Today Mary Ann attended a very special worship service at the Camp Aguinaldo Evangelical Church (CAEC) which ACTION started partnering with in 1993 in ministry to street children. Parents and kids from a nearby squatter community where CAEC and ACTION have ministered for years through Christmas parties, medical clinics, vacation Bible schools, feeding programs and camps attended along with street kids and some parents from a nearby street corner where we started ministry last December via a Christmas party. This was the first time folks from both places joined with CAEC for a worship service. Kids from both places sang a special number and I was the speaker with the message from Ephesians 4:17-32.

Pastor Lino dela Pena is the assistant pastor at CAEC. He is a former street guy who trusted Christ at an ACTION camp several years age after which he was discipled by members of CAEC who recruited him for camp. Eventually he earned his high school diploma and graduated from Bible school after five years of theological and pastoral training. A few years ago Lino was ordained into the ministry by leaders of CAEC and I gave the ministerial charge to Lino and the church. In February a weekly worship services in the squatter area where the folks are from will start and Lino will serve as their pastor. This work originally started after doing outreach to families living in push-carts along a busy street who were from this area and they returned home after trusting Christ as Savior.

Wendy serves with Lino in both locations as a Sunday school teacher. She too once lived on the street in a cardboard box and came to faith in Christ at an ACTION camp a few years ago. Today she's in her fourth year studying Christian Education in Bible school and is teaching Sunday school in CAEC and in both outreaches each weekend and during school breaks.

ACTION helped Lino with his school expenses and we're doing the same for Wendy.

This morning is evidence of the fruit producing power of the Gospel.

After years of delay and better late than never Mary Ann and I decided to enroll her in Bible school. She'll work for a certificate in Bible at Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN which has been a dream of hers since her high school days. After informing our email prayer letter list last Friday of her intense desire a friend pledged almost half her expenses for the first year! To read about her dream come true log onto her blog at http://maryanninmanila.blogspot.com

To God be all the glory!!

This week we've hosted two guests from 180° based in the UK who are here to evaluate our networks working with street children in Cagayon de Oro and Legazpi Cities. It been a sweet time of fellowship and evaluation because we're on the "same page" desiring to see dedicated followers of Christ working together with excellence in helping street children and their families know Jesus and have the opportunity to get off the streets. The other night as we sat around the supper table having a good time it dawned on me that we have two Americans, two Filipinos, two Brits and one Irishman enjoying each others' company in a common Faith and calling. It was a precious time. (Check our Links & Downloads page for a link to 180's website.)

Wednesday our Board of Trustees met, of which I'm a member, to go over and approve ACTION Philippines' proposals-budgets for '09. When I returned to the office and thought about the tedious process of each missionary writing their proposal-budget, presenting it to the Council and me, making revisions if needed, working to get the 40+ page document to the Board members a week before the meeting so they can review it thoroughly then the actual meeting it's quite a lengthy detailed process. This document isn't a stiff sternal piece of work but represents individual and corporate vision and faith from the Lord of the harvest and the Captain of our team. This understanding makes the mundane tasks of ministry have eternal significance to the glory of God.

Yesterday during our monthly team meeting my long time buddy and street kid worker colleague, Ron Homenuke, gave a report of his recently completed home assignment in Canada and the US. I was blessed by him saying he was named Prairie Bible College's alumni of the year and that many of the kids he coached in hockey while a student there (he was a pro player before his Bible college days) have now become pastors and successful business and family men who are supporting him personally and his work among children-in-crisis in Olongapo City. Ron's is now reaping the good fruit of sowing seeds of the Word, faith and vision in the young lives of his players on their cold hockey rink in the middle of Alberta's prairies many years ago.

As I looked again at the November 16 photos (link to the left) of the kids staying at our partner ministry Restorers of the Walls and the kids still on the street the contrast clearly shows the transforming power of the gospel. The kids living at Restorers are former street kids like those in the photos and now they're reaching out to them. Some even came from the same area. The Restorers boys made the FMSC food, lead in worship and prayed during the outreach which is three times per week.

Only the gospel can release them from sin and satan

Notice 8 year old Gary and the others sniffing glue without shame and the kid laying in a culvert begging for money. What happened to these boys!? Only Jesus Christ through His Word can release them from their sin and the grip of satan.

This has been an extremely full week with attending two conferences for pastors and church workers, hosting a guest pastor from the States, two days of filming for ACTION's new video on working with children-in-crisis, preparing for next week's ACTION Board meeting, writing and finishing our hard-copy fourth quarter "Yes, Lord!" newsletter and two outreaches to street kids. But God gave grace through a friend as my mind, body and spirit grew weary. While filming on the street the other night we had many interruptions and I think people could see I was getting discouraged when someone said to me "Jeff you're doing a good job and we're so proud of you". I could then literally feel my spirit raise with renewed energy and we strongly finished the shoot. I thank the Lord for this person's timely encouragement. Proverbs 25:11 says "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver". (ESV) So let's determine to be encouragers of others as God gives opportunity.

Praise God for His people ministering salvation to a condemned world.

