2009 Philippines Mission Trip

Photos

Daily Blogs:
Sunday, June 19
Monday, June 20
Tuesday, June 21
Wednesday, June 22
Thursday, June 23
Saturday, June 25
Sunday, June 26
Tuesday, June 28
Friday, June 31
Final Blog

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Dear Friends,

Welcome from the Philippines. We have only been gone since Tuesday and God has already begun to work here.  Our trip started well until we landed in Tokyo for a 2 hour layover that lasted 15 hours.  Northwest Air put us up in a hotel and provided food for us over night while we waited for our flight to Manila .  We never did hear exactly what the delay was but it meant that we could not catch our next flight to Palawan on time.  We also could not contact Ruben and Laura Raymundo who were to meet us at the airport.  They made several trips to see if we were in because they could not get a straight answer either.  We finally arrived  on Thursday Afternoon and rescheduled our flight to Palawan for Friday morning which pushed back the Pastor’s conference by 5 hours.

We did not know what to expect in the resort outside of Porta Princess, Palawan so we were surprised when we pulled up to a very large house over looking the ocean.  It was large enough to accommodate 20 pastors and 4 ladies who cooked.  Since there was a Typhoon in the northern Philippines we had clouds and occasional rain along with larger waves that were breaking on the rocks and beach below the house.  It made for a great setting to speak about the power of God and to encourage the Pastors.  It also had an infinity pool over looking the water with built in bar stools.  Okay there are those times you have to suffer for Jesus.  It was hot and we did not have air conditioning so it was not all luxury.

Here were a few of the stories of the Pastors who came.  One pastor came from the southern part of Palawan where there is no electricity.  When he left he had to use the last of their money to make the trip, that meant his family would go without food while he was gone.  We made sure to cover more than his travel expenses.  Another pastor who had 7 children left one home sick with malaria and then found out that they had to take the son to the hospital because of it.  He could not leave to be with them because he had ridden the public transportation several hours.  Other pastors spoke of the roofs of their houses leaking when it rained or another pastor who told us that he had taken in 11 abandoned children and the youngest was 8 months old.  These stories were heart wrenching but here is the amazing thing, they were excited to serve the Lord and were appreciative of the opportunities to learn more and when they sang it worship you knew that there was nothing holding them back from praise.

Saturday afternoon we returned to Manila and check into the Southern Baptist Guest House.  Sunday morning we went to Paco Baptist where Ruben is the Pastor and I preached on encouraging and lifting up their Pastor and staff from Exodus 17 and 18.  As an illustration I had the Pastor stand at the front and read the text and while he remained their holding up his Bible I preached about others coming along side him lifting him up.  It took a while before someone stood up and walked to the front and held his hands up and then another.  It was moving to see his leaders come forward lifting up the message of Christ through their Pastor.  As he gave the invitation 20 people they had been praying for came forward to accept Christ, others committed to ministries.  God was there and moving inspite of us. 

After lunch we went into the slums not far from the church where they have begun a work.  We walked through narrow alleys with people cooking and washing clothes in the alley.  People were everywhere sitting out, playing cards and greeting the Americans.  In one area we stopped at a place they called a chapel, where they did bible studies but today it had a casket of the mother of one of the leaders waiting to be buried.  In another area the leader and his wife gathered children who they minister to every week at an opening where they played basketball.  They laughed and sang and smiled for the camera not even knowing how poor they were.  The leader’s home was around the corner and the roof had holes in it and the side of the wall was collapsing.  That does not stop them from doing what they were called to do, preach the gospel.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Sunday Evening we returned to Paco Baptist for Worship and were once enjoyed worshipping with them.  The Youth Minister has started a study on Doctrines and taught on the Trinity.  How refreshing to see that the churches have a strong foundation.  We also took Pastor Ruben and Laura out for dinner at the Mall of Asia.

Monday was an off day as we spent time sight seeing in Manila and Amy wanted to do some shopping.  We found ourselves in a Muslim shopping center and realized how fast they are growing.  We also experience a some of rush hour in Manila .  They do not let you drive your car on a certain day determined by the last digits of your license plate.  It just so happened that we were not suppose to be driving after 3 and were pulled over.  Ruben explained he was a Pastor helping missionaries and they let us go.  Wow, Amy always accuses me of carrying donuts to get out of a ticket.

We are waiting for the books to be delivered to us for the Pastor’s conference.  The couple who are bringing them we met on our first trip and we look forward to seeing them again. 

Tomorrow is a travel day to Bacolod for us and reuniting with ministry friends there.  Amy just realized that we will take 12 flights while we are here.  After this it may be hard to get her on a plane for a while, unless it is to see the Grand Children.

