"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us"  (Ephesians 2:4)

 

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Over one decade ago, Webze and I sold our 2 cars and our house in Riverview, FL to return to the mission field in the Philippines.  With the thought of beginning an orphanage, we arrived in Bohol, Philippines on february 8, 2007.  We sought to walk in the LORD's direction as we ministered under the covering of our brother-in-law, Pastor Larry Bacarro"s local church there in Talibon, Bohol.

 

During that time in Bohol, we did much ministering and discipling of the youth in our local church and some evangelism in different areas.

 

One afternoon, several months after our arrival in Bohol, I was riding our motorcycle in a location known as Sto. Nino, along the path which is shown in the background picture below (as well as to the left), and I got caught in a rope which was tied to a carabao (water buffalo).  A local man came over to help me get clear of the rope and then invited me to his home which was very close by.  The man’s name was Pilo and I shared the Gospel of Christ with him and later with his wife, Denden.  The following day, Webze came back with me to their home and she shared the Gospel and ministered to their children as well as several other children, including extended family members.  

 

We continued to return to Sto. Nino weekly to teach the Word of God and minister to the children, and after Webze and I returned to the US after one year in Bohol, our niece, Janeth (with help from other family members) took over teaching and ministering to the children.  Janeth has since gone to Japan as a missionary (which Webze and I are so very thankful to the LORD for, as well) and her sister Janilyn has taken over the ministry to these precious children.  Jesame, also the sister of Janeth and Janilyn, has faithfully been helping in the work there for many years as well.  Since the time that Janilyn took over the work there in Sto. Nino, she has gotten married and now her husband, Rangie, and she are doing the work together.  Please pray for the continued ministry in Sto. Nino and for Rangie and Janilyn, as Rangie is looking to become a pastor in the church of Pastor Bacarro, where he is ministering as well.

 

By God’s Grace and His Providence, after (I believe) He “prepared” or “appointed” a carabao (in the same way that He “prepared” of “appointed” a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he “prepared” or “appointed” a gourd or plan and a worm to eat the plant - from the book of Jonah) to stop me on the path, and then He compelled Pilo to come over to help me, and now over one decade later, we are rejoicing in the work of God and the fruit that He has and is continuing to bring forth today.

 

Also, not long after the outreach in Sto. Nino had begun in 2007, Janeth met a woman on the beach and was compelled to share Christ with her.  Soon after, Janeth also began a children’s outreach near to the woman’s home in an area called San Francisco, Talibon.  That outreach has also grown and continues today, over ten years later, by God's Grace.

 

Perhaps the highlight of our ministry/visit this year was our final visit (for this trip) to Sto. Nino.  We were not only able to see and greet some of the children (and parents) who have been there from the beginning of that outreach, but we were able to see and meet new children, and I was able to preach the Gospel to them and Webze shared and ministered to them as well.  Please view the pictures and videos below and if you are a true follower of Jesus Christ, PLEASE pray for the continued work in Sto. Nino and for these precious souls, as well as those in San Francisco, in all of Talibon, around Bohol, and throughout the Philippine Islands.