During the week as we ministered to street kids and documented our work among them John 3:17 was swirling around in my mind: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him." (ESV) As I see kids sniffing glue, dirty, sick, hungry and lost I praise God that He sends His people into this dying, decaying and condemned world to proclaim and demonstrate the way of salvation through God's own beloved Son. He has given us His broken heart for the lost and we're determined to do all we can to spread the Good News among them.

We just completed and posted our 4th Quarter PDF file of our "Yes, Lord" Newsletter. Click on the link above to go to the Links and Downloads page.

Writing and designing newsletters takes us at least a week to complete from writing the content to emailing in the file for printing. Then it takes another week or two for printing, stuffing and bulk rate mailing. They are hard work but from the very beginning, we have had the conviction that communicating with our prayer warriors and supporters is one of our top priorities. We need the prayer and the more information we can provide, the more detailed the prayers can be. We appreciate your taking the time to read our letters. We do not consider them a waste of money even though we could do things cheaper on the internet. You are part of our team and we appreciate you!

Yesterday I attended a conference for pastors and church workers in Rosario, Batangas and Pastor Vic Fajardo was there. Pastor Vic, in 1986 was an elder at the Lipa City Bible Church, with whom I attended Bible studies at the city jail and in the surrounding mountains. Sitting in on these studies helped me with my Tagalog learning and I remember Pastor Vic being very friendly, patient and helpful to me. It was a joy getting reacquainted with Pastor Viv who's now serving the Evangelical Christian Center Church in Lemery, Batangas. I am the fruit of his ministry of kindness and hospitality in those stressful days of intense adjustment to a new way of life. I encouraged the other pastors and workers to do the same for new missionaries if they have the opportunity.

The conference was the kick-off for Jim Craig's KingdomLife ministry which will network pastors and agencies concerned for children-in-crisis through-out Batangas province. He's also planning to have Bible conferences with ACTION's guest pastors such as Jerry Marcellino who taught at this one and will be with for 10 days of ministry. The conference was a blessing and full of learning as we taught on what it means to be a follower of Christ in a world of need.

We received word this morning that 6 boxes were shipped on November 6, containing 7,776 “Feed My Starving Children” meals. (http://www.fmsc.org/) Pastor Ernie Gafkjen and the seniors of the Rochester Assembly of God Church, packed and shipped these meals along with the assistance of Gerald Krosnowski of Risen Savior Mission. Pray these boxes will arrive quickly and in good shape. They can take 4-6 weeks so we are praying they will arrive before Christmas. We are being asked frequently when more meals will be coming because the children are loving and thriving on this food. You can see pictures of our last shippment from Eagen to Manila at this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff.maryann/FMSCEaganToManila Locally they call it congee which is a Chinese name for a breakfast porridge.

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. (Proverbs 19:17)

We recently read an article in the local Philippine Star Newspaper that the Philippines is 6th on a list of countries where people seldom have enough to eat.

Exceprt from the article: World hunger survey: RP 5th Wednesday, November 5, 2008
http://philstar.com/archives.php?aid=20081104112&type=2

The Philippines is fifth on the top 10 list of countries whose poor said they went hungry in the past year, an abs-cbnNEWS.com report said yesterday. The report said that based on the results of the World Food Day survey by Gallup International-Voice of the People 2008, four of every 10 Filipinos reported having little or no food at all on their tables in the last 12 months.

Our 10-year missionary visas have been approved! We learned that our visa applications were approved a couple days ago and we only need to set up an appointment for fingerprinting and photo taking. This approval can take several months so we are grateful they have come through so quickly.

Thank-you for your faithfulness in prayer

Our Council meetings Monday-Wednesday were a blessing as we heard the faith plans of our missionaries for '09 and how they're going to trust the Lord for their fulfillment. At times the discussions were tense and touchy but overall graceful and respectful. Monday we need to meet again to go over the remaining eight proposals then prepare all of them for our November 19 Board meeting for final approval.

I'm having a problem with one of my teeth which is an irritant. A crown popped off and because of the Council meetings I couldn't it repaired for several days and now I think I have an infection. I'm gargling with salt water morning & evening and will go back to the dentist in a week.

The two day orientation for our new missionaries is going well lead by Mary Ann. I was there yesterday along with David, one of our Board members, and gave AM devotions and a history lesson of our field. David gave a short talk on his view of ACTION as a Board member, a highly respected retired businessman and a long-time member and leader in his church. We traveled together out and back to 2nd Mile it so we had lots of chat time and was nice to get to know him better.

October is usually missions month for church so I'm praying that the Lord of the harvest will continue to thrust out missionaries from congregations we're affiliated with, prayer warriors will continue to intercede, givers will keep their commitments to support God's work around the world despite the economic uncertainties and God's Kingdom will be built up and expanded among the nations.

Last week I finished a several week study of 1 Corinthians and now I'm studying 2 Corinthians. Today I read "you also *helping together in prayer for us*, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift (favor or blessing) granted to us through many". (1:11 NKJV) Intercessory prayer is crucial in realizing God's power and blessing in our personal lives and ministry so I genuinely thank-you for your faithfulness in praying through our newsletters, blog entries and for anything else the Spirit prompts you to pray for. We are partners in the gospel of God's grace being spread throughout the Philippines.