We have been able to call home and speak to our family through Skype internet phone and even see the grandkids so Amy is happier being away.

We are experience some trouble with Yahoo and our email so if you want to email us do it through wesleylmarks@yahoo.com  my taking the truth account and Lamarkbuilder do not come up as easily.

Please pray for travel, health and for the group that will be leaving on Thursday to come our way.

In Christ,
Wesley and Amy

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Today was more of a day to get things ready and travel.  We spent the morning dealing with some issues at home with my niece, not happy about, then answering a prayer request.  Here is how awesome God is Pastor Ruben funds his mission ministries through a very large water purification system they put in their church to sell clean water.  He mentioned the need for pure water in Palawan so I contacted George Felkner and my Rocky and they have put together a plan to bring the ceramic filters the Texas Baptist Men have been working with.  In a few short hours we have organized help, now that is a God thing.

Amy and I spent a little time shopping in Manila waiting for our plane to Bacolod .  We actually left early which is unheard of and arrived safely.  For those of you who have been to Bacolod we were shocked that the Circle Inn had remodeled.  They have added an awning and water fountains out front, moved the front desk and changed the dinning room.  I know some of you don’t care but it has been home to some of us.

I just met with Pastor Abraham and his Daughter Abbey who everyone knows if they have been to Bacolod .  We have a meeting at West Negros University Wednesday at 10:30 to encourage the leaders of the Ministry on Campus and we will meet with them again on Thursday at 4-5:30.  On Thursday Pastor Abraham wants us to go to a Baptism with him 2 hours outside of Bacolod , he is baptizing 10 in a rural area.  He is also trying to get us into a University in the area to speak.  Please pray about these opportunities and how God will use Amy and I.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

For a week that was to be a little slower preparing for next week God put us in High Gear. I went to bed Tuesday night thinking we would meet a few people and then run some errands and call it a good day but that was not the case. Pastor Harry Anobling, our dearest friend in Bacolod called at 6:45am to ask if I could do a chapel service at the High School at 7:30am. We were not awake yet because we knew our first meeting was at 10:00am. Amy had gone to bed tired and did not have dinner Tuesday night so there was no way we could get up, get ready, get fed and get to teaching in 20 minutes. Reluctantly I said no and Harry agreed to meet us at 10:00 am.

We got dressed ate and found that the store we needed to go to was not open until 10 and the other errand could not be done until 2 so we took our time, turned out that was all the time we had. At 10 we met with the ministry staff at West Negros University and rekindled old friendship, made new and talked about where they were as a ministry. Pastor Harry arrived and invited us to have lunch at Maranatha High School, a place we had done morning worship last year and where he was now Assistant Principal.

We enjoyed a great lunch with them and received the full tour of the school and even talked about their needs. We learned that some had wired the building for internet in every room but that they needed 12 laptops for those teachers. If you are not good at taking hints that is a prayer request to help this Christian school improve its staff and students.

We then went to Maranatha Bible College to visit the staff and students there. My ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship) had taken on the college as a project to pray for and collect money to help feed the students who were living on Campus. We were able to present them a check for $2,100 much to the delight of their Staff. We also toured their library and found that they are lacking in theology and Christian Education books, so if you have any you would like to donate let me know. From there we made arrangements for a guitar amp for next week and purchase a guitar that we will leave with a ministry in Kabankalan.

Earlier in the day we had been asked to attend a Wednesday night Prayer meeting and to share a few words. So early in the evening we went and shared with this group and got to know the Pastor better. We will be preaching in both of his Sunday Morning worship services this Sunday. Afterwards we went to the SM mall to exchange some money, purchase hair dryers and have dinner. It was at Bob's in the mall for those of you who know Bob. And in those few minutes we realized that we had been going all day and were exhausted but glad for the ministry and friends.

Thursday they pick us up at 7am to go into the mountains to participate in 10 Baptisms and see a new work. After 5 hours in the car we have a Bible study to teach at 4pm and one at 6:30pm. Then Friday we have a 7:30 Chapel service and an 8:30 Chapel service before we fly to Manila, attend a 7pm youth service, go back to the airport to meet the rest of the group. We are running the race; pray that we finish it to His glory.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Just another lazy day in the Philippines. We were picked up at 7am to drive 2 ½ hours one way toward the mountains for a Baptism. The drive was beautiful with the volcanos in the distance and the sugar cane and rice in the fields. Out in the country they lay the rice on the high way to allow it to dry so you have an obstacle course of rice, oxen and motorcycles. We turned into a field of sugar cane with a track just the size of the car and continued on in the field for another mile until we came to 4 houses and could drive no farther. Standing out in the field next to the houses were two women in mounds of rice pouring them out to winnow out the husks. All I could think of was the separation of the wheat and the chaff and stood in amazement as the chaff blew away.

