Ramon & Jenny Tecson – Sept 2009

Dear friends,

May the life-giving river of God flow within you!

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” John 7:37-38

Our newly rented house now is just beside the Davao River. Unlike the many abused rivers in our country, this one still exudes with beauty. The calm water, the chirping birds and its green vegetation refresh our senses. They accentuate our Quiet Time ambiance. It awakens our desire to know the very source of life- Jesus! He is the source of the living water.

Gary and Grasya, Jenny’s nephew and niece, said goodbye and thanks to us at the end of March. It was liberating but nonetheless sad. No more “don’t prick your pimple”, “bring an umbrella”, “oh, you’re coughing again”, “TV time’s over”, etc. We miss them and they miss us. They are now back to Jenny’s older brother’s care. They wish they have IVCF and ISCF in Bulacan.

Summer highlights

We were in IVCF Kawayan Camp the whole month of April teaching and sharing our lives with college students who came from all over the country to be trained as servant-leaders for Christ.

Then, on the first week of May, we were at the ISCF Camp with high school students from Southern Mindanao who were sent by their parents and churchmates for them to know deeper and walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Their parents continue to desire that their children will be followed up in school. We are glad that the students themselves want to have ISCF in their campuses. And those who graduated from high school are now involved in the college fellowship.

May 15-31 was the first Mindanao-wide college students leadership training camp. It was a good camp. Good results are also happening!

Princess is now leading twelve high school students in weekly Bible study at Tagum Trade National High School .

Jacqui is leading a large group of high school students in Caraga every week.

King now tags along with Jenny at Davao City National High School with three sections on Wednesdays.

Chloe and Cathy now leads the Ateneo de Davao University IVCF group.

Kareen, Micah and Elan have been elected to be officers of the g October Leadership and Discipleship Camp for Southern Mindanao . Aside from giving themselves in their weekly leadership in Kapalong and Kabacan IVCF, they are also preparing for the coming camp.

Charlene and Crizzelle’s ISCF request for approval from the principal of Kidapawan City National High School was denied. They intend to return to the principal for reconsideration or to go to another high school.

On June 11-14, our student leaders from different parts of Southern Mindanao gathered for prayer and planning retreat, at our house. Thirty-six people, one toilet. Their fares have to be subsidized. They only paid for their food. We were cramped yet we all thought it was good to pray at the beginning of the semester. It was good to have planned together. It was good to bond together and to look to God and to work together.

New Semester

June 15-30, we were on holiday in Singapore . June 17-20, we attended a church camp in Malaysia . We were invited by our Singaporean friends to share and reconnect with them. We were very tired the past months that Jenny was sick most of the time. We were also grieving the passing away of our very dear mentor and friend, Mr. Anthony Yeo.

July and August saw us like pingpong balls going back and forth Davao del Norte and North Cotabato . Davao City also saw us doing lots of administrative work and campus work. Thank God for budding student leaders from ADDU, SPC, Brok, UM and for our contacts at DCNHS, DCHS and USEP.

We thank God for our volunteer Graduate Team members and chapter advisers who help follow up students, especially in those campuses which we cannot visit every week.

We will continue to travel around Southern Mindanao in September and October to provide training for our students and visit some of our graduates.

Please pray for us.

• That we may clearly share the gospel of Jesus Christ to our student contacts in Davao City .
• That we may help disciple key students from our Davao City chapters.
• That the trainings we provide to student leaders and GT members will be beneficial for this generation and the next ones.
• Thank God with us for our newly installed internet connection in our home .
• Thank God with us for our home by the Davao River. The cool air, the trees’ shade, the calm river, the front garden…all bring refreshment to us at the end of our days filled with people. Well, there are also some cats which think this is also their house and garden, and there are leaves and Jemelina fruits that quickly accumulate…but they’re okay. What’s not okay? The mosquitoes!
• Please pray with us for guidance regarding our future. We are thinking of resigning from IVCF staff work next year even though we still enjoy student ministry. Please pray for our replacement, as we trust God to enable us to finish well.
• Please pray for the names we mentioned above.

Come to the river of life

You will find healing here
Come to the river of life
Come and drink freely here
Come if your heart is searching
Come if your soul is thirsty
Draw near and drink
Of the mercy of Jesus Christ
At the river of life
(Don Moen)

Thank you very much for your partnership with us in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ramon and Jenny Tecson