Today the Marinduque camp ended and I'll get a full report next week but 112 kids attended with 37 pastors and church workers ministering for a total of 149 at camp with everyone having a great time. I was told the first day of camp many of the kids complained of having a stomach ache so the staff thought it was the water. But it was determined the kids' stomach hurt because they were eating more than they're used to eating--three square meals with two snacks. I was also told the campers are undersized for their age due to a daily lack of healthy food.

Today we graduated 20 former hard-core street boys who not too long ago were glue and solvent sniffers, thieves and trouble makers who came to know Christ as Savior through one of our ministries. They're residing in centers within our network of Metro Manila based ministries and have been learning how to walk with Jesus, an employable skill and basic literacy. The 10 month mini-Bible school was lead by Pastor Lino Dela Pena who himself is a former hard-core street boy who came to know Christ at one of our camps.

During the service the boys lead in worship and prayer, a few shared their testimony, I gave a short message from Psalm 37:3-5 and each graduate received a certificate of completion which was followed by a nice meal.

Then soon after lunch other former street kids, both boys and girls from other ministries within the network, joined them for another practice for the June 5 musical drama called "Lingap sa Kinabukasan" about the plight of street kids and the hope they can have in Christ.

Monday May 18 a devastating fire wiped out 201 families residing in a squatter community in the Ortigas Center area of Pasig City, Metro Manila. The Ortigas Center is a prosperous commercial district full of huge high rise buildings, restaurants, businesses and exclusive subdivisions so I'm surprised that a squatter community exists there but it does.

Today ACTION along with Christ Jesus our Lord Church (CJOLC) under the leadership of long-time friend and ministry partner Bishop Fred Magbanua distributed 190 sets of plates, glasses, forks, spoons, a cooking pot and fry pan to families. But before the distribution a pastor from CJOLC gave a brief but clear gospel message to the crowd and their workers gave out gospel literature followed by a prayer for those who wanted to turn from their sin and trust the Savior. I was in the crowd while the gospel was being preached and the prayer prayed and saw people listening intently and heard people pray along with the pastor. CJOLC workers will now do the necessary follow-up.

A unexpected blessing was a Korean civic group showed up to distribute rice and they gave 10 kilo bags to each family so their gift fit nicely with ACTION's.

Today is my first day off in three weeks so other than handling some correspondence I'm catching up on my reading. I finished three books I've been working through: "A Crime so Monstrous" by Skinner which is about modern day slavery and human trafficking, "The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians" by Erdman and "Proverbs" by Bridges. I'm not a natural reader but it enriches my soul and refreshes my mind.

Click on the link above to download the PDF file of our 2nd Quarter hardcopy "Yes, Lord" Newsletter. It will be in the mail soon.

On Sunday morning May 17, I flew down to Kalibo, Aklan for a conference. When we arrived we went straight to a church where they were waiting for me to preach. The service had already begun so as soon as I arrived, I was in the pulpit.

The next day, ACTION and Christian Growth Ministries conducted a conference for 120 pastors and church workers dealing with Biblical counseling and the family life of pastors. There were 27 churches represented from various denominations and the attendees came from Kalibo and far flung provinces. The meetings were warmly hosted by New Assembly of God Church. Many pastors requested us have to conduct conferences in their areas next year. The hospitality and warm reception of the attendees was excellent.

We held an evangelistic crusade and film showing that evening in a community basketball court. The weather was rainy so only a few attended but several watched from their homes. We showed the film "The Answer" produced by My Hope Philippines with Franklin Graham. We also distributed a gospel tract called "Step Up To Life" which was translated and printed by ACTION and CGM. Three trusted Christ as their Savior and a local church will do the follow up.

Real, Quezon campsite development, update on Real Christian Church and Kalibo, Aklan ministry

This week a few of us went to the Real, Quezon campsite to look at the creek that flows from the surrounding mountain and how it's eating away at it's banks. To prevent further erosion we'll build cement banks in a few spots where the erosion is greatest. We're also planing on sending the boys from Restorers of the Walls and Children's Garden the last week of May to work on the land, swim in the ocean and have some discipleship training with their pastors and counselors so it should a fun and productive time for them.

We also visited the Real Christian Church which was started as a result of our years of relief and development work in the barrio. The church continues to grow in members and depth. Pastor Benny has been conducting marriage and family classes and a few couples who aren't legally married are requesting a Christian marriage ceremony so a mass wedding is in the works.

Sunday a few of us from ACTION and CGM will travel to Kalibo, Aklan for a pastors conference Monday and that same evening an evangelistic crusade. This came about as a result of our relief and development work last July after Kalibo was hammered by Typhoon Frank causing much damage and many deaths. The pastors requested the conference and topics which will be church governance, the family life of a pastor and Biblical counseling.

Pray for us please.

Five ACTION missionaries, including myself, enjoyed three days studying the Word, praying and simply being together this week. Despite heavy rain most of the time each of us said the days were well spent and we'd like to do it again sometime. In the meantime we'll try to meet quarterly for a few hours of Bible study, prayer and fellowship hoping other ACTION men will be able to join us.

Last night several former CGMers, called Christ for Greater Manila until the mid-90s, now Christian Growth Ministries, with whom we served from '85-91 in their Lighthouse ministry to prostitutes and street children, and a few ACTION missionaries got together for a very enjoyable reunion sponsored by Doug and Margi Nichols. People who served with CGM in the 70s, 80s and 90s were there along with the Nichols, Ellises, Miss Rausch a long-time good friend of ACTION and CGM who serves with another mission and us. We had a wonderful time enjoying a delicious meal, getting caught up with one another, singing and Mr. Nichols gave a strong challenge from 1 Corinthians 16:9.

It's a joy to know that people are still "on fire" for God and serving Him with zeal after many years of ministry . It is obvious also that Doug and Margi's ministry in the Philippines continues to bear much God-honoring fruit after many years of faithful service in the Philippines and to Filipinos scattered through-out the world. God is glorified and Christ is exalted through our fellowship in the gospel as we serve Him together moving forward by faith.

Through-out the evening I thought of several CGMers who've gone on to be with the Lord who had a great impact in our lives and in shaping CGM and ACTION in our early years such as Aries, Dora and Flor. They are missed but it'll be a *grander* reunion in Glory when we're all there magnifying God's grace in our lives and ministries.

ACTION and CGM continue to this day in ministry together in their Home of Joy orphanage, book ministry called Christian Literature for Asians in Ministry (CLAIM), we use Camp Jabez for our Manila area street children camps and we jointly conduct several conferences through-out the year around the Philippines for pastors and ministry workers. I also serve on their Board of Trustees so ACTION and CGM remain strong partners in several areas of ministry.