We continued on foot the rest of the way to the church, around rice patties and past the ox laying in the shade. In the midst of the trees stood a small chapel with a thatched roof, bamboo pews, and a single florescent bulb hanging in the middle for light. They said the people would walk 5 kilometers and cross a river to get to the church without ac or any other comfort. And we complain if we have to park to far away from the building and it is to cold inside.

On the way back to Bacolod we stopped in a town where the principal of the school opened up one class room for us to share Christ. That would never happen in America. We later stopped at two more churches that were started by Pastor Abraham in the rural areas. The start with so little and allow God to bless them.

In the afternoon we went back to West Negros College to lead the Thursday Bible study for the on campus ministry. We sat on the soccer field, and sang, played games and studied God's word. Since Pastor Harry is now assistant principal of Maranatha High School Pastor Julius in charge of the student ministry. We renewed friendship with many of the students we have gotten to know over the last three years.

We went direct after the study to Maranatha Baptist church to preach at their Thursday Evening worship service. There were probably 300 people in attendance. As God always does he allowed us to come in contact with a Pastor from Dumagete, the city where we built our first Library but have never been able to visit. He will be trying to make the Pastors conference in Kabankalan and we hope to get to know him better and see if God is opening the door for another city for us to minister in.

Maranatha provided dinner for us after church from McDonalds. It was fried chicken, rice and coke floats, not a meal we would get in a McDonalds in America, maybe a KFC. Filippino hospitality dictates that they feed us so we enjoyed the food and fellowship.

Tomorrow we have 7:30am and 8:30 am chapel services then to Maranatha Bible College to teach a class on illustrations before heading to the airport to meet the group in Manila. Please pray for their travel because by the time you get this they will be at the airport or in the air.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Friday began early with a morning chapel service at Maranatha High School. What a blessing it was to be back at that school where we had lead morning chapels last year. This is also the school that Pastor Harry is Assistant principal. From there we went to West Negros Univeristy's High School where more that 150 students had gathered for their weekly chapel. They have formed a praise team and praise band so they were leading their own worship service which was exciting to see. The first year in the Philippines we visited this school. After the message we gave an invitation and 15 students prayed to receive Christ as their Savior.

We then returned to Maranatha Bible College to teach the 92 college students on the use of illustrations in teaching and preaching. It is funny how the students become quiet when you ask them questions and it took a little coaxing to get them to participate but by then end they were looking for and applying illustrations to their messages. And of course at each place they insisted on feeding us snacks all very good but a lot each place we went.

Today the rest of the team arrived in Manila so Amy and I jumped on a plane again to fly back to Manila. We were met at the airport by Pastor Ruben and Pastor RJ ( His youth minister) and we went to Paco Baptist Church for their Friday Night worship service. I joked later that I didn't understand much of their service but Rocky reminded me that that is probably true in the states too. Afterwards we checked back into the International Mission Boards guest house and Amy went to sleep and I went to meet the group at the airport.

What a crazy place to meet people. You must stand across the street in a waiting area that is across another street and down a ramp from the terminal. Hundreds of people were waiting trying to see the ramps where the people come down. Their flight was on time but it always takes a while to get through customs so and hour and twenty minutes later they came down the ramp and we hired a van to take them to the Guest house. They had bumpy but good flights and were excited to see a friendly face.

After a short night we are now up getting ready to go back to the airport to fly into Bacolod and the schedule for today is meet some of our friends at the Hotel and rest. Oh and eat a Bob's. Thank you for your prayers for travel, now the work begins.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Wow, a lot has gone on since we last had internet access. Our morning flight to Bacolod was uneventful and we were met on time by our transportation. Unfortunately we had to wait for a couple of hours to check into so we sat in the Lobby. Finally we met with Pastor Harry, Abbey and Jenny and took them to Bob's Restaurant for lunch. Everyone was happy to get normal food like pizza and pasta. The rest of the afternoon was a time to rest and relax.

We needed that rest because the first worship service we had was at Bethany Baptist with Pastor Chavell at 6:30am. We were surprised at how many people came to the service. Amy, Donnie and I made the early service. Rocky, Luke, Carolyn, and Susan went to Marantha Baptist Church for their 7:30am service. When we finished we all changed churches and I taught Sunday School at Maranatha for all of the Adults and Youth. Rocky went to Bethany to preach their 9:30am service. After I was finished we went to Gallilean Redeemer Church for a 10:30 worship. By the time the morning was over we had led 5 services.

