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August 25, 2004
Hello Everyone,
We have finally made it back to our home in the Philippines.
Our house was immaculately clean, our dogs Cu and Pokey were
overjoyed to see us, the yard and garden has never been greener
and lusher, and almost all our things were well maintained
and ready for our use. Yet more than that, the joy expressed
by our friends, ministry associates and church, at our return
more than confirmed to us that this is where we belong. Dare
I say it? "It is great to be home again and back in the
ministry saddle to which God has called us."
We arrived home 1AM, Thursday morning, July 29, and after
a short sleep I woke up and decided to try to catch up with
the businessmen's Bible study that started at 6:30 in Makati
-about 10 miles away. I got on the road by 6:10 and arrived
at Starbucks, where we take a coffee after the study …
at 8:15. All the men were long gone to work by that time.
Needless to say the traffic has not improved and I am back
to leaving the house at 4:30 AM if I want a leisurely drive
into the city.
I have shared with many of you that the greatest "export"
from the Philippines is its people, that millions of Filipinos
are contract workers all over the globe and that they represent
one of the most strategic people groups for world evangelization
and fulfilling the great commission to which God has called
all of us. One friend, who works with the Philippine government,
claims that to date there are nine (9) million Filipinos working
in foreign countries. That represents more that 10% of her
84 million people. Even if this figure is exaggerated there
still are a very significant number of persons who have both
the calling and opportunity to be "tent making"
missionaries. The vision God gave me several years back now
is starting to have a snow ball affect in its fulfillment.
In our first week back I have heard of several who are preparing,
are on their way or have already left for jobs in foreign
countries. Let me tell of a few: Rodolfo (Rod) Estigoy is
a Ph.D. in Agriculture who was sent by the Philippine government
to help in establishing new agricultural systems in Cambodia
almost two years ago. Rod developed such a heart for Cambodia
while he was there that he is taking a two month leave from
his job to return to Cambodia and seek out a University teaching
position. After getting established he hopes to move his family
there and recruit other Christian professors to join him.
Rey Aguirre, who received training in our first two summer
training programs, has left recent to take up an engineering
job in Saudi Arabia. A gal from Mindanao who also attends
our church told me through tears our first Sunday back that
I had greatest impact in her life when she was in high school.
Chari, has recently resigned from her job to take linguistics
training with SIL (Wycliffe Bible Translators) and hopes to
serve abroad as a missionary after her training. Just last
night six persons from REACH started a class to receive training
to be able to teach English in a foreign country. God continues
to do exceedingly abundantly above what we can ask or think.
May His name be exalted and spread and may the gospel be carried
to every nation. Please pray with us to that end.
Because He Lives, Joe
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