FAMILY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Loboc, Bohol

Dear Friends,

• We praise God for the success for the whole month of April.
• We praise Him for your support and prayers, God used you as an instrument in molding the lives of the people here in the Philippines.
• I just came from Cagayan De Oro City, attending Biennial Baptist Conference of the Philippines.( April 24-26)
• I was refreshed and renewed, listening the word of God and had a great time fellowship with other pastors.

The following activities for the month of April:

• Women’s Bible Studies – They gathered at Vicky’s house. There were six women’s who attended; Pacita, Sheila, Ellen, Marilou, Vicky and Mimi. They discussed about Proverbs 31 and they were encouraged to be more responsible as wife and mother.

Early Dawn Prayer: We had the privilege to pray and share each other burdens.

Happy Birthday! We woke up early in the morning just to serenade one of the members who was celebrating her 70th birthday.

Kid's Sunday Fellowship. Praise God for the opportunity to share God’s word

Holy Week Celebration:

We had a great time remembering Christ's death. The speakers shared the seven last words of Jesus Christ

Kid’s Sunday Fellowship- They were encouraged to memorize Jn. 3:16

Work for a cost: The youth were very happy to work, for them to have t-shirt for the camp. Thanked God it was realized.

The youth gave their testimonies and shared their experience about the youth camp. (Praise God, these youth are now starting handling Home Bible Studies.)

CHURCH PRAYER CONCERNS

As Jesus loves little ones, we do love also to conduct a VBS for the kids this coming 3^RD week of May. Please pray for the teachers-training and for the provision for this activity.

Please pray for the Youth: Many of them are willing to learn instruments, to be able to play and be involved during praise and worship time.

Pray for the in active members, that God will courage them to serve Him faithfully.

Pray for guidance, discerning spirit for the Church Leaders.

Pray for me and Mimi that God will strengthen us always, in handling this ministry. Pray for good health, and God’s provision.

As for me & my house we will serve the Lord
Joshua 24:15b [NKJV]

Family Christian Fellowship-Loboc
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Pastor Neil and Mimi

Pastor’s Update:
Indeed, God is good all the time!
We’re about five (5) months here, in Calunasan Sur. And we praise God for sustaining us, both physical and spiritual. There are many challenges,in the ministry & we know by God’s grace & in His time, the church and the people of Calunasan will love and know the Lord Jesus Christ more deeply and intimately.

Praises:
-God provides motorcycle for the ministry; we praise God for the generous people who gave. The whole church was very happy and thankful.
-We praise God for coming pastor’s house being built.

Prayer Concerns:
-Pray for more courage & wisdom in the ministry.
-pray for emotional, physical & spiritual strength for both of us. (mimi and me).
-Pray for good health & safety travel during home visitations and home bible studies

Ministry Update:

Praises:
-The church attendance is increasing…hallelujah!
-Some of our activities in the church were realized already.
-Last Sunday (March 25) we organized Men’s Fellowship, & we praise God for the newly appointed officers; Michael P. -President, Adrian H.-Secretary& Treasurer, Along B-. P.R.O.
-Since our home bible studies, happens during night, we decided to train cell leaders & create cell group by area, to accommodate the needs of the members who can’t attend home bible studies.

Sunday School

Sunday School for kids and Youth -This Sunday the teachers for kids are Leann and Vanissa. They guided the children to recite their assigned verses. And their favorite verse is Ephesians 6:1.

The Towel and the Basin

We had a lesson about
Servanthood. The youth encouraged to serve & to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matt. 23:12, John 13:12-15

Youth Corner

-The Youth Group startedlast March 18, at Calunasan Norte. We elected new set of officers there.

Going up, to the hill for the youth fellowship.

The session started with prayer. “ Amen”

Singing an action song,
“I’m alive alert, awake enthusiastic”

Games!

Snacks time, “sticky rice”…prepared by Judith our host.

Games…Yehey

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:
-Summer Youth Camp April 18-21, 2012
Pray for the 20 youth, for their registration fee php 150.00/head.

-DVBS(2nd week of May 2012)
Pray for the finances, for the food, snacks, materials, & awards

-CELL TRAINING (Whole Month of April after Sunday Service) Pray for God’s wisdom

More Food!

Prayer Concern:

Please pray for the following activities:
-Sunday Service
-Sunday school
-Youth Group (every Sunday afternoon)FCFLL
-Women’s Bible Study (will start this coming Thursday)
-Dawn Prayer Meeting (Every Last Sat. of the Month)
-Home Bible Studies (Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays)
-Men’s Fellowship
-Prayer Meeting
-Pray that the members have the courage to attend regularly.
-Pray for the finances for our snacks, materials & gasoline.
-Pray that through these activities, the church will grow sufficiently well.

