A Hard Life

This morning I was approaching an escalator here in the city and noticed a young boy, no more than 12 years old, laying on the ground right in front of the moving stairs. His feet, legs and arms were covered with black soot from the dirty sidewalks and streets. As he slept on his mattress of cement and pillow made of cardboard, he looked very peaceful. His hands were crossed and placed lightly on his chest and I couldn’t help but wonder, “Why is this boy able to sleep so peacefully? How long has he been sleeping out on the streets in these conditions? Is he so exhausted that he doesn’t even notice the people stepping over him to get onto the escalator? When I first saw the young boy my life almost went into slow motion mode as I approached him. The loud horns of the busses, the roar of people moving about and talking, the vendors selling their goods on the street all seemed to be muffled as I was fixed on this young boy. It broke my heart to have to step over him. It’s a natural reaction to want to reach out and help and do something, to save this boy from his condition. But what can be done? What should be done? What is our part in all of this? I was almost at the point of feeling very depressed about having to step over him but then I remembered what the organization I am involved in is doing for children just like this young boy. Action International ministries works with street kids in a very unique way. Of course we feed the children and clothe them, but its more than that. We share the Gospel and love of Christ with them. We disciple and mentor them. We offer them vocational training and teach them about life and how they are to live a Godly life in Christ. Its more than just food and clothes, its about raising up spiritual generations, which can only be brought about by dedicating ourselves to reaching out to those in need. Its more than words, its putting those words into action.

Manila Day 439

Adam is back! After quite some time I am now back to blogging. A lot has gone on since my last entry. Since I last wrote I have had language school full-time, video projects to finish up, and I am now engaged!! Her name is Alexis and she is a wonderful, God-fearing woman with a heart and passion for ministry and missions. She is a Filipina and we met at a Christian young adults retreat this past summer. We are excited to serve the Lord together in ministry and are planning a wedding for April of this coming year. We will be married here in the Philippines and will be blessed with several family members of mine coming from the states including my parents, sister, best friend, uncle, and the founder of ACTION and his wife. We are truly blessed to be together and are looking forward to serving Christ in discipling youth here in the Philippines.

This Christmas season was so great this year because I was able to spend it with my future family-in-law. We had a great time of fellowship and food. It has been great getting to know them.

Please continue to pray for language school. I am on break now from school but will start classes again on January 6th.

Also pray for Alexis and I as we continue to plan a wedding and get to know one another better. We have truly seen the Lord’s hand in bringing us together to partner with one another in ministry.

Please pray also for my parents as they plan a trip to the Philippines in January. They will be arriving January 19 and leaving January 30. Pray that their time here would be a sweet time of fellowship. We are looking forward to seeing eachother again after nearly a year and a half apart.

Thank you to all who pray and support this ministry. You are partners with me in discipling the nations and sharing Christ with those in need. Lord bless you as you continue to labor
with me in the work of the Lord here in the Philippines.

Alexis and I in front of her church.

Manila Day 357

This week has been a different one for me. I have been off language school all this week as our Founder, Doug Nichols, is out here visiting for several days. I have been his driver, secretary and photographer throughout his stay here thus far. We have done many things and accomplished much. Here is the update that I typed up for him last night.

First two Days in Manila

Greetings from Manila, Philippines with clear skies. I arrived at noon Monday October 5 after leaving my house in Seattle at 9pm to catch my flight at 2am and traveling for about 22 hours. I was awake for 36 hours except for 3 hours of sleep on the plane. Too long for anybody to be awake! After unpacking and sorting relief items it was great to call and talk to many team members, friends and family. After dinner I met with ACTION missionary Adam Hussey (26) who will be assisting me in administration, correspondence and driving.

Adam first served with ACTION Uganda and the Lord has graciously brought him to the Philippines. He is currently studying the language (Tagalog) full-time but after finishing will be discipling youth in the Philippines as well as creating video’s for missionaries and ministries. The Lord has really gifted Adam with a heart for the Filipino people and is evident in how he relates to them on a daily basis.