Exhausted and having to check out of the hotel rooms we were picked up by the Pastor of Temple Baptist in Kabankalan. We were in for a 2 ½ hour drive through both paved and under construction roads that sometimes felt like wading through a river. When we arrived we had some time to relax but unfortunately I was ill and the rest of the group went to the church and led worship and then enjoyed dinner with the church family. Worship they said was great. I slept.

This morning we woke up early because we had a service at the city hall where Rocky shared the word of God with the employees of the city. 16 indicated that they had prayed to receive Christ. We then had a great breakfast at a restaurant that should have been in the Mexico. Our day's assignment was at the Temple Academy where we held a worship service preschool to High School, then went into the class rooms to talk to the students about Christ. After Lunch we returned to the school and did a short worship and recreation. All of us were out of our comfort zone but God worked through us as we sang songs with the preschoolers, played ball games with the elementary and High School kids and even did some biblical acting. It rained on our way their but after lunch it cleared enough for us to rec outside but as soon as we started worship to close the rain came down so hard we had to move equipment because it was blowing in. All in all it was a very tiring but fruitful day in the Lord.

Exhausted we sat in the Lobby eating pizza and having our devotion. Please pray for us going into classrooms tomorrow for Values Education classes. Then we will go to several boarding houses for students and lead worship for small groups. Finally tomorrow night we will lead a large worship service for the students in either a plaza or a gym if it rains. Pray for our health and renewed strength.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

We have found Kabankalan to be a beautiful city and just as friendly as every other place we have visited. A Couple of us got up early enough to get breakfast out this morning. We found a small place that not only made bread but also prepared eggs and ham. Though it was a little tough to communicate at first we did alright and were ready to start our day.

Pastor Tonog and his wife picked us up at 9:00am and we went up into the mountains to speak to a public High School. The principal was gracious enough to allow us to speak in all of the grades for their values education classes. We broke up into teams, except Carolyn who is an pro at these classes from last year. Amy and I had 4th year students or seniors and we shared the values of God through his law and presented the plan of salvation. In visiting with the two classes we went into we had 12 decisions for Christ. It was great fun to visit with and talk one on one with the students.

Because the Nesco Agricultural College would not let us in until after 4 we came back to the hotel and some rested but there were a few of us who wanted to see the city and the festival that is going on. It is their Agricultural Festival and it is much like the State Fair with displays of fruits and vegetables and other items for sale. As we walked the children began to follow us everywhere we went. We kept seeing them eating this icy type of drink so we found one of the vendors and they fixed us Mango Shakes which were wonderful. Trying to be as native as we could the four of us got on the trike together. Carolyn and Susan sitting on the side car, Donnie hanging on standing behind the side car and me riding side saddle on the motor bike. We have seen as many as 12 people riding on these things that should hold maybe 2 people and all for 7 pesos a person of 20 cents.

We then went up to Nesco which is a beautiful campus set up in the mountains. Rocky shared Christ in the canteen then we all went to different boarding houses and gathered the students to share Christ. Our students think the dorms are bad the houses were very communal. After that we held a worship service in the gym because of the rain. We had around 125 attend and we sang gave testimonies and preached. We had about 18 decisions in that service and many in the boarding houses. After that is was late and everyone was tired to we skipped dinner and went to sleep.

Today a family had all of us over for breakfast. We had chicken cordone blue and boiled shrimp with coffee, not the typical American breakfast but it was good. We then went to a Bible study that was held in a retail motorcycle shop. It was great but they did not let us ride any. Then we went to the festival downtown where the husband who had us to breakfast was on the podium for a presentation with the mayor. He had us to come on the stage and introduced us to the crowd.

Later we went to a resort where they are temporarily housing a new high school and college. We spoke to over 100 students then we went out for lunch. Afterwards we went up to magaco falls and enjoyed walking in the mist and viewing the falls. We then went to a resort that overlooked the city and the ocean it was beautiful. In fact I asked how could anyone think there was no God with that view. It was relaxing as we sat and drank coconut milk and Luke swam in the pool.

This evening we went to Temple and they hosted us for dinner. Afterwards we participated in their worship service and preaching. It was good to encourage a church to serve as Christ served.

Here are our upcoming prayer requests: Rest, we are getting to the end of the week and wearing out so pray that we finish strong. Pray for the Pastors conference on Friday. We also have 3 schools to be in on Thursday.