Editor: Ptr. Elend Amor
EstrellaBernaldez
Along Bernaldez

Prepared by: Ptr. & Mrs. Neil Pulvera

CHURCH PROJECT:
DRUMSET
AMPLIFIER FOR INSTRUMENT
MIXER AMPLIFIER
MICROPHONES
SOUND SYSTEM

We thanked God for all the supporters and friends, who supports us financially and mostly in prayers. The Lord Bless you more abundantly.

BUNDLE OF JOY

When the month of December starts, all people are excited because Christmas is a month of Giving.  They give gifts to their loved ones, and some are excited for their “ Bunos ” 13^th month pay from their employer.  Christmas is the time of happiness.  Filipinos have a  tradition that all of a family’s members, even abroad or in any far away places, every (“ Pasko ” )Christmas they go home to celebrate Christmas together.  It’s the time of bonding together with family and friends and eating “Noche Buena” (Christmas Eve meal).   This tradition was adopted by the Filipinos from the Spanish people. Filipino’s also prepare 12 different kinds of round shape fruits that they put it in the middle of the table every new year.  12 round fruits means a blessing each month for a whole year.  There’s also an important way that Filipinos celebrate new year.  They offer thanks giving Prayer before leaving the previous year and welcoming the new year.  (”Pasko”) Christmas means  giving.  Every Filipino child is very excited to ask for a Christmas gift from their “ninong” God father and “ninang” God mother

The Loboc Family Christian fellowship was happy to Give a bundle of joy to the people in the barrio.  The bundle includes the primary needs of Filipinos like canned goods, sugar,  noodles and more.  More than a hundred families were given a bundle of joy through the Support of our very Generous MOM members.  The fellowship members and Pastor Neil with his wife helped each other in the Giving of  bundles. The Giving was started at 1 pm and finished at  5 pm.  All the people in the barrio were happy upon receiving his/her bundle of  joy.  The children of the fellowship also received a gift, a t-shirt and the fellowship members also received the bundle of joy for each family.  On the day of our Sunday service they were very thankful for the gift they received.  They also prepared a free lunch and had fun games for the children on the same day.  They were happy going home with a big bag of bundle.

Today was our last day here for for awhile.  Of course it was full as usual.  The day started out with Denny and Along reviewing the budget – of course, followed by lunch at 1130 at the school with the teachers.  We arrived to find a welcome sign with our names on it and lots of children and all the teachers greeting us warmly.  They had prepared a wonderful lunch for us and so we induldged once again in more delicious Filipino food.  Near the end of the meal Denny asked if he could just have an informal meeting with Ma’am Evelyn – the head mistress and the teachers.  He just wanted to find out what they saw as their needs and tell them how we are hoping to partner with them in some projects.  Denny asked about the government feeding program at the school.  We were unprepared and shocked at the answer.  There are 184 students at the school and the teachers told us there are about 30 plus students who are malnourished (we think the number is greater).  The teachers are the ones who weigh the students and determined who needs to have the free lunch.  Apparently the government gives the pesos and according to Ma’am Evelyn it’s enough to feed 20 children for 40 days only out of the school year!  We asked about the other 10 children and they said they don’t eat!  The parents are supposed to help cook the meal but if they are busy they just tell their children to “never mind”!  We couldn’t believe our ears!  We asked the question again and the answer was the same.  They don’t eat!  I could hardly sit at the table.  I was choking back the tears and had to take sips of water just to compose myself.  Can you imagine being a tiny child at a hot school all day watching your classmates eat lunch and you have nothing!! We still can’t believe that this can happen.  Ma’am Evelyn said the government won’t be giving the funds next school year – it will go on to another school.  The amount they give is 2000 pesos – about $40.  Denny plans to get more clarification about this outrageous news.  We can’t bear to let this go on like this.   An there we were consuming more food than we needed with the new knowledge that 30 plus children were likely hungry outside.

After further discussions we toured the computer room – which isn’t functioning right now – to see that the termites are eating up the library and the classrooms!  In classroom after classroom hugh sections of the ceiling have fallen out!  There are big gaping ugly sections just missing out of the ceiling!  Denny has pictures of the chalkboards etc. being eaten.  There is apparently no permanent solution only the possibility of a schedule maintenance spraying to restrict the damage.  The teacher have hung pictures in front of these eyesores just to brighten the situation.  This is an incredible group of professionals.