First we visited with Christian Growth Ministries (CGM) staff and encouraged them. There is much to be done and much planning to be talked over. CGM was not damaged by the flood so the main topic of discussion was the ACTION/CGM pastors conferences 2010 and the books to be printed for BookShare. Many poor pastors lost their complete limited library as well as their bible. God is good and has continued to use the people here to minister well among the pastors and church leaders. Praise God for the work that CGM is involved with here.

We then went to The Bible League to see the ministry there (the Bible League was started by ACTION/CGM in the 1970’s and is now the largest bible league program in the world, with over 30,000 graduates in the church-based bible study program with all graduates receiving New Testament or bible. On the day that the first typhoon hit there was considerable flooding in the building with water rising upwards of 9 feet on the ground floor! There was much damage to books and the vehicles there with over five million pesos or $105,000 dollars worth of damage to bibles and study materials! This is not counting the four vehicles and one motorbike that were also ruined in the flood. Some of the materials were on the second and third floors of the building so they were not damaged. Please pray for The Bible League as they are beginning the process to raise support to cover the costs of the materials lost.

*A video was made and put onto YouTube that shows the flood at The Bible League. Click this link to see the video.

After our time at The Bible League we had lunch with the ACTION Filipino staff and heard many stories of God’s mercy during the flood. The home of our dear friend and co-worker Frank Egalla was completely flooded with water rising 12 feet with the family barely escaping with their lives.  Frank with his wife Lisa have faithfully served the Lord for over 30 years. They have moved into the free use of a small apartment for several months but have absolutely no furniture, not even a mattress. And today Lisa was pick pocketed losing her cell phone (about $50). I was able to give them about $200. They will need at least $4,500 in order to set-up their house with basic furnishings for their family of five.

We spend all afternoon as a part of an ACTION relief centered in a local church called San Juan Gospel Chapel. There were over 300 families that attended the relief, each with a stub that was used to redeem a gift bag with relief goods.

The goods given out were:

-Plastic bucket

-6 plates, cups, forks, and spoons

-4 kilos of rice

-Wok for cooking

-Small pot with lid

-Vitamins, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, vitamin C, and other medicines

Before the goods were distributed, the 300 gathered for a meeting of instructions, special prayer for those suffering. Jeff Anderson, Philippine director, gave a short word of encouragement and I was also able to speak briefly from Hebrews 12:28-29. “The kingdom of Christ is not shaken.” Because of our relationship with Christ we can trust God even in times of distress.  A Filipino pastor then gave a gospel message. All of the 300 have heard the gospel previously being involved in ministry outreach to the slum area by ACTION Filipino team members.

Each set of relief goods was 1380 pesos or $30 dollars. ACTION has handed out over 1000 of these in the past several days. Praise God with us for the funding that has been provided to help with these needy families. We estimate the needs of up to at least $50,000 dollars more in this initial outreach of compassionate care and the gospel.

*If you would like to see pictures from some relief work please click on this link.

Observations –

1. Jeff Anderson and the ACTION team in the Philippines are doing an excellent relief outreach for the glory of God. The efforts even in all of the confusion of need have maintained a very effective strategy in relief ministry outreach. Financial shortage causes problems but they have been able to work through this effectively for the glory of God.

2. It was very interesting to note of the effect of the encouragement that comes from simply “showing up.” Several team members said that they were very much encouraged that I would cancel ministry in the USA to come to the Philippines at this time. Saying something like “Sir, did you really cancel meetings to come here?”

3. Jeff and the team have mentioned several times of the sacrificial giving of the Filipinos to the suffering. With over $4000 dollars coming in small and large gifts. Many of the relief packages with food, clothing, and medicines have been given by local churches for ACTION to distribute, especially to some of the most affected by the flood.

In closing let me encourage you with the following, “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28-29 nasb)

Sincerely in Christ,

Doug Nichols

Manila Day 344

First of all thank you all so very much for your prayers and support of the work of the Lord here in the Philippines. I am coming up on one year here and it feels like 2 months. Time has really gone by fast for me as I have kept really busy since arriving in 2008.

