Dearest friends and family,

A warm hello to you amidst the pouring of rain! Kamusta na po kayo? We hope and pray that all is well at your end. Our stories will testify about God’s work in our midst – be it in our mundane activities and in the special ones. He is “moving’ us from one place to another and we can always expect to find grace along the way.

From Darkness to Light

Praise God for His renewing work in the lives of 33 campers as well as with 15 college students and graduates who served as camp counselors during the Bicol ISCF Camp last April 8-11. We are blessed to witness how the Word of God and his message of salvation bring transformation in the lives of the students in big and little ways. It’s a joy to hear students share their testimonies and lessons learned in the Camp. Having Quiet time, washing dishes for His glory, seeing their selves as unique, honoring parents, understanding what it means for God to be holy, the seriousness of sin and Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross on their behalf are some of their precious lessons. God has blessed the camp with supportive people who prayed, donated time, resources and service. Let us thank the Lord for His work of bringing people out of darkness into His wonderful light!

From Fulltime to Associate

Both of us changed our status from fulltime IVCF regional staff to associate starting this month of July. We still handle the same campus assignments in Rinconada Area and we praise God that all chapters were successfully re-accredited. The bible study, cell groups and daily prayer meetings are in place. Gerlen still handles the high school ministry (ISCF) and takes ‘minimal’ assignments in other areas while Nono focuses on training the leaders. Just recently (July 10), we had a joint overnight fellowship at IV Home (siksikan!) with the three schools represented. It was an evening of prayer, fellowship, praising the Lord, feasting and applying God’s word. Please pray that they will take to heart their calling as Christian students in their schools and be effective witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank God for Nono’s sabbatical leave (Jan15-July15) which enabled him to rest from IVCF work, to refresh his goals and to pursue a business opportunity which kindled his growing desire to be an entrepreneur. His involvement with Filipino Entrepreneurs and Resources Network, Inc (FERN) widened his circle of friends and acquaintances. He found himself enthused by attending workshops and seminars that the company is providing. He aspires and prays that the Lord will bless him more in his business so that he can also bless others, his family and support the IVCF ministry in the region.

Thank you for your support to us and the IVCF ministry. We would like to hear from you and pray for you as well. God bless you!

On a personal note… Musings of a mother

God is gracious; I thank Him everyday for the gift of mothering Mayumi (3 years old) and Makisig (1 year-old). Everyday too, I ask the Lord to give me the grace that I need to fill in.

For the past three years, I am blessed that my work allows me to stay at home most of the time and be there for my children. However, this past year of filling out two fulltime jobs nearly drove me out of my wits! Having two attention clamoring children while I work or do BS with students at home can be arduous even when a helper is around. (As I am writing this, I have to get up several times to retrieve my son who is making his way out of the house, reprimand Mayumi for watching too close to the TV, break out a fight etc). It would take ages for me to get some work done. I wonder how other moms do it! I had mounting frustrations over lack of time to do my “self-imposed’ work and even if I do have the time, I got too little energy and concentration left to complete my tasks. At the end of the day, I feel exhausted not because of the many things I’ve accomplished but for the lack of it! Matters became worse when we cannot find a helper at home for almost the whole summer. I was confronted with my priorities and misplaced sense of worth (again?!) After much prayer and deliberation, I then decided to change work status not just to calm my frazzled nerves, but (as one of my mentors suggests) to embrace fully the calling of motherhood (since I can be performance driven at times: c) Maybe when the children are older, things will be more manageable (or maybe when I learn how to effectively manage my time?). As for now, in their crucial years of growing up, I need to see them NOT as distractions to my work, but my God-given treasures whose lives are entrusted primarily to me, their mother.

In my quiet times, the repeated words of the psalmist “rely on His unfailing love’ is a healing salve on my weariness. I rejoice over the invitation to rely and rest on that which is secure and abounding whether I am busy with things for the Kingdom or when I lie for hours in bed with my children, waiting for them to wake up.

I am still a work in progress as I strive to relish more the times of attending to Mayumi and Makisig. I spend less time doing paper works and meeting students (or whatever I think I have to do to fill in the time) and spend more time for play, bubble baths, leisure walks to the park, visit to the public library and just being with them. This decision means bearing the financial strain caused by decreased income but it is also an opportunity to stretch our faith even more for God to supply with our needs. We are thankful for friends and family who supply my children’s clothes (we seldom buy them) and who occasionally bless us financially. I’ll end with Isaiah’s wonderful and timely reminder of who the Lord is:

The Lord tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11