After the school Denny and Along proceeded to Loboc to meet with Mayor Leon Calipusin.  Denny just wanted to explain to Mayor Leon about the survey we took around the barrios and how we hope to be able to help in some way and how we hope that MOM fades more into the background and that the Family Christian Fellowship Loboc becomes more prominent.

I came back to the house myself but stopped by Marilou’s house to say hello.  Marilou is caring for 7 children by herself!  Her three months old baby was lying on blankets on the floor and Marilou sat watching her.  Marilou and Joy now have 5 children of their own and they also are raising two older boys whose parents divorced and dropped them at Aunt Marilou and Uncle Joy’s house and are now gone.  There is no financial support given by the parents.  Joy works far away so only comes home on weekends – sometimes.  Marilou cooks, cleans and watches these kids.  She exhausted!  I asked her how she was doing and the response I got was tears running down her cheeks – which she quickly wiped away to avoid embarrassment.  I asked how we could help but she didn’t respond much with words – I think she’s “ashamed” (their word for embarrassed).  Her daughter Jelly Mae was there ( second year high school) and she helps Marilou, and we saw the boys cutting fire wood, but it’s still too much for one woman to handle.  I alerted Along to have the Fellowship watch out for her and see what they can do.  Personally I’d like to send her away to a spa somewhere.

After their visit to the mayor Denny and Along came back to the house and continued where they left off on the budget.  In the evening we went to Along and Enday’s for more delicious Filipino food cooked by Marietta.

It’s been a busy two weeks but we feel we have identified areas of needs where more mission teams can come and serve.  We will need to meet with the board and then decide through much prayer and supplication what The Lord would have us do and see where He will supply the means to do these things.

Tomorrow morning we’re off to Manila.  Thank you all for your prayers while we’ve been here.  We’ve stayed healthy as well and we really appreciate that.  God bless you all.   Denny and Ellen

We spent the morning with Along going from the Loboc end of the property to the camping area to go over general maintenance and planting of trees.  Denny wants any spare space to be planted with fruit bearing tress of all kinds.  He wants the staff and their families to have all the fruit and even sell it if they wish and have extra income for their family.  During lunch it rained cats and dogs so we delayed our afternoon meeting with Along until he could escape the deluge and make it back from his house. Along came back to Silangan Balay with Pastor Neil and Mimi and all their belongings.  They really needed to move into one of the new camping guest rooms/Sunday School rooms (provided by Glasgow) because it was becoming impossible to live in the loft at the CPC.  We’re glad they are here and look forward to the Pastor’s house being finished within the next eight to ten weeks (hopefully given funds availability).  With Along here we continued more discussion concerning repairs that need to be made on this house (many).  The termites are beginning to eat this house, and the climate is very hard on the house paint, so constant upkeep is the norm for us.  Of course Along and Denny can’t end the day without talking about the budget.

Tomorrow Denny and Along are going to Loboc to pay Mayor Leon a friendly “Happy New Year” visit.  It looks like it shaping up to be a guy trip, so I’ll just stay home and clean out the refrigerator – we’re leaving for Manila on Wednesday morning.  Our time here has run out.  At 11:30 the teachers have invited us to the school for lunch, a short meeting on needs and a hello/good-bye. Denny will be discussing the finishing of the canteen, the feeding program for the children and the possibility of partnering with the DepEd for other projects or needs.  Our visits to the school are always a joy.

In the evening Along and Enday have invited us for dinner and so that will be a wonderful way to spend our last evening this trip.

We have to stop by Seattle and take care of our five grandchildren before returning to Big Timber February 10th.  We hope you’ve saved us some snow – we’ve been really hot here!

Blessings, Denny and Ellen

What a blessed time at church this morning.  Pastor Neil spoke on Romans 12 and challenged us all to be more like Romans 12 Christians – to love our neighbor, to pray for our enemies and forgive them, to do good to others and live at peace with each other;.  He stressed that it is supernatural power from The Holy Spirit who enables us to live out the Christian life in this way, because often we just don’t feel very Christian in our responses or attitudes towards others.  During Praise and Worship time the children were still with the adults and were sitting in tiny plastic chairs in the center of the room.  I had the privilege of sitting right along side of them.  They all sang out so loudly and sweetly – and with such earnest – even the tiniest children.  I felt like I was listening to a choir of little angels!  The tears welled up in my eyes and I breathed a silent prayer for each of their little lives, that they would grow up living Jesus, never wavering, and not even one missing from the roll call some day in Heaven.  Bless these darling children.  Minerva sang the solo “In Christ Alone”.  She broke down part way through the song and so did most of us.  It such a fantastic sang and a Pastor Neil pointed out “so emotional”.  We all loved it.

