not be.. So also pray that I can be patient on this issue and allow God to work it for me. I was listening to a Pastor speak earlier, and he said this quote which really stopped me in my path of seeking what to do on my own: "We can NOT do the work of the Spirit, in the energy of our flesh." I love that. I want God to be God, and me to be His servant. I can't try to do HIS work on my own. I need your Help Lord!

Well, I miss you all dearly, but also love it here in the Philippines so much. I thank my God every time I remember you, for your loving support and your helping hand to send me to the Philippines. It has been a blessing so far, and really life changing. Without all my friends and family's obedience to God, I probably would not be here right now.. So thank you for being a part of the missions trip with me. I will be seeing you soon, and who knows if I'll end up staying home this fall semester of school. If so, it will be great being with all of you again! Take care, Stay in the Word of God, and I'll be seeing you soon. I love you much. God be with you, always!

-Nick