As most of you know my original plan was to only be in the Philippines for 6 months. After a very short time I knew that this was home and that the Lord had made it known to me that it was here that I was to do ministry long term. Knowing this now I have begun to really settle down here. First I was able to find an apartment which is a lot closer to language school. This was a real blessing because it cuts down my travel costs and travel time from where I was before. With a new place of my own I am now in need of set-up items. I have been living with a family for the past year and haven’t needed to buy anything of my own. I wrote down the items that I will need to set the apartment up to be livable. I would ask each of you to pray with me that the Lord would supply in this area. Please pray and see if the Lord would put it on your heart to help me with these items. If you would like to give to this need please send a check to:

Action International Ministries
PO Box 398
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043-0398

You can also give online through my ACTION web page by going to this link and clicking “Donate to Adam.”

(Either way you donate please specify that the donation is for “Adam Hussey Set-up Funds.” All donations are tax deductable)

I am putting the list of items below for you to see. Please pray over these items and ask the Lord how he would have you be a part of this. Thank you for all who support this ministry in prayer and finances. Lord bless you.

Dishes – service for 4, 20 pieces                                   $40.00
Can Opener                                                                           $2.50
Grater                                                                                      $3.33
Pasta Spoon                                                                           $2.92
Veg Peeler                                                                                $1.22
Spatula                                                                                      $2.50
Measuring spoons (Ecko)                                                    $1.25
Measuring cups, 1 cup, 2 cup                                              $7.29
Cutting Board                                                                           $7.29
Sauce pan and small Dutch oven                                    $20.83
Frying Pan                                                                             $20.83
Kitchen Scissors                                                                     $2.08
Steel Knife Sharpener                                                             $6.25
Hangers, 5                                                                                 $2.50
Toilet Brush, 2                                                                          $5.00
Waste Baskets – Kitchen                                                        $8.33
Waste Baskets – Bathroom, 2                                              $10.41
Spray bottle                                                                                $0.83
Shower Curtain                                                                          $3.13
Rings                                                                                             $1.25
Drapes – Living room                                                            $83.33
Drapes – Bedroom                                                                  $25.00
Counter Top Drainer and Storage unit                             $31.25
Hot Pot                                                                                      $15.63
Toaster oven w/ thermostat                                               $52.08
Refrigerator, 6 cu.ft.                                                            $229.16
Microwave                                                                               $83.33
Stand Fan                                                                                $45.83
A/C Unit                                                                                $333.33
In-line Water heater – shower                                        $166.67
Washer/Spinner                                                                 $145.83
Propane Gas tank and regulator                                      $30.00

Manila Day 338

Manila Day 338

Just wanted to send you an update on our graduation ceremony that we had on Sunday. It was so great. We had 22 graduates complete the 6-month Discipleship course. Each young person received a book, a Navigator verse pack, and a certificate of completion. We had a great time of fellowship, prayer, worship, and a message from God’s word. We ended the time having a meal together. Please continue to pray for these youth at they now begin a new chapter in their lives serving the Lord.

Also, an update on my housing. I have found a place to rent. It is a lot closer to my language school and is near another ACTION missionary couple. So praise God for providing a new place to stay.

Manila Day 303

Sorry for not putting up a blog sooner. Here is a video that highlights what has been going on and what is coming up in the near future. Thank you all so much for your partnership with me in this ministry.

Manila Day 288

Here is a video that I just did that shows the struggle that we all have as believers. The struggle that we often have is choosing other things over spending quality time with God. This video is inspired by true events. This means that, yes, I was the one who had this struggle two weeks ago. The Lord has answered my prayer and has given me a renewed desire to spend time with Him and in His word. Praise Him for that! May you be challenged by this message also.

Manila Day 286

I am so sorry that I haven’t been posting lately. There is no excuse, but I have been swamped with things on this end. I was getting over a terrible sickness, full-time language school, and several videos to finish up. I wanted to post up this cool video of a dance that some former street kids performed at a play that I filmed last June 5.

Manila Day 258

A God-Story from tonight.

Jhune the taxi driver meets Jesus!