This evening we had a gathering for the leaders in the Fellowship here at the house. What a truly wonderful time we had.  First we meet for a half hour for a meeting to introduce the goals that Pastor Neil and Minerva have for discipling and growing the Fellowship.  We stopped for dinner.  Marietta made a 5 star meal – I think she outdid herself tonite.  The meal was fantastic!! After dinner we resumed the meeting.  Most of it was in Visayan but occasionally Along would break into English and Denny and I could understand the jist of the conversation.  After some discussion they all decided to adopt the Ministry Plan.  We all need to support this Fellowship with prayer and encourage them any time we can.  We love them all some much.  What a privilege to be here and to serve here in Bohol.

Blessings,  Denny and Ellen

Yesterday, (Friday), Denny and Along spent hours working on expenses and spread sheets for MOM and the budget for our house.  They did have a trip into Tagbilaran for business but then returned to work on the budget.  Along left our house about 5 pm  and after our dinner Denny continued to work on the spread sheets.  I cannot help Denny with this task because God did not give me this ability.  Numbers totally allude me – I just glaze over.  Fortunately Denny gets it.

I spent the morning baking cookies but unfortunately when I went to reach for the baking powder I discovered I had none.  I borrowed some from Marcosa but sadly I think that powder was “dead” because my oatmeal cookies don’t look or taste like an oatmeal cookie should.  After lunch I went to Bohol Deaf Academy to deliver a baby gift to one of the teachers who is expecting a baby in June.  She and her husband are both deaf and they are just the loveliest couple.  So that was our day.

Today (Saturday) we will be receiving an American couple as guests. They are renting a house from Dennis Drake and he wants to introduce them to us.  Apparently the husband is retired Air Force and has been involved with NASA and teaching the astronauts about the computer systems (or something like that).  The cool thing is that Cora who works here has a 14 year old son who wants to be an astronaut.  What a lofty goal for a poor boy from the barrio.  We’ve invited Cora to bring Samwell to the house this morning to meet this gentleman.  Apparently he has a video he’d like to show Samwell.  I’m so excited for this boy – I hope his dreams come true.  This afternoon after our guests leave Along, Inday, Denny and I will visit some new botanical gardens that Dennis told us about, and then go to dinner with them.  We are looking forward to Sunday.  Thank you all for your prayers.  Blessings, Ellen

Yesterday, (Friday), Denny and Along spent hours working on expenses and spread sheets for MOM and the budget for our house.  They did have a trip into Tagbilaran for business but then returned to work on the budget.  Along left our house about 5 pm  and after our dinner Denny continued to work on the spread sheets.  I cannot help Denny with this task because God did not give me this ability.  Numbers totally allude me – I just glaze over.  Fortunately Denny gets it.

I spent the morning baking cookies but unfortunately when I went to reach for the baking powder I discovered I had none.  I borrowed some from Marcosa but sadly I think that powder was “dead” because my oatmeal cookies don’t look or taste like an oatmeal cookie should.  After lunch I went to Bohol Deaf Academy to deliver a baby gift to one of the teachers who is expecting a baby in June.  She and her husband are both deaf and they are just the loveliest couple.  So that was our day.

Today (Saturday) we will be receiving an American couple as guests. They are renting a house from Dennis Drake and he wants to introduce them to us.  Apparently the husband is retired Air Force and has been involved with NASA and teaching the astronauts about the computer systems (or something like that).  The cool thing is that Cora who works here has a 14 year old son who wants to be an astronaut.  What a lofty goal for a poor boy from the barrio.  We’ve invited Cora to bring Samwell to the house this morning to meet this gentleman.  Apparently he has a video he’d like to show Samwell.  I’m so excited for this boy – I hope his dreams come true.  This afternoon after our guests leave Along, Inday, Denny and I will visit some new botanical gardens that Dennis told us about, and then go to dinner with them.  We are looking forward to Sunday.

