Friday, February 12, 2021

 

We are more than a month into this new year and our second semester at Faith. After having been in the Philippines for about two and a half months now, and since arriving, and even since our last update, things have been taking shape.

God has been opening doors for us to forge relationships with more students. Activity on campus has picked up as a variety of opportunities are offered to our in-country students. Tutoring sessions and extra-curricular activities are booming. Every Thursday a group of students gets together on the outside court to play volleyball for an hour and a half...and even longer if it starts to rain and their soccer session gets canceled. Alyson has had the awesome opportunity to be a part of volleyball and build relationships with students on the court. 

There is also a group of high school students who get together at a missionary family's house every so often, and we were invited to join for a chocolate fondue game night. That night swept by too quickly as interactions over fondue and games filled the house and our hearts. Meeting students in person has been an utter joy and encouragement, and we can't wait for the next time we get together with them.

Relationships with students are still molding through weekly conferences and homeroom meetings, and God has been faithful in creating that sense of togetherness and fellowship despite being so far apart. It is evident though that students are struggling and longing for more in-person interaction and the physical togetherness that is absent from online schooling.

Our students need prayer, support, and Christ more than ever. We know that it is not just limited to the students in the Philippines. Students everywhere in the world are going through this hard process and it is affecting them. We want to ask for prayer for all students of all ages, here at Faith, and around the world.  Students are in the process of figuring out who they are and their identity. This partnered with this life changing time calls for intercession.

God has placed some amazing people around us, and it has been a joy and encouragement to see new friendships forming. It is an answer to prayer. We are also grateful to have been given an opportunity to take Tagalog lessons twice a week, and we pray that it will enable us to better build relationships with locals. God has already used small phrases to open up so many conversations with people! Please pray that what we learn will stick in our minds.

As in our last newsletter, God continues to provide. We are so excited about the new ministry partnerships that have taken shape since our last update! We are now at 65.7% of our monthly goal! If you feel led to partner monthly, with one time gifts, or know of anyone who would like to become a partner, please let us know.

                                                 Before getting our Visas finalized!
       Getting some beef burgers with great friends. 
    Beef isn't super popular here, so we enjoy it where we can.
                   



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