Friday, July 31, 2009

This is the last of the blogs until we get home and I do a final follow up. It is Friday evening and we have had a busy day today with the Pastors conference. We began early since we needed to be picked up at 7:15am. As it has been everyday in Kabankalan it was raining, not just a light sprinkle but at times a heavy down pour. When we arrived at the church there were very few people there. The rain had kept people from traveling and in some places the flooded had kept others away. When we finally started there were about 35 pastors and workers where we expected 300.

By the time announcements were finished and several groups of singers the numbers began to grow to over 150. By the time Rocky finished preaching the numbers were close to 300. No he did not preach so long that people had hours to get there. (I know what you were thinking) His message was a call to pastors to be encouraged in the midst of their work and was well received.

We offered 4 classes for the participants to attend, Pastoral Ministry, Biblical Evangelism, Discipleship through Women's Ministries, and Experiencing the Cross. The classes went well for both sessions though to get to the classes you had to walk in the driving rain. Carolyn Holston and Susan Tobin both taught classes that were well attended and were well received by those who participated in them.

During the break for lunch the church hosted us and several pastors in the school offices. One of the men in attendance was the Special Assistant to the Governor whom I had met at Circle Inn and at Maranatha Baptist Church the Sunday before. It was one of those God ordained meetings as he spoke with the Pastors about what we had been doing all week and then enlisted some to help him help us next year. As we spoke he told me that he would have the Governor ask the High Schools in the area we are working to allow us access to the students. He is also a believer and had introduced me the previous weekend to a Congressman from Manila who is also a Baptist Pastor. Now the Government is interested in helping us minister in the Philippines. Tell me God is not in that.

I spoke in the afternoon about storms in our lives and we prayed for each of the pastors who were going through difficulties. What a special time both services because as we ministered to these Filipino brothers. We were given plagues of appreciation from the church for our ministry this week and at the conference. We also had the opportunity to invest a little in their ministry; we left the guitar that we purchased to use for the week with Temple Baptist Church.

After the conference we were hosted for a snack in a family's home then off for Bacolod in the rain. The road is under construction a good part of the way and the rain and winds were so strong that we thought we might have to stop but we made it back to the Circle Inn and then off to bed.

We have had an amazing week of ministry with hundreds praying to receive Christ, and hundreds of pastors and leaders encouraged. And now a new place to minister. God has been good.

Tomorrow we fly to Manila and will look at the ministry of Paco Baptist in the afternoon then do so shopping there. On Sunday if the weather permits we will go to Taygatay the volcano outside of Manila which sits in the middle of a lake. Then on Monday morning we begin our return home. For those of you who are meeting us our flight arrives at 5:38pm Northwest from Detroit Monday.

Please pray for our travel and begin to pray how you can get involved in the next trip to the Philippines.

Final Blog

Now that we are home let me see if I can fill in some gaps and give you the final on the whole trip. Yes it has taken me a couple of days to recover from Jet Lag. The final weekend we went to visit Paco Baptist Church and Rocky cut the ribbon for the Library that we set up at the church. Afterwards we went in the pouring rain to the two ministry areas in the Slums of Manila where Paco has outreach ministries. Most in the group had never experienced such poverty but were excited to see the numbers of children who were at the two Bible Studies that we attended. The rain did not stop them, they were laughing, singing and playing and we could see other people in the neighborhood coming out to watch. One of the pastors for the area had a leaking roof and through gifts from Mimosa we were able to leave a small amount to fix it. We also left the lap top computer with Ruben and Laura Raymundo that was provided through gifts.

Yes we went shopping. I don't know why but purses seem to be the thing so for us guys we suffered through the torture. Sunday our plan was to go to the Volcano Taygatay but with all of the rain we decided to stay in Manila. We attended worship at Paco and Rocky preached, they had heard me 2 weeks before. Then we spent the afternoon relaxing.

The trip back was grueling as always. Northwest Airlines computers went down as we were trying to check in for our 6:45am flight. After 2 and a half hours we got our tickets, yes the flight was delayed an hour and 15 minutes. We thought that might throw off our connection in Detroit but we made it on time. Poor Donnie, everyone else zoomed through customs and they selected Donnie for a thorough search. He said they even went through his Bible, first time through customs for him and he got the WHOLE experience.

We did not keep up with numbers when it came to professions of faith but know that the kingdom is now fuller because of our willingness and we planted seeds that someone else will reap. Hundreds of Christians were encouraged in their faith and over 300 Pastors received training and encouragement. It was a successful trip. I hope that you will begin praying about going with us this coming year. We may consider adding a trip during the year. If you are available and would like to go please let us know. Most of all keep praying and see what God will do.