Thank you all for your prayers.  Blessings, Ellen

JANUARY 26, 2012

Today was an “errand” day.  It started out at 0930 when we left for Tagbilaran with Along, Marietta and Vicki to run all kinds of errands.  Vicki needed to check with the sewing machine technician to see if he had repaired the two machines we brought to him the other day.  She actually sat at his dusty little shop on a noisy dirty street in the heat while he finished repairing the second machine.  Denny needed to stop by the bank but when we parked he actually got the lucky spot right in front of Dunkin Donuts.  He sent Along into the bank and that donut shop just sucked him right in.  Next door is the Cebu Airline office so we got tickets to fly to Manila next Wednesday for our return trip to the States.  Marietta had been dropped off at the mall so she could begin shopping for our dinner with church leaders on Sunday night.  In a round robin trip around Tagbilaran we picked Vicki up who carried one small machine in her arms and then returned to the mall to retrieve Marietta and then all five of us proceeded to Dao Diamond to the restaurant run by the deaf and to say hello to Dennis Drake – the founder of International Deaf Education Association (IDEA).  The deaf greeted us so warmly and Dennis introduced us to a volunteer chef from Victoria, Canada who was there to help instruct the deaf cooks. (This chef has actually cooked for the queen of England!). We never got to order off the menu.  Chef Ralph insisted on us trying some different burgers he was creating – mango burgers being one.  They were delicious as were the onion rings he sent to our table.  He cautioned us to save room for a dessert he created – a cinnamon/chocolate torte.  Fabulous lunch.  We all were stuffed and felt like we do after a Thanksgiving meal.  We had fun.  Dennis gave us a tour around the newly remodeled facility and showed us his new model home on skids that is affordable housing for many and a great option for student housing in Tagbilaran. Back to the mall to finish up “the list”.  Denny ran into a small booth in the mall that was advertising a new resort here in Bohol.  Fortunately they were selling a special chocolate cookie and since he’s a chocoholic he felt his day was complete.  By now the time is 3pm and it was back down town to pick up the very large sewing machine – load it into the back of the truck and put Along back there to ride with it so it wouldn’t tip over and spill onto the street.  We returned home by 5pm and called it a day.  Errand days like this seem to take all day but we all had fun together.

Tomorrow Along and Denny will sit together to talk over things pertaining to the running of this house and review monthly financial reports.  I plan to bake American style cookies for our dinner with church leaders on Sunday nite.   I’m going to make snickerdoodles, oatmeal cookies and brownies with mango ice cream.  Sound okay?

We’re looking froward to Sunday night and Pastor Neil’s challenge to these” leader couples” and the future plans to help grow Family Christian Fellowship.  We will keep you posted.

Blessings, Denny and Ellen

January 25, 2012

This morning Denny, Along and I spent about 3 hours with Pastor Neil and Mimi going over their goals for the church.  There is so much to talk about and so much planning regarding programs and budgets – it’s daunting.  Pastor Neil and Mimi are so willing to work hard to help this congregation grow.  They need time to start out slowly and work up to bigger things later.  They really understand this.  I love to look at Neil’s face – it just glows with the love of The Lord!

After lunch we visited two neighboring barrios – Ugpong and Canlisid.  WOW!  They are both such needy barrios that it hard to know where to start.  We really feel that getting water to each home is the number one priority.  Water projects are pretty do-able and really make an immediate impact on the people’s health.  (I can’t imagine living my entire life with water “sometimes” during the day). MOM has already provided funds for most of the system but the barrio failed to plan on the electrical wiring costs for a 300 meter segment from the well to the main electric supply line.  The cost for the wire, installation and permitting is approximately $450.00.  We need to find the means to make this happen soonest.

Another do-able project is painting and “fixing -up” the daycare centers.  Eighteen little children fit in one tiny dirty room with a “bathroom” so scary that it makes you want to shut the door as fast as you can and never go in again.  Each daycare could also use some toys, children books, some craft supplies and a white board.

Both barrios wanted roads paved, but that project is just too expensive.  The government will give a portion 100,000 pesos ($2,100) as a shared contribution of 500,000 pesos  ($11,600 plus) needed.  We don’t feel that this is a plan MOM can get involved with at this time .

The barrios are situated along the Loboc River.  We discussed ways to start a tilapia program. They have almost a hectare in Canlasid perfect for tilapia farming.  Tilapia evidently thrive in brackish water.  If we dredge out a large area we could float several netted holding pens. They could raise the fish for sale as a source of barrio funding and offer some tilpia as a discount to residents. We’ll be talking with Jay about this.

We did stress to each of the barangay council members that we were on a fact finding mission and that we must return to The States and discuss the matter with the MOM board.  We made no promises.

We are home now and the heavy jungle rain has begun.  One thing I forgot to mention yesterday was that in the first barrio we visited there was a request for four wheelchairs.  Apparently 3 people in that barrio have paralyzed legs while the 4th person has no legs at all.  They thought it would be nice for the people to be able to have a wheelchair to get out of their house a little more – even though the road is rough and difficult to pass.  I plan to check with Dennis Drake from IDEA (the deaf association I worked with here in Bohol) to see if Christian Blind Mission has access to wheelchairs.  Shipping wheelchairs from the States would be very expensive.  Maybe we can find some in Manila.

As you can see the needs are great here and all is a matter of prayer.  Please pray with us and with the MOM board as we try to make the right decisions.

Blessings,

